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
Download on the App Store

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

  • Creatives at Halloween

    An Over Coffee® Halloween special



    Royalty-free image by Bany_MM from Pixabay



    Halloween, 2021, finds some venues opening as the pandemic numbers decline.



    But a number of us are still self-isolating. out of an abundance of caution.



    If you'd like your Halloween to be a "remote" fun one, here are three creative luminaries with ideas for you!



    Enjoy these insights from BL4KM4SS co-founder Reyna Velarde, legendary professional haunter Shar Mayer and maker/technologist/educator Mitchell Malpartida, who is the founder of Masterful Creations STEAM Academy, as they share their creative perspectives on creating cool Halloween effects!



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How to create scary effects remotely, using technology you probably already have (courtesy of Reyna Velarde);



    * How to "create a monster" through makeup, using something you may already have at home (courtesy of Shar Mayer);



    * And, how to craft fun Halloween scenes and props using 3D printing and elementary robotics, as Mitchell Malpartida explains!



    Have a very happy, safe and creative Halloween!












    21 min
  • MATE’s New Depths





    How do you re-imagine a project that's already highly innovative?



    That's exactly what the pandemic forced MATE ROV Competition Founder/President Jill Zande and her colleagues to do.



    And the result? A highly-successful global competition, with a new, VR component!



    Now, what is MATE? If you didn't get to hear our earlier interview, that's an acronym for "Marine Advanced Technology Education". The MATE Center, in Monterey, prepares America's future workforce for ocean-related careers. Jill, who is the Associate Director of the MATE Center, created the MATE ROV (remote-operated vehicle) challenge in 2002.



    After last year's hiatus, due to the pandemic, the MATE ROV challenge returned. Jill and her partners had only sixmonths to coordinate a version of the competition that would allow student teams from all over the world to compete safely.



    Working in partnership with the Marine Technology Society, the MATE Center came up with both a new "telepresence" category, and a virtual world, in Altspace, in which teams could compete.



    And today, the 2022 MATE ROV Competition is in the planning stages--and just about to post entry information for students who'd like to compete next year!



    Jill talked about the process of re-creating her unique underwater robotics competition remotely, offered some resources for students and educators who'd like to learn more and discussed her first foray into virtual reality.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * How Jill and her colleagues carried off a safe in-person event with virtual components;



    * Their solution to the problem: how would teams showcase their vehicles remotely?;



    * The partnership that enabled the MATE Center to add the VR element of the competition;



    * How Jill, as a "reluctant messiah" , came to realize the value of virtual reality (hint: no headset needed!);



    * The virtual-reality platform that appealed to Jill's younger audience;



    * How Jill and her colleagues incorporated the VR world into their live event at East Tennessee State University;



    * What would be involved for a team participating, remotely, in a future MATE ROV Competition;



    * A preview of opportunities for teams that can't travel in the future--and a hint of some new enhancements!;



    * The globally-minded theme behind the tasks students completed in 2021 (and how this theme will carry forward in the future);



    * How the U.N. "Decade of the Ocean" will be reflected in future MATE ROV mission tasks;



    * Some of the task areas on which the 2022 competition will focus;



    * An exciting real-world expedition which will be a part of these tasks!;



    * What you'll see, in the virtual world, and what some of the student teams created;



    * A partnership plus scholarship opportunities--the Marine Technology Society!;



    * Where to find resources and instructions to start creating your own virtual worlds;



    * How Jill, as a marine scientist and mom,
    54 min
  • Horror, Fun and Technology





    This Halloween, BL4KM4SS Co-Founder Reyna Velarde may unsettle you. Or, she and her fellow creatives might outright scare you--in your own home.



    And it's all part of the fun, as BL4KM4SS brings interactive horror to their fans, virtually.



    Using Zoom, Discord and lots of talent, they'll make you a part of a scary-fun experience.



    But that's only one aspect of what they do, year-round.



    BL4KM4SS, pronounced "Black Mass", is a performance art theatre group. Their noir-style productions incorporate their guests into their plot lines, keeping them involved in the action. A vein of dark humor runs through their shows.



    Their performances aren't exclusively horror-based. However, they are always about storytelling.



