FabLab

General information

The Ashton Community Trust and the Nerve Centre opened and operated Ireland’s first FabLab’s since 2012.

FabLab’s are a concept developed by the Centre for Bits and Atoms at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which is bringing digital disruption to education, manufacturing, employment and learning. Fab Lab's (Fabrication Laboratories) effectively allow individuals across a very wide spectrum of skills and abilities to design and build almost anything that they can imagine. At the practical level this means that users and beneficiaries are empowered to create and build items from self powering radios to laptop computers to furniture right through to the fabrication of entire houses.

The build skills required to undertake such tasks are relatively simple, using a series of machines sourced by MIT. Prior to the advent of the Fab Lab such equipment was generally restricted to research laboratories for the development of prototypes and new learning.

Fab Lab has delivered the potential of this evolving technology into the hands and communities of people outside of such institutions and opened a real world of empowered, relevant and meaningful physical creativity to all of us.

Over 400 FabLabs have now been initiated across the world, including a number in developing nations that are being used as vehicles for community empowerment, peace-building, delivery of new learning and skills and locally rooted problem solving.

The development model around FabLab is rooted in personal and community level responsibility for practically addressing physical challenges that may impact upon our lives. The shared skills development and practical problem-solving will help address the community divisions and legacy of the conflict in these areas.

FabLabNI is playing a leading role in the use of FabLabs as a tool for Digital Social Innovation and Tech for Good at community levels, working around STEM > STEAM education, Community Upskilling, Mental Health, Arts & Culture and Social Entrepreneurship.