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

  • “Linking” Youth to Coding–and Fun
    Over Coffee® is headed for CES® 2020!  Here is one of our top podcast episodes from CES® 2019.

    What if you could teach a child how to program an autonomous vehicle?

    Thanks to San Diego-based educational technology company Robolink, that was not a hypothetical question.

    At CES® 2019, in Las Vegas, we saw Robolink CEO Hansol Hong.

    Robolink creates educational robot platforms for students, grades K through 12.  For CES® 2019, they had just launched another brand-new robotics kit: Zumi.

    And Zumi, which is an autonomous-vehicle robot kit, is designed to teach kids of all ages how to program a self-driving vehicle!  Hansol and his staff have designed the kit to make artificial intelligence understandable for kids, and us "bigger kids".

    When we spoke at CES® 2019, Robolink had just launched their Kickstarter campaign for Zumi.  Hansol said they raised $20,000 during the first day of the campaign!  (They would go on to raise $150,000, according to Robolink's website--tripling their Kickstarter goal of $50,000.)

    And--Zumi had also won a "Best of CES®" award!

    Zumi shipped in mid-2019.  According to Robolink's Facebook page, Purdue University listed her in their "Engineering Gift Guide" for the Christmas season.

    But no matter how many other honors Robolink receives for excellent (and fun!) products, they may never have a better accolade than when we first met at the 2015 Orange County Mini Maker Faire.



    At the time, Hansol and Sebastian Sanchez were exhibiting Robolink's twelve-robot kit, Rokit Smart.

    A small boy, near the display, began to wail.  He was crying so loudly that we turned to see what disaster had occurred.

    The problem?  It was time to go home, his father was taking him to the car--and he didn't want to leave the robots!

    Our previous conversations with Hansol include a look at the Rokit Smart kit--and at Robolink's innovation for CES® 2016, the CoDrone.

    We can only hope Robolink may be exhibiting at CES® 2020--because we can't wait to see what they'll come up with next!
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    What the new educational kit, Zumi, can do for students;

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    Why Zumi is a female robot!;

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    How Hansol and his crew found out about the Innovation Award;

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    How Zumi works, for two different groups of students;

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    The development process which Hansol and his team employ, prior to marketing any robot;

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    What Hansol considers to be the most important lesson he has learned, as an educator and innovator, while creating his robotics kits.

    9 min
  • California Unique
    An Over Coffee® special-edition podcast, in celebration of Pasadena's 131st Rose Parade®!

    "Aquatic Aspirations" is the name of  Cal Poly Universities' seventy-second Rose Parade® entry.

    And on Sunday, December 29th, during "Decorating Places", we met four of the creative contributors who are making the float a reality.



    Cal Poly University biology major Iliana Sansur was onsite at Phoenix Decorating Company's Rosemont Pavilion.  And she and her fellow students were decorating their float entry.  The clock was ticking--they had just under sixty hours before the float would have to leave for the parade route, and its appearance in the 2020 Tournament of Roses® parade.

    Since 1949, Cal Poly University students have been participating in the Rose Parade®.  Since Cal Poly specializes in engineering disciplines, the students' float entries often wind up introducing new technology and innovations.  And the Cal Poly Universities float actually represents the efforts of two campuses.  Students from both the Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campuses build the float--one half on each campus!

    And the Cal Poly Universities float represents support of local farmers.



    Materials on this year's float, all of which must be organic, are more than 85 percent grown in California.

    Onsite at Rosemont were three representatives of the California Cut Flower Commission, which works with Cal Poly Universities to donate the materials used on the float.



    CCFC CEO Dave Pruitt (left), Event Coordinator and Procurement Specialist Anna Kalins (center) and Chairman Dan Vordale, who is also the President of Lompoc-based Ocean View Flowers, explained what was involved in growing and procuring the flowers for the float.



    Dan said around twenty-two California farms grew and contributed flowers for this year's Cal Poly Universities float!



    That's going to amount to another knock-your-eyes-out-gorgeous entry by Cal Poly Universities on New Year's Day, 2020!   We can't wait to see it.

    Pasadena Tournament of Roses®' 131st Rose Parade® starts at 8 am, Pacific time, on Wednesday, January 1, 2020.  Happy New Year!
    20 min
  • Love, Dedication–and Talent
    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus.  Please enjoy our rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes of 2019, as we count down to Pasadena's 131st Rose Parade®, on New Year's Day!