    Reyna, who is an actor, director, writer and educator, is one of BL4KM4SS' four co-founders. She is also their Communications and Finance Director.



    Her work with the troupe has included creating and performing in her one-woman show, "M90SN" ("My Nineties Nightmare"), which she will be bringing to Discord, at the end of 2021.



    Image ©2021, Paul Stephen Edwards, and used with permission.



    After the pandemic forced cancellation of their live events, BL4KM4SS produced their first remote show "3Y3", directed by Alex C. James. Then, in 2021, Reyna created their next virtual show, "3DD13".



    BL4KM4SS will be offering virtual experiences for the remainder of this year. But Reyna says more onsite experiences, and touring shows, are part of their plans for the not-too-distant future.



    Reyna talked about her experiences creating horror entertainment, shared the story of the creation of BL4KM4SS and a preview of upcoming shows, and offered some tips for anyone who might like to virtually create a spine-tingling Halloween experience!







    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * How the horror genre first captured Reyna's creative imagination;



    * Her perspective on humor in horror;



    * How the BL4KM4SS troupe came about;



    * The company's experience with "pivoting" to remote shows after the start of the pandemic;



    * A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Reyna's first remote interactive show, "3DD13";



    * How BL4KM4SS experimented with effects, evolving their remote shows;



    * Reyna's guidance for anyone who might like to create a remote Halloween experience for friends or family;



    * What works well, for keeping a remote audience engaged;



    * Some of Reyna's favorite resources for observing other innovations in remote performance;



    * How to sign up to be considered as an audience member for "M90SN'



    * What you might expect from a BL4KM4SS show;



    * One of Reyna's best experiences for growth,, as a performer, from working remotely;



    * A "tease" of some of the shows in the works for 2022.












































    25 min
  • Discovering the Magnificence





    Sometimes, science can seem absolutely magical.



    For Logos Education Systems Senior Lead Consultant Henri Shimojyo, focusing on that magic is key.



    Henri, who will be presenting at both the upcoming STEPCon 21 and at the California STEAM Symposium, gears his teaching style to student discovery, sparking curiosity and imparting a sense of wonder.



    Teaching, for Henri, is a means of opening students' eyes to the exciting world around them. Rather than "teaching to the test", he engages their imaginations by showing them how to explore the ways science is at work in their day-to-day lives.



    Henri's professional background includes teaching graduate courses in education at UC Riverside, as well as serving as the Science/STEAM Teacher Supervisor in the Graduate School of Education. He also taught chemistry for nine years, for Lake Elsinore Unified School District.



    And, you're just about to get the opportunity to hear, firsthand, why science can seem magical! Henri has two exciting presentations coming up.



    Firsthand "magic"



    He works with nonprofit STEP--the Science and Technology Education Partnership. STEP is currently preparing to host STEPCon 21--the Annual Student Conference on Science and Technology Education. This free virtual conference offers sessions for both educators (October 5th and 6th) and students (October 7th).And for the student edition, Henri will be presenting "The Science Show", at both 9:30 and 11:00 am on October 7th, demonstrating, to students, that "it's magic? No, it's science."



    In addition, you'll get to hear Henri speak at the upcoming California STEAM Symposium!



    Co-hosted by the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Department of Education and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, California STEAM Symposium explores some of the most creative and exciting approaches we've ever seen, to igniting students' imagination as they learn the ways science, technology, engineering, art and math interrelate.



    Henri, will be co-presenting a talk called "The Scale of Things" with Yamileth Shimojyo from the Riverside County Office of Education, on Friday, October 22nd at 5:30 pm.



    Meanwhile, the California STEAM Symposium starts at 3:00 pm, Pacific time, on Thursday, October 21st. Keynotes, breakout sessions and quick talks, as well as maker activities,, will take place until 6:10 pm that Thursday and Friday. Then, Saturday morning, October 23rd, starts the final day at 9:00, with presentations running until 1:00 that afternoon. Here's the link for more information. (And some of the video clips from Henri's participation in STEPCon21 will be available as resources during the California STEAM Symposium!)



    28 min
  • The Future’s Human Face

    (Photograph courtesy of Dr. Fabienne Cap, and used with permission.)



