This profile originally published in The Works' newsletter of autumn 2006.
On President’s Day 1994, Scott Mazar walked into The Works carrying George Washington’s head.
The head, made from Legos, sat on a sensor controlled mechanism that turned the head to face you as you walked in front of it. This was The Works’ very first exhibit, Tracker. Now with a colorful bug-like creature replacing George’s head, Tracker has greeted over 100,000 visitors to The Works.
Scott is the mastermind behind both Tracker and the inner works of the Light Harp, two perennial favorites.
How does he do it? In part, it’s his eclectic background. Scott is equally adept in both theoretical and practical worlds — and sports a sense of humor to bridge the divide. “The way you think the world works isn’t necessarily the way it’s going to cooperate with you,” he notes wryly.
One reflection of this versatility is his elegant and playful use of materials; the
electrical commutator in Tracker is a piece of model railroad track,
and the beam splitters in the Light Harp are microscope cover slides.
Where did he come by his talents? “Ever since I could remember, I loved to take things apart,” Scott explains. “I asked my Dad to get me a TV to tear apart, and he did. I dug in and I realized about half way through that I’d never heard of anyone who made a living tearing things apart; I had to learn how to put them together, too.”
“My Dad let me do things even when he knew it would probably take longer that way. He fostered my interest in electronics. And he made me feel competent. He also provided free rein in his basement woodshop — except for drilling holes.”
Scott has carried this tradition of direct experience instilling confidence on to his own children. His
son James, who was permitted to back Scott’s truck out of the driveway
at the tender age of 6, is now a capable 15 year old who builds robots
for The Works.
In
addition to his day job at Transoma Medical and his loving family,
Scott maintains one of the most interesting basements on this planet. His favorite new acquisition? An interferometric microscope, accurate down to 30 nanometers.
Kudos, and many thanks to Scott Mazar, valued volunteer.
Return to INVENTING THE WORKS blog
Kudos, and many thanks to Scott Mazar, valued volunteer.
Return to INVENTING THE WORKS blog
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