Maker Faire back in Newcastle this weekend

A real space rocket, a ‘battle of the drones’ some chainmail clad performers dancing with electricity and football playing robots – it can only mean the return of Maker Faire UK - the greatest show (and tell) on Earth at Life Science Centre this weekend (23 and 24 April).

Ian Simmons, Science Communication Director at Life said: “The two-day event is great fun for adults and kids alike with all sorts of different things to try your hand at from traditional crafts to hi-tech hacks. The atmosphere is one of collaboration, sharing and experimenting, where you’ll try new things, deepen existing knowledge and have lots of fun! Be prepared to be inspired and don’t be afraid to get stuck in!”

Maker Faire UK 2016 will feature an eclectic mix of over 300 crafters, coders, DIYers and garden shed inventors from across the globe – people who love to make stuff and who want to share their passion with the public.

This year, headliners include Glastonbury favourites, Lords of Lightning, who will bring added spark to the event with their electrifying performances featuring animated metal structures and the odd bolt of lightning! They will be joined by Dominic Wilcox and his Stained Glass Car - demonstrating the transport of the future and attendees may well recognise Jason Lane’s Mechanical Sound Sculpture from the closing ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics.

During the weekend there will be a series of talks by some big names in the Maker Movement including Sherry Huss, co-creator of Maker Faire who’ll be talking about how making can change your mind and Carol Davenport from Northumbria University’s Think Physics who’ll be exploring how we can develop the engineers of tomorrow.

The main sponsors of this year’s event are the North East-based Reece Foundation. Anne Reece, Chair of the charity, which supports the promotion of engineering and manufacturing, said: “Maker Faire UK is an excellent example of how to engage and inspire young people with science, technology, engineering and maths and we’re delighted to be supporting the event and look forward to seeing lots of people getting involved in the many exciting activities on offer over the two days.”

Other highlights include:

Copenhagen Suborbitals

This group of Danish inventors has built the world’s first amateur rocket that has actually broken the sound barrier. Their plan is to send a manned rocket 130 kilometres into space.

Visitors to Maker Faire UK will get to see some of their inventions including their 12m HEAT2X rocket, space capsule, technology rocket, other equipment, and hear about the impossible becoming possible.

Fabulous Beasts

Meet the team behind Fabulous Beasts, a new kind of game and one of the "25 most anticipated video games of 2016" (The Guardian). It's a cooperative game of balance in which you build a tower of beast-shaped pieces in the real world, and as you stack them, you see them appear in the digital world on a connected tablet or smartphone. The object is to build the most fabulous world that you can, before the tower falls. Prototyped using Arduino and 3D printing, the technology, which won the IndieCade Technology Award, employs radio frequency identification (RFID) and load sensors to detect the tower.

Battle of the Drones:

Teams of drone pilots go head to head in a battle, blade to blade, metal on metal. Visitors can meet the teams backstage after the battles, ask questions and see how the drones are built. There will also be the opportunity to build, repair and customise drones.

Robotical:

Archie is a walking robot that costs little but does lots. 3D printable and fully programmable, he’s designed to be an accessible and engaging way to learn about robotics, programming and electronics. At around 12 inches high, he’s also very cute.

There’ll be several Archies at Maker Faire UK. Walking around, dancing, and playing a little bit of football on a mini pitch – visitors will be able to remotely control a robot to play against an automated team.

Cosmic Sausages:

Over the past 25 years, the Cosmic Sausages have performed thousands of times all over Europe but this is their first time at Maker Faire UK.

With a repertoire of dozens of songs, melodies and theme tunes, the Cosmic Sausages take their audience on a madcap musical tour of the world, meeting up with James Bond, Tom Jones, deranged cowboys, Cossacks and popstars along the way. Rather like travelling troubadours, the Cosmic Sausages ambush their audience with a barrage of pop classics and singalongs, mixing theatre, circus, competitions, crowd participation and wacky walkabouts.

You can buy tickets and find out more about Maker Faire 2016, as well as check out a full list of makers at www.makerfaireuk.com. Extra charges may apply for some workshops and activities.

Adult Ticket: Aged 18+: only £12.00

Child Ticket: Aged 5-17: only £7.00

Family Ticket: 2 Adults & 2 Children: only £28.00 (Save £10!) 1 Adult & 3 Children: only £28.00 (Save £5!)

Children aged 4 and under are entitled to free entry when accompanied by a paying adult.

This year’s headline supporters of Maker Faire UK are: The Reece Foundation, Northumbria University and Make Magazine.

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