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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Mini Maker Faire joins fun, math and science

Follow on Twitter as @clairegalofaro
"The human slingshot hurled a 52-pound first-grader to the top of a track, accelerating with three times the force of the earth's gravitational pull." reports Claire Galofaro, Reporter.

Brody Cherry, 6, climbed out of the cart, red-cheeked and wind-blown, and told his parents he felt like he'd zoomed to the top of a mountain and back.

Jacob Homeroski, 16, left, and Josia Stendel, 14, both on a Lexington Christian Academy sponsored robotics team work on programming their machine at the Maker Faire. Louisville makers, crafters, inventors, evil geniuses, scientists and artists came together for a day of family-friendly fun and inspiration. The fair was held in conjunction with the 6th Annual Nulu Festival held on E. Market Street. 26 Sept 2014  (Photo: David R. Lutman/Special to The CJ)

They brought their son to Saturday's Louisville Mini Maker Faire because he is considering two possible career paths: either a plasma physicist so he can design his own light sabers, or an inventor because he's got an idea for a robotic stick that can morph into any appliance its owner requires.

"This is to show how math and science can be used to build fun things, how physics and engineering can be used in an unusual way," said Bill Cloyd, founder of the Lexington-based nonprofit Newton's Attic, who built the bungee cord-powered homemade roller coaster with a group of high school students. He calls it "The Device," and brought it to Saturday's event along with a tennis ball machine gun and a pumpkin catapult.

The second annual Mini Maker Faire invited thousands of "makers, crafters, inventors, evil geniuses, scientists and artists" to East Market Street, adjacent to the NuLu Festival, to kick off the IdeaFestival. The day is meant to be a miniature version of the original Maker Faire in California, which dubs itself "the greatest show and tell on earth."

Source: The Courier-Journal
