Let's Go to Space: BLUE-SKY Learning

Today we meet with Ted Tagami. Mr. Tagami is the CEO and co-founder of Magnitude. Io, which was created to bring learning right to the edge of human discovery and exploration with their ExoLab experiments about the International Space Station. Ted also is the education chair on the User Advisory Committee of the ISS US National Lab. Stationed in San Francisco, Tagami started Magnitude in 2013 unde...

Today we meet with Stevan Akerley, a retired aerospace engineer from Pratt & Whitney, with more than 40 years of manufacturing and engineering experience with automated equipment and measurement sensor systems in manufacturing applications. He also has experience in precision manufacturing, machine measurement, CAD CAM software development, quality assurance, and tool and equipment design. He...

Today we meet with John D. Moore, an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow. John also served in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Geosciences 2009-2011. Currently he is the founder and Executive Director for the Institute for Earth Observations in New Jersey. Prior to his fellowship, he developed and was an instructor at he the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a f...

Today, we meet with Ken Ruffin. Ken is a Senior Environmental Engineer for one of the largest electric utilities in the USA, with over 25 years of experience in air quality inspections, consulting, permit applications, and compliance in both public and private organizations. But his passion for science doesn’t stop at the end of his workday. Mr. Ruffin is also the President of the award-winning Na...

Larry Bartoszek, is a licensed engineer with Physics and Mechanical Engineering degrees from the Univ of Illinois. He is a member of numerous professional societies related to engineering, welding, and the International Space Elevator Consortium. Larry worked at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory from 1983 to 1993. In his work at Fermilab he was responsible for the design of many accelerato...

Today, we are excited to meet with Dr. Ben Van Dusen, a professor of science education at Iowa State University where he runs the Learning About STEM Student Outcomes (LASSO) platform. LASSO is funded through the NSF and is a free online resource supporting teachers in how to use research-based assessments to determine the impact of their courses on student content knowledge, attitudes, and identi...

Today, it is my pleasure to interview one of my most influential teachers--my 8th grade science teacher Jeff Johnson. Jeff grew up at the start of the space age and was heavily influenced by Sputnik 1, John Glenn and the vast media onslaught of TV and media that emerged shortly thereafter. .In his early year’s Jeff created space scrapbooks with articles he found and his love was fueled even furthe...

Today, Kevin and I meet with Joshua Jones of Jacobs Technology. Mr. Jones has a masters degree in mechanical engineering from University of North Florida and is currently working on his masters in mechanical engineering at UF. In addition to his work for Jacobs, Josh donates his time as the VP of the Missile Space and Range Pioneers, a group of retired and current aerospace enthusiasts., Josh also...

Today we meet with Dr. Tess Caswell. Dr. Caswell  is an Extra Vehicular Activity or E. V. A Operations Engineer at NASA. Her work helps to  plan spacewalks and prepares astronauts to conduct them. Dr. Caswell holds a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a PhD in Planetary Geology from Brown University. She has previously worked as an E...

Dr. Andreas P. (Andy) Bernhard is the Director of Aircraft Design at Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Corporation Company. In this capacity he is responsible for all technical aspects related to the design of blades, rotors, transmissions, airframes, propulsion systems, landing gear, and miscellaneous subsystems This includes developing and implementing next generation strategies & technol...

Dr. Liz Knowles began her career as an elementary school teacher in Connecticut but spent most of her career (29 years) at Pine Crest School in South Florida. She earned a master’s in reading and a doctorate in Curriculum Development and Systemic Change both from Nova Southeastern University. Early in her career, she was Director of Professional Development and Curriculum where she assisted more t...

Today, Kevin interviews Shawna Christenson about how she got involved with the Aerospace and Innovation Academy considering her background in English and Debate. Shawna holds a BS in secondary English education and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been teaching well over 20 years in both the public and private sector and was chosen as the National Speech and Debate Ass...

