Teardown: {almost} Free Radio Stations

Description: Surplus and broken electronics are made ubiquitous by a complex network of extractive, economic, and material systems that continue to have deadly ecological impacts.  Both technical and social access to these systems is still well guarded by power structures with vested interest in the who and how of repair and true ownership of our devices. Unpacking this complexity with our own hands, this workshop will introduce basic electronics skills by de-obsolescing an FM radio transmitter. Participants will leave this not only the own upcycled radio station, but the skills needed to lead this workshop on their own.

Bio: Ed Bear is an American performing artist and engineer. His work with robotics, sound, video, transmission and collective improvisation investigates the questionable calibration of social relationships with material technology. As an educator and designer committed to an equitable, open source world, he researches and practices material reuse as a civil responsibility. He has toured extensively in North America and Europe as a musician and teacher. He is currently working with littleBits, Inc. to revolutionize modular electronics.