"My creativity teaches me who I am, every day," says fine artist Robbi Firestone.

As she explores that creativity, one of the artist's tools in her palette is virtual reality.

A gifted painter and multimedia creator, Robbi is also a performance artist and an award-winning international speaker. And besides teaching (in her Santa Fe studio and in the metaverse), she creates art in virtual reality, in real time, in front of live audiences!

Here is a quick demonstration of her metaverse art, from her YouTube channel.

In the physical world, Robbi creates powerful and intense landscapes and portraits, as well as thought-provoking mixed-media work. Her recent painting series, "SkyDance" , captures both the beauty and intensity of the skies, while her mixed-media projects range from a deeply personal exploration to a clever satire on modern times.

Her metaverse work represents the next steps in an ongoing journey of growing, teaching and evolution.

"...When I think of all these magnificent and infinite possibilities that we have with virtual reality, I feel very interested in exploring the fine arts within it," Robbi says.

Her live painting experiences, using digital tools in VR, allow her to interact with participants from all over the world, demonstrating her techniques as well as wowing audiences who see ideas coming to life onstage.

And as she explores, her goal is to use her art to benefit the world.

"I love teaching. I love having people wanting to grow themselves," says Robbi, who has traveled all over the world performing in virtual reality, and has taught numerous classes, virtually and in-person.

While Robbi accepts studio visits by appointment, she is also currently in discussion with planners about scheduling her next VR performances--and may very well be hosting some creative retreats in the near future! (And she invites you to reach out to her through her website, if you'd like to know more.)

Robbi talked about her creative journey, offered some insights into the knowledge that has allowed her to work full-time as a fine artist and shared the story of her introduction to the metaverse as an artist's venue.

"What else?" asks designer and design educator Dr. Cassini Nazir.

He's explaining the foundations of curiosity--and the ways it can boost creativity.

Cassini, as he prefers to be called, is a designer, in several different areas: designing curricula, interfaces, and even conversations.

And in creating any and all of the above, he relies on one crucial ingredient: curiosity.

Where can that curiosity take him--and his students--and how can the questions they ask, spark new ideas?

As an Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas, Cassini teaches interaction design and user experience courses. Previously, he has served as Southern Texas University’s Designer in Residence, for their Master of Arts in Design and Innovation.

He was also Founding Director of University of Texas’ new ATEC Usability Lab. As well as Director of Research and Design at Dallas-based ArtSciLab.

And whether he's designing or teaching others what he's discovered, he consistently explores the world around him--and encourages his students to follow his example.

In this interview from December 2024, Cassini talked about his background, offered some of the ways creatives can use curiosity as a tool to generate new ideas, and even shared two of his favorite games which he and his students use, to generate new ideas.

"To be honest with you, I think that every day is an opportunity to learn something new," comments futurist and award-winning XR community leader Paige Dansinger.

That curiosity, along with a sense of joy in discovering new creative technologies, allows her to empower others.

A gifted artist, Paige has created more than 300 immersive worlds. She is the founder of Horizon Art Museum, and of Women in Horizon, in Meta Horizon Worlds.

Among the multiple honors she's garnered for her work in the metaverse is her recognition by Meta as one of the Top 115 Global Community Leaders.

In addition, she is the creator and Founding Director of Better World Museum, which is accessible in different versions on three virtual platforms: Meta Horizon, Roblox and Rec Room.

Participants in her XR worlds are encouraged to grow, and to explore their own creativity, by painting, building and adding their voices to items they've created. And if this sounds like a lot of fun, in the process--it absolutely is.

And world building is only one of the ways she inspires fellow creatives in XR.

Paige shares her expertise by teaching world building, as she continues on her personal learning journey.

"One 30-minute building session with me will give you the roadblocks to feel that you have a foundation," she says.

Ultimately, her virtual work is about humanity, as we use XR to grow together.

Paige talked about her background, shared the story of creating the Better World Museum and the ways she uses virtual art to empower others, and offered a look at some of her favorite creative resources.

When was the last time you described microbiology as "fun"? Particularly if you were required to study it?

