Tentative Agenda
*All times are in Pacific Daylight Time Zone
Here's what we know so far:
MONDAY, APRIL 25
Welcome Networking Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty
2:00–3:30pm
Bring your favorite gadget or gizmo to share in small breakout rooms as we rotate and meet one another.
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
Welcome to InterpTech 2022
9:00am
NAI executive director Milward Simpson and California State Parks chief of interpretation and education division Stacey Yankee deliver the ceremonial first pitch to InterpTech.
Keynote: Nadina Galle
9:20–10:10 am
Featured keynote presenter Dr. Nadina Galle will be getting you fired up with her amazing research in which she is conserving nature by using and creating new technology. “Internet of Nature” (IoN) is her concept and through scientific research, academia, technology and an entrepreneurial mindset, she is helping balance the imbalance between nature and urban sprawl. You won’t want to miss this keynote.
The Potential of Metaverse for Interpretation: A Metaverse Session By TimeLooper
10:20–11:10am
Yigit Yigiter and Andrew Feinberg
VR and AR learning experiences have the ability to surpass the show-and-tell methods that lack engagement and efficacy. The dynamic, highly interactive, and often emotionally charged AR and VR content engages users in a more meaningful way. The metaverse allows institutions to move beyond immersive presentation towards something more interactive and meaningful—from real-time human interactions to collectively simulating brain surgery. Join Andrew and Yigit from TimeLooper in the metaverse for a live discussion on the opportunities of metaverse in interpretation.
Student-Centered Learning and 21st Century Skills & EdTech
11:20am–12:10pm
Mike Vollmert
Presentation 3
12:20–1:00pm
We're working on the details, but trust us, it's going to be great!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
"Evolution Parade"
9:00am–12:00pm
Get a small dose of “how to create the best set ups for your live stream or recorded program, social media post, or video” in various settings. Hiking trail? No problem. Home office? No problem. Remote wilderness? No problem. No problem. From there, head to the breakout room of your choice for more details and practical take aways. Here are some (but not all) of the presenters for the Evolution Parade:
- Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) Field Setup, Tracy Kosinski, Hearst Castle
- PORTS Green Screen Setup, Lydia Stinson, State Park Interpreter II
- PORTS 3.0 Panacast 180 cam, Brandon Caskey, PORTS Program Coordinator
- Podcast 101, Paul Caputo, NAI
- Pop-Up Set-Up, Pam Machuga, National Park Service
Telling STEM Stories with Tech: Wired Trees Narrate Life in a Changing Environment
12:00–1:00pm
Clarisse Hart, Director of Outreach and Education, Harvard Forest, Harvard University
Tim Rademacher, Scientists specialising in trees and technology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Harvard Forest, and Northern Arizona University
Technology is often assumed to be the antithesis of nature and adoption rates of modern information technology to communicate about nature and conservation are low. However, modern information technology can amplify our messages and story-telling in multiple ways. For example, we used sensors to collect data in real-time in combination with algorithms to analyse these data and broadcast derived messages on social media. In other words, we gave a tree its own voice to narrate life as a tree in a changing environment, experiencing climate events, reflecting on its past, and growing in community. In their plenary session Clarisse Hart and Tim Rademacher – co-creators of the Harvard Forest witness tree social media project - will discuss ways to bridge cutting-edge technology with main-stream social media to increase conservation awareness and attune new audiences to the lessons of nature. The plenary session will include concrete examples of the use of technology from their talking tree project. In dialogue with NAI, we will also explore how technology can generally be used to amplify your message and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using technology for nature-based communications.
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
The use of technology to preserve and provide inclusive access to natural and cultural heritage
9:00–9:50am
Diego Ramírez Pérez, GetArq and Accessible Heritage
Our heritage is constantly at risk of suffering damage and destruction. The cause of the loss of our history and identity are diverse from natural catastrophes, fires, attacks, even the erosion due to time. It is important to preserve our cultural and natural heritage through digital documentation, integrating technologies such as 3D laser scanner, aerial and terrestrial photography, 360 photography and virtual tour productions. Also, besides the preservation, a virtual immersion that allows us to delve into the history, architecture, spatiality and context of each site, interweaving all the visual and interactive material through a script that will be supported by stories with audio description, sign language, descriptive texts, photos , videos and ambient sounds, among others is nowadays a real need. The inclusive access to natural and cultural heritage to reduce social, physical, economic and geographical gaps, democratizing access to our heritage to all people without exception must prevail as everyone's right!
Additional Presenters TBA
10:00-11:00am
Using Augmented Reality to Engage Underserved Youth in Southern California Communities
11:00-12:00pm
Agents of Discovery
Join Ilu Johnson, Recreation Coordinator at City of Lynwood Recreation & Community Services; Carolyn Pele, Recreation Supervisor for the City of Carson; and Mary Clark, CEO of Agents of Discovery, and learn how augmented reality (AR) is being used to reach underserved youth in Southern California communities. In this age of constant technological advancements which often serve to distance us from reality, AR can provide an alternative to the metaverse and connect players to the world around them. It empowers educators and managers of public spaces to link location to learning and create engaging, fun, and safe learning environments on-site or at home.
Closing Keynote Panel: Remote locations
12:00–1:00pm
Mike Fitz, Resident Naturalist, Explore.org (former park ranger at Katmai National Park, Alaska)
Hillary Colyer, State Park Interpreter I, Bodie SP, California State Parks
Jeremy Lin, Interpreter II, Donner Memorial State Park, California State Parks
In this closing keynote panel, the panelists will discuss the many challenges faced with integrating innovative tools, practices, and ideology into remote locations or places that experience limitations with accessibility, diversifying visitor demographics, creating resource relevancy, and acquiring reliable connectivity. These limitations represent some of the key components needed to bring the unseen and/or under-loved places into the light. Remote places often have untold stories to share, unique resources to explore, and opportunities for the public to engage in more meaningful ways when barriers are removed. In their attempts to overcome the limiting factors so common with remote locations, panelists will conclude this discussion by highlighting the successes and failures where interpretation and innovation intersect. In the end, were they able to transcend the barriers and use innovation to accomplish their interpretive goals? And is this always the best approach? Let’s find out what our panelists have to say!