Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Make STEAM Work For You

An Over Coffee® Valentine special (Photo courtesy of Mitchell Malpartida, and used with permission.) Need a Valentine for someone special? And you'd like it to be much more imaginative than the standard flowers, candy and/or a card? Technologist, maker and educator Mitchell Malpartida has some great ideas. As a regular contributor to the Make: community and the Founder of Masterful Creations STEAM Academy, Mitch teaches workshops on science, technology, engineering, art and math. At the core of his lessons is a sense of fun and creativity, as he visits schools and offers online maker workshops and sessions in his local community. And he's also having a lot of fun teaching maker skills to his own children. Not to mention learning with them, as they come up with new ideas! (You'll find a number of his projects on his YouTube channel.) During our 2022 interview on Valentine's Day-related maker projects, Mitch offered a creative maker's approach to some of the Valentine standards. Happy Valentine's Day to you and all your Valentines! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Mitch's ideas for Valentine maker projects, based on classic Valentine traditions; His experiences as a maker, learning and exploring with his own children; How to overcome the “intimidation factor” with technology and new hands-on projects; A new resource and a new concept with which Mitchell is working, that are inspiring him to create new maker projects; The story behind a project that took Mitchell out of his comfort zone, as a maker; Where he'd like to expand his skills and work more, in the future. Would you like to meet Mitch and find out more about his latest maker projects--and the workshops he teaches, for local schools, the community and online? He'll be exhibiting at the annual Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival on May 6th! In addition, Mitch currently has S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and math) maker kits available. Find out more at his Masterful Creations STEAM Academy website or by emailing info@masterfulcreations.com.

Due to a technical issue, Over Coffee® is on a one-week hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022! "Move fast and break things," says multiple award-winning computer science teacher Mark Suter. He's talking about the entrepreneurial approach he takes, as he guides his Elida High School classes through creating virtual-reality experiences. Failure, Mark explains, is a key element in real-world problem solving. And problem-solving is exactly what Mark and his students are doing, as they create VR training simulations for local businesses. An entrepreneurial approach to learning leads his students to collaborate, interact with others to learn what customers need, and adapt their creations accordingly. According to Mark's LinkedIn page, his class is also currently seeking a company that would like them to create some free training prototypes! Part of the curriculum is Grit 9, a student-run business. Students can design VR simulations and websites. They also offer photo scanning and video work for local businesses. In addition, Mark is an instructor at Bowling Green State University, where he is both a co-creator of their masters' level course. And if you're a VR beginner who'd like to learn more, you can start today--free. On his website, Mark offers beginner-friendly lessons in creating virtual reality with his "VR Basic Bytes" series! (These are both nonintimidating for beginners, and a lot of fun!) Mark talked about his own learning journey with VR and his experiences in the classroom, shared some favorite resources and discussed a hilarious "failure" from which his class learned. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Mark's recollections from his own learning journey, as he first started learning to create with VR and teach it to his students; How an artist or educator might put virtual reality to work in these areas; The partnership experience through which Mark took his game-design class with a local business as a client: The creative process involved; What's involved in his beginner-friendly high school computer science course; Why Mark tells his students that “failure is highly encouraged”; A safeguard, for when students do make errors, so their work isn't lost; Mark's favorite resources for creating with VR; What to use, instead of code, to perform some basic functions in VR; How Mark introduces his students to coding; Several ways to share created VR apps; The hilarious "learning experience" mistake one of his students made; How Mark's approach to preparing students to work in immersive tech has changed since he first started teaching; Why Mark wants students' approach to learning (and his to teaching them!) to be “entrepreneurial”.

(Photo courtesy of Vlad Konov, and used with permission.) "All Ukrainians are innovating right now," says Nanit Robotics Founder Vladyslav Konov, as we discuss his latest creation. Vlad, a Ukraine-based engineer, entrepreneur and educator, introduced his ed-tech robot, Nanit, to the U.S. during CES® 2023. This is a kit, designed for all ages (big kids too!). Users can create, literally, a hundred robots from the components provided. For beginners, it's an easy process, based on snapping blocks together. And tutorials and add-ons, available with the kit, allow the user to grow and continue learning. They can also create their own applications--because Nanit is open-source! For Vlad, Nanit is the latest step in his creative journey. He's been creating robots--and teaching others to do so--since 2016, according to his LinkedIn page. Just one of his innovations was the creation of a first-of-its-kind robotics school in Ukraine. (He is also the founder and CEO of RoboHouse, Ukraine's international laboratory of robotics, electronics and programming.) Nanit, though, is much more than an educational "toy". Vlad is introducing a version for adults who have never worked with robotics. As he demonstrated during our conversation, "building a robot" is a simple snap-together process with his kit. And his overall vision is to train students for professions that don't yet exist, but will be a reality in the future. As well as helping adults keep pace with technology and rebuilding a better world. Vlad shared the story of Nanit Robotics, explained some of the ways the kit can be used and offered a closer look at a future in which robotics can facilitate bringing ideas to life. Here's where you can follow and connect with Vlad and his Nanit Robotics team: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nanitrobot2. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/813012573. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nanit_robot/4. Website nanitrobot.com  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Vlad first became inspired to pursue robotics as his life's work; The biggest challenge Vlad found in his journey, as a Ukraine-based innovator; The story of the Nanit robot (this is a kit that can make, literally, 100 robots easily!) A "demonstration" of how we create a robot from the Nanit kit; Vlad's vision for Nanit Robotics, beyond the kit's use in schools; A "really funny" use case one user put into effect with open-source Nanit; Why the kit is as easy as connecting blocks, for non-technical users; How the video books which go with the robot get young learners engaged in problem-solving; What Vlad enjoys most, about the creative process of bringing Nanit to life; Why Ukraine excels at innovation; - How best to support Ukraine's innovators; Vlad's experience exhibiting at CES® 2023 (he was one of a dozen innovators from Ukraine, according to CES®'s webpage!); His future vision for Nanit (this is a global vision!); When the kit might be available in the U.S.; What Vlad prefers for the setup of smart homes; One of the most interesting lessons he himself has learned from teaching and creating robotics within the past year; How robots fit in with the better future world he envisions.

Over Coffee® is on post-CES hiatus. Please enjoy this re-posting of one of our top episodes of 2022! This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any health-related questions. Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo is a pioneer in the field of medical virtual reality. Since the 1990s, Skip, as he prefers to be called, has been using immersive technology to treat his students. (He doesn't call them "patients".) Today Skip is the Director of Medical Virtual Reality at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. He first began working in research at ICT in 1995, according to his LinkedIn profile. One of his multiple titles is "Ayatollah of VR", listed from 1995 to the present! (We first had the pleasure of hearing him speak at Cedars-Sinai's inaugural Virtual Medicine conference in 2018.) Skip's ground-breaking work has garnered multiple awards. He's researched, designed and evaluated VR-based therapy systems for traumatic brain injury, autism and post-stroke rehabilitation. He is also the creator of BraveMind, a VR-based exposure therapy program for the treatment of PTSD. As of December, 2022, according to their website, the U.S. FDA has endorsed the use of AR and VR devices in medical care--decades after Skip's discoveries in the field. But when he first started talking about using virtual reality applications at psychology conferences, he says, "(My colleagues thought I was crazy.)" Today, he's looking at an apparently-limitless future for mental-health VR apps. "There's no wall here," Skip says, when considering future directions in which he'd like to innovate. Skip, who will be speaking at Cedars-Sinai's 2023 Virtual Medicine conference in March, shared the story of his creative journey with medical virtual reality in this interview we recorded in February, 2022. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Skip's introduction to virtual reality; His process, from there, in implementing VR simulations for brain-injury rehabilitation; What he remembers from the early days of treating his students with VR simulation-based therapy; How he and his team currently use VR simulations with virtual humans to help patients on the high end of the autism spectrum; A closer look at some of the virtual-reality applications that can enhance empathy across various areas of mental health; Some of the results Skip has seen; His vision for the future of therapeutic virtual reality.

Over Coffee® is on post-CES® hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top interviews of 2022! STEMuli Studios Founder/CEO Taylor Shead is using immersive technology to fulfill her mission. That mission, as stated on their website: "to provide a pathway to an intellectually and economically fulfilling career for all." In 2016, Taylor created her small business: the first game-based learning metaverse in the United States! Ever since then, STEMuli has been navigating students from their current academic capabilities, to the skills and experience needed to secure their dream jobs. Taylor says that's just the beginning, for her Dallas-based startup. Today, according to their website, STEMuli Studios serve more than 20,000 schools. And Taylor's ultimate vision: to serve learners, worldwide, on AI-driven academic and career-based learning journeys in STEMuli's 3D smart city. In our August, 2022, conversation, Taylor shared the story of STEMuli Studios, talked about her vision for the future and explained how students, educators and anyone who'd like to support them, can get involved. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: The epiphany that led Taylor to her mission as an entrepreneur; How she started STEMuli, and saw it evolve; Taylor's memories of the early days of her startup; A conversation with a student that cemented Taylor's commitment to her calling; How a surprise discovery led her to seek the involvement of Fortune 500 companies; What students experience, in the virtual world; The tools available in the “STEMuli engine” for educators (and students!) to create content; One of Taylor's most “fun” experiences in her creative journey with STEMuli; Taylor's own “GPS” of STEMuli's current accomplishments and the goals she'd like to reach; Where to connect with Taylor and STEMuli; What the new “learning GPS” could mean for a lifelong learner; How to support the project and get involved!

(Photo courtesy of Natalie Rotschi, and used with permission.) Switzerland-based startup Scewo is re-imagining wheelchairs. That re-imagination process involves designing them as both a lifestyle item--and as some seriously cool technology. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Rotschi, and used with permission.) Scewo's "Bro" wheelchairs climb stairs! They also balance on two wheels, raise and lower their occupants to reach items or sit at tables of varying heights, and have no problem going up over curbs. And you'll get a chance to see these firsthand, this week in the Eureka Park® startup area of CES® 2023! They're exhibiting in the SwissTech pavilion of the Eureka Park® startup area, booth #61433, Level ! Hall G. At CES® Scewo (pronounced Skee-voh) is presenting their wheelchair to the U.S. market for the first time. Scewo Lead Communication and PR Manager Natalie Rotschi shared the story of Scewo, some of the ways their technology is changing the lives of their road drivers (they don't call them customers) and Scewo's goals exciting vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Natalie's fascination with language led to her current career; How the first "Bro" wheelchair was created; Why Scewo's unique designs reflect their mission; Some additional ways the technology could be applied, in the future; One of Natalie's favorite success stories from one of Scewo's road drivers, using the Scewo Bro. CES®2023 continues through Sunday, January 8th in Las Vegas.

This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as mental-health advice. Please contact a medical professional with any mental-health-related questions. As CES® 2023 continues, Switzerland-based startup Virtuosis is premiering their new innovation. As Co-Founder Lara Gervaise explains, Virtuosis analyzes participants' voices. By doing so, it can give them feedback on both their soft skills, and their current mood. Then, it can offer tips on improving communication skills or help an individual manage stress or other negative emotions. Lara, who just released Virtuosis during Day 1 of CES® 2023 in Las Vegas, is currently exhibiting Virtuosis in the show's Eureka Park® startup area. Look for her in the SwissTech pavilion, Booth #61433 of the Venetian: Level 1, Hall G. Lara shared the story of creating Virtuosis, explained how it works and talked about what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Lara's course of study, in her area of Expertise, led to the creation of Virtuosis; How the technology works; A walkthrough of the ways the AI can operate in an academic setting; What the algorithm is looking for, as it analyzes the voice; Privacy considerations and how Virtuosis addresses them; A timeline for Virtuosis' availability. CES® 2023 continues in Las Vegas through Sunday, January 8th.

