Meet Featured Maker Christina Ernst (She Builds Robots) – Engineering Confidence, One Robot at a Time
At Maker Faire Miami 2026, we’re proud to feature makers who aren’t just building incredible things – they’re building pathways for others to follow. Christina Ernst, founder of She Builds Robots, is doing exactly that.
Engineer, educator, content creator, and advocate – Christina is on a mission to make robotics more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for the next generation.
Building Robots – and Breaking Barriers
Christina’s work goes far beyond circuits and code. Through She Builds Robots, she creates projects that demystify engineering and invite more people, especially girls, into the world of tech.
Her builds range from beginner-friendly robotics to more advanced systems, all designed with one goal in mind: Make engineering feel approachable, creative, and empowering.
She’s not just teaching people how to build robots, she’s helping them see that they belong in the space.
A Recognized Voice in the Maker & Tech Community
Christina has been featured across major maker and tech platforms, earning recognition for both her technical expertise and her impact as an advocate. Her work and voice have appeared in CNN Style, Make: Magazine, Forbes, Entertainment Weekly, CBC, and Popular Science. She was a recurring engineering correspondent on Season 6 of the educational STEM show Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove. She also served as the 2024 Maker-in-Residence at Chicago Public Library. As a speaker, she brings a powerful combination of technical knowledge and personal storytelling – sharing not just how she builds, but why it matters.
A Mission That Matters: More Girls in Tech
At the heart of She Builds Robots is a clear and powerful mission:
to inspire more girls to explore engineering, robotics, and technology.
Christina actively works to:
- Break down stereotypes around who belongs in tech
- Create accessible entry points for beginners
- Share her journey to encourage others to start theirs
- Build confidence through hands-on making
Her message is simple but impactful: You don’t have to fit a mold to be an engineer, you just have to start building.
Featured Maker Talk: New Threads: STEM Education Through Fashion
Catch Christina live in the Maker Talks Zone, where she’ll share her journey, her work, and her mission to expand access to robotics.
Talk Time: Sunday April 26th at 1pm — Maker Talks Zone
In her talk, expect:
- Her personal path into engineering and robotics
- Lessons from building and teaching in public
- Insights on creating inclusive maker spaces
- Advice for young makers, especially girls, looking to get started
This is more than a talk… it’s a call to action.
See the Self-Twirling Dress at Her Booth
Christina’s booth brings her work to life, offering a space where visitors can see a robotic dress first-hand. Get inspired by the creativity that unfolds when fashion meets technology.
Christina Ernst represents the future of the maker movement – one that is not only innovative, but inclusive. By combining engineering with advocacy, she’s helping shape a world where more voices are represented in technology, and where more young people can see themselves as creators, builders, and problem-solvers.
See She Builds Robots Live
Join us at Maker Faire Miami 2026 at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Center (Fuchs Pavilion) April 25th and 26th to meet Christina Ernst and experience She Builds Robots in action.
Come for the robots (and the Fashion). Leave with the confidence to build your own.
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