The Fab Foundation

Fab Foundation expands investment in STEM education across the U.S

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Support from Aramco broadens the Fab Foundation reach in Washington D.C. area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2026- Washington D.C. —

The Fab Foundation is supporting K-12 STEM education by providing its Fab-in-a-Box kits for sites across the Washington D.C area. These mobile low-cost, high impact, digital fabrication kits, generously funded by energy company Aramco, provide access to rapidly evolving technology and applications including digital design, 3D printing, and computer programming essential to the future workforce.

The mobile units are currently available in the following DC-area locations:
Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC)
District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL)
McKinley Technology High School
National Building Museum

Additionally, with Aramco’s support the Fab Foundation rolled out a personalized professional development program designed by the organization’s education outreach team for the group of educators who will then integrate the new technology into their curricula.

Fab-in-a-Box is an all-in-one, mobile solution for hands-on digital fabrication education, built to suit a wide variety of learning environments. Featuring a laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, electronics kits, materials, and an integrated computer with design software, each unit has the core capabilities of a professional-grade digital fabrication workshop—in a single, portable package.

With the custom-curricular activities provided by the Fab Foundation, the group of D.C. educators using Fab-in-a-Box will be ready to put their students on a path to pursue their career interests in technology and advanced manufacturing. Historically, these tools have been prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to most students and educators.

Adding Fab-in-a-Box to the learning environment gives students a chance to acquire valuable skills at a young age that will help spark their interest in STEM careers. This new initiative also opens doors to collaboration and networking for students and educators. In joining the Fab Lab Network, they become part of a dynamic, worldwide community of makers and innovators who share ideas, collaborate across disciplines, and grow together.

The Fab in a Box units are now operational at all participating locations, bringing hands-on digital fabrication tools directly into classrooms and community spaces. The public is invited to see the units in action on April 18 from 1 to 3 p.m., during a STEAM Saturday at the National Building Museum, where the Fab Foundation will showcase live demonstrations and hands-on activities. The event is free to the public. Pre-registration is available but not required to attend.

With its U.S. headquarters located in Houston, and offices in Detroit and Washington, D.C., Aramco is proud to support STEM education initiatives in its operating regions.

Fab-In-A-Box is powered by seed funding from the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT and The Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks.

About Fab Foundation The Fab Foundation is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2009, spun out of MIT’s Center for Bits & Atoms. Its mission is to democratize access to digital fabrication tools, knowledge, and resources—empowering people around the world to learn, innovate, and create. Today, the Fab Foundation supports a global network of nearly 3,000 digital fabrication laboratories (Fab Labs) in over 160 countries, fostering grassroots innovation and community resilience.

Investing in the Future of STEM Education Across the United States

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Advancing National STEM Education

Investing in the Future of STEM Education Across the United States

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In a continued commitment to strengthening K–12 STEM education in the United States, Aramco has partnered with us to expand access to hands-on digital fabrication learning across the Washington, D.C. region. Through this collaboration Aramco has supported the deployment of five Fab-in-a-Box units to a diverse set of learning environments, including high schools, a youth center, a museum, and the public library system, extending STEM opportunities well beyond traditional classroom walls. The Fab-in-a-Box kits were deployed at Columbia Heights Education Campus, McKinley Technology High School, the Latin American Youth Center, the National Building Museum, and across the District of Columbia Public Library network. Together, these sites represent a broad ecosystem of formal and informal learning spaces, ensuring that students and educators throughout the city can engage with advanced manufacturing tools in accessible, community-centered settings.

Educators from the Washington D.C. area participate in a Fab Lab training session to learn how to use digital technologies in support of STEM education.

In addition to the equipment deployment, Aramco supported a personalized professional development program delivered by our education outreach team. This immersive training equipped educators with the skills, confidence, and curricular strategies needed to integrate digital fabrication technologies directly into their teaching practice, empowering them to bring project-based, student-centered learning into their classrooms and programs.

Fab-in-a-Box is our all-in-one, mobile solution for hands-on digital fabrication education. Each unit includes a laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, electronics kits, materials, and an integrated computer preloaded with design software, providing the core capabilities of a professional-grade fabrication workshop in a single, portable package. Supported by custom curricular activities, participating educators and students gain a clear pathway toward proficiency in advanced manufacturing and creative problem-solving.

Adding Fab-in-a-Box to these learning environments gives students a rare opportunity to develop critical, technical and creative skills at an early age. Just as importantly, participation connects educators and learners to the global Fab Lab Network: a worldwide community of makers, innovators, and technologists who collaborate openly, share knowledge, and grow together.

