STEAM Speaker Series

Dr. Rachel Zabaneh shares how she moved from education to robotics by asking which problems matter most, and how students can start with a problem and then choose the tool. Students hear how research shows technology can help people feel safe enough to speak, and discuss why ethics matters. The talk closes with four thinking habits and a reassuring message about uncertain futures.

Pigeon Point is on the San Mateo County coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. The talk will cover the lighthouse, its Fresnel lens, whale hunting, a Civil War story, rum runners, an almost-true ghost story, and a fun story about a pig that lived there.

Kayleigh Lloyd from Aurora presents Aurora’s autonomous semi-trucks. More details coming soon.

We will have a few people talk about Nuro as a whole, then go into their roles/projects/career trajectory.

Rebecca Weekly’s presentation topic will be announced soon.

Astronomy - in a way that is almost unique among sciences - deals with fundamental questions such as "what is the universe made of" and "are we alone". Rapid technological development has brought us close to being able to answer those questions. I will talk about my own experience, building technology and discovering Jupiter-like planets, and about how within the career of students now in high school we may discover another Earth-like world.

Chemist and Stirbar Lab founder Maryam Khosravi Mardkhe shares her journey from exploring science to building a hands-on chemistry studio. Students will learn how to turn interests into ideas, test those ideas, learn from setbacks, and take their first steps toward entrepreneurship.