    Top award-winning float builder Fiesta Parade Floats is in the midst of final preparations for Pasadena's 2020 Rose Parade®.



    This week is "Deco Week".



    For float builders, that's a race against the clock.



    It's time to decorate the Rose Parade® floats for their New Year's Day appearance.   Floats leave the barn for the parade route on New Year's Eve.



    But, decorating work must be done with precision.

    Pasadena Tournament of Roses® requires float creators to cover every inch of Rose Parade® float surfaces with organic materials.



    That can translate to some extremely painstaking work by several shifts of volunteers.  Think "mosaic creation with seeds" (or coffee beans, rice, limas or otherwise).  Now, think, "glued on one at a time", and you'll be on the right track.



    According to their website, Irwindale-based Fiesta has created eleven of the floats we'll see in the 131st Rose Parade®.

    In September, we had the opportunity to talk with Fiesta Project Manager Beverly Stansbury.



    Beverly talked about the float construction process, and where the floats were at that point.  She also offered a look at what's involved in getting those incredible floats ready to wow everyone on New Year's Day.



    Here's what she said about the process--and here, for your enjoyment, are some of the pictures we took, on Sunday, December 29th, of the floats in their final "deco" stages!


    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    What drew Beverly into choosing float building as her life’s work;

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    A mini-preview of what Fiesta Parade Floats has been creating, for the 131st Rose Parade®;

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    Some of the engineering considerations involved in creating a larger float, like The UPS Store’s 2019 “Books Keep Us On Our Toes”;

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    Ways in which the float building industry is changing, and how those changes present a challenge with float design and decoration;

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    The cost of having a float built for the Rose Parade®–and why that figure really isn’t a lot of money for what's provided!

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    Perspectives on keeping the Rose Parade® going in a changing world;

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    How Fiesta Parade Floats involves the community in decorating their floats;

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    The magic element of float building which Beverly, despite her experience, still finds “amazing”;

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    The work schedule involved for float builders like Fiesta, through the year;

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    What’s involved in “test driving” the floats, prior to the parade!;

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    How Beverly and the team deal with “Murphy’s Law” on the way to the parade route;

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    Where she finds creative inspiration, each year, for the new floats;

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    What Fiesta’s work schedules are like, as the Rose Parade® gets closer (and afterwards);

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    A common float builder’s nightmare!

    35 min
  • Science Nonfiction
    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus.  Please enjoy this rebroadcast of one of our top episodes of 2019.  Have a great holiday!
    (Photo courtesy of NASA, and used with permission.)

    What if you had the opportunity to design missions to the moon?

    And what if getting there were just the beginning?

    That's the core of NASA's Artemis program.  If this particular project achieves all its goals, astronauts will be working on the moon in less than five years.

    Gateway Logistics Element Project Member Matt Wittal is a NASA Mission Design and Planetary Science Systems engineer at Kennedy Space Center.   Gateway, Matt explains, is a lunar orbiter.  In the first phase of the multi-mission Artemis project, the orbiter will get transported up to the Moon.  The ultimate goal: to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024.

    And once they get there, it'll be time to explore.  But even exploration of new lunar regions isn't the ultimate goal of Artemis.

    Instead, astronauts will be gathering lunar ice--and their experiences back on the Moon may ultimately pave the way for travel to Mars.

    Matt explained the phases of Artemis, the goals of the project and what's next.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How Matt first became interested in space technology;

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    His journey, from there, into NASA Mission Design;

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    What will be involved, in the phases of the Artemis program;

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    What Matt’s currently designing, for NASA Gateway;

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    The lessons from previous missions, which enable NASA to create Gateway;

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    Some of the considerations involved in designing for living and staying on the lunar surface;

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    What happens in 2024, once the astronauts get to the Moon;

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     What each of the Artemis missions will be doing;

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    Some of the technologies that will make Gateway’s operation possible;

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    Some of NASA’s resources for makers and educators;

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    What Moon and Mars exploration will mean on Earth;

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    What Matt considers “the most fun thing” of working on Artemis;

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    How the process of transporting supplies to space differs, in real life, from science-fiction films;

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    What it will be like, to be on the Lunar Gateway and explore the Moon;

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    Additional projects astronauts might conduct, on the Moon, in addition to gathering lunar ice;

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    Some of the “surprises” we may find, on other planets and in space;

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    The art involved, in designing missions to the Moon (and ultimately, to Mars);

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    A timeline for the Artemis mission launches–and an estimate for Mars!

