Podcast
Jacobs: If/When
Hosted by Jacobs, Kathryn Weast · EN
The world we’ll be faced with tomorrow demands big ideas today. In Jacobs’ series of interviews with some of today’s leading industry and academic problem solvers, we discuss the Ifs and Whens of disruption - those phenomena with the potential to unsettle the status quo, as well as those now imminent and emerging.
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If/When 2021 Holiday Message
Dec 9, 202100:00:53Tap to summarizeWishing you and yours the very best holiday season, from all your friends at Jacobs...
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The Search: Does Alien Life Exist?
Nov 17, 202100:32:19Tap to summarizeNathalie Cabrol is an astrobiologist and the Director of SETI Institute Carl Sagan Center for Research where she spearheads a new multidisciplinary roadmap to bridge astrobiology and SETI. She has a background in planetary and environmental sciences, and astrobiology. Her research focuses on the exploration of habitability and life beyond Earth. She counts over 470 peer-reviewed publications and proceedings of professional conferences and is the author of three books and 10 chapters of books on the subject of planetary science and exploration, astrobiology, and terrestrial extreme environments. Nathalie is the recipient of NASA and other research awards. She is a Carey Fellow (Wings Worldquest Women of Discovery - Air and Space, 2007), and a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences since 2016. She was honored to present the Sagan Lecture at AGU in December 2016. Nathalie has given over 400 public lectures on the subjects of planetary science, exploration, and the search for life beyond Earth, including a TED Talk in 2015. In March 2018, the New York Times Sunday Magazine featured a portrait of her work and life. Nathalie holds the women's world record for diving at altitude (scuba and free diving).Seth Shostak claims to have developed an interest in extraterrestrial life at the tender age of ten, when he first picked up a book about the Solar System. This innocent beginning eventually led to a degree in radio astronomy, and now, as Senior Astronomer, Seth is an enthusiastic participant in the Institute’s SETI observing programs. In addition, Seth is keen on outreach activities: interesting the public – and especially young people – in science in general, and astrobiology in particular. He’s co-authored a college textbook on astrobiology, and has written three trade books on SETI. In addition, he’s published more than 400 popular articles on science including regular contributions to NBC News MACH, gives many dozens of talks annually, and is the host of the SETI Institute’s weekly science radio show, “Big Picture Science.”
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Coastal Squeeze: Let's Loosen Things Up
Nov 9, 202100:29:37Tap to summarizeChrissy Mitchell (Ph.D. MSc. BSc. FRGS, FCIWEM, C.Geog, C.Sci, C.Env, CWEM) works nationally within the Joint (DEFRA/Environment Agency/Welsh Government/Natural Resources Wales) Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management R&D Programme. As a lead scientist at the UK Environment Agency she heads the Flood and Coast Asset Management Research & Development (R&D) as well as the Reservoir Safety R&D. She is also an Associate Editor of the international journal of Flood Risk Management, and she was the Environment Agency project lead for the recently published coastal squeeze research. With a degree in Geology, a Masters in Environmental Science and a Doctorate in Geography, Chrissy joined the UK Environment Agency in 2003, initially supporting regulation and strategic planning and later the DEFRA/EA FCERM R&D programme as the sustainable asset management theme manager. She became the national lead climate change policy advisor for flood risk management and was nominated chair of young FLOODsite for four years running, an international network of 100+ young people working under a large European Flood research programme. She has been a member of the Advisory committee for the annual UK Flood and Coast Conference.Nigel Pontee (BSc, MSc, PhD, C.Eng, FICE, C.WEM, MCIWEM) has over 30 years’ experience in coastal geomorphology and management. His experience covers estuaries, saltmarshes, sand beaches, gravel beaches, mixed sand and gravel beaches, and aeolian sand dunes. He has contributed to the creation of over 1700ha of new wetland habitat in the UK. Over the last six years, Nigel has become more involved in nature based coastal defense projects contributing to several international guidelines and numerous projects around the world. Nigel is currently working a several projects related to the carbon offsetting potential of marine habitats including the development of a carbon code for coastal saltmarshes and research relating to the carbon content or restored habitats. He is the Global Technology leader for Coastal Planning and Engineering in Jacobs and a Visiting Professor at the National Oceanography Centre in the UK. He is a member of several industry panels for the Institute of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Joint Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management R&D Programme in the UK.
