I was honored and privileged to host Dr. Douglas Terrier to discuss NASA outreach programs on diversity, equity, & inclusion and the next steps for NASA in 2023.

Dr. Douglas Terrier is the associate Director for Vision and Strategy at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Before being named associate Director, Dr. Terrier was NASA's Chief Technologist serving as the principal advisor to the NASA administrator on technology policy and investment strategy and advocating for technology with Congress, the White House, industry, academia, and other federal agencies.

Finally, Dr. Terrier is responsible for leading the strategy, creation, integration, and overall execution of JSC's ongoing transformation initiatives revolutionizing the center's policies, plans, and processes around workforce, facilities, and products to advance human spaceflight.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has led our nation and the world on a continuing adventure of human exploration, discovery, and achievement for more than 50 years. For more than 50 years, NASA has played a vital role in powering our country into the 21st century through technological innovations and scientific discoveries. 

For example, in 2022, NASA was busy taking the first steps to return humanity to the Moon through its Artemis I mission. NASA was also unfolding the mysteries of the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope and successfully testing our asteroid defense capabilities.

Because NASA plays a critical role in advancing the human race by creating a future for humanity in the stars and continuing to improve life on Earth, NASA can only achieve these tasks by involving all of America and a diverse society.

Therefore, NASA addresses and supports this ideal through diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2021, NASA launched a goal addressing equity through a comprehensive effort assessing the expansion and modification of agency programs, procurements, grants, and policies and examining what potential barriers and challenges exist for historically underrepresented and underserved communities.

To this end, NASA issued a Request for Information (RFI) in 2021 to receive input from the public on NASA's mission directorates' programs, procurements, grants, regulations, and policies. This information is being used to evaluate, implement, modify, expand, and streamline NASA's programs, procurements, grants, regulations, and policies to remove systemic inequitable barriers and challenges facing underserved communities.

To advance equity for people of color and those who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality, NASA also uses advanced research data collection and technologies to assist in inter and intra-agency execution of this Administration's policy.

Here are some helpful links:

 nasa.gov/stem is your home for all educational resources. You’ll find all types of information housed here.

 NASA's team is made up of professionals with many different skill sets. To find your ideal position at NASA, click on the subject that is most interesting to you. Then tap on the icon to see what NASA job a perfect fit would be! First Woman Graphic Novel, App and Icon to see what NASA job a perfect fit

 Analog Missions: Groundlinks is a partnership between NASA’s Human Research Program and Office of STEM engagement. Students can connect with the crew inside NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA).

 To learn more about the Artemis Student Challenges visit: 

Support the show

Think chemistry is boring? Think again! Dr. Colleen Kelley has created a chemistry comic book series filled with colorful characters and exciting storylines that translate complex chemistry into animated mysteries. Her comics and unique imagination have turned the Periodic Table into a playground of chemical adventure and have allowed elementary school students to master concepts often taught at the college level.

Dr. Colleen Kelley is the Creator and Founder of Kids' Chemical Solutions (www.kidschemicalsolutions.com), a comic-book-based chemistry curriculum for kids ages 8 – 108. Her journey as a chemist began at The University of Richmond, where she received her B.S. in Chemistry. She fell in love with the world of discovery and research and wanted to continue to explore more chemistry. She headed to Penn State University and dashed through graduate school, receiving her Ph.D. in chemistry at 24. She had so much fun doing chemistry research that she accepted a Chateaubriand Postdoctoral Fellowship in Strasbourg, France, with Nobel Prize winner Jean-Marie Lehn.

Colleen was a first-generation college student who kept following her flow of having fun doing chemistry research. Fast forward 30 years later to the tail-end of her career teaching chemistry in higher education, Colleen finds herself captivated by the question, "Why do my students think chemistry is SO hard?" Dr. Kelley now conducts her research in Chemical Education to uncover this mystery. What she has discovered is that learning chemistry is very much like learning music. Both disciplines depend on the interpretation of symbols and the development of fluency with these symbols. We know that the best time to learn music is between ages 6 – 10 when the brain has the plasticity to make the necessary neural connections. We NOW know, through Dr. Kelley's research, that this is also the best time to learn chemistry.

