New ways of presenting education in the twenty-first century.
- A Human-Centered Future March 24, 2025
Can we work in tandem with AI to craft a future world in which we’ll want to live?
Futurist, AI ethicist. anthropologist and educator Dr. Lollie Mancey says we can–and must.
The infusion of artificial intelligence, into all sectors, is inevitable, she continues.
“We can’t just shut our eyes to it and say, ‘it’s not going to happen. It’s already happened,” she says.
“And actually there are some amazing, incredible benefits, as well as some not-so-good things, coming.”
A proactive approach
As Programme Director at University College Dublin’s Innovation Academy, Dr. Mancey’s expertise is based on her experience in multiple areas.
In addition to her background in anthropology, she is an entrepreneur who has. so far, founded and directed three businesses. She is a broadcaster, whose most recent work included co-hosting RTE’s “Futureville Ireland” and her radio show on Dublin South FM. Dr. Mancey also hosts a podcast, “An Entrepreneur Like You”, on Spotify.
An award-winning storyteller and keynote speaker, Dr. Mancey likes to challenge her listeners to explore new ideas–and specifically, to imagine the ways they can have “a place at the table” as artificial intelligence evolves into all aspects and industries of the future. Her research and exploration of the challenges of AI focuses on the ethics of its use, for a human-centered approach to a rapidly-changing world.
Dr. Mancey talked about her background, some of her research in AI and the directions she recommends everyone take, to stay proactive and collaborative with artificial intelligence in education and the future workplace.
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- The learning journey that led to her current career;
- Some of the current factors that could have a negative effect as AI permeates all sectors;
- Ways to prepare for the future workplace, to give everyone a voice amid the spread of AI;
- Some of the benefits of AI for the educational sector and future workplace;
- One of her favorite experience, learning from her students, in a collaborative, as opposed to traditional, “lecture” approach to learning;
- How arts-oriented people can stay “the human in the loop”;
- How educators could reach students who may not currently have access to technology;
- Some of Dr. Mancey’s favorite current resources;
- Some of the “fun tricks” she uses, in her own interactions with AI;
- One of her more surprising interactions, during her research, with her “AI companion”;
- An intriguing fact about the way we start our days and how those first actions of the day can affect our creativity!;
- How to get past “imposter syndrome” with AI;
- Where “robot rights” might come in, in the future.
- Leadership – in Space and on Earth March 17, 2025
This post and podcast are not, in any way, shape or form, affiliated with, nor endorsed by, NASA. We are NOT employed by NASA. We just think this is very cool stuff, during an exciting time to be alive!
(Photo courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center.) In honor of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10’s successful flight to the ISS, this week we’re reposting our 2024 interview with NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Stephen G. Bowen.
As the world watches the activities of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 what is life like, aboard the International Space Station?
NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Stephen G. Bowen can certainly answer that question.
Steve has flown four separate missions aboard the International Space Station. Most recently, he served as commander aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the ISS, in 2023. Over the course of his career, he has conducted 10 spacewalks. In all, he’s logged a cumulative total of 227 days in space.
(Photo courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center.) Team lessons on leadership
And the best part of it, he says, is getting to work with his fellow astronauts towards the goals of each mission.
“There is no better feeling you’ll have in life, than achieving something or succeeding as a team,” he says.
In fact, those achievements included rebuilding parts of the ISS!
Steve says that his first three flights on the International Space Station included bringing up the galley for the U.S. side, a module for the Russian side and a new stowage module for equipment.
In addition, Steve and his crew members were involved in some very exciting research projects, from around the world, that could have some exciting implications for medical science in the future.
“What we learn on orbit really informs how we understand the world,” he explains.
In this interview, recorded in early 2024, Steve talked about his background, offered a look at life aboard the International Space Station and explained some of the ways astronauts’ work in space can improve life on Earth.
