Nerd Nite Orlando #7 is our traveling nerd special! We will learn about nerdy events worth exploring, go on an exotic excursion with a ham radio operator, and travel the world by Couchsurfing!
Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. 3 speakers will present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.
It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!
EVENT:
Thursday, September 12th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!
PRESENTATIONS:
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“DXpeditions: The Road Less Traveled” by William Beyer
Are you burning with curiosity as to what the terms “ham radio” and “DXpeditions” even mean? Never fear, Wild Bill is here to fill you in! DXpeditions are journeys to sparsely populated, remote zones all across the world, which can include an island, a country, or even a particular spot on a geographical grid. They’re like old school quests to the frontiers of civilization! DX is an old Morse Code term for the word “distance,” and a “DXer” is the radio hobbyist who seeks distant radio signals. Find out why many DXers claim that the joy, good friends, travel experiences, and technical satisfaction they get can’t be matched by any other pursuit.
William Beyer is a ham radio operator as well as a seasoned and respected DXpeditioner. He has participated in 39+ DXpeditions to 68 countries and visited all seven continents, yes even Antarctica. As a part of these impressive amateur radio accomplishments, he has operated from what are now National Wildlife Refuges, public lands, and environmentally sensitive locations around the world. If you’d like to reach him, look for call sign “KH9/N2WB” on Phone, RTTY, Low BAND CW, PSK, and a little SSTV. Home QTH is in Ormond Beach, Florida.
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“Couchsurfing: Making Travel a Truly Social Experience”
Act I “Surfing” by James Parsons
Act II “Hosting” by Swami
Have you ever wanted an authentic and meaningful travel experience in lieu of hotels and “tourist traps?” Couchsurfing can revolutionize the way you travel. It’s a global community of 6 million people in more than 100,000 cities who share their life, their world, their journey. With Couchsurfing, you can stay with locals and hosts guests from every country on Earth! Stay in someone else’s home or open up your own home and experience the world in a way money can’t buy. Couchsurfers share their lives with the people they encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect. Come learn about this exciting way to travel!
James Parsons is an Orlando native who now holds dual citizenship in the both the U.S. and New Zealand. Shortly after graduating with his B.A. in IT from UCF, he set off to explore the world. Through Couchsurfing, he was able to take a 6 month trip around the world in 2009, which included SE Asia, SE Europe, and the US East Coast. He even got his most recent job from a chance encounter with a sailing yacht that he learned about through Couchsurfing. You can find him at https://www.couchsurfing.org/people/jamesthecarman/
Swami is a lifelong nerd with a degree in Engineering. He is the host of a weekly gathering for math and philosophy nerds called “Wing Circle.” His passion for travel and culture emerged after a near-fatal auto accident in 2006. With a renewed zeal for life, he embarked on a 5 month trip around the world as well as many other subsequent trips. Couchsurfing through Japan in 2009 inspired Swami to host surfers in his hometown of Orlando, FL… seventy guests in just two years! You can find him at https://www.couchsurfing.org/people/swami_worldtraveler/
Nerd Nite Orlando #6 is our Back To School Special! We will learn how two monks changed the world, be enlightened about the ethics of brain experimentation, and answer the infamous Yahoo! Answers question, “How is Babby Formed?” !
Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. 3 speakers will present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.
It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!
EVENT:
Thursday, August 8th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!
PRESENTATIONS:
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“Cryptic Cyrillic: How Two Monks Changed the World” by Edward Petersen
Have you ever wondered what all those familiar-yet-strange letters were in “The Hunt for Red October” or other films set in Russia? They’re Cyrillic, a unique alphabet developed centuries ago for Slavic people who had no written language. While this writing system has helped Eastern Europe grow by leaps and bounds, it has not been without controversy. In modern times, it has more often served to divide than to unite. Come learn the history of this fascinating system now used by a quarter-billion people throughout the world.
Ed Petersen currently works for the Planning Division in the City of Orlando. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Central Florida. He is an avid traveler, having visited 49 US states and 20 countries, including Russia in 1999. Ed has had a lifelong interest in patterns, language, and alphabets, and can speak a smattering of Spanish, French, Latin, and Russian (though he’ll likely need plenty of help).
