Review Fix chats with Elijah Horland, Executive Producer – Maker Faire Coney Island, who discusses his budding career as a creator and his role with Maker Faire Coney Island.
About Elijah Horland:
Elijah Horland, an eighteen-year-old inventive and entertaining maker from Brooklyn, New York welcomes you to the maker journey.
At the helm of the Coney Island Maker Faire, Elijah takes on the role of a curator for some of the most inspiring makers on the planet. He dreamed up the idea of a Coney Island Maker Faire in 2019 and immediately set to making it a reality.
Elijah’s maker journey began at nine years old, building PCs from parts and assembling basic science kits. This quickly grew to a love of engineering, electronics and 3D printers. At twelve years old in 2015, he started a blog to share skills that had grown to an adult level of mastery.
Elijah’s path intersected with Maker Faire in 2016 by joining the faire’s Street Team, working diligently to raise awareness of the event. From Maker Faire, new friends, peers and mentors took him to an even greater level of technical understanding and public speaking.
One achievement at a time, Elijah garnered support, winning contests and challenges, and found himself collaborating with newfound maker friends on projects, and demonstrations. Soon he was on TV, co-hosting the show “MythBusters Jr.” on Discovery for the 2018 season.
Less than a week after MythBusters finished filming, Elijah immediately returned to work at Maker Faire as a volunteer and now also as a headline presenter. From working levitation devices to a near-space balloon that was covered on WNEP news in Pennsylvania when it made an unscheduled landing nearby, he’s never stopped making and presenting new work.
In 2019 Maker Faire NYC shut down. At fourteen years old, Elijah set the goal of starting a new Maker Faire in Coney Island. Partnering with local organizers, business owners and politicians, it took him four years to bring this dream to life.
Maker Faire is more than a stepping stone to Elijah, it’s a place where technical and inventive people can meet, share ideas and grow together. He knew it needed to return to New York City.
Review Fix: What does inventing mean to you?
Elijah Horland: I would call it more making than inventing. What it means is I that can both manufacture custom-shaped pieces and can code devices to interact with both the real and online world, I can think of a solution to any problem I care enough to fix. It makes my world less confusing to have control of the same devices that have control of other people.
Review Fix: What is your greatest invention?
Horland: In 2019, I launched a high-altitude balloon into near-earth orbit. It took four years and three tries to get it off the ground. The OKdo corporation offered me a trip to Bay Area Maker Faire to finish it, but only gave me two weeks to plan, build launch and recover two of their “Raspberry Pi” miniature computers.
On its way back to Earth, the parachute ripped away. I’m a little on-spectrum so I built it to be very symmetrical. The computers and batteries kept the bottom oriented to the ground, while the rounded shape of the styrofoam cooler I used as a gondola turned it into a lifting-body aircraft. It glided back to earth unharmed, and I knew within a mile or so where it was.
I had to leave. Time was up, and I went to San Francisco without it. The next morning as I was ready to present a back-up project at my first corporate meeting something incredible happened. A team of students from a Pennsylvania high school went up the mountain where it had landed and found it for me.
This turned into the feel-good story of the entire Maker Faire, and I made a lot of new friends. The story changed so many times, the emotional roller coaster ride and then all the press attention that it got makes it one of my favorite projects to this day.
Review Fix: What are you working on now? (Can you tell us?)
Horland: At the moment, like many others who like to make, I have a million things I consider “in progress” or “on the back burner.”
One of the most interesting projects I’m almost done building is my RFID copier wristband. When done, I’ll be able to waive my wrist over any door-lock card and copy them. It already works on some cards.
Review Fix: What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?
Horland: Just start; there is no correct way to begin.
I began making when I was in elementary school and had a lot of time to mess up. Now, that those experiences are behind me I know what not to do.
A great way to get started to go to events like Maker Faire. My trajectory toward becoming one of the MythBusters from the 2019 class of “MythBusters Jr.” started at a Maker Faire. You can’t do everything on your own in an attic or a garage.
Review Fix: What did it mean to be a part of MythBusters?
Horland: I had never seen an episode of MythBusters in full before auditioning for the show, and even after I was cast, I had really only watched 3 episodes for research before filming. I got the idea of what it was well enough but I wanted to solve problems without copying Adam or Jamie.
What it means to me however is being part of a big MythBusters “family”. I’ve met so many cool people from being a MythBusters not just other MythBusters but also other makers. I hope to meet more makers at my upcoming Maker Faire Coney Island.
Review Fix: Tell us about the Maker Faire! Why are you excited about it?
Horland: I am excited about it because the Maker Faire is finally back in New York City. We haven’t had one since 2019 and I’m lucky to be in a position to bring it back.
Aside from bringing the biggest science Faire back to NYC, I am excited to bring the opportunities that the Maker Faire gave me, to kids who haven’t had access to those same experiences since the Maker Faire has been gone.
I’m not a good-grades kind of kid. Sports kids with bad grades still get attention, press, gifts and travel. Science kids should be treated the same way if they can compete in the world outside of the classroom.
Review Fix: What makes this year different from other years?
Horland: This year we are holding the Maker Faire in Coney Island.
This is a better location for the Faire because of transportation, we have one of the biggest NYC train stations as opposed to the worlds fairgrounds which had one 7-train station far away. We have better food and far more food choices. We have enough sanitation, emergency services and local points of interest including the roller coasters and rides of Coney Island.
Guests to my new Maker Faire are in for a many-layered treat.
This year we’re more community-focused, the last NYC Maker Faire felt exactly like the one in San Fransisco and wasn’t really connected to any NYC culture. This year we are part of a vibrant, living community that surrounds us and elevates us.
Review Fix: What are your goals for this year’s event?
Horland: For this event I want everyone to walk away with more than they came with.
We have opportunities to learn how to solder, build puppets, and meet people who would be more than willing to teach you about what it means to be a maker. Ask ten makers, get ten answers. We’re inviting hundreds.
Review Fix: Where can people find out more about you?
Horland: To find out more about the Coney Island Maker Faire they can visit our website.
To know more about me personally I have a Twitter account and a YouTube channel where I post updates and videos about my projects.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Horland: I plan to continue holding the Coney Island Maker Faire, year over year.
I’m attending NYIT as a computer science major, but I am thinking I want to transfer to an intensive computer engineering program.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Horland: YES! Join us Coney Island Maker Faire from October 6-8, tickets available at https://coneyisland.makerfaire.com!
About Maker Faire Coney Island:
Maker Faire Coney Island is a one-of-a-kind interactive event that celebrates the ingenuity and passion of makers across diverse disciplines. With a rich lineup of exhibits, workshops, and demonstrations, the event promises to inspire, educate, and entertain attendees of all ages. The event is set to take place from October 6-8, 2023, at various iconic venues within Coney Island.
Get Your Tickets Now: Ticket Purchase
Follow us on the following social media sites for the latest updates and sneak peeks.
Website: https://coneyisland.makerfaire.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makerfaireconeyisland/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/MakerFaireConey
Volunteer options available – earn free tickets & merch: https://coneyisland.makerfaire.com/volunteer/
Schools & NFPs get free 8’x3′ tables while space is still available – please sign our call for makers: https://coneyisland.makerfaire.com/call-for-makers/
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