"Fun" isn't a word most people would associate with cybersecurity. But for AckTao CEO and Co-Founder Cecile Maye, it's a critical factor in empowering others in their digital lives. And she'll be demonstrating how engagement equals retention, as she exhibits AckTao in Booth 61433 of the Swiss Tech pavilion in CES® 2023's Eureka Park® startup area! Switzerland-based educational technology startup AckTao has created an advanced cloud-gaming digital education program. Participants "play" in different scenarios which educate them on digital security risks. A scenario might take you into an airport store. Or perhaps a restaurant, workshop or office setting. There's even an application for those who work at home. And the system is customized, through AI, to adapt to a user's answers and level of understanding in real time. Areas which AckTao's library of scenarios cover include phishing, cyber resilience, password security--and much more. From experience, AckTao is engaging. We did the airport scenario and were curious to see our scores. One situation (no spoilers here, but it's a common one at airports, or in public in general!), came as a complete surprise: "Wow, that's a cybersecurity risk, too?" And we were excited to see our scores! Cecile shared the story of AckTao, explained some of the "everyday" cybersecurity risks which the general public can face and discussed the areas in which she'd most like to grow, in the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: The story of AckTao; How the system works; Some of the everyday cyber threats that don't occur to most of us; What's ahead for AckTao; One of Cecile's best experiences since creating the program; How users experience the system; Some common workplace pitfalls that can leave you vulnerable to hackers; A particularly popular new AckTao scenario. CES® 2023 runs from Thursday, January 5th through Sunday, January 8th in Las Vegas. The Eureka Park® startup area is located in The Venetian.

This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any health-related questions. What if you could experience your dream travel destination--exactly as it is--as you plan your trip? Or use VR to get a guided tour of someplace you've always wanted to visit? With Weezy VR, those questions are no longer theoretical. Switzerland-based startup Weezy VR is the world's first interactive virtual reality app for travel. And they'll be onsite at CES® 2023. "What you see is what you get," says CEO and Co-Founder Jimmy Kunzli, explaining how the platform works. Users, he continues, see unaltered 360 videos of their destinations. They also get virtual guided tours and filters which can tell them about climates, costs and how they might like the locales they have in mind, depending on the purpose of their travel. Jimmy shared the story of Weezy VR, explained how it works and what's next. And if you're coming to CES® 2023, you'll get a chance to meet Jimmy and his staff and talk with them about the platform! Look for Weezy VR in CES®' Eureka Park® startup area, in booth #61344 of the Switzerland pavilion. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Jimmy first came up with the concept of Weezy VR; The process involved, from concept to creation; How the platform works; A new feature he'll showcase at CES®2023; One of Jimmy's best experiences since the creation of the platform; How the platform is currently serving patients in hospitals and care facilities; What's next, after CES®!; Where the name comes from; What it's like for Jimmy, as he prepares for his first CES® show; How to support Weezy VR as the startup grows. CES® 2023 runs from January 5th through January 8th in Las Vegas, and is open to members of the consumer technology industry. Both in-person and virtual attendance registrations are available. We'll see you there--virtually!

Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022. And be sure to join us next week, as we profile some of the innovators of CES® 2023! For this Christmas holiday, we plan on going NOWHERE. And it's going to be a lot of fun. That's because NOWHERE is a relatively-new virtual platform, combining Zoom's ability to communicate face-to-face with the ability to travel through, create content for, and host events in, some breathtaking virtual worlds! This past week we visited an enchanting "snow globe", created for the Christmas season. There's currently a breathtaking "Cosmic Lighthouse" world that's new since we last visited, as well as an art show featuring NFTs to empower Brazilian women. Those are just three of the experiences available--along with performance spaces, workshops and just about anything a creator can imagine. This past spring we had the opportunity to talk with NOWHERE Co-Founder and Managing Director Ana Constantino. Here she is, with the story of NOWHERE and some guidance on how to get involved, have fun and even host your own events. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Ana's previous experiences as a creative professional at the intersection of art, media and technology; How she and her collaborators came to create NOWHERE; The reasons behind the name; How to share content and participate in live experiences in NOWHERE; The platform's intellectual property requirements; One her most fun creative experiences, since launching NOWHERE; A closer look at some of NOWHERE's virtual worlds; Ana's advice on creating compelling 3D worlds.

Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Colleen Bielitz, and used with permission.) Futurist Dr. Colleen Bielitz has an invitation for you. She would like to invite you to get involved in XR--or to get further immersed in it, if you're already exploring augmented, virtual and extended reality. Colleen is Associate Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach at Southern Connecticut State University. Her additional professional credentials include: entrepreneur, blue economy pioneer, tech evangelist,, and XR researcher. And her mission: to make XR accessible to everyone. Colleen is Co-Chair of the VRARA Education Committee, as well as serving on the board of XR Women–the global collective of women in augmented and virtual reality. We've virtually attended events which both organizations hosted, and can wholeheartedly recommend them as vibrant communities which encourage both visitors and members to grow. Beginners are welcome, and supported in their learning journeys. Among Colleen's innovations is Project Blue, an initiative towards creating a tech transfer, innovation hub and Blue Economy research in New Haven, Connecticut. AND, exciting update: during this interview we discussed her work on IMXR. The website is now up, and expanding horizons! Here's the link. In this interview, prerecorded in spring, 2022, Colleen discussed her mission of making XR available to all, shared resources for getting started and discussed her goals for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How technology first captured Colleen's imagination, as an area in which to use her talents; A definition of XR; Free resources and platforms for beginners; What immersive technology can mean to artists; The directions in which Colleen would like to take XR education in the future; Some of the dangers of this new immersive “world”; Safeguards that could help users avoid those dangers; The current implicit bias behind the looks of avatars; Some of Colleen's most exciting experiences, both with VR applications and during her workdays; A closer look at Project Blue, and a preview of the next chapter; A look at IMXR; Two challenges to innovators in the metaverse; Some exciting applications for users with disabilities; One of the areas that Colleen sees as requiring considerably more work, towards a metaverse that welcomes everyone.

Over Coffee®is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022! (Graphic courtesy of Deshjuana Bagley, and used with permission.) "Dream big," says State College of Florida Coding Academy Director Deshjuana Bagley. That's exactly what Desh, as she prefers to be called, has done--and what she continues to teach students to do. In addition to her work with SCF, Desh is the founder and CEO of Tampa-based TechPlayZone. As a mom who wanted to create a better future, not just for her own sons but for the next generation of innovators, Desh guides students to become creators, rather than simply consumers, in the metaverse. And she has a special event coming up. SCF Coding Academy is currently preparing for their Winter Break "Super Cyber Camp"! Geared towards students, grades 2 through 7, this promises to be a lot of fun as the young participants program in Minecraft. They'll also learn the principles of cybersecurity in the best possible way: in VR scenarios where they're having fun problem solving! (Here's the link for more information.) In this interview recorded in Spring, 2022, Desh shared her story, her creative journey with Tech Playzone and her vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Desh first became engaged in computer science and robotics; The story of TechPlayzone; Desh's memories of the early days of her unique program; What she's doing to engage students in creating with technology, versus the traditional approach in which schools teach tech; How teachers can get around the “intimidation factor” and make technology work in their curricula; What can work best for educators in arts disciplines; Some of the digital resources that can be most helpful in the arts; A closer look at the classes offered at State College of Florida's Coding Academy (these are available online!); Another technology program which allowed her students to create their own virtual worlds; Desh's vision for the future of TechPlayzone, and an exciting upcoming project; Her favorite resources for artists who'd like to start creating in XR; Desh's advice to arts students, in preparing for the new jobs which will result from current advances in robotics.

(Photo courtesy of Maxwell Durea, and used with permission.) One Love Machine Band creator Kolja Kugler is, first of all, an artist. He's also a roboticist--which he says he never expected to become. Kolja started out creating sculptures from scrap metal. But the project wound up having other ideas--and he found himself turning those sculptures into robots. And not just any robots. These are robot musicians who play real instruments! (Photo courtesy of Kolja Kugler, and used with permission.) As members of Kolja's One Love Machine Band, they're a real crowd-pleaser. One Love Machine Band has wowed audiences all over Europe--including at the Maker Faire Rome and during Kolja's TEDx Talk in his native Berlin. Kolja enjoys watching audience reactions, especially. A common response: delight. "Everybody became a child, suddenly, when they looked at that bass player, playing," he says. (Photo courtesy of Kolja Kugler, and used with permission.) Kolja explains that he started by building the band manager, whom he named "Sir Elton Junk". Next came the bass player, the drummer and some unusual background harmony. He sees himself as "playing" with the scrap metal, to see what kinds of characters emerge as he builds. And he has some exciting visions for the future. Kolja shared the story of his robotic band, discussed his creative process and offered a look ahead at what may be next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Kolja first discovered his passion for creating sculpture; One of the best creative lessons he learned from English arts group The Mutoid Waste Company; The story of the One Love Machine Band; The ways in which Kolja sees his robotic sculptures evolve as he builds them; His favorite memories from the first time the One Love Machine Band performed in public; A closer look at the "characters" of the musician robots; What helped Kolja keep going when he ran into roadblocks; What he considers the most fun involved in creating his playful art!; His vision for the band, in the future; Where the One Love Machine Band may be performing, in 2023.

Over Coffee® is on Thanksgiving hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022! ARVRinEDU® Founder Jaime Donally has created an Advent calendar--with new and user-friendly applications for augmented and virtual reality! And that's only one of the XR applications she offers educators. Jaime, who is an author, speaker and EdTech consultant, shares all kinds of fantastic resources on her ARVRinEDU® blog. Just one of the highlights: her collection of AR/VR resources from the free Verizon Innovative Learning HQ portal! And with December approaching, Jaime is once again offering her ARVRinEDU® Advent Calendar. The theme for 2022: "STEAM-Verse". If you'd like to receive these free resources, Jaime invites you to subscribe at ARVRinEDU.com for daily emails. During our conversation in early August, Jaime shared the story of ARVRinEDU®, shared some of her favorite resources for teaching in XR and told a favorite story of the effectiveness of AR from her own experiences as a parent. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Jaime's educational journey, from reluctant reader to education professional; Her own introduction to immersive technology; A definition of augmented, versus virtual and mixed, reality; The story of ARVRinEDU®; A closer look at some of the augmented and virtual-reality applications on the site; A preview of the content Jamie's planning for her Advent calendar; Jaime's advice to educators who are just starting to use immersive technology in the classroom; Some immersive apps which engage students in reading, science and writing; How students can create 3D content; Some VR applications that can be implemented in the classroom; Some of Jaime's favorite recent immersive-technology discoveries; The FREE microcredentialing training Jaime is currently offering, online! (Here's the link!) One of Jaime's favorite success stories, from her use of AR and VR.

