The PHABLABS 4.0 project consisted of 3 phases: The development phase, the test phase and the roll-out test phase.
In the 1st phase the “Photonics Workshops” and the “Photonics Challenger Projects” for fab labs have been developed, as well as the “Photonics Toolkits” up to a level where they are ready for testing. In a second phase the developed material has been tested by the 14 pilot Fab Labs and in the roll-out phase the developed material was cross-tested by the consortium, by external Fab Labs and, not anticipated, also by schools.
1) More specifically “Photonics Workshops” for Fab Labs tailored for 3 different target groups to discover, to understand and to master the enabling character of photonics and its many applications by making in a very short time a fascinating component, system or piece of art based on the unique properties of light have been developed, tested and updated. The “Photonics Workshops” introduce several important fundamental photonics principles to these target groups to ensure that each of them, at their own level, are able to harness photonics properly.
For each of the target group 11 different topics of photonics are covered by the “Photonics Workshops”. The development of the “Photonics Workshops” is done by the photonics research partners of the consortium, in collaboration with the local pilot Fab Labs.
As a result 33 appealing “Photonics Workshops” have been developed, tested, updated and are now available online to be used by European Fab Labs.
2) Next to the ‘Photonics Workshops’, “Photonics Challenger Projects” for the Fab Labs as an eye-opener to discover the wide range of applications with photonics technology and cross-KET applications, to trigger the creativity of the students and to stimulate innovation with young professionals have been developed, tested and updated.
Within the PHABLABS 4.0 project we defined and tested 11 different inspiring and thought-provoking “Photonics Challenger projects”, covering different aspects of photonics with a link to cross-KET technologies. In the framework of the “Photonics Challenger Projects”, the participants use their own creativity to design, build and test a system that will meet the goals of this activity. They also elaborate and test new ideas and concepts in the cross-KET domain. A particular emphasis is put on stimulating the participants to develop their ability for thinking “outside-the-box”.
3) Furthermore low-cost “Toolkits for Photonics-Enhanced Fab Labs” to stimulate and inspire innovation with photonics technology and components have been developed and tested. The PHABLABS 4.0 project has composed photonics toolkits for the Fab Labs to facilitate the use of photonics components in these innovation hubs. The toolkits are modular and are composed of photonics components and/or photonics tools to stimulate innovation in the Fab Labs. EYESTvzw has made all photonics components, needed to perform all Photonics workshops, available in their web shop. In addition 3 complete toolkits (photonics + other parts) identified as ideal STEM projects by teachers targeting the needs of schools are made available commercially by EYESTvzw.
4) The booklet 'a gender-balanced approach' is made available in an online and downloadable version on the project website. A hardcopy of the booklet will be included in every purchase of a Photonics Toolkit.
