Theme: Emergence

Emergence reveals new ideas for technology, talent, innovation and collaboration inspiring the Mile High region. Harnessing energy at the edge of unlike things, emergent ideas are more than a clever premise, a fresh mashup, or diversity itself; emergent ideas categorically change how we see the world. In structures, patterns, and properties that self-organize in complex systems we see true emergence; the big picture "now" unfolding from an unknown future.

Ellie Caulkins Opera House
1000 14th Street
Denver, Colorado, 80204
United States

John Baptist

Josh Baptist is a young, aspiring and innovative researcher with a love and passion for all fields of science, and he has been conducting research in many fields in and outside of universities since he was 16. He carried out self-directed research in experimental nanophysics and nanochemistry while studying at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs; some of this research focused on photosynthetic and radiofrequency fabrication of nanoparticles and structures, micro and macrofluidic plasmonic biosensing technologies, and devices for nanomaterial synthesis, separation and characterization. Josh is now working at the University of Texas at Arlington's Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering in macro, micro and nano technologies. He also owns a startup company, Minerva Enterprises, dedicated to commercial application and fabrication of novel nanotechnologies, as well as research and industrial nanomaterial manufacture. Through these experiences, he enjoys most using science to better the future through applied micro and nanotechnology.

Nicole Garneau

Nicole Garneau is a geneticist at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and takes an active role in public engagement with science in both her research and her community outreach. As a result, she promotes an interactive dialogue between the public, citizen-scientists, and career scientists and was recently selected as a finalist for the 2012 AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science. At the museum, she directs the highly-successful Genetics of Taste Lab, a community-based research model using both crowdsourcing and citizen science. The scientific goal of the lab is determining the way a person's DNA affects their ability to taste, and therefore their food choices and diet. The data from Nicole’s research will improve the understanding of how evolution has helped humans adapt as a species in order to survive, and also explain the effects of taste evolution on modern day humans. As an advocate for women in science, Nicole created an alter ego "Yo Pearl the Science Girl" and co-founded the group Skirts in Science at the Museum to connect and support current and future women in scientific careers.

Nurul MohdReza

Nurul MohdReza, 18, is an aspiring inventor dedicated to sustaining and preserving the world’s energy needs through the use of bacteria. By the age of 16, Nurul developed a prototype of a specialized, single-celled microbial fuel cell. She created this electrochemical device that produces electricity through the clarification of wastewater. Nurul has presented her research at numerous water conservation and sustainability conferences, and was awarded second place at the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2013. Her continuing research will assist in the evolution of biotechnology and develop a greater understanding behind bacterial power production. Nurul hopes this device device will sustain the energy requirements of wastewater treatment plants all over the world.

Rachel Rossi

Naren Dasan

Naren Dasan is a senior at Fairview High School in Boulder with interests in technology and design. He hopes to pursue computer science and design in the future. He works as a freelance web developer with in the community as well as donating his time to other causes including Fairview's web team. He designed and built Fairview's mobile web application and now runs the school's site. Naren has also conducted research on weather modeling at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, using high performance computing systems to analyze large datasets for new correlations in climate such as severe weather and climate. Now, Naren works for the University of Colorado Boulder at Correll Lab, a computer science lab dedicated to research in swarm robotics. His focus is the potential ways people may interact with these developing technologies including interface design and collective action. He published a paper on his work in the Association of Computing Machinery and presented his work at the international conference TEI2014 in Munich, Germany. During his free time Naren likes investigate developing technologies such as autonomous vehicles and 3D printers as well as playing tennis.

Patrick Dethlefs

Patrick Dethlefs’ songwriting crests like a humble Townes Van Zandt, innocent of his own haunting melodies and lyricism. His music offers folk Americana with effortless sincerity when many strive purposefully to revive the stripped-down feel of a musical history long past. Now only in his early 20s, Patrick won the Best Teen Songwriter Award in 2009 at Swallow Hill Music—one of the largest non-profit organizations in the U.S. dedicated to developing folk and acoustic music. Patrick also received Best Song and Best Performance that year. He has opened several engagements for Nathaniel Rateliff, played and recorded with members of Paper Bird. Patrick has also shared the stage with notables Gregory Alan Isakov, Shawn Colvin, Damien Jurado, Mountain Man, and Horse Feathers.

Mobile Device Ensemble

The CU Denver Mobile Device Ensemble is a musical group who use only portable electronic devices such as laptops, iPad & iPhones as their musical instruments. This brings the sonic possibilities usually found in 1- or 2- person electronic acts to the dynamics of a live-performing ensemble. The music ranges from modern & edgy to cool and ambient. The members have a wide variety of experience and many are active in the club scene along the Front Range and are all recording arts majors at the University of Colorado Denver. Director Todd Reid is Percussion Area Coordinator at the University of Colorado Denver and active on the jazz scene in Colorado and in-demand as a clinician.

Johann Kailey-Steiner

Johann Kailey-Steiner has been experimenting with model rockets for three years. He is in 9th grade at Denver South High School. His project Rocket Design Part 3: Exploring How Vortex Generators Affect Boundary Layer Airflow was awarded first place in the Mathematics category at the Broadcom MASTERS national science competition this year. In addition, to experimenting with model rockets, Johann has designed and built his own skateboards, pogo sticks, and boomerangs. He is an expert skier, enjoys playing the piano, and is a member of his high school baseball team. Johann wants to become a pilot and has already started taking flying lessons. His goal is to work in the aerospace industry as an engineer and astronaut.

Xiuihtezcatl Roske-Martinez