Conference Themes for 2026

Back to Basics

• What defines a makerspace or making space
• Different approaches, shared operational findings and reacting to user feedback

Doing more with less? Alternate routes to success 

• A range of current challenges facing higher educational institutions making spaces.
• Restricted finances, staffing, internal politics and more! 

(one of Building a roadmap for success, The Power of We, The Collaborative Advantage)

• Open discussion: What steps can we take to collectively support each other.

• Local community engagement and partnership, What can local community support and partnership look like and why it is worth doing. 
• EDI best practice 
• Technician Development

Emerging technologies in making

• Use and support of AI in educational making settings - crash course and ethical considerations
• XXXother making technologiesXXX Robotics

Environmental sustainability

• Materials, power, re-use and selling on

Health and Safety workload - a collective approach

• How can we learn to minimise friction and increase collaboration with local H&S teams when it comes to making equipment
• How can UK making spaces easily support each other in replicating the same work in different places - a proposal

Unimaker in the future

• Help us develop Unimaker in new ways for years to come