This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical or safety advice. Please contact the appropriate professionals with any questions you may have in these or other areas. (Headshot by Mary Rice Photo, and used with permission.) Immersive technology is ready to revolutionize our world, says Cleanbox Technology Co-Founder and CEO Amy Hedrick. Areas in which nongaming uses of VR and XR are blossoming, include education, medicine, retail, and transportation , among other fields. But widespread adoption of virtual reality or other new technologies often requires willingness to engage with shared devices: headsets, laptops, even phones. One possible barrier to that implementation: the fear of spreading germs through shared devices. Accordingly, Nashville-based Cleanbox Technology has engineered and patented technologies which can disinfect a surface in 60 seconds--using UV light! Cleanbox's website says that their products can eliminate 99.999 percent of all contagions on surfaces, in a safe and environmentally-friendly process. Cleanbox Technology offers products which can sterilize any shared device: headsets, VR or AR hand controls, respirator masks and more. And their products aren't for technology alone. Cleanbox's newest device, the Omniclean 2, can sterilize any frequently-touched object placed in its chamber. A recent company video shows the UV light technology decontaminating markers, a purse and small office items. Amy shared the story of Cleanbox, discussed some of the ways she's seeing the use of immersive technology change the world and offered a preview of what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Amy first realized the potential of virtual reality to make an impact on the world; The story of Cleanbox; One of the most memorable ways she saw VR being put to use in a safety application, during her travels as she acquainted immersive-technology users with Cleanbox; How she makes the practical consideration--hygiene--behind the technology, appealing; An imaginary "unboxing" of one of Cleanbox's products and how it works; What UVC light is, and how it works in sterilizing surfaces; The safety mechanism used to make Cleanbox safe for general use; Why the technology is environmentally friendly; What most people don't know, about traditional sterilization procedures. And, what's next!

ERICA at the Japan section of Eureka Park® during CES® 2020, Las Vegas. "ERICA (isn't just a laughing robot)," clarifies researcher Dr. Divesh Lala. "The laughing is just a small part of the whole." Kyoto University researchers first began working with ERICA, or ERATO Intelligent Conversational Android, in 2015. Their goal: to develop her as a social robot who can function in conversational situations. Currently, that objective includes teaching the robot to laugh--an appropriate laugh, at the right time. Divesh, who is a JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Kyoto University, specializes in the area of artificial intelligence. For almost six years, he's been a researcher on the ERATO Ishiguro Symbiotic Human-Robot Interaction project. In other words, he's had the opportunity to work with ERICA, from the very early days. Using gaze behavior, speech and gesture, Divesh creates engaging conversations with this humanoid robot. He's published numerous research papers on his work--including "Can a Robot Laugh With You?", on which he is one of three co-authors. Divesh talked about the process of programming ERICA to be an engaging and believable conversationalist, explained what's involved in giving the robot the ability to laugh and offered a preview of what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee®we cover: How Divesh first became interested in artificial intelligence; His recollections from his early days of working with ERICA; A speech-recognition issue which is natural to humans but presented researchers with a challenge, in programming the robot; A distinction to keep in mind, about ERICA; How researchers decided to include laughter in her conversational capabilities; Considerations involved in that process; How it works, when the robot laughs; Divesh's favorite experience, from this latest aspect of his research work; Some possible future applications of ERICA's conversational capabilities; What could be next, for the laughter model; Divesh's recollections of the first time he heard ERICA laugh; Where to find additional publications on his research; Divesh's advice for fellow robot enthusiasts, on creating lifelike humanoids.

(Images courtesy of Andrew Wright and used with permission.) "It's all geared around creativity," says EDUmetaverse creator, owner and lead consultant Andrew Wright. "And so when they're (learning), they're constantly making, as well." He's talking about students' experience in his collection of customizable virtual worlds, designed to enhance the learning experience in classrooms across the globe. An innovator in the educational-technology space for more than a decade, Andrew is the owner of Sydney-based iTeacher. Nevertheless, he says the pandemic provided a catalyst for him to explore new worlds--virtually. His response: the creation of EDUmetaverse. Today, Andrew has built more than 50 customizable virtual worlds. In these experiences, students can travel to any location imaginable. Collaboration and creativity are center stage. So is learning retention: students are experiencing and interacting with, rather than memorizing, the subject matter. Naturally, those experiences can incorporate multiple disciplines at once. According to Andrew's LinkedIn page, he opens up EDUmetaverse on weekends, for visitors. Exploring the worlds When you visit, you might get to visit a medieval market. Or a farm, to explore the farm-to-table food production process. Or possibly even Mars! One major project, on which six schools around the world are collaborating, is a virtual butterfly preserve. Students get to upload information on the butterflies in their region, and learn more about conservation. Perhaps most exciting of all, though, are the results Andrew has seen. The end results Students get excited about learning--to the point that they don't want to leave the classroom sometimes! Quieter students can blossom. And some at risk have had a 180-degree turnaround in their perspectives of their future possibilities. "I know what we're doing here is something crazy special," Andrew comments. While some of the worlds are free, Andrew, who is an independent creator, says he hopes to monetize in the future. If you would like to see some of his work, in addition to checking out the main page on Framevr.io, here is a link to EDUmetaverse's YouTube channel. Andrew talked about his experiences, shared some of his most inspiring moments in creating EDUmetaverse, and shared his vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Andrew first became inspired to become an innovator in the field of education; The story of EDUmetaverse; Andrew's experiences as a first-time learner with a popular world building software; What you'll experience when you come into EDUmetaverse; A preview of one of the virtual worlds; How historical figures are represented through AI art; Some projects in which students collaborated and learned through AI art; A look at headsets versus desktops (EDUmetaverse is set up to be accessible through desktops in order to be more widely available); One of Andrew's most rewarding experiences as a creator; How schools can implement EDUmetaverse; Roughly what the cost might be, for a U.S. school; A closer look at EDUmetaverse's collaborative butterfly conservation project; Andrew's vision for the future; Where to connect with him. for more information on EDUmetaverse; How Andrew has incorporated his students' interests and suggestions nto the latest worlds he's been building; Workarounds to some of the common obstacles to implementing innovation into a more "traditional" education system; Why EDUmetaverse empowers students, beyond learning subject matter; The story of one student whose future vision changed radically, through interaction with EDUmetaverse.

At first glance, a casual observer might mistake Omega Mart for a supermarket. But after about ten seconds, they'll realize they're in for an adventure--and a lot of mind-bending fun. Omega Mart, the second permanent art installation by Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment collective Meow Wolf, is a surreal, and interactive, immersive experience. Secret passageways, slides, Easter eggs and surreal worlds are all part of the fun. So is storytelling with a sense of humor, as visitors can explore the lore of "Dramcorp"--or not--as they choose. Comprised of sixty different rooms with work from international and local artists, Omega Mart opened in Las Vegas' Area 15 in 2021. It could accurately be described as a "show", with psychedelic lights, tall overhead flowers, a playable laser harp and portals leading to unexpected places. The artists of Meow Wolf have even designed "products" for the "supermarket" area--and they're unlike anything you'll find in your local grocery. And their goal--as with Meow Wolf's previous installations in Santa Fe and Denver-- is to continue the mission of inspiring creativity through art, exploration and play. Spencer Olsen, Senior Creative Director at Meow Wolf, worked on twenty-two of the projects which Meow Wolf created for Omega Mart over the four years of its construction. We talked about the creative process, some of the areas visitors can experience and what's next for Meow Wolf. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first inspired Spencer to become an artist; One of the best creative lessons he learned from his first teacher; How Spencer first became a part of Meow Wolf; His favorite part of working with his fellow artists; The story of Omega Mart; What was most exciting about preparing the project with the team; A theme which visitors will discover; A closer look at some of the products in the "supermarket" area and how they fit into the storytelling; What it was like for the team of artists to come up with these tongue-in-cheek "supermarket" products; A hidden portal for which to look, and what guests see when they pass through; The summit of the narrative behind this experience; Two robots created especially for the occasion!: One of the technologies which Spencer most enjoyed incorporating into Omega Mart; The challenges the team dealt with, while bringing Omega Mart to life; One of the best creative lessons from the experience of creating this installation; A "don't-miss" feature of the installation; Some of the tactile experiences of Omega Mart; What Spencer remembers best from Omega Mart's opening day; Why the show isn't "done", and what's new!

(Photo courtesy of Kate Porter/LVNHM and used with permission.) Uh-oh. Mad scientists are just about to descend on Las Vegas Natural History Museum, for "Dino-Ween"! And it's going to be a blast. "It's one of the most fun days of the year, at the museum," says LVNHM Co-Executive Director Kate Porter. "Dino-Ween" is LVNHM's annual Halloween celebration--with the "resident" dinosaurs center stage. And the goal: to relate natural science to everyone's world, while showing just how cool science can be. Think: special effects, maker activities and thermodynamics. In a setting that's part Halloween haunt, part educational experience and completely fun. Items appear to float in mid-air. Staff don "mad scientist" lab coats and conduct Venus flytrap and bat-making workshops. And some of the pumpkins may not be feeling too well...with astonishing results! This year's "Dino-Ween" happens Friday, October 28th, at Las Vegas Natural History Museum, from 10 am to 3 pm. The theme: "Mad Science Lab". And you're invited! Meanwhile, if you don't happen to be in the Las Vegas area, you don't have to miss all the fun. LVNHM has some great online resources--including videos on making cool stuff, like Halloween slime, on their Facebook page! Kate offered a preview of what's going to be happening at this unique celebration, shared a behind-the-scenes view of the festivities and a look ahead at what's next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What's going to be happening for this year's "Dino-Ween"; How this special event came about and evolved; An additional celebration which visitors may like to experience; A state holiday, unique to Nevada, which the community is celebrating; What visitors will experience when they come into "Dino-Ween 2022"; A closer look at the science and technology behind some of the Halloween effects; An introduction to some of the dinosaurs at LVNHM!: One of Kate's favorite crowd-pleasing Halloween surprises; A look at some of the science demonstrations and workshops that will be happening, along the spectrum: from "gross for Halloween" right up to "family crafts". Some of the makers/tech experts whose expertise is making "Dino-Ween" possible; The online resources LVNHM offers, for anyone who can't be there in-person; What Kate and the LVNHM staff will be doing on October 28th; A preview of one "surprise" to look for; The best challenge/opportunity Kate has experienced, in developing "Dino-Ween" into the event it has become; A cool technological soon-to-be addition, coming in 2023; Another interesting program happening at LVNHM on Halloween weekend!; The role of storytelling in the museum's educational activities; Kate's vision for the future; What LVNHM need most, as they continue their mission of inspiring and educating; And, what's next!

Award-winning artist and metaverse designer Juliana Loh has a challenge for you. And it's going to be fun. Not to mention beautiful, interactive and you may just find yourself coming back to it more than once. Juliana accomplishes these goals with her latest metaverse world, Awaken the Giants, accessible on Altspace. Awaken the Giants, Juliana explains, is both a social experiment and a way of connecting to explore our highest aspirations. Created on Tiltbrush, Juliana's immersive world allows you to explore concepts, share ideas and experience a sense of wonder as you literally "get inside the heads" of her giants. Plus, you get to fly! The first thing that will happen, as you enter Juliana's immersive world, is that you'll be asked to turn on "flight" mode to travel. Then you zoom through a lighted tunnel to sparkly areas, taking as much time as you would like and investigating what you see on the platforms, the figures you encounter and the ideas that result from your experience. And--you're going to wind up with a takeaway to use in your creative life. But we won't do a spoiler here! Juliana talked about her background, shared the story of "Awaken the Giants" and offered a look at some of her additional work in the metaverse. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first inspired Juliana to become an artist; Her memories of the first time she created art in virtual reality; The resources that gave her a background for creating art in 3D; How Juliana came to create Awaken the Giants; A closer look at what visitors experience; One of the creative challenges that helped Juliana grow as an artist as she built her immersive world; What she observed as people interacted with her world; What the figures in her world represent; Two of the most exciting professional honors she's received since the start of her XR career; The creative takeaway which the Awaken the Giants experience gives visitors; Juliana's guidance to fellow artists creating in the metaverse; An overall challenge which allowed her to continue growing; What works well for her, with setting priorities; A closer look at another of Juliana's worlds--Jingleville--which she created in 2019 and which allowed her to explore some of the techniques she uses for Awaken the Giants; Why certain elements are present in Juliana's Tiltbrush art; The real-world "magic" which inspires her; Her advice to fellow creatives who want to share their work to make a difference; An exciting opportunity that's coming up for her (you'll want to see this!).

