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Fermentation Workshop

We are very excited for our upcoming fermentation workshop! We will be doing hands on work to create various ferments while providing an explanation for how fermentation works, and the various fungal and bacterial processes involved. It is our hope that participants can take this knowledge home with them (along with the ferments made during the workshop) and introduce the Jacksonville community to the magical world of fermentation! All details are included on the flyer posted above.

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Bringing biotech into schools

Hello, my name is Andreas,

I am a researcher in biotechnology from Austria (Europe) and I am visiting Gabriel and Sci-House for a few weeks. I love how easy modern biotechnology has become and think it should be accessible to everyone, so that power is not concentrated to big companies only. We should all benefit from the newest technologies that make our lives better. When Gabriel asked me to join him visiting a school and giving a workshop, my answer was immediately yes.

The classroom was filled with lots of kids age 14-17, who come from a difficult background. We brought Foldscopes, paper microscopes that have up to 400-fold magnification and can be assembled very fast, and they are very cheap as well. The kids were very receptive and successfully built the microscopes. Afterwards, we went outside to collect samples such as lichens, grass, mushrooms, etc. The microscopes worked great, and the kids loved it.

Afterwards, we had an AMA session. We talked about biology, 3D printing, organ printing, mesh nets to provide internet to the poor and much more.  One child even told us that this was the best science experiment he had done in his life so far. Knowing that there is much room above, we plan to come back, maybe with a 3D printer. Showing this kids technology seems very crucial, as it may enable them to create a better world in their surroundings.

It’s only a drop of water on a hot rock, but it sure feels great to show people a world in which everything is possible and the sky (may) be the limit.

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Our next Meetup and our first class!

Next week will be a busy week for us with lots of exciting things happening. To kick off the week we’ll be hosting our second Meetup at the space and all are welcome and encouraged to come on by. The Meetup starts at 6pm on Tuesday June 13th and we’ll be demoing a little bit of everything. From receiving images directly off of weather satellites, to RaspberryPi and arduino, to bacterial nanocellulose, there’s something for everyone.

LINK TO THE MEETUP
The day after, June 14th, we’ll be running our first class at the Jax Public Library. The class will be focused on plants and plant biology. Everyone will go home with their own basil plant and we’ll be covering everything you’ll need to know to keep your plant happy. We’ll also be going over some plant biology so you can learn how plants work, starting at leaves and going all the way to the cellular level. The class is for everyone and anyone who’s interested and is an all ages event. So come on down! The class will start at 11:30 and run till around 1:30.

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Don’t forget the Meetup, Tuesday May 30th

As you can see on the calendar, we’re closed today in observance of Memorial Day.

However, we will be open tomorrow for the Meetup at 6pm.
Please come down and see what we’ve been working on and what we have to offer you.

Enjoy your BBQs and we’ll see you tomorrow.

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Closed due to weather

Due to the inclement weather, we’ll be closed today and will instead be open tomorrow! Stay safe everyone.

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We’re hosting our first meetup!

On Tuesday May 30th, we’ll be hosting our first meetup and doing a few demos. From hobbyists to science enthusiasts there’ll be something for everyone. It’s totally free to attend and everyone is invited!

Some of the things we’ll be demoing include:

• Using an SDR and home made antenna to receive NOAA weather satellite images

• RetroPi projects

• IoT and Azure IoT

• Bacterial grown Kombucha leather

• Wood electrification

• Pallet structure building

• Vertical gardening

•  and More!

Meet the Makerspace staff, our areas of expertise, and how to become a member, and the benefits of membership.

https://www.meetup.com/scihouse/events/240220569/

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We’re Officially Opening for Business in Jacksonville!

 

As of tomorrow, Friday May 5th we’re officially opening our doors for the first time! We’re based out of Mixon Studios and have three rooms: a wood shop, an electronics space, and our biology lab.

If you’ve always wanted to make something out of wood, be it a bird house or a cello, then our woodshop is the place for you. We’ve got the tools, materials and expertise to help you with whatever project you’re looking to build. If electronics are more your speed, or you want to add a sensor to your birdhouse to monitor food levels, then our electronics space is just the place. Or maybe you just want to learn about plants or microbes. In that case our biolab will have everything you need to get you started.

 

The day before mothers day, Saturday May 13th, we’ll be hosting our first event at the space. Behind the studio is a gorgeous greenspace where we’ll be building a big vertical farm using only salvaged materials. Plants have been generously donated by The Green Spot and we’ll have everything from delicious edible plants, to fragrant flowers, to potent medicinals. If you’re interested in sustainability, gardening, or just want to hang out and help us build things, then come on down.

Once it’s complete and it’s done growing, everyone who visits will be able to enjoy fresh herbs and vegetables.

Our woodshop is now finished being put together and it looks beautiful. Do you have something you’ve always wanted to make out of wood? Then come on down and we’ll get you set up! The electronics room and bio space are still being set up, so they won’t be available till next week, but you’ll get a taste of what they’ll be like when they’re ready.

 

What kind of things would you like to see at the makerspace? Let us know in the comments.

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Building plasma devices (fusion reactors, sputtering systems and more!)

Plasma is by far one of the weirdest states of matter that we regularly interact with. It’s made of a soup of charged particles that behave like a fluid but can be manipulated using both electric and magnetic fields. Under the right conditions it can be used for everything from nuclear fusion to semiconductor manufacturing. What most people don’t realize is that building a system that can use plasma is actually very easy. We strive to demystify the technology behind these processes so that more people can get excited about it, and also to show what’s possible even on a very low budget.

 

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Learn microbiology the fun way by learning how to brew

When we learn about biology, it’s often in the abstract. Memorize these pathways, know these structures, etc etc. But biology doesn’t need to be so cut and dry and learning the basics can actually be really fun! Easily the best way to get used to the techniques required to do microbiology is to try brewing wine. To brew properly you must learn most of the same techniques that you’d need to work with almost any other microorganism, but it has the benefit of requiring only cheap starting materials and working with an organism that’s neither picky nor dangerous. Learn how to brew and some simple microbiology here:

 

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Collecting wild species for bioremediation in the Brazilian jungle

Something that’s very important to us here at Scihouse is bioremediation. Our planet is in a sorry state thanks to the activities of our species and so we’ve made it one of goals to help in any way we can. One way we’re doing that is through the development of new bioremediation techniques. Some of the most powerful bioremediation tools are the thousands of fungal species that live in the ground. They’re capable of breaking down all sorts of pollutants and can sometimes even be used as food. They also play a vital role in rebuilding soil and helping plants to grow. So where better to find interesting species to experiment with than the Brazilian rain forest! The biodiversity there is immense and almost everywhere we looked there were dozens of plant and fungal species. Here’s a quick look at that trip: