Having a fab time at the Fab Lab

Graham Murdoch from the School of Education recently welcomed a group of primary seven pupils to work in the Fab Lab at the University of Strathclyde. Graham runs the Fab Lab, a space where students and pupils learn about craft, design, engineering and graphics by using a range of hi-tech resources.

The children worked on a theme related to Christmas to design and make Christmas tree decorations. Pupils used computer software to design their decorations, but also had to learn about the properties of the materials they’d be working with. Rather than choosing the material the pupils had to adapt their designs to suit the material they had been given – acrylic. They also had to master laser cutting. The pupils had to work collaboratively throughout the whole process to produce their finished pieces. To end what was an interesting and exciting day, the pupils were given a tour of the Engineering Faculty to see a range of different examples of engineering in practice.