STEM Southwest Podcast
Designed to create STEM connections, cohesion, and elevation within the Southwest region of the United States. You have discovered a place where STEM enthusiasts gather to learn about the amazing STEM rockstars of the region as well as STEM activities that are impacting the world! Whether you are looking to learn more about STEM innovations in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and California you are in the right place! If you have longed to be united with other STEM nerds, then you have found your people here at STEM Southwest! Check out our family-friendly show and events calendar designed to build problem solvers, thinkers, and innovators for the future. New episodes are released every other week.
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052 The Digital Playground of Electric Playhouse, with John-Mark Collins
06/24/2020
052 The Digital Playground of Electric Playhouse, with John-Mark Collins
This week's episode is a great example of how business and technology meet at a crossroads to entertain! As a creative technologist, John-Mark Collins uses his STEM knowledge to build immersive technology-driven experiences. His most recent project, Electric Playhouse, puts his background in Computer Engineering, Art, and Architecture to the test. Join us to hear about this special place where fun and learning collide and how technology is changing the way we play and learn! Show Notes John-Mark Collins is a creative problem solver with a wide variety of skills ranging from technical and creative to managerial and business related. As a creative technologist, John-Mark aims to build immersive technology-driven experiences that both push the boundary of current technology and adapt to shifting HCI paradigms. Having a background in Computer Engineering, Art, and Architecture, as well as a number of years in management of large teams, gives John-Mark me a unique perspective and skill-set to contribute in a multitude of ways towards building new user experiences. Contact:
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051 Connecting through STEM Media Platforms, with the hosts of Nerd Talk
06/10/2020
051 Connecting through STEM Media Platforms, with the hosts of Nerd Talk
Find out what happens when nerds meet across the miles. Turning COVID Quarantine into opportunity, these rockstars do their part to connect the world, have interesting discussions, and throw in a bit of quirkiness for fun! We can't wait to share this special episode full of nerds from across the nation! Join us when STEM Southwest meets Nerd Talk! Show Notes Contact:
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050 Small Business in the COVID-19 Environment, with David Hughes and Dr. Simon Woodruff
05/27/2020
050 Small Business in the COVID-19 Environment, with David Hughes and Dr. Simon Woodruff
Businesses both big and small are feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are shutting doors while others are facing unprecedented growth. During this time in history, what predictors can we use to determine success of our small businesses and employers? While the unemployment rolls may be growing, the truth is that we are still facing an unprecedented STEM workforce crisis. Join us in this episode where we interview two different business owners, David Hughes and Dr. Simon Woodruff, who share their journey and how they are responding to the pandemic. We will also hear about how COVID-19 is shifting the job search and how there are still plenty of STEM career opportunities in the Southwest. Show Notes – David Hughes David Hughes was born in Montreal and, at age 15, moved to England with his family. David went to an English boarding school for three years, and then to university in Scotland to study philosophy and history. After university, David moved to Iowa where he developed an interest in energy; this led to a degree in Environmental Technology with a focus on renewable energy. After working in the energy efficiency field in Michigan, David moved to New Mexico and was able to start a career in the solar industry, eventually starting Affordable Solar in 1998, using an old Airstream trailer as his first office. David is married with two adult daughters and has lived in Albuquerque since 1994. Book Recommendation: , by Yuval Noah Harari Contact: David@affordable-solar.com Show Notes – Dr. Simon Woodruff After a decade of research into innovative fusion concepts at the University of Manchester (PhD), Lawrence Livermore National Lab (Postdoc), UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering (Visiting Scholar), and the University of Washington (Research Scientist), Dr. Woodruff founded Woodruff Scientific to help accelerate the development of economic fusion energy. Dr. Woodruff has performed work under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy, universities, national laboratories and to the private sector, building research devices, performing modeling and simulations primarily directed at simply-connected (hence more compact and simpler-to-engineer) fusion systems. Dr. Woodruff hosts an annual Scientific Computing Bootcamp for undergraduates, introducing many of the tools in common use for High Performance Computing. Dr. Woodruff has organized national workshops in fusion energy sciences, and is a current participant in two International Atomic Energy Agency initiatives on compact fusion neutron sources and private fusion development. Dr. Woodruff is a member of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Physics. Contact: simon@woodruffscientific.com
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049 Infectious Diseases impacted by Technology, with Dr. Jason Harper
