The MakerBot crew has announced a new educational mission to put an Atmel-powered MakerBot Desktop 3D Printer in every American school.
According to Ben Millstein, the first MakerBot Academy initiative includes 3D printing bundles for classrooms, an awesome Thingiverse Challenge along with generous support from both individuals and organizations.
“[You can help] get the word out. Tell the teachers you know to register at DonorsChoose.org. Support a school [and] contribute to the effort by choosing a teacher; help get them set for the Next Industrial Revolution,” Millstein wrote in an official MakerBot blog post detailing the initiative. “[You can also] participate in the Thingiverse Challenge, develop models that teachers can use to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.”
Millstein also pointed out that the rapidly growing 3D market had caught the attention of US President Barack Obama who stated during a recent State of the Union Address that 3D printing “has the potential to revolutionize” the way we make almost everything – with America ready to host “the next industrial revolution in manufacturing.”
“We’re inspired by the President’s commitment to keep America at the forefront of the Next Industrial Revolution and we’re eager to do our part to educate the next generation of innovative makers who will keep our economy strong,” Millstein noted. “[We want to] get thousands of [Atmel-powered] MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printers into K-12 public school classrooms across the country — by December 31, 2013!”
Interested in learning more about putting an Atmel-powered MakerBot in every American school? You can check out the official MakerBot Academy page here.
Atmel | Bits & Pieces 