This post and podcast episode contain some adult language. (Photo courtesy of Robin Moulder, and used with permission.) "I posit that you should just do it all," says 3lb XR and 3lb Games Founder and CEO Robin Moulder. She's speaking from experience. In addition to being a software engineer, entrepreneur and XR innovator, Robin is, quite literally, a rock star. As a founder of the 1990s alternative-rock band Jack Off Jill, she played bass, toured with her band and recorded albums--while working full-time in software and management. And she found both careers fun and creatively fulfilling, as they involved her passions: music and technology. "(It's) switching my brain to another mode," Robin says of her music. Exploring the different areas, she explains, "lit up" all the areas of her brain. New creative applications Today, Robin combines those two areas of expertise through her work in XR. Earlier this year, her 3lb XR accelerator debuted a series of gamified virtual-reality training applications. These are hands-on simulations for safe and thorough training of staff in industrial, hospitality and medical fields. "What really matters to me is that we, as a company, are very much aligned with your mission," Robin says of the clients she serves. That alignment can be groundbreaking. Working with Tucson Medical Center, 3lb XR recently introduced a first-of-its-kind pilot program for medical staff. The simulations--which you can find on 3lb XR's YouTube channel--include suicide prevention training, medical inventory and thorough cleaning procedures. So far, 1000 members of the staff have been training on various procedures through these simulations. The benefits of these simulations? Learners can safely make mistakes and learn from them; physical supplies and facilities aren't depleted; and trainees tend to become more vigilant through the interactive experiences. {Plus, they tend to be fun!) Robin says that's just the beginning, as she and her team work to accelerate the metaverse by making hands-on VR training widely available. While the "fun" element is very much present in these VR simulations, it's equally so in 3lb Games' creations. The aspects of acceleration Robin started Michigan-based 3lb Games in 2008. Their current release, an action adventure game, Vault of Stars, was released in early access for the Meta Quest 2 earlier this year. For their next release, Space Dragon: Unchained, your arms become VR dragons that are used to blow up planets! Space Dragon: Unchained will be released on November 3rd and can be waitlisted on the Oculus App Lab Store now. We talked about Robin's creative journey in music and technology, the story of 3lb Games and 3lb XR, and the ways Robin and her team are accelerating the metaverse--for everyone. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Robin's creative journey with both music and technology; One of the creative lessons she uses today, from her dual careers; A favorite memory of some of the pranks she and her fellow musicians played on each other while on tour; The story of 3lb Games; How 3lb XR evolved from what Robin and her team were seeing in the XR world; What accelerating the metaverse can mean for someone in the arts; What's next, for 3lb XR; One of Robin's favorite reactions she's seen, among participants using 3lb XR's learning simulations; A closer look at 3lb Games' upcoming releases.

(Photograph courtesy of Harry Who, and used with permission of Loughlin Michaels Group.) Storytelling is at the heart of Donna Loughlin's profession. As Founder and President of San Jose-based public relations agency LMGPR, Donna works with visionaries on a daily basis. Her award-winning PR firm specializes in publicizing creators of disruptive technology--both for consumers and business-to-business. And for Donna, it all starts with the "why" of their creations. With a background in journalism and expertise in both aviation and high-performance racing, Donna explores the "why" aspects of innovation. Insatiably curious about the world around her, she enjoys investigating the reasons behind cutting-edge technology--and sharing these stories, both through LMGPR and on her podcast, Before It Happened. Donna talked about her background, offered a look at some of the innovations she's found most interesting and shared her thoughts on keeping humanity at the heart of technology. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: The experiences that sparked Donna's interest in science and technology; One of the coolest things she got to make, and what happened next!; How her storytelling talents grew from there; Why her creative journey included high-performance racecar driving!: How a risk--and a skill she didn't initially want!--led to a career opportunity; The "happy accident" which led to the start of her business; Donna's perspective on educational technology; How she worked with her two children (one arts-oriented and one a scientist) to interest each in both areas; A closer look at her podcast, Before It Happened; Some of the robots she finds most interesting: Her thoughts on teaching kids to discover wonder in the world around them; Some of the most interesting emerging technology she's seeing; A look at job skills for the future and how they relate to emerging tech.; Donna's favorite story about adopting new technology.

(Royalty-free images from Pixabay.) "It's about who you are, where you want to go, and we'll give you a pathway," says Dr. Prasad Ram, Founder and CEO of education research and technology nonprofit Gooru. But the journey about which he is speaking is more important than any geographical one. With his team, Pram, as he prefers to be called, has developed Gooru Navigator--a GPS for learning! As a thought leader in educational technology, Pram is passionate about using his expertise to ensure equitable access to education. Gooru, which he created in 2011, focuses on providing technology that helps students (in school and lifelong) achieve their goals. Consequently, Gooru Navigator is available, free, to students and educators. Unlike traditional school systems, the Gooru Navigator begins with an assessment of the individual student's circumstances. Where is that person, in relation to what they want to accomplish, on their learning journey? (Royalty-free image by Nikolay Georgiev from Pixabay) Then, Pram explains, the Navigator maps out a path. And students can choose what they explore, on the way to their learning "destination". Gooru's name, derived from the Hindi word for "teacher", guru, also pays homage to Google, at which Pram worked both as Director of Research for Google Books for Education, in Mountain View, and Director of Engineering in Bangalore. While his career included working as a research scientist at Xerox, serving as Chief Technology Officer at Yahoo! India and receiving the Founders' Award during his time at Google, he wanted to apply his understanding of complex systems to one that had made a difference for him: education. Beginning as a "20% project", Gooru grew from there. Pram shared the story of Gooru, explained how the Navigator works, and talked about his own "GPS" for where he'd like to grow Gooru in the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Pram's thoughts on customizing the complex concept of learning to individuals; The fundamental element of his own educational experience which gave him the confidence to pursue computer science and engineering; How Pram came to create his nonprofit, Gooru, while working at Google; His recollections of the early days of Gooru; How a teacher's input prompted him to change his "GPS for Learning" model in the early days; How the system works; What students experience, when they log into the Navigator; How the system shows student progress; The "fun" and exploration elements included!; What education professionals see as students learn with the Navigator; How to get the "Learning GPS" and start using it!: How the Navigator works in teaching employees soft skills; What Pram has learned from his experiences with Gooru; Where his nonprofit is currently, and a "GPS" to where they're heading!; How to support Gooru, if you'd like to help; Pram's perspective on the "loss of learning" which has concerned educators since the pandemic.

Multiple award-winning computer science education innovator Mark Suter explains how to get started creating with virtual reality as he discusses his experiences guiding students in designing real-world applications.

(Photo ©XRAI, and used with permission.) What if life had captions--so that someone who's hard of hearing didn't have to miss anything? For XRAI Glass CEO Dan Scarfe and his team, that's no longer a theoretical question. Watching a beloved family member at a family Christmas gathering, Dan was struck with an inspiration. And the end result: his London-based software brand's new technology, which converts audio into subtitles! (Photo ©XRAI, and used with permission.) "XRAI", Dan says, stands for "extended reality artificial intelligence." The AR software operates through an Android phone, transmitting to a pair of NREAL Air glasses, on which the wearer can then see captions in real time. Best of all, if the wearer is hard of hearing, they don't have to look directly at the speaker to understand their speech. They can be looking away or engaged in another activity while following the conversation. The technology also allows the smart-glasses wearer to follow other audio sources, such as radio broadcasts or podcasts, in real time. And Dan says these current capabilities are just the beginning. Dan shared the story of XRAI Glass's new technology, currently in beta tests, as well as his favorite experiences and his vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Dan came to combine his passion for technology with changing lives through innovations; How a Christmas visit inspired him with the idea for the XRAI Glass software; What's currently happening with the pilot program; Some of the other features in the works; How people might be able to participate in the trial; How the AR technology works; How the technology might distinguish different accents; Acknowledgements of the team behind the innovation; What Dan most enjoys as a technologist, getting the software to work in real time; A possible timeline for U.S. availability; One of the most valuable ways users are supporting the development of the technology; How the technology distinguishes between different speakers.

(Photograph courtesy of Tracey Croggon, and used with permission.) Science Magician Dr. Matt Pritchard deals in wonder. And he also deals in education. Dr. Pritchard, or Matt, as he prefers to be called, performs science magic shows at local schools, universities and organizations. Many of his tricks are original. They're also designed to have his audience members asking, "How did you do that?" Matt enjoys the question--and the discussions that ensue. His goal, as both a scientist (with a PhD. in experimental atomic physics!) and a professional magician, is to inspire, inform and boost critical thinking skills. He also offers a creativity-boosting challenge, with his work. "Binge-watch some of my videos," he suggests, " And just sit there and go, 'How would I do this?'" Matt, who is both an author and a speaker, hosts a podcast, "Words on Wonder". He also has a TED talk, "The Quantum State of Wonder", in which he demonstrates a couple of his tricks which combine, as he says, "surprise plus mystery". Matt talked about his background and some of the science and math principles behind his illusions, as well as how he maintains his sense of wonder. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Matt became interested in his two areas of expertise; His professional journey, in both atomic physics and magic, and the catalyst for finding common ground in these two areas ; A tip for engaging audiences, no matter what you're presenting; What it's like to audition for the world's most prestigious magicians' society; How Matt surprised those magicians!: One of the demonstrations he does, that tends to wow audiences of all ages; How he applies math to an often-seen "estimate" challenge; A closer look at his podcast, Words on Wonder; How not to "burn out" when producing creative work; Matt's recommendation of two authors who inspire him; A historic "curiosity" about a magician from Matt's blog; What the "magician mindset" is; One of Matt's favorite discoveries which he incorporates into his performances; How magicians apply the psychology of magic to an audience; An application of that psychology, which Matt uses in his show; Matt's thoughts about explaining the science behind the magic; A seemingly-"impossible" stunt Matt performs in some of his science magic shows; The physics behind one of the stunts he has invented; What inspires Matt with a sense of wonder; How to incorporate that sense of wonder into daily life; What Matt has learned about wonder from his own children; Where he'd most like to grow, with science magic, in the future.