As Aramco continues to expand its portfolio of STEM education initiatives throughout the U.S. nationwide, the Fab Lab Network offers a powerful platform for scalable, community-driven impact. Through this partnership, we are advancing shared goals of socioeconomic development, workforce readiness, and equitable access to technology and knowledge.

The Fab-in-a-Box initiative aligns seamlessly with Aramco’s broader commitment to education and community investment. Through collaborations like this one, we are expanding access to advanced tools and hands-on, project-based learning, equipping students with the skills required by the modern workforce and empowering them to thrive in the future. We look forward to seeing how this partnership continues to grow in the years ahead.

Fab-In-A-Box is powered by seed funding from the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT and Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks.

Caterpillar Foundation Collaborates with Fab Foundation to Bring Advanced Digital Fabrication Technology and Training to Decatur Public Schools

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Caterpillar Foundation Collaborates with Fab Foundation to Bring Advanced Digital Fabrication Technology and Training to Decatur Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 7, 2025 - Decatur, IL —

United by a shared vision of collaborative innovation and education, the Caterpillar Foundation and the Fab Foundation are working together to expand access to digital fabrication technology and equip students with the necessary skills to excel in STEM careers. Since 2022, the Caterpillar Foundation has provided more than $1.3 million to support STEM education initiatives led by the Fab Foundation in communities across the United States and internationally. Aiming to advance Industry 4.0-aligned skills, the latest step forward in this collaborative effort puts an exciting new innovation directly into the hands of teachers and students in Decatur, IL, with the help of the Decatur Public Schools Foundation (DPSF).

From September 29 to October 1, educators from MacArthur and Eisenhower High Schools gathered at Thinkwell Makerspace for an intensive training session focused on teaching with Fab-in-a-Box. An all-in-one, mobile solution for digital fabrication education, the Fab Foundation’s latest creation brings a hands-on, project-based approach to STEM learning in the classroom. Featuring a laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, electronics kits, materials, and an integrated computer with design software, each Fab-in-a-Box unit has the core capabilities of a professional-grade digital fabrication workshop. And with the inclusion of custom curricular activities authored by the Fab Foundation, educators have at their fingertips everything needed to set their students on the path to proficiency in advanced manufacturing.

“With the introduction of Fab-in-a-Box, students will learn critical skills to help prepare them for STEM careers, and educators can feel more empowered and confident in teaching STEM curricula,” explained Sherry Lassiter, president and chief executive officer of the Fab Foundation. “The goal for this initiative is to open new doors to opportunity, both personal and professional. By joining the Fab Lab community, these educators and students become part of a powerful, worldwide network of makers sharing ideas, collaborating across disciplines, and learning together.”

On October 2, after three full days of professional development facilitated by the Fab Foundation’s education outreach team—which included assembling the units, learning to use each machine, and co-developing interactive lessons to incorporate this technology into classroom instruction—participating educators had the opportunity to unveil Fab-in-a-Box to a lucky group of their students during a community event held at Eisenhower High School. There, students were able to see and put their hands on the equipment for the first time. In a live demonstration, they used the computer and laser cutter to create custom gliders from balsa wood and then showcased the outcomes of their design decisions with live test flights before the gathered audience. In addition to familiarizing themselves with some of the technology featured in the Fab-in-a-Box kits, students learned about the four forces of flight and some key aspects of the engineering design process.

Three Fab-in-a-Box units have been provided to the two high schools and will be integrated into their curricula throughout the school year. Managed locally by DPSF, this program is expected to dramatically increase engagement in STEM programming and expose young people in Decatur to numerous real-world applications of the theories underpinning this learning, enabling them to make almost anything that they can imagine.

“Both school district leadership and our teaching cohort are thrilled to incorporate Fab-in-a-Box within our curriculum,” said Zach Shields, executive director of the Decatur Public Schools Foundation. “Encouraging STEM-focused career exploration is of paramount importance to us. Engaging students through creative classroom and extracurricular experiences represents the core mission for our organization, a mission the Caterpillar Foundation has supported significantly over the past decade-plus. This collaborative Fab Foundation venture signifies another meaningful step to spark student interest in STEM-related jobs available to them in the future. We are extremely thankful to participate.”

“At the Caterpillar Foundation, we believe that investing in innovative solutions like the Fab-in-a-Box is investing in the future of our communities,” said Asha Varghese, president of the Caterpillar Foundation. “Over the past three years, the Foundation’s collaboration with the Fab Foundation has empowered hundreds of students across the country with hands-on STEM experiences. We’re proud to continue this momentum in Decatur—building on the Foundation’s historical collaboration with the Decatur Public Schools Foundation.”

