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

John Abrams is a showman, with considerable expertise in playing to a tough audience.

That's because John, a professional magician and performer, is also the creator of the multiple award-winning program "Amazing School Assemblies".

John, who performs 400 school-assembly shows a year, has entertained and engaged more than 2 million schoolchildren, in 216 Southern California school districts. His website reveals rave reviews from educators, as well as listings of the honors his shows have garnered--including Discover Magic's Golden Wand of Excellence for outstanding children's programming.

His Amazing School Assemblies shows include valuable life lessons, interwoven with comedy and magic.

Among his offerings are "The STEAM Show", which blends real-world learning in science, technology, engineering, art and math with considerable fun and magic; "The Bully Game", a live game-show formatted anti-bullying program; and "Random Acts of Character", which teaches essential lessons in character through magic, juggling and audience participation.

John is also the author of "The Handbook for School Assembly Performers", available on Amazon.

And he's scheduled to give a showskills workshop presentation at the KIDabra Conference for KIDshow and family performers, on August 12th in Atlanta! (Here's the link for more information about KIDabra 2026.)

John talked about his background, offered a closer look at his shows and gave some tips for managing a live performance or presentation.

"Creativity isn't a reward (for completing other work in the classroom)," says Blackwing Foundation Program Director Courtney Berolzheimer.

"When we treat art and creative expression as a foundation...kids show up differently, teachers show up differently."

And that difference, she continues, can lead to a new classroom culture, with increased engagement for both students and teachers.

Nonprofit Blackwing Foundation is helping educators build that foundation, with their free online art education programming, Pathways to Creativity!

High-quality, adaptable and...free

Pathways to Creativity currently includes an art series and a lettering series, for first to sixth grade, with lesson plans and slide decks. Courtney, who spearheaded the Pathways to Creativity program, has drawn on her professional background as a middle-school math teacher, designing content for seamless implementation into a classroom.

Accordingly, the all-in-one art lesson plans include step-by-step videos, supply lists and printable art labels. Art lessons are designed by grade: drawing for first grade, oil pastels in second, drawing for third grade, and so forth. Lettering lessons include handout templates and a supply list, as well as supplemental resources.

"We want to make (teachers') lives easier by offering art lessons, lettering lessons--anything that makes it easier for them," Courtney explains.

One of the biggest challenges she's encountered? Convincing educators that, in accordance with Blackwing Foundation's mission of expanding access to arts education, these resources are free!

"A lot of times, (people) are like, 'well, wait, do I need to buy this? Or do I need to put in my email to access things? And our answer's 'no.' We want everything to be there, just to be accessible, and...I would love educators...(to) just try one lesson. See what happens in your classroom."

While these lessons are listed as being for grades one through six, they're designed in such a way as to also spark the imagination of much older "kids"--high-school and beyond.

They're also engaging and interdisciplinary, blending technique, art history, communication and other skills.

Meanwhile, Courtney says, much more is coming. Blackwing Foundation is developing new lessons and new pathways, in areas that will include music, and architecture!

To find out more about additional upcoming programs, you're invited to subscribe to

Blackwing Foundation's newsletter, through their website. And be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel, for their live studio sessions!

Courtney talked about her background, shared the story of Blackwing Foundation and discussed some of the Pathways to Creativity lesson offerings.

What if you had the opportunity to experience something no human being had ever done before? And, what if you could experience it as part of a four-person team?

That's exactly what the crew of the Artemis II mission discussed, during NASA's press conference on Thursday, April 16th.

Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, of the Canadian Space Agency, had just returned from their historic flight, six days earlier.

The Artemis II mission lasted nine days, one hour and thirty-two minutes, according to NASA's website.

During that time, the crew set some historic precedents.

After their textbook launch on April 1, 2026, they set a new record for furthest human spaceflight: more than 252,000 miles from Earth. Their crewed lunar flyby was NASA's first in more than 50 years.

And they orbited the far side of the Moon--capturing perspectives no one had ever seen before.

