From PCB Design to Soldering Fun in the MaakBib
April was all about “International Girls in ICT Day” at De Creatieve STEM, ZieZo & MaakBib. Our mission? To show girls that electronics and hardware aren’t just for boys, but offer a world of creativity and innovation. With the support of Eurocircuits and Würth Elektronik, we traveled across Flanders for a series of inspiring workshops.
Tech in the Neighborhood: Drongen and the Antwerp “MaakBibs”
Our tour began at our home base clubs in Drongen, but quickly expanded to various public libraries in the MaakBib network. The absolute highlights of the month were the sessions at MaakBib Hoboken and MaakBib Merksem. In these bustling makerspaces, groups of enthusiastic young girls picked up soldering irons to bring their own electronic gadgets to life.
Premiere: Testing the New Flip Flop Kit
A special moment during these workshops was the maiden voyage of our brand-new Flip Flop Kit. This kit was specifically developed to explain the basic principles of binary logic in a visual way.
More in detail, the Flip-Flop Kit serves as a hands-on introduction to the world of sensors. At the heart of this circuit is a tilt sensor containing a small internal metal ball. By simply rotating or tilting the kit, participants physically open or close the circuit. It is the perfect way to explain the basics of binary logic (ON/OFF) to young makers, while they simultaneously practice their soldering skills on a professional PCB.
Thanks to the high-quality prototypes provided by Eurocircuits, the participants worked with professional printed circuit boards. For many girls, this was the first time they had seen a real PCB up close and understood how copper traces connect components. The kit was a massive success: the blinking LEDs provided instant satisfaction!
Creative Upcycling: The Nutella Tilt Lamp
To show the real-world potential of these circuits, one of our young makers, Mona, took the Flip Flop Kit a step further. By integrating the circuit into an empty, cleaned Nutella jar, she transformed a piece of waste into a functional Tilt Lamp.
Because the kit uses a tilt sensor, the lamp turns on or off depending on how the jar is positioned. This project highlights the essence of the “Maker” mindset: combining electronics and creative upcycling to build something unique and useful.
Magic Circle v02: Understanding Transistors through Play
In addition to the new kit, we worked with the Magic Circle v02. This version is more than just a fun gadget; it is built around a Darlington pair circuit. (a specific configuration of two transistors) to achieve extremely high sensitivity. This allows us to demonstrate to participants how their own bodies can act as conductors. By touching the contact points, they complete the circuit themselves, causing the LED to light up. The project is not just an interactive game; it is a powerful tool for explaining concepts such as resistance, conductivity, and the amplifying power of a transistor.
Project Spark & Code: Innovation co-funded by VLAIO
It is important to note that these boards, are developed within the framework of Project Spark & Code. This initiative is co-funded by VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and aims to create high-quality, hands-on educational tools that bridge the gap between abstract science and real-world engineering.
Affordable Innovation through Partnership
Bringing these high-tech kits to STEM clubs and youth organizations is a logistical and financial challenge. We would like to heartfully thank Eurocircuits for their ongoing support and WURTH Elektronik for providing significant discounts on components.
These partnerships are vital; they allow us to keep the kits affordable for youth who might otherwise not have the means to experiment with electronics. We firmly believe that it is through fun and hands-on play that we can truly inspire and motivate the next generation of engineers. By providing a success story today, we hope to encourage them to pursue a future in the world of STEM and ICT.
On to the next edition, with even more girls, more soldering smoke, and innovative kits!
For more information please visit the Ingegno Website.
Bring your product to market on time and within budget – join the Eurocircuits Community
