About

History

Born out of the interaction between researchers, engineers, technicians, and students in 2017, the IBENS FabLab moved to its new premises in 2020. Since then, donations from the research teams and a grant from Fédération pour la Recherche sur le Cerveau – Rotary International France in 2018 have allowed the structure to acquire the necessary cutting-edge equipment to ensure its mission.

In September 2020 the FabLab formalizes its administrative shape by integrating the IBENS instrumentation platform alongside the micromechanical workshop. In January 2021 the opening of a fabLab manager position fully funded by the CNRS rendered the project sustainable long-term and proved the support of the funding and hosting partners to the FabLab philosophy and endeavor.

Missions

The FabLab supports the personnel from the Institute of Biology of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in developing their own solutions to their own problems. It is generally achieved through the cycle of design, prototyping, and realization of physical projects. In the different free access spaces, registered users can find training, equipment, and help in various fields such as electronics, programming, 3D modeling, computer-assisted design, fiber optics, and digital and traditional fabrication.

Spaces

The fabrication room (RdJ)

The printing room (RdJ)

Electronic bench (6th floor)

Optic fiber bench (6th floor)

The people

The fabLab project is managed by Thomas Pujol. His work is supervised by a scientific coordinator Guillaume Dugué. The project is driven by the User Comity (CU) which is an emanation of the IBENS user community.

The CU is a group of people from different backgrounds and statuses brought together to represent the various sides of the project (users, supervisors, institutions, etc). It is in charge of validating the adequate functioning of the structure, and long-term planning.

Members of the CU are : Boris Barbour, Laurent Bourdieu, Guillaume Dugué, Astou Tangara, Thomas Pujol, Cathie Ventalon.

Funding

Daily costs and consumables are divided among the participating team. IBENS core funding is oriented toward medium-size equipment. Larger investments come from external grants like « Fédération pour la Recherche sur le Cerveau – Rotary International France » in 2018. 

Who can use the FabLab

Only the people that have registered as a user can access the FabLab spaces (condition to register below).

After registration, there is mandatory initial safety training to teach you how to behave in a workshop environment and use basic tools and power tools safely and efficiently. After there are specific trainings related to the various techniques implemented within the FabLab. Trainings are mandatory in order to be allowed to use equipment autonomously. Please contact the fab manager for more information on the next training dates.

To be a registered user you must :

  • Have followed the initial safety training
  • Be affiliated with a structure that participates in the general bill
  • Commit to request training related to the specific technics before hands
  • Have signed the internal rules (link soon)
  • Agree to add this sentence to any peer-reviewed paper you submit if the contribution of the FabLab has been significant:

« We gratefully acknowledge Thomas Pujol and the IBENS FabLab facility, which received support from the « Fédération pour la Recherche sur le Cerveau – Rotary International France » (2018) »