05/18/2020
049 Infectious Diseases impacted by Technology, with Dr. Jason Harper
Join us in this week's episode as our guest, Dr. Jason Harper, shares his STEM story. Jason has been involved as a research scientist for a national lab and shares his thoughts on how technology is impacting infectious diseases. Jason serves the community through his important work as a scientist, and also serves the community as an elected member of the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2013. We caught up with Jason on a Saturday as he squeezed our interview into his extremely demanding schedule. Show Notes Jason Harper was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2013, representing the northern Rio Rancho area. After serving one term, Jason was asked to serve as Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which deals with tax policy and administration of state government programs. Tax reform is an issue Representative Harper is passionately pursuing, with special emphases on gross receipts tax reform. Dr. Harper is also a research scientist at Sandia National Laboratories. He recently developed a stand-alone, low-cost, lab-in-your pocket cartridge for detecting anthrax in challenging environments. This sensor received an R&D100 Award, a Federal Laboratory Consortium Excellence in Technology Transfer Award, and was selected by Popular Science Magazine as one of the greatest technological innovations of 2016. vThe anthrax sensor recently completed a successful pilot program in Afghanistan. Jason is married to Mary, a New Mexico Tech alumni with a Materials Science & Engineering degree, and is a proud father of four children. Contact: Jason Harper 505-554-7970
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048 The Science of Covid-19, with Dr. Paul Szauter
05/08/2020
048 The Science of Covid-19, with Dr. Paul Szauter
In this week's episode, we dive deep into the science behind COVID-19 with one of our favorite previous guests, Dr. Paul Szauter. During quarantine, Paul has worked hard to digest scientific research and share the results in more user-friendly language so that more people can understand what is happening and how science is impacting the fight against COVID-19. Join us as we discuss this important topic with a true STEM rockstar who is deeply involved in supporting entrepreneurs in the Southwest! Show Notes Contact: Pszauter@gmail.com
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047 #3Dprintingforgood during the COVID 19 Pandemic, with R4Creating
04/19/2020
047 #3Dprintingforgood during the COVID 19 Pandemic, with R4Creating
What started as a challenge by Shelly to her robotics team to look around and identify a way to serve others resulted in the spark of an idea to use the 3D printers that team members had built themselves to print visors that would be assembled into life-saving face shields. What started as a project to help a neighbor by printing 10 face shields quickly grew into a project that is involving more than 40 students and 23 printers running 24 hours a day. In the first two weeks of the project, over 1500 shields were delivered to hospitals, Indian pueblos and reservations, clinics, urgent care facilities and fire departments. R4Creating is committed to continuing to serve the community through its efforts and technology to ensure that the heroes on the front line are protected. What a wonderful way to use Science and Technology to make an impact on the world! Go to to: -Request PPE face shields -Donate money or supplies -Connect with the team about meeting space Go to -Sign up for the newsletter if you want information about upcoming 3D printer camps and workshops
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046 Tech-Driven Online Platforms, with Travis Rosser
04/07/2020
046 Tech-Driven Online Platforms, with Travis Rosser
Today's guest, Travis Rosser, is the author of You, Inc., and an ed-tech developer. After a decade in the software industry, Travis co-founded Kajabi, a knowledge capital platform. While he is no longer at Kajabi, it continues to impact tens of thousands of people and generate millions in sales. As a speaker and internet entrepreneur, Travis believes that everyone has a business inside of them, and is working on a new technology platform to make life better for coaches everywhere! Travis is passionate about encouraging start-ups and is most certainly a STEM rockstar with wisdom to share - you don't want to miss this episode! Show Notes Book Recommendations: , by Travis Rosser , by Robert Kiyosaki , by Michael A. Singer Contact:
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045 Lights, Camera, Action and Tech, with Matt Johnson
03/22/2020
045 Lights, Camera, Action and Tech, with Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson is a world-renown filmmaker specializing in weddings. In this episode, he shares how his involvement in competitive robotics led him to use technology in media arts. Matt’s talent, coupled with his amazing business partner wife, Rachel Johnson, have built their company, Filmstrong, into a much sought-after business. As a STEM professional, Matt shares more on the growing use of media arts and how it is impacting every corner of STEM and every STEM professional. In the interview, he shares how video helps to communicate the power of your story, innovative products and ideas, all while building relationships is the power of videography, and all STEM professionals need to continue learning these important principles. In this episode, join host Shelly and our sound editor, Makenzie Gruenig, to learn more about this STEM Rockstar, the bearded guy who loves technology, his wife, his fans, and sharing Jesus with others.... just Who is Matt? Also, be sure to take advantage of his gift for our listeners - 20% off his online wedding film editing course! Show Notes Contact:
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044 STEMpreneurs Shaping the Future, with Stuart Rose
03/08/2020
044 STEMpreneurs Shaping the Future, with Stuart Rose
Stuart Rose is our guest this week, and listeners are going to be impressed with the impact of his STEM story. Stuart always felt a calling to be the "geek interpreter" as he had an amazing ability to communicate and understand the business behind science. He has over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and in 2012, broke new ground by establishing the BioScience Center (Center). He is an extreme supporter of STEM startups through his work with the Center and his support of the co-working space, FatPipe ABQ. Stuart also shares with us about his latest endeavor, i.e., green technology and electric vehicles, which have a promising future in our fast and ever-changing economy! Stuart Rose founded The BioScience Center in Albuquerque in 2012. A serial entrepreneur with more than four decades in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and the host of more than 20 startups developing vaccines, medical devices, and research tools, Stuart was looking to create something unique and different in Albuquerque and to capitalize on its burgeoning biotech industries. In 2014, he opened FatPipe ABQ as a privately funded collaborative work space providing amazing internet bandwidth speeds, program and training for entrepreneurs, and his advice and guidance to any startup that asks for it. Stuart’s approach to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem is unique. He believes the private sector needs to take the lead and has proven so by investing in our city’s startup culture. Contact:
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043 Satellites and Security, with Rachel Gupton
02/24/2020
043 Satellites and Security, with Rachel Gupton
Join us in this episode as we discover the story of Rachel Gupton. We find her at the intersection of National Security and Philanthropy making a difference in STEM. This Rockstar scientist is a native New Mexican serving the state and the nation with her talents and smarts! We are so thankful that she made time in her full schedule to give us a glimpse into her life of making a difference! Show Notes Rachel is an electrical and computer engineer at Sandia National Laboratories. She has been at Sandia since 2011, starting off as an intern and then she was accepted into the Critical Skills Master Program in 2013 which funded her master’s degree. She received her bachelors and masters degrees in Electrical and Computing Engineering from the University of Arizona. She currently works in the Satellites Division. She is also a local philanthropist serving on the board of Saranam and Explora, and she is active in United Way giving societies. Rachel and her husband, Billy, who is a financial advisor and philanthropic guru, were married in 2017 and live in Albuquerque with their two dogs. Rachel is a Bosque School alumna from the Class of 2009 and served on the recent Head of School Search Committee. Contact:
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042 Meow Wolf and Interactive STEAM, with Danika Padilla
02/09/2020
042 Meow Wolf and Interactive STEAM, with Danika Padilla
In this week’s episode, Bob and Shelly travel to another dimension where STEM is STEAM and listeners receive a behind the scenes tour of Meow Wolf. Part art exhibit, part interactive museum, Meow Wolf has taken hold and is launching into the stratosphere, started by a group of 10 artists and the generous support of George R.R. Martin whose series of epic fantasy novels were adapted into the HBO series Game of Thrones. Soon the world will know about Meow Wolf with locations opening in Nevada, Colorado, Washington, D.C., and Phoenix. Show Notes As you pull up to this famed location in the heart of “The City Different,” you are greeted by a towering red robot who keeps an eye on the parking lot and cars from every state in the nation as people pour in to experience the hottest new trend where Art meets STEM to create STEAM! Hear from guest, Danika Padilla, as she shares the intrigue and the development - the growth and the struggle - of this amazing work of art that was started by a group of artists who wanted to disrupt the gallery arts industry. Danika joined Meow Wolf in 2018 and is Senior Director of Social Impact where she heads Meow Wolf's social impact and corporate responsibility initiatives. Contact:
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041 NASA Social Media to Space, with Shelly Gruenig
01/27/2020
041 NASA Social Media to Space, with Shelly Gruenig
For this special episode, our co-host, Shelly, moves into the interview seat so that she can share about her recent trip to the NASA Earth Ventures Social. The social was hosted by NASA to share about five airborne campaigns across the United States in 2020 to investigate fundamental processes that ultimately impact human lives and the environment, from snowstorms along the East Coast to ocean eddies off the coast of San Francisco. Learn more about the 5 projects , as well as and Learn about the NASA Socials with Glowsart competition information A live feed from the event is for some great pictures of our visit
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040 Tips for Entering the STEM Workforce Pipeline, with Skyler Nix
01/15/2020
040 Tips for Entering the STEM Workforce Pipeline, with Skyler Nix
