Creating Makerspaces: For Electronics, Arts, Engineering, and More

Carolyne Godon worked as a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania's Bioengineering Educational Laboratories and was instrumental in establishing the lab as a Bio-MakerSpace.

Sevile Mannickarottu worked as a design engineer before taking over management of the University of Pennsylvania's Bioengineering Educational Laboratories. Seeing the need for an open space for "making" and learning through making, Sevile turned the lab into Penn's first open MakerSpace, and one of the few Bio-MakerSpaces in the world. Students from across the University have used the space to work on projects and launch successful startups in a variety of fields. Sevile currently serves as the Director for Technological Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Michael Patterson has worked in the University of Pennsylvania's Bioengineering Educational Laboratory for nearly a decade, moving from undergraduate to full-time staff member. Michael worked closely with Sevile to transition the Educational Lab into a thriving Bio-MakerSpace and was instrumental in the creation of lab automations. Michael currently serves as the Lab Director of the Educational Lab.