The University of Texas at Arlington prepares for Oct. 8 unveiling of new, state-of-the-art Fab Lab
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The University of Texas at Arlington opens the Fab Lab, a state-of-the-art Fabrication Laboratory featuring cutting-edge technology for research in digital fabrication and data visualization, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Central Library.
Students, faculty, staff and community members will have access to nine 3-D printers, a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, 3-D scanners, and digital media software and hardware in a robust learning laboratory.
The $200,000 project is funded largely by the University and UT Arlington Libraries resources and by a $10,000 grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. It is one of 400 Fab Labs around the world to be recognized by the MIT-based Fab Foundation.
UT Arlington President Vistasp Karbhari said the project is well suited for a modern, 21st century, urban university and will provide faculty, students and University partners access to technology that inspires innovation.
“The UT Arlington Fab Lab will allow our students and faculty to engage with cutting-edge technologies that foster creativity and new ways of thinking about the way we use data and envision design, among many applications,” Karbhari said. “We applaud leadership of the UT Arlington Libraries for having the vision to bring the Fab Lab to our University community, and we look forward to exploring all that is possible through this initiative.”
Fab Labs provide widespread access to modern means for invention, such as 3-D printers. The labs began as an outreach project from the Center for Bits and Atoms at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Fab Labs are similar to more well-known makerspaces, but emphasize collaborative learning as well as creation and fabrication.
“While other schools in Texas offer 3-D printing, UT Arlington was the first University of Texas System school to offer unfettered 3-D printing to all students in a real way, meaning they did not need faculty permission or an associated project to use the printers,” said Rebecca Bichel, dean of UT Arlington Libraries.
“What we quickly realized is that providing advanced creative technologies is not enough. Users need access to expertise to transform innovative ideas to real-life projects and products. That is the innovation that we are proud to provide.”
Two library staff members and a team of UT Arlington students will help Fab Lab users bring their concepts to life, using 3-D software and hardware, as well as other cutting-edge fabrication tools. One employee will focus on outreach and developing partnerships, while the other will be an expert machinist.
The library also is building partnerships with industry mentors and faculty in a range of disciplines to create class assignments and hands-on learning opportunities for students.
Khosrow Behbehani, dean of the UT Arlington College of Engineering, said the new Fab Lab opens a multitude of possibilities for students at UT Arlington.
“One of our strengths is preparing our students to meet the demand for engineers in Texas, across the region and globally,” Behbehani said. “In addition to the College of Engineering’s state-of-the-art design and fabrication facilities, the Fab Lab will provide students with additional opportunities for innovative thinking, hands-on learning, and cross-disciplinary collaboration for prototype development that will result in academic and business enrichment.”
Libraries have long been a community hub for learning, socializing and collaborating. Bichel said locating the UT Arlington Fab Lab in Central Library will democratize access to advanced technologies for students across majors and classifications. Inventors will be able to draw upon world-class research and academic support services in the same location.
Distance and online students can participate through telepresence robots.
“We are just truly excited to offer students and others, whether physically present or connecting across the Internet, an opportunity for industry collaborations, peer mentoring, prototyping and simulations, and the reinforcement of creative skills needed for innovation and entrepreneurship,” Bichel said.
For more information about the UT Arlington Fab Lab, email FabLab@uta.edu or call 817-272-1413.
About UT Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution and the second largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UT Arlington as the seventh fastest-growing public research university in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more. Follow #UTAdna on Twitter.
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