Cosmic Girls Foundation CEO and Founder Dr. Mindy Howard is making several dreams a reality, at once.

As a future astronaut, she's fulfilling her lifelong career aspirations.

Through her Netherlands-based company, Inner Space Training, she's training commercial space travelers to optimize this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As an author and speaker, she's using what she's learned, in training as an astronaut, to help her readers train for success. (Check out her book, Blast Off! Train Like an Astronaut for Success on Earth, as well as her TEDx Talk!)

But most of all, with her nonprofit Cosmic Girls Foundation, she's empowering young women, globally, to pursue their dreams of a career in our future space economy.

World-class empowerment

Through their virtual community, Cosmic Girls Foundation provides girls, ages 14 through 19, with STEM education and a network that can pave the way for future careers as astronauts, aerospace engineers and astrophysicists.

With their free Cosmic Forum, they offer a virtual space for girls to connect over their shared interests in aerospace, astrophysics and related topics.

Mindy explains that the forum is a collaborative, rather than competitive, space, in which the girls help and guide one another by providing answers to such questions as, "What telescope should I buy (for) stargazing?"

"It's almost like a sisterhood," Mindy says, as she shares the surprisingly-mature insights she's seen 15-year-olds sharing with their peers.

Members of the Cosmic Forum are also eligible for virtual training through Cosmic Girls' worldwide program partners.

Skills learned can include virtual astronaut training, as offered by the new MMARS program; hands-on research, as listed in the Habitat Marte curriculum; and machine learning, listed by Womenovate.

However, like any space program, Cosmic Girls Foundation is reaching goals--then traveling beyond them.

Destination: spaceflight

Just recently, Cosmic Girls Foundation offered their 6 Girls 6 Continents Competition.

Recruiting girls from all over the world, they offered a chance for six finalists to receive astronaut training. The goal: one girl from each continent, gets to train.

And the grand-prize winner, funding permitting, will receive a free suborbital spaceflight!

Mindy says that, since the Foundation is still securing funding for the competition, they may soon re-open it to additional entrants. Here's the link to watch, for updates!

Mindy talked about her journey as a space professional and future astronaut, shared the story of Cosmic Girls Foundation and offered a preview of what may be next!

"My calling is...about how we work together as humans," says BridgeMakers Founder and Core Leader Dr. Ruth Diaz.

And in her leadership cooperative, compassion, community and leadership can result from facing conflict head-on.

Focusing on "being humans on purpose together", as their website says, BridgeMakers has a mission of creating resilient and collaborative virtual communities. In the process, Dr. Diaz explains, they build bridges between communities, while offering support to leaders to help them understand where communities can break down,

Disruption as innovation

Their method? To embrace "disruptive elements" in a way that challenges and strengthens these communities, fostering innovation, inclusion and understanding.

While most communities do not thrive on conflict, BridgeMakers looks to weave it into their fabric, seeing disruption as an opportunity for growth and understanding.

Dr. Diaz says that challenging those best practices by those who have faced exclusion from them is one of the best ways to expand what building community means.

Accordingly, BridgeMakers includes four key initiatives, which explore leadership as a shared journey, in the virtual space, in which all voices are heard.

A precursor to these initiatives is The Troll Project, which involves approaching "trolls", or disruptors, with empathy and compassion. Some ex-trolls are now members of the community, and Dr. Diaz says their experienced perspectives can be helpful to community leaders who have encountered problems.

BridgeMakers' initiatives

In addition, BridgeMakers, which meets weekly on multiple VR platforms, has initiatives for leadership development, inclusive community building and their "Human on Purpose" groups, which explore the multiverse together.

Dr. Diaz talked about her background, shared the story of BridgeMakers and The Troll Project, and offered a closer look at their work--including a "template" for building welcoming and diverse communities.

"...I think this is the most fun I've ever had in a job, ever," says Las Vegas Science and Natural History Museum Marketing Manager Ashley Glenn.

Ashley came on board in her role at LVNHM in February, 2025--a matter of months before the museum rebranded. Formerly Las Vegas Natural History Museum, they added "Science" to their name in July, as they celebrated their 34th birthday.

Ashley explains that, while the museum has always offered both STEM and STEAM programming, the general public didn't seem to be aware that science was a core part of the curriculum.