MedMicroMaps Founder/CEO Dr. Jane Harrington may well change your perspective.

"Biology is fascinating, if you get to play with it; if you get to see it in real time," she says.

Science is a subject Dr. Jane has loved since she was a child.

And her background in teaching microbiology at the university level, as well as visiting K-12 schools, led her to realize the challenge of sharing that passion with students.

"How can you learn something you can't see, and you can't touch it?" she asks.

Microbiology gets playful

Accordingly, Dr. Jane has created a virtual-reality application, based on real science, that puts a "face" on a bacteria phage, and allows visitors to touch microbes and learn more about them. This is a game in which players get to solve a mystery!

Best of all, her application includes customization to the individual learner. Her mascot, Phage.i, is a bacteria phage which guides users through the experience. He's AI-assisted to begin at a learner's starting point, for microbiology, and help them "grow" from there.

And, he's designed to be fun.

Phage.i, in fact, is a whimsical character with a high voice, which tends to take the "intimidation" factor out of learning microbiology. Dr. Jane says upon seeing him, most people comment on his "cuteness"!

And of course, like any other game, accomplishing missions becomes gradually more challenging as people play. The first edition of the game, Dr. Jane says, will be for fun and for the general population. Then, in Spring of 2026, the enterprise version will be released, designed for use in schools, allowing for learning from the undergraduate to graduate level.

Expanding the learning opportunities

But the game, the alpha version of which will be available free for Meta Quest in May, is only one aspect of the ways Dr. Jane's MedMicroMaps will be taking the "intimidaton" factor out of learning microbiology.

Central to the system is something brand-new and innovative.

This is a compass, which shows microbes, in color, grouped by type in the various directions. It allows learners to literally touch them in virtual reality, and identify them by their color. These visual elements-- especially the colors in which the microbes are shown--tend to make learning about them almost intuitive.

And Dr. Jane envisions her game and applications, including an augmented-reality phone app scheduled for release this fall, as being for everyone, as opposed to those interested in science and biology alone. Now, when she meets people to talk about what she's created, she distributes stickers and keychains, featuring Phage.i!

"I will do anything, as an educator, to meet the learner where they are," she says.

Dr. Jane talked about creating MedMicroMaps, explained how her game works and offered a closer look at her compass, designed to revolutionize the ways students learn about microbes!

"Oh man, we have so many cool things happening," says Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival Director Sarah Elliott.

And all these cool things are fun, free and geared towards training students for careers of the future.

Starting at 5:00 pm on Friday, April 25th, the Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival will host approximately 40 events, for the next nine days, throughout Southern Nevada.

The Festival will include events to engage everyone's imagination.

A STEAM cornucopia

Arts-oriented visitors are certain to enjoy the crafts events happening at multiple libraries, and the STEAM "Family Fest" at the Neon Museum. "Outdoor Explorers Day", on Saturday, April 26th, will appeal to anyone who loves the rugged beauty of Nevada and learning about the history of the "Silver State". "Tall kids", over 21, will almost certainly find their creativity sparked by the opportunities to visit multiple locations on "Science is Everywhere Day", STEM Movie Nights, and National Space Day.

And virtually everyone will enjoy the "Giant Expo" in which the Festival culminates, on Saturday, May 3rd!

Not surprisingly, all these events these are popular. When we checked the website, many of them listed "Sold out" within the first few hours of registration becoming available.

HOWEVER, waitlisting IS possible--and Sarah explained how to do that, if you see a specific event you'd like to attend currently booked to capacity. Meanwhile, be sure to RSVP for any events you'd like to attend which are currently still open.

Sarah shared the excitement of festival preparations in her first year as Festival Director, offered a preview of some of the special events, and discussed the ways in which she'd most like to grow the Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival in the future.

"The point here is not to have a lot of people just talking about (VR)," comments VRAR Chicago Founder Matthew Wren, of the upcoming Chicago XR Summit.

"...We want them to come into the space, put the headsets on and actually try this."