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- Steve’s recollections of his growing-up years, which led to his becoming a submarine officer, and ultimately an astronaut;
- What it’s like to launch to the ISS;
- What the realities are, of serving as commander of a NASA spaceflight (as opposed to the way this role is portrayed in movies and television);
- One of the best leadership lessons Steve has learned, both from working aboard the ISS and from his fourteen years in the Submarine Force;
- What living aboard the ISS was like for Steve, in quarters he had helped to rebuild previously;
- One fun, playful experience the crew had aboard the International Space Station!;
- A closer look at the research experiments in which Steve and the crew were engaged aboard the ISS;
- What some of this work could mean to the medical profession, in the future;
- What’s involved, when guest vehicles arrive at, and depart from, the International Space Station;
- One of his favorite ways in which he was able to use his creativity as a problem solver in space;
- One “not-according-to-script” moment he and his fellow astronauts had to troubleshoot during a spacewalk;
- How astronauts deal with the motion sickness that can come with space travel (and with returning to gravity!);
- Resources Steve would recommend, and his advice to aspiring astronauts.
- Air Rocket Works: “The Fun Aspect” March 10, 2025
(Rick’s photo courtesy of Angie Scheetle; Keith’s photo courtesy of Tanya Violette.) As Air Rocket Works Co-Founders Rick Schertle and Keith Violette discuss their work, one word keeps coming up.
“Fun”.
That’s because Rick and Keith, both passionate makers, enjoy creating cool things that fly.
And so do the teachers, students, parents and various enthusiasts who get to build and launch their rockets–and learn engineering, hands-on, while having a great time!
(California STEAM Symposium, Anaheim, 2019.) An unexpected venture
Rick and Keith’s small business, Air Rocket Works, came about almost by accident.
It all started when Rick, a middle-school teacher, dad and lifelong maker whose MAKE magazine bio says he “specialized in fun growing up”, became intrigued with the idea of making a compressed air rocket launcher.
Rick came up with a project that, unlike other launchers available at the time, was inexpensive to create, as well as durable–and a lot of fun!
About a year after publishing his project in MAKE magazine, Rick and his family assembled a few rocket kits, and offered them through the magazine. When they sold out rapidly and customers wanted more, he began exhibiting his rockets and rocket launchers at maker fairs.
Dual-coast creativity
Meanwhile, Keith, who is an engineer by profession, as well as a dad and a maker who describes himself as a “big kid”, saw Rick’s rocket launcher project and brainstormed ways to create a new working air rocket glider.
Keith and his son took videos and sent photos of their finished work to Rick–and the rest is history.
Today, Rick and Keith, who live in California and New Hampshire, respectively, have numerous rockets and launchers available on their website. They’ve developed rockets and launchers for educational programs all around the world. These include educational outreach programs by NASA, United Launch Alliance and The Tech Museum of Innovation.
Meanwhile, they continue to wow visitors at maker fairs–and may very well be coming to Maker Faire Bay Area this September!
(Like to get some hands-on experience before then? Here’s a link to Rick’s book “Planes, Gliders and Paper Rockets: Simple Flying Things Anyone Can Make” on Amazon!)
Rick and Keith shared the story of Air Rocket Works, discussed some of their favorite experiences and offered a preview of what’s next!
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- How “specializing in fun” led to Rick’s career path, as a maker teacher, entrepreneur and author;
- How Keith’s background enabled him to develop his talents for prototyping creative ideas, and led to his career as an inventor and mechanical engineer;
- The story of their partnership in their family-owned small business;
- What led Rick to create the air rocket launcher that started the whole thing!;
- Rick’s experience, exhibiting his creation at his first Maker Faire;
- How Keith came onboard, through his passion for making “cool stuff”;
- Rick and Keith’s experiences with their early collaborations;
- A “shameless plug” of some of the products on their website shop;
- How NASA Kennedy Space Center became intrigued and wound up contributing free templates!
- The “arts” aspect of what Rick and Keith are doing, with Air Rocket Works;
- Rick and Keith’s perspectives on starting their small business, and why it worked well;
- RIck and Keith’s advice to parents or educators who would like to implement maker festivals or activities at local schools;
- How you can get involved, if you’d like to!