The Creative Design Lab (CDL), which operates as part of NIHERST's National Science Centre in Trinidad, has been a pioneer in public education and training in innovation and invention, ‘technopreneurship’ (innovation-driven entrepreneurship) and the use of rapid prototyping technologies.
Having experienced the growing demand for training and access to these technologies, NIHERST is creating a new platform for innovation and invention, the Creative Design Lab will now operate as a Fab Lab (Fabrication Laboratory) which will provide a stronger stimulus for innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
The Lab will offer a series of in-house mini workshops to schools and the general public, workshops for families, as well as a series of robotics workshops (offered by the Robomania Lab) using various robotics kits. The lab will also offer public access to its prototyping equipment (3D printers, 3D Scanner, laser cutter, vinyl cutter) to budding entrepreneurs, secondary and tertiary level students and hobbyists. The lab will also introduce an after-school programme twice a week where students can come and experiment with various hands-on activities and projects.
The Creative Design Lab itself will cross the boundary of multiple disciplines including education, arts, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and manufacturing engineering.