KANSAS CITY, MO (January 4, 2024) - The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) is set to host a dynamic 48-hour competition in collaboration with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and Make48, taking place Feb. 2-4, 2024 at the Innovation Studio. The event will challenge eight teams of PLTW students to unleash their creativity under the theme "Stadium Experience."
The venue for this two-day competition will take place at the UMKC Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center, a thriving hub for students, faculty and the Kansas City community to engage in discussions, design projects and foster innovation. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities such as a 3D printing lab, fabrication studio, high-performance computing equipment and $3 million worth of augmented and virtual reality tools, the Plaster Free Enterprise Center is at the forefront of research and education in Kansas City.
Eight teams of Project Lead The Way students, from high schools across the region, will gather at the Innovation Studio to participate in this intense and fast-paced competition. With guidance from experienced mentors and tool techs, participants will have the opportunity to bring their ideas to life and showcase their innovative solutions. This event will mark the second time Make48 has held a competition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Christina Davis, director of program/project operations at the UMKC School of Science and Engineering, expressed enthusiasm about hosting another Make48 competition. "We are thrilled to be hosting another Make48 competition, this time in collaboration with Project Lead The Way,” Davis said. “This event aligns perfectly with our mission to foster creativity, collaboration and innovation. We look forward to seeing the incredible ideas and prototypes that emerge from this event."
Season 8 of Make48’s documentary will be filmed in real-time once the 48-hour clock starts ticking. The entirety will be filmed for distribution on This Old House Maker channel (Roku). Since its inception in 2015, Make48 has launched 25+ innovation-based competitions and has been a nationally syndicated television program with a reach of over 4 million viewers a year.
The collaboration between PLTW, Make48 and UMKC is expected to yield awe-inspiring ideas and collaborations. Make48's commitment to fostering innovation and building strong local connections aligns with the global maker movement, ensuring that the competition is not only a platform for creativity, but also a catalyst for local industry support, nonprofit engagement and collaboration with global brands and companies.
For more information about the PLTW-Make48 competition visit the competition web page at https://www.make48.com/umkc-pltw-2024. If you’re interested in learning more about the Make48 national event, please reach out to Make48’s CEO Tom Gray at tom@make48.com or communications manager Cassandra Muñoz at cassandra@make48.com.
###
About Make48
Make48 is inventing against the clock. Teams compete to develop a new commercial product in a 48-hour invent-a-thon weekend. They have 48 hours to plan, prototype and pitch a new idea, within the specifications of a challenge, determined by the challenge sponsor. Teams utilize various tools, materials, workspaces and expert guidance provided by a resource-rich fabrication workshop. They also have access to qualified expert “Tool Techs.” Tool techs assist teams with the provided fabrication tools to prototype ideas of ranging complexity. No prior invention experience is necessary. Teams create a promotional video and pitch their prototype to the judges. The winner is announced at the end of the 48-hour window.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,300 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on its mission: placing student success at the center; leading in life and health sciences; advancing urban engagement; excelling in visual and performing arts; embracing diversity; and promoting research and economic development. For more information about UMKC, visit umkc.edu.
Comments