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

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

By Dot Cannon: Public Speaker & New-Media ReporterSociety & CultureEducationArts
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Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak episodes

  • Engagement in 3D

    (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.




















    28 min
  • Music: a Brain Enhancer?

    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.












    24 min
  • Time, Space and Gardening

    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;



    48 min
  • Everyone-Welcome Robotics





    National Robotics Week is happening next month--and you're invited!



    Virtual and onsite events are happening in all fifty states. Free, downloadable resources are available. And if you'd like to host an event of your own--you certainly can!



    And as iRobot STEM Program Manager Lisa Freed says, these events are for everyone.



    In 2010. the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution, which officially designated the second full week of April National Robotics Week. National Robotics Week has a twofold mission: both to inspire students to pursue robotics and STEM-related careers, and to allow participants of all ages to celebrate the excitement of robotics.



    In other words, everybody's welcome. And getting involved, is all about what you love. As you'll hear in our interview, robotics involves art, writing and numerous other skills, including public speaking.



    Would you like another cool, robotic resource? iRobot, which is the founder and organizer of National Robotics Week, is the creator of the Root® Coding Robot. And they offer free coding lessons on their website--no purchase necessary!



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * Lisa's experiences with National Robotics week, on staff with iRobot;



    * Some of the events that will be happening, for National Robotics Week, 2022;



    * How to celebrate robots, if you're not a "technical" person;



    * A closer look at one of the free (downloadable!) resources available for National Robotics Week;



    * Some tips on photographing robots!;



    * Where to start, if you're creating an event for the first time, for National Robotics Week;



    * How to participate, if you're dealing with limited resources (and here's a great nonprofit resource for educators, which Lisa mentioned and with which we weren't familiar before: The Clubhouse Network!)



    * One of Lisa's favorite recent outreach experiences with middle-school students (which empowered them with skills beyond robotics!)



    * A more results-oriented perspective on encouraging more girls and women to consider careers in STEM;



    * How and why arts skills are essential, in robotics;



    * And, how to request a virtual tour of the iRobot Museum--courtesy of Lisa and a robot!



    National Robotics Week, 2022, happens April 2-10. You're invited! Here's the link, with lots of resources, including free downloadable templates and a list of events happening in all 50 states.






























    25 min
  • VR for Well-Being

    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.







    "It's all about the patients," says pioneering psychologist/neuropsychologist Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo.



    He's discussing his use of medical virtual reality in clinical psychology.



    And for him, it all started in the 1990s, with an observation he made while watching one of his patients absorbed in a popular game.



    Fast-forward to today.



    With numerous awards for his groundbreaking work, Dr. Rizzo, or Skip, as he prefers to be called, is the Director of Medical Virtual Reality at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. He also serves as Research Professor and Scientist for both USC's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and their School of Gerontology.



    A range of applications



    Among the applications he has created is BraveMind: a VR-based exposure therapy program for PTSD. Traumatic brain injury, autism, and ADHD are among the other clinical conditions for which Skip researches. designs and evaluates VR-based therapy systems.



    We first heard one of his presentations during Cedars-Sinai's inaugural Virtual Medicine conference in 2018. The VR applications he discussed included one which measured classroom involvement among students with ADD, and game-based systems to assist in post-stroke rehabilitation.



    But Skip says there's much more he wants to do, using simulations to serve clinical patients, first responders and members of the medical community.



    Skip shared the story of his work with medical virtual reality, explored some of the ways in which this therapy can be helpful to patients on the autism spectrum and offered a look at the areas in which he'd like to expand his work in the future.



    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 patients 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;



    * How some programs developed for patients with autism may also be effective in reducing social anxiety among children and the general public, post-COVID;



    * Safety considerations for children in the use of VR in a clinical setting;



    * Some of the results Skip has seen;



    * His vision for the future of therapeutic virtual reality.



    And, heads-up: Skip is speaking at two upcoming conferences. He's a featured speaker at the 6th Annual Virtual Reality and Healthcare Symposium, happening in Nashville this Wednesday and Thursday, March 3rd and 4th. Then, on Thursday, March 24th,
    41 min
  • Health Across the Universe

    Over Coffee® is on holiday-weekend hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2021, and join us again next week for another new conversation on innovation, creativity and making a difference!



    (Photograph courtesy of Cooper and O'Hara Photography, and used with permission.)



    This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any medical questions.



    What are the challenges involved in staying healthy, when your workday occurs in zero gravity? And when radiation exposure and space dust are valid concerns?



    That's the focus of Dr. Shawna Pandya's career.