And her talents, as a storyteller and artist, are being put to great use as she promotes the museum's interactive exhibits, special events and workshops. These include some expansions and additions to the curricula which garnered LVNHM a "Best of Las Vegas" top honor in 2024. (For 2025, they've also received a nomination! Ashley says the final winners will be announced in December.)

"I just love that I get to learn something new with every campaign," Ashley says.

"Every single thing we do, has a learning opportunity."

Interactive education

Creativity and interactivity are the hallmarks of those opportunities.

Las Vegas Science and Natural History Museum's offerings include a menagerie where visitors get to interact with live animals, numerous hands-on exhibits and a number of special events. Over summer, they featured a "Rainforest Adventure" that included an interactive maze, monkey bars and even a zip line!

"That's how kids learn best...interactive activities," Ashley says.

Often, the young visitors are having such a good time at the exhibits and

special events that they don't realize they're learning--only that they're having fun.

Current and future programming

Las Vegas Science and Natural History Museum is currently hosting a series of cultural programs for Hispanic Heritage Month, from now through Sunday, November 2nd. On Friday, October 31st, they will welcome visitors (including kids in costume, who will receive free admission!) to their popular "Dinoween" event. And they'll finish out the year with a full month of "December to Remember" exhibits and festivities.

Ashley talked about her background, shared some of her favorite experiences as a storyteller and artist in her role at LVNHM, and offered a closer look at some of the live animals with whom visitors get to interact.

"It's all about the exposure," explains True Robotics Founder and President Anthony Galgano.

"If kids aren't exposed to things at a young age, they won't have any interest in exploring it, later in life."

He's speaking of the roots of his own passion for robotics.

Accordingly, Anthony's Worcester, Massachusetts-based startup offers three educational robotics packages, designed to get students interested in robots from kindergarten on--and keep them learning as they have fun!

And at the same time, for educators who don't consider themselves "technical", True Robotics is removing the "intimidation factor" of teaching new technology. Their programs include professional development training, grab-and-go curricula and comprehensive educator support.

The robots

True Robotics' first robot is Treads, for grades K through 3. With its tank-like configuration, Treads is designed to get students, grades K through 3, familiar with the ways a robot works.

Progressively, the robotics packages become more complex.

Next, for grades 3 through 5, there's the Pilot robot kit. As students are challenged to build and program the robot, they're learning computer science and STEM skills.

And the third robot, Axle, is for grades 6 through 8. Axle connects students with real-world robotics applications, involving engineering design and programming challenges, according to True Robotics' website.

Goal: widespread inspiration

On True Robotics' website is the stated goal, "We want to inspire 35,000 students by 2025".

According to their just-updated website figures, as of late September, they're well on their way.

Listed are 29,000 students served through robotics; 355 instructors trained; and 2,700 robots delivered.

And next year, Anthony says, he would like to double the number of students reached.

Anthony talked about his background in robotics, shared a closer look at True Robotics' robotics packages and gave a preview of what's next!

"Our mission...is to expose kids to STEM and STEAM, and to have those 'aha' moments in (every program we sponsor)," says Scientech Foundation of Indiana President Jeff Rasley.

Those programs which they fund, through their grants, include robotics, maker spaces, and a program which actually teaches physics to preschoolers!

On their website, the Scientech Foundation states their mission as "supporting education programs in engineering, science, technology, medicine, and related fields", throughout the state.

But since he's been on board, Jeff says, the Foundation's support has expanded to STEAM education programs. He and several other members implemented the addition, giving grants to educational organizations in the arts, as well.

"Fascinating"

One of these arts programs, which Jeff describes as "fascinating", is the Center for the Performing Arts' "Science of Light & Sound" presentation, which happened in May.

The Foundation also currently sponsors two VEX Robotics teams, as well as a mobile science unit for local Girl Scouts, and some summer science camps, among their grantees.

In 2024, according to their website, the Scientech Foundation gave grants totaling $141,000 to both STEM and STEAM educational programs. They list their 2025 grants budget as $170,000.

And Jeff says they will be discussing grant applications for 2026 in October.

Jeff brings a unique background as an author, adventurer and philanthropist to his work with the Foundation. He's also the President of nonprofit Basa Village Foundation, as well as Coordinator and organizer of Himalayan treks & tours through award-winning travel agency Adventure GeoTreks.

And he has published 17 books so far--and offers coaching services to fellow writers! (Here's the link to his most recent book, the novella Presbyterian vs. Methodist Youth Groups Rumble in Pokagon Park.)