As a combined force, the Caterpillar Foundation, Fab Foundation, and DPSF are working to build a stronger, more resilient, and sustainable community in Decatur. By expanding access to advanced technology and hands-on STEM learning, such programs offer students a real opportunity to get an early start on acquiring the skills needed to participate fully in the modern workforce and, thereby, thrive well into the future.

About Caterpillar Foundation Since its founding in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to help improve the lives of people around the world. As a company, Caterpillar works alongside its dealers and customers to build the societal infrastructure needed to make the world run. The Caterpillar Foundation focuses on the complementary human, natural, and basic services infrastructure needed for individuals to thrive and communities to be resilient. Learn more at caterpillar.com/foundation and on LinkedIn.

About Decatur Public Schools Foundation The Decatur Public Schools Foundation is a privately-funded, tax-exempt organization. Its mission is to acquire and distribute resources to Decatur Public Schools to enhance, enrich, and encourage learning opportunities for its students, staff, and community. It is directed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and operates independently to generate financial and in-kind support for District #61 in Illinois.

FAB25 — Best Research Paper Awards

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

FAB25 — Best Research Paper Awards

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Each year, as part of the annual FABx Event, an open call for relevant academic research is sent out to the community. The FAB25 research papers stream included original scholarly writing from researchers studying the Fab Lab movement, its ambitions, and its impact from a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, engineering, science and technology studies, business and management, education, urban studies, media and design, and many more. After careful review, the winning papers have been selected.

Presenting the Best Research Papers of FAB25:

Winner

Winner of the FAB25 Best Paper Award is Tomas Vivanco with his contribution on “Hyperlocal Bio-Hygienic Technologies.”

This is a compelling and robust paper framed as research through design (RTD), exploring sustainable, hyperlocal alternatives to mass-produced hygiene products by leveraging indigenous production techniques and locally sourced biomaterials from four distinct Chilean bioregions. This research proposes a decentralized model for personal hygiene product development that considers local materials, heritage, and communities, aligning with ecological and cultural sustainability. From a review perspective, we consider this to be a well-grounded study that is clearly rooted in bioregional sensitivities. It is more than simply exploring local and ecological materials; it presents a study that is strongly contextualized locally and very well positioned within current research to make a clear and strong contribution to Fab Lab research.

First Runner-Up

First runner-up is Jessica Stanley with “Opportunities and considerations for flexible electronics fabrication using a vinyl cutter.”

This is a study probing flexible electronics. Jessica points out to us that this is something that’s not really seen widespread uptake in Fab Labs. She describes in minutious detail two different fabrication methods for flexible PCBs. Jessica puts her research in the wider context by comparing the methods to standard techniques. She also gives an overview of projects and techniques that are available inside Fab Labs and outside of Fab Labs. From a review perspective, we see this as a very valuable and practical contribution to the Fab Lab community, demonstrating accessible methods for flexible electronics fabrication. The novelty lies in the practical adaptation and optimization of existing techniques for community use. This type of contribution is essential for advancing digital fabrication accessibility.

Second Runner-Up

Second runner-up are Jan Peuckert, Victoria Wenzelmann and Gerrit Rüdebusch with “Measuring the Impacts of Fab Labs: A Review of Quantitative Research and Evidence.”

This paper is an examination of the academic literature around Fab Labs and their scientific impact, especially talking quantitatively. As a systematic literature review, the paper summarizes the findings from several hundred studies, which is really handy. The review uses the Fab City Full Stack as a framework, mapping the studies to seven interconnected layers, from local production technologies to global knowledge sharing, which reveals what researchers are studying when they’re talking about quantitative impacts and also, importantly, what they are not studying. The results indicate that there is room and need for more research. From a review perspective, we appreciate the rigor with which this study was conducted and presented and also how the authors consider the notion of impact across quite a wide variety of different types of literature. This is clearly a relevant study and topic for everyone here as researchers and practitioners.

Congratulations to all winners, and thanks to everyone who contributed to the growing body of research on the impact of the Fab Lab movement. Thanks, as well, to Peter Troxler and Cindy Kohtala for their continued service to Fab Lab research, their diligent review of this year’s submissions, and their contributions to this article.

All research papers presented at FAB25, in Brno & Prague, Czechia, July 4-11, 2025, can be found here: https://zenodo.org/records/16789442.

FAB25 Czechia — A Look Back

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

FAB25 Czechia — A Look Back

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FAB25 Czechia was absolutely one for the record books! Hosted in two separate regions of the country, with travel between them taking place on a special train reserved exclusively for conference participants, the event planning itself was a logistical feat. But the fact that attendees, partners, and stakeholders consistently expressed that FAB25 represented the highest-quality event in all of FABx history means that the incredible amount of effort put into preparation paid off in a big way for everyone involved. It was a truly impactful conference.