The world cheered their safe return, as their Orion spacecraft, which they'd named "Integrity", splashed down off the coast of San Diego on Friday, April 10th.

Artemis II is the latest chapter of an ongoing story.

This unprecedented lunar flyby is another step towards NASA's future goals: lunar exploration, construction of a lunar base and, ultimately, the first crewed missions to Mars.

Here are some of the insights the astronauts shared from their experiences on this historic mission, their advice to youth who will be the "Artemis generation", and NASA's preparations for Artemis III and IV in the future.

"We wanted to turn this exhibition of mummies from a cultural perspective, to a science perspective," explains Dr. Diane Perlov, Senior Vice President for Special Projects at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

That science perspective allows "Mummies of the World: The Exhibition" to share the stories of these ancient people respectfully, while providing some new insights into their lives.

"Mummies of the World: The Exhibition" is making a final stop at the California Science Center as the conclusion of its world tour, which started in 2010. The exhibition runs from now through September 7, 2026. Here's the link for more information.

With both naturally and intentionally preserved human and animal mummies from ancient Egypt, South America, and Europe, the exhibition also offers CT scans and analysis of the full-body mummies. Authentic burial objects, interactive audiovisual experiences and mummification tools are included, as is an IMAX movie, "Secrets of the Pharoahs".

Science for the past--and the future

The result: new understanding of the lives of these ancient people.

"We learn through stories," Dr. Perlov says, after explaining the ways the CT scan has revealed some of the health issues facing the two ancient Egyptian priests on display.

And the stories the scientific research reveals, she says, refute stereotypes of "primitive" cultures. Instead, a picture emerges of a dignified and thoughtful approach to burial of their dead.

Research of these mummies also provides a window on the future. The study of centuries-old DNA enables modern medical professionals to research pathogens while seeking cures for current diseases.

Dr. Perlov shared the story of the exhibition, offered a closer look at the ways the science and storytelling combine to give visitors an understanding of these ancient people, and discussed some of the cultural practices reflected in the exhibition.

"You always look at where you are right now, and then you design for that moment," explains STEMarts Lab Founder/Director Agnes Chavez.

"I don't do 'cooky cutter'. Every iteration...is adapting and responding to a real need."

That's exactly what her pioneering SciArt production studio and STEAM youth leadership program is doing.

Agnes, who is an interdisciplinary new media artist and educator, founded STEMarts Lab in 2009.

Wonder, awe and STEAM

Based in El Prado, New Mexico, STEMarts Lab empowers local youth to create a better future.

Combining art, science and technology, students collaborate on solving real-world challenges and illustrating science in engaging and immersive ways.

Each project starts with the concepts of wonder and awe in our universe--and the ways we, as human beings, have a role in it, as planetary citizens.

"What is our place in the universe?" Agnes asks. "What is our connection to space?"

Participants, ages 14 to 25, get to answer those questions by integrating art, science and technology with their own creativity. As they work on cutting-edge projects, the lines blur between STEM, arts and humanities.

"STEMarts is all about breaking down those boundaries, and playing," Agnes says.

Collaborating with experts in areas including astrophysics, coding and space science, students use media including augmented reality and artificial intelligence to create something exciting. The result: immersive, experiential "SciArt" productions, which travel all over the world.

Engaging the general public

These creations include the Space Messengers A.I. installation, which incorporates messages from youth and communities around the world.

Meanwhile, there's also Astrotours, which uses augmented reality to explore the night skies from a new perspective.

And currently, STEMarts Ambassadors are preparing for their upcoming live-coding performances at the inaugural Taos Film Festival!

Expanding innovation

As STEMarts continues to grow, their reach and impact includes some exciting milestones for New Mexico youth.

Between 2012 and 2025, more than 2,200 students participated in STEMarts' Classroom Design Challenge. STEMarts hosted three to seven student-led community events annually between 2012 and 2024, and student benefits included apprenticeships and paid youth internships, as well as International Travel Awards to five different countries between 2022 and 2025.