    25 min
  • Giving Through Making
    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus.  Please enjoy this rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes of 2019.

    Congratulations to Zee Kesler!  When we talked with her, earlier this year, she was Project Manager of Makers Making Change.

    As of September 2019, her LinkedIn profile now lists her as Chapter Coordinator.  And she obviously loves what she's doing.  Here is our earlier interview with her, from Spring 2019.

    Now, what is Makers Making Change?   A very cool network created by nonprofit Neil Squire Society.  As of June, 2019, Neil Squire Society has been empowering Canadians with disabilities for 35 years.

    And the Makers Making Change program works to  connect volunteer makers to people with disabilities.   Makers then use their skills to come up with assistive technology.

    Makers Making Change has expanded beyond Canada, with chapters now in the U.S.  Recently, according to their website, the Phoenix and Bellingham, Washington chapters hosted "toy hack" events, for the holiday season.  They're also always looking for interested makers who would like to start new chapters in their communities!
    On this special edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How the maker community first captured Zee’s imagination;

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    How she first became involved with the Neil Squire Society;

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    A description of Makers Making Change (in case you missed our 2017 interview with Neil Squire Society Director of Development Chad Leaman:

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    What are some of the top devices people request to have created by makers;

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    Several ways anyone interested can get involved and help;

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    How to get a presentation in your community!

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    Methods of “hacking” toys, to adapt them for children with disabilities;

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    A suggestion for makers who are into creating with textiles;

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    What Zee learned about the maker community, during her work with Makers Making Change.


     
    19 min
  • Space Flight After School
    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus.  Please enjoy this rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes of 2019.
    Imagine building a grapefruit-sized satellite that launches into space.

    Now, imagine you're doing this as an extracurricular activity--with your fellow high school students.

    That's an opportunity which NASA has been giving students at Florida's Merritt Island High School, over the past eight years.

    Since 2011, NASA has been working with the students through a Space Act Agreement between Kennedy Space Center and schools in Florida’s Brevard County.   The resulting STEM program allowed students to work under the guidance of NASA engineers.

    At first, Merritt Island High's satellite was supposed to be, simply, a mock-up.  But the project grew from there.

    Until, on June 25, 2019, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifted off Kennedy Space Center's launch pad with Merritt Island High’s StangSat on board, as part of its cargo.

    According to NASA’s webpage, StangSat is part of the Department of Defense’s  Space Test Program-2 mission.   StangSat is designed to measure the shock and vibration of a launch, while communicating with a sister satellite, Launch Environment Observer, or LEO, which students at Cal Poly built.

    The satellite's name comes from the school's mascot, the mustang.  Their satellite is a CubeSat, designed to fly in space for a number of years.



    During Podcast Movement 2019, in Orlando, we had the opportunity to talk with NASA Electronics Engineer and Bid and Proposal Manager Kelvin Ruiz, who served as StangSat’s main software mentor, and with NASA Integration Engineer Shaun Daly, lead mentor on the StangSat project.

    Kelvin and Shaun shared the story of StangSat, offered a behind-the-scenes look at the process of building the cube satellite and shared their favorite experiences from their time spent mentoring the students.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®,you will hear:

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    What first inspired Kelvin and Shaun to become engineers in the space-exploration field;

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    How the StangSat project evolved from a simple design project to real-world engineering;

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    Some of the challenges Kelvin and Shaun saw the student team encounter while building StangSat;

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    What was involved for the students, while working on the project;

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    What kinds of tasks the students could perform, during the process;

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    How the StangSat project led some of the participating students to their future careers;

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    What StangSat is currently doing in space.

    24 min
  • Inside the Magic at Two Bit Circus
    Over Coffee® is on Thanksgiving hiatus.  Please enjoy this Cyber Monday special rebroadcast of one of our top episodes of 2019!

    In 2018, Two Bit Circus opened the world's first Micro-Amusement Park.  And for Cyber Monday, they're offering a special that might make a nice gift for anyone on your list this year.  (Or for you!)

    "C'mon, what is it?"  Oh, OK.  It's unlimited play within their arcade during January. (Some restrictions apply, according to their website.)

