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

  • Goodb-AI, Mosquitoes

    In honor of CES® 2021, which has just concluded in Las Vegas, here is one of our all-time top interviews from Eureka Park® 2020. Great virtual show, CES®, and we hope to see you in person very soon!



    Ben Resnick displays Bzigo at Eureka Park® during CES® 2020, Las Vegas.



    What if you could use artificial intelligence to find and kill mosquitoes?



    With Israel-based startup Bzigo, that's no longer a hypothetical question.



    When we met Bzigo Product Manager Ben Resnick in the Eureka Park® area of CES®2020, his company was just introducing their prototype.



    This year, we attended CES® virtually. But according to their website, Bzigo was back at Eureka Park®. And despite the pandemic, they remain on track to deliver their new devices, with plans to roll out their first models later in 2022.



    So, what does Bzigo do? It pinpoints a mosquito's location, showing you on your cell phone where the insect has landed. Then, the accompanying device allows you to "zap" that mosquito.



    This could literally be lifesaving technology.



    When we hear "mosquitoes" we think "nuisance". But the World Health Organization's website states that more than 600,000 people died of malaria in 2020.



    Currently, Bzigo is taking advance orders on their website--and we can't wait to see their rollout!



    Ben shared the story of Bzigo, explained how the device works and shared some surprising facts about putting an end to mosquitoes.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * The story behind Bzigo;



    * How a talented teacher first inspired Ben to become an innovator;



    * Ben’s path to getting involved with the Bzigo project;



    * How the technology works;



    * The personal experience behind Ben’s commitment to eradicating biting insects;



    * Ben’s vision for the future, and the additional areas in which this AI technology can work against biting insects.




















    20 min
  • Making “Virtual” Shine

    Over Coffee®is on holiday hiatus. Happy New Year, and please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022.







    What if you're hosting a virtual event this year? A meeting, workshop, or other gathering--even a virtual party?



    Sean Specie, of Atlanta-based Elevate Experiences, can tell you how to make it a great one.



    At Elevate Experiences, Sean wears multiple hats. He is their Chief Strategy Officer, Event Planner, Event Producer and Emcee.



    Needless to say, he excels at creating a great time for virtual participants, as he involves them in online, hybrid or even onsite events.



    Originally, Sean says, Elevate Experience was not a virtual-events company. And to this day, their "custom experience creation" services still include hosting in-person events.



    But like many other organizations, they've had to re-imagine their original business plan, due to the pandemic. And in the process, Sean has been able to put his event expertise to work--and grow creatively in that area, to the point that he could write several books.



    Which is great, because--he's planning on publishing his first one, later this year!



    Sean talked about his background and the ways Elevate Experiences has evolved in the virtual space, explained his five-step event producing process, and shared Elevate's free resources for creating the best virtual events.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How Sean’s background led to his passion for creating special events;



    * What the transition was like, for Sean and the Elevate Experiences staff, going from onsite events to virtual;







    * A troubleshooting lesson from the first paid virtual event they did (“it’s funny thinking back,” Sean says);



    * A walk-through of planning a virtual event, using Sean’s five-step process;



    * How to engage audience members;



    * A preview of Sean’s upcoming book!;



    * Three types of backgrounds that work well for virtual events;



    * Two common mistakes people make, when conducting virtual events (and what to do instead);



    * Some great free resources, for planning your next virtual event!;



    * How to troubleshoot, if something goes wrong while you’re hosting a virtual event;



    * One statement that can help ensure a smooth virtual event, if shared with the audience upfront.



    Look for Sean’s new book, “Shattering the Fourth Wall” (working title), which will be coming out very shortly!  Follow him on LinkedIn for updates.








































    30 min
  • Fluidity, Grace and STEAM

    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top podcast episodes of 2021!







    To choreographer and marine biologist Deidre Cavazzi, art, science and math are natural dance partners.



    Deidre, who is both the Founder/Artistic DIrector of ARCHITEXTURE Dance Company and Chair of Saddleback College Dance Department, finds inspiration in areas most people wouldn't equate with creating art.



    These include mathematical principles, environmental issues and neuroscience.



    And perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of her creative work, is her interdisciplinary approach.



    "Everyone is an artist," Deidre explains. "Everyone is a scientist."