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“Brain on a Chip: The Ethics of Brain Experimentation” by Max Jackson
Is it possible to study the brain without incurring the wrath of PETA or hoping for willing human subjects? It is now! Max Jackson is a researcher who grows brain networks in the lab, on demand. The ethical and economic advantages of these techniques are vast. Join us for a discussion about the ethics of brain experimentation as well as the exciting developments in this field.
Max Jackson is a masters student in BioTechnology at the University of Central Florida where he focuses his research on neural-machine interfacing. He is President of the UCF Synthetic Biology Club, and the Graduate President of the Central Florida Society for Neuroscience. Prior to graduate school, Max worked for a mobile-learning application development company. He enjoys reading the classics and philosophy literature in his free time.
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“Fornication Education: All These F**king Questions!” by Daniel Pellito
Young people are exploratory about sex due to their intrinsic curiosity. As a science teacher and sex educator at a lower income public school, Dan Pellito has been asked a myriad of questions by his students, from the naively adorable to the outright strange. Dan asserts that if students don’t learn the basics from trusted adults, they’ll find other means, such as MTV’s “Teen Mom.” Let’s demystify the notion of sex and encourage open conversations with the younger generation.
Daniel Pellito is a science teacher for a low-income school in Orange County, Florida. He studied music and biology at the University of Central Florida. He’s been in the classroom since 2006 and currently teaches biology as well as engineering to 6th – 8th graders. Daniel is an advocate of the “flipped classroom” model and is developing an agriculture/aquaculture program through a school/community garden.
For Nerd Nite #5, we will measure gross national happiness, explore the synchronicity of music and culture, and take the inevitable leap to love and sex with robots!
Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. 3 speakers will present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.
It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!
EVENT:
Thursday, July 11th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!
PRESENTATIONS:
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“Smile Currency: Measuring Gross National Happiness” by Christopher Stampar
How should we measure human wellbeing and development? Is a Gross Domestic Product that assesses social welfare in terms of monetary standards really the best way? A small Himalayan Kingdom, known as Bhutan, has been attempting to revolutionize the way the world sees these issues. Let’s explore how we measure happiness and why it’s going to change the world!
Christopher Stampar studies International Relations, Economics, and Geo-Spatial Technology at the University of Miami. Currently, he is the International Director for IDEAS (Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions) where he develops new chapters and initiatives around the world. He is also an Energy Specialist with Citizen Energy, conducting training, energy audits, efficiency analysis, and customer engagement. In 2012, Chris delivered speeches to both the United Nations High Level Meeting on Happiness and Wellbeing in New York and the Rio +20 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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“Resonating Rhythms: The Synchronicity of Music and Culture” by Stephen Clark
From Little Richard to Lady Gaga, from Beach Blanket Bingo to Justin Beiber, what does pop music say about the society who loves it? Do the tunes we treasure reflect the times we live in? A self-professed “Musicologist” explains the correlation between current events and the music that evolves from them.
Stephen Clark a.k.a. “Stephen the Poet” is an overall music geek whose credits include: singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, artist manager, music video cameraman and director. At age 14 he co-wrote the title track to his first Billboard charting song, “What about Me”. He has also worked with various other artists such as Santana, U2, Ray Charles, Faith Hill, Hootie & the Blowfish, Steve Winwood, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and many more.
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“Robot Intimacy: The Inevitable Leap to Love and Sex with Robots” by Beth Phillips
Robots are undergoing a transformation in society, from fulfilling roles as dissociative tools to roles as our partners and collaborators. Drawing on what we know about the current direction of robotic design as well as human attachment, it’s easy to predict that one day we will have loving, intimate relationships with our mechanical friends. Join us for a discussion on the future of human-robot relations and why envisioning a world in which people fall in love with artificial beings is not as far-fetched as it may seem.
Beth Phillips is a doctoral candidate in Applied Experimental & Human Factors Psychology at UCF. She studies human interaction with robots to better understand how to foster teamwork between humans and robots of the future. She’s also passionate about saxophone, space, sustainability, people and creating. Check out “about.me/elizabeth.phillips” for more information about Beth and her work.
For Nerd Nite #4, we will look at the evolution of human nature from three perspectives, join the bacterial revolution, and learn how we can all protect the world from evil!
Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. 3 speakers will present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.
It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!
EVENT:
Thursday, June 13th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!
