MAKER’S CALENDAR
Our favorite events from around the world March • April • May
MARCH
≫ University of Illinois Engineering Open House March 9-10, Champaign, III.
The University of Illinois Engineering Open House is one of the best showcases of engineering creativity in the country. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Innovation.” From crushing cars with huge anvils to crunching numbers with tiny microprocessors, EOH is where you can see what the future engineers of the world have in mind. eoh.ec.uiuc.edu
≫ Nevada Test Site Public Access Day March 20, April 24, May 30, 65 miles NE of Las Vegas
A few times a year, the usually off-limits Nevada Test Site allows a busload of visitors to look around. A 250-mile bus tour begins in Las Vegas and takes visitors to the various nuke-created craters, the town of Mercury, and more. www.nv.doe.gov/nts/tours.htm
≫ ShmooCon March 23-25, Washington, D.C.
ShmooCon is a popular East Coast hacker convention. Those attending bear witness to some of the most devious minds, code, and gadgets focused on breaking and remaking the technology the rest of the world simply buys and uses. shmoocon.org
≫ The Texas Mile
March 24-25, Goliad, Texas
Land speed racers from around the country meet on the long, long, runway of the Goliad Industrial Air Park to test their fastest machines (motorcycles and automobiles). Some attain speeds of more than 250 mph. texasmile.com
Have a blast at the Nevada Test Site Public Access Day.
≫ O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference March 26-29, San Diego, Calif.
ETech frames the ideas, projects, and technologies lurking just below the mainstream radar. Every year, 1,200 technologists, hackers, researchers, thinkers, strategists, and entrepreneurs meet in San Diego to learn how to make technological magic. conferences.oreillynet. com/etech
≫ Rube Goldberg Contest Finals March 31, West Lafayette, Ind.
A Rube Goldberg device is any exceedingly complex apparatus that performs a very simple task in a very indirect and convoluted way. Inspired by machines drawn by the eponymous cartoonist, the contest inspires college students nationwide to design whimsical machines that require skill and imagination. A series of regional events culminates at the national championship held at Purdue University. purdue.edu/UNS/rube/rube.index.html
APRIL
≫ Edinburgh Scotland Science Festival
April 6-15, Edinburgh, Scotland
This festival features hundreds of talks, tours, and exhibitions for children, families, and adults in locations around the city. This is one of the world’s largest public celebrations of science and technology. sciencefestival.co.uk
≫ NOTACON
April 27-29, Cleveland, Ohio
A favorite of Midwestern hackers, this annual computer enthusiast conference held in Cleveland explores and showcases the technologies, philosophy, and creativity associated with hacker life. notacon.org
≫ Toledo R/C Model Show April 13-15, Toledo, Ohio
This is one of the nation’s premiere events for radio-controlled vehicle enthusiasts. Modelers and suppliers from across the nation come to this show to see the latest and greatest in R/C models, electronics, gadgets, and parts. toledoshow.com
Mrs. Ohio’s big R/C plane.
MAY
≫ Interactive Telecommunications Program Show May, New York, N.Y.
Over 100 interesting projects at New York University’s annual Interactive Telecommunications Program Show draw thousands of visitors. It’s a 2-day exhibition of interactive and unusual sights, sounds, and physical objects from the student artists of ITP. This event is free and open to the public. itp.nyu.edu/show
≫ The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
May 13-19, Albuquerque, N.M.
The world’s largest pre-college science competition, with over $3 million in awards and scholarships, will attract 1,500 top science and technology high school students representing the 50 U.S. states and 40 global countries. sciserv.org/isef
EDITOR’S CHOICE
≫ Maker Faire May 19-20, San Mateo, Calif.
It’s the big kahuna of maker-style events, sponsored by MAKE. Over 20,000 makers come together for a weekend of projects, eye-opening demonstrations, entertainment, and fun at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, near San Francisco. From robotics to electronics to pyrotechnics, it is a celebration of the maker ethos encompassing exhibits, seminars, and many hands-on opportunities. Please introduce yourself to the staff of MAKE, who will be on hand. makerfaire.com
≫ Andrews Air Force Base Joint Services Open House May 19-20, Washington, D.C.
The JSOH pulls in crowds of nearly 400,000 people. The spectacular aerial demonstrations are the biggest attractions. Typical displays include precision aerial maneuvers by the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, aircraft fly-bys, parachute jumping demonstrations, and ground displays. andrews.af.mil
≫ Jet Propulsion Lab Open House
May 19-20, Pasadena, Calif.
This event showcases JPL’s accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the laboratory’s ongoing research and space exploration. Many JPL scientists and engineers will be on hand to answer questions about the lab’s work. www.jpl.nasa.gov/pso/oh.cfm
EDITOR’S CHOICE
≫ World Championship 39th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race
May 26-28, Arcata, Calif. to Ferndale, Calif.
Art and engineering combine to produce imaginative human-powered racing machines. Thousands of spectators watch as dozens of highly beautiful and cleverly engineered vehicles resembling animals, vegetables, and giant eyeballs pedal 30-plus miles over land and water for the simple glory of winning. kineticsculpturerace.org (See page 28 for a story about last year’s race.)
≫ Atlas V Rocket Launch May 31, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
An Atlas rocket is scheduled to launch ICO North America’s geostationary satellite into orbit in late May. The rocket will fly in the powerful 421 vehicle configuration with a 4-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. kennedyspacecenter. com/launches/scheduleStatus.asp