ATU's MakerSpace and MakerMeet unite to bring superhero workshops to life at Sligo Central Library comic con event

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) MakerSpace partners MakerMeet will bring the world of superheroes to life with several workshops at a Comic Con event at Sligo Central Library this Friday, 28 June 2024. The event runs from 11 am to 4 pm.

The MakerMeet-MakerSpace team, which promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) among young people, will run two Green Screen workshops, between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and two Cosplay Helpdesks, also at the same times.

In March, ATU officially opened its own MakerSpace on its Sligo campus while MakerSpace has also been running an outreach programme for secondary schools, showcasing the wonders of STEAM to students and introducing them to the latest technology like 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines and soldering equipment.

For the Comic Con event at Sligo Central Library, the team is excited to display their Green Screen technology, which is used in most blockbuster movies, including the worlds of Marvel’s and DC’s superheroes. It neatly fits into the MakerSpace slogan: ‘Imagine It – Create It’.

The MakerMeet-MakerSpace team is encouraging participants attending their workshop to dress up – and experience the magic of Green Screen special effects first hand. “I will be explaining to participants about Chromakey, which is the proper term for Green Screen, and I’ll be explaining how that works in terms of film, theatre and television,” says MakerMeet and ATU MakerSpace facilitator Chris Reina.

“The most famous Green Screen is that which is on every night on TV – and that’s the weather – but I’ll be explaining to them how it works and getting them to use it. So, for the sake of argument, if we get somebody who is mad into Spiderman, and they come dressed in a Spiderman costume, we can put them on top of the New York skyline.”

Of course, most superheroes wear elaborate costumes and, while many of us do not have the limitless funds of Bruce Wayne’s Batman, there are ways to create your own costumes, weapons, and gadgets – and that’s where MakerMeet-MakerSpace’s second series of workshops comes in.

The CosPlay Maker Helpdesk will endeavour to answer questions about costume, makeup, armour, and weapons and offer guidance on how best to create these props. The team is more than qualified to do so, given leather, 3D printing, glue, masks, foam, moulding/casting, paint, latex, cardboard, and metal, among others, are the materials they work with.

A self-confessed nerd who has attended various comic cons in the past, Chris says: “People don’t have money to buy all the stuff [required to be a superhero] and that is where the idea of MakerSpace comes in. You don’t need to make a big steel sword; you can make it out of foam. It can be 3D printed and painted. That is where our advice comes in – finding alternatives.”

While the goal of the MakerMeet-MakerSpace team is to highlight the benefits of STEAM – and show that subjects like science can be fun – the aim of Sligo Library is to

encourage young people, particularly teenagers, through the doors of their branches and to discover all the services available to them.

Among the other activities at Sligo Library’s Comic Con on 28 June will be a comedy magic show from RTE Junior’s Reuben the Entertainer in the morning and a Mutants and Masterminds Games Workshop hosted by Wayne O’Connor in the afternoon.

Executive Librarian at Sligo Central Library Michelle Brennan notes that MakerMeet-MakerSpace is no stranger to the facility, having run several workshops, including their Fabulous Flight and Make a Paper Circuit workshops as part of the recent Cruinniú na nÓg schedule.

“The workshops are a great way to encourage children to learn about STEAM, become aware of the MakerMeet-MakerSpace and learn at the same time in the library environment. The Sligo Library Comic Con marks the beginning of our Summer Schedule of events as part of our Summer Stars Reading Challenge,” she adds.

The workshops are free, but places are limited. 

To reserve a space, call 071-9111675 or email sligolib@sligococo.ie. To find out more about ATU Sligo’s MakerSpace, developed under the Higher Education 4.0 project and funded by Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3, visit www.atumakerspace.ie. To learn more about MakerMeet, visit www.makermeet.ie.

Stephen Glennon

Communications and Dissemination Officer

Higher Education 4.0 Project

Atlantic Technological University

Email: stephen.glennon@atu.ie

Mobile: 086-8393977