As fun as it is to talk about Star Wars and arcade machines, the Makerspace is home to more than just personal projects. Our slew of cutting-edge machinery allows for rapid prototyping of some serious stuff, and Dr. Blaise J Thompson’s Wisconsin Photoreactor Platform is the perfect example of this. The Wisconsin Photoreactor Platform (WPP) is an open-source, low-cost way to conduct photocatalysis research. It uses high-intensity LEDs and a 3D-printed enclosure, which makes it much cheaper and easier to produce than alternative means.
Dr. Thompson attributes the UW Makerspace as a necessary resource during the construction and prototyping stage of the project. We’re honored to have helped in the WPP’s creation and hope to aid other projects like it in the future.