    During Maker Walk L.A., in May, we had the opportunity to talk with Two Bit Circus Creative Producer Josh Randall.  Josh offered a closer look at the magic behind Two Bit Circus.

    This unique indoor amusement park started with the "carnival" concept.  Then, co-founders Brent Bushnell and Eric Gradman and their team added computers, lasers, virtual reality, video games and a sense of community to the mix.

    (Like a closer look?  Here's our coverage of Two Bit Circus's opening, just prior to their official Grand Opening in September 2018.)

    And Two Bit Circus keeps innovating!  Their nonprofit educational organization, Two Bit Circus Foundation, is designed to engage communities and inspire the next generation of inventors.   Indie game creators are invited to submit their creations for consideration for "Beta Nights", in which guests come in and play new games and offer feedback on them.   And a lot more is coming in 2020!

     
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How Josh first began his career with Two Bit Circus;

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    What his experiences were like, during his first days of working with the team;

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    What’s new at the Micro Amusement Park since it opened, nine months ago;

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    A good creative lesson Josh and the team learned, from observing visitors’ responses while adding new content and events.

    8 min
  • STEAMing Into Math
    (Photograph courtesy of Dr. Frederick Uy, and used with permission.)

    When was the last time you had fun in math class?

    The California STEAM Symposium says that needs to happen more often.  And so does Steering Committee member Dr. Fred Uy.

    When the seventh annual California STEAM Symposium happens, December 9th and 10th in Anaheim, educators will get to see all kinds of ways this could happen.

    Fred, as he prefers to be called, is the Director of Educator Preparation at California State University's Office of the Chancellor.   His specialty: math.  He has taught math, both at the K-12  level and, for more than 18 years, at the college level, preparing future math instructors to teach in more innovative ways.  Meanwhile, CSU trains the majority of teachers credentialed in California.

    2019 marks Fred's first year on the  California STEAM Symposium's Steering Committee.  He has also attended the symposium many times in the past.

    Not surprisingly, Fred is all about exploring nontraditional ways to bring math to life for students.   He will be leading two sessions at the California STEAM Symposium, which the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the California Department of Education are producing in partnership.

    Fred talked about mathematics instruction, some of the ways he himself introduced "out-of-the-box" thinking into his classes and the ways he sees the California STEAM Symposium serving both future students and the next generation of STEAM teachers.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How a different approach led Fred to his career in mathematics;

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    Fred's first lesson for the next generation of math teachers;

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    Some of the ways Fred captured the imagination of his own students in his math classes;

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    A geometry lesson which Fred taught, which incorporated art;

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    Fred's experiences in his work on the California STEAM Symposium Steering Committee;

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    An inside preview of the California STEAM Symposium;

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    Specific STEAM Symposium features which Fred considers to have a major "wow factor";

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    A look at what will be happening in the makerspaces (which will be in operation throughout both days of the symposium);

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    A preview of the sessions Fred will be leading;

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    One innovative CSU program for training teachers, of which a number of people may not be aware;

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    One misconception about math, which both CSU and the California STEAM Symposium are debunking;

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    A mini-math lesson which incorporates art!;

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    What Fred has found most rewarding, in his first year on the Steering Committee;

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    The changes he's seen, in the way math is taught, over his career in education;

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    His perspective on the ways mathematics instruction needs to evolve, over the next few years.

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    The "magic element" he recommends, to get student comfortable with math;

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    What he's most looking forward to, as the 2019 California STEAM Symposium approaches;

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    What he himself has learned, in the past year, that he would like to share with fellow education professionals.


     

     
    And--here is our previous episode, featuring a conversation with CDEF STEAM Program Director Glennon Stratton, about the California STEAM Symposium!  The California STEAM Symposium begins at 7:00 am, Monday, December 9th,
    25 min
  • Curriculum Plus Imagination


    Technically, STEAM is an acronym: science, technology, engineering, art and math.

    But for the California STEAM Symposium, that "E" could easily stand for "empowerment".

    And the seventh annual California STEAM Symposium is set to happen in Anaheim, December 9th and 10th!

    Glennon Stratton is the STEAM Program Director for the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation.   CDEF is co-hosting the California STEAM Symposium, in partnership with the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and CSU.