    Accordingly, her Saddleback collaborations can involve the physics department, math majors and the ceramics studio. Meanwhile, ARCHITEXTURE's presentations illustrate subjects like nanoscience and California ecology.



    Deidre explained the ways her own background had led to her collaborative artistic projects, offered a look at the creative process behind Saddleback College’s all-virtual multimedia project “Signals and Circuits”, and gave a preview of what’s coming next!



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * The multidisciplinary background that first interested Deidre in both art and science;



    * How Deidre first decided to reach out to other departments at Saddleback College for interdisciplinary projects;



    * A look at separate performances Deidre created, based on physics and mathematics concepts;



    * Some inspiration sources Deidre recommends for other creatives;



    * One of Deidre’s favorite creative lessons during a trip to the Arctic with other artists and scientists;



    * An environmental “find” that shocked Deidre and her fellow artists–and led to a powerful new performance;



    * What works for Deidre, in translating her experiences to multimedia for her audiences;



    * How Deidre, her students and her colleagues collaborated remotely to create their all-virtual piece, “Signals and Circuits”



    * A look at Saddleback College’s upcoming dance program, created remotely with Zoom and green screen;



    * Some of the isolation-related innovations which Deidre expects to carry forward, post-pandemic;



    * A look at what Deidre is currently exploring for a future collaboration!;



    * Where to find Saddleback College’s spring dance collaborations when posted;












































    25 min
  • Everyone-Welcome Robotics

    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top podcast episodes of 2021!







    "There aren't any of those," wasn't acceptable to Unified Robotics founder Delaney Foster.



    A passionate FIRST Robotics competitor, Delaney loved participating in her high-school robotics program.



    But for her sister, who has autism, those opportunities just weren't available.



    And then, Delaney took action.



    In 2015, she collaborated with her First Robotics team and a special-education teacher to founded her first-of-its-kind robotics program, open to students of all abilities.



    Pairing robotics-team members with students with special needs, this groundbreaking program gets everyone working together to create a LEGO Mindstorms robot.



    Like FIRST Robotics, this pilot program had a deadline. Six weeks later, those robots would “face off” in a competition of their own.



    Fast forward to today. Currently, the Unified Robotics program has seen more than 120 participating teams. More than 400 students have been impacted, according to Unified Robotics' website. And since their second year in operation, Special Olympics have been partnering with this unique program.



    Delaney shared the story of the Unified Robotics program, discussed about some of her favorite experiences and explained what’s involved, for anyone who would like to start a Unified Robotics program locally.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How Delaney first discovered her passion for robotics;







    * The story of Unified Robotics;







    * How robotics-team students learned from their counterparts with special needs, while working together;







    * Delaney’s favorite memories, from the first Unified Robotics competition;







    * How the Special Olympics became involved, as a partner;







    * The directions in which the program has grown, so far;







    * Plans for the upcoming school year;







    * What’s involved, for education professionals who would like to bring a Unified Robotics club to their school;







    * How Unified Robotics and their partners assist schools in starting a club;







    * What parents can expect, when their students participate in the program;







    * How the program’s flexibility works for students with a wide range of abilities;







    * What the program needs most in achieving its ultimate goals;







    * How the Unified Robotics program inspired Delaney’s sister, as well as other students with special needs;







    * An imaginative way in which a robotics student mentor engaged Delaney’s sister in overcoming an obstacle;







    * The ways in which tech companies are beginning to make job opportunities available to applicants with different abilities.


    27 min
  • Collaborating on Our Future





    "Colorful" and "fun" aren't usually adjectives people apply to solving the problem of climate change.



    But Dr. Michelle Maranowski has made them applicable to The Tech Interactive Museum's largest new exhibit, "Solve for Earth" in San Jose.



    Michelle, who is The Tech's full-time Exhibit and Content Developer, spent five years creating "Solve for Earth". The exhibition comprises five thousand square feet, with fifteen different exhibits, and is designed to keep evolving.



    And it's all about engaging visitors in thinking about their role on the planet--as they play and generate new ideas. No one ever said that coming up with solutions to a serious problem, couldn't involve whimsy in the exploration process.



    "We're all innovators," says Michelle, who has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. As an education professional, she also has a focus on storytelling, as a means to inspire others to solve problems.



    Accordingly, she has designed "Solve for Earth" to keep people thinking about reducing their carbon footprint, after they leave the museum. In addition to the physical exhibit, there's a virtual component with resources, including the Ecotech Challenge, to engage individuals and groups in coming up with ways to live sustainably as a community.