Here’s a snapshot of the event, by the numbers:

8 days of riveting event programming
2 beautiful cities—Brno and Prague—connected by a one-of-a-kind Maker Train (a fun opportunity for socializing and networking within a set space and time)
4 eye-catchingly impressive venues
172 technical workshops, featuring 700+ hours of engaging hands-on content
5 lively networking parties
2,100+ attendees overall, coming from 53 different countries around the world
10 scholarships awarded to help Fabbers across the globe attend the event
188 Academany graduates representing four separate distributed education programs (Fab Academy, Fabricademy, MDDI, and Fab Learning Academy)

When they weren’t busy making, networking, or simply enjoying their time in Czechia, participants had a chance to hear from a star-studded cast of speakers who shared exciting news on a broad range of topics. Here are just a few of our favorite moments from the week:

Our very own Sherry Lassiter, President & CEO of the Fab Foundation, related a touching tale about the evolution of Fab Labs over the past quarter century.
Neil Gershenfeld, Director of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms and the founder of the Fab Lab movement, wowed the crowd with an impossibly succinct breakdown of quantum science.
Czech architect Walbert Schmirler discussed his work designing and planning the biggest makerspace in Czechia.
Bas van Abel, founder and CEO of Fairphone, shared his experience of scaling ethical tech.
Dale Dougherty, founder of Make Magazine and Maker Faire, dropped some knowledge on the state and future of the maker movement.
Camila Luna, one half of the dynamic duo, Moon Makers, explored what it really means to learn in the digital age.
And, during a day dedicated to the ever-evolving technology of 3D printing hosted by Průša Research, Josef Průša gave a captivating keynote on the benefits and challenges of open-source technology in the modern global economy.

Don’t worry, anyone who couldn’t join the fun in person can catch all of the streamed content from Brno and Prague on our YouTube channel.

Closing out the big week, conference attendees and the general public gathered at the Prague Exhibition Grounds for the Fab Festival—a day-long celebration of creativity, innovation, and the DIY spirit. The vibrant event was free and open to anyone who wanted to discover a new world of opportunity. Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed a diverse showcase of workshops and exhibitions demonstrating how digital fabrication opens up new possibilities in art and design and how these innovations can solve real-world problems, support local manufacturing, and support community collaboration. There could hardly be a more fitting way to conclude the 21st annual Fab Lab Conference & Symposium.

We’re so grateful to everyone who made this such a memorable and successful event. It would not have been possible without the tremendous collaborative effort of all of our partners, supporters, organizers, and presenters. And, of course, that effort would have been entirely meaningless without the enthusiastic participation of every person who joined us in Czechia for FAB25. Thank you!!

If you weren’t able to make it this year, we sincerely hope that you’ll join us next summer for FAB26 Boston, as we’ll be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Fab Labs in the place where the historic movement first began. Save the date now: July 27-31, 2026. And we’ll see you there in a year!

Growing the Global Fab Lab Network

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Growing the Global Fab Lab Network

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At the Fab Foundation, we take our role as a steward of the international Fab Lab Network quite seriously, speaking often and proudly of our work in this area. A less touted but equally important service that we offer is the design and deployment of Fab Labs. In our commitment to growing and strengthening our network, we welcome the chance to build new multidisciplinary spaces that are designed to address the unique regional needs of our diverse community.

“While less visible than some of our other work,” observes Luciano Betoldi, Vice President & COO, “the deployment services we offer directly address the very core of our mission: to support the growth of the global Fab Lab Network.” Over the years, our international team of experts, led by Luciano and Jean-michel Molenaar, Senior Deployment Manager, has managed the deployment of more than 100 Fab Labs worldwide. Recently, we had the honor of bringing a new Super Fab Lab to life, which marks our first project at this scale. This is a proud moment for the team and an occasion that opens the door for new opportunities across our community.

“Setting up this Super Fab Lab allowed us to develop our knowledge around more advanced tools and machines,” explains Jean-michel. “It also helped us form important new relationships with manufacturers and vendors. Thanks to this project, we’re now better positioned to create more—and more diverse—Fab Labs around the world.”

Of course, this isn’t an accomplishment that we celebrate alone. With Charlotte Super Fab Lab, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earns the distinction of being the first public university in the US to establish a Super Fab Lab. The Charlotte Super Fab Lab project has been a major undertaking, requiring years of strategic planning from numerous stakeholders. It was made possible through Engineering North Carolina’s Future, a 2022 initiative by the North Carolina General Assembly. Rob Keynton, Dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering, secured funding through the initiative and oversaw the Lab’s development. And three other gentlemen deserve considerable credit for shepherding the facility to its successful opening this spring.