PRESENTATIONS:
“A Brainy Threesome: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Behavior” by Jade Jalali
Are humans really more advanced than other mammals, birds, or even reptiles? Ever wonder why there is sometimes a disconnect between your thoughts and emotions? Or why we all seem to have a dark side? The three brains inside of you hold the answer! Through alcohol-induced anecdotes and exposing our own primal sexual nature we will uncover the origins of human behavior.
Jade Jalali is a pre-med psychology major and biology minor at the University of Central Florida. She intends to specialize in psychiatry with an emphasis on the rehabilitation of prisoners. Working with animals, in addition to her studies, has made her keenly aware of the evolutionary changes of their minds and ours. Jade is also an award winning artist whose works have been sold at auction and in galleries, as well as published in art magazines.
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“What’s In Your Poo Can Save You: The New Bacterial Revolution” by Jeff Trapani
Everything you’ve ever learned about bacteria is probably wrong! From hand-sanitizer-addicted super moms to government officials, most people think bacteria are a threat which should be eliminated with extreme prejudice. However, the latest scientific research reveals that many species of bacteria are actually our friends – not our foes. Killing them may be killing us! Uncover common misconceptions about bacteria as well as how they can improve your health and possibly save your life.
Jeff Trapani is an Orlando-based science educator and curriculum coordinator. As a self-proclaimed “bacteria farmer,” Jeff is well versed in how to use bacteria to produce fermented health foods such as kombucha, kimchi, and sauerkraut. Furthermore, he is currently writing his first book, “Be The Solution”, which aims to empower individuals and their communities with simple, natural, and sustainable solutions to common problems.
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“Real-life Superheroes: Protecting the World from Evil” by Master Legend
“It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” Actually, it’s Orlando’s very own real-life superhero, Master Legend! He has agreed to take a break from his illustrious duties to discuss how you too can be a crime-fighting sidekick! Help save this great city of ours by learning battle strategies for stopping evil and helping victims, such as the homeless!
Master Legend is a real-life superhero and social activist from Winter Park, Florida. He gained national attention in Rolling Stone Magazine and was featured on the HBO series “Superheroes.” Master Legend is a trained fighting machine that will do whatever it takes to protect the innocent. His arsenal includes a high-voltage tazer gun, a Justice Van, body armor, and gifts for the homeless, such as food, water, clothing, and toys.
For Nerd Nite #3 get ready to uncover the hidden secrets of nitrogen, venture into some absurd film genres, and witness the manipulation of physical objects and digital worlds without any direct contact!
Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. 3 speakers will present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.
It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!
EVENT:
Thursday, May 9th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!
PRESENTATIONS:
“The Secret Life of Nitrogen: Hot Air, Massive Explosions and the Parable of How Too Much of a Good Thing Will Kill Us All” by Clayton Louis Ferrara
Nitrogen is an element. It exists all around us and inside of us as one of the most plentiful atoms in the Universe. But little do you know Nitrogen has a secret life. In the Biosphere, Nitrogen transitions in and out of the food web to become both the most plentiful gas on Earth and an unforgiving weapon of mass destruction. Explore the secret life of Nitrogen and learn how Lucky #7 on the Periodic Table has us all by the balls.
Clayton Louis Ferrara is a poet and Biologist. He is a distinguished alumnus of the prestigious Arts & Science College, Rollins where he received degrees in both Biology and Environmental Studies. He has lived in Winter Park since 2004 and currently travels the World educating, engaging and empowering humanity to reconnect with ecology. Clay is National Science Director of IDEAS for Us and founder of the Terra Firma Institute. He recently was bestowed the title of “Darwin Scholar” by the International Field School for his skill as a Naturalist.
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“Horror Porn Romcoms: The Absurdity of Film Genres ” by Ricardo Williams
Have you ever laughed uncontrollably at a movie that was intended to be serious? Is the Dark Knight the most romantic film of all time? There are many ways an artist can categorize and classify their work, but what does that have to do with you? Heck, an explicit sex scene could turn an Oscar contender into pornography! In this talk, Ricardo will discuss the advantages (and disadvantages) of categorizing films by genre and how irrelevant they may be to the audience.
Ricardo Williams is a film artist and musician. Since studying communications at Pace University in New York City, he has appeared in independent films and commercial spots for Subway restaurants and the Golf Channel, among others. He has also guest lectured on film theory and video production at New York’s School of Visual Arts.