    The focus of this annual conference: how to combine the five areas of STEAM to engage students in learning.   And like the 2018 edition, this will be an exciting and creative two days.



    More than 250 breakout presentations are scheduled, at the Anaheim Convention Center's North Hall.  A maker space will be offer regular class sessions, both days.  Exhibits and keynote speakers will spotlight innovative approaches to teaching--and to learning.

    Robotics, rockets and maker lessons are on the agenda.  So are art lessons which bring geometry and science to life.  Animation, Space Station exploration, and even a murder mystery (featuring teachers as "suspects"!) will be subjects attendees can explore.

    While geared towards education professionals, the conference is for anyone who understands the importance of STEAM awareness in the twenty-first century. Members of organizations that promotes STEAM awareness will find the California STEAM Symposium time well spent.

    Glennon talked about the California STEAM Symposium and the concepts behind a more customized approach to empowering students.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    The origins of Glennon's passion for education and improving lives;

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    How a non-classroom teaching experience made him aware of the power of interdisciplinary education (a/k/a STEAM);

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    The concepts at the root of a hands-on learning experience and results Glennon has seen, with students;

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    What attendees will experience at the 2019 California STEAM Symposium;

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    A summary of the 2019 keynotes;

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    How one of those speakers uses a pop-culture approach to teaching students science concepts;

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    A highly empowering STEAM application Glennon observed, while working in as a project manager in Portland public schools;

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    A closer look at some of the 2019 sessions (including one that tells participants, "math can be fun");

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    What Glennon himself has learned, in the past year, from his work with students and teachers;

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    His advice to teachers implementing a STEAM approach in a classroom;

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    Glennon's own experience with math being fun!;

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    How to open reading for students so that it's magical, rather than a chore;

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    A look at one of the science-oriented sessions;

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    Who, besides education professionals, can benefit from attending the California STEAM Symposium;

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    One of Glennon's favorite experiences from preparing for the 2019 California STEAM Symposium;

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    Unique presentations which will be led by students themselves;

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    The critical component to getting around the challenges facing underserved students.


     

     

     
    25 min
  • A Frightfully Interesting Study
    (Royalty-free photograph courtesy of Pixabay, at pixabay.com.)

    Snakes.  Heights.  Needles.  Things that make us scream and run.

    Caltech is studying the nature of fear.  And they recently chose a unique but highly effective venue, in which to conduct their research.

    During the 2019 Halloween haunt season, Caltech partnered with extreme Orange County haunted house The 17th Door.

    Led by Caltech social scientists Colin Camerer and Dean Mobbs, this particular study examined fear in what amounted to an ideal environment: a non-laboratory situation where guests were not placed in actual danger.  (Colin Camerer is the Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Economics and director of the T&C Chen Center for Social and Decision Neuroscience in Caltech's  Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience.  Meanwhile, Dean Mobbs is an assistive professor of cognitive neuroscience, as well as a Chen Scholar at Caltech.)

    And their onsite work at The 17th Door allowed them to take a good look at what happens when something scares us--even in fun.

    As guests arrived to experience The 17th Door's scream-inducing immersive storytelling, Caltech researchers first asked if they'd like to participate in the study.

    Once guests agreed, the Caltech staff used modern technology and questionnaires to measure their reactions to haunt occurrences.    One of the study's long-term goals, according to Caltech's website, is to determine how well people can learn to control their reactions in extreme situations.

    Virginia Fedrigo is a Caltech research technician assistant who worked on the project.   We talked about her work, what she observed as participants arrived and the next steps in this research.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

    *
    How the Caltech research study came about;

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    What the Caltech team's first day at The 17th Door was like;

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    How the research team conducted their experiment onsite;

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    The way the team used technology to measure visitors' fear reactions;

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    Where the team are, currently, on their study;

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    How The 17th Door approached creating their haunt "from a scientific point of view";

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    Some of the goals of this particular research study;

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    What research says, about the ways we experience fear;

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    Something Virginia noticed frequently while working onsite with researchers;

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    How some parts of The 17th Door are psychologically engineered to work with this phenomenon;

    *
    What Virginia found most interesting about observing people, as they entered the haunt

    *
    What's next, for the Caltech team.


    (Like to know more about the talented team behind The 17th Door?   Here's our 2018 interview with professional haunter Shar Mayer, who trains their performers!)
    19 min

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