Maker Faire Long Island, which calls itself the Greatest Show & Tell on Earth, offers fascination for all age groups on Saturday, June 6, rain or shine at Stony Brook University.
Long Island Explorium, a Port Jefferson-based nonprofit, anticipates approximately 2,000 people at the nine-year-old event. With more than 100 innovators, educators, performers, artists and engineers, it runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the university’s Student Activities Center. 100 Nicholls Road.
“Last year was the first year we hosted at Stony Brook University campus and from the feedback it was a wonderful experience,” said co-producer Lisa Collet Rodriguez.
She explained how the fair started as a show-and-tell designed to promote early STEM development and grew tremendously over almost a decade. “So, it really came out of that goal of creating experiences that engaged and excited families and people of all ages in sciences and its different forms that they wouldn’t necessarily have visualized otherwise.”
A good example is this year’s debut of new UV printing technology by Morpho, which plans to offer hands-on demonstrations. “I’m excited to see something of this sort being showcased,” Rodriguez said, noting it can print on glass, metal and more.
Returning bigger than ever is the Galactic Makers Alley, which includes lightsaber demonstrations and photo ops with costumed characters.
Wonder how to create a robot from paper? Award-winning author Kathy Ceceri, known for her book Paper Inventions, is “always a big hit,” she said.
Additionally, fire art designer Adam Foster promises a new large-scale exhibit, she said, describing his work as “always amazing.”
Other highlights are Princesses with Powertools opening girls’ STEM horizons and BASF Care Chemicals with a lip balm creation project for kids.
To round out the day, anticipate taiko drum performances and five food trucks.
Parking is free and discounts for advanced tickets are through Eventbrite.