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“Technological Telekinesis: Become One with the Force” by Nathan Selikoff
Witness how objects and digital worlds can be manipulated without any direct contact. You never see a Jedi with a keyboard or a touchscreen, do you? Why be tethered when you can freely express yourself? With a low-cost input device, a laptop, and a bit of programming know-how, you can capture a flick of the wrist or an all out dance routine. What you do from there is only limited by your imagination. Kinect yourself and Leap into the future!
Nathan Selikoff’s award-winning artwork has been exhibited in galleries and venues throughout the United States and around the world, including Art Basel in Switzerland; Bridges Conferences in Portugal, Hungary, Canada and the Netherlands; the Maitland Art Center in Florida; AXIOM Gallery in Boston; the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art; the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in California; and SIGGRAPH Art Galleries in various US cities. Recently, he has participated in contemporary site-specific projects around Orlando, Florida, installing sculptures made from recycled cardboard inspired by some of his digital works. He has also been collaborating with composers and musicians, creating and performing live projected visuals for new music concerts. In 2011 he had his first solo and two-person exhibitions in Central and South Florida. In 2008 Nathan participated in a three week residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, studying under master artist John F. Simon, Jr.
MUSIC:
TBD
Nerd Nite Orlando #1 was a great success and we are ready for round two! If you attended the 1st event then hopefully you know to show up early if you want to order food and secure a seat! This month MC Wreckshin will be performing between talks!
Now get ready and prepare to breakdance your way to energy independence, go on an adventure through the cradle of life, and learn how you too can prevent Earth’s very own destruction!
It’s like the Discovery Channel, with beer!
EVENT:
Thursday, April 11th, 7:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!
MUSIC:
MC Wreckshin (Nerdcore)
MC Wreckshin is best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the Nerdcore Hip Hop supergroup Emergency Pizza Party. Known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals, Wreckshin’s career has remained large and impressive, and continues to stay that way with each release. MC Wreckshin is a national treasure and should be treated as such. www.mcwreckshin.com
PRESENTATIONS:
“Breakdancing Our Way to Energy Independence: The Power of Human Movement” by Chris Castro
Every human movement is a transfer of clean energy that could power our needs around us everyday. Now imagine a paradigm shift in the way we create and use energy, where collective human movements becomes the source to electrify our lives, and transition us away from the energy that built our World, to the energy that will shape our future.
Chris is an emerging social eco-preneur with a passion for catalyzing the transition to the clean energy economy and advancing Sustainability around the World. During his studies at the University of Central Florida, he co-founded an environmental movement called IDEAS (Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions) — a network of chapters, youth leaders and green professionals across the nation and around the World, who are turning our ideas into solutions and actions that address local challenges. Chris and team went on to create IDEAS into a international nonprofit and continues to facilitate the growth and impacts of the movement world-wide. In addition, Chris presented at TEDxOrlando in 2012 and most recently was a keynote speaker and panelist at the 2013 International Economics Congress in Berlin.
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“Ingenuity in the Cradle of Life: Ain’t the Africa You Thought You Knew” by Eryck Dzotsi
This talk will serve to debunk preconceived African myths while highlighting the incredible accomplishments of some of Africa’s finest minds and innovative thinkers. This adventure into African ingenuity will expose you to an exciting variety of the major catalysts to the African technological momentum and mobile revolution. The short trip will cover a lot of ground across a variety of topics including the “magical healing powers” of an herbal plant, waterless bathing, caching the Internet, and building new technology from scraps.
Eryck Dzotsi (@erycked) was born in Togo, Africa and left to attend the Florida Institute of Technology. He is a Search Marketing Professional, Social Media Strategist, and author of “The Remote Worker’s Guide to Excellence.” He developed his affinity for search marketing and social media while working to build the a network of entertainment sites that forever changed the face of African music online. During this time also earned the nickname “Juicy” and the Juicy Search was born. Feel free to ask him about his alter ego the Organic Juicer!
