Life Experts

Erdem Topsakal, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringVCU College of Engineering

Erdem Topsakal received multiple degrees in electronics and communication engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul

Richard Starnes

Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic AffairsWestern Carolina University

Lea Deesing

Assistant City Manager, former CIOCity of Riverside

Motivate staff and spark innovation. Encourage kids to pursue STEM fields. Increase government transparency and improve cyber security.

Craig Hunter

LeaderY Combinator + Stanford University

CEO at Bitmaker Labs, Advisor @ Venture for Canada & Teach for Canada

Scott Wallace

Associate Professor of JournalismUniversity of Connecticut

Scott Wallace is a bestselling author, photojournalist and educator who covers the environment and vanishing cultures worldwide.

Michael L. Parsons, Ph.D.

Expert in coastal water healthFlorida Gulf Coast University

Michael Parsons studies the causes of harmful algal blooms and how their toxins can impact marine and human lives.

Jeff Hoffman

Partner & Co-FounderColorJar, LLC

Internationally recognized public speaker on the topics of innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and more.

Lucy Wilson

Professor Emeritus of EnglishLoyola Marymount University

Michael Tarr

Kavčić-Moura Professor of Cognitive and Brain ScienceCarnegie Mellon University

Michael Tarr is an expert in visual perception and how the brain transforms 2D images into high-level percepts.

Arthur Trembanis

Professor, Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of Delaware

Prof. Trembanis research focuses on understanding beaches for resilience and mapping the seafloor using robots to develop the Blue Economy.