The aim of the competition is for the three million members of the element14 and Hackster communities to use their passion for STEM to improve a free library in their neighborhood, promoting the importance of STEM/STEM education. Participants are encouraged to blog about their project on the element14 or Hackster community websites so that other members of the online communities can learn from their experience and share their creativity.
"Free libraries are an important way to share a love of books and reading with local communities, but they haven't typically focused on STEM,"says Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media at element14. "With this design competition, we're encouraging our members to make their book exchange spaces reflect the importance of STEM education and highlight the important balance of fostering both a love of reading and the enthusiasm for creating something new using STEM skills."
The design competition is a fun way to get creative while building on or improving what is already a great community service. Potential projects could include:
- Creating a way to play a song every time a free library door opens
- Building a solar lighting system to illuminate a free library at night
- Installing a touchscreen in a free library that asks people to answer fun questions or riddles before accessing the books.
"With the 'Design Competition to Incorporate STEM Projects into Free Libraries,' we want to create an opportunity for innovators around the world to reimagine the free library as a captivating hub for STEM resources," says Jessica Tangeman, director of Hackster. "Hackster hopes to boost exploration in STEM education by inviting developers to use their engineering skills to transform a traditional free book access point into a fun and accessible representation of engineering in their local community." Let's all ignite a passion for learning and showcase the incredible creativity at the intersection of literature and STEM education.
The five best participants, groups, or community spaces with the most innovative free libraries will each receive 20 Micro:bits and a MakerShed book bundle. In addition, the winners will receive a $100 Ribbon gift certificate for their efforts in promoting STEM in their community. Build, organize, or improve an existing free library for a chance to win.
The "Design Contest to Incorporate STEM Projects into Free Libraries" is open now through September 15. Winners will be announced in September 2023.
Aratas begins operations after the spin-off of OMRON's components business
Aratas Corporation has commenced operations under a new management structure following the completion of the planned share transfer after the separation of OMRON's Device & Module Solutions (DMS) business.
The company, headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, was incorporated on July 1, 2026...
