Hundreds of makers, innovators and educators are set to converge on Lake Macquarie later this year for an Australian-first Fab Lab conference exploring innovation, creativity and technology.
FAN7, the 7th Fab Lab Asia Network Conference, will comprise five events from October 8-19, bringing together enthusiasts and professionals in the digital fabrication, STEM and maker communities from across Asia and beyond.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the conference would cement the city’s standing as a destination for innovation.
“In so many ways, Lake Macquarie is fast becoming a hub of progressive, forward-thinking ideas and projects,” she said.
“We know how important it is to embrace these concepts, harness technology and upskill our workforce to help the city thrive into the future.”
“A conference like FAN7 reinforces those aims and builds on the fine work achieved so far by our own Fab Lab and Fab Academy.”
Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the program would feature industry leaders, innovators and cutting-edge technology with workshops, presentations and breakout sessions, all held at Warners Bay Theatre.
“FAN7 is more than just a conference, it’s a celebration of making that brings together the brightest minds in the Fab Lab network and the maker community,” she said.
“We’re expecting more than 300 people to attend, with many travelling from outside the area and from overseas, so it will be a fantastic boost to our city’s visitor economy.”
Conference events will include:
- A Fab City Challenge, where teams create prototype solutions to local social, environmental and economic issues
- A Fab City Summit, providing a platform for participants to share knowledge, experiences and ideas
- A Community Festival, featuring competitions, displays and the Fab City Challenge Awards
- An opportunity to attend the partner Hunter Innovation Festival conference and showcase day
Tickets for the conference are on sale now. Expressions of interest are also open for organisations interested in getting involved. Go to fan7.fablabs.au for more information and ticket purchases.