Nifty Fifty
kcollins | March 11, 2011
She has developed some of the world's most famous robots - humanoid
creatures like "Kismet" (a robotic head that has been widely featured in
international media) and "Nexi," a mobile dexterous social robot that learns from
and interacts with people in an intelligent, life-like and sociable manner.
But Cynthia Breazeal, associate professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she founded and directs the
Personal Robots Group at the Media Lab, says she has much more ground to
cover in the growing field of social robotics.
"My research explores…
kcollins | March 7, 2011
Nominated by:
Marine scientist and deep-sea explorer Edith (Edie) Widder sometimes can't believe the beautiful, natural rewards of her job. Deep beneath the surface of the ocean in her submersible vehicle where the marine world is dark, quiet and peaceful, often all she has to do is sit back and be treated to a spectacular undersea light show: courtesy of the teeming sea life outside her window.
In her work, Edie studies bioluminescence, or living light. To answer questions about how creatures in the ocean make and use light she develops special instruments that can measure and record…
kcollins | March 4, 2011
Nominated by
The world deep beneath the surface of the ocean is a dark, mysterious, and fascinating place. Renowned oceanographer David Gallo should know -- he's been there numerous times.
"Sea life at those depths -- two to three miles down-- is also bizarre, resilient, beautiful and shockingly abundant," he adds.
A pioneer in ocean exploration, David (who participated in the exploration of the legendary Titanic) is one of the first scientists to use a combination of manned submersible vehicles and robots to map and study the undersea world with clarity and detail.
In his work, he's…
kcollins | February 28, 2011
Heather Knight is an engineer on a mission.
Known as a social roboticist, she is constantly thinking about new ways to make robots charismatic, giving them the necessary personality and social skills to interact with humans in meaningful ways.
Her work includes developing a cuddly robot called "Data" (named after the Star Trek character) who does stand-up comedy before live audiences. Impossible, you say? Well, read on.
Currently a young graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, Heather is already a pioneer in the growing field of social robotics which investigates ways in which…
kcollins | February 25, 2011Meet Storm Chaser Josh Wurman and Discover first-hand from this original storm chaser what it's like to track and study deadly tornadoes across the Kansas landscape and stare down wicked hurricanes off the Gulf of Mexico!
You could say Josh Wurman was born to chase storms. Even as kid he was adventurous with a penchant for science, especially delving into the mysteries and wonders of bad weather.
But growing up in the relatively placid climates of Pennsylvania, he really didn't have any meaningful opportunities to experience really severe weather like tornadoes, hurricanes, or even real…
kcollins | February 21, 2011
Meet Nifty Fifty Speaker, Ben Gulak. Unique, amazing inventions - and the story behind how they came about - always inspire us. Such is the story of Benjamin Gulak, who, as a teenager growing up in Ontario, Canada had a special wish: that one day he be known for his inventions - inventions that would help improve the world.
Now, just age 21 and the inventor of the highly acclaimed "eco-friendly" Uno III -- a stylishly compact personal mobility vehicle he developed as a high school senior - he can honestly say he's off to a great start.
Benjamin is also the creator of the DTV Shredder (…
kcollins | February 16, 2011From lack of role models in the elementary classroom to a learning culture that isn't engaging boys in the learning process, meet Nifty Fifty Speaker Ali Carr-Chellman who talks about how to change these things.
--For every 100 girls suspended from school there are 250 boys suspended from
school.
--For every 200 girls expelled from school there are 350 boys expelled
--For every 100 girls in special education there are 217 boys in special ed
--For every 100 girls with a learning disability there are 276 boys with such a
disability (Boys are four times as likely as girls to be diagnosed with…
kcollins | February 14, 2011
They're back! Yes, the Nifty Fifty - that high-profile group of researchers and professionals in science and engineering who wowed students during last year's Festival with their inspirational school visits and talks --are returning for the 2012 Science & Engineering Festival.
But this time we're doubling the number of participating Nifty Fifty speakers to 100 so that more classrooms can experience these renowned experts. To make this happen, we are asking Festival Partners to nominate at least one of their scientists, engineers or related professionals to be considered for this elite…
kcollins | October 15, 2010Make sure you keep up with the happenings of the Nifty Fifty program. We have had a lot of speakers go to DC schools telling kids about STEM education and why they like science. Check out some photos on our facebook pages. Here is an interview with Dr. Francis Collins the Director of NIH.
kcollins | October 5, 2010Check out this article in the Huffinton Post by one of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Nifty Fifty speakers Alan I. Leshner.
