ROME — This year’s Project Fibonacci STEAM conference and speaker series will feature a number of high-profile speakers, including Shark Tank’s Daymond John.
The second annual event will take place at The Beeches in Rome and other surrounding locations, starting Sunday and ending Saturday, Aug. 5.
The event hopes to build on last year’s headway, which led to about 10 internships and several new jobs, said Andy Drozd, president and chief scientist at ANDRO Computational Solutions.
“This says a lot in our efforts to revitalize youth talent and spur on new ideas in our own backyard,” he said in a news release.
The Project Fibonacci Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization focusing on strengthening the workforce and economic development for the region using science, technology, engineering, arts and math education as a catalyst.
“Last year Project Fibonacci brought in nearly $340,000 to our local Mohawk Valley economy for a one-week event,” Drozd said. “We want to continue to grow and increase that impact in 2017 and beyond as well as synergize our activities with other local and regional workforce education, economic development, entrepreneurial and start-up initiatives to revitalize our region and capitalize on its many strengths.”
Last year’s speakers included astrophysicist Alex Filippenko, astronaut Jeanette Epps, astronaut and artist Alan Bean, neuroscientist David Eagleman and actor Alan Alda.
SPEAKERS, GUESTS
Monday: Christine McKinley, engineer, musician and cohost of “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded.”
Tuesday: Dr. Deborah Berebichez, physicist and host of “Outrageous Acts of Science.”
Wednesday: Dr. Michio Kaku, physicist and science popularizer
Thursday: Daymond John, entrepreneur, founder of FUBU, shark on “Shark Tank.”
Thursday : Julie Taboulie, celebrity chef, Host of the PBS series and best-selling author.
Friday: Kevin Delaney, host of “Street Science.”