My origin story as a Techno-Optimist
I'm in the 2nd grade...That's how my origin story as a Techno-Optimist starts!
I've been working on my storytelling craft and character building at HEROIC Public Speaking and I had the chance to put it into practice Comic-Con International when I gave a Flash Talk as part of the IF/THEN #STEAMSquad. Read on to get the whole origin story or watch the video!
I’m in the Second grade, sitting at my desk at the front of the classroom of my favorite teacher of all time - Mrs. Decker.
"Students, you will all have the opportunity to become Captain of the Starship enterprise by completing a series of tasks.”
OMG I love Star Trek! I love that they have invention like the universal translator, the medical tricorder and the transporter to beam us anywhere.
I jump right in. I learn to count to ten in 3 different languages. I draw a beautiful map to navigate from home to school. Finally, I whip through a bunch of math problems. I’m the first to win the Captain’s badge of honor, which I proudly wear for my 2nd grade school picture.
I then went on to study aerospace engineering and neuroscience, I became a professor of biomedical engineering, and then started my own company to build my own inventions - A Robot for kids w disabilities. A medical app for deployed soldiers. An instrumented glove for surgical simulators. And the first VR system for the international space station.
And it all ties back to my 2nd grade self when I saw how Star Trek used technology to make life better. I wanted to create that future. I became a techno- optimist!
We all have agency in what the future looks like and just like 7 of 9 we can choose to use technology for good. I’ll leave you w my techno-optimist manifesto...
Technology is an opportunity to make us stronger and healthier
Technology can help us do things we couldn’t do without it,
and technology is a way to create an equitable future.
#ComicCon2025 #IFTHENSTEAMSquad #thisiswhatascientistlookslike #cosplayforscience #girlsleadstem
