About Mad Scientist in Residence

We're on a mission to transform manufacturing mysteries into accessible adventures, making the complex world of production engaging and educational for everyone.

Our Story

Manufacturing has always been seen as this mysterious, complex world that only engineers and factory workers could understand. But what if it didn't have to be that way?

Mad Scientist in Residence was born from a simple observation: the gap between the fascinating science of making things and how it's taught is enormous. Traditional manufacturing education often focuses on formulas and theory, leaving students disconnected from the wonder of creation.

We believe that everyone should understand how their world is made. From the smartphone in your pocket to the chair you're sitting on, everything around us has a story of materials, processes, and creative problem-solving.

Our approach is different. We start with curiosity, add interactive tools, and blend scientific accuracy with approachable explanations. The result? Learning experiences that stick, inspire, and empower people to see manufacturing as the creative, innovative field it truly is.

Our Values

The principles that guide everything we create and share.

Curiosity First

We start with questions, not answers. Every tool and explanation begins with genuine wonder about how things work.

Precision & Play

Scientific accuracy doesn't have to be boring. We combine rigorous data with delightful interactions.

Inclusive Access

Manufacturing knowledge shouldn't be locked away. We make complex concepts accessible to everyone.

Practical Innovation

Every tool we build solves real problems that makers, educators, and students actually face.

Community Driven

The best learning happens together. We build tools that connect people and share knowledge.

Continuous Evolution

Manufacturing is always changing, and so are we. We adapt, improve, and expand constantly.

Read Our Manifesto

Want to dive deeper into our philosophy and approach? Our manifesto explores the beliefs and principles that guide Mad Scientist in Residence.

Explore the Manifesto →

Our Mission

"To bridge the gap between the fascinating science of manufacturing and accessible education, creating interactive experiences that inspire curiosity, build understanding, and empower the next generation of makers."

Educate

Make manufacturing concepts clear, engaging, and memorable

Empower

Give people tools to solve real manufacturing challenges

Inspire

Show the creativity and innovation at the heart of making things

Evolve

Continuously improve based on community feedback and needs

Our Approach to AI

How do you know what's made by humans here? That's a question worth asking in 2025. We believe transparency matters, especially in education. Here's our policy on artificial intelligence at Mad Scientist in Residence:

Code: AI-Assisted, Human-Reviewed

Our interactive tools and calculators may be built with assistance from generative AI—but every line of code is reviewed, tested, and validated by human developers. Think of AI as a capable intern: it can draft solutions quickly, but we're the ones checking the math, ensuring accuracy, and making final decisions. If a calculator gives you the wrong answer, that's on us, not the algorithm.

Text: Human-Written, AI-Refined

Every article, tutorial, and explanation you read here originates from human expertise and experience. We may use AI to review our writing for tone and style consistency, but the research, ideas, insights, and knowledge come from real people who've come home ink-stained with grease under their fingernails and paper dust in their hair. When we say "we've tested this," we mean an actual human ran that experiment.

Art: Human-Made, For Humans

All visual content—illustrations, diagrams, photography, and design work—is created by human artists and designers. We believe that teaching people about the craft of making things requires showing them work made with craft. No generative image models here; just talented people with actual tools. Manufacturing is fundamentally about human ingenuity solving physical problems, and we celebrate the Makers. If we're teaching you how things are made, you deserve to learn from people who've actually made them. AI is a tool in our workshop, not the craftsperson. Questions about our AI policy? We're happy to discuss the details—transparency is always in season.

Meet the Team

The mad scientists behind the platform, bringing together expertise in manufacturing, education, and technology.

Alexander Donoho

Alexander Donoho

Founder & Chief Curiosity Officer

Press operator, educator, and insatiably curious experimenter. With 10+ years blending technical expertise and creative problem-solving, Alexander transforms production workflows while pushing boundaries with specialty printing techniques and digital embellishments.

Join Our Team

We're Growing!

Are you passionate about education, manufacturing, or building great digital experiences? We're looking for curious minds to join our mission.

Get in Touch

Let's Connect

Have questions, ideas, or just want to chat about manufacturing? We'd love to hear from you.

Start a Conversation