VRARA's Chicago XR Summit, happening on June 4th at Illinois Institute of Technology and virtually, in Frame VR, will be unique in several ways.

Breaking new ground, hands-on

In addition, no speakers will be featured. Attendees get to explore exhibitors' innovations in immersive technology through hands-on demonstrations.

Also, Matthew says, exhibitors will not be charged for exhibiting their products and services! While they'll pay a deposit to reserve the space, that deposit will be returned after their appearance at the Chicago XR Summit.

And last--but absolutely not least--Matthew and his team are exploring a new way for virtual attendees to experience the Chicago XR Summit!

"We are experimenting with technology that, frankly, I haven't seen anyone do before," Matthew says.

The overall goal: to educate and involve Chicago industries--and individuals--in the uses of immersive technology in day-to-day life in the workplace, education and creative disciplines.

A mission of exploration

VRAR Chicago, which Matthew founded in 2017, supports individuals and organizations in implementing virtual and immersive technologies into their products and services. For the past eight years, they've hosted their free hybrid monthly event series, The Next Evolution, where attendees explore the ways new immersive technologies can become valuable tools in their industries and future employment opportunities.

In other words, they're showing people the ways immersive technologies' capabilities extend far beyond the "gaming" applications with which many people associate them.

And Chicago XR Summit supports this goal by introducing attendees to some of the uses of immersive technology which they may never have imagined.

Matthew shared the story of creating VRAR Chicago, talked about some of the exhibitors during last year's Chicago XR Summit, and offered some guidelines for successful virtual events.

And, be sure to reserve your tickets for Chicago XR Summit. Matthew warns that this is going to sell out!

Can we work in tandem with AI to craft a future world in which we'll want to live?

Futurist, AI ethicist. anthropologist and educator Dr. Lollie Mancey says we can--and must.

The infusion of artificial intelligence, into all sectors, is inevitable, she continues.

"We can't just shut our eyes to it and say, 'it's not going to happen. It's already happened," she says.

"And actually there are some amazing, incredible benefits, as well as some not-so-good things, coming."

A proactive approach

As Programme Director at University College Dublin's Innovation Academy, Dr. Mancey's expertise is based on her experience in multiple areas.

In addition to her background in anthropology, she is an entrepreneur who has. so far, founded and directed three businesses. She is a broadcaster, whose most recent work included co-hosting RTE's "Futureville Ireland" and her radio show on Dublin South FM. Dr. Mancey also hosts a podcast, "An Entrepreneur Like You", on Spotify.

An award-winning storyteller and keynote speaker, Dr. Mancey likes to challenge her listeners to explore new ideas--and specifically, to imagine the ways they can have "a place at the table" as artificial intelligence evolves into all aspects and industries of the future. Her research and exploration of the challenges of AI focuses on the ethics of its use, for a human-centered approach to a rapidly-changing world.

Dr. Mancey talked about her background, some of her research in AI and the directions she recommends everyone take, to stay proactive and collaborative with artificial intelligence in education and the future workplace.

As the world watches the activities of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 what is life like, aboard the International Space Station?

NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Stephen G. Bowen can certainly answer that question.

Steve has flown four separate missions aboard the International Space Station. Most recently, he served as commander aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the ISS, in 2023. Over the course of his career, he has conducted 10 spacewalks. In all, he's logged a cumulative total of 227 days in space.

And the best part of it, he says, is getting to work with his fellow astronauts towards the goals of each mission.

"There is no better feeling you'll have in life, than achieving something or succeeding as a team," he says.

In fact, those achievements included rebuilding parts of the ISS!

Steve says that his first three flights on the International Space Station included bringing up the galley for the U.S. side, a module for the Russian side and a new stowage module for equipment.

In addition, Steve and his crew members were involved in some very exciting research projects, from around the world, that could have some exciting implications for medical science in the future.

"What we learn on orbit really informs how we understand the world," he explains.

In this interview, recorded in early 2024, Steve talked about his background, offered a look at life aboard the International Space Station and explained some of the ways astronauts’ work in space can improve life on Earth.