Dr. Kelley is now teaching in 4th and 5th-grade classrooms in Arizona using her chemistry comic book series. The kids are excited and embracing learning through this platform. What's next? "My WHY is to make learning chemistry fun, accessible, and inclusive so that it becomes a 'normal' part of a child's education."

Contact Information:

LinkedIn:
• linkedin.com/in/colleen-kelley-ph-d-049aa91ab

Website
• kidschemicalsolutions.com (Portfolio)

Email
• [email protected]

Support the show

I was honored to discuss the state of our BIPOC community's workforce preparedness/readiness in the STEAM fields with Dr. Bernard Jackson, Ph.D., a retired Navy Captain, and the President & CEO of Leading-Edge Solutions, LLC. 

Dr. Bernard Jackson is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Leading Edge Solutions, LLC, and a Service-Disabled Veteran owned small business. Leading Edge Solutions is a business management, leadership development, and Diversity & Inclusion consulting company specializing in creating innovative solutions to enhance competitive advantage in the global market. 

Dr. Jackson is a retired Navy Captain with over 25 years of operational leadership experience in various programs. Significant leadership assignments at sea include Commanding Officer Destroyer Squadron Fourteen, Commanding Officer USS McFaul (DDG-74), and Executive Officer USS TICONDEROGA (CG-47). 

From 2006 to 2010, Dr. Jackson served as the National President of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA). During his tenure as President, NNOA supported Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard efforts to increase diversity at the service academies and Naval ROTC programs. 

In 2011, Dr. Jackson established the NNOA Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program. He leveraged a national network of civilian and military champions to create a STEM program that identified over 95 minority students to participate in STEM-related intern programs. From 2011 to 2014, this program awarded over $400,000.00 in scholarships to minority students interested in STEM-related careers. 

Dr. Jackson currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Savannah State University Foundation. Dr. Jackson also serves on the Board of the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria (CCNA). CCNA coordinates with local government, state, and community stakeholders to empower a comprehensive community-wide effort, to increase student achievement and reduce the high school dropout rate. 

Dr. Jackson served as the President of the Alfred Street Baptist Church HCBU College Festival Ministry from 2017 to 2021. The Alfred Street HBCU College Festival is recognized as one of the largest college festivals in the nation. Over the past five years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020), the ASBC HBCU College Festival provided an opportunity for over $25 million in scholarships to be offered to high school students across 40 states. 

In 2016 and 2020, Dr. Jackson was awarded the Omega Man of the Year Award for serving as the Purple Boot Mentoring Program (PBMP) Chair. The Purple Boot mentoring program supports young minority males by exposing them to leadership and male mentors in combination with robotics training. 

Dr. Jackson received his Bachelor of Science degree (Chemistry/Math) from Savannah State University. He was awarded a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He received his Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) in Organizational Management with a specialization in leadership from Capella University. He has completed the Navy Corporate Business Course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill business school. 

He is a native of Macon, Georgia, and resides in Fort Washington, MD.

contact:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 703-655-943

Support the show

This podcast was a conversation with Monique Wilson, Director of James E. Richmond Science Center, about the Science Center located in Charles County, Southern Maryland, and parents' role in girls pursuing a career in the STEAM fields.

The Director discusses her humble beginning as a child to becoming the James E. Richmond Science Center director in Charles County, Southern Maryland. We discuss the types of exhibits and events hosted at the Science Center throughout the year. There is something for everybody (students, young people, and adults) living in the Southern Maryland community, which includes all of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties and the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. And the Science Center is wheelchair friendly.

The Science Center is unique because guests will delight in hands-on exhibits, life-size satellites, and immersive 360° exhibits. The Digital Dome Classroom and Theater, with seating for up to 184, is ideal for presentations, performances, and award ceremonies. It features state-of-the-art digital audio and video capabilities.

Director Wilson also discussed her experience as a young woman and single mother and fear of mathematics, and her decision to pursue a college degree in the STEM field.

She also discussed her parents' role in overcoming the fear of mathematics (a gatekeeper for many children in underrepresented groups in the STEM field).