In our first episode of 2020, you will hear from our guest, Skyler Nix, who shares his message on personal branding and what he learned during his recent STEM job search. He will also share key points on talent acquisition and the importance of knowing what you want out of a job search. We discuss tips to make solid connections on LinkedIn and other social media platforms that help #jobseekers create their personal brand in this new generation of searching for the perfect position and leveraging connections. Show Notes Skyler Nix was raised in Albuquerque, NM and graduated from Sandia High School. He served in the U.S. Army as an Electronic Warfare Specialist (33 Whiskey) from 2002 – 2007 at stations in South Korea and Ft. Meade, MD. After military service, Skyler has worked for multiple defense contracting firms in various disciplines including satellite communications, technical training, RF testing, SW engineering/sustainment, Agile product development, UNIX/Linux system administration, and space systems engineering. He currently works for a top five defense firm in Albuquerque. Skyler holds a BASc in Network Administration from the University of Arizona; Is the Young Professionals Affinity Group Chairperson in the IEEE(“Eye-Triple-E”) Albuquerque section; the IEEE Region 6 Government Affairs representative; and the IEEE Rising Stars conference chair for 2021. Book Recommendations: , by Chris Voss , by Gary Vaynerchuk , by Simon Sinek Contact:
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039 The BEST Robotics Story, with Ted Mahler and Steve Marum
12/23/2019
039 The BEST Robotics Story, with Ted Mahler and Steve Marum
Ted Mahler and Steve Marum were coworkers at Texas Instruments in 1993 when they had a crazy idea. Their idea was the beginning of a competitive robotics program that has influenced our family life as well as hundreds of thousands of others across the country. These two down-to-earth men are still actively involved in STEM enrichment even today and two STEM rockstars that started this nationwide program in the Southwest. Show Notes Ted Mahler was born in Bryan, Texas, graduated from Texas A&M University, and worked for Texas Instruments Sherman for 33 years as an Integrated Circuit Design Engineer. When Ted retired, his wife, Carolyn, and he moved to South Thomaston, Maine. They have two Eagle Scout sons, and for them, Ted spent 13 years in Scout leadership. His sons now work as an Engineer and a Meteorologist. Also, Carolyn and Ted have one grandchild named Silas. For 20 years in Texas and, so far, 5 years in Maine, Ted has taught an afterschool 4th grade model Rocket Club where, over 7 sessions, each student builds all their launch equipment, their rocket, and then spend a day flying. Presently, Ted is also working on forming a summertime Science Club for local middle school kids. Of course in 1993, Steve and Ted formed BEST Robotics. Steve Marum has an Electrical Engineering degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and worked at Texas Instruments as a circuit designer until his retirement. After retiring from Texas Instruments, Steve began a consulting business and sells electronic test systems that he designs and builds. Along with Ted, Steve co-founded BEST in 1993 and was director of the North Texas hub for 15 years. Contact:
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038 From Educator to NASA Engineer, with George Gorospe
12/01/2019
038 From Educator to NASA Engineer, with George Gorospe
Today's guest is a true STEM Rockstar! After being raised in the Southwest, George Gorospe left behind all that he knew and headed east to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. The adjustment was tough for George, but with family support, and the support of other Native Americans at Dartmouth College, he made it work. His journey included a stint as a teacher at his alma mater, the Santa Fe Indian School, before he began to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In pursuit of more knowledge, George obtained an internship with NASA that grew into a series of amazing opportunities that would shape his career and open doors to his dreams. George continues to live out his dream of solving problems for NASA at the Ames Research Center, but also has a particular interest in become an astronaut for which he recently submitted an application. Show Notes George Gorospe, born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, attended high school at the Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe, NM. After graduation, George attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH where he majored in Classical Studies. After Dartmouth, George returned to his community to become a full time high school teacher at the Santa Fe Indian School. While there, he decided to pursue an engineering degree at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. During his second undergraduate education, George completed multiple internships at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA. Once George completed his Mechanical Engineering B.S. degree, he participated in NASA’s premier leadership development program, the NASA Academy for Space Exploration. At the end of this program, George was hired to work in the Mission Design Center, where he helped develop conceptual space missions to send robotic explorers to the outer solar system. George is currently a member of the Diagnostics and Prognostics Research Group in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center. There he manages the Systems Health Analytics, Resilience, and Physics modeling (SHARP) Laboratory. His research interests include: automated test systems, UAV electric propulsion systems, robotics, advanced diagnostics and prognostics, and GPU accelerated computing. Contact:
