Mini Maker Faire Action: Roboroaches and Monowheels in Santiago

It’s summer in the southern hemisphere and the very first Latin American Maker Faire will be happening in just a few weeks at a beautiful park in front of the Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile.

Santiago Mini Maker Faire has over 40 confirmed makers from Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, and Mexico.  The fair is being organized by members of STGO Makerspace, a one year-old maker space in Santiago.

STGO founder Tiburcio de la Carcova has had an interesting ride over the last year, courtesy of his initiative and maker movement momentum.  He had tools, 3D printers, laser cutters—but no maker community.  “So I first I found a great partners (Macarena Pola and Alejandra Mustakis) and then the place,” says. “Then I found a old abandoned factory and signed the lease without any idea of what we will do.”

The maker space has taken off over the last year.  “There are many active groups and communities and every day someone new comes showing up their projects or connecting their spaces. People building 3D printers or electronic kits. At our maker-space we have three ideas that turned into companies.”

A video game entrepreneur, De la Carcova is impressed by the growth of the Maker Movement.  “I’m feeling the same way that I felt in 1994 about the internet. I’m sure that we are seeing something big, that will change our lives, but we don’t know yet how.”

Given De la Carcova’s and STGO’s trajectory, it’s no surprise a Maker Faire would be one of the next steps. A few of the makers showing at the Santiago Mini Maker Faire over December 15/16 include:

• Backyard Brains (“neuroscience for everyone!”) will be showing their kits and demoing the “Roboroach.”
• The Chilean FIRST robotic team and the LEGO lunar X Prize Moonbots. Visitors will have the chance to drive the robots.
• A very cool Arduino-controlled robot hand kit by maker Sergio Seguel.
• The monster dreamer machine.
• A retro computing gaming museum and a special workshop on learning pinball electronics.
• Three new DIY organic robots by STGO members, Bestiario.
• Laser cutters, 3D printers, workshops, and more.

Then there’s Tomás Preece’s monowheel. Apparently Preece will also have on hand a no-less-dangerous but more eco version he made recently of wood and polycarbonate.

So much excitement in South America, but don’t forget:

• Maker Faire Tokyo (Japan): December 1 & 2
• Maker Faire UK (Newcastle, UK): April 27 & 28, 2013
• Houston Mini Maker Faire (TX): January 19, 2013
• Mission Mini Maker Faire (San Francisco, CA): January 27, 2013
• Las Vegas Mini Maker Faire (NV): February 2, 2013
• Tyler Mini Maker Faire (TX): March 23, 2013