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Sound Judgment: Turn Down the Noise
Oct 25, 202100:25:24Tap to summarizeDaniel Kahneman is Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs Emeritus at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Princeton University, and a fellow of the Center for Rationality at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr. Kahneman has held the position of professor of psychology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1970-1978), the University of British Columbia (1978-1986), and the University of California, Berkeley (1986-1994). Dr. Kahneman is a member of the National Academy of Science, the Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, the Society of Experimental Psychologists, and the Econometric Society. He has been the recipient of many awards, among them the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association (1982) and the Grawemeyer Prize (2002), both jointly with Amos Tversky, the Warren Medal of the Society of Experimental Psychologists (1995), the Hilgard Award for Career Contributions to General Psychology (1995), the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2002), the Lifetime Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association (2007), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013). Dr. Kahneman holds honorary degrees from numerous Universities.
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Data Analytics: Voice in the Machine
Sep 20, 202100:37:51Tap to summarizeDr. Kirk Borne is a sought-after global speaker and trainer on topics ranging from data mining, data management, big data analytics, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, internet of things, data-driven decision-making, modeling & simulation of dynamic systems to emerging technologies, future of work, education, and science. Among his many accolades, he was listed as #1 on the IPFC Online Web Agency’s 50 Top Digital Influencers to follow at the end of 2020 and in 2021. Dr. Borne is currently the Chief Science Officer at AI startup DataPrime. He is also founder and owner of the new Data Leadership Group LLC. In these roles, he helps build the data profession, expand data literacy and data fluency across enterprises, and accelerate analytics innovation and value in data-drenched organizations. He spent nearly 20 years supporting NASA projects, including NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope as data archive project scientist, NASA’s Astronomy Data Center, and NASA’s Space Science Data Operations Office. He has extensive experience in large scientific databases and information systems, including expertise in scientific data mining. He was a contributor to the design and development of the new Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, for which he contributed in the areas of science data management, informatics and statistical science research, galaxies research, and education and public outreach. Dr. Borne has a B.S. degree Summa Cum Laude in Physics from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Caltech.Michael Brown is the Global Technology Lead for Predictive Analytics at Jacobs where he provides strategy and oversite to how Jacobs leverages data and analytics on it’s projects, solutions and services. Michael has built a large community of practice within Jacobs focused on advancing Machine Learning, Data Science, and Data Engineering in Jacobs work and embedding it into all Jacobs offerings. Michael works with innovation teams and strategic initiatives to help teams identify how to leverage advanced analytics within their solutions and has developed and launched multiple digital products within Jacobs, most recently the Climate Risk Manager tool. Michael’s passion for innovation and advanced analytics has him constantly seeing new challenges and opportunities where he can bring creative, strategic thinking that is backed by technical excellence to disrupt the market status quo and create new channels for value with Jacobs clients.
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Technical Storytelling: Making Magic by Design
Aug 23, 202100:19:50Tap to summarizeGary Rydstrom is a film director and sound designer. For Pixar Animation Studios, he directed two shorts: the Oscar-nominated Lifted, and Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation. For Disney and Studio Ghibli, he directed the English-language versions of The Secret World of Arrietty, From Up on Poppy Hill, and The Wind Rises. At Skywalker Sound, he has designed and mixed many films, including Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, A River Runs Through It, Toy Story, Quiz Show, Titanic, Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars: Episode I, Punch-Drunk Love, Finding Nemo, War Horse, and Bridge of Spies. He also wrote and directed the feature film, Strange Magic. He has won seven Academy Awards for Sound and Sound Editing, and Career Achievement Awards from both the Cinema Audio Society and Motion Picture Sound Editors. He is currently working on sound design for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Gary is a native of Elmhurst, Illinois, and a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema.
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Applied Creativity: Balancing Imagination, Technology and Technique
Aug 10, 202100:25:14Tap to summarizeAdrian Belew is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer and guitar guru known for his inventive guitar sounds, complex time signatures, witty lyrics, wild sound and technical mastery. Belew has released 24 critically acclaimed solo records and was the frontman, singer, co-writer and guitarist for progressive rock powerhouse King Crimson for over 30 years. He also played alongside musicians such as David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Paul Simon, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Laurie Anderson and many, many more.
