Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

Through engineering, visual artist and educator Paula Frisch (http://www.paulafrisch.com/) teaches students to explore their creativity.Paula, who is the Associate Director of New York-based Dazzling Discoveries STEM Education Center, is the co-creator of their Engineering with Paper (https://www.dazzlingdiscoveries.com/engineeringwithpaper) curriculum. (She's also a highly gifted mixed-media artist whose work explores our cultures and current issues through textiles, paper and printing.)Dazzling Discoveries STEM Education CenterWith Engineering with Paper, Paula guides STEM students through an “alphabet“ of shapes--which they can then use to create anything they like.AND--she's going to be teaching a workshop on Saturday, September 23rd, during the 2023 Make: Education Forum--a two-day all-virtual event by, and for, maker educators! (Here's the link to register (https://make.co/educationforum/)!)

"It's the 'clay' that is in front of you," comments digital consultant (https://www.projectfresh.com/)Douglas Campbell.He's talking about AI.And if you've ever wondered how to use artificial intelligence to enhance your creative projects, Douglas is currently offering a series of workshops to take you through that process.What's most interesting about this fact? Douglas says that, initially, he was absolutely not in favor of using AI in his own creative work."I went from 'not a believer' to full-on convert," he explains.Douglas, who has twenty years' experience working as a digital designer and technology consultant for startups and entrepreneurs, could accurately be described as the consummate creative.As Founder and Co-Producer of Mindshare LA, he's hosted more than 150 events that combine "ideas and mischief", as a sort of mash-up of TED talks and Burning Man. He's just published his second book, Free to Roam. And among the creative projects he and his team have produced is the Rube Goldberg machine featured in OK Go's official video for their 2010 single, "This Too Shall Pass".Douglas talked about his experiences with AI, shared some guidelines on using it as a creative catalyst and offered a preview of his upcoming workshops.

Meloscene (https://www.meloscene.com/) Founder and Chief Visionary Officer Chad Gerber (https://www.woodrowgerber.com/) has created the world's first metaverse for musicians.Chad, who is both a futurist and a platinum-selling recording artist, is currently taking sign-ups for his new platform. Meloscene, once released, will allow musicians of all genres to collaborate, perform and, as the website says, "create real music in a virtual world."In this episode, first recorded and released in March, 2023, Chad shared the story of his music, the inspiration behind Meloscene and his experiences working in it.And heads-up: Chad, who says he has been "using and toying with AI for a couple of years now", will be speaking at the "Voice and AI 2023 (https://www.voiceand.ai/)" conference in Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 5th. His topic: "AI in Music and Metaverse Applications: Advancements in Research and Development".

NoireSTEMinist (https://www.noiresteminist.com/)®, educator, researcher and author Dr. Carlotta Berry is bringing robotics and engineering out of the classroom.In the process, she's both changing the face of STEM, and the general perception of engineering..Dr. Berry, who is a professor of engineering and robotics at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, frequently takes an "arts" approach to accomplish her mission of including underrepresented populations and women In the STEM professions.And that includes creating hip-hop robot poetry, writing Black STEM romance novels and hosting workshops on "Robotics for the Streets".Carlotta, as she likes to be called, wants to empower everyone to see themselves in engineering, and robotics. That includes artists and creators--and especially includes women, and members of the Black and Hispanic communities. During the pandemic, she founded two nonprofits: Black in Engineering (https://blackinengineering.org/) and Black in Robotics. (https://blackinrobotics.org) Resources on these websites include a speakers' bureau for anyone hosting events, as well as a reading list which spotlights Black scholars and innovators.And if you'd like to learn robotics with her, you have that opportunity!Carlotta will be teaching her "Robotics for the Streets" Arduino workshop during the 2023 Make: Education Forum (https://make.co/educationforum/), which is happening in September. And if you're an educator, you'll get to hear all about the open-source robot she's created for your classroom!Carlotta talked about her creative journey, shared the story of creating her nonprofits and "Robot Slam Poetry" and offered a preview of her upcoming workshop.

A tiny wearable robot that weighs less than an ounce, travels over your clothing and can teach you to dance?That's "Calico", developed by researchers at the University of Maryland's Small Artifacts (SMART) Lab.Anup Sathya, currently a Doctoral student at the University of Chicago, is one of the developers of Calico.Anup talked about the creative process behind Calico, explained how it works and offered a preview of what's next!

