STEM
3:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 1 Boardroom
Finishing 3D-Printed Pieces
3D print striations got you puzzled? You can use body filler, spot putty, filler primer, UV resin, acetone, and more in the finishing process to get high-quality looks and detail points in your cosplay’s printed pieces. It’s easy to forget when you’re crunching to complete your build and working at home, so we’ll cover best practices for sanding safety and more, too. Join engineer, fabricator, and cosplayer WandererTJ for this informative session for makers.
Moderator: WandererTJ
Panelists: WandererTJ
Tracks: Costuming & Fashion, STEM, Maker, Cosplay
5:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Gaming Computers: Building and Buying Tips
Local tech experts discuss what to consider when acquiring a gaming computer, and how to get your hands on one—despite parts shortages.
Moderator: Caleb Haldane
Panelists: Caleb Haldane, Phillip Grimes, David J. Pedersen, RedDirt3D
Tracks: Gaming, STEM, Internet Life
2:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: JQH Boardroom
Professional Development for Teachers: Integrating Math with Art
This is a creative approach to basic geometric shapes and graphing. Part 1: Learn to draw Celtic knot work with graphs. Part 2: Use the Victorian art form of quilling to explore geometric shapes. Professional development certificates for educators will be available on request. Ages 12 and up. (2 hours. Limit 14 participants.)
Moderator: Melinda LaFevers
Panelists: Melinda LaFevers
Tracks: STEM, Professional Development, Art, Workshop
4:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Retrofuture: Visions of the Future from the Past
From robots that clean and tablet computers, to jetpacks and flying cars. Join the fun as our panelists discuss how the past saw the future! What did they get right, what did they get laughably wrong?
Moderator: Mel. White
Panelists: Mel. White, Mark Alfred, Tim Frayser, Sheila Hartney, Chaz Kemp, Kathleen M O'Brien
Tracks: STEM, History, Culture & World Affairs, Science Fiction, Pop Culture & Entertainment
2:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma A1
Summertime Stargazing
Come find out what constellations are up in the summer sky, and when the meteor showers happen. Plus, make and take a distance scale model of the solar system that will fit in your pocket. (Geared toward ages 8-12)
Moderator: Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman
Panelists: Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman
4:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
3D Printing for Gaming
Printing and Gaming: Making custom character figures, game scenery, and tabletop RPG accessories. In this session, panelists focus on 3D-printing techniques for miniatures and dice containers, particularly: file design, recommended materials, and planning production time for printing, smoothing, and painting.
Moderator: Pete Dixon
Panelists: Pete Dixon, Ethan Doughty, Pioneer Library System, RedDirt3D
Tracks: STEM, General Interest, Gaming, Maker
10:00 AM | Location: Sooner B
3D Printing Tech Today
How close we are to replicators! 3D printing is bleeding-edge tech. Experienced printers talk tech about 3D-printing technologies for general consumers. What's out there now, and what's on the immediate horizon?
Moderator: Everyday Futurist
Panelists: Everyday Futurist, Tim Chessmore, RedDirt3D, the Lo-Fi Ky
Tracks: General Interest, Maker, STEM
1:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Before and After the Plague
Or, COVID-19 as a taste of apocalypse. How has it changed how we communicate, work, innovate, and live? What's the state of human society, and the things we've taken for granted in our post-pandemic world? What's getting better?
Moderator: Tyrell Gephardt
Panelists: Tyrell Gephardt, Everyday Futurist, Sheila Hartney, Brian A. Hopkins
Tracks: General Interest, Health & Wellness, STEM
5:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Build the Droids You're Looking For
Can't find the droids you're looking for? Build ’em! With the introduction of DIY electronics such as Arduinos and Raspberry Pis, building robots has never been easier. Beginner’s kits have made these projects cheaper and easier than ever for engineers of all ages.
Moderator: James Dock
Panelists: James Dock, Caleb Haldane, OKC R2-D2
10:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma A1
Circuits for Kids
Learn how electric circuits work as you build some super projects that you can take home! Limit 12 kids in this session, and their adult assistant is needed to help with this make-and-take project.
Moderator: Julie Barrett
Panelists: Julie Barrett
1:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
Light Up Your Costumes: A Gemma Wearable Processor How-To
This introductory workshop will teach you the basics of CircuitPython using a Gemma M0 processor. The Gemma has an onboard DotStar LED, so no soldering will be necessary. We’ll even build a basic prop for you to show off! We will have appropriate software for PC and Mac laptops. If your computer doesn’t use either operating system, then a text editor will work. There’s just an extra step you need to take, and we’ll show you what to do. (If you’ve used Python before, you may have Mu or EMACS on your laptop. If so, you’re good to go!) (2 hours. Limit 12 participants. $15 fee.)
