Amon Millner

Amon Millner, Assistant Professor of Computing and Innovation, Olin College of Engineering, Needham MA

Amon directs the Extending Access to STEM Empowerment (EASE) Lab at Olin College, where projects explore the ways in which spaces, computational tools, and activities can enable young people to re-design the world around them and transform how they think and learn. His research and teaching are informed by his work in the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) domain, drawing heavily from his specialization: developing tangible interactive systems for making and learning. He is a co-inventor of several tools that have become staples in both formal and informal learning environments, such as the Scratch programming language, Modkit for Vex, and Unruly Splats.

Amon has established local and international hubs for learning, making, and digital fabrication, shaping the ways in which the Clubhouse Network and Fab Labs have evolved. His international recognition includes a designation as a Fulbright Specialist/Grantee. A champion in the Maker Movement, Amon has also authored computing curricula for K-12 classrooms. He contributes to multiple research communities, particularly those that focus on tangible user interface design, interaction design and children, and digital media and learning. A patent holder, Amon earned a Ph.D. in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT; a M.S. in Human Computer Interactions from Georgia Institute of Technology; and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.