    "I'm still as in love with this profession as I was on my first day. It's so cool," says Furhat Robotics Solutions Engineer Dr. Fabienne Cap.



    And what she's doing is especially so.



    Furhat Robotics have created the world's first social robotics and conversational systems platform. Their robots can actually make people forget they're talking to a machine! And there are several reasons why this happens.



    First, the Furhat robots' faces can be customized to become any character. Gender, ethnicity and age can all be changed.



    After the introduction of a new face engine, just a few weeks ago, these social robots' faces can move in even more lifelike expressions as they speak.



    They can also communicate in more than 200 voices, in over 35 languages, according to Furhat's website. Or, they can even be customized with a user's own voice!



    Furhat's mission: to revolutionize human-machine interactions. Their robots have almost unlimited applications. They can give travel directions, become anime characters for special events, teach language lessons, offer health screenings, provide on-the-job training...



    Actually, the possibilities are limitless. But they all have the same objective: to put people at ease, through their interactions with these very "human" robots.



    Pioneering robot, serendipitous name



    Now, why the unique name?



    Well, according to Furhat Robotics' blog, it was serendipity.



    Their robotic prototype premiered at the London Science Museum. At that time, the prototype was "a plastic face, but no skull". Cables were protruding, distracting attention from what the creators wanted to emphasize: the face.



    But, a student had forgotten his hat at the office, that cold, wintry day. It was--you guessed it--a fur hat.



    Inspired, the creators slipped the hat onto the robot. A perfect fit, it disguised all the cables--so spectators could focus on the face.



    And visitors to the museum began referring to the robot as "the robot with the fur hat".



    The name stuck.



    Today, Furhat Robotics continue to break new ground, with technology geared towards creating human connections. And they have a free virtual conference on social robot interactions, coming up on October 14th! Here's the link for registration.



    Fabienne explained social robotics, discussed some of the ways Furhat Robotics is implementing their social robots into daily life, and shared a free resource for educators.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How Fabienne's professional background in languages led to her current work in robotics;







    * A definition of a "social robot" and the concept behind it;







    * Furhat's current pilot programs, using their robots in educational applications in Stockholm;







    31 min
  • Space and Imagination

    Due to a family emergency, we are reposting one of our most popular 2021 episodes. Please enjoy this rebroadcast and we'll look forward to resuming our current episodes next week.







    Quick! Who was your favorite teacher in high school?



    If you ask middle-school students in Milton, Georgia, a lot of them might answer, "Mr. Jones".



    That's because Steve Jones, The Space Teacher, is all about learning by exploring and experimenting.



    Steve, who teaches STEAM at Hopewell Middle School in Milton, Georgia, is a lifelong space-science enthusiast.  He is both a NASA Solar System Ambassador and freelance Principal Investigator for experiential STEM learning organization Magnitude.io.



    And if you try something and fail--that's fantastic.



    In this March, 2021 nterview with Steve, he discussed his passion for space and space science, the ways he incorporates those into his classes to capture students' interest, and some of his favorite educational resources.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How the space program first sparked Steve’s imagination;



    * Why Steve (who originally didn’t care much for math!) came to incorporate it into his passion for science;



    * The best creative challenge that faced Steve, in interesting non-science-oriented students in science;



    * How Steve’s unusual perspective on failure in his classes encourages students in engineering;



    * One of Steve’s favorite STEAM lessons from the NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador program;



    * A new experiment which the students are doing in cooperation with NASA and Miami’s Fairchild Botanical Garden;



    * How Steve gave the students ownership of their own creativity on this particular project;



    * What first started Steve off as a STEAM teacher, when beginning his career in education;



    * The work of Magnitude.io and how Steve first became involved in the program;



    * How Steve’s seventh-grade class began research with Magnitude.io’s ExoLab 6 experiment;











































    * How to get involved in the Magnitude.io program, if you are an educator;







    * One “failure” that led to better research in Steve’s science class;







    * Some additional educational resources, including Zooniverse, which relates science to various arts and humanities topics among its citizen science exploration.




    43 min
  • Ingenuity Beyond Imagination

    The first black-and-white image from NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, April 19, 2021. (Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL, and used with permission.)