Moderator: Julie Barrett
Panelists: Julie Barrett
Tracks: Cosplay, Maker, STEM, Costuming & Fashion, Workshop
Noon | Location: Oklahoma G
Science and Religion: A Zero-Sum Relationship?
Some think religious faith precludes scientific objectivity. Others feel that science has outstripped “superstitions” like religion. Still others are calling for a New Enlightenment period in an increasingly misinformed world. How does the speculative-fiction writer address all sides and tell a compelling story?
Moderator: Jan S. Gephardt
Panelists: Jan S. Gephardt, David Carrico, Charles Dane Clark, Rebecca Jackson, B J Thrower
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Science Fiction, STEM
11:00 AM | Location: University C
STEM Keynote: Breaking Bad Science Storytelling Habits in Media
Chemist and OU professor Dr. Donna J. Nelson shares about her experiences as Science Advisor for AMC's Breaking Bad, and why promoting the understanding and public perception of science and scientists in pop-culture media matters. Presentation with brief Q&A.
Moderator: Dr. Donna J. Nelson, FRSC, FACS
Panelists: Dr. Donna J. Nelson, FRSC, FACS
Tracks: STEM, Pop Culture & Entertainment, General Interest
2:30 PM | Location: Oklahoma A1
Summertime Stargazing
Come find out what constellations are up in the summer sky, and when the meteor showers happen. Plus, make and take a distance scale model of the solar system that will fit in your pocket. (Geared toward ages 8-12)
Moderator: Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman
Panelists: Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Writers Change the STEM World
Talk about “a wish to build a dream on”! From Edward Bellamy's prediction of the credit card to Clarke's projection of communications satellites, we survey how imagined tech in science fiction has influenced the world.
Moderator: Pigeon
Panelists: Pigeon, Aaron Bossig, Rhonda Eudaly, Everyday Futurist, Brian A. Hopkins, Ted Pennella
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Science Fiction, STEM
11:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma G
3D Printing for Cosplay
With 3D printing becoming more and more accessible, we cover some of the best practices that one can expect when utilizing the technology for cosplay. Providing examples, RedDirt3D business owner Christopher Parker walks convention guests through the ins and outs of 3D printing, how to overcome hardships, and get the best looking prop possible.
Moderator: RedDirt3D
Panelists: RedDirt3D
3:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Biodiversity in ST: Discovery: Why It STILL Matters in Trek
How does “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations” play out? Whales working alongside the crew? Humans with multiple lifetimes of experiences? Discuss inclusion near and far in various Star Trek properties.
Moderator: Gwenna Laithland
Panelists: Aaron Bossig, Tim Frayser, Rebecca Jackson, Ted Pennella, ET Wardwell
Tracks: STEM, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Fandoms
Noon | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
Building Better Futures
How to use Design and Foresight tools to build plausible futures for writing, games, movies, cosplay, and more. Professional futurist Tim Morgan aka Everyday Futurist guides this introductory session on future-minded thinking. (2 hours. Limit 14 participants.)
Moderator: Everyday Futurist
Panelists: Everyday Futurist
Tracks: STEM, Culture & World Affairs, Business & Marketing, General Interest, Science Fiction, Workshop
Noon | Location: Sooner B
Entertaining the Climate Crisis
According to the 2022 World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report, climate change is THE greatest global threat today. Speculative fiction is uniquely suited to explore these issues. From the wry satirical allegory of Don't Look Up, to Solarpunk futures, to biodiversity and ecosystem loss, natural disasters, survivalism, and what hope the future holds, how can we explore climate change in our specific media?
Moderator: Tyrell Gephardt
Panelists: Tyrell Gephardt, Tim Frayser, Brian A. Hopkins, Carolyn Kay, Caleb Masters, Selina Rosen
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, STEM, Culture & World Affairs, Film & TV, General Interest, Science Fiction, Writing & Publishing
11:00 AM | Location: Boomer B
You Mean Star Trek Star Maps Are Kinda Real?
Join “Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek, the author of Star Trek: Stellar Cartography (2013/2018) and a Trek star-mapper since 1976, for more than you ever realized: How much of Star Trek’s stellar layout is based on real science? Where does everything go? And does anyone working or playing on Star Trek really pay attention?
Moderator: Larry Nemecek
Panelists: Larry Nemecek
Tracks: Fandoms, Science Fiction, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, General Interest, STEM