Academic/Science Advisory Board:

John Abbott, Ph. D, Curator of Entomology at University of Texas,  Austin

Well known for his educational outreach efforts, John is the Curator of Entomology at the Texas Natural Science Center, (formerly known as the Texas Memorial Museum) at The University of Texas at Austin.  John also teaches classes in general and aquatic entomology.  His research revolves around the biodiversity and biology of Odonata with a focus on the population and evolutionary ecology of aquatic insects and the biodiversity and evolutionary ecology of lamellicorn beetles.

Dr. Halil Berberoglu,  Professor Cockrell School of Engineering at University of Texas

Dr. Berberoglu’s research focuses on harnessing the power of sun through biological and artificial bio-mimetic routes for producing clean and renewable fuels. Currently he is studying algal and cyanobacterial systems for carbon neutral biodiesel and bio-hydrogen production. His team is modeling and optimizing the growth and product formation kinetics in response to process parameters such as total and spectral irradiance, temperature, pH and various nutrient concentrations.

Dr. Stephen Beebe Ph. D. Regents and University Distinguished Professor Texas State University

Dr. Beebe is the author and co-author of twelve books, several book chapters, and has published in numerous national and international communication journals. He has also made more than 150 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. He has been a visiting scholar at both Oxford and Cambridge universities and is a member of the Common Room of Wolfson College, Oxford University. Dr. Beebe teaches a course about C. S. Lewis and Communication at Oxford University. He was named Outstanding Communication Professor in America by the National Speaker’s Association, and has received the President’s Award of Excellence in Research and the President’s Award for Excellence in Service at Texas State. Dr. Beebe is serving his 25th year as the department’s chair and is Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication. He was elected Second Vice President of The National Communication Association 2011 and will become president of NCA in 2013

P. Roger Williamson Ph. D. NASA physicist, Senior research scientist Stanford University

He is a former NASA physicist and Program Manager with more than thirty years of experience in creating, implementing, and evaluating technology for real-world applications. For eighteen years Roger was a Senior Research Scientist at Stanford where he was constantly exposed to leading edge technology. As the founder of Austin Sensors, LLC, Roger has practical experience in understanding how technology, management, market, and risk play together in a start-up company.

William Doleman Ph. D. New Mexico Laboratory of Anthropology

Bill Doleman is a professional archaeologist with a Ph.D. and over 30 years experience doing research in the field and laboratory. Known for explaining scientific concepts in everyday terms that average people can understand, he has starred in an investigative series for the SCI FI Channel. His professional experience also encompasses a variety of sciences, particularly geology, ecology, and the application of physics and chemistry to archaeological problems of dating and artifact identification.

Dr Jack Horner Ph. D. Regents Professor of Paleontology, Minnesota State University

Business Advisory Board:

Bill Fields, former CEO Walmart, and Chairman of Blockbuster Entertainment

Mr. Fields is Chairman of Intersource Co. Ltd. and Chairman of China Horizon Investments, Ltd. Previously, Mr. Fields served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Factory 2-U Stores, Inc. from 2002 to 2003, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson’s Bay Company from 1997 to 1999 and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blockbuster Entertainment Group, a division of Viacom, Inc., from 1996 to 1997. Mr. Fields has also held numerous positions with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which he joined in 1971. He left Wal-Mart in March 1996 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart Stores Division, and Executive Vice President of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Al Roker, America’s Weatherman and Anchor of the Today Show

As a host of NBC’s “Today” along with Matt and Meredith and also it’s weatherman, Al Roker has the undivided attention of the nation (over 32 million viewers per week) every weekday morning as America prepares for work. His daily encounters with visitors from across America on the sidewalks outside Studio 1-A are a highlight of “Today.” According to the NY Post, Al Roker “is the best-known and the best-loved weatherman in the world!

