Maker Faire Preview: Science and Engineering 101

Science and Engineering will be at the heart of many of the exhibits and activities at this weekend's Maker Faire. Far from overly nerdy or too cerebral, many of these projects are inspiring and entertaining applications of some complex calculations. Even if math sometimes makes our brains hurt, we're excited to check out the many brainy, techy, creations that will be on display. Academy Award winning special effects and stunt coordinator Steve Wolf will be demonstrating how science is used to create special effects and help with stunts. The local chapter of the American Chemistry Society will be supervising a dozen hands on chemical activities in the Maker Kids area. Prospective scientists will be encouraged to check out the Therm Fire Sculpture Robots show complete with four flaming robots, a gigantic Tesla coil, and a turbine powered fire sculpture. Don't try this at home (or, as Maker Faire might suggest, do try it at home with the appropriate safety precautions).

Many crafty engineers with sophisticated senses of humor have come up with their own unique inventions. The human Mice'Pace maze is an exhibit with more than just a pun-off worthy name; participants will be given audio information trough the use of wireless headphones that will create a wall-less maze using only sound. A Maker team consisting of a cake decorator and a pinball ace have created a fully functioning, playable pinball cake. Maker Faire attendees with have the chance to play the machine, but not so much taste it. Two burgeoning engineers, Alex (age 12) and Isaac (age 10) have taught themselves how to hack their Wii-motes so that the A buttons glow. The brothers are offering to hack the Wii-motes of Maker Faire attendees who bring their controllers to the event.

Get your Maker Faire tickets now! In the mean time, all manner of geeks, nerds, dorks, and dweebs are working away furiously in an attempt to finally show us how extremely awesome they really are.

Maker Faire, a celebration of all things do-it-yourself, is taking place in Austin on Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th at the Travis County Expo Center. Discount tickets are available now through Friday the 17th at the Austin Children's Museum and at Whole Foods on Lamar.