The ANU MakerSpace was founded around project based learning and has a strong history of supporting coursework across the ANU. We are always keen to assist convenors, including by consulting on developing project-based learning in your courses. However, due to the day-to-day demand on the spaces and staff, we are not able to accommodate all coursework support requests. We are not a bookable space, and some coursework projects will just not be suitable due to the nature or size of the project or cohort. As always, our goal is to find the best possible way to say yes!

Before finalising your curriculum and communicating to students about the ANU MakerSpace, please reach out to us to discuss what’s possible by filling out the form linked below.

The ANU Makerspace has welcomed students from at least 80 unique courses at ANU. Below are a few examples of previous (and ongoing) projects.

Students are tasked with building and modifying a sterling engine, heavily utilising the MakerSpace. This project encourages the students to explore digital and manual fabrication and exposes them to the challenges of bridging from theoretical physics to experimental physics. The plans provided typically will not work on their own, meaning students must apply critical thought and translate theory into reality if they wish to build a functional engine. Students also model the engine and measure efficiency. Past students have found this to be a rewarding experience and nothing quite beats seeing an engine they have built sputter to life for the first time.

In this course, students are challenged to utilise digital fabrication to produce some of their artwork. Several of our machines are suitable for this, and using grant funding available to the course, we were able to produce digital content (above) which not only exposed the students to digital fabrication, but primed them for accessing the space and training on our laser cutter. The process of creating printing plates using a laser cutter is unlike other traditional methods and this exposure encourages students to critically engage with the intersection between individual skill and digital fabrication.

We have consistently supported a wide array of Engineering Capstone projects, some projects spanning multiple years. Within the MakerSpace, students are able to design and fabricate solutions to their clients problems, utilising the entire array of tools, processes and expertise available.

We have also acted as a client, proposing and supporting teams to further improve the MakerSpace. For example a team of students was tasked with taking 3D printed plastic waste and recycling it back into usable raw material. Students were challenged to manage competing requirements, apply technical fabrication skills and were able to produce a viable solution, reporting to two of our resident engineers.