Teams of Makers across all ages and backgrounds came together over the weekend to hack, build, create, tinker and prototype their visions. The North Bay Make-a-Thon was a vision of Sonoma State student entrepreneur Clayton Taylor and SoCo Nexus Executive Director Amee Sas, who wanted to see what creative concepts could be designed, prototyped and presented in a weekend with the support of technology experts, engineers, metal workers and carpenters. At the kick-off, Carlos Ayala, Dean of the School of Education urged all the makers to channel their innate sense of creativity and their drive, innovation, and collaboration efforts.
Teams signed up in advance for the event; some were community members, others college students, and also high school teams, and some teams with younger kids participated. Some were building solutions to problems using a variety of technologies, while others were participating in several Sonoma Mountain Village public art challenges.
Projects ranged from high tech to low tech, and all worked to address a problem with a creative solution. One team tried to design a machine that could recycle plastic into filament for 3D printers. Another team created an app that could help you maintain your Earthquake kit. Some students worked together to program and prototype a fingerprint activated bike lock. Another team designed a 'smart coffee cup' using an RFID system, which serves to instantly place your coffee order and pay for it, helping speed up time in line at your coffee shop and encourage people stop using disposable cups (this team was the first place winner). In all there were over 30 teams participating.
After 27 hours of marathon making, the teams had the chance to pitch their ideas to a board of judges to determine who would be a finalist, and then who would walk away with a portion of the cash prize. The presentations and awards were held during the Sunday Make-a-Thon Expo which was open to the public. The event was generously sponsored by both private and public entities, including Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics, The SSU School of Extended and International Education, Autodesk, The Maker Certificate Program, Innovative Molding, Summit State Bank and more. You can see the entire list of sponsors and partners on this webpage.
Read more about the event in the Press Democrat article.
