VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 112
AIR DATE 03 06 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Harnessing Power
((SOT))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Walking Tall
((SOT))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
It’s crazy to think that in just a year-and-a-half, I went from my
normal life to the lowest point in my life back to basically
where I was before if not better.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Floating High
((SOT))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Even in high school, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut but I
had no idea what it took to be an astronaut.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) GIRL POWER
((Banner: Girl Power!))
((Reporter/Camera: Jeff Swicord))
((Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Toledo, Ohio))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Courtesy all photos: Dr. Sandrine Mubenga))
((MUSIC))
((NATS: Solar field hum, Dr. Mubenga walking through
snow))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I was born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Congo and I
grew up in Kikwit which is a small town. So, it has brick
houses, roads and everything except that there was no
running water, no electricity.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
FS 275. 75 watts each.
((NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
When I was 17, I got really sick and when we called the
doctor, she told me, ‘You have appendicitis. You need to go
under surgery right away.’ Unfortunately, there was no
electricity in the general hospital. So, for three days, I was
between life and death.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
I’m going to check this and make sure everything…..this one
is a little bit…..
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
After those three days, where I was really in pain and I was
scared, I found my motivation to become an electrical
engineer.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
This is good. If they break, the whole line is broken. There is
disconnection here.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((NATS: Wind, water, birds))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I came to the United States to study electrical engineering at
The University of Toledo. I was very interested in renewable
energy. So, when I was doing my undergrad, I learned to
design and install solar systems and completed my
bachelor's, my master’s and my Ph.D. here.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
So, this week, we are going to continue with introduction to C
and some of…..
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I could see that it was very important, not only to find
solutions to problems but to teach others how to find
solutions and how to implement those solutions. So, that's
why I became a professor to pass on the knowledge I've
learned.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
This is a way to get the answer.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
Typically I have zero women. We are lucky to have three
women in class.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
You got it? Okay, good.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
Why do we have few women in the STEM field? Science,
technology, engineering and math.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
Oh, Connor. Jennifer?
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
It's very easy. When you go in a store, you see all the toys for
women and girls are dolls and things like that and for the
boys, you would have tools. So unfortunately, society is
pretty much sending a message that science, technology,
engineering and math is for men.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
And then you have the LED here.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
Right now, there's a lot of work that's being done to say,
‘Know you are a woman, you can do STEM.’ That message
needs to be sent early.
((NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
After I got my professional engineer license, I started SMIN
Power Group because that was my dream. In 2013, then we
opened the office in Kinshasa. We installed solar systems
and designed solar systems for communities in the Congo. I
always wanted to lead a company that would provide energy
solutions in places like Kikwit. It's not as much the money
but it's the social impact coming from my experience, you
know, almost dying because of the lack of electricity. It was a
huge effort to educate the customer. And we were pleased to
see that after this effort, that more people are interested in
solar in the Congo. So, it's been a positive experience.
((NATS: People walking to event))
((Banner: Girl Power! event at Imagination Station))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
The University News Network wrote an article. It was called,
Women Killing It in Sustainability and they listed me. And
Imagination Station read the interview. So, they contacted
me. They said, ‘We are doing the Girl Power! event to
introduce girls from Toledo to the STEM field. Would you like
to be part of it?’ So that’s how I was invited to be the keynote
this year.
((SOT: Girl Power! Host))
Please help me give a big round of applause to our amazing
speaker, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga.
((NATS: Applause))
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
Thank you very much for this introduction.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I believe they had about 200 girls attending. It’s always
energizing to be around young people full of hope, you know.
I just love that positive energy.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
So that together we can find solutions to our problems.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I was surprised by the level of maturity of some of those girls.
I remember one of them asked me if it was difficult to be a
mother and to pursue a career in STEM. She must have
been 10. And I realized that often times that is a reason that
would slow women to go into the STEM field. So, I explained
to the girl that I basically had my children as I was building
my career. If you have a good support system, if you are well
organized, you can pursue your dream, have your kids, have
your company.
((NATS: Parents and children exploring Imagination
Station))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I think the best way to encourage more women and young
girls is be there.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
You are a natural. Wow!
((SOT: Instructor
Yeah, she’s getting it.))
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
She’s good.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
First, show them that it is possible to be done.
((SOT: Instructor))
Great!
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I think it's possible that one day, half of my class will be
women.
((SOT: Instructor))
Put your code right there.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
If we focus more into introducing STEM early on, in the
school program.
((NATS: Robot whirring, laughing, high-five))
((SOT: Little girl))
Thank you.