Terence Fagan, Ph.D., Associate Teaching Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science in the William States Lee College of Engineering, is Charlotte Super Fab Lab’s Founding Director. David Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of Software and Information Systems in the College of Computing and Informatics, serves on the steering committee and acts as a critical thought partner—or, in his words, “a general instigator”—for the project. “This place wouldn’t be what it is without David,” says Terence, upping the ante. “All the advice he’s given us is much appreciated; he’s been a godsend.”

Having collaborated in multiple makerspace and Fab Lab environments in the past, both are well-versed in the ways of the Fab Lab Network, which prepared them for most, if not all, of the challenges that they would confront along the path to establishing Charlotte Super Fab Lab. And for some of those unexpected issues, the team did themselves a big favor by hiring Jeremy Losaw to help with operations. A relative newcomer to both the realm of higher education and the Fab Lab ecosystem, Jeremy brings deep industry experience to his role as the Super Fab Lab Specialist. “Hiring Jeremy was one of the best things that we did,” enthuses Terence. “He has all the experience we were looking for, and he’s been a really good fit.”

“Jeremy brings together the necessary skill sets and the visioning,” adds David. “His experience and mindset are very important, especially for the Super Fab Lab, where we are trying to give people a real taste of the industry. His professional connections have also been a great asset in that regard.”

Another asset that Jeremy brings to the table is enthusiasm for simply doing good work. “People think I’m crazy,” he confesses, “because we have all the equipment we could ever possibly need here, but I keep saying that what we really need are more problems to solve. We have the mentality and the capability to build whatever we want with the tools that we have. So, I want to make sure that we solve the right problems.” There could hardly be a better distillation of the core Fab Lab ethos than that. And Jeremy already appears to be fully invested in the ways of the Fab Lab Network. At the time of this writing, he is mere days away from completing his Fab Academy course, helping to put the final touches on Charlotte’s application for a Fab City designation, and preparing his keynote presentation for FAB25 Czechia.

Given the makeup of the Charlotte team, it’s no surprise that this collaboration has been an unqualified success. “Since this was our first time doing a deployment like this from A to Z,” observes Jean-michel, “we were lucky to work with Terence and David—and later Jeremy. They weren’t just clients waiting for us to complete the work; they actively worked alongside us to find the best options when questions arose. It was a true pleasure to dive into the broader vision of the Lab together.”

David echoes this sentiment: “I don’t think there’s any other way that we could, or should, have done this. The experience and perspective that the Fab Foundation team had from previous installations—even if they hadn’t done a Super Fab Lab on their own before—was invaluable. They presented great rationale when discussing certain trade-offs in the selection of different equipment. We would not have been able to achieve nearly the lofty heights that we have without that level of involvement.”

Yet, the creation of a Fab Lab itself is really just the first step of a journey that typically unfolds across a timeline of multiple years. Now that Charlotte has cleared the initial hurdles, the real work can begin. Terence shares his view for the future of the Lab: “We wanted to build a different culture here, so we began by looking at what other makerspaces were doing. We toured Georgia Tech, and I was really impressed with what they do down there. They have about 20 makerspaces on campus; all of them are run by students. The students run that space completely. I was like, ‘That needs to be incorporated into our culture.’ I really like that approach because it creates ownership of the space by the people it’s designed for.”

Jeremy adds further color to this vision: “We’re not the first maker space on this campus by any stretch. But I think we’re a different animal. We’re not just a service; this is a place that can offer real value and be a force in itself. This university is all about giving students relevant experiences and a hands-on education, especially with respect to engineering. If we can provide opportunities for students that go beyond A’s and B’s and C’s—give them touch points to real-world problems—we can make a real impact on their journeys.”

With its arrival upon the world stage, Charlotte Super Fab Lab joins a distinguished group. There are just a handful of Super Fab Labs in operation at this point—in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Kerala, India, and Thimphu, Bhutan—each with the technical capacity to produce digital fabrication equipment, enabling the establishment of homegrown hub-and-spoke networks throughout a regional footprint. “The completion of this project represents a new evolution in our portfolio of offerings,” explains Luciano, “augmenting our capacity to deploy research-grade fabrication facilities and paving the way for Fab 2.0.” These facilities also have the tendency to attract the right kind of attention and inspire broad community involvement. And, as David shares, this is already beginning to take shape in Charlotte: “The Super Fab Lab effort has really done a fantastic job of pulling together and connecting different threads at the outset, acting as a kind of catalyst for innovation and bringing people across different areas together. There is a lot of energy, a lot of connection, a lot of creativity, and a lot of innovation that is already blossoming out of this nexus.”