    This podcast and blog are not, in any way, affiliated with, nor endorsed by, NASA nor the Jet Propulsion Lab.



    For NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the original plan was, simply, a technology demonstration.



    NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Robotics Technologist Gerik Kubiak and his colleagues created the four-pound helicopter for an experimental test flight, according to JPL's website. Their goals: to demonstrate miniaturized technology in an autonomous aircraft while establishing whether the little helicopter could survive Mars' environment.



    And the ultimate objective? Initially, according to JPL's fact sheet, scientists hoped to have Ingenuity perform up to five test flights, in thirty Martian days.



    Fast-forward to today. So far, Ingenuity has flown a total of thirteen test flights.



    Since arriving on the Martian surface aboard the Mars Perseverance Rover in February, 2021, Ingenuity has steadily "pushed the envelope". Her inaugural flight, on April 19th, lasted just over 39 seconds, as Ingenuity climbed to a prescribed maximum height, then hovered 10 feet above the Martian surface.



    NASA;s flight log shows Ingenuity's flight times and distances progressively lengthening.



    May 7, 2021, marked Ingenuity's fifth successful flight. Designed to fly for ninety seconds, Ingenuity has exceeded that figure numerous times during her test flights. At the time of our conversation, her longest logged flight was the twelfth: 169.4 seconds.



    And the miniature helicopter (which,, NASA says, weighs less than two pounds on Mars!) has been sending back both black-and-white and color images of her groundbreaking journeys.



    On the day of Ingenuity's twelfth flight, Gerik talked about the process of designing the spacecraft, shared a closer look at the missions and discussed his favorite moments as Ingenuity made spaceflight history.







    On thie edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * How Gerik first became involved in the robotics field, as his professional path;



    * How he began, working with the Ingenuity helicopter;



    * Some of the challenges involved, in preparing Ingenuity to fly on Mars;



    * A closer look at the technology that's enabling Ingenuity to fly;



    * Gerik's recollections of the first day Ingenuity flew;



    * How the helicopter is communicating, from Mars to Earth;



    * Why Ingenuity's twelfth mission was one of the most challenging;



    * A closer look at the initial mission plans, and the ways in which the helicopter has surpassed them;



    * How the helicopter can "troubleshoot" if a problem occurs;



    * Gerik's favorite part of getting to work on the helicopter and operate it;



    * What he especially enjoyed learning, that he didn't know previously,, about robotics, from operating Ingenuity on Mars;



    * A quick look at some possible future plans;



    * Some of the images that Gerik found most breathtaking;



    16 min
  • Staying Healthy in Space

    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.



    Photo courtesy of Cooper and O'Hara Photography, and used with permission.



    Like her fellow medical professionals, Dr. Shawna Pandya is focused on keeping patients healthy.



    Unlike many of her colleagues, though, she has to take space dust, zero gravity and radiation into account.



    And as she practices space medicine, she's experienced some of the circumstances her patients will encounter.



    Besides being a physician, Dr. Pandya 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 2015, Dr. Pandya completed her citizen-astronaut training. She was a member of Project PoSSUM's first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero gravity. And today, she serves as Director of Space Medicine for Project PoSSUM.



    A multifaceted career



    She is also Vice-President of Immersive Medicine at Sasketchewan-based virtual-reality pioneer Luxsonic Technologies Inc. In addition, she serves as Director of Medical Research at Orbital Assembly Corporation, the world's first large-scale space-construction company.



    And "so much more", as Dr. Pandya says. She's a chief instructor in Operational Space Medicine for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences....Medical Advisor for Mission Space Food...a physician with Alberta Health Services...



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



    Dr. Pandya talked about the conisderations 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 mitigaing 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 Dr. Pandya's journey, as a citizen-science astronaut.




































    22 min
  • Engineering “Life-Changing”

    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.







    "Every single person that walks in the (exoskeleton) is the best experience," says Wandercraft Co-Founder and CEO Jean-Louis Constanza.



    Paris-based medical device company Wandercraft has developed the world's most advanced robotic exoskeleton, or "exo". Called "Atalante", the exo is self-balancing, designed to emulate a realistic human walk.



    And Atalante allows walking-impaired people to regain mobility--without having to use crutches for balance.



