Ian Charnas: Cleveland’s maestro of the makers
We launched Think[box] Radio to share and celebrate the innovation happening at the Case School of Engineering and at Sears think[box], the acclaimed innovation center on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. We can think of no better person to launch this series than the quietly audacious Ian Charnas.
He’s director of innovation and Technology at think[box], a well-known catalyst in Cleveland’s maker scene, and the kind of engineer who can draw a crowd. How? Well, he’s founder and conductor of the Tesla Orchestra. And you should hear it—just to see it—as he evokes sound and lightning bolts from twin giant Tesla Coils.
He also gave the world the waterfall swing, again proving that engineering can be performance art. You get the idea. By blending art and technology, Ian tries to connect cool and smart in new ways. At think[]box], he’s able to offer every imaginable tool to help aspiring makers and inventors join him in his crusade. We talk with Ian about his vision for think[box], the essential ingredients to innovation, and why it’s OK to get started making a 30-cent shower curtain ring on a $100,000 3D printer.
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Think[box] Radio. Episode 1
Host: Robert Smith
Guest: Ian Charnas
Tags: thinkbox, case school of engineering, tesla orchestra, waterfall swing
Ian Charnas in the news:
“Tesla Orchestra Fuses Music and Science” – Cleveland.com
https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/09/the_two_nicks_podc
ast_clevelan.html
“Out of the (in)box: This Clevelander wants to cure your email woes” – FreshWater
Cleveland
“The Maker Movement Goes to College—Chronicle of Higher Education
https://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Maker-Movement-Goes/229473