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037 Less Pink, More Think, with Emily Ganley and Delaney Heileman
11/18/2019
037 Less Pink, More Think, with Emily Ganley and Delaney Heileman
This week’s episode of STEM Southwest finds Bob and Shelly in deep conversation with two young engineers from the University of New Mexico. Emily and Delaney, who have been active leaders of the UNM chapter of the Society of Women in Engineering and just returned from the national conference. Conversation covers everything from women in STEM to the power of parents and the future of engineering. Join us as we explore what Delaney has coined, less pink and more think! Show Notes Emily Ganley is a Junior studying Chemical Engineering at the University of New Mexico. She is the current President of the UNM Society of Women Engineers, which aims to foster the growth, success, and advancement of women in STEM fields, and to create an inclusive environment for all UNM engineering students. In her free time, she loves to read, hike, and tie-dye! Delaney Heileman is a 4th year computer engineering major at the University of New Mexico. She previously served as the President of the UNM Society of Women Engineers and is a strong advocate for diversifying STEM. Post-graduation, she wants to pursue a career in the renewable energy sector. Book Recommendations: , by Eileen Pollack Contact:
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036 Native American Women and STEM, with Sandra K. Begay
11/05/2019
036 Native American Women and STEM, with Sandra K. Begay
Today’s guest, Sandra K Begay, is the daughter of a Navajo tribal leader and a public health nurse. Director Begay has had an extensive career as an engineer with several national research laboratories. She has been awarded for her work on tribal energy projects, and has mentored dozens of Native American interns. Her experience, commitment, and passion for renewable energy run deep, and are now being harnessed to proliferate sustainable energy solutions for the City of Albuquerque. Show Notes Sandra K. Begay was born and raised in New Mexico, and is a member of the Navajo Nation. Sandra received her Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Mexico and then earned her Masters of Science in Structural Engineering from Stanford University. Sandra recently became the Director of Environmental Health for the City of Albuquerque after having served for a number of years as an engineer with Sandia National Laboratories. Book Recommendations: , by Al Gore Contact: sbegay@cabq.gov
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035 To Infinity and Beyond, with Dale Dekker
10/29/2019
035 To Infinity and Beyond, with Dale Dekker
This week’s episode highlights a STEM Rockstar who knows New Mexico well. As a registered architect and planner, he’s been building foundations his entire life as a New Mexico native with a strong interest in economic development and job creation. Today, Dale Dekker will share his extensive knowledge about the History of Space in New Mexico. We’ll talk about the New Mexican visionaries who made a difference in space including Dr. Robert Goddard and his advances in Rocketry, the White Sands Missile Range, the Trinity site, populating the Moon, and of course Spaceport America and its newest residents, Virgin Galactic. We’ll also find out what Dale thinks is next on the horizon and how New Mexico is poised to make a real difference in the future of space travel! Show Notes Dale Dekker is a registered architect and planner. He was the founding partner of Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, a 200-person architecture, planning, interiors, engineering design firm with offices in Albuquerque, Amarillo, Las Cruces, and Phoenix. Dale grew up in Albuquerque and serves on numerous community boards, and is particularly interested in economic development and job creation to help our community grow and thrive. New Mexico State University raised the potential for New Mexico to create a Spaceport – one of the very first private ventures outside of the domain of government. Governor Bill Richardson supported this idea and helped to direct the funding of the space along with helping to find and identify Virgin Galactic. This is allowing New Mexico to be at the forefront of the private space travel industry. The future of architecture includes smart buildings and smart cities, driverless cars, sensors, data sharing, apps, and satellites. Book Recommendations: , by Sun Tzu , by Yuval Noah Harari Contact: DaleD@DPSdesign.org
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034 International Science and Engineering Fair, with Karen Kinsman and Taylor and Devin Roach
10/10/2019
034 International Science and Engineering Fair, with Karen Kinsman and Taylor and Devin Roach
