Important things are happening for students and educators in the Permian Basin! In fact, just this week, our community had the pleasure to welcome the grand opening of the “FabLab” at the Odessa College campus.
This unique facility, the first and only of its kind in all of West Texas, will allow students and educators the opportunity to engage with innovative technologies as a means to work towards increasing access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education across the Permian Basin.
One of the most important goals of education must be to help young students access technologies that assist them in becoming valuable and contributing members of society. The FabLab does just that.
Working together, Chevron, The Fab Foundation, and Odessa College have created this incredible partnership to provide students the opportunity to use real life research and workforce technology like laser cutters, 3D printers, milling machines, and computer technology utilizing state-of-the-art design software.
In addition to the facility at the Odessa College Campus, there is also a “Mobile FabLab” which will be able to travel and take many of the same technologies across the Permian Basin.
The leadership of those involved is what is necessary to take great strides in closing the gap between the need and availability of skilled workers. This innovative solution is another of those partnerships that makes our communities in West Texas so unique. Together our local education systems want to work with leaders in our local economy to build on our success and make sure that the talent necessary to fuel our economy forward can be found right here.
I also look forward to the opportunity to utilize the new “Mobile FabLab” and introduce it to legislators in Austin at our Texas Capitol while the unit is being showcased during the SXSW educational events this March.
We in the Permian Basin know that these technologies help students, help our economy, and help mankind, and I look forward to seeing this new opportunity for STEM education exported across the state.
Our community is fortunate to have a premier education institution like Odessa College, as well as private organizations like The Fab Foundation, and certainly thoughtful and innovative companies like Chevron, work to ensure that the Permian Basin and Texas as a whole continue to be the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.
God bless Texas.
State Rep. Brooks Landgraf was elected in 2014 to House District 81, which encompasses Andrews, Ector, Ward, and Winkler Counties. Landgraf resides in his hometown of Odessa with his wife, Shelby, and their daughter, Hollis Rose. He works as a cattle rancher and practices law at the firm of Todd, Barron, Thomason, Hudman & Baxter, P.C. in Odessa. An Eagle Scout, Landgraf is also active in several local nonprofits.