California STEAM Symposium is celebrating a landmark anniversary! And if you're in the Anaheim area, October 1-2, you're cordially invited to come celebrate--and learn-- with them. That's the weekend that the annual California STEAM Symposium will once again be an in-person event. If past experience is any indication, this is going to be, once again, "epic". Components of empowerment (California STEAM Symposium maker space, Anaheim, 2019.) Co-hosted by nonprofit Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the California Department of Education, the California STEAM Symposium explores exciting and creative ways of empowering students through science, technology, engineering, art and math. Interactivity is the keyword, as educators conduct sessions on maker skills, robotics, immersive technology and numerous other innovative approaches that will get students learning, hands-on, in ways they'll remember--and apply to real life. But the educators aren't the only presenters. (Rialto High School students' Rube Goldberg machine, California STEAM Symposium, 2019.) Students also offer sessions and present their work! A+ for virtual programming (California STEAM Symposium, 2021.) For the past two years, the California STEAM Symposium has been all-virtual. Even with the limitations of remote presentations, the 2020 and 2021 events were highly creative and a lot of fun. (California STEAM Symposium, 2020.) Both symposia generated dozens of new ideas, even as participants attended from home. But as Karyn says, there's really nothing quite like the in-person experience. (California STEAM Symposium, Anaheim, 2019.) This year's California STEAM Symposium, at Anaheim Convention Center, will feature more than 150 sessions, keynote speakers, maker activities and some surprise special features. Karyn and Glennon talked about their experiences preparing for this landmark event, offered a preview of this year's schedule and shared ways attendees can get the most out of their STEAM experience. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Glennon and Karyn's experience with the "curve ball" of the pandemic helped them to prepare to return to in-person events; The "surprise" involved in going virtual and how Karyn and Glennon found the element of joy amid the pandemic's planning limitations; A new feature, this year, for California S.T.E.A.M. Symposium's 5,000-square-foot maker space; Some "don't-miss" activities and advice on time managements for educators; An imaginary "tour" of what's going to be happening on October 1, including the expo hall floor and maker space; A preview of the keynote speakers (and a hint at some "surprise" elements); Some of the highlights of the sessions that are going to be happening; How educators who consider themselves "less than technical" can learn alongside their students; Several areas in which students will be presenting; The CDE Foundation's mission statement, and how the California STEAM Symposium will operate on this core purpose; A special celebration for which you're invited to stay, on Saturday!; Guidance for first-time attendees; Karyn and Glennon's favorite stories about their experiences with California STEAM Symposium! The tenth annual California STEAM Symposium happens Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, in Anaheim. Here's the link for more information.

(Photography by Tom Bonner, courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.) "We know what to do," says Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO Dr. Peter Kareiva. He's talking about the ways communities can collaborate on combating climate change. And those activities will be the focus of a brand-new course which the Aquarium is offering, this autumn, in partnership with Orange Coast College. Entitled "Ocean Conservation and Community Science", the course is geared towards high-school students. Class sessions will happen at the Aquarium, two nights a week, starting August 30th, according to the Aquarium's website. The course is free to high-school students, who will receive three units of college credit. Labs and optional field trips will accompany the class sessions. A mission beyond the classroom (Photograph by Cassandra Davis, courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.) More importantly, though, the curriculum will provide discourse with conservation specialists and hands-on activities. The goals: to reach students who might otherwise not have the opportunity to discover their own personal connections with nature--and to give back to the community. That "giving back" element comes with encouraging the students to continue to act on that connection, long after the final class session has concluded. In fact, Dr. Kareiva, who will be the lead instructor, says the new course may very well open the door to careers which students hadn't previously considered. Dr. Kareiva and a number of conservationists will be sharing both their expertise. and the ways in which their talents led to their current career path. And these will be two-way conversations, with students encouraged to share their ideas and get involved in labs and hands-on activities. (Photograph by Eileen Delrosario, courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.) Arts-oriented students, especially, may be surprised to discover the ways their talents could fit into a science career with a focus on conservation. "I think everybody's a conservationist at heart," Dr. Kareiva explains. ("No one wants to destroy the planet.") While the course is currently full, Dr. Kareiva says there is a wait list available. In addition, his vision is an expansion of this class, to include other communities and universities, in the future. Dr. Kareiva offered a preview of the new course. discussed the Aquarium's conservation activities, and shared his perspectives on taking action to heal the environment. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Dr. Kareiva became inspired to focus his talents as a scientist on conservation; The goals of the new course and how it differs from a traditional "class"; What students will experience in "Ocean Conservation and Community Science"; Why "community conservation" is effective; The real-world interactive experiences available to students; How to get on the waitlist; How Dr. Kareiva has observed young Aquarium visitors connecting with nature; The ways in which we engage with conservation in a personal way; How programs like the new class can inspire youth to explore science careers that might otherwise have never occurred to them as possibilities; The roles arts-oriented students might want to consider in future conservation-oriented careers; How the new course reflects the ways in which the education field is evolving; Dr. Kareiva's future vision for the course; Our best chance at addressing the problems of climate change; How youth volunteers are applying their talents to conservation efforts; How an early study illustrated the power of effective communication in educating the public about climate change.

This post and podcast are not, in any way, shape or form, affiliated with, nor endorsed by, NASA. (Photo courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.) In a matter of weeks, NASA's Artemis I will mark a new beginning in space exploration. This historic flight is the first phase of the Artemis program's goal: returning humans to the Moon. Matt Wittal is Mission Design and Planetary Science at NASA. As he explained in our 2019 interview, unmanned Artemis I is the first of three scheduled missions in the Artemis program. The world's most powerful rocket, the SLS (Space Launch System), will launch the spacecraft, Orion. Initially, Orion will orbit the Earth. Then, off to the moon--and it its lunar orbit, Orion will travel further than any previous spacecraft. The mission objectives, as explained on NASA's website: to demonstrate Orion's systems in a spaceflight environment; and to ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery prior to Artemis II, which will be the first flight with crew onboard. And further down the (lunar) road Then, in the future, Artemis III will land astronauts on the lunar surface for exploration and habitation of the Moon. NASA will operate both a "base camp" on the lunar surface, and their Gateway orbiting lunar outpost. Even that isn't the ultimate objective of the Artemis program, however. Living and working on the Moon is projected to ultimately help researchers determine what will be needed, for travel to Mars. Matt talked about the final preparations to launch Artemis I, what's involved in planning a mission with so many "firsts", and what comes next! On this edition of Over Coffee®we cover: What's currently happening with final preparations for the launch; The troubleshooting involved to get any launch right (including the successful Saturn V!); Some of the "firsts" involved in the Artemis I flight; A definition of a NASA term which will apply to the mission; What launch day will be like, for Matt!; Matt's role in preparing the technology to navigate the spacecraft; What's involved in determining the trajectory for launching a moon rocket; How the mission, and the program, demonstrate NASA's new vision statement; Some of the ways other countries are collaborating on the Artemis program; A closer look at some of the secondary objectives the cubesats aboard the SLS may accomplish; The timeline of the launch and Orion's journey; How the Artemis I mission will set the stage for the Artemis II flight; What Matt and the NASA team are currently working on for the missions to follow Artemis I; The future missions planned to travel back and forth to the Moon and what will be needed to make them successful; How Matt's background led him to excel in space logistics; Where to watch the launch, get educator resources, and follow NASA on their social media; The consideration of lunar dust with an orbiting spacecraft; What Matt has learned about himself, as both a science researcher and a maker, from working at NASA. NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket has a targeted launch date of than August 29, 2022, 8:33 am, Eastern Daylight time. (Or 5:33 am to us Californians!) Alternate dates are September 2 and September 5. Watch NASA's pre-launch programming, the week prior to launch, and the launch itself, on NASA TV! Meanwhile, if you're an educator, homeschooling parent, citizen scientist or a complete NASA fan like we are, here's the link to NASA's STEM resources! And a registration link, if you'd like to receive their free Artemis I "STEM Learning Pathway" or if you'll be hosting a launch party or other virtual event on August 29th!

"I want to serve millions of learners worldwide," says STEMuli Founder/CEO Taylor Shead. And her Dallas-based educational technology enterprise is well on the way to doing exactly that. As creators of the first game-based learning metaverse in the United States, STEMuli Studios serves high-school students through hands-on virtual learning experiences. The students are having fun and being creative while learning. And best of all, the program connects them to career opportunities in the lucrative STEM field. "What success looks like, is students preparing for the job of their dreams," Taylor explains. "'Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.'" So, how does this work? Students create their avatars as they enter a colorful virtual world. Then they can travel around, exploring, until it's time for class. Teachers then summon them into the virtual classroom, for lessons. Meanwhile, part of the virtual experience is interaction with industry partners, in preparation for future STEM careers. Mentorship and job-training skills are central to the program. Finding direction--literally In addition, the STEMuli technology system provides copious--and customized--data for teachers. This information allows them to monitor individual students' progress in various subjects. And now, a new system is coming out, for the learners themselves: a "learning GPS" that lets the student determine where they are with their educational goals! Taylor says her ultimate vision is to serve all learners: lifelong and nontraditional as well as K-12 and college students. Taylor shared the story of STEMuli, explained how the program works and offered a preview of what's next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: The epiphany that led Taylor to her mission as an entrepreneur; How she started STEMuli, and saw it evolve; Taylor's memories of the early days of her startup; A conversation with a student that cemented Taylor's commitment to her calling; How a surprise discovery led her to seek the involvement of Fortune 500 companies; What students experience, in the virtual world; How the "learning GPS" which STEMuli will debut was developed. The tools available in the "STEMuli engine" for educators (and students!) to create content; One of Taylor's most "fun" experiences in her creative journey with STEMuli; Taylor's own "GPS" of STEMuli's current accomplishments and the goals she'd like to reach; Where to connect with Taylor and STEMuli; What the new "learning GPS" could mean for a lifelong learner; How you can support her project and get involved!

"This changes everything," was educator, author and speaker Jaime Donally's response to her own first augmented-reality experience. And today, she's guiding fellow educators in the implementation and use of immersive technology--AR, VR and MR--in the classroom. As founder of ARVRinEDU®, Jaime offers all kinds of free resources, online, which can be easily implemented into classroom curricula. Her blog sparks the imagination with product information and hands-on projects. Features like "31 Days of ARVRinEDU" direct educators to free training, lesson ideas and projects. But had Jaime known her future career path, during her own school days, she might have been surprised. A change of perspective Reading, she says, was her nemesis in school. In her book The Immersive Classroom, she shares that she had never completely read a book, until her last year of high school. That would change. A teacher introduced the "fun" element, customizing the reading experience to Jaime's interests. Jaime now uses that same approach to help teachers engage students through augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed-reality applications. Among the features of her website are blog post on "31 Days of ARVRinEDU," as well as professional virtual training and links to her two books. In addition, Jaime is now offering micro-credentialed professional training--free--online! Here's the link to find out more. Jaime talked about her educational journey, the creation of ARVRinEDU® and some of the applications she has found especially effective for education. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Jaime's educational journey, from reluctant reader to education professional; Her own introduction to immersive technology; A definition of augmented, versus virtual and mixed, reality; The story of ARVRinEDU®; A closer look at some of the augmented and virtual-reality applications on the site; A preview of the content planned for later this year; Jaime's advice to educators who are just starting to use immersive technology in the classroom; Some immersive apps which engage students in reading, science and writing; How students can create 3D content; Some VR applications that can be implemented in the classroom; Some of Jaime's favorite recent immersive-technology discoveries; The FREE microcredentialing training Jaime is currently offering, online! (Here's the link!) One of Jaime's favorite success stories, from her use of AR and VR for teaching.

