As a director and founder of Sears think[box], the largest open-access makerspace in the country, located at Case Western Reserve University, it’s no surprise that Ian Charnas likes creating things. His playful inventions, which blend science, pop-culture references and plenty of humor, have been featured everywhere from network TV to tech websites.
Creative Capacity
Charnas blends computer engineering and mechanical engineering with a healthy dose of creativity to make things like a robotic head massager, a Nintendo Gameboy powered by nuclear energy, and a real invisibility shield inspired by Harry Potter. “What I love about using creativity in math and science is being able to show that science, engineering, and building stuff are really fun,” he says.
Leveling Up
While Charnas draws on his engineering know-how to build his projects, his goal is to learn a new skill, like welding, or a new computer coding language, for each. “I’m looking for an opportunity to learn something and hopefully demonstrate technical proficiency in each of my projects,” he says.
Show and Tell
Charnas also documents the process behind each project on his 6,000-subscriber YouTube channel. The videos, which are equal parts science and silly, are used to raise money for charity, often auctioning off the invention itself and donating the proceeds. His nuclear-powered Gameboy, for example, was raffled off to support children living near Chernobyl. “The biggest value from these videos comes in the impacts that I’m hoping to make with the fundraisers,” he says.
Roll With It
Out of all his projects Charnas has a clear favorite: jetpack roller skating. Inspired by old Wile E. Coyote cartoons, where the character was propelled on skates by a jet engine, Charnas recreated the schtick, using a real jet engine he attached to a harness. “I hope when other people are watching it they’re getting the same excitement and entertainment out of it.”