Today Kevin and I meet with the inspiring Carolyn Kost. I had the opportunity to be hired by Carolyn in 2012and she has been a constant source of insight with regards to curriculum and the college process ever since. For well over twenty years, Carolyn has helped families find the right academic, social and financial fit for their college bound students. Carolyn is an admissions reader for a promi...

As the Founder of The Harvey Academy, Nancy Harvey embraces the opportunity to share her enthusiasm for learning with her students and teachers every day.  Nancy has over 25 years of teaching experience and holds a Masters in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Villanova University, and a Florida Teaching Certificate. Her focus on...

In this special edition, Kevin and Shawna recap some of the ways the Aerospace and Innovation Academy pivoted post-Covid to continue to provide unique STEM opportunities for students and teachers. For more information about what the Academy offers including after school programs and science fair consultation,  please visit the website at www.aerospacehigh.org or the FaceBook page @Go2Space. Y...

Today Kevin and I continue our focus on the AIAA with engineer and treasurer of the Palm Beach section Bruce Trembly. Bruce is a Systems & Software Engineering Section Leader with 35 years’ experience in jet & rocket engine development, test, analysis & validation with specialties in vehicle systems performance and engine test & analyses. His Experience includes thirteen years with...

Today we meet with Since graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1977, Randy worked for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in West Palm Beach, Florida. His career began as a propulsion engineer gaining experience in a wide range of systems including gas turbine, liquid rocket, nuclear and hypersonic propulsion. During this time, Randy acquired two graduate degrees from University of Miami and gr...

Today we meet with Jennifer Davis, the director for the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Ms. Davis was born into a science loving family in Dublin, Ireland, where her father was one of only four people to hold a PhD in organic chemistry. From a very early age, her father helped her to value education and hard work.  This inspiration for science was reinforced when she moved t...

Today, we meet Sahadeo Ramjatan who received his Bachelor’s and Masters of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida. There he served as President of the Small Satellite Design club where motivated students learn about space exploration through various STEM activities . His dedication helped  the organization to win  2nd place for Best Community Outreach from the AI...

Today we meet with Alpesh M. Patel who has spent the last three decades helping organizations drive their business development and revenue growth with strategies that blend technology, marketing, management and leadership. Over the past two decades in Palm Beach County, Alpesh has also served on numerous boards/committees and supported many nonprofits focusing on family literacy, entrepreneurship,...

Praba Soundararajan is a Neuroscientist and a Children's book author of a STEM series. He is also the Founder & CEO at Boon-dah, an EdTech Startup company located in Tampa, Florida. Growing up in India, Praba was a reluctant reader during his childhood and much of his earlier part of adulthood. After moving to North America to pursue an education in Neuroscience, he discovered why reading had...

Stephen Portz is a nationally recognized leader in STEM Education and an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow. Steve is a pioneer in secondary engineering and manufacturing education – Creating the STEAM Engineering Academy in Brevard County, FL, developing curriculum standards, serving on state and national certification committees for software and testing, and working on a team to estab...

Today we meet with Marcy Mabry—a senior mission manager at SpaceFlight Inc, with extensive engineering and project management experience in the aerospace industry. In her current position she has overall technical, cost, and schedule responsibility for the Spaceflight customers. She works closely with spacecraft owners and operators, ensuring overall mission success, from mission assignment to pos...

In episode 17, we met John McClure, who among many outstanding achievement has been a big supporter of aerospace education. He was instrumental in the formation of Nebraska’s first CBT, and their satellite, the Big Red Sat will fly in a few years. Today, Kevin and I are joined by two members of that team to share more about how they formed a unique coalition of middle school, high school and unive...

Today we meet with our friend and former employer, Dr. Denise Spirou. Dr. Denise Spirou is the founding Head of School at The Greene School , an independent PreK through 8th grade school for high-performing students in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Spirou created the curriculum and culture at Greene nearly tripling enrollment in under three years. She joined the school after a 16-year tenure at an...