NASA is hosting a two-day MakerCamp event at all NASA centers to bring scientists, engineers, and others together to build and innovate on projects relevant to NASA's mission. The goal is to work on locally-relevant portfolio projects of interest to participants in an inclusive and engaging way. As an example, one project at NASA Johnson Space Center is to construct an open-sourced immersive visualizer to bring NASA data to the front door of accessible buildings. Anyone within the NASA community can participate and contribute projects to the online wiki to help plan the event.

1. NASA Forward Maker Camp

2. /hypothesis Any organization has untapped potential at every level. NASA is no different. Without specific knowledge of potential, and specific direction to tap it, opportunity is lost. A culture of experimentation can help bring untapped potential to light.

3. /premise Guided by the Agency’s vision and mission*, and their local center’s role in the big picture, the NASA community can carry out small-scale projects which bring significant value to NASA. * * Wordle.comwordcloud from text on: http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/what_does_nasa_do.html

4. /experiment NASA Forward will facilitate a two-day “MakerCamp” on April 28-29, 2011* at all NASA centers, bringing together hundreds of scientists, engineers, developers and makers together to build, make and innovate on projects that are relevant to NASA’s mission. * Dates are flexible depending on local factors.

5. /objectives The purpose of the two-day experiment will be to work on a portfolio of “locally-relevant” projects, of interest to those participating. The many benefits to NASA for moving in this direction include: Offers an inclusive and engaging event for scientists, engineers, developers and makers who are interested in building and innovating on projects that are relevant to NASA’s mission Addresses the need to produce tangibleand locally relevant results Offers opportunities to demonstrate NASA’s ability to collaborate across NASA centers without necessitating a cross-center project Gives NASA Forward a definitive end goal that will help define themselves as a group of motivated, inspired, hard working and talented leaders within the agency

6. /example At NASA Johnson Space Center, the NASA Forward Maker Camp project will be to constructing Google's open-sourced DIY immersive visualizer, "Liquid Galaxy”. The idea is to set a prototype of Liquid Galaxy at NASA, using as many existing materials at a center as possible. If successful, we can bring the visual data (much of which originated from NASA in the first place) right to the front door of some of the most accessible buildings at NASA. Demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atV2foTBbyE

7. /next steps “Yes, I want to make this happen locally. Where do I start?” Identify a venue (cafeteria, warehouse, office building) to host the event and work with the venue to setup the event (tables, power strips, etc). Develop problem statements (more on that next). Communicate the event at your center (to potential participants, your direct management and organization, and your center director). Trade ideas for projects, and planning, with the virtual community agency-wide*. * Other events nationwide will attempting to achieve similar awesomeness.

8. /problem statements Anyone within the NASA community (CS, contractor, retiree, student, etc.) is encouraged to sign up and contribute to any project or add a new project to the wiki: http://nasamakercamp.wikispaces.com

9. /final thoughts Anyone in the NASA community can participate; there are no barriers to entry. The event is open to both contractors and civil servants. A general ground rule will prohibit the use of SBU or ITAR-sensitive data or hardware in this activity. If interested, folks are signing up on the wiki and attending our planning telecons.