    As a physician, Dr. Pandya wears multiple "hats". In addition to being Vice-President of Immersive Medicine at Sasketchewan-based virtual-reality pioneer Luxsonic Technologies Inc., she is a citizen-scientist astronaut with Boulder, Colorado-based Project PoSSUM. This 501c nonprofit uses astronautics to study the role of our upper atmosphere in climate change. {“PoSSUM” is an acronym for “Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere”.



    In addition, she serves as Director of Medical Research at Orbital Assembly Corporation, the world's first large-scale space-construction company.



    Dr. Pandya, who completed her citizen-astronaut training in 2015, was a member of Project PoSSUM’s first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero gravity. Today, she serves as Director of Space Medicine for Project PoSSUM.



    And, as you’ll see on her website, she’s currently working on obtaining her private pilot’s license, is an aquanaut and has given multiple TEDx speeches.



    In our prerecorded 2021 conversation, Dr. Pandya talked about the considerations of space medicine, what’s involved in keeping the crew healthy, and what’s next for her, as a citizen-science astronaut.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * What first inspired Dr. Pandya’s passion for space science;



    * Why “space is trying to kill you”, as Dr. Pandya says;



    * What it’s like to be in zero gravity!



    * What’s involved in mitigating some of the health risks of space;



    * What Dr. Pandya might pack for travel to the Moon or to Mars;



    * How a medical emergency might be handled, if one occurs in space;



    * A look at the virtual-reality space-medicine training program Dr. Pandya has created, with Luxsonic; Technologies;



    * What the results of Dr. Pandya’s space-medicine research can mean, for maintaining good health on Earth;



    * What’s next in her journey, as a citizen-science astronaut.








































    22 min
  • New “VRx” Horizons

    This post and podcast episode are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice.  Please contact a healthcare professional with any health-related questions.







    Our Over Coffee® Valentine special will be posted later this week! Meanwhile, as Cedars-Sinai prepares for their annual "Virtual Medicine" conference in March 2022, here is our earlier interview with conference founder Dr. Brennan Spiegel, on his book, "VRx: How Virtual Therapeutics Will Revolutionize Medicine".



    In March, 2018, we watched history being made in Los Angeles.



    Medical professionals from thirteen countries had come to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the world's first "Virtual Medicine" conference.



    An incredible two days followed.







    Led by Cedars-Sinai Director of Health Services Research Dr. Brennan Spiegel, a series of medical professionals took the stage for presentations on pain management, therapy and preventive medicine--using virtual reality.



    A standing ovation followed the final session.



    Unbelievably, four years have passed since that groundbreaking conference.



    The fifth, now-annual Virtual Medicine conference, "vMed22", is coming up March 24-25 of this year, and will be entirely virtual. (Here's the link for information, and we're looking forward to attending, virtually!)







    Meanwhile, in 2020, we had the honor of getting to talk with Dr. Spiegel about his findings, and his experiences, as we discussed his book, VRx: How Virtual Therapeutics Will Revolutionize Medicine".



    Here is a rebroadcast of our interview--and we're looking forward to March 24th!



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * What first inspired Dr. Spiegel to begin using virtual reality in his medical practice;



    * One of the early experiences which he had with VR, and describes in his book;



    * How VR is currently being used in therapy to treat anxiety;



    * A look at one doctor’s use of virtual reality to help veterans with PTSD;



    * How VR works to combat eating disorders, such as obesity and anorexia;



    * A neuroscience explanation of why it works–to “fool” the brain!;



    * A look at how VR can work in the brain alleviate pain;



    * The story of one patient who used VR to control pain and wean himself off opiods;



    * Some of the obstacles to widespread adoption of medical VR–and how the field is growing;



    * An exciting new program, currently in the planning stages at Cedars-Sinai;



    * One program which Dr.
    25 min
  • The “Coolest” S.T.E.A.M.





    Get ready - the Anaheim Ducks are set up to S.C.O.R.E. another goal!



    And this one's going to be a "win" for thousands of students.



    On March 2nd, the Ducks will host their all-virtual "First Flight Field Trip". This is a free event, available to classrooms worldwide.



    Jason Cooper, Manager of Fan Development Marketing for the Anaheim Ducks, says that, like previous onsite events such as "Light the Lamp", this presentation will be "as interactive as possible".



    Themed "Cool As Ice", the program will take third- to sixth-grade students through what science principles mean to the Ducks, when they're talking about the thermodynamics of ice. What makes the ice good for skating? How can they tell? And how can the students experience these principles at home?



    Jason says the Ducks are offering free resources--a workbook and a kit--for educators who register by January 31st. Here's the link.



    BUT--if you don't get to sign up for the resources by that deadline--you're still welcome to have your students log in on March 2nd and be a part of "Cool As Ice" , through the Ducks' webpage!



    Now--S.C.O.R.E.? This is an acronym for "Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation and Education". In an earlier interview, Jason shared the story of this unique educational program, of which "First Flight Field Trip" is just ONE feature!