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“Preparation A: Our Relief Against Severe Assteroids” by Derek Demeter
Does your planet suffer from the chance of a severe asteroid or comet impact? Could this event potentially wipe most life on your planet, bring forth another major extinction event? Well we have the solution! Introducing Preparation A, a new revolutionary product brought to you by the many space agencies of planet Earth. Preparation A is your first line defense against these catastrophic events. Don’t let asteroids get you down, try Preparation A today!
Ever since Derek could remember, he has been looking to the stars. Derek Demeter began working at the Seminole State College Planetarium in 2003 while a Physics and Technical Education student. By 2007, Mr. Demeter was offered the position of planetarium director, and immediately began the process of writing and producing new shows, including a complete series of presentations that explore the astronomy and history of numerous cultures from around the world. Over much of the last decade, his passion for teaching people about the wonders of the universe has earned him accolades and recognition from the planetarium industry, his peers, and the community. Derek also promotes science beyond the planetarium with his appearances at many other venues such as the Harmony Dark Sky Festival, Cafe Science of Orlando, local libraries, serving as Vice President of the Central Florida Astronomical Society, or simply setting up a telescope at local shopping centers to give the public a truly “out-of-this world” experience.
March 2013 Poster
Nerd Nite is coming to Orlando! Joining the ranks of more than 50 cities across the globe, Orlando is now hosting an evening of fun-yet-informative talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. Nerds and non-nerds alike gather to meet, drink, and learn something new.
March 14th (Pi Day!) kicks off the first ever Orlando Nerd Nite and throughout the night we will interact with a growing collective of cyborgs, take a flight powered by french fries, and end up getting really high in outer space.
It’s like the Discovery Channel , with beer!
Thursday, March 14th, 7:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event
The details of the three presentations for the evening are:
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“How To Survive the Robot Apocalypse: Cyborgs > Humans.” by Lance R. Vick
Meet and have a discussion with an actual cyborg that has both near field communication (NFC) radio and neodymium magnet surgical implants. Learn about his current capabilities, discussion of other upgraded humans, as well as future upgrade plans and possibilities for biohacking. When robots take over the world, we figure they will probably kill off the cyborgs last. Becoming a cyborg means living longer! Resistance is futile!
Lance R. Vick is a software engineer, open source software advocate, entrepreneur, and member of Orlando’s FamiLAB hackerspace. Between building startups, and providing custom technology solutions for many industry leading companies (including 3M, Amway Arena, Mayo Clinic, Citigroup, and Atlantis Resorts) he has built experience in a variety of areas. A few of his projects include a mobile web based showroom control system, a web based QR code authentication platform, a 360 degree projection gaming system, a markdown driven static blogging library, and a musician scouting website for bands.
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“High Frying: Biofuel Is Not Just for Hippies Anymore.” by Carol Sugars
What happens when you take a soviet era military jet and fuel it with cooking oil? The world’s first 100% biofuel-powered transcontinental jet flight! Biofuel isn’t just for powering converted Volkswagen Bus Vanagons anymore. In this talk, Carol will discuss the challenges and excitement of piloting this historic flight and what it means for the future of “alternative” transportation.
Specializing in Avionics/Aerospace Systems Engineering Carol Sugars has been involved in various design and development projects involving radar, communications, noise cancellation technology and aviation fuels. With over 10,000 hours of flight time she has flown more than 50 different types of aircraft all over the world, from light single engine to four engine heavy jets, and holds licenses for Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Engineer, FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor and Ground Instructor.
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“Growing Weed in Space: Can You Get Too High?” by Dr. Luke B. Roberson
With the ever-changing political atmosphere regarding controlled substances like marijuana, are there any implications of growing “illegal” plants in international space? Would space weed be the same as its terrestrial counterpart or would it result in an evolved, super drug? This talk will take a practical and technically achievable look at answering these far out questions.
Luke B. Roberson, Ph.D. is a systems engineer for science payload development at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. He is responsible for designing, building, verifying, and validating science experiments for deployment to the International Space Station (ISS). His two current projects are focused on plant growth chambers with the role of integrating science and engineering requirements to create a high fidelity experimental platform for research aboard ISS. Previously Dr. Roberson served as a research scientist at KSC inventing and developing new technologies for the space industry. In addition, Dr. Roberson is the President of Vaulted Technologies, a startup company empowered to create revolutionary inventions to change the world. Dr. Roberson has 3 issued patents, 10 pending patents, over 20 published scientific articles, and co-authored a book.