As the team maps out novel ways to facilitate technology-driven research across the campus, develop industry partnerships throughout the region, and add their energy to the groundswell momentum of the Fab City Global Initiative, Charlotte Super Fab Lab is poised to make an immediate and lasting impact on the world. Congratulations are in order to all involved in this project for reaching an impressive milestone. We can’t wait to see what comes out of Charlotte in the years ahead!

Fab Month 2025 in Review

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fab Month 2025 in Review

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Fab Month is a free, online, annual event—held throughout the month of April—offering a platform for knowledge exchange to promote collaboration and drive the continued advancement of the international Fab Lab Network. It’s an excellent opportunity for members of our widespread community to come together and discuss how they’re exploring cutting-edge technologies to tackle local challenges or scale global impact within their unique contexts.

Fab Month 2025 Stats

1 month
3 sessions
20 presenters, representing 14 countries
140+ registered participants, representing 47 countries
130 organizations represented across the global Fab Lab Network

Open Forum. Bold Ideas. Real Impact.

In the first session of Fab Month 2025, we learned about a number of projects prioritizing Local Impact & Community-Driven Innovation. Speakers demonstrated how Fab Labs can be instruments for social impact; how they can empower individuals and communities to create needed solutions to local challenges; and how they can be the basis for regional and global networks tackling issues related to healthcare, economics, sustainability, and much more. Importantly, they centered people as an essential component of all possible solutions—even when the work relies heavily upon technology. Taken together, these themes dovetail perfectly with the efforts of our partners at the Fab City Global Initiative and their annual Fab City Challenge—an initiative designed to address some of the most pressing social, environmental, and economic issues around the world. It’s no surprise, then, that many of our Fab Month presenters have been enthusiastic participants in those Challenges over the years.

Session two was dedicated to Emerging Technologies and Scaling Impact, with content very much focused on how to involve and help as many people as possible with innovative uses of technology. Presenters shared data-based solutions to promote mobility, access, and inclusion, nature-based solutions to treat chronic health problems, and community-based solutions to overcome persistent societal beliefs that prevent young people from pursuing STEM careers. An underlying theme of the day was a desire to change mindsets, compelling everyone to consider new possibilities.

The final session of the month explored Education for a Rapidly Changing World. Presentations framed Fab Labs as key spaces for the promotion of hands-on, creative, experiential STEM learning with the power to revolutionize digital education and simultaneously break down systemic inequities in technical career paths. With projects that aim to build empathy in learners by demystifying electronics, incorporating game design, and centering both climate change and immigrant perspectives in future urban planning, speakers shared how they and their colleagues are preparing the next generation of innovators to confront the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These deeply informative and engaging sessions add so much value to our ongoing work. We are honored and privileged to have such a knowledgeable group of colleagues who are willing to contribute their voices and experiences to this effort for the sake of growing our communal knowledge.

Our sincere appreciation goes out to Rico Kanthatham, Sarah Dominguez, Jair León, Max Matus, Adriana Cabrera, Mats Derißen, Nils Kreft, Roberto Gallo, Tom Sobolev, Pushpaleela Prabakar, Parshav Sheth, Jessel Irazu Luna Padilla, Dan Mwine, Pradita Pradhan, Saverio Silli, Lamiaa Nail, Léon Reboul, Aniruddh Mali, Tami Belhadj, and Bonheur Itangishaka for sharing their bold, innovative, and impactful ideas with our community.

Thanks also to every one of you who attended Fab Month 2025 and actively participated in these delightful presentations with your supportive comments and insightful questions. We hope to see you all again next year!

Those who were unable to attend the live sessions may find recordings of the full Fab Month playlist on our YouTube channel.

Fabricademy — The Future of Textile Innovation

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fabricademy — The Future of Textile Innovation

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(Left: Joselyn Ingabire, Novel Local Fiber to Accessories, Fabricademy Rwanda | Middle: Germarilis Ruiz, Bioluminescent Terrarium, Fabricademy Barcelona | Right: Erika Mirzoyan, Interactive Illustrated Book of Armenian Folklore Stories, Fabricademy Armenia)

Our friends at Fabricademy have been very busy lately, exploring the cutting edge of fashion tech and material futures. And they’ve got so much more in store for everyone who’s interested in the intersection of textiles, digital fabrication, and biology.

Class of 2024-2025

The 2024–25 cycle concluded in April, with a global cohort of innovators pushing the boundaries of soft fabrication, material research, and open innovation. Student projects covered an expansive range of topics and methodologies, including interactive art installations; open-source digital weaving looms; biomaterial experiments using human blood; the sustainable reuse of human hair; bio-based coatings; and digitally hand-crafted leather molding. The variety and quality of their work is simply stunning.

