RU Makers hold first Saturday workshop

The RU Makers Living-Learning Community hosted their first workshop of the semester in early September.

The initial workshop focused on equipment training and safety. During the workshop, students were also able to physically make an item.

The workshop covered topics such as general lab safety and safely using a jigsaw, drill and a standalone drill press.  

“The idea is to protect themselves and others first, and then the equipment,” said Professor of Physics Rhett Herman.

While at the workshop, students received sub sandwiches and were given a 6-in-1 screwdriver.

The RU Maker’s Living-Learning Community allows Radford University freshmen to gain a number of college and life-long abilities that will increase their competitiveness in the job market following graduation. The living-learning community is designed to complement the traditional classroom education.

Participants in the workshop built a square base for a smartphone microscope, which will be completed later in the fall semester.

The event kicked off a series of workshops for those specifically in the living-learning community and the MakerSpace work-study program. The topics of the remaining workshops include the creative and planning process, learning Arduino basics, learning how to use a laser cutter and creating smartphone microscopes. The workshops will take place on selected Saturdays during the Fall 2016 semester.