Fab Academy 2026 kicks off with new faculty, global student projects, and fresh energy in digital fabrication. Explore updates, project showcases, and key lessons from the first classes.

The Fab Academy 2026 kickoff saw a strong start: 85 active nodes and 180 students into the program. With this wide reach, it's clear that Fab Academy continues to empower makers across continents.

WEEK 1: Introductions

Neil Gershenfeld, director of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms and the Director of Fab Academy, led the initial session by outlining a packed agenda: from the first lecture to final project showcases, lab intros, and tech onboarding.

Neil took students on a journey through the history of digital fabrication, from its MIT roots to today’s global network of FabLabs. He spoke about the founding of the first FabLab at Vigyan Ashram in India, and how that seed has now grown into a network reaching over 150 countries.

The class also reviewed the evolution of fabrication, touching on current research from self-replicating robots to LEGO-style electronics.

The impact? Access to tools, knowledge, and training that empowers anyone, anywhere, to create locally and contribute globally. Fab Labs have become not just makerspaces, but hubs of education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

RECITATION 1: GitLab and Version Control Made Human

Julian Gallimore led the first recitation, simplifying the often-intimidating world of Git, GitLab, and CI/CD pipelines.

WEEK 2: The power of CAD

This year’s start had something fresh, instructors stepping into global teaching roles and a brand new faculty, ushering in a new wave of guidance and mentorship.

• Sophia Brueckner, with a background in applied math, engineering, and art, brings a unique perspective to CAD and design, weaving speculative fiction into digital prototypes. Her expertise spans laser cutting, fabric design, and mathematical modeling.

• Kenny Cheung, Research Scientist at NASA: a specialist in space infrastructure and architectural CAD, offers a deep understanding of agent-based modeling, parametric workflows, and the systems thinking that underpins complex physical builds.

Together, they’re not just teaching tools, they’re guiding creative exploration. Their approach? Use multiple tools, learn by doing, and don't be afraid to tweak and experiment.

From lectures to lab intros, from chocolate dispensers to robotic arms, the first weeks of Fab Academy 2026 reveal a thriving, adaptive, and deeply human learning experience. With new faculty stepping in, students pushing boundaries, and a global network cheering them on, this cycle is already shaping up to be one of the most collaborative yet.

Stay tuned, the journey’s just begun.