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Cyber Cities: Smart and Secure
Jul 5, 202100:21:49Tap to summarizeDr. Rick Robinson is Director of Smart Places, Digital Infrastructure and Telecommunications for Jacobs. He advises cities, infrastructure operators, property developers and investors on the use of technology to improve buildings, infrastructure, places, communities and business and organisational performance. Previously, he has led Smart Cities businesses for Arup and IBM, and was Director of Technology for Amey, where he was responsible for driving advances in digital technology into public services and infrastructure that are used by about 1 in 4 people in the UK every day. Rick collaborates with a network of technology entrepreneurs, Universities and social institutions to explore innovations in digital technology, and has advised the UK Government and United Nations on their impact on the built environment, economy, communities and society. Rick is a member of the UK5G Steering Group, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Fellow of the RSA and a member of the Academy of Urbanism. He founded and co-chairs the Birmingham Smart City Alliance.Nigel Stanley, MSc CEng FIET MIEEE, Director of Cybersecurity – Jacobs, is a specialist in cybersecurity and business risk with over 30 years’ international experience in the industry. Nigel has in-depth knowledge of cybersecurity, information security, business risk, threat intelligence, cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, systems engineering, SCADA and industrial control systems (and applying standards such as IEC 62443 across these domains.) In addition, he has significant mechanical and electronic engineering experience in multiple engineering sectors including light and heavy rail, power transmission, maritime, aviation and communications systems cybersecurity. Nigel is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He has an MSc in Information Security from Royal Holloway, University of London.
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Situational Response: Marching to a New Tune
Jun 28, 202100:30:46Tap to summarizeStan McChrystal, founder and chief executive officer, founded McChrystal Group in January 2011 to deliver innovative leadership solutions to businesses globally in order to help them transform and succeed in challenging, dynamic environments. A retired four-star general, Stan is the former commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and the former commander of the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a cohesive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture. Throughout his military career, Stan commanded a number of elite organizations, including the 75th Ranger Regiment. After 9/11 until his retirement in 2010, he spent more than 6 years deployed to combat in a variety of leadership positions. In June 2009, the President of the United States and the Secretary General of NATO appointed him to be the Commander of US Forces Afghanistan and NATO ISAF. His command included more than 150,000 troops from 45 allied countries. Bruce Crawford, Jacobs Senior Vice President - Strategic Development, Critical Mission Solutions, is an inspired, results-oriented thought leader of character with over thirty-four years of leadership, executive management, national & international security, enterprise information technology (IT) and cybersecurity experience. As the Army’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and senior IT official, he most recently served as the principal enterprise IT and cybersecurity policy advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Army Chief of Staff. Lieutenant General (Retired) Crawford’s duties and responsibilities also included execution and oversight of the Army’s $12.B IT annual IT budget, the Army's data and cloud migrations and delivery of IT capabilities from the tactical edge to the enterprise at 288 locations in 143 countries world-wide. During his 34 years of service, Bruce has served in a variety of operational and strategic leadership positions in every major theater of operations, that includes Europe, the Pacific and Southwest Asia. He also holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.
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Generative Design: If Aristotle Had a Laptop
Jun 21, 202100:19:25Tap to summarizeChristopher Gromek is a Senior Product Manager - Advanced Development in PTC’s Office of the CTO. After completing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, he joined The Boeing Company’s Product Development Group, where his work on the 737MAX, 777-X, and (unreleased) 797 Programs advanced the state of the art in simulation and optimization. He later joined Frustum, Inc. as a generative design subject matter expert, working to realize the vision of an AI-driven mechanical design software. Following Frustum, Inc.’s acquisition by PTC, he now manages the development and implementation of its Generative Design SaaS solutions.Kelly Bryant is the Deputy Section Manager, Mechanical Design/Drafting & Manufacturing with Jacobs on the JETS contract at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He has over 30 years of industry experience in engineering design, management and support services in the aerospace, consumer products and defense systems sectors. Kelly is passionate about learning new tools and advocates using technology to solve engineering issues as he coaches other team members to improve their skill sets. That focus on mentoring helps teams achieve innovative product design while increasing productivity and profitability for customers.
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