MakerBot Wants To Put 3D Printers In Every School In America With MakerBot Academy Initiative

Makerbot is ready to make the push beyond hobbyists, makers, and engineers and into the schools, exciting and educating the next generation of kids about 3D printing. The company, which is now owned by Stratasys, announced an initiative to put a MakerBot 3D printer in every school in the country.

The MakerBot Academy initiative is a partnership with America Makes and Autodesk, and the group has lofty goals in mind--namely, ensuring that the next industrial revolution happens in the U.S. and is driven by the innovations of 3D printing. MakerBot cited President Obama’s call to action in the State of the Union address, when he said, “3D printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. We must ensure that the Next Industrial Revolution in manufacturing will happen in America. We can get that done.”

MakerBot Replicator 2

The MakerBot Academy bundles consist of a 3D printer (the Makerbot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D to be exact), which will run Autodesk software, as well as three spools of PLA filament and one year of MakerBot’s service and protection plan.

You can donate at crowdfunding site DonorsChoose.org, which is also where teachers can register for a bundle.