Jack Stanfield, Executive V.P. Fox Sports International

Stanfield, a native Canadian, played professional hockey in the early 1960s and 1970s, including time with the Houston Aeros. After his playing career, Stanfield served as vice president, assistant general manager, and assistant coach for the Aeros until 1978, when he moved into soccer. Stanfield served as vice president and assistant general manager for the Houston Hurricane of the NASL, including a first-place team in 1979. Stanfield is also credited for launching Home Sports Entertainment, a successful regional sports network in the 1980s. From there, Stanfield joined forces with FOX Sports as one of the original expanders and programmers for FOX Soccer Channel, FOX Sports Espanol and FOX Sports Latin America. His global media efforts have raised the profile of U.S. soccer across the world. Stanfield is currently the senior vice president of the FOX International Channels Group.

Jim Milio, Co-chairman,  Cesar Millan, Inc. (The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan)

Jim Milio has been a writer, producer and director of television and films for more than twenty years. He is currently co-chair of the award winning production company MPH Entertainment. In film, Milio wrote and directed “Men Seeking Women” starring Will Ferrell and was the co-executive producer of the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Milio has written, produced, or directed more than 300 hours of television including “The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” for National Geographic, “Founding Fathers” for the History Channel, “The Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge Australia”, “Rescue 911” for CBS, the Emmy nominated “Great Moments in Disney Animation” for ABC, and “The Real Las Vegas” for A&E. Milio is co-chair of the Non-Fiction Committees of the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and is a member of the Non-Fiction Steering Committee of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS). Milio is married and considers his son Alex and daughter Sonny to be his two most successful productions.

Les Stroud, CEO Survivorman Productions, and host of Discovery Channel’s Survivorman

Best known as star of the six-time Gemini nominated hit TV series Survivorman (OLN Canada, The Science Channel US, Discovery Channel International, City TV (Rogers) Canada), Les Stroud continues to forge new pathways as a prolific, creative force. The only producer in the history of television to produce an internationally broadcast series entirely written, videotaped and hosted alone, Stroud is credited with starting the new genre of television known as ‘Survival TV’. Survivorman became the highest rated show in the history of both OLN Canada and the Science Channel US and among the most popular and highest rated shows on Discovery Channel US.

Peter Strople, CEO Zero 2, Business Week’s “Most connected man in America”

Peter is the CEO/ Founder of Zero2 Holdings, an Austin, Texas based business strategy and investment firm. In 2008 he created “Friends of Peter” to help focus the leaders in any community on how to address the social needs in a very short time. Through his “Instant Change Mornings” significant education and awareness can be given to focus on any issue. He has been called one of the world’s “Great Rainmakers,” the “Most Connected Man in America,” and one of the “Most Influential People in the World.” Mr. Strople is a former Director of Dell Computers (1993-96) where he played a key role in getting Dell back into the portable computer space.

Ron Reed, Exec. R.L. Reed Consulting

Ron Reed is an independent consultant specializing in the strategic sales, marketing, and product development of educational technology resources for K–12. As a founder of Optical Data, he was involved in the first technology-based curriculum to be approved as a textbook in Texas and other key states, Windows on Science. Subsequently, he was General Manager of Publishers Resource Group, a curriculum development organization that created curriculum resources for virtually every subject and grade level in both print and electronic formats. He is now Principal of SXSWedu (www.sxswedu.com), a component of the South By Southwest family of festivals and conferences that celebrate the creative arts in music, film, interactive technologies, and education.

Natalie Glover, Managing Director, Public Interest – AMS Productions

Natalie Glover knows how to foster great creative work. She understands that successful projects begin with a passionate team of talented people. She knows how to create a work environment that maximizes each team member’s individual strengths for the benefit of the project. And she knows how to keep team members focused on end results by charting a project roadmap from beginning to end. As Managing Director, Natalie is responsible for ensuring accountability of the project team, overseeing timelines, budgets and overall workflow, and at the same time harnessing the imagination and quirkiness of the creative team.

Jim Brazell, Analyst, Innovation Creativity and Capital Institute at the University of Texas

Jim Brazell is a technology forecaster, strategist and public speaker focused on innovation and transformation. As an analyst to the Innovation, Creativity and Capital Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas State Technical College System (2003-2008), Jim led research and development projects including analysis of emerging international high technology regions; international technology commercialization; technology forecasting for education and economic development; video games for military training transformation; and robotics for STEM+ARTS education in the State of Texas. From 1996-2000, Jim was the Internet designer of Nelson Heller’s Desktop edNET serving the market news and leading trends in educational technology