((SOT: Instructor))
You’re welcome.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
So, this is what we would like to see.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
First Step
((SOT))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
The first time I stood up in Ekso, it was a little terrifying but so
exciting. But once I got the hang of it, it was so great. I
couldn’t get the smile off of my face.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) BIONIC BODIES -- EXOSKELETONS
((Banner: Bionic Bodies))
((Reporter: Crystal Dilworth))
((Camera: Austin Harris))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Wallingford, Connecticut))
((Main characters: 2 males; 2 females))
((Popup Banner: Exoskeletons are wearable robots for
enhanced independent mobility))
((NATS))
((Matt Tilford, Paraplegic))
When I was 18 years old, I was in a motor vehicle accident
and I sustained a T-12 burst fracture to my spinal cord. It left
me paralyzed from the waist down.
((NATS))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
My friends and I were getting ready to go out to dinner and I
had stepped out on to the balcony to make a phone call and I
went to go sit on the railing and I just fell right back off of it
and I landed on the ground 3-stories below. The next thing I
remember, I was in the medical clinic. I had to re-learn
everything that I had taken for granted so few weeks before. I
remember a big goal of mine was to put on my pants by
myself.
((NATS))
((Jess McNair, Stroke Survivor))
I suffered multiple strokes. The process of being strapped in
makes you feel more and more secure because there are
many, they kind of pinpointed the areas where people would
feel kind of sensitive. The machine really supports you. This
is like a big hug around my waist.
((NATS))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
My physical therapist told me that it was possible for me to
get in this exoskeleton device and get up and start walking
again and that was news to me.
((NATS))
((Jack Peurac, HCEO, Ekso Bionics))
Ekso Bionics was originally a research project at UC
Berkeley. They were studying how to make soldiers be able
to carry more capacity further without injuring the soldiers
and that technology developed all kinds of different human
wearable robotics that could allow people to do things they
otherwise they couldn’t do.
((NATS))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
The first time I stood up in Ekso, it was a little terrifying but so
exciting. But once I got the hang of it, it was so great. I
couldn’t get the smile off of my face. It’s crazy to think that in
just a year-and-a-half, I went from my normal life to the lowest
point in my life back to basically where I was before if not
better.
((NATS))
((PKG)) ROBOT RANGERS
((VOA Ukrainian))
((Banner: Robocop))
((Reporter: Khrystyna Shevchenko))
((Camera: Vitaliy Chvak))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Huntington Beach, California))
((Main characters: 1 male; 1 female))
((Sub characters: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Cosme Lozano, Chief, Huntington Park Police))
This is an autonomous robot. It operates essentially on its
own. It’s on a program. It's extremely useful because it frees
up our officers to concentrate on, you know, other important
community policing matters. It is a live monitoring system, so
we are able to monitor the cameras live at the
communications center. These are the four cameras that are
positioned within the unit and it's always recording. So,
everywhere it goes, it's capturing all of that data. It also has a
license plate reader feature which operates by this device
right here. It's able to read license plates of vehicles in
parking lots and it actually captures that data.
((NATS))
((Cosme Lozano, Chief, Huntington Park Police))
It also has a distress button which is located here. So,
somebody were to need assistance or they want to contact
our communication center, they can do it by way of that
distress button. And there's people that are monitoring on the
other end. So, the system also has the ability for a dispatcher
or a monitor to get into the software and actually project
communication through the robot to the person that has
pressed the distress button.
((NATS))
((Brianna, Resident, Huntington Park))
If something wrong happens, the police can see it from the
robot. And then the police can come and figure out what’s
happening to us.
((NATS))
((Karina Macias, Mayor, Huntington Park))
We saw the autonomous robot in one of the conferences and
we decided it might be something that could work for the
parks as we've been having some concerns about safety.
This park is the largest park in the city and it's highly used by
the community, especially now during the summer. So, we
wanted an extra set of eyes that would help the police
department in order to patrol it 24/7.
((NATS))
((Cosme Lozano, Chief, Huntington Park Police))
It travels the entire park. It is a programmed path but we're
able to change the path and adapt it to, maybe, different
activities that we become aware of. So, there's a person
coming. If it senses it too close, it'll stop for a moment.
Good morning.
All of this information is recorded. It’s downloaded to a hard
drive. If something were to happen and we needed to go
back to look at the video recording, we can always access
that video also.
((NATS))
((Karina Macias, Mayor, Huntington Park))
Cost is around $65,000 a year. We already use different
funds in order to cover it. And like I said, it's a year-on-year
basis. So, if we decide to renew it, it will come back to the
council so we can vote on it.