A special-edition Over Coffee®podcast, featuring one of our top episodes of 2022! "It's quite fun, to be honest," says WasteShark creator Richard Hardiman. He's talking about watching his autonomous drone clean plastic from bodies of water--not unlike a popular game where the main character "eats" enemies. And with climate change at the forefront of numerous conversations today, Richard, who is the founder and CEO of Netherlands-base RanMarine Technology, has been creating a series of innovations to help heal the planet. When we first spoke in January 2022, Richard and his team had just exhibited the WasteShark at CES® 2022, in Las Vegas. The WasteShark wowed attendees with its capabilities to act like a "vacuum", clearing floating pollution from lakes, harbors, ponds and waterways. WasteShark also won a CES® Innovation Award. But the truly exciting news: this particular robot is just the beginning for RanMarine Technology.Richard previewed the company's additional innovations--including a "pod" that allows deployment of five WasteSharks together, to clean waterways 24/7! Here's what may come as a surprise: Richard describes himself as an "accidental environmentalist"! He shares that story here, as he explains how his innovation works and some of the highlights, along with one low point, of the creative process. On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Richard “accidentally” came up with his concept for the WasteShark aquatic drone; The steps from there (and an important catalyst, for him, to the creative process!); How the WasteShark works; What users see if they manually operate the aquadrone (created to be very user-friendly); What happens next!; What Richard, as someone without robotics experience, had to learn to make the WasteShark a reality; Some of the challenges and considerations involved in creating an aquadrone; What data the WasteShark communicates back, about the qualities of the water in which it is operating; How any creative can apply the steps Richard took, in making the WasteShark a reality, to bring their own ideas to life; RanMarine Technology's experience with the CES® 2022 Innovation Award; Another device, currently in development, to tackle oil pollution; Some highlights, and a low point, of Richard's journey, as he and his team designed the WasteShark. Would you like to see the WasteShark, and additional future innovations from RanMarine Technology, in action? Here's a link to their YouTube channel!

Who knew that Leonardo da Vinci designed robots? Or scuba gear, machines of war and even a workable bicycle--about 300 years before bikes became popular? These are just a few of the discoveries from the "Da Vinci Machines and Robotics" summer traveling exhibition, currently on display at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. "This exhibit knocks it out of the park," says LVNHM Co-Executive Director Kate Porter. "We're seeing technology that doesn't re-emerge for centuries." Gleaming wood, meticulously-crafted shapes created by the Artisans of Florence from da Vinci's original designs, or codices, and above all, ideas several centuries ahead of his time, greet visitors to the exhibit. "Da Vinci Machines and Robotics" is the largest da Vinci traveling invention exhibition in the world, including more than 60 pieces. All, Kate says, are authentically crafted, from materials that would have been available in da Vinci's time. Interestingly, art historians say that less than 20 surviving paintings have been verified as da Vinci works. But hundreds of his design sketches still exist. That would seem to imply that the master artist really enjoyed making things, most of all! And visitors to the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History, from now through September 10th, get to come up with new ideas, both by seeing the inventions of da Vinci--and by the activities which LVMNH has planned, inspired by his creativity! On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: The story of the "Da Vinci Machines and Robotics" exhibition; Some of the inventions included in the exhibition; A closer look at da Vinci's robots and why he created them!; One such automaton, which is being seen for the first time; The background against which da Vinci created his art and his inventions; What we know about the possibility of da Vinci actually constructing his designs;; What Kate has enjoyed most about hosting this showstopping exhibition at LVNHM; One of the components of LVNHM's success (they're celebrating their 31st anniversary!); Some hands-on maker activities inspired by da Vinci's work; One of Kate's favorite creative lessons from the exhibition; The new content and program which the Museum staff are developing for later this year. The "Da Vinci Machines & Robotics" summer traveling exhibition is open from now through September 10th, 2022, at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, located at 900 North Las Vegas Boulevard. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm.

Future tech strategist Dr. Mark van Rijmenam discusses the path to an open metaverse as outlined in his latest book, "Step Into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy".

A look at the technology and experiences behind growing live crops aboard the ISS, courtesy of NASA Project Scientists Dr. Gioia Massa and Matt Romeyn.

UNLV Engineering brings cutting-edge technology to local classrooms for hands-on learning--free! But their "Tech Trekker" program's reach extends far beyond their local ares.

(Photo by Treion Films, event videographer, courtesy of Howard Robinson, and used with permission.) Opening up the future is what new virtual -reality-based educational program We Are VR Leaders is all about. We Are VR Leaders Founder Howard Robinson created the program to engage students and increase retention. Most importantly, though, We Are VR Leaders provides underserved students with access to a wider variety of learning opportunities, Howard, who is an educator, technologist and thought leader, is also the Founder and President of Gaming for Greatness. For Howard, his leadership journey began during his own academic career. As one of the top students in his South Side Chicago high school, he frequently guided classmates in their studies. And during his college career, one of his teaching positions was as a computer-science instructor for students in South Africa. Today, he uses cutting-edge technology to accomplish his dual missions: education and youth leadership. Virtual reality, Howard says, can transcend some of the obstacles students face, while allowing them to experience future career options. It can also keep them engaged. In fact, Howard says, getting the students to stop interacting with the VR lessons, may just be a challenge! And his new educational program is going to change some lives.. We Are VR Leaders currently lists three different programs on their website. Currently,, the program is set to debut in two different states, for two different types of youth-serving organizations. But Howard says that's just the beginning. Howard shared the story of creating We Are VR Leaders, talked about some of his favorite experiences with the program and offered a preview of what could be next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Howard first became inspired to become a leader in education and technology; A creative lesson from a unique past experience as an educator which he currently uses in his work with We Are VR Leaders; How Howard first realized the educational potential of VR; The story of We Are VR Leaders; A timeline for the (scheduled) implementation of the program in a school system; His advice for organizations on successfully implementing programs for underserved communities; How to find out more about implementing the program for your school or organization; A closer look at some of the curricula students will experience through We Are VR Leaders; One of the best lessons Howard has learned as an educator, from his work with his new program; An exciting development that's coming in the very near future!; Howard's vision for We Are VR Leaders; A look at the Art Therapy curriculum which Howard is currently developing in collaboration with nonprofit Smile Honey Child;; One of the reactions Howard enjoyed most, when introducing newcomers to virtual reality; How you can support the program, if you'd like to help!: Howard's go-to implement to extend his reach, as a VR educator.

How would you like to go to summer Space Camp? Better yet, how would you like to go to Space Camp with attendees from all over the world? With everyone collaborating on a creative project in a playful environment? That's exactly the opportunity which ShapingEDU is offering anyone who'd like to participate. Oh--and it's free, and happening virtually. The dates: June 21-23, for three half-day sessions for which you can register here. ShapingEDU, created by Arizona State University, is a global community of passionate creatives. Their focus: coming up with ideas for positive change in education. And Stephanie Pierotti is ShapingEDU's first-ever Director. Annually, ShapingEDU hosts their "Global Virtual Summer Camp", with interactive sessions where attendees dream together, then collaborate to make those dreams a reality. This year's theme is "Space Camp". And Global Virtual Summer Camp is just one of ShapingEDU's events aimed at uniting innovators to create a better, more accessible education system. Stephanie talked about Space Camp,, what attendees can expect, and the ways ShapingEDU is "dreaming, doing and driving" to shape the future for lifelong learners. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first inspired Stephanie to become an "insatiably curious change maker"; The story of ShapingEDU; Stephanie's experience putting together this year's Global Virtual Summer Camp; What will be happening at this year's virtual "camp"; How some other countries' education systems incorporate ideas which Stephanie would like to see in practice in U.S. education; What attendees will experience at Space Camp; Some of the new "cool tools" for education which speakers will share during the sessions; A new element, this year, which keeps sessions engaging; One of Stephanie's favorite experiences while coordinating this year's Global Virtual Summer Camp event; A closer look at ShapingEDU's global work and the role of Global Virtual Summer Camp in the larger picture; The beginnings of a dream for the future; A statistic about the future of the educational field that could surprise you!; ShapingEDU's just-launched program to connect underserved communities with Internet access; A vision for this program within the next year.

Sooner or later, you'll be teaching. Even if you'd never consider yourself a teacher. So, how do you teach a work procedure, a concept or an actual workshop or class so that your listeners stay engaged? Especially if you're delivering your message virtually? Award-winning teacher Dr. Mark Johnson has the answer to that question. Dr. Johnson teaches in numerous settings. He's taught at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, for just over thirty-six years. During that time, he's also served as a training and development consultant for the apprenticeship industry. In addition, he's served as a training consultant for trade organizations including the International Alliance of Stage and Technical Employees Trust Fund. He also teaches an online MBA program in Human Resources. Not to mention youth leadership courses. Oh, and he has a great TEDx talk about education: "Generation WHY?". In this presentation, he pinpoints a fundamental, and ongoing, error he sees educators making as they teach classes. Dr. Johnson talked about his experiences as a teacher, explained what makes a class compelling regardless of the subject, and offered some guidance on making your next online presentation a successful experience for you and your students. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first sparked Dr. Johnson's passion for teaching; How he first discovered "learning latency", which he explores in his TEDx talk; An exercise illustrating this concept; How Dr. Johnson avoids this problem when teaching his students; How to make this principle work for online presentations; The key to success, in any teaching situation; What entertainers' expertise can mean for educators; How to bring "dry" subject matter to life; Dr. Johnson's recommendations for effective use of an online presentation tool; One of the most valuable lessons which he learned, about leadership, from his years as a leader; How to get students past the "intimidation factor" when they're learning something new; How to guide students so their skills remain relevant in a changing world.

NOWHERE Co-Founder and Managing Director Ana Constantino refused to let the pandemic sideline her--or the creative community she serves. Ana, who is the Co-Founder and Executive Producer of New York artistic collective The Windmill Factory, was bored and frustrated with isolation. So, in March 2020, she and her creative team began brainstorming ideas. The result: NOWHERE, a unique social-media platform for live events. Visitors can experience (and host!) music video premieres, workshops, festivals, scavenger hunts, art exhibits--all in 3D. But NOWHERE is a very different virtual experience from any others we've seen. Visitors travel through the stars to multiple surreal worlds. Portals can take you to a futuristic theatre with white strip lights and a backstage area. Or to a circular gallery among the clouds, where art hangs in space and you balance up a virtual ramp to see additional works. Or even to "6th Boro", where you stand on a sleek wooden platform in the sky, with all of New York spread out below you. Besides that, the platform merges its beautiful 3D environments with video chat! Participation in this new platform is free--and you are cordially invited to come see what it's about, AND to host your own events for up to fifty people. Plus--if you're a 3D modeler, you have another opportunity. NOWHERE is hosting a worldbuilding competition for 3D modelers! The deadline's May 31--here's their link for information. UPDATE--as of May 27, they've announced they're extending the entry deadline--to June 10th! Ana shared her experiences with NOWHERE, explained what visitors can experience and discussed the ways new participants can get involved. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Ana's previous experiences as a creative professional at the intersection of art, media and technology; How she and her collaborators came to create NOWHERE; The reasons behind the name; How to share content and participate in live experiences in NOWHERE; The platform's intellectual property requirements; Upcoming live events in NOWHERE; A closer look at that worldbuilding competition!; Ana's recommendation of a favorite resource for creating 3D worlds; One her most fun creative experiences, since launching NOWHERE; A closer look at some of NOWHERE's virtual worlds; Ana's advice on creating compelling 3D worlds.