You have RAISED THE ROOF, Monique Wilson, Director of the James E. Richmond Science Center of Southern Maryland.

Below is the list of some of the exhibits hosted by the Science Center throughout the year:
• Digital Dome Classroom & Theater
• NOAA Science on a Sphere
• Science Gallery
• Satellites
• Discovery Labs
• Newton's Apple Gift Shop
• And Other Events

Contact:
Location: 5305 Piney Church Road, Waldorf, MD 20602
Main phone: 301-934-7464
Email: [email protected]
Center hours: The hours of operation vary.
See Dome Show page for details. https://sciencecenter.ccboe.com/

Support the show

Conversation with Usen Akpan, Founder of the UKON Project Management Team and IT Security Project/Program Manager on addressing low representation of the BIPOC in technology.

An accomplished IT Security Project / Program Manager with over 19 years of successful experience in developing project definitions, providing oversight to Management on multiple information security projects and programs, and identifying and mitigating program risks. Hands-on experience setting up the security standards for application, infrastructure, risk assessment process, incident management, and processes for successful operations. Instrumental in developing business continuity plans and service standards for business excellence. Demonstrated capability of providing end-to-end strategic IT & security solutions; gained extensive knowledge in managing Cyber investigations, Cyber Forensics, and Network protection.

Usenekong’s LinkedIn Profile
linkedin.com/in/usenekong-akpan-635967b4

Email
[email protected]

Support the show

Providing a good education in Nigeria is daunting due to poor funding, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate classrooms, lack of resources (like projectors, computers, libraries, labs, and lab materials), poor learning environment, quality teachers, and best practices in teaching. 

Some Nigerians like Ms. Adanma (Okolo) Ugwuare are leveraging technology to transform education by providing K-12 students access to learning resources that are flexible and interactive.

Ms. Adanma (Okolo) Ugwu is the CEO & Co-founder of HiPrep - an Edtech Startup

HiPrep LLC is a startup education technology company harnessing the power of an online community to inspire deeper learning among school-age children in Math, English, and Science for academic enhancement and exam preparation. 

It is a community-based platform that provides students access to virtual classes taught by the world's best teachers.

Adanma’s Profile
linkedin.com/in/adanma-ugwu-b2243363
Website
hipreponline.com 
Phone
+2348120601261

Support the show

I started another journey in my career based on my passion for bringing awareness to the importance of pursuing college and a career in the STEM fields and the benefits to our BIPOC communities. Although I initially felt intimidated, after carefully considering the source of fear, I concluded that I also have a story rooted in my community and a passion for STEM education to share. I hope my conversation with guests with a background in the STEM and STEAM fields will bring awareness about the importance of STEM education as a source of empowerment that could better position the next generation and help increase our representation of the BIPOC communities in the STEM fields.

I was privileged and honored to talk with Caroline Nyaga about her STEAM Initiative in Kenya and her goal of empowering girls and women by pursuing college and STEM careers.
• Caroline is the Founder of the Kenyan Women in STEAM Initiative.
• Professionally, she is a passionate education in STEAM.
• Currently, she teaches interdisciplinary courses, Biology, and Chemistry.
• She is exuberant and a go-getter.
• Caroline loves empowering girls and young women to be self-sufficient to develop themselves through self-discovery and enhancement to become productive and proactive individuals in society who are able.
• She is a firm believer in the teachings of The Lord Jesus Christ.

Please see her contact information below if you wish to get in touch with Caroline. Caroline Karimi Nyaga Mobile: +254713096909
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://womeninsteam.simdif.com/

Support the show

I started another journey in my career based on my passion for bringing awareness to the importance of pursuing college and a career in the STEM fields and the benefits to our BIPOC communities. Although I initially felt intimidated, after carefully considering the source of fear, I concluded that I also have a story rooted in my community and a passion for STEM education to share. I hope my conversation with guests with a background in the STEM and STEAM fields will bring awareness about the importance of STEM education as a source of empowerment that could better position the next generation and help increase our representation of the BIPOC communities in the STEM fields.

