Making solutions for your challenges
UWA Makers is a group of students coming together to combine a passion for design, 3D printing,
machining, electronics, microcontrollers, software, creative thinking and innovation to solve a range
of problems for the UWA research community. The cost is a little of your time....the rest is on us!
We’re looking for Expressions of Interest from those of you with:


Challenges within existing research projects that might be solved with UWA Maker expertise
(see above) or;
Big vision challenges – ones that you might not be able to get funding for as they may be
considered “development” but projects that have inherent problems needing some smarts
and innovation to solve them.
Who we are: We are students (Makers), supported by academics, external engineers, innovation
experts and the Makers-Mentor (you, who provide the challenges). Students are arranged in teams
with skills to apply to each problem. Teams consist of the Makers-Mentor, Senior Makers (who run
the space and lead the project) and Associate-Makers who contribute, learn and work their way up
to being senior-makers.
The UWA Makers process: Below is an outline of the process from the next step for you, the Maker
Mentor, submitting a project idea:
What’s the cost: Only Time! To you the problem-giver,
we need your time as a mentor. That means meeting
with your team at least 1 hour per week and being
active in the Maker Space. Without your guidance and
input in this format, iteration to the best solution can’t
occur.
Maker Mentors
Expression of Interest
Project Shortlist and Selection
Maker Group Formation
(1 Senior Maker + Associate Makers + Maker Mentor)
Where we are: We’re located in Mechanical
Engineering but we embrace engineers and makers
from all over including the BloomLab initiative
Maker Project Initiation
Time to Make
(3 months – 12 months) Agreed @ Project Initiation
Where’s the value: For you, the Makers-Mentor,
Make or Break
Solution Presentation and Prize Awards for Makers
getting a solution is the clear value. For our students,
they value having a lab to create, and mentors to learn
Maker Group Wrap Up
from and build networks with. We want to develop a
passion for engineering and problem solving in our
students, independent of any unit/course at UWA. We encourage our Makers (students) to try to
move some of these ideas into a start-up venture, and we will work with the maker-mentors on IP
ownership. Our plan is for the team projects to be presented to an industry panel at the end of the
year (from 2016) with a prize for the team with the best solution(s) (complete or incomplete).
How to get involved: If you have a project and you think we might be able to assist, complete the
attached expression of interest and send to [email protected] by Friday 23rd October. Please
appreciate we have limited capacity and will be selecting initial projects based on the highest need
and potential impact. Depending on demand we will endeavour to let you know by 30th October if
your project has been shortlisted and will be in touch if we require further information or feedback.
For further information please email: [email protected]
Makers Mentor
Expression of interest:
Please email reply by Thursday 29th October COB to [email protected]
Name: _________________________________________
Email:
_________________________________________
Mobile: _________________________________________
Faculty: __________________________________________
School: __________________________________________
Availability to meet Makers: every few days / weekly / fortnightly / monthly
Challenge description:
Please provide a description of the challenge or problem here by providing an outline including,
background, anticipated outcome or impact from a solution and any other relevant context.
Best thoughts on a solution path (if any)
The way forward might be..………….
When is solution needed by:
Short term
Medium term
Long term
Blue sky
3 months
6 months
12 months
>12 months