    For Jean-Louis, the innovation started with a question from his then-five-year-old son, Oscar.



    "You're a robotics engineer. Why don't you make a robot (that'll help me walk instead of using a wheelchair)?"



    Jean-Louis began exploring the answer to that question. The ultimate result was seen worldwide.



    On video, Oscar, now in his teens, comments on being "taller than his father", as he walks, wearing the exo.



    Dreams, grounded in reality



    Today, Jean-Louis' dream is that Oscar and his friends may ultimately be walking to their college classes.



    But for Wandercraft there's also a larger vision: a world where wheelchairs become a thing of the past.



    Jean-Louis cautions that these goals aren't yet a reality.



    "(We) don't want to hurt people (by overpromising)," he says. "(But) now we're getting closer to the goal."



    Currently, the exoskeleton is being used in hospitals and rehabiltation facilities, and going through some clinical trials. Jean-Louis and his team are also polling walking-impaired patients. Their question: what, besides walking, might these individuals like to be able to do, while wearing the exo?



    Next steps, Jean-Louis says, include streamlining the exo and getting FDA approval in the U.S. Meanwhile, Oscar has walked twice in the exo--and is waiting for a final product for regular use as he continues with his interests and prepares for college in the next few years.



    Jean-Louis talked about the creation of Wandercraft, previewed some of the ways Adelante is evolving and shared some of his favorite experiences.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:



    * How Jean-Louis first discovered his passion for robotics;



    * How Wandercraft, and the Adelante, came about;



    * Some of the challenges involved in creating the exoskeleton;



    * Oscar's experiences walking in the exo;



    * Some of the health challenges affecting people in wheelchairs;



    * How the exoskeleton works (hint: there are several ways a wearer can operate it!);



    * The next steps in the process of developing the exo as a personal device;



    * How the exoskeleton is currently being used;



    * Some of the activities physical therapists and patients are currently suggesting, for exo wearers in the future;



    * What Wandercraft needs most, in terms of support, as they pursue their goals of helping wheelchair users walk;



    * An update on Oscar's activities,
    26 min
  • Creativity and Your Brain

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



    (Photograph courtesy of Jason Voinov, and used with permission.)



    Your brain and your creativity are static, right? What you were born with, is the best you'll ever have.



    Not true, says cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Julie Fratantoni.



    As Head of Operations for The BrainHealth Project, Dr. Fratantoni leads a team of researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas, Dallas in a groundbreaking study. Her research focuses on ways to train the brain to work more efficiently and last longer.



    In the process, she's giving everyone a closer look at facts versus myths, when it comes to the ways our brains work.



    And the Center for BrainHealth's website says that our brains are "dynamic, adaptable and flexible". Their objectives: to unlock the brain's potential, fortify against decline and even repair brain health.



    Over ten years, The BrainHealth Project teaches participants strategies to optimize their brain's performance. Training is customized to each individual's circumstances. People can opt out at any time, and participation is free.



    Currently, The BrainHealth Project is seeking additional participants. They're recruiting both adults and youth, ages 8-17. And participation is fully virtual.



    In addition to The BrainHealth Project, the Center for BrainHealth offers a number of other resources. Their "Sips & Science Speaker Series" offers monthly presentations on brain science innovations. They also offer apps and virtual training.



    Their core concept: optimizing our brains' performances and improving brain health is well within reach, for everyone. And that would include improving our ability to come up with creative ideas.



    Dr. Fratantoni discussed what brain optimization can mean in terms of boosting creativity, debunked a common myth about the way our brains operate and offered a closer look at The BrainHealth Project.







    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:







    * How Dr. Fratantoni first discovered her perception for high-performance brain science;



    * Some of the common misconceptions about the brain and creativity;



    * What's happening in our brains during an "aha" moment;



    * Why "Oh, I'm just not creative" is a myth;



    * A recommendation of a great book about creativity



    * Dr. Fratantoni's own experiences as a scientist whose work enhances her creativity;



    * A closer look at The BrainHealth Project;



    * What's involved, for anyone who'd like to get involved in The BrainHealth Project;



    * An example of one strategy a participant might be taught;



    32 min

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

From the publisher's feed

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…