Is there any substitute for professional training? Looking at the achievements of decorated innovators like Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak and Marissa Mayer, you might not think so. But in local communities it's often the self-taught engineers and makers who are making the most meaningful impact, by developing new solutions to problems they've faced or identified personally.
How are they doing it? Here are three stories of makers who are made a difference by following their own path...
Tristan Copley Smith, Aker
A cinematography and film/video production graduate, multifaceted entrepreneur Tristan Copley-Smith is the co-founder of Aker, an open source hardware project that offers flat-pack agricultural kits to help families to turn urban spaces into healthy food factories. Customers have the option to order flat-pack chicken coops, planter beds, worm hotels and more, or to download free blueprints of the designs. For those looking to build the projects at home, CNC routers are available in most cities, enabling customers to become makers. As cofounder, Copley Smith’s goal is to make food production available to everyone in order to reduce waste and promote healthier lifestyles. Boosted by a successful Indiegogo campaign, Aker showcases the continued growth in farming and sustainability in urban communities.
Anthony Hatinger, Central Detroit Christian’s Farm and Fishery
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in religious studies and a minor in horticulture, Anthony Hatinger moved to Detroit to work as Central Detroit Christian (CDC) Farm and Fishery’s production and garden manager. Built in a reclaimed liquor store, CDC Farm and Fishery is Detroit’s first functioning aquaponics operation. The basement of the operation contains large tanks holding approximately 4,500 tilapia along with a “biofilter” of worms and bacteria that turns the tilapia’s waste into nutrients for plants growing upstairs. The fish and greens are then sold to new local eateries and low-income, longtime residents at local markets. Hatinger plays a vital role in the aquaponics operation, which contributes to a citywide effort to rebuild Detroit following the city’s recent bankruptcy.
Nicolas Huchet, Bionico
Since losing his hand in 2002, Nicolas Huchet has worn a myoprosthesis, an electrical hand that can be controlled by muscle sensors. Most prosthetic hands are costly, running from $8,000 to $80,000, so Huchet wanted to find a way to create one for those who do not have access to first-world healthcare. He gathered a team of approximately 10 people, including those with disabilities, engineers and students to develop a robot hand that costs around $250 and is 3D-printed. While still a prototype, Bionico has received awards from Maker Faires in New York, Paris, Rome and San Francisco, bringing the project international attention.
Are you a self-taught maker or entrepreneur? Do you know a project or start-up that's making a difference in your local community? Can independent learning ever be an effective substitute for professional training? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...