On a given Saturday at the museum you may encounter a group of avid tinkerers in the Turbine Hall.

The local chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC 31) has had a long relationship with OMSI. For almost two decades the group has been coming to OMSI to maintain and repair the antique Oregonian Clock in the Turbine Hall mezzanine.

Members share a love of both timekeeping and community service. Some are collectors and hobbyists; others repair clocks and watches for a living.

In Science Playground, we love to keep our senses engaged and our minds open to exploration by playing with sensory materials such as flubber and playdough. If you have been to our space at OMSI, you might have noticed that we are not the only ones interested in playing with these types of materials.

Build. Break. Make. Indeed. OMSI and Multnomah County Library’s Awesome Teen Advisory Council (A-TAC) demoed their inventive hearts out at Portland’s first Mini Maker Faire.

The teens used MakerBot Replicators to 3D print mustache rings and space invaders, and an EggBot to personalize ping pong balls. Let’s just say visitors to the A-TAC table did not walk away unhappy. Over 5,000 visitors came to OMSI to view the many inventions on display.

Ever since we announced the Portland Mini Maker Faire, the two responses I most often get are "YES, finally!" and "What the heck IS a Maker Faire?" Folks who have been to a Maker Faire in the past or even just heard reports know Portland is a great town to host one, and sure enough nearly all the makers we're showcasing this weekend are from the Pacific Northwest. But those who haven't heard of Maker Faire may need a little background.

Similar to the medieval markets of a well fortified village, craftsmen, artists, builders and people who know the business end of a trebuchet are getting together in just a few weeks to show off their mad skills. Unlike the good old pre-industrial age, though, this faire has a decidedly tech inclination, with robot builders, Arduino programmers, 3D printers and a whole mess of folks who do cool things with LEGO bricks demonstrating what their eclectic organizations and businesses are up to.

As hot weather creeps towards Oregon, the thoughts of many turn to usual summer pastimes: swimming, hiking, barbeques, and of course, ice cream! Beyond the love affair with our taste buds, there’s a lot of cool science behind this sweet treat. Keep reading to learn what makes ice cream so sweet and smooth, and how you can make it at home without any fancy equipment!

OMSI is excited and proud to announce the inaugural Portland Mini Maker Faire at OMSI September 15 & 16. While it’s only a short eight weeks away we couldn’t wait any longer to show and celebrate the fabulous maker community we have here in Portland and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Plus, as us Oregonians know, the weather won’t hold out much longer before we’re back in rainy season so why not end the summer right?!