On February 5, UNM Rainforest Innovations hosted the inaugural seminar in a three-part series honoring the Route 66 Centennial. Titled Creative People, Creative Places – Creative Technologies on the Mother Road, the event brought together a multidisciplinary panel to explore the intersection of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
This series aims to build connections and bridges across New Mexico’s creative ecosystem, engaging technologists and artist whose collaborative work drives entrepreneurial and economic development for the state.
The panel was moderated by Dr. Larry Sklar, one of UNM’s most prolific inventors. He is a distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Pathology at the UNM School of Medicine and Co-Lead of the Cancer Therapeutics Research Program.
The panelists from the seminar included:
- James Stone, PhD | Department Chair and Associate Professor, Film & Digital Arts, The University of New Mexico.
- Dr. Stone leads the fastest growing department at UNM. He mentioned ten years ago, the department went through a shift from film studies to a more hands-on, movie-making curriculum to meet the demands of modern cinema in New Mexico.
- He expressed excitement for the upcoming CCAT (Center for Collaborative Arts and Technology) building that will include a sound stage.
- He also talked about the department’s pipeline for students, where alumni have gone on to work at Netflix and Meow Wolf.
- Stewart Copeland | Assistant Professor, Experimental Art & Technology, Director of ARTS Lab, The University of New Mexico
- As the director of the ARTSLab, Stewart described the department as a transdisciplinary research facility and exhibition space that offers specialized tools like VR, 3D printing, and a fulldome system for the university community and the public.
- He emphasized collaboration and accessibility, offering free workshops to demystify complex technologies such as the Unity 3D engine and digital jacquard loom.
- Alyshia Bustos, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow, Hand and Machine Lab, Department of Computer Science, The University of New Mexico
- Alyshia Bustos shared her work on interactive murals – a blend of traditional mural-making practices with ubiquitous computing.
- She worked with local middle and high school students on programming, building electronics, and interactive design principles.
For more information, watch the full recording below, and linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71NNlaqxg4c&t=778s
Also, register for the next seminars in the series:
- Thursday, Mar 5 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-people-creative-places-creative-technologies-on-the-mother-road-tickets-1980198722685?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
- Thursday, Apr 2 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-people-creative-places-creative-technologies-on-the-mother-road-tickets-1980198754781?aff=ebdsoporgprofile