((NATS))
((PKG)) SHAKE ALERT SYSTEM
((VOA Persian))
((Banner: Shake Alert))
((Reporter: Crystal Dilworth))
((Camera: Austin Harris, Kelly Butler))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Pasadena, California))
((Main characters: 1 female; 2 males))
((NATS))
((Pop-Up Banner: California’s ‘ShakeAlert’ earthquake
warning system uses in-ground and surface sensors))
((NATS))
((Locater: San Andreas Fault near Los Angeles, California))
((Elizabeth Cochran, Seismologist, US Geological
Service))
So, both along the fault, we like those sensors really close
the fault because that gives us really those first motions that
are coming out of the earthquake. It tells us the earthquake
has started. So, once that earthquake started, seismic waves
start travelling away from where that earthquake starts. ‘P
waves’ or primary waves are the first waves that arrive.
They’re faster and you feel sort of a jolt coming up beneath
you. The ‘S waves’ would travel along behind those and start
shaking you back and forth.
((NATS))
((Locater: In-ground wave sensor site, Pasadena,
California))
((Robert Michael De Groot, ShakeAlert Coordinator, US
Geological Service))
So, we’re in Pasadena and we’re at one of the seismic
stations. At the bottom of this vault, this is what it is. So, and
it moves relative to the earth and basically whatever happens
in here, gets turned into an electrical signal and boom. It
takes some very, very precise observation about what’s
happening.
((NATS))
((Dave Sotero, Communications Manager, Los Angeles
Metro Rail))
Well, we were one of the early adopters of the ShakeAlert
system. We implemented it in January of 2017 and it gives
us precious seconds to anticipate an earthquake that may be
coming to (the) Los Angeles area and that will enable us to
put an alert out to our operators. Part of the protocol is to
slow down the train as it is moving in advance of an
earthquake. So, the slower you’re moving, the more safely
you can operate the vehicle and stopping the vehicle is the
best course of action for a large scale event.
((NATS))
((Robert Michael De Groot, ShakeAlert Coordinator, US
Geological Service))
For very large earthquakes, the ShakeAlert early warning
system is going to use seismometers,
((Pop-Up Banner: GPS stations))
but with the really big earthquakes, we’re going to need
information from these stations because what’s going to
happen is that if there’s a really big earthquake, these
stations are going to move very quickly in a very short
amount of time. And that information is critical to understand
the biggest of earthquakes. We’re talking (about)
earthquakes that are magnitude 8 and above.
((NATS))
((Pop-Up Banner: Northeastern Japan. March 11, 2011.
Magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami))
((Robert Michael De Groot, ShakeAlert Coordinator, US
Geological Service))
Big earthquakes in places like Iran and Indonesia and they
could stand to have their own earthquake early warning
systems and this has actually become a really interesting
international community. We’re all learning from each other.
One thing we want to do and the big currency of ShakeAlert
is time. Time is really important to us. Currently, the time that
it takes to get messages out is taking way too long and we
want to reduce what we call ‘latencies’ as much as possible.
So, we’re working with a whole array of partners, the
telecommunications industry. We’re working with mass
notification providers, to get those messages out as quickly
as possible.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Remote Learning
((SOT))
((Cloe, Student))
I think I know the answer. I’ll try it and I get it right. I’m like,
‘Oh, personal victory. Whoa.’
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) PIA -- LIFE IN SPACE -- SHANNON WALKER
((Banner: Above the Earth))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Houston, Texas))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Courtesy on space related B Roll throughout: Courtesy of
NASA))
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Science is everything. Science is how society accomplishes
being a society. Science is how everything gets done. It’s
how we move forward. It's how all our products get built and
made better. We wouldn't be anywhere if we didn't have
scientists constantly asking: How does this work? Can I
make that? Can I make this better?
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Science is everything. Even in high school, I knew I wanted
to be an astronaut, but I had no idea what it took to be an
astronaut. There's no one path to get to where I am
today. Some people are scientists, some people are
engineers, some people are medical doctors, some people
come from the military because what we need as astronauts
are people that can do a lot of different things. We need lots
of diverse people and we need diversity within a single
person.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
I was actually born and raised in Houston and so, having the
Johnson Space Center in my backyard always stoked that
interest for me because I was always aware of what we were
doing and what was going on and I spent about six months in
space in 2010. My ride to and from the Space Station was on
the Soyuz spacecraft and I was actually trained as the co-
pilot on there. So, I spent a lot of time in Russia, training and
understanding, learning how to fly that spacecraft.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
We will wake up in the morning. Overnight, the control
centers have uplinked schedule to us and what they want us
to do that day is what we do that day. And it could be
maintenance. It could be science. It could be rearranging
the space station. It could be dealing with stowage. It’s just
whatever the ground needs to accomplish. And so, you do a
little bit of everything in space.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
And I remember very distinctly, for about the first month that I
was in orbit, I would wake up almost every night feeling like I
needed to turn over but that doesn't do any good in space
and so, you just sort