Orlando Mini Maker Faire Recap!

Sorry this is so late, but we're still basking in the success and excitement of the Faire :)

We had never heard of the Maker Faire movement until a few months ago and now look at us, presenting our first team project at the one right here in Orlando!

We were extremely pleasantly surprised to have so many people of all ages and backgrounds come by and check us out!

Our project was a two-fold demonstration:

• Using household supplies to extract DNA from strawberries
• Demonstrating a very simplified DIY version of a common lab protocol called gel electrophoresis used to separate and analyze DNA

Great big thank yous go out to:

• Our treasurer, Daniel Del Favero, for putting in so much time and effort into building the gel box
• Dave Casey from FamiLAB for giving us the idea and encouraging us with enthusiasm

Project Update: Humans vs. Strawberries accepted!, FamiLAB meeting open to the public

Intellectual synergy and playful science banter was abound when we got together this past weekend to write up our proposal as per Mr. Dave Casey's suggestion. Here's our short summary: We will build a DNA gel electrophoresis chamber from common materials and demonstrate the visualization of DNA and the differences in human and strawberry genetics.

We have carefully reviewed all of the proposals for Orlando Mini Maker Faire 2013 and have selected Genetic Analysis in a Box to appear as an exhibit!

In the coming weeks you'll start receiving information on:
- Maker Agreements
- How to make a Maker Faire booth
- Fee payment information for those selling products at the event

Other news includes having a meeting at FamiLAB to discuss our group, our mission, and the idea of starting a biohackerspace around UCF. This will be open to current FamiLAB members who are interested in the bio side of hacking, UCF students who want to get in on the hackerspace movement, and anyone in the general public who want to know what all of this is about and get involved!

Everyone is welcome!
What: Meeting to discuss biohacking in Central Florida
When: Sunday, August 4th, 4pm
Where: FamiLAB
1355 Bennett Drive
Longwood, FL 32750
Unit 129

Bonus! Gordon Hollingworth, the Director of Engineering for the Raspberry Pi Foundation, will be in town for a meet-and-greet, show-and-tell Open Make at FamiLAB, and will be present at our meeting.

Project update: Invitation to Orlando Mini-Maker Faire!

We've made a new friend who is a member of both FamiLAB in Longwood, FL (Orlando area), and BioCurious in Sunnyvale, CA (Bay area)! He is strongly encouraging us to put together a simple biotech project that we can exhibit at the Orlando Mini-Maker Faire on Sat, Oct. 5, 2013 at the Orlando Science Center downtown.

This is a great opportunity for Central Florida because this will be the 2nd annual Maker Faire hosted in this area, bringing together inquisitive minds and developing the scientific community right in our own backyards. It will also be a chance for the Synthetic Biology Club at UCF to embark on our first DIY project and show everyone what we're made of!

Here's more information on the Faire itself: http://www.makerfaireorlando.com/

Stay tuned for more updates!