Squishy Circuits

Dr. AnnMarie Thomas and Matthew Schmidtbauer, the brains behind Squishy Circuits, will be taking the Think & Link stage in December. Squishy Circuits uses conductive and insulating play dough to teach the basics of electrical circuits in a fun, hands-on way. Born out of the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas, Squishy Circuits is gaining momentum, both in the U.S. and abroad. The duo will be talking about the creation of Squishy Circuits, and the magic of blending learning and play.

about the speakers
AnnMarie is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering and the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. She is the founder and director of the Playful Learning Lab, which explores ways to encourage children to embrace playful learning. She is also the author of "Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation."

AnnMarie earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech, and an S.B. in Ocean Engineering (with a minor in Music) from MIT. Additionally, she completed a professional certificate in Sustainable Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Matthew is the founder, president, and CEO of the Squishy Circuits store. Matthew started the company in 2011 while working in the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas doing research on Squishy Circuits. Under him, the company has sold tens of thousands of kits to over 25 countries.

Matthew holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in Physics from the University of St. Thomas.