I had the honor and privilege to talk with Mr. Larry about STEM Education & Careers in the STEM Fields, its benefit, and how to engage the BIPOC community. I learned a lot from Mr. King about our community and the history of STEM education in our African American community.

Mr. King is a business and education consultant and owner of STEM News Technical Journal, LLC, and publisher of Stem News Chronicle, a newsletter with a global readership of engineers, technology and business professionals, scientists, and educators supporting STEM diversity. https://www.snchronicle.com

Mr. King has held a Senior Executive Marketing position with the Edison Polymer Innovation Corporation (EPIC), the General Electric Company, and Babcock & Wilcox. 

His career as a corporate executive span over thirty-five years. As a corporate executive, he has worn many hats, such as serving in strategic marketing planning, sales, business development, and market development in domestic and international environments. Larry has authored and presented technical papers on machining applications to foreign and domestic audiences while developing market penetration programs and support services for machining and tooling products in Europe, South America, Asia, and US domestic markets.

In addition to the leadership roles mentioned above-involving utility operations, technical marketing, and research, Mr. King has also helped set productive recruitment strategies, helped educators enhance academic programs, secured program funding, mentored youth, and planned retention strategies while serving as an innovator and visionary. Mr. King has worked with other executives to develop a model to transfer environmental technologies between federal labs and Universities and from NASA to emerging businesses.

He currently serves on the Select Review committee for the Inventors Hall of Fame and has provided consultative services on complex public health matters preventing exposures to toxic substances for the Center for Disease Control related to socio-economic and political concerns.

Support the show

I started another journey in my career based on my passion for bringing awareness to the importance of pursuing college and a career in the STEM fields and the benefits to our BIPOC communities. Although I initially felt intimidated, after carefully considering the source of fear, I concluded that I also have a story rooted in my community and a passion for STEM education to share. I hope my conversation with guests with a background in the STEM and STEAM fields will bring awareness about the importance of STEM education as a source of empowerment that could better position the next generation and help increase our representation of the BIPOC communities in the STEM fields.

I had the honor and privilege to talk with Dr. Ronelus about his experiences in STEM education & how to engage the BIPOC community.
Dr. Wednaud J Ronelus is the Chief Metaverse Scientist/Officer/Consultant|Learning Engineer|Curricula Designer|XR:VR/AR/MR|AI|ML|DL|TinyML|AIoT-IoT|Edge Computing|Web3|Blockchain|Crypto|NFT|DAO|Smart Contract|CEO & Founder, Alchemist Club Studios.

Thank you for taking the time to walk me through the Alchemist Club Studio. I am impressed with what you are doing by connecting and empowering students through your club, the Alchemist Club Studio, with technology and communication, both in the US and internationally.

We talk about #stem, #machinelearning, #embeddededgecomputing, #artificialintelligence, and #blockchaincryptocurrencyTalks about hashtag stem, hashtag machinelearning, hashtag embeddededgecomputing, hashtag artificialintelligence, and hashtag blockchaincryptocurrency.

Support the show

I was privileged to talk with Dr. Jamie Green, Ph.D., an Urban Agriculturalist. Dr. Green is also a Global STEAM Educator and a Cultural Economist.
 
She considers herself an urban ag "evangelist" and cultural economist helping build the BIPOC community's capacity to achieve equitable wealth in sustainability industries - food, energy, water, and waste management.

Dr. Green is a Co-Founder of Think and Grow Farms. Dr. Green and her co-founded launched T&G farms, LLC in 2019 to address food scarcity in West Philadelphia. 

Their company grows and preserves food while actively engaging underrepresented students in STEM for global sustainability. Our passion is training NextGen agriculturalists to use engineering, technology, sciences, and business training to become problem solvers and future entrepreneurs.
 
They are helping West Philadelphians go from consumers to producers for a more equitable local economy.

Their company:

• Repurposing technology is an effective way of meeting needs.

• Empower youth to gravitate using technology to find solutions in    agriculture or farming.

• Educate the BIPOC community on using technology to create circular economies, allowing communities to reuse waste products and build sustainability.

• Advocates for inclusive Economic strategies. A key to the future.

She believes, "You don't get money for people's poverty without including them in strategy."

Support the show