Check out an interactive feature of 40 unique final projects from the graduating class.

And take a deep dive into MagnaLiber—a fascinating experiment for magnetically reactive clothing, developed by Fatemeh Mollaie.

Bootcamp 2025

Although they’re still celebrating the success of their latest round of graduates, the team is already setting its sights on their next goal. The Fabricademy Bootcamp 2025 will be held in Brussels, May 18-24, hosted at the Green Fabric node. A week-long program, this session gives participants a chance to familiarize themselves with a variety of themes and disciplines, such as sustainability; circular and modular fashion; textile recycling; digital knitting and embroidery; biomaterials design and mycelium-based composites; e-textiles; wearables; and soft robotics. And, at the end of the week, students will showcase their projects at the international Maker Faire Brussels 2025, along with a curated selection of the final projects from the course.

FAB25 Czechia

The Fabricademy team is also gearing up for a strong presence at FAB25 Czechia this summer. Any participant who is interested in learning their methods and exploring the program’s key topics will be able follow the Fabricademy track of workshops and talks, including:

An Open Source Circular Fashion workshop focused on laser cutting fabrics and making zero-waste modular clothes—a must for anyone interested in learning textiles digital fabrication
A FabriXiao workshop with a custom breakout board for wearables using the Xiao, in collaboration with Fab Lab León
A Soft Robotics workshop covering quick and easy prototyping of inflatables and understanding air flows
A Fabricademy working group looking into the future of the program and discussing the implementation of textile and material research into Fab Lab agendas
The 11th annual art and fashion exhibition, showcasing final projects from Fabricademy students and presenting local designers who work with digital fabrication, textiles, and biodesign—held at the Fab Festival in Prague

2025 & Beyond

Amid all the other excitement, Fabricademy has also opened enrollment for their next cycle of classes. The 2025-2026 session begins in September and will run for six months from Fab Labs all around the world, blending global insights with locally tailored, real-world problem-solving interventions. The curriculum integrates practical learning with systems thinking, helping learners address current challenges in the textile and fashion sectors through responsible and regenerative approaches.

At Fabricademy, students make groundbreaking discoveries in biodesign, circular design, electronic textiles, wearable technology, bio-based sustainable solutions, and more. The program welcomes applicants from many fields, including art, design, engineering, and science. Anyone with a strong interest in fabrication, sustainability, and emerging technologies looking to apply their perspectives to new materials, processes, and production methods is encouraged to apply today.

Participants may attend the program at any one of the active Fabricademy Nodes across the globe or from the convenience of the lab or makerspace that’s closest to them. And for those in or near Montreal, Fabricademy has just announced a wonderful scholarship opportunity through their partners at the échofab node. If interested, submit your application along with your portfolio and motivation letter before May 31!

We’re super excited to see what the Fabricademy class of 2025-2026 produces!!

(Huge thanks to Anastasia Pistofidou and Claudia Simonelli of Fabricademy for their contributions to this post!)

Fab Month 2025 - Call for Proposals

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Open Forum. Bold Ideas. Real Impact.

Read 3 min

After a wildly successful inaugural run last year, Fab Month returns for its second edition to share the journey, impact, and innovations of the global Fab Lab movement. This free, online event—held throughout the month of April—offers a platform for knowledge exchange to promote collaboration and drive the continued advancement of the international Fab Lab Network.

Fab Month 2025 will be an open forum, where anyone, anywhere can share their experiences and insights. As we prepare to celebrate 25 years of the Fab Lab movement, this is a great opportunity for all members of our global community to come together and discuss how they’re exploring cutting-edge technologies to tackle local challenges or scale global impact within their unique contexts.

Got a bold idea to propose, an inspiring story to tell, or a game-changing project to highlight? Share it with our online audience of over 2,000 viewers. Submit your proposal today!

Format: This year, the lineup will be composed of a series of 5-minute talks within 1-hour sessions, each dedicated to a specific theme. To accommodate our diverse international audience, all presentations must be conducted in English.

5 Key Themes

1. Local Impact & Community-Driven Innovation

How Fab Labs address real-world challenges
Case studies of Fab Labs making a difference in their communities

2. Circular Making

Ethical making and open-source solutions for inclusive innovation
Projects leveraging sustainable biomaterials and tools to empower communities

3. Emerging Technologies in the Fab Lab Ecosystem

AI, robotics, and biofabrication in digital making
Tech-driven solutions for healthcare, climate action, and sustainability

4. Education for a Rapidly Changing World

Integrating digital fabrication into schools and universities
Skills development for the workforce of the future

5. Scaling Impact: Global Collaboration & Networks

Cross-border partnerships for knowledge sharing
Lessons from collaborations with governments, NGOs, and industry

The call for proposals is open now. Submit your proposal here!