Agnes shared the story of creating STEMarts Lab, offered a closer look at the Space Messengers AI and Astrotours projects and discussed her vision for the future.

Happy Anniversary to Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival!

This free, nine-day celebration marks its fifteenth year in 2026. And there will be STEM and STEAM activities for everyone.

Presented by the Las Vegas Science and Natural History Museum, in partnership with the Clark County School District, the Festival runs from Friday, April 24th to Saturday, May 2nd, with more than 100 activities and events presented throughout Southern Nevada.

At the core of the festival, will be a sense of wonder, fun and exploration.

"My goal, is that everyone attending has a good time, and walks away knowing something that they didn't know before," says Los Angeles Science and Technology Festival Director Alexandra Liebman.

Currently, registration is open for select events. Registration for limited-capacity events opens Wednesday, April 1. And if you're in the area, please consider booking early--these are popular and will book up quickly! Here's the link to RSVP.

Learning science through STEAM

In addition to panel discussions, Night at the Museum and Science is Everywhere Weekend, the festival includes crafts, theatre presentations and highly interactive activities.

"I think it's important that kids and families who maybe feel like they're not 'science people" know that this event is for them too," says Alex.

Arts-oriented events include a UNLV Music Lab tour; crafts activities at local libraries; and STEM Movie Saturday.

An exciting aspect of the Festival, is the access it allows students, to career professionals in STEM. Alex shared the story of one student whose career path began with the opportunity to talk with a presenter in her area of interest.

But with the schedule of events, packed through the nine days, it also sounds like, quite simply, an absolute blast.

Alex offered a preview of what will be happening at this year's fifteenth annual Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival, shared the creative process behind making this major educational celebration a reality, and discussed her vision for the future.

An Over Coffee® special-edition episode

National Robotics Week is coming up, April 4-12, 2026!

This is a national celebration of the robotics industry, our future innovators--and, of course, the educators who make this innovation possible.

On the National Robotics Week website, you'll find all kinds of robot-related activities and resources. These include upcoming robotics events by state, robotics activity sheets, and even AI experiments, provided by Google! And you are welcome to submit your own robot-related event, as well.

And Over Coffee® is proud to spotlight three innovators who are inspiring students to explore how robotics fit into their interests--and their futures!

The history

National Robotics Week, according to their website, was first implemented in 2010, with 50 robot-related events around the U.S., after the 2009 passage of resolution H.Res. 1055, by the U.S. House of Representatives.

This resolution designates a full week in April as National Robotics Week.

As of 2017, National Robotics Week included more than 300 events across all 50 United States.

While events are still being registered for 2026, a quick check of the website revealed ten pages of approximately 150 events, nationwide, so far.

Meanwhile, on this special-edition show, we explore the ways robotics are really for everyone.

Here are NoireSTEMinist® educator/engineer and entrepreneur (and author!) Dr. Carlotta Berry, VEX Robotics Vice-President of Global Strategy, educator and author Jason McKenna, and Unified Robotics founder and executive director Delaney Locher, to showcase three different aspects of educational robotics.

Pioneering Los Angeles-based theatre company Ferryman Collective is launching the world's first live theatre repertory season in virtual reality!

And they'd like to invite you, not only to see their upcoming shows, but to celebrate with them as they host their first fundraiser as a 501c3 nonprofit company, next Sunday afternoon, March 22nd.

Their "Coins for the Ferryman" fundraiser and season launch party happens from noon to 4 pm, both in Pasadena and, if you can't travel to California, in VRChat. Here's the link for information.

A record of innovation--and wonder

Ferryman Collective's new repertory season is the latest step in a groundbreaking journey.

Founded in 2020, they create live shows in virtual reality, as covered in our 2023 interview.

But "shows" may not accurately describe the interactive storytelling, original immersive worlds and sometimes, life-changing messages that make up their performance experiences.

Very simply, their shows are unlike anything else a theatre audience will ever have experienced before.

