The Charles River Collaboratory is a youth-led innovation and “unmaker” space located at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, Massachusetts. Led by the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation and in partnership with the Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the Department of Engineering, it is designed to empower local youth—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—to engage with STEM through the lenses of social and environmental justice.

Read about the impact of the Collaboratory in our 2025 Report

Key Features and Philosophy

• The “Unmaker” Model: Unlike traditional makerspaces that are often adult-directed, the Collaboratory is an “unmaker space” where students lead the agenda. The focus is on dismantling typical power structures and allowing youth to identify the problems they want to solve.

• Youth Leadership: The space is steered by the Charles River Innovation Fellows, a team of Waltham High School students who serve as near-peer mentors. They guide younger peers through technical projects and help manage the space.