Syracuse University is no stranger to innovation, but a special technology lab on campus is looking to go one step further.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Whether you're an aspiring aerospace scientist, filmmaker or fashion designer there's a place for students of every discipline to work and create at the Syracuse University MakerSpace.
"People have all kinds of needs, all kinds of interests, all kinds of levels of cognitive ability. Here you can get the tangible underhand and try it and build it,” said Jenny Gluck, an associate CIO for Syracuse University.
MakerSpace has 3D printers, laser cutters and even a virtual reality z-space system and it's all available at no extra cost for students, including the expertise of the Makerspace manager, John Mangicaro.
"You don't get restrictions, like 'oh no we can't do that,'" said Mangicaro.
"John likes thinking from the perspective of 'how can we do it?'” said Charles Mayak, a SU graduate student.
"I can show anyone with no previous 3D experience a program and within 15 minutes they're designing a three dimensional program. You can think of an idea in the morning and by the afternoon, have that three dimensional object in your hand," said Mangicaro.
The space has only been open for a little more than a year, but there's still so many students who don't even know this space exists or who are intimidated by the advanced technology.
"I still feel like there's a lot of students who are like 'computers and me don't match,' and in 2016 that can't be a thing. Having access to something like a 3D printer or the materials here, it makes things easier, it makes things cheaper and it allows you to be innovative,” said graduate student Vincent Derise.
MakerSpace officials are determined to get the word out.
"We bring 3D printers out on the quad, we'll bring them in the bookstore and just try to let people know we're here, You can work it into your schoolwork, into your projects, you can also do stuff just extracurricular," said Mangicaro.
University officials are hoping that as time goes on more students will come and use these resources to continue to make their good ideas into great ones. The MakerSpace is not yet open to the public, but they do frequently offer tours, you can see the schedule of events here.