    Michelle shared her creative journey, offered a preview of the "Solve for Earth" exhibit and discussed some of the viable ways of lowering our carbon footprint.







    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * The genesis of Michelle's creative journey as an innovator;



    * 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;



    * What's involved in the Eco Challenge, which encourages attendees to continue to take action after they've left The Tech;



    * A look at the virtual resources included in "Solve for Earth";



    * 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.




    30 min
  • A New Future in Sight

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



    (Photograph courtesy of GenSight BIologics, and used with permission.)



    What if someone blind for decades could regain some of their sight?



    That question's no longer hypothetical.



    Paris-based biotechnology company GenSight Biologics has now reported this exciting result in their current work--twice, and counting.



    Recently, GenSight reported that the second of two retinitis pigmentosa patients involved in their current clinical trials has partially recovered their vision. The treatment: a combination of technology and therapy. And the study is ongoing.



    Dr. Bernard Gilly, one of the co-founders of GenSight Biologics, has served as GenSight's Chief Executive Officer since the company's creation. His background includes more than 20 years' experience, both in the pharmaceutical sector and as an entrepreneur. After three years as CEO of Pixium Vision, he is currently nonexecutive Chairman of their board of directors. Dr. Gilly also serves on the boards of Prophesee S.A. (formerly Chronocam), inventor of the world’s most advanced neuromorphic vision systems, and TISSIUM. The latter is a medtech startup,founded in 2013, with the mission of reconstructing and restoring damaged tissue.



    Dr. Gilly shared the story of GenSight's groundbreaking discoveries, offered a look at the timeline for their next accomplishments and discussed some of GenSight's goals for the future.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * The story of how GenSight's current project came about;



    * What's involved in the therapy and technology they've developed;



    * One moment which Dr. Gilly found most rewarding during the study;



    * What the next steps will involve, and a timeline;



    * A look at safety factors;



    * What qualifies a patient as a good candidate for this therapy;



    * Some of the possible implications for other eye diseases;



    * Dr. Gilly's future goals for this treatment.
































    23 min
  • Robotics for Everyone

    Over Coffee® is on Thanksgiving-week hiatus. Please enjoy this rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes of 2021.







    "There's room for everybody," says iRobot STEM Program Manager Lisa Freed.



    She's talking about--coding a robot. And if you've never exactly seen yourself doing that , the programmable STEAM toy iRobot Root® might just change your mind. Because lifelong learning, technology in general, and fun, in particular, are at the core of Root



    In May, we had the honor of getting to talk with Lisa, along with iRobot Learning Designer Anna Elzer and iRobot Senior Learning Designer Rebecca Attia.



    The topic was creativity, as exemplified by iRobot's Root®. As you'll see, this is an extremely cute robot. It's also highly accessible: designed for "ages 4 to 99".



    In addition, there's a constantly-updated series of lessons, many of which Anna and Rebecca are designing.



    And? If you're saying, "well, a robot isn't in the budget right now," you can learn to program it virtually--without the robot. Here's the link to iRobot's coding app.



    Webinars, a newsletter and a free mobile app for their "Cool Stuff Museum" also round out iRobot's community. So does their "Ambassador Program", which runs throughout the school year and involves educators!



    And you can follow them on their social media, including Instagram, to find out more.



    Lisa, Anna and Rebecca talked about their experiences, shared the story of iRobot’s Root® Coding Robot and offered a look at some exciting resources, designed for everyone!



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How Lisa, Anna and Rebecca first became engaged in robotics;



    * The story of the Root® Coding Robot;



    * A look at some of the educational resources which iRobot offers;



    * Considerations involved for Anna, as she creates lessons for the Root® robot;



    * Some of her sources of creative inspiration in this process;



    * Advice for teachers who are just getting started, teaching  and learning with the coding interface;



    * A look at how the robot can work, for participants of all ages;



    * How the three “Learn Levels” work;



    * Some of the arts-related activities that will get everyone coding and having fun!;



    * How iRobot is reaching out to classrooms all around the country, and reaching underserved students with coding training;



    * How the “virtual robot” works,
    32 min
  • “Genius” Every Day

    Photo courtesy of Eileen Pottinger, and used with permission.