Submission deadline: March 17, 2025

In Praise of People Power

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Praise of People Power

Read 5 min

We often speak about the importance of technology in the work that we do, but that should never obscure the simple truth that the Fab Foundation and the entire Fab Lab Network run on people power. We are operated by the people, for the people. And in recognition of that fact, we’re pleased to shine the spotlight on someone who has been an essential part of our community-oriented identity since the very beginning of our journey. Join us in celebrating Pamela King, a pillar of the Fab family and a key player in our mission-driven work to build equitable, inclusive, and sustainable futures for all.

Before the Fab Foundation even existed, Pamela was working alongside Sherry and Neil to help spread the concept of Fab Labs beyond the walls of MIT. They first met in the late ‘90s, when Pamela was involved with community education programs at the South End Technology Center—a Boston institution in which her father’s legacy still looms large. Mel King was a community activist of legend who helped organize residents in Boston’s historic Tent City to push back against the displacement of Black families amid urban renewal in the late ‘60s. Years later, he would establish the South End Technology Center directly across the street from that same housing development to continue serving his community and building opportunity for the underserved. In 2003, this became the site of the first public Fab Lab.

Her father’s reputation certainly casts a long shadow, but Pamela has managed to carve her own path over the years, even as she’s carried forward the family mantle of social justice. “If he was here today, he’d tell you, out of all his kids, I’m the more independent and more rebellious, not afraid to speak my truth,” she says with a smile. “My father never wanted us, his children, to just follow in his footsteps. He wanted us to be independent thinkers and do what made us happy. That’s not to say that we didn’t learn a lot from him.” So, in addition to teaching computing classes at the South End Technology Center, leading workshops on digital embroidery in their Fab Lab, and helping to coordinate other programs, she struck off on her own, finding unique ways to put her talents to work in service of the Black community and other under-resourced populations—all the while developing a suite of administrative skills that she would bring to bear on future work.

Pamela officially joined the Fab Foundation in 2013, during its infancy, and enjoyed the distinction of becoming employee #1. “I did a bit of everything, from ordering Fab Lab equipment to assisting with fiscal operations,” she reflects on those early days. “Around that time, Chevron had awarded a $10 million contract to build several labs in their catchment area throughout the US. So, we helped build labs all across the country. Of course, we were also building labs in other countries around the globe, bringing more people into the Fab Lab Network, bringing everybody together and sharing these tools.”

It’s fair to say that Pamela was instrumental in helping us find our footing in the beginning, setting the Fab Foundation on a positive trajectory. She actively supported the growth of our community and the impact of our work on a global scale. Yet, it’s perhaps her involvement with under-resourced populations in the Boston area—including cultural programming, youth education, workforce development, women’s health research, skills training for the formerly incarcerated, community organizing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing a safe space for local residents—that best speaks to the quality of her character and her concern for humanity. Through years of selfless dedication, Pamela has made an indelible imprint upon the world. However, she remains humble regarding her influence. “I’ve never really thought too much about the mark I’m leaving,” she confesses. “I just hope that, whatever I’ve been able to offer to people, it’s been helpful for them to move to wherever they want to be.”

But it would be a mistake to interpret that humility as a reluctance to keep fighting for what’s right. “I’ve always been in the community,” she reminds us. “I have to do something to be active and to be involved.” And, reflecting on the political and social tensions of the moment—in which dramatic changes threaten to unravel years of social progress on many fronts—she adds a much-needed dose of positivity to the broad conversation. “This is just another tide that we have to ride. But we’re resilient. If we let negativity into our lives, then we’re not going to get anywhere; it just eats at your soul. I’ve got to keep positive. As Jesse Jackson said, ‘Keep hope alive.’ I won’t allow whatever’s coming down the pike to stop me. We can’t fall down. We’ve just got to keep moving forward in what we’re doing and help others along the way if we can. You support each other, lean on each other, and life will be fine.”

It’s a good reminder that the struggle for a more just and equitable world reaches way back into history and must be approached every day with renewed vigor. As we celebrate Black History Month and consider the work still to be done to effectively remove barriers to opportunity for marginalized communities everywhere, we want to express our profound gratitude to Pamela, her brother Michael—who now runs the South End Technology Center and will soon be partnering with us on an exciting youth education initiative—and, of course, their late father for their many contributions to the Fab Lab Network, the Greater Boston community, and people in need all around the world.