Meet Our Annual Conference Keynote Speakers
Abran Maldonado, Co-founder of Create Labs
Abran Maldonado is a leading AI expert, OpenAI ambassador, and co-founder of Create Labs, a Black and Brown-founded startup disrupting the AI and metaverse design space. With years of experience in both entertainment and education technology, including a background in Hip-Hop, digital media, and youth culture, Abran brings a unique perspective to the AI community. As a Gates Millennium Scholar, he is dedicated to advancing diversity in tech and has worked to expand 5G VR/AR edtech solutions to schools nationwide. He is recognized as one of the first AI prompt engineers of the GPT era and the creator of the first GPT-powered virtual avatar, Claira. Abran's pioneering work in generative AI and metaverse design has earned him a reputation as a visionary in the development of AI technology, and he is dedicated to bringing culture and innovation to life with authentic, AI-powered immersive experiences.
Mary Strain, Lead Strategist for Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for US Education, AWS
Mary Strain leads strategy for artificial intelligence and machine learning for US education at AWS. Mary began her career as a middle school teacher in the Bronx, NY. Since that time, she has held leadership roles in education and public sector technology organizations. Mary has advised K12, higher education, state and local government on innovative policies and practices in competency based assessment, curriculum design, micro credentials and workforce development initiatives. As an advisory to The Education Design Studio at The University of Pennsylvania, The Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color, and The State of NJ AI Task Force, Mary has been on the leading edge of bringing innovative solutions to education for two decades.
Jason Latimer, Science Educator and World Champion of Magic!
Jason Latimer began his illustrious career at the age of 14 in the prestigious Magic Castle Junior program and went on to become one of only four Americans in history to be awarded magic’s highest honor: The Grand Prix World Champion of Magic. Today, his company, WonderFirst, is partnered with SONY Corp. to distribute “Impossible Science™”—Jason’s wildly innovative educational program—to tens of millions of school kids.
Latimer graduated from UC Santa Barbara with degrees in mathematics and economics with a focus on applied physics. Latimer toured the world with his own illusion show and was featured on dozens of national and international TV shows. His unrelenting passion for “wonder” soon catapulted him in a powerful new direction. He used his growing celebrity & business acumen to create Impossible Science™—a nationwide program that combines magic & science to inspire wonder in STEM education—Science, Technology, Economics, & Mathematics.
Today, Impossible Science™ is featured in museums across the country with exhibitions, festivals, & live shows, that inspire millions of kids & adults, alike: As Jason so aptly states: “The right question changes everything.” Sony was so impressed with his initial results that, in 2021, they partnered with him to scale Impossible Science™ globally.
Its exploding growth includes partnerships with the two largest school districts in the world—The Dept. of Education NYC & Los Angeles Unified School District. Impossible Science’s magic & science curriculum is now provided by LA County Office of Education as a STEM resource and its videos and lesson plans are available for FREE online. Partnerships with PBS, NASA, and the USA Science and Engineering Festival, also utilize the power of Impossible Science™ to transform education by inspiring wonder.
Jason currently hosts the award-winning streaming series Impossible Science™, produced by Sony & WonderFirst. He is co-host of the Science Channel series, SciJinks with Big Bang Theory & Mythbusters; Johnny Galecki and Tamara Robertson. An active board member of the L.A. Science Festival City of STEM; he is also a board member on Kollab with the L.A. Boys and Girls Club; and curator to five museums throughout CA and OR. Latimer is truly transforming education.
In addition to being a World Champion, Jason won many other magic awards: Series champion of BBC One’s The Magicians; Recipient of Siegfried & Roy’s Masters of the Impossible award; the prestigious Golden Grolla Award from the Masters of Magic in St. Vincent, Italy (David Copperfield and David Blaine were two others), and is a judge on SyFy Channel’s Wizard Wars. Jason Latimer has inspired millions to challenge the unknown by uniting magic and science:
“The next cure, the next revolutionary technology, the next advancement in the world will come from a question that has never been asked. It’s up to us to inspire our next generation to ask new questions. It’s wonder that changes the world.” - Jason Latimer