Have you ever entered a science fair? Today's guests are going to share their experiences as well as the best tips and resources on how to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held each spring. Karen Kinsman is a STEM professional working to champion STEM programs throughout New Mexico, and she introduces us to a brother and sister team who both participated in ISEF as a part of their STEM journey. Karen Kinsman is the Director of the UNM STEMH Center has worked to grow the program to “make it bigger” with the goal of championing STEM education. Karen also works closely with ISEF for which 1,800 student researchers compete from 80 countries; about 20% of these students have patents or in the process of getting patents. Karen has a lot of favorite projects from all of her years with the ISEF, including those of Taylor and Devin Roach, a brother and sister team who were actively involved with the Fair and to whom Karen introduces us. Taylor is pursuing her Master’s in Family Counseling. Taylor started science fair in 6th grade and loved working on behavioral studies. “The Effects of Productivity and Performance on Interruptions” was her first project. It was really fun for her because she would invite friends over to be her “human subjects” and participate in her research. Taylor also knows our past guest, Dr. Vincent Clark, and his positive psychology laboratory. Devin is pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Devin pursued research in nondestructive inspection to identify ways to determine the strength of a structure. This project took him to ISEF which helped prepare him to be ready to pursue his PhD. Devin has also co-authored Book Recommendations: Taylor: , by Michael White Devin: , by John & Stasi Eldridge Contact: Karen Kinsman, Taylor Roach, Devin Roach,
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033 Collaboration and STEM, with ‘PT’ Money and Experience IT
09/22/2019
033 Collaboration and STEM, with ‘PT’ Money and Experience IT
Show Notes In today’s episode, Bob and Shelly share their experiences about two recent events, and . FinCon19, Where Money and Media Meet, was held in Washington, DC. Attendees learned about new financial technologies as well as personal finances, and connected with others in order to plan future collaborations. We’ll be sharing about some of those technologies in upcoming episodes. At Experience IT, Shelly connected with STEM leaders and learned more about Virgin Galactic’s recent move to Spaceport America in New Mexico. Guest, Paige Prescott, and Shelly gave a presentation entitled, “The Future of Education,” about which they share with STEM Southwest listeners. Many people in STEM are actively pursuing side hustles or gigs - they may be consulting, writing, speaking, YouTubing, or a variety of others. STEM professionals have an opportunity to leverage their knowledge to benefit the world and make an impact. Personal Finance Conference - Chris Browning, host of , and . Documentary “” Bob shares his passion for writing, as well as his tips on financial technology. Two of his favorite financial apps that he recommends are: We understand that many times people need help in navigating their life and make career plans. Check out Shelly’s curriculum at . P.T or Philip Taylor, founder of a personal finance website which helps people build a second income, shares tips with listeners on getting started on their side hustles, including not trying to do it all alone. Rather, P.T. recommends collaborating and studying with others, and staying focused on a growth mindset. STEM Southwest listeners can support P.T. by checking out the digital marketing conference, , and the upcoming , schedule May 1-3, 2020 in St Louis, MO. P.T. also shares one of his favorite tech tools, , which is a Chrome extension with a free version that records screencast videos to aid in communication with team members. Our next guest, Auri Vigil, is a returning STEM Southwest guest. Auri works for , a local connector for technology that works hard to build collaboration. Auri speaks about and the Women in Technology Celebration. was a one-day annual conference that attracted over 420 attendees and was packed full of great workshops! Keynote speakers included three representatives from who shared with attendees the growing space technology taking place in New Mexico which includes commercial space flight that is expected to take place in the near future. The Women In Technology Celebration is scheduled March 26, 2020, and is a celebration to honor women in STEM. One can nominate a nominate a in technology here. Our last guest for today’s episode is Paige Prescott, who was a Women In Technology Award Winner this year. Paige has been working in Computer Science Education since 2007, and is currently the President of . In 2018, she also started a non-profit, . Paige shares information on important trends in Computer Science, including how we can make positive changes. Paige and Shelly speak about current data and the growing demand for the STEM career pipeline and how we might be able to address this in the workforce. Paige shares about many policy issues that states need to consider in growing the workforce and preparing teachers to help their students in K-12 so that more students have access to computer programming. She explains her Teacher Professional Development program that was designed to provide resources and knowledge to impact teachers and their students. This program is designed to build community, share resources, and collaborate in order to have a great impact on STEM throughout the region. Contact: Philip Taylor Auri Vigil Auri@nmtechcouncil.org Paige Prescott
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032 STEM Dogs, Bombs and Keeping Things Safe, with Michelle Tye
09/08/2019
032 STEM Dogs, Bombs and Keeping Things Safe, with Michelle Tye
This week's guest is a highly-trained robotics bomb technician with a four-legged partner. Michelle Tye has been protecting her community, first as a police officer, and then as a bomb technician at a major metropolitan airport. Chances are if you've ever flown anywhere, she and her colleagues have been watching your back. This important work challenges her physically and mentally while stretching her to stay on the cutting edge of technology, all which she absolutely loves. Michelle made the decision to take on the challenging bomb squad training because, although she was afraid that she would fail, she didn’t want to not do it and not know if she could.
