Mark Rober, the world-renowned YouTube
personality and former NASA engineer, has officially landed in
India, creating an exciting buzz across the nation. Known for his viral prank
videos, innovative science projects, and deep understanding of engineering,
Rober’s presence in India is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the
art of Jugaad—India's unique approach to solving everyday problems with
ingenuity.
Rober kicked off his India tour by attending
several events where he shared his engineering insights, challenged the
boundaries of scientific discovery, and, most importantly, celebrated the power
of imagination. One of his first stops was the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Bombay, where Rober gave an inspiring lecture on the future
of technology and how it can shape the world. Students from various
disciplines were eager to hear from Rober, who emphasized the importance of
interdisciplinary learning and thinking outside the box. His presentation
included personal stories from his time at NASA and how he transitioned
from space engineering to entertaining millions of people with his quirky, yet
educational, science videos.
Following the lecture, Rober was invited to visit a
maker’s workshop in Bengaluru, where young Indian innovators were
showcasing their incredible projects—ranging from eco-friendly water filtration
systems to autonomous vehicles built from recycled parts. Rober interacted with
several of the young inventors, offering advice and even tinkering with some of
their creations. The event highlighted the increasing number of young Indian
minds driving technological innovation in fields such as renewable energy,
robotics, and sustainable engineering.
While the scientific community had a chance
to engage with Rober at various technical events, his connection with Indian
YouTubers was equally exciting for fans. Over the course of his stay, Rober
collaborated with some of India's most popular content creators, taking his
playful engineering experiments to a global audience.
One of the first collaborations was with CarryMinati,
one of India’s most beloved YouTubers. Rober and CarryMinati teamed up for a
unique challenge that involved creating a super-powered Nerf blaster.
With Rober’s knack for engineering and CarryMinati’s hilarious commentary, the
video turned into a viral sensation, combining high-energy humor with brilliant
science. The collaboration was a perfect reflection of what Rober is all about:
making science fun and accessible for everyone.
Rober didn’t stop there; he also teamed up with TechBurner,
another tech YouTuber who’s known for his deep dives into gadgets and
electronic products. Together, they built a smart home automation system
using everyday items, proving that with a little creativity, technology can be
both affordable and sustainable. The video quickly amassed millions of views,
with fans of both YouTubers in awe of the project’s ingenuity and simplicity.
Slay Point, another iconic Indian YouTube
duo, joined forces with Rober to tackle the ultimate challenge: building a
giant catapult capable of launching a water balloon across an entire
stadium. The hilarious moments and scientific insights in the video made it one
of the most entertaining yet educational videos to come out of Rober’s India
trip.
One of the most special collaborations of Rober’s
visit was with Hardik Pandya, the Indian cricketer. The duo worked
together to build a cricket-ball-launching machine, which allowed Hardik
to test his batting skills against a high-speed automated system. The video was
an absolute hit, combining sports and technology, showing how engineering can
enhance performance in almost any field.
Amid these collaborations, Rober made a major
announcement: the Mark Rober Jugaad Contest, which runs from April
30, 2025, to September 15, 2025. The contest invites participants to share
their innovative inventions made from common household items. With a
cash prize of ₹5 lakh for ten winners, the competition aims to celebrate
India’s knack for creating simple yet effective solutions to everyday problems—Jugaad.
To enter the contest, participants need to post a
video of their invention on social media platforms such as Instagram,
YouTube, Facebook, or X, with the hashtag #MarkRoberJugaad. However,
to ensure their entry is valid, participants must also submit the link to
their video on the official contest website, markroberjugaad.com, before the contest deadline.
This contest is open to anyone aged 8 and above
(with parental permission for minors), and the goal is to uncover India’s
hidden inventors. The simplicity of the contest guidelines makes it accessible
to everyone, whether they are experienced engineers or just someone with a love
for problem-solving. The prizes, including ₹5 lakh for each of the ten winners,
are bound to inspire countless young minds to showcase their creativity.
Rober’s visit to India, his collaborations with
YouTubers, and his exciting Jugaad contest are a testament to his belief
that creativity knows no boundaries. By empowering young creators to
innovate with limited resources, Rober is opening the doors to a world of
possibilities—one where anyone, no matter where they’re from, can become an
inventor.
