The Summer 2026 issue of IU Medicine Magazine takes readers inside the new Medical Education and Research Building (MERB) in Indianapolis—and into the IU School of Medicine Makerspace.

Located within the MERB and staffed by experts from the Ruth Lilly Medical Library, the Makerspace is a 3D printing lab and creative space serving the entire IU School of Medicine community across its nine-campus network. It gives students, faculty and staff the opportunity to experiment with technology, create hands-on learning tools and turn ideas into something tangible.

Since its move into MERB, the Makerspace has become a highly visible hub for creativity, experimentation and hands-on learning. With 3D printers, Cricut machines, electronics kits and other tools, the space supports a wide rand of creative projects.

For medical students, that might mean 3D-printing an anatomical model to take home and study. For others, it can mean exploring a new resource, developing a teaching tool or working through a prototype. And sometimes, the most valuable part of the process is figuring out why something didn't work—and trying again.

The process of making is part of the learning. Projects don't always work perfectly on the first try, and troubleshooting a failed print or redesigning a project can be just as valuable as the final result. Makerspace staff help users navigate that process, encouraging experimentation, problem-solving and creative thinking along the way.

Discover the ideas and possibilities taking shape inside the Makerspace:  Read “A Makerspace for Medical Students” to meet the people behind the Makerspace and learn more about how this innovative space is helping bring learning to life. 

The Makerspace is more than a collection of equipment. It's a place to be curious, create, experiment, problem-solve and imagine what's possible in medical education. The IU School of Medicine Makerspace is one more way the Ruth Lilly Medical Library supports innovation and hands-on learning at the IU School of Medicine.