Jeff discussed his background, offered a closer look at some of the programs which the Scientech Foundation of Indiana supports and talked about what's next.

"'Wow' doesn't happen by chance," explains tech pioneer, human-centric AI consultant and author/speaker/podcast host Elizabeth Bieniek, in her book Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation.

And, Elizabeth says, "corporate" or not, we're all innovators.

Elizabeth built and led the team that created the groundbreaking Webex Hologram holographic collaboration system, in 2021. In Cake on Tuesday, she shares the lessons she learned, along the way. And while these are about leading a pioneering team of technological innovators, the principles could every bit as easily be applied to your next creative project.

Getting started, keeping the project going, and especially, building in the "wow!" element, for anyone who experiences what you've created, are all areas Elizabeth explores in Cake on Tuesday.

So are the elements of playfulness and fun.

"Do we (have to be serious)?" she asks, at one point, as we discuss focusing a team on a project.

(Indeed, the title of her book and podcast come from exactly that principle!)

And one of her own latest creative projects is her new podcast, Cake on Tuesday, in which she and her guests discuss tech leadership and entrepreneurship! (Be sure to subscribe.)

In this discussion we apply some of the principles from Elizabeth's book to a hypothetical educator's experience of creating a mini maker faire!

What are some of the best ways XR could transform your life? And how might you be an active participant, driving these innovations to create a better world?

This November, that's exactly what IMMERSIVE X 2025 will be exploring.

From November 11th through November 13th, the fifth edition of IMMERSIVE X: The Next Reality Festival takes place. The festival, hosted entirely in virtual space, will feature presentations, activities, performances and various other events across multiple immersive platforms.

The focus will be on community, as IMMERSIVE X brings together creators, educators, businesspeople, activists and anyone else who'd like to share new perspectives and interact in fully immersive 3D environments. Admission is free, but is by invitation--and you're encouraged to request an invite! Here's the link to apply. However, be sure to do so early. These events may book to capacity.

Thomas Zorbach is the Organizer and Curator of IMMERSIVE X, as well as the Founder and CEO of Berlin-based full-service agency vm-people.

However, describing vm-people as "an advertising agency", doesn't do them justice.

Marketing for the 21st century

Thomas explains that he and his team help brands to find and tell better stories. And he jokingly offers that vm-people started with "witchcraft"--his work on a thesis on The Blair Witch Project was the catalyst!

In researching the popularity of this 1999 film, Thomas came up with the concept at the core of vm-people. In the age of digital and interactive media, marketing would go beyond advertising announcements, to having companies tell their own stories through immersive experiences.

Thomas's exploration of the Metaverse, since the pandemic, has led him to host events, give lectures, runs theater courses, and throw parties in virtual space, as he assists others in exploring the potential of XR for their purposes.

Thomas shared the story of creating both vm-people (check out their YouTube channel, for past IMMERSIVE X sessions!) and the IMMERSIVE X festival, as well as offering a preview of this year's events.

"In art, it's OK to fail," says iBoda CEO Professor Sunah Kim.

"You can draw a different way, next time. "

Continuing to draw and learning from "failures", she explains, is how students learn to draw well.

"If you stop there (after failing), you will never draw, and you will say, 'oh, I'm not that creative.'"

And her South Korea-based personalized art education platform encourages everyone, both to keep practicing, and to enjoy exploring, their creativity.

In the process, students get to harness AI as an implement, self-evaluate their work and receive guidance from art education experts from Hanyang University in Seoul.

AI for the individual creative

With programs for both art students and teachers, iBoda assesses a student’s artistic tendencies, as well as the art styles they prefer. Then, based on these findings, the platform customizes art lessons to that individual’s interests and abilities.

It also tracks a student's learning journey, by automatically generating a portfolio of their work. Finished art can be uploaded to a virtual gallery and students are encouraged to self-assess, as well as receiving feedback from instructors.

And it's all about having fun, while learning and creating.

Professor Kim, who holds multiple art-education credentials, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She is a Professor in the Department of Art Education at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. She chairs three art-related graduate programs at HYU, as well as serving as Director of the university’s Art Gifted Education Institute. In addition, she is the Director of the Hanyang Education in Art + Design Lab.

Professor Kim shared the story of the iBoda platform, offered a look at the ways it works and discussed the ways she’d like to expand the platform in the future.