After more than a decade of building projects, tearing down hardware, and educating viewers on electronics components and products, element14.com, an Avnet community, is approaching its 500th episode of element14 Presents. As a special way to mark the occasion, element14 is inviting global community members to help design its ‘Build Inside the Box’ challenge to support STEM Education.
The special 500th element14 Presents episode will look similar to many popular TV cooking shows in which chef contestants must create a palatable dish using a random selection of ingredients they are given. element14 has chosen three hosts from around the world to Build Inside the Box – competing against each other to create something original using everything they are given in a box.
“Over the past 10 years, element14 Presents has reached designers and engineers across the world with an informative content series focused on educating our community on electronics components and products,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for element14. “We’re excited to engage our community members and challenge three of our favorite element14 Presents hosts to be quick on their feet and think creatively for the special 500th Build Inside the Box episode.”
‘The Box’ will have six to eight key components that must be incorporated into contestants’ projects. element14 is looking to its community for suggestions on what components should be in ‘The Box’. Community members are encouraged to share ideas for what components will keep this challenge interesting via element14.com by 7 May.
‘The Box’ will also be available for members to win or purchase so they can compete in a simultaneous member challenge.
The element14 Presents contestants will be competing for electronics hardware prizes and a shopping cart that will be awarded to a local STEM organisation of their choice. The three participants of the ‘Build Inside the Box’ challenge are:
- Clem, a maker and 3D printing enthusiast, who is taking up the challenge on behalf of George Schibranj. George is a teacher who gets his students into electronics with his initiative ‘Fabrik8’. Created in 2016, Fabrik8 aims to give the best possible 3D printing education and support of enthusiasm for electronics in pupils of all ages to aid with requirements for getting work in the industry.
- Katie, an electronics engineer and mother of two, is competing to support TECgirls, a group in Cornwall, UK, dedicated to changing the lack of women in technology, engineering and the creative areas by encouraging participation at the college, secondary and primary school levels with the goal to inspire engagement as early as possible and help girls realise that technology is open to all.
- James, known widely as ‘The Bald Engineer’, is competing on behalf of DePaul University’s $1,000 Makerspace Program which pairs high schools in Chicago and the metropolitan area with the tools, training, and curriculum for teachers to integrate maker-centered learning into the classroom. The winning bundle will be distributed in conjunction with curriculum for teachers to use in covering the basics for students to learn 3D printing, CNC routing, electronics, programming, and development for the Internet of Things.
The 500th episode of element14 Presents will be airing on Friday, 28 May. Members of the element14 Community will be able to watch it at element14.com/presents.