Brainiacs Robotics

Nigerian children take on coding

Recently GE Additive announced a $10 million investment in two additive manufacturing educational programmes aimed at developing future 3D printing talent. In the western, more developed world, such an injection of capital in an emerging industry like AM is, if not expected, certainly not surprising.

The investment is all about building on the progress made in the industry over the last few years. It’s about making sure tech-savvy students have the necessary technology to innovate. It’s an investment from people who know how big a deal it is to put $10m into such a scheme to children who, won’t necessarily take the technology for granted, but have grown up not knowing a world without intelligence like it.

In less developed lands, say Nigeria, 3D printing technology is met with a sincere, earnest amazement by school children of similar age.

3D printing was introduced to children in Plateau, Kaduna and Lagos, three Nigerian states, by Brainiacs Robotics within non-resident STEMCamps. STEM, the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, has become a point of focus in African countries over recent years to advance underdeveloped countries. With additive manufacturing growing faster than ever, 3D printing has emerged as a tool within these STEM workshops set up in the earth’s second largest continent.

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Learners collaborating to build their Robotics Project

Brainiacs, themselves based in Nigeria, are firm believers in 3D printing, describing it as the future of technology and low-cost manufacturing. And the enthusiasm for 3D printing didn’t stop with the solutions provider. The technology was a hit with the kids too.

“Campers were introduced to 3D modelling using the XYZ printer. Although the younger learners struggle with the tool, they were thrilled when the final print came out,” Brainiacs commented. “Learners could see what they modelled on the computer coming out as a printed physical object they could touch.

“This is certainly the future of technology and low-cost manufacturing.”

The process of transferring the idea brewing in their minds onto a computer, for it then to be manufactured right before their very eyes, enticed the children. An element of fun and change, different from traditional teaching methods in term time, engaged the children and kept their attention. They particularly enjoyed being able to physically hold models which were a few hours earlier simply figments of their imagination.

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A 3D model being created by the children in a Brainiacs STEM Camp being printed

“It was a really exciting six weeks and we look forward to another summer vacation for another engaging STEM camp,” Braniacs continued. “We have seen young learners demonstrating skills in areas that would help Nigeria towards a ‘knowledge-based’ economy.”

Braniacs plan to expand their coverage to other areas of Nigeria, partnering with organisations both government and non-governmental. They want to give as many Nigerian children the opportunity to learn basic fundamentals of creativity and innovation using the latest tools, including those of 3D technology, enjoyed by the rest of the world.

While Brainiacs Robotics cannot inject millions of dollars into the Nigerian education system, setting children up with state-of-the-art technology to develop the next generation of innovators, they can at least introduce these children to the rudimentary concepts and abilities of 3D printing.

If the children continue to connect with it like they appear to have done so far, who knows? There might be a Nigerian GE Additive in the not too distant future.

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