Their work has garnered multiple honors, including top awards from the SXSW Film Festival, the Raindance Immersive Festival and the Kaohsiung Film Festival. Most recently, their latest show, Uncanny Alley: A New Day received two awards from the Indiecade Festival.

Each of the four co-founders brings multiple creative gifts to their work in immersive theatre.

"Music is my heart and my core," says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Christopher Lane Davis, a/k/a "Color". Besides being a composer, Color is an animator, writer, performer, filmmaker, photographer and 3D designer.

"I'm happiest when I'm performing," says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Whitton Frank. In addition to acting in film, theatre and VR, Whitton dances, writes, directs, and DJs.

"We're trying to perpetuate this idea of theatre reimagined," says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Stephen Butchko. Steve, who is co-creator of Uncanny Alley, is an award-winning producer, writer, director, and live-theatre actor.

"We thought, let's just take one year and really focus on...trying to work on building the audience and getting more people to know a show ," says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Deirdre V. Lyons, of the company's repertory season launch. An award-winning director, producer and performer in film and television as well as virtual reality, Deirdre is a speaker, teacher and coach--and she co-wrote and directed Gumball Dreams.

Deirdre, Steve, Whitton and Color talked about their work, shared some of their experiences with the four shows in the new upcoming season, and offered a preview of what's next!

When June, 2026, arrives, CAMP will be in session at The Tech Interactive, in San Jose!

And it's new, exciting and going to be a lot of fun.

Family-friendly technology and science center The Tech is currently in the final stages of designing their first summer camp experience!

Called CAMP, from the acronym "Create, Adapt, Make and Play", the program is a day camp, hosted at The Tech, for students from third to sixth grade.

The program

There will be eight one-week sessions, with four themes: BioTinkering, Ultimate Upcycle, Kinetic Commotion and Planet Protectors. Each theme is offered for two weeks.

Depending on which themed week they choose to attend, campers may find themselves building a Rube Goldberg machine. Or creating bioconcrete and kombucha leather. Or making a device that can become a different device--or a lot of other fun activities where they don't even realized how much they're learning.

"We have partnered with other organizations to have camps at our site, but we have for a very long time now wanted to do a camp ourselves and...really have ownership of it," says Summer Camps Program Manager Liz O'Hare.

Fun plus rigor equals learning

Liz, whose background includes eleven years as a classroom teacher, as well as designing curricula and training educators at The Tech, says designing The Tech's new program is "super fun".

"I think summer camp is a really amazing time for kids to really figure out what they love and what they are interested in," she says. And that discovery is one of her passions as an educator--along with, she says, being "silly" and having fun.

Liz explained some of the ways combining rigorous subjects with a "fun" approach leads to that discovery process, offered a preview of some of the CAMP programs and shared her vision for the future.

As we complete production on an Over Coffee® special-edition program, please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2025!

"We've crossed a dangerous threshold," warns futurist, entrepreneur and Ubertrends CEO Michael Tchong.

He's talking about the ways scammers can use AI.

Michael, whose entrepreneurial background has included creating four successful startups, has based his career on reaching beyond watching trends, to educate others in what he has termed “ubertrends”.

Ubertrends, Michael explains, are trends that change human values.

Michael, who is the author of three books, is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco.

In addition, he is the founder of four successful startups, including Ubertrends,

In his most recent book “Ubertrends – How Trends and Innovation Are Transforming Our Future“, he identifies eight "ubertrends"of the twenty-first century.

With the motto, “I help you catch the next wave, before it catches you”, he explores the ways these "ubertrends" can affect future success--as well as pitfalls to be avoided.

And artificial intelligence, he says, comes with "a lot of great benefits", but can also help scammers on an unprecedented scale.

While Michael says senior citizens are a prime target of AI scammers, these scams can affect anyone.

"Scams can take all different forms, but the typical ones are the ones that ask for money," he says.

"Innovation is not about predicting the future. Innovation is preparing for it."

Michael shared some of the ways to be prepared and possibly avoid getting “scammed”, talked about his background and discussed ways artists and “arts people” can stay relevant amid the AI surge.