Due to a family emergency, we will be posting our regularly-scheduled Over Coffee® episode later this week. Meanwhile, please enjoy this reposting of one of our all-time-favorite episodes! Imagine that you're at work. You're performing a routine task with technology. Suddenly, everything stops working. And your co-workers all come out and ask, "What did you do?" That's bad enough. But now--imagine that this happens to you aboard the International Space Station. And it's up to you to fix everything. Otherwise, your life--and those of your team--will be at risk. That's what happened to NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas H. Wheelock. When this happened, during Doug's time as a flight engineer for Expedition 24, and commander of Expedition 25, he was no stranger to troubleshooting in space. Doug Wheelock at Space Apps Pasadena, 2016. Serving as a flight mission specialist on STS-120, the space shuttle's 23rd mission to the International Space Station During that mission, Doug worked with the crew on emergency repairs after one of the solar panels malfunctioned. What would be the odds of a second, more critical incident during Doug's next ISS flight? Perhaps it's best summed up in one of Doug's comments: "Space has lots of surprises for us." And it certainly did. During this 2010 expedition, the spacecraft went into “survival” mode, shutting down half the ISS' external-cooling system.   Doug and his team were able to innovate against the clock. In the process, their repair of the Space Station's technology won numerous innovation awards. Here is our interview with Doug, from 2016 NASA International Space Apps Pasadena. On this episode of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Doug first became interested in aviation and space travel; What Doug tells the astronauts he trains, about efficient  spacewalking; What an average day is like, aboard the ISS; How Doug spent his leisure time, aboard the International Space Station; How the crew manages “crew sleep”, with a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes; The procedures NASA astronauts are trained to observe, after an emergency alarm; Doug's recollections of his experience in 2010, when half the ISS' cooling system shut down; Some of the innovations Doug saw teams coming up with, at 2016 International Space Apps Pasadena; Doug's advice for innovators. The 2022 NASA Space Apps Challenge dates have been announced: October 1-2, 2022! We'll give you more information as it becomes available. And no, we are not, in any way, shape or form, affiliated with nor endorsed by NASA. We just think this is a very cool event!

An Over Coffee® special-edition podcast! For San Jose's Tech Interactive Museum, this summer will be especially exciting--and interactive. That's because Summer 2022 marks the first summer their "Solve for Earth" exhibit is open! "The Tech" has always been highly interactive. Visitors can assemble robots, get hands-on in maker workshops and conduct chemistry experiments. And these are just three features of the museum with the mission of "inspiring the innovator in everyone". But "Solve for Earth" takes that interactivity and innovation several steps further. The exhibit encompasses 5,000 square feet, took five years to build--and will be constantly evolving. That's because "Solve for Earth" challenges visitors to problem solve a current issue: climate change. In other words, it asks each visitor to take action after going through the various displays. But don't expect to be lectured. This exhibit is designed to be fun! And it's going to spark a lot of new ideas. "Solve for Earth" opened to the public in November 2021. Shortly thereafter, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Michelle Maranowski, Lead Exhibit and Content Developer of "Solve for Earth" Michelle, who is both an electrical engineer and a creative professional, shared the story of this unique exhibit offered a mini-tour of what people will see and explained how everyone, on-site or virtually, can continue the conversation as a community working to combat climate change. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Michelle first came up with the concept of “Solve for Earth”; Her journey, from there, in creating this landmark exhibit; Michelle's recommendations on sharing information about climate change; What you'll see, as you experience “Solve for Earth”; An Easter egg to look for (and there are others!; Some exciting new technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions; How the Eco Challenge encourages attendees to continue to take action after they've left The Tech; A look at the virtual resources included in “Solve for Earth”; The core concept at the heart of the exhibit; One of the best creative challenges which Michelle experienced, while designing the exhibits; The ways in which she'd like to see “Solve for Earth” evolve, in the future.

An Over Coffee® special presentation As we celebrate Mother's Day 2022, Over Coffee® would like to salute three amazing innovators--who are also moms. Coding, XR and fun STEM advocate, TEDx speaker and TechPlayzone Founder/CEO Deshjuana Bagley (upper left) is a computer scientist. And her sons' interest in robotics would ultimately give her the inspiration for her Tampa Bay area-based educational program. With TechPlayzone, Desh teaches students robotics, coding and immersive technology. Many of her classes happen in the metaverse--and if they sound like a lot of fun, that's the idea! Often, Desh says, her young robotics enthusiasts think they're just having fun, creating robots and building their own worlds in the metaverse. But they're learning an invaluable skill--how to create, rather than consume, technology. An engineer's unique journey Engineer, venture capitalist and community leader Noramay Cadena (center) has a unique story. When she attended MIT, Noramay took her toddler daughter with her. And yes, she says, those circumstances were as challenging as they sound. But she prevailed, ultimately earning three MIT degrees--two in engineering and one in business. Today, Noramay combines those areas of expertise in her career. A managing partner of Supply Change Capital, in Los Angeles, she works with early-stage sustainable businesses at the intersection of food, culture, and technology. New worlds plus robotics Initially, says Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center Associate Director Jill Zande, the idea of virtual reality wasn't one about which she was enthusiastic. But Jill, who is also both the President and Executive Director of nonprofit MATE Innovation for Inspiration, and the founder of MATE's annual student underwater robotics competition, became a convert. The 2020 pandemic had forced the cancellation of the annual ROV competition. Now, Jill and her team were looking for ways to innovate, and include student teams worldwide, as the underwater robotics competition returned in 2021. Attending a workshop hosted by MATE partner, the National Center for Autonomous Technologies, she saw the ways VR could allow MATE to accomplish these goals. Jill and her staff brought the ROV competition back with three components, which included a five-location virtual world! The event was highly successful, and the MATE VR World will also be a part of this year's upcoming MATE World Championship, happening June 23rd through 25th! And as a mom, Jill says she is watching her daughter explore future career options and apply the skills learned while watching her mother lead, and serve, these global events. Happy Mother's Day to Noramay, Desh, and Jill--and to all moms! Anyone who's a mom is certainly no stranger to "innovating, creating and making a difference".

Imagine the following scenario. You're designing a virtual reality experience. Your work needs to be top-notch, transcendent and inspiring. You're creating it to make a huge difference in someone's life, amid stressful circumstances. And your project must be ready for viewing, ten weeks from today. That's exactly what multiple award-winning new-media artist and VR evangelist Teri Yarbrow has been doing, with her "VR for Good" class at Savannah College of Art and Design. Working in collaboration with Hospice of Savannah, Teri and her students design virtual reality experiences for patients in both hospice and palliative care. Teri is the founder and creative director of MagikaVRX in Savannah, as well as the co-founder and creative director of design company Magika. She is also Professor of Digital Media and Immersive Reality at SCAD. And observations from her immersive-media students were the genesis of her "VR for Good" class, which Teri implemented in 2020. And they did it all in Zoom, for that first class. Collaboration and inspiration With the pandemic forcing them to work remotely, Teri and her students first researched what patients would most like to experience. Then, they designed three different VR projects. Their work gave patients the opportunity to travel to locations they'd said they'd like to experience, but were physically no longer able to do so. Patients (and some of their family members and caregivers) put on a headset and had the opportunity for an adventure that brought them joy--and peace. "I felt like technology could be such a powerful force for good," Teri says, recalling one pivotal moment during the creative process. Currently, Teri is in her third year of teaching her "VR for Good" class. She and her students will shortly wrap up the semester by taking their new, and breathtaking, experiences to patients and their families. Teri shared the story of her VR for Good class, offered a closer look at some of the experiences her students have created and shared her vision for what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Teri first became aware of virtual reality as a creative medium; How her VR for Good class came about; What students will be doing, as the ten-week session starts; Teri's most memorable experience, from teaching "VR for Good" for the first time; One patient's response to one of the experiences the class produced; A look at the projects which the current class is developing; Some of the creative lessions Teri learned from teaching her new class; How she'd most like to expand the work of her VR for Good class in the future.

For educator, STEM advocate, entrepreneur and TechPlayzone Founder/CEO Deshjuana Bagley, innovation started with a question. "How can I help my sons see that science, technology, engineering and math relate to their lives--and are really cool?" Desh, a computer scientist, began researching. Ultimately, her answer culminated in the 2005 opening of her Tampa Bay-based educational program. But maybe "educational program" doesn't quite do it justice. TechPlayzone offers young students workshops in robotics, coding, engineering and design skills. Staffers either bring equipment to onsite locations to conduct classes, according to TechPlayzone's website, or teach in virtual space. This past December, TechPlayzone hosted a three-day "Winter Tech Camp" in virtual reality. Students, from second to sixth grade, built their own virtual worlds. And as an educator, Desh is making technology less intimidating for everyone. Among her many roles is that of Director at State College of Florida Coding Academy. She is also active in XR Women, and hosts professional-development workshops, through TechPlayzone, for educators, nonprofit organizations and Fortune 500 companies. Starting point: creativity In her TEDx talk, Desh explains her teaching approach to emerging technology. Today's schools, she explains, challenge students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills. But traditionally, teachers just cover the basics, when introducing new technology. Students in a more traditional educational setting learn "how it works"--and that's it. But Desh starts with a creative mindset. Students, she says, find the basics "easy". From there, she takes her young clients through the process of using that technology to create something fun. The children think they're "playing'--even as they learn critical skills for their future. Meanwhile, Desh's own creative projects include her recent Black History Month museum exhibit in virtual reality, through Virbela! Spotlighting African-American artists, computer scientists and authors, she uses VR to share aspects of history which many of us never knew. Desh talked about her experiences with TechPlayzone, shared some favorite resources for arts professionals in the STEM area, and offered an exciting look at what's next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Desh first became engaged in computer science and robotics; The story of TechPlayzone; Desh's memories of the early days of her unique program; What she's doing to engage students in creating with technology, versus the traditional approach in which schools teach tech; How teachers can get around the "intimidation factor" and make technology work in their curricula; What can work best for educators in arts disciplines; Some of the digital resources that can be most helpful in the arts; A closer look at the classes offered at State College of Florida' Coding Academy (these are available online!); Desh's experiences creating her Black History Month exhibit in Virbela (the exhibit is still available, as of April--be sure to check it out!); A project which she hosted in VR that turned out to be an amazing experience; Another technology program which allowed her students to create their own virtual worlds; Desh's vision for the future of TechPlayzone, and an exciting upcoming project; Her favorite resources for artists who'd like to start creating in XR; Desh's advice to arts students, in preparing for the new jobs which will result from current advances in robotics.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Colleen Bielitz, and used with permission.) Everyone needs to have a voice in XR, says futurist Dr. Colleen Bielitz. And that's exactly what her work is all about. Colleen is Associate Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach at Southern Connecticut State University. Her additional professional credentials include: entrepreneur, blue economy pioneer, tech evangelist,, and XR researcher. Among her innovations is Project Blue, an initiative towards creating a tech transfer, innovation hub and Blue Economy research in New Haven, Connecticut. Another of Colleen's projects: the upcoming launch of I Am XR. I Am XR's mission: representation for all, in the metaverse. And Colleen, who recently became Co-Chair of the VRARA Education Committee, is also on the board of XR Women--the global collective of women in augmented and virtual reality. Colleen discussed the areas in which she'd like to expand education and VR for good in the future, offered some favorite resources for newcomers, and issued some exciting challenges for anyone who'd like to innovate in the metaverse. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How technology first captured Colleen's imagination, as an area in which to use her talents; A definition of XR; Free resources and platforms for beginners; What immersive technology can mean to artists; The directions in which Colleen would like to take XR education in the future; Some of the dangers of this new immersive "world"; Safeguards that could help users avoid those dangers; The current implicit bias behind the looks of avatars; Some of Colleen's most exciting experiences, both with VR applications and during her workdays; A closer look at Project Blue, and a preview of the next chapter; An update on I Am XR; Two challenges to innovators in the metaverse; Some exciting applications for users with disabilities; One of the areas that Colleen sees as requiring considerably more work, towards a metaverse that welcomes everyone.