One of the most impressive aspects of the human origins exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History -- along with the only Neanderthal skeleton in the United States and realistic reconstructions of our ancestors -- is the completely interactive character of the hall. Visitors are encouraged to engage with trained volunteers, create self-portraits of themselves as early hominids, and, most importantly, to question what it means to be…
kcollins | August 20, 2010Check out this great video of Ray O Johnson the CTO of our host sponsor, Lockheed Martin, being interviewed by Forbes Editor of the monthly Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Tech Report and Nifty Fifty speaker Josh Wolfe. They discuss material science, the need for more science and innovation in the US and even mentions the USA Science and Engineering Festival! Thanks for the mention!!
kcollins | August 3, 2010We need your help to get the word out about the USA Science and Engineering Festival. Social Media cannot be done in a vacuum so we continue to ask those of you who are listening to help us get the word out through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and blogging. I think this is just another great example of how to help us get the word out. This blog was posted on Forbes Wolfe blog, Josh Wolfe is one of the Festival's Nifty Fifty Speakers as well as Francis Collins. Dr. Collins then gives insight into the role the USA Science and Engineering Festival will play in inspiring the future of science in…
kcollins | July 8, 2010Shout out to Montgomery College online for the article on Nifty Fifty Speaker Susan Bontems. Thanks for helping get the word out about the USA Science and Engineering Festival.
The USA Science and Engineering Festival selected Montgomery College Professor Susan Bontems and 49 other scientists to visit Washington, D.C.-area middle and high schools, October 10-24, 2010, to ignite a passion for science and engineering in students. Professor Bontems was named the 2009 Maryland Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and…
kcollins | June 11, 2010Reposted from Business Wire
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a massive effort to ignite a passion for science and engineering in middle and high school students, the USA Science & Engineering Festival will send more than fifty top scientists and engineers into local schools this October 10-24, 2010. The hope is that meeting scientists and engineers who love what they do, will help students embrace these disciplines and consider careers in them.
The Nifty Fifty, as they are called, were carefully chosen from hundreds of applicants for their differing fields, talents, divergent backgrounds…
kcollins | June 2, 2010A big shout out to one of our Nifty Fifty speakers Paul Fleisher! Check out his webpage that showcases his involvement with the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Nifty Fifty program.
Paul is an educator who writes books that span from parasites and bad weather to the Big Bang with the intent to engage kids and their imaginations. His motivation to write books comes from wanting "teachers to become more comfortable investigating science with their students; to help children tap into their own curiosity about how the world works; and to integrate stimulating science instruction with the…
kcollins | May 14, 2010
Hands on Science Museums are some of my favorites. When I travel I like to look up if the city I am going to has a Science Museum and check it out. Some of my favorite exhibits are usually in the physics and math types of areas with cool lasers or how you can use lenses to teach how light diffracts, but a Math Museum, where it is dedicated to JUST math?? That sounds pretty awesome too!
Meet mathematician and Nifty Fifty Speaker Glen Whitney who decided to demonstrate how super cool and fun math can really be, recently gave up a lucrative career as a hedge-fund algorithm manager in New York…
kcollins | May 7, 2010Ever wonder about the kind of chemistry that happenings during a Thanksgiving meal?
Ever looked up at the sky and wondered if there was life out there?
Or even just want to fly up into space?
Want to be inspired by a migrant worker who became a neurosurgeon?
Wonder about the physics of superheros?
Watch too much CSI and wonder what a career in forensic science would be like?
Read stories about the Kraken of the sea and wonder what monsters lie beneath?
The 'Nifty Fifty' are a group of noted professionals who will fan out across the Washington, DC area next October to speak about their work…
kcollins | April 23, 2010My first impression of physics was rather dull. It reminded me a bit of the dreaded 'word' problems that are prevalent in any math class except, every problem was a word problem. Having done my graduate work in polymer physics, I eventually discovered that physics is quite cool, but many of us have had experiences that are more like Sheldon teaching Penny physics in The Big Bang Theory, and less like the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Nifty Fifty speaker, Dr. Jim Kaklios at the University of Minnosota who can take the story lines from superhero books and apply the relevant physics to…
kcollins | April 2, 2010I think at some point most kids think: I want to be an Astronaut!! How cool would it be to be launched amount the stars and see the Earth from space? Many kids go through this phase, they might buy a telescope and dream up moon landings, but very few at the age of 6 decide: I'm going to be an Astronaut and actually go on to be one.
But Dr. Don Thomas did just that. He was a mere six years old on May 5, 1961, when the first Americans went into space and he thought: I want to do that. He served as an astronaut between 1994 and 1997 flew as a mission specialist on four different Space Shuttle…
kcollins | March 29, 2010
Yes, I admit it, I'm pretty spoiled to be living in San Diego. Eighty Degrees today and perfect blue skies was a picture perfect day to go out on a whale watching adventure. Armed with my camera I didn't know what might be out there. Would the whales be out playing? I hoped so. During the trip we spotted 3 Fin Whales (the second largest whale behind the blue whale), some sea lions and HUNDREDS of dolphins. This massive pod of dolphins we encountered were curious about the ship and came and played in our wake. It was an utmost amazing experience. But it got me thinking about what else is out…