I love the way we are pushing education forward and helping kids to enjoy learning.
What 3-5 adjectives best describe you?
Friendly, genuine, fun, loyal, warmhearted, passionate, dependable, versatile, creative, witty, cool, and of course…succinct.
Briefly describe your job… what do you really do at EL?
I am a 3D artist and animator. I use 2D and 3D software to digitally sculpt, paint and move things like animals, cells, molecules, and many other things. I also create effects animations like water and other particle effects. But ultimately since the final product is a teaching tool, I think of myself in many ways as a teacher.
What do you like about working at EL?
I love the way we are pushing education forward and helping kids to enjoy learning. It is extremely rewarding to know what I do is making a positive impact on the future generation.
What's the most seriously fun thing you've ever done?
Game Jam! For the uninitiated: digital and traditional artists, programmers, musicians (and anybody else who wants to take part) shows up on a Friday.They allformteams and each team has 48 hours to create a game based on a randomly chosen theme that nobody knows beforehand. Making a game in 48 hours is pretty ridiculous given games literally take YEARS to be developed in many cases, but the intensity of the experience bonds people together.At the end we learn about making games, different workflows, different tools, different solutions, working under intense pressure, and of course people! I have done quite a few of these and they may be exhausting, but the experience is awesome!The best part is at the end on Sunday because it is always so fun to see the great stuff people create under those crazy conditions.
Tell us about one of your STEM mentors. Who inspired you, and how?
Ben Franklin. A true renaissance man, he really was a jack of all trades that actually was able to buck the famous aphorism and become a master of them all. From his advancements in electricity that led to the lightning rod, to his legendary wit, he truly was an inspiration in STEM and in life in general. And oh yeah, he also had a hand in the founding of a little thing called the United States of America. A truly inspiring individual.
Time travel… past or future?
Future. I’d be looking for one of those sports almanacs like Marty McFly. Besides, knowing me, if I were to go back to the past, I would no doubt do something by accident that would result in me never existing in the first place.
Chemistry or Biology?
Biology. While I do find the order and rules of chemistry to be cool, the way nature finds different ways to solve problems in biology is always so fascinating.
Algebra or Geometry?
(As a 3D artist, I don’t think I really have a choice here. Hahaha) Geometry
Learn a language or learn how to code?
How to code
Deep space or deep sea?
Tough one. There is certainly beauty everywhere, and when Hubble first started releasing pictures, I was absolutely captivated. (I might have just shown my age on that one. Lol.) That said, I am continually amazed at the different forms of alien looking life found in the deep sea.So I guess I’d go with deep sea.
Bill Nye or Neil DeGrasse Tyson?
The Notorious N.D.T.
Einstein or Newton?
Einstein
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Both. I’m here for pretty much ALL sci-fi, even (especially?) the campy low budget stuff. These two franchises however are some of the best the genre has to offer. Can’t we all just get along?
Keyboard or Paper + Pencil?
Keyboard. I tried to add a few items to a grocery list a few months ago by using a pen and my hand was confused by what I was trying to make it do.
Playlists or Podcasts?
Playlists
In the classroom… Front row or back row?
Back row
Who's next?