Over Coffee® is on Easter-week hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes, so far, of 2022! "We could probably go to Mars." At the start of his teaching career, Javier Montiel made that statement. His goal was to create space science lessons to spark his students' interest. But he had no idea he was embarking on a career odyssey. Today, Javier is a multiple-award-winning global educator who designs lessons for NASA. A bilingual education professional, he is the Co-Founder of Houston-based International Aerospace Academy. His mission is to empower students--and communities--through world-class hands-on experiences. And the students he inspires include those in Texas' Brazosport Independent School District. where he teaches, in Latin America, and worldwide. Virtual reality, XR and 3D printing are just three of the means Javier uses to engage students in learning. Inspired by Artemis In 2021, Javier and his International Aerospace Academy team implemented the NASA SPARX pilot program, in collaboration with nonprofit Aviation Youth Mentoring Program. With three hundred students from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia and the U.S. working remotely, this was the only version of this initiative to involve students both in the United States and internationally. Students collaborated on projects based on NASA's Artemis program, creating space habitats and developing robots in XR. Their work involved sketching, design and programming, plus working with mentors from NASA and Cuernavaca's Tecnológico de Monterrey campus. Javier's work as a twenty-first century global education innovator continues, with new initiatives to involve larger numbers of students in Latin American countries and elsewhere in the very near future. Meanwhile, he invites educators, parents and students from around the world to get a look at the frameworks which International Aerospace Academy offers, for developing their own innovative programs! Javier talked about the catalyst for his career as an innovator, shared the story of his work with NASA and offered a look at International Aerospace Academy's current programs. On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How a student's chance remark led Javier to begin creating hands-on education innovations; His early experiences, developing lessons for NASA; How he began developing educational materials for international students; A fun story about the differences in the ways Japanese students approached lessons on space, during their first visit to the U.S., as opposed to their American counterparts; How Javier and his teacher team came to implement the NASA SPARX program in different countries outside of the United States; A look at students' robotic creations in XR; How Javier first became involved in using VR in education; One student's ingenious creation, starting from scratch with the XR robot design; A closer look at the NASA SPARX program and what may be coming; One of the most important lessons which Javier considers that he learned from the NASA SPARX program; How you can support (and get involved with) the International Aerospace Academy!; Some good “failures” that helped students in the NASA SPARX program learn; What the NASA SPARX program could mean for arts students.

How would you describe the person you are? And how do you "reflect" your personality, digitally? Those are the questions which Minneapolis-based immersive art experience "Quantum Mirror" explores. Quantum Mirror, an interactive art installation, by new-media artist Adrian Stein, is a complex infinity room which has been described as "mind-bending". It explores the ways we express aspects of ourselves while asking: where does the line blur, between us, as humans, and our technology? Thought-provoking, transcendent and "trippy" are all adjectives which visitors have used to describe it. And Matt Foreman might describe Quantum Mirror as "creatively inspiring". Matt is the Lead Developer at REM5 Virtual Reality Lab and REM5 Studios--Minneapolis' premier virtual reality lab and event space. REM5 specializes in introducing newcomers to virtual reality, as well as utilizing VR to revolutionize education. Once he saw Adrian's work, he knew he wanted to create virtual-reality content, to accompany the installation. Working under direction from both Adrian and the REM5 VR team, Matt designed a virtual-reality introductory experience called "Quantum Mirror VR'. Visitors interact with an alternate world which prepares them for their Quantum Mirror experience, prior to entering Adrian's infinity room installation. Matt had one month to create this "Quantum Mirror VR" component, before the Quantum Mirror installation opened to the public at REM5 Studios. Matt talked about his creative journey, shared some of his lessons learned (which would apply to any creative project!), and offered a look at what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Matt first discovered his passion for creating virtual reality; The story behind his creation of Quantum Mirror VR; A "no-spoilers" look at what visitors can expect to experience in Quantum Mirror VR; Where Matt and the REM5 VR team might like to see Quantum Mirror VR expand, in the future; Matt's creative journey, developing this VR experience; Takeaways for fellow creatives who are bringing a large project to life with limited time (VR or otherwise!); The most fun Matt had, during this creative process; His favorite memories of the day the Quantum Mirror VR application launched in tandem with Quantum Mirror at REM5 VR Lab; A great creative lesson, from that day!; Matt's favorite "user reaction" from anyone experiencing Quantum Mirror VR; A closer look at what REM5 VR is doing with REM5 for Good; Resources for anyone who'd like to start developing virtual reality applications; What's next, for REM5 VR. Going to be in the Minneapolis area, now or in the near future? Plan on checking out "Quantum Mirror" at REM5 VR Lab. By popular demand, the exhibit has been extended through May 28, 2022.

(Photo courtesy of Aditya Vishwanath, and used with permission.) How magical can a science class be? Inspirit VR Co-founder/CEO Aditya Vishwanath might answer, "Infinitely". Aditya and his team at his Palo Alto-based software company are currently in the midst of building a metaverse. But not just any metaverse--their creation will be a hands-on educational tool, for K through 12 students. Students will get to explore and discover science concepts by interacting with a 3D model of a heart. Or going inside a plant to experience photosynthesis. Or watch DNA replication occurring, with a little hands-on "help" in a 3D animation. And--they're all available for teachers, students and anyone learning STEM to use--free. As work continues on Inspirit's soon-to-be-launched educational metaverse, Aditya would like to request collaborators. Currently, he'd like to connect with science teachers who might like to share their expertise by creating content. But Aditya says he'd also welcome the opportunity to talk with educators in other fields, as well. His ultimate goal: to have all disciplines represented in available 3D models, simulations and other resources. His educational metaverse? It should be launching within the next few weeks, and it's going to be exciting! Aditya offered a look at his experiences with developing the first metaverse for education, shared a closer look at how some of the 3D resources work and gave a preview of what's next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Some of the milestones Inspirit has experienced since our 2020 conversation The inspiration behind Aditya's work as an innovator in the field of education; A "walkthrough", in our imagination, of one of Inspirit's multiplayer 3D simulations; How educators can use and customize the free resources which Inspirit is currently developing; Why these 3D simulations don't require anyone to be highly "technical: What Aditya has enjoyed most about working with teachers and sharing his company's new 3D resources; Where Inspirit is, currently, with the creation of the educational metaverse; A sneak preview, prior to the launch of the new metaverse, of what users can expect to see; How you can get involved; An update on India-based nonprofit MakerGhat, which Aditya co-founded to empower citizens with maker skills; What Aditya would like to accomplish with InSpirit and MakerGhat in the next five years; Why Inspirit has expanded their focus, from their previous offerings for high school students to K through 12; One of the most important lessons Aditya learned, about creating 3D content for education.

The following post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any medical questions. (Photograph courtesy of Dr. Yune Lee, and used with permission.) What's your all-time favorite song? Is there a piece of music that takes you back to a different time and place? And is there a band whose latest release you'd never miss? And, could all of the above have a beneficial effect on your brain? Particularly in the areas of speech and language? Cognitive neuroscientist (and musician!) Dr. Yune Lee and his team are researching that question. Among the areas they're exploring: the connection between rhythm and language, how music may help patients with Parkinson's disease, and the possibility that Alzheimer's patients may benefit from music therapy. Dr. Lee is both an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas' School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and the Director of the university's Speech, Language and Music Lab (SLAM Lab for short). He's also a researcher and speaker at The Center for BrainHealth, where he recently shared some of his research findings in his talk entitled "The BMW Story: The Brain, Music and Well-Being". Currently, Dr. Lee and his team have six ongoing research projects listed on the SLAM Lab's webpage--including one which focuses on rhythm-based language improvement. He and his team are also working on the Speech Hero app, which is a home-therapy app for aphasia patients Among the numerous grants Dr. Lee has received for his research is one from the National Institute of Health's Sound Health Initiative, in which Dr. Lee became one of the first grant recipients in 2019. Dr. Lee talked about his creative journey, discussed some of his findings on the ways music may affect our brains, and previewed what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Dr. Lee first realized the effect music can have, on our minds and bodies; The common areas of music and language that can give some insights into the development of speech; The shared connection between rhythm and language skills; A closer look at the Speech Hero app; The story of a patient who regained her speech capabilities through rhythm therapy; The implications of the connection between music and language, in improving memory and reducing anxiety; What's next!; Some of the research findings that Dr. Lee found most inspiring in his work.

This post and podcast, and Two Maverix® Multimedia, are not, in any way, shape or form, affiliated with, nor endorsed by, NASA. (We just consider growing crops in space one of the coolest science applications we've seen!) (Image courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.) When most of us garden, we don't have to deal with zero gravity. Nor do we have to think about space dust--or sunsets every ninety minutes. (Image courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.) But these factors add up to interesting challenges for space scientists Dr. Gioia Massa and Matt Romeyn. As NASA Project Scientists at Kennedy Space Center, Matt and Gioia are involved in researching and developing ways to grow fresh crops aboard the International Space Station. Gioia, as we discussed in a 2018 episode, served as NASA's science team lead in developing the first fresh food production system for the ISS. This 2014 project culminated in the first edible crops aboard the ISS: red romaine lettuce, which the astronauts first had the opportunity to sample in 2015, according to NASA's blog. At the time of our first conversation, NASA's Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) had just been delivered to the ISS. Meanwhile, Matt, who began working at Kennedy Space Center in 2016, researches and builds hardware to provide additional food-production capabilities in space. In 2021, he served as principal investigator for NASA's Plant Habitat-04 experiment, which explored the possibility of growing chile peppers in space. As shown on NASA's blog, the experiment was a huge success. (Image courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.) The astronauts actually wound up making "space tacos" with the new, fresh addition to their onboard fare. (Image courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.) And Gioia, Matt and their teams continue innovating. Their work encompasses discovering new crops to grow aboard the International Space Station, as well as looking ahead to "space farming" possibilities for both the Moon and, possibly, a future Mars colony. Gioia and Matt talked about their recent experiences, offered a closer look at the process of growing crops aboard the ISS and shared a preview of what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first inspired Matt to pursue space science as his profession; Some of the most exciting milestones Gioia has experienced in her food-production research and development of space crops since our 2018 conversation; The story of the first plant transplant in space, which occurred, as Gioia says, as a "happy accident"; Considerations involved, for Matt, when the ISS crew members called him for advice on the transplant experiment; The astronauts' psychological responses to the plants, growing aboard the International Space Station; A closer look at the crew's response to the first crop of chile peppers grown in space!; What it's like to monitor the plants aboard the APH (Advanced Plant Habitat) from Kennedy Space Center; An experiment that could ultimately allow astronauts to choose which crops they'll grow aboard the ISS, pulling from a "seed bank"; The current technology operating aboard the ISS, including "Veggie" and the additional growth chambers, to conduct experiments in producing fresh food: One of the coolest research findings Matt has had, with the "space crops", in the past year; Some of the effects of microgravity on plants; Crop-growing challenges involved, as NASA plans for the Artemis moon missions, and possibly for a mission to Mars; What's happening with another planned ISS crop: tomatoes! Some new technology which NASA recently sent to the ISS, for watering crops in space; Additional new experiments, which will go up to the International Space Station later this year; The Advanced Plant Habitat's record-breaking work with the chile peppers; What's been most fun for Matt and Gioia,