CREATE Lab by Dror Yaron

Gigapan image by Michael Taylor

How might a university innovation lab have lasting, meaningful impact in communities around the world? The derivation of knowledge is not enough for such strategic change. Real impact demands the coupling of deep problem understanding, innovation, and cultural transformation.

The Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (CREATE Lab) at Carnegie Mellon is our ongoing experiment in a new model for university-community relations. We call this new model a Community Lab because we privilege sustained relationships above and beyond the technology innovation and knowledge-building processes, while balancing technology invention with cultural transformation, and technical literacy with issue-driven advocacy.

The CREATE Lab is both a technology breeding ground and a community partner.