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031 Air Force Research Laboratory reaching out to entrepreneurs, with Matt Fetrow
08/22/2019
031 Air Force Research Laboratory reaching out to entrepreneurs, with Matt Fetrow
This edition's guest, Matt Fetrow, is the Director of the Tech Engagement Office at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in New Mexico. Matt is always looking for innovative ways to solve Air Force problems working in collaboration with entrepreneurs and businesses. He hopes that these relationships will become the norm rather than the exception, and has invested resources to ensure this is happening. He is a great example of someone who has paired both science and business to create a rewarding career in STEM! Join us in welcoming Matt to the microphone! Show Notes Matt Fetrow is the Director of the Tech Engagement Office at the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico. He leads the laboratory’s technology transfer, STEM outreach, commercialization, innovation, and community engagement activities in the state. In addition, Matt has led numerous technology programs for the Air Force with a focus on space remote sensing, laser remote sensing, and advanced photonics. Prior to his years of federal service, he worked in optical systems research and development at industry startups and in academia. Matt received his B.S. in Physics from Utah State University and his M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts. Book Recommendations: , by Daniel Kahneman Contact: engage@afrlnewmexio.com
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030 Keep it Simple Silly: KISS Institute creating sustainable STEM, with Steve Goodgame
08/11/2019
030 Keep it Simple Silly: KISS Institute creating sustainable STEM, with Steve Goodgame
This week’s guest is Steve Goodgame who is the Executive Director of the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics. He is passionate about teaching students to code at a young age and uses the Botball competition as a tool to do just that. Like us, Steve’s desire is to help teachers meet the challenges of implementing STEM in the classroom so that there can be sustainability. Most weeks you will find Steve and his wife, Carol, traveling throughout the country in support of the Botball program that can be found at almost 1300 schools in 39 states and 7 countries. Luckily for us, we were able to find him sitting still for an hour to talk about how his program is impacting STEM enrichment in the Southwest! Show Notes Steve Goodgame is the Executive Director for the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics (Institute), a not-for-profit educational organization that uses hands-on robotics programs in order to communicate the excitement, knowledge, and practical understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Prior to joining the Institute, Steve served as an educator in several schools where he organized and coached a number of teams in various robotic-related programs and competitions such as BEST, FIRST, and Botball. Book Recommendations: , by Ruby K. Payne Contact: Steve Goodgame, sgoodgame@kipr.org
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029 Radical Changes in STEM Education, with Shawn Hardina
07/21/2019
029 Radical Changes in STEM Education, with Shawn Hardina
There are STEM rockstars all over the Southwest and today's guest is one of them. He is also a STEM evangelist and striving to make our programs more inclusive. While we just recently met Shawn Hardina, our perspectives and experiences in STEM enrichment are parallel; us in New Mexico and him in Arizona. He has a lot of great ideas on how we can radically change STEM education and make a difference in our future workforce so listen in here! Show Notes Shawn Hardina has been asking hard questions, solving problems, and challenging the status quo his entire life. Having been successful in school, but not particularly fond of the traditional education process, Shawn decided to become a science teacher to transform education and make it something that he wished he had growing up. Shawn has been on this journey ever since. Shawn has been in education for 27 years as a science and CTE teacher and a FIRST and VEX robotics coach and mentor. He has a wide range of experiences having been a K – 6 Science and Literacy instructional coach, a certified Kagan Cooperative learning instructor, keynote speaker, a community college and university education instructor, National Board Certified in Chemistry, a Project Lead The Way Biomedical Sciences Master Teacher, and entrepreneur. In 2014, while still teaching, Shawn founded the East Valley Robotics Academy to provide robotics experiences for families in Arizona, which was bought out by STAX3D in 2016. Using his personal experiences and struggles as a catalyst, in January 2019, Shawn created Innovation Tech LLC to utilize his robotics experiences to bring together education, career exploration, workforce development, and economic development; and to specifically help create opportunity and bring more inclusion, socially and economically, to individuals with disabilities. Book Recommendations: , by Greg McKeown , by Adam Grant Contact: Shawn Hardina, smhardina@gmail.com (928) 279-2018
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028 STEM and the Law – How do we protect innovation, with Dr. Richard Krukar
07/07/2019
028 STEM and the Law – How do we protect innovation, with Dr. Richard Krukar
In our New Economy, where innovation and ideas are exploding, it’s important for STEM professionals to understand the different ways to protect their intellectual property. Today’s guest, Richard Krukar, will share his tips and experience on this important issue. Show Notes Richard Krukar worked as a Research and Development engineer on both coasts and in the State of New Mexico after receiving a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Richard moved to intellectual property law to see if it was fun and has spent the past 14 years as a lawyer. He Indicates that “it's been a life of building wonderful machines, writing elegant code, and helping others protect their own creations.” Book Recommendation: , by Sonja Dewing , by Charles Stross Contact: Richard Krukar,
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027 EXPLORING STEM Connections, with Allison Brody
06/23/2019
027 EXPLORING STEM Connections, with Allison Brody
