The Westminster College Department of Chemistry will host Dr. Robert LeSuer for the 18th annual Ken and Nancy Long Chemistry Lecture at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, in the Dietz Sullivan Lecture Hall in Westminster’s Hoyt Science Center.  

LeSuer’s presentation, “Creativity on the Canal: The Early History of Brockport's First Makerspace,” will explain the story of “It Begins in Brockport (IBiB),” a community makerspace founded in 2023 in Hart Gallery 27 located in the village of Brockport, N.Y. 

IBiB originated when SUNY Brockport wanted to build a lab for digital fabrication. The original idea then grew into a vibrant hub for creativity, STEM education and intergenerational learning while serving the community through outreach and events. Tools like 3D printers, an electronic workbench, a laser cutter and a CNC mill are used in the space for projects. University and community donations along with member funded tools, help the space offer free workshops to the community.  

LeSuer believes having access to creative and technical spaces is essential for lifelong learning in all communities.   

“Many small-town makerspaces cannot survive due to a variety of factors, one of the biggest being the population density. My approach has been to start small, engage in outreach and focus on strengthening the community instead of growing quickly,” said LeSuer.  

The makerspace hosts and creates events for the community such as a sumobot exhibition. Sumobots are small, autonomous robots programmed to push one another out of a competition ring. Competitors build their sumobots and customize their fight strategies.  

IBiB also introduced their Maker Cart at a local festival, where attendees had the opportunity to construct their own boats using components from the cart. Instructions guided them through making the mast and assembling the motor. Budding engineers used their creativity to construct the hull using recycled materials. 

“Every community—big and small—has creative people who want to share their skills and enjoyment of creating with others. My hope is that strategies I’ve implemented in Brockport can be translated to other communities and help them flourish,” said LeSuer. 

Presented by Westminster’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the lecture series is funded by Dr. Ken Long, Westminster professor of chemistry emeritus and his wife, Nancy, and invites chemists to speak with students on campus. The event is free and open to the public. 

 For more information, contact Dr. Pete Smith, professor of Chemistry, at 724-946-7299 or smithpm@westminster.edu. 

More Stories