Obama Takes Note of 3-D Letter Printed Here
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Youngstown State University’s new Launch Lab didn’t get the shout-out from President Obama that Martin Abraham had hoped for Wednesday, but the president definitely noted the letter made for him by America Makes.
Abraham, dean of YSU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, was among the guests at the first White House Maker Faire (CLICK HERE), which showcased individuals and organizations active in the maker movement.
“This event celebrates every maker -- from students learning STEM skills to entrepreneurs launching new businesses to innovators powering the renaissance in American manufacturing,” Obama said. “I am calling on people across the country to join us in sparking creativity and encouraging invention in their communities.”
“There’s a lot of good work going on, and in Youngstown, we’ve got good things happening that are the equal of anything that’s happening throughout the country,” Abraham told The Business Journal. “Our students and our population, out citizens, our community, are fully on board and fully engaged in taking advantage of the new opportunities in manufacturing at a rate that should make us proud of how our community has rallied around this new technology.”
The letter, which Abraham transported to the White House, detailed the commitment being made by more than 150 colleges and universities to provide more hands-on opportunities for young people to make things. The unique letter was “on some metal that was 3-D printed,” the president noted.
“It’s harder to file, by the way, but it’s cooler,” Obama remarked.
The letter was manufactured at America Makes in Youngstown, the first of four manufacturing hubs the president has established, and designed by Ashley Martof, a YSU intern working there, according to a statement issued by America Makes.
Among the university-based initiatives detailed in the letter is YSU’s new Launch Lab, in which science and engineering students will work collaboratively with art students to develop products.
“In today’s commercial marketplace, it is important to not only produce technically and functionally sound products, but products that also are appealing and interesting to customers from an artistic standpoint,” Abraham said in a news release issued Wednesday morning by YSU. “That’s what Launch Lab will do.”
“This initiative will serve as a launch pad for ideas,” added Bryan DePoy, dean of YSU’s College of Creative Arts and Communication. “Today’s electronic devices must look good, feel good and have some expressive meaning to them. Launch Pad will be the place where form meets function.”
The lab will include 3-D printers, machining and woodworking tools, circuit board and electronics and other equipment.
Abraham anticipated that the president might recognize Launch Lab among the programs he highlighted during his remarks at the Maker Faire, which was held in recognition of the first National Day of Making yesterday. Obama has recognized America Makes in other speeches in reference to his intention to develop other manufacturing hubs as well as during his two most recent State of the Union addresses. “Unfortunately we didn’t make it into his remarks,” Abraham lamented.
Obama did reference the four manufacturing hubs his administration already has established, “with more on the way,” he said.
Guests at the event included Ralph Resnick, founding director of America Makes, formerly known as the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. “Right now is a pivotal and exciting time for our nation as we are on the cusp of transforming the U.S. manufacturing sector into a dominant economic force due in large part to the incredible innovations and advanced manufacturing technologies available today, including 3-D printing,” he said in a statement.
“One of the key tenets of America Makes is not only to advance additive manufacturing and 3-D printing technologies, but also to educate students and train workers in these technologies to create an adaptive, leading U.S. workforce,” he continued. “This is how we grow our nation’s economy and get ahead.”
America Makes will be involved in an additive manufacturing competition being announced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration “that will challenge participants to find new ways to create safe shelters using locally available materials and constructed at the point of use,” according to a fact sheet issued by the White House.
Scott Deutsch, manger, communications and special programs, for the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining and America Makes, could not provide further details about the competition beyond the White House fact sheet.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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