For "S.T.E.A.M. Clown" Jim Burnham, teaching science, technology, engineering, art and math begins with both fun and exploration.And throughout each semester, Jim and his students create "cool stuff" in the areas of robotics, 3D printing and physics.Jim, a Mechatronics instructor at Silicon Valley CTE High School, considers art an essential component in his curriculum. "Engineering without art is just calculating," he explains. "You need to really bring that creative beauty into stuff." That emphasis on creativity garnered Jim a "Teacher of the Year" award from Santa Clara County Office of Education, within three years of the beginning of his teaching career.And Jim continues to take a "mad scientist" approach to engineering in his classroom, where initiative and new ideas are encouraged, based on students' individual interests."I tell (my students) 'come up with something interesting. What do you want to do?'" he says.Jim talked about his creative journey as "The S.T.E.A.M. Clown", shared some favorite resources for teaching and learning and offered a look at what his class will be doing as the new semester begins.

"Have fun," advises TribeXR Community Manager and DJ mentor Lee Chernowetz.Lee, who is an award-winning multimedia producer and professional DJ, is speaking from experience.And he's talking about what works best, as TribeXR (https://www.tribexr.com/)participants learn to DJ and perform live in the metaverse.TribeXR is a virtual-reality app which allows aspiring DJs to learn mixing and performance skills virtually, on high-end equipment. But that's only part of what TribeXR is.In addition, there's a full virtual community, which includes daily free workshops and performance/collaboration opportunities in the metaverse!Lee, who learned his own DJ performance skills in TribeXR, offered a closer look at how the app works, what participants can expect, and what's next.

Their design has been approved. They have a name for their entry.And now, nonprofit La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association has started work on their float, "Flower Power," which you'll see on New Year's Day in Pasadena's 2024 Tournament of Roses® Parade!LCFTRA, for short, is one of only six noncommercial independent floatbuilders who create and enter their floats in the Rose Parade®. Called "self-builts", these community organizations do all their fundraising, construction, decoration and various other tasks--including getting that float to the parade route--with a volunteer staff.And the construction process is the ultimate S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and math) endeavor.This year, we have the honor of following the creative process, as LCFTRA takes their float from design, through the construction process and right up to its departure for the parade route.LCFTA Vice President of Float Development Pam Wiedenbeck gave us an update on the process, how volunteers and supporters can get involved, and what's next as "Flower Power" becomes a reality.

"There's just an incredible feeling, when you bring your creations in front of people and see them having a good time," says Two Bit Circus Co-Founder CTO Eric Gradman.That's exactly what his workdays involve.We had the pleasure of talking with Eric shortly after Two Bit Circus opened their first permanent "Micro Amusement Park", in downtown Los Angeles. This first-of-its-kind entertainment venue/community gathering place adds twenty-first century technology to the "carnival" concept.And in the true spirit of innovation, when the pandemic came along, Two Bit Circus didn't miss a beat.While their on-site venue was one of the first to close, the Two Bit Circus crew reinvented their offerings as "Two Bit Circus REMOTE"--a series of virtual shows which still continue today!Currently, not only has the downtown L.A. Micro Amusement Park re-opened--Two Bit Circus now has a Micro Amusement Park in Dallas, as well.In this look back to 2018 (as we troubleshoot a tech issue that's delayed our latest episode), Eric shares the story of Two Bit Circus's Micro Amusement Park, the creative process behind some of their attractions and some resources for indie creators.

Could YOU create a 3D experience? Even if you've never made one before?Certainly, says Zappar (https://www.zappar.com/) Founder/CTO Connell Gauld. Especially now that his London-based creative studio/AR platform has introduced their new 3D creation tool, Mattercraft."Mattercraft tries to bridge the gap (between the artistic side of things and the coding side of things)," Connell explains.Mattercraft, currently in beta (https://zap.works/webinars/mattercraft-beta-virtual-launch/), allows users to design 3D experiences for the Web. That includes augmented, virtual and mixed reality.And for Zappar, Mattercraft is the latest of a series of innovations, as they fulfill their mission of democratizing augmented and mixed reality.Connell talked about his creative journey with augmented reality, shared the story of Mattercraft and walked us through the process of creating something amazing with the new tool.