In an effort to build the STEM Southwest Workforce, Albuquerque science museum, EXPLORA, is making a strong investment in teens and workforce education. Leading the initiative is Allison Brody who shares her personal STEM journey, and the variety of programs and the exciting initiatives that we can be looking for at our family’s all-time favorite children's museum. Allison has been a science educator for more than 20 years and listeners will be excited by her knowledge and passion for STEM educational programming. Show Notes Allison Brody, Director of STEM Education and Workforce Development, oversees the development and implementation of a variety of programs and community engagement initiatives, including training and educational programming, for formal and informal audiences throughout New Mexico. Allison came to the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum from Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was a project manager at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the Clark County Wetlands Park. She has been a passionate informal science educator for more than 20 years, including working at the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society. Allison holds a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Ecology and a D.A. in Biological Education. Book Recommendation: , by Barbara Kinghodler Contact: abrody@explora.us
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026 Teenagers in Space, with Parker
06/09/2019
026 Teenagers in Space, with Parker
In this weeks episode, we talk with Parker, an amazing high school student working on creating and building a miniature satellite to launch into space! This young woman is not afraid of hard challenges and will inspire listeners young and old. She proves that young people really want to be challenged by hard things and that the only limit is what we think of ourselves. Listeners can be a part of her project; just listen in to learn how! Show Notes Parker is a rising junior in high school. She has been interested in STEM for as long as she can remember, especially Aerospace Engineering. She was recently accepted into a highly selective program at her school named the Odyssey Scholars Program, a two-year program in which students do an in-depth study of a subject of their choice. For this program, she will be building a CubeSat, or a miniaturized satellite, that will measure the magnetic field of the Earth. , by Wiley J. Larson and James R. Wertz Contact: sagruenig@gmail.com (use this email if you would like to support Parker)
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025 Brain Matters and Healing Science, with Dr. Vincent P. Clark
05/26/2019
025 Brain Matters and Healing Science, with Dr. Vincent P. Clark
Dr. Vincent P. Clark is an expert in Neuropsychology. With an interest in brain stimulation for neuroenhancement and brain stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain, addiction, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and motor illness, Dr. Clark and his team are making a real difference in the way that we use science to heal. Join us as we explore thoughts and ideas of how to harness the power of our brains with this week’s scientist. Show Notes Dr. Vincent P. Clark, Professor of Translational Neuroscience, has worked with the Mind Research Network (MRN) as Director of Neuroscience, then as Scientific Director recruiting scientists and helping MRN to increase its grant portfolio by expanding into new areas of research such as addiction, accelerated learning, and multimodal imaging. In association with the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico where he is Founding Director of the new Clinical Neuroscience Center, he and his associates investigate the relationship between mind and brain. Contact: vclark@mrn.org vclark@unm.edu brainstimunm@gmail.com) – also use for volunteers for research studies
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024 The Power of STEM Moms (and their Kids)
05/12/2019
024 The Power of STEM Moms (and their Kids)
This special episode of STEM Southwest is hosted by Shelly along with daughters Makenzie and Bethany. Today we celebrate the power of STEM Moms! Show Notes Ulrika Peroni, Professional Water Skier and mom coach of ‘Da Swedish Fish,' a team that competes in . Da Swedish Fish took robotics on the road that has led to an adventure across the country participating in robotics while traveling in a motorhome. They turned to the robotics community for help when she had an accident while traveling that has become a real blessing to their family. Ulrika shares how their journey has helped them to form new friendships, deepen sibling ties, and make a difference in the lives of kids she knows that were challenged. Gwen Valentino, Massage Therapist and mom coach of the They will also participate this summer in the “Forced” by her daughter to start a team over a trophy, this mom’s story is inspiring. Learning that competition is both offensive and defensive and has helped to grow their character and strengthen their resolve. She shares her belief that robotics competitions are reflective of the real world and opportunities to seek out powerful mentor relationships. Gwen’s favorite outcome of competitive robotics is how her child has come out of her shell and is no longer afraid to communicate with others and mentor other teams. Kim Edgar is a Molecular Biologist and owner of . This STEM Mom who confesses about being “spatially challenged” helped to start a team, , in hopes that it would capture her son’s interest in building. In the end. Dustin found a different kind of passion through his involvement, and his sister, Abbey, would eventually pursue a career as a technical writer for Raytheon. Kim shares their story and how BEST robotics was a vehicle to launch her kids into their life careers and impact their professional lives.
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023 RoboRAVE International, Inquiry-Based STEM Learning with Russ Fisher-Ives (Encore episode with new host introduction)
04/28/2019
023 RoboRAVE International, Inquiry-Based STEM Learning with Russ Fisher-Ives (Encore episode with new host introduction)
Russ Fisher-Ives This interview is certainly one of our favorites as we talk all things STEM in the Southwest and how the Southwest has influenced many countries beyond our borders including China, Japan, Estonia, Canada, Mexico and so many more! Russ Fisher-Ives is a science teacher turned robotics rock star. Years ago he teamed up with Intel and put his philosophy of Inquiry-based learning to work for students through his business, Inquiry Facilitators. His dynamic personality teams up with the heart of an educator to inspire students across the world as he challenges them to think big through the robotics competition he founded, RoboRAVE. Now an international program, Russ travels the globe inspiring both young and old with his dynamic energy and ability to get the world to communicate in one unified language…. Robots! Show Notes: STEM Hero and Rockstar Contact Information: Whatsapp (505-385-7109) Russ also has several TED talks and speeches our listeners might enjoy:
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