Imagine creating a simple machine that will water your plants. Or hacking your coffee maker so that it will make coffee before you get out of bed. Artists, designers, hobbyists, and tinkerers are learning new and easy techniques to bring such projects to life.

The Dalhousie Libraries, in partnership with the Halifax Makerspace, want to get you started in the basics of electronics and the Arduino platform. Arduinos are a piece of technology that you can fit in the palm of your hand, connecting your project to electronics, giving it “life.”

Throughout March, we’re hosting Makerspace Workshops every Tuesday. Read on to learn more about what you can make.

Makerspace Workshop, Part I
Tuesday, March 10/12:00–1:30 p.m.
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part I.

No prior knowledge is necessary and we provide all the materials you’ll need. This first workshop in the series will teach you how to set up an LED that’s controlled by a small program and one that’s controlled by a dial. Later workshops will explore buttons, motors and sensors.

Makerspace Workshop, Part II
Tuesday, March 17/12:00–1:30 p.m.*
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part II.

In this workshop, we will use buttons and multiple LEDs to dive deeper into programming. Topics such as logic, binary, arrays, and loops will be covered.
*If you didn’t make it to the first session, please arrive by 12:15 p.m. so we can do a quick review of the basics.

Makerspace Workshop, Part III
Tuesday, March 24/12:00–1:30 p.m.*
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part III.

Want your electronic project to interact with the physical world? In this workshop, we’ll learn how to use a flex sensor as a mechanical input and a servo as a mechanical output.
*If you didn’t make it to the first session, please arrive by 12:15 p.m. so we can do a quick review of the basics.

Makerspace Workshop, Part IV
Tuesday, March 31/12:00–1:30 p.m.*
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part IV.

Are you looking to control something much bigger than we have worked with so far? This workshop will explore relays and motors to show how you can bring more power to your projects.
*If you didn’t make it to the first session, please arrive by 12:15 p.m. so we can do a quick review of the basics.