Inside the Makerspace: Ideas, Robots and Creativity!
By Mariana Luis Castillo
4 min read · June 25, 2025
Curious about what we’re doing in the Makerspace?
Scroll on to see the brilliant (and sometimes unexpected) ideas that came to life in the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre Makerspace in term 1 of 2025!
⚠️ Warning: It can spark some inspiration!
From uni projects to startup prototypes this trimester, the MCIC Makerspace buzzed with ideas!
We saw founders refine their hardware, researchers test new tech, and students solve real-world problems with creativity, curiosity, and a whole lot of laser cutting.
🔧 Student Makers: building prototypes in class
Whether it was coursework or a hackathon, students kept the space alive with energy and big ideas.
Making Floating Ball Fountains!
Over 100 chemical engineering students designed and 3D printed custom cones to control the flow of water in a floating ball fountain.
As a part of their undergrad course work each student team had to developed a unique solution and iterated on their designs to get it just right.
🔨 Student Makers: Outside of Class!
Buildathon - Students building their own ideas!
In partnership with RAMSoc and CSESoc, Buildathon was a five-week challenge that guided students from concept to functioning hardware prototypes, all based around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The result? 192 students across 42 teams built real-world solutions, from smart waste systems to powered wheelchair modifications. It was our biggest hardware hackathon yet.
Students got a chance to showcase their creativity with purpose to a live audience.
🚲 Student Clubs and Socs: Sharing Skills
Bike-ology Society
Bike-ology is the dedicated bike repair society here at UNSW. Every monday and Friday they can be found in the MCIC Makerspace helping people fix their bikes for free.
Throughout term 1 over
40 student volunteers fixed 135 bikes for free in the MCIC Makerspace!
They logged a HUGE 457 volunteer hours helping others get back on their bikes and have access to a more sustainable way to travel.
Fun fact: Bikeology will help you fix your bike for free all you have to do is pay for any parts needed!
🔬 Researchers: from theory to testing, faster
Access to free experimentation and fabrication tools help researchers move from concept to real-world application.
Recently some amazing UNSW researchers made a solar powered hazelnut dehydrator in their work to explore how to prevent crop spoilage for farmers.
They made and tested in the MCIC Makerspace a prototype for a low-cost produce dryer that is 100% solar powered. The researchers used the laser cutting machine to make their low fidelity product and thermal imaging to see if it would work!
🚀 Startups: turning prototypes into partnerships
From early testing to MVP hardware the MCIC Makerspace is dedicated to helping UNSW startups level up fast.
Yellow Box
To help scale the Yellowbox smart locker system, founder turned to the Makerspace for a clever hardware fix.
With support from the team, the laser cut custom mounting plates and jigs allowed Yellowbox to fit into new spaces. It was a practical, precise solution, and a great example of how rapid prototyping can unlock new opportunities for growth.
Nuroflux
A portable, digital healthcare device for continuous monitoring of brain activity, perfusion and vital signs. They worked at the
Makerspace to develop the next generation of his stroke monitoring device
.
Using laser cutting and Bambu 3D printers, he refined components and advanced his design, showing how ongoing access to prototyping tools can drive healthtech forward.
Seal Good
Ocean-friendly ear plugs made from recycled plastic to address key environmental and health concerns. By reducing ear infections, they could help prevent antimicrobial resistance.
They attended the Makerspace to refine their design, prototyping with silicone moulds and high-resolution Formlabs SLA printers.
The ability to quickly test and iterate in-house accelerated her product development and opened the door to new possibilities.
ooxi
They are on a mission to make glasses accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Through hands-on support at the Makerspace and access to on-campus tools, founder Sarah continues to refine her prototype, always seeking smarter, more cost-effective solutions to help the world see.
Sarah and Simon Thomsen (Startup Daily) wearing ooxi glasses, in the background a display of her vision testing device.
Got an idea, a challenge to solve, or just want to try a laser cutter?
The Makerspace is here to help you make it real. 👉 Check out our space and get started
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