It there is one thing that Anglo-Saxon countries just know how to do better than most other nations it is getting new generations ahead on new technologies. This is often achieved through private and public collaborations to allow young students, those who will be using (and demanding) the new technologies as professionals, to get familiar with and learn about them.
In the US MakerBot showed the way to go with 3D printing by launching its MakerBot Academy program: a crowd sourced initiative, in partnership with America Makes, to bring a MakerBot 3D Printer to as many American schools as possibile. Now it is Ion Core’s turn in the UK.
The UK based manufacturer has just launched its Ion Core STEM initiative to give UK teachers, schools, colleges and universities a chance to fundraise via their local community the costs to purchase its £2,350 (£2.850 with VAT) Zinter PRO 3D Printer, one of the nicest looking on the market, along with a free comprehensive Zinter PRO 3D Printer Education Package and additional technologies to optimize the machine’s integration in the classroom environment.
Any school can register to participate in the program, while donating and fund raising is simplified and can easily become a fun activity for the school or classroom participating, with a visual goal bar updating in real time. Ion Core’s partnership with 3D Advertiser, a new UK based additive manufacturing sector magazine, will bring £100 (donated by the magazine) towards the fundraising target of each participant.
All schools that successfully complete their fundraising will also be entered into a competition to receive a visit from the Ion Core Directors including Richard Dinan, star of E4 television show ‘Made in Chelsea’. Richard will give a talk to students about 3D printing and teachers will have an opportunity to speak to the Directors of Ion Core.
