My Fabricademy¶
This is FabLass's Fabricademy site. This is where I will document my learning experience in the course.
About me¶
Hi! I’m Sherry Lassiter, co-Founder and President of the Fab Foundation. I helped architect the MIT global initiative for field on-site technology development, the Fab Lab program. As you know, a Fab Lab is a rapid prototyping platform for technical education, innovation and personal expression. The Fab Lab network today includes ~3000 digital fabrication facilities in 150 countries. Fab Foundation is a non-profit committed to building technical capacity, improving individuals’ abilities to develop themselves and their communities and bringing access to tools and knowledge that cultivate and support innovating practices. I work to enable grassroots technology development by, for and of the community.
My Background¶
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA -- the deep south, where conservatism thrives and there still exist identifiable cultures. When I reached college age, I quickly migrated to New England, to Smith College, where I earned undergraduate degrees in Economics and Theater Arts. (to what end I still wonder...) After graduating from college I worked as a financial analyst at Polaroid for a few years, moved to curating and directing Polaroid’s international art collection and photographic art grant program until 1983. At that time I landed a job in documentary television production. Over 18 years I evolved from Production Assistant to Associate Producer, Producer, Writer, Director and finally Series Producer, producing and supporting shows like Scientific American Frontiers, Discover the World of Science, Nova and the New York Times Science TV. In the year 2001 I grew tired of telling the story of technology, and wanted to participate in creating technology. That’s when I met Neil Gershenfeld and moved to MIT to program manage for the Center for Bits & Atoms. Science and technology have always fascinated me.
After taking Neil’s How To Make (almost) Anything course at MIT, I was inspired to go back to graduate school in Education, as I felt that all young learners should have the opportunity to experience this kind of learning. In 2010 I earned my Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. It was a lot of work to both matriculate in the Master’s program AND work for Gershenfeld half-time. If felt more like two full time jobs!
Here is a video of me learning… just to test documentation with video. This video was made by Scott Zitek in 2025, using my iPhone.
I am passionate about equitable and inclusive education, about hands-on, project based, experiential learning. I work to bring such programs to young people across the world, to experience the excitement of discovery and creating technology.
Previous work¶
In 2005 I took Neil Gershenfeld’s How To Make (almost) Anything class at MIT. My portfolio is here: https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.05/people/lass/Lasspage. It was an extremely difficult and time-consuming course, but one of the most meaningful and rewarding I had ever experienced. HTMAA opened the black box of technology for me, and allowed me to participate in creating technology. It was an extremely powerful learning experience, as I pulled for knowledge when I needed it, and applied it right away -- “just in time” learning rather than the traditional “just in case” learning I experienced in my younger years.
Heart Throb¶
Heart Throb was my final project, a wearable device, populated by ultrasonic sensors that registered interest in you by reaching out when you came close to me. It was completed, but documentation missing (no time!). The heart has become my banner logo for technology and its use in the world over these last 25 years.
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My Heart Throb sketches, 2005
Want to Learn More?¶
Here is a MoonMakers video from FAB26 this summer about educating the next generation of great minds:
On facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2298790847327408
On tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonmakersoficial/video/7670921029371366664
Here is an Awarepreneurs podcast I did a few years ago about Fab Labs, innovation and social impact: https://www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast/332-social-impact-leaders
And here’s an older magazine interview:
https://evolution.skf.com/us/the-fabulous-sherry-lassiter/