    For Eileen Pottinger, ingenuity is a daily occurrence. And it never fails to inspire her.



    That's because Eileen is not only a design educator, but the full-time Art and Innovation Lab teacher at Culver City Unified School District.



    And CCUSD is currently implementing an exciting project: their Art and Innovation Lab, for students!



    The Art and Innovation Lab is currently in its fledgling stages across the five schools in the district. But Eileen, whose background includes not only teaching chemistry and math but working as an award-winning exhibit designer for LACMA, is looking forward to seeing the program expand to give students a chance to explore, discover and create.



    In other words, an opportunity to learn skills for their future careers, and their lives.



    Eileen, who also teaches part-time at Otis Art Institute, says she has a daily mantra at CCUSD: "This kid is a genius!"



    And her discoveries, as she watches her students discover their gifts, fuels her passion for her work as a maker teacher.



    Eileen talked about her creative journey, shared the story of the Art and Innovation Lab and offered some of her favorite resources.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * The professional journey that led Eileen to her current career;



    * The story of CCUSD's Art and Innovation Lab;



    * What CCUSD's working towards, as the ultimate vision for the new Art and Innovation Lab;



    * Some of the ways of circumventing common obstacles to implementing maker-oriented curricula;



    * A major source of inspiration, for Eileen;



    * How she might guide an arts-oriented student to develop future skills;



    * Some of her favorite maker-education resources.








    34 min
  • “Building” Love for Robotics





    How can a five-year-old program a robot?



    Very easily--as long as they're having fun. And that's exactly what San Diego-based educational startup Robolink has just made possible, with their new robotics kit, Buildy Bots!



    As Robolink CEO Hansol Hong explains in our current episode, Buildy Bots allow young creatives to build ten different robots.



    And then--without a computer screen--kids five to eight years old can use an ingenious "block" system to get their creations to move, light up and make sounds.



    Since 2012, Robolink has been creating highly imaginative robotics kits for students. Over time, their operation has grown to include robotics classes, robot camps and a virtual community.



    Over the years, we've had the pleasure of learning about the Rokit Smart, Robolink's first product. Then about the CoDrone, their programmable drone. And, in 2019, Robolink introduced "Zumi"--the first educational self-driving car robotics kit!



    Buildy Bots represents another exciting innovation: Robolink's first robotics kit for younger students, ages five to eight.



    At the time of our conversation, Robolink was completing a highly successful Kickstarter campaign for Buildy Bots. Ultimately, the campaign garnered five times their stated goal amount.



    While Robolink will currently be humming with activity, fulfilling the promised Kickstarter orders by Christmas, 2021, Hansol says that the next batch of kits should be available in early 2022.



    Hansol shared the story of Buildy Bots, explained how young students can make the new creation work and offered his perspectives on the current educational robotics market.







    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * The story of Buildy Bots;



    * How Buildy Bots work;



    * How Robolink's summer-camp students tested the Buildy Bots prototypes;



    * The story of Robolink, which celebrates its tenth anniversary next year!;



    * A closer look at Robolink's other educational robots, including CoDrone and Zumi;



    * An exciting award which Robolink received;



    * What Hansol and his team find most rewarding, in their creative journey as innovators!
    23 min
  • “Scary” Creative

    Royalty-free image by Mayur Gadge from Pixabay



    Halloween--as in October 31, 2021--may be over.



    But for fans of horror, it never really ends.



    Our previous Over Coffee® episode, "Creatives at Halloween", explored creating scary experiences from a maker perspective.This week, for one more "scare" before we move on, we'll look at three other aspects of "scary" creativity.



    Interactivity, storytelling and the psychology of the scare are in the spotlight--courtesy of Fun Train VR CEO Douglas Nabors, filmmaker/The Brain Factory co-owner Jon Schnitzer, and legendary scare actor/educator Shar Mayer.



    So--boo! And enjoy.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * A look at Fun Train VR's hit virtual-reality game, "The Exorcist: Legion VR";



    * A preview of Fun Train's just-announced, scary new title, based on a beloved classic and scheduled for 2022 release!;



    * The principles that guided Jon, in creating his top-rated documentary "Haunters: The Art of the Scare";



    * How one factor in Jon's production process can also lead to creating a great haunt experience;



    * Shar's strategy, for an effective "scare";



    * And, her professional standards, for creating something scary!








    16 min

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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…