May STEAM TEAMS Meeting: AI-Assisted Multimedia, PhET Sims, Photonics/Microcontroller Demos
Join us for an evening of recognition, mentorship, hands-on learning, and community connection at the next IEEE Pikes Peak Section STEAM-TEAMS Monthly Meeting. These meetings are in preparation for the 2026 Cool Science Carnival Day and Festival, Oct 3- Oct 18. Ideally, because of the 8000+ visitors and 100 booths at UCCS last year, we want to have 36 S.T.A.R. (STEAM-TEAMS Ambassadors for outREACH) volunteers/mentors to donate one-hour of their valuable time during this 6-hour event. This will allow time to have these volunteers visit the other booths with their families. If anyone would like to contribute in their talent in other ways such as digital marketing, AI-assisted multi-content for short 2-5 minute tutorials on technical topics, social media marketing, fashion, digital and social media marketing, and other logistical support, please let Dr Santiago know at john.santiago@ieee.org
Monday, May 18, 2026
5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
21st Century Library. ENT Conference Room
1175 Chapel Hills Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
This month’s meeting is a special opportunity to bring together IEEE members, student members, families, guests, and past and present volunteers for an evening of learning, recognition, and community connection.
We will be recognizing our 2025 STEAM-TEAMS participants with challenge coins as a small token of appreciation for the time, service, and encouragement they have given to others through STEM and STEAM outreach.
We will also share a brief AI-Assisted Multimedia, PhET simulations, Photonics/Microcontroller Demos as a fun introduction to these topics for the Sep-Cool Science Festival and Fair.
This gathering reflects something we deeply value in the IEEE Pikes Peak Section: building not only programs, but people. Through mentorship, hands-on learning, and community engagement, we continue working to make leadership more welcoming, more visible, and more meaningful for the next generation.
If you are interested in:
- STEM and STEAM activities
- mentoring students and young professionals
- family-friendly engineering outreach
- growing leadership through service and encouragement
we would be glad to have you join us.
Website: https://r5.ieee.org/pikespeak
#IEEE #IEEEPikesPeakSection #STEAMTEAMS #STEM #STEAM #Mentorship #Photonics #EngineeringEducation #FamilyFriendly #VolunteerLeadership #CoolScience
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
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- 1175 Chapel Hills Drive
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- United States 80920
- Building: 21st Century Library
- Room Number: ENT Conference Room
Speakers
John
Challenge Coins and Photonics Demos
Biography:
Dr. John Santiago is a retired United States Air Force officer with over 26 years of service in research, development, and acquisition, including work in precision-guided munitions and advanced technologies. Following his military career, he spent more than two decades in higher education as a professor and mentor, teaching electrical engineering, systems engineering, computer engineering, physics, and mathematics while guiding senior design and capstone projects.
He is an active leader in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), currently serving as the Region 5 Educational Activities Coordinator and a leader within the IEEE Pikes Peak Section. Dr. Santiago has been recognized for his contributions to STEM education, mentorship, and community engagement, including designation as an IEEE STEM Champion. His work focuses on developing sustainable leadership capacity through engineering education, mentorship pipelines, and community partnerships.
Dr. Santiago is the creator of the PyramidX-OS leadership framework and the STEAM-TEAMS initiative, which integrates technical skill development, entrepreneurial mindset, and mentorship to support workforce readiness and leadership growth across students, professionals, and communities. His programs emphasize the principle that skillset, mindset, and mentorship together create lasting impact.
He continues to volunteer extensively, developing AI-assisted educational resources, community STEM programs, and leadership training initiatives designed to improve the human condition through technology and service.
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Agenda
- Introductions
- Presentation to Entry-Level Challenge Coins to S.T.A.R. (STEAM TEAMS Ambassadors for Outreach) Mentors/Volunteers (Achieving Region 5 Priorities: Leadership Force Multiplier to Scale Leadership Capacity | IEEE Pikes Peak Section)
- Cool Science Support (https://coolscience.org) and Sample SNAP Circuits Demos/Phet Simulations (PhET Demos Photonics | IEEE Pikes Peak Section) and Collaboration.