    Jason previewed the upcoming "First Flight Field Trip", shared a look at the thermodynamics behind the considerations involved in "skate-able" ice, and offered a look ahead at the planned field trip for 2023.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How the Ducks have adapted their S.C.O.R.E. program since the pandemic;



    * What participants will see, with this year's "First Flight Field Trip";



    * A look inside some of the science of ice;



    * The specifics of one ice-scienfific principle;



    * What's involved in the preparations for the Ducks' "First Flight Field Trip";



    * Some of the ways the pandemic has forced the Ducks to think more creatively as they plan their S.C.O.R.E. events;



    * What Jason, as an education professional, has found most inspiring over the time he's been working with the "First Flight Field Trip" and S.C.O.R.E.;



    * How you can get involved, if you would like to!;



    * A preview of the 2023 "First Flight Field Trip", planned as an in=person event at Honda Center;



    * What's next, for the S.C.O.R.E. program;



    * AND, a brand-new way the Anaheim Ducks are interacting with students and their Orange County community1;
















    24 min
  • A “Shark” To Protect Our Planet





    For WasteShark creator Richard Hardiman, pure chance led to an exciting idea.



    Richard, who is the founder and CEO of Netherlands-based startup RanMarine Technology, didn't set out to create an autonomous robot that cleans pollution from the sea.



    But while having a cup of coffee at a waterfront cafe, he saw something that started him thinking about solving a problem.



    And the steps he took, in bringing the world's first autonomous aquadrone, called the WasteShark, from concept to reality, can serve as a guideline for anyone with a creative idea.



    The WasteShark, designed in the shape of a whale shark, operates like a vacuum--removing plastic pollutants from waterways. It can also remove biomass, such as algae. And in the process, it can transmit data about the body of water in which it's operating.



    At CES® 2022, in Las Vegas in January, the WasteShark won a CES® Innovation Award in the "Drones and Unmanned Systems" category. And as the world focuses on addressing the problem of climate change,, major-name companies are using the WasteShark in harbors, marinas and parks to clean waterways and prevent future pollution problems.



    And the WasteShark is just the first of RanMarine Technology's innovations. During CES® 2022, Richard and his team premiered additional new technology that will enable a fleet of these aquadrones to work together. Richard also says new versions of the "shark" are scheduled to roll out, later this year.



    Richard shared the story of creating the WasteShark, explained how it works and offered a preview of RanMarine's future technological offerings.



    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 to manually operate the aquadrone (created to be very user-friendly);



    * What happens next!;



    * Where RanMarine Technology is currently, with deploying the WasteShark, and their future goals;



    * Richard's experience at CES® 2022



    * The new technology which RanMarine Technology introduced during CES®;



    * What Richard, as someone without robotics experienc,e, 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 an idea to life;



    * RanMarine Technology's experience with the CES® 2022 Innovation Award;



    * A closer look at two forthcoming "shark" pollution-combating drones--including one you'll hear about for the first time here!



    * 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!




    21 min
  • Space, Outreach and Imagination





    For global educator/innovator Javier Montiel, space science, VR and XR are implements of outreach.



    As a bilingual instruction designer, Javier creates lessons for NASA--and for students worldwide.



    He has garnered a number of awards for his work as an educational innovator, which has included providing professional development sessions to fellow educators, on technology.



    In addition, he has introduced numerous initiatives to make hands-on, real-world-skill education available to underrepresented students, as well as for his classes at Texas' Brazosport Independent School District. As the Co-Founder of Houston-based International Aerospace Academy, his mission is to empower both students and communities through world-class educational experiences, involving hands-on learning.



    Just one of the initiatives Javier and his team have recently implemented, is the NASA SPARX Program.



    Forging a new path - internationally



    In November, 2021, International Aerospace Academy and nonprofit Aviation Youth Mentoring Program collaborated on the only version of the NASA SPARX Program to involve students both in the United States and internationally. Three hundred students from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia and the U.S. worked remotely on projects based on NASA's Artemis program.



    Students created space habitats, and developed robots in XR. Sketching, design and programming, plus working with mentors from NASA and Cuernavaca's Tecnológico de Monterrey campus, kept the students engaged and challenged in this pilot program.



    Javier continues his work as a twenty-first century global education innovator, 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 your 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 to Javier's current global education innovations;



    * His early experiences, developing lessons for NASA;



    * How Javier came to develop 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;



    * How students are creating robots in XR;



    * New initiatives on which International Aerospace Academy will be working;



    * How Javier first became involved in using VR in his educational work;



    * 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!;


    42 min

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

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Would you like to know more about the art of twenty-first century "cool stuff" that's changing our world? Such as: robots, space exploration, new media, wearable technology and other innovations that…