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NASA Forward Maker Camp is an internal pilot project in creating a culture of experimentation within NASA. The intent is to provide venues where it’s safe to experiment, make, innovate, and try new things. Creating a culture of experimentation is a long term goal that will require a change in the way we approach business. This means challenging the way we plan, communicate, organize and collaborate. This is the first stop in that journey. Our motto is “fail often, in order to succeed sooner (and learn faster).” We will constantly learn from our experiments and mistakes and feed that data back into our process and projects.
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NASA Forward Maker Camp
/hypothesis
Any organization has untapped potential at every level. NASA is no different. Without specific knowledge of potential, and specific direction to tap it, opportunity is lost. A culture of experimentation can help bring untapped potential to light.
/premise
Guided by the Agency’s vision and mission*, and their local center’s role in the big picture, the NASA community can carry out small-scale projects which bring significant value to NASA.
**
Wordle.com wordcloud from text on: http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/what_does_nasa_do.html
/experiment
NASA Forward will facilitate a two-day “MakerCamp” on April 28-29, 2011* at all NASA centers, bringing together hundreds of scientists, engineers, developers and makers together to build, make and innovate on projects that are relevant to NASA’s mission.
* Dates are flexible depending on local factors.
/objectives
The purpose of the two-day experiment will be to work on a portfolio of “locally-relevant” projects, of interest to those participating. The many benefits to NASA for moving in this direction include: Offers an inclusive and engaging event for scientists, engineers, developers and makers who are interested in building and innovating on projects that are relevant to NASA’s mission
Addresses the need to produce tangible and locally relevant results
Offers opportunities to demonstrate NASA’s ability to collaborate across NASA centers without necessitating a cross-center project
Gives NASA Forward a definitive end goal that will help define themselves as a group of motivated, inspired, hard working and talented leaders within the agency
/example
At NASA Johnson Space Center, the NASA Forward Maker Camp project will be to constructing Google's open-sourced DIY immersive visualizer, "Liquid Galaxy”.
The idea is to set a prototype of Liquid Galaxy at NASA, using as many existing materials at a center as possible. If successful, we can bring the visual data (much of which originated from NASA in the first place) right to the front door of some of the most accessible buildings at NASA.
Demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atV2foTBbyE
/next steps
1. Identify a venue (cafeteria, warehouse, office building) to host the event and work with the venue to setup the event (tables, power strips, etc).
2. Develop problem statements (more on that next).
3. Communicate the event at your center (to potential participants, your direct management and organization, and your center director).
4. Trade ideas for projects, and planning, with the virtual community agency-wide*.
“Yes, I want to make this happen locally. Where do I start?”
* Other events nationwide will attempting to achieve similar awesomeness.
/problem statements
Anyone within the NASA community (CS, contractor, retiree, student, etc.) is encouraged to sign up and contribute to any project or add a new project to the wiki:
http://nasamakercamp.wikispaces.com
/final thoughts
Anyone in the NASA community can participate; there are no barriers to entry.
The event is open to both contractors and civil servants.
A general ground rule will prohibit the use of SBU or ITAR-sensitive data or hardware in this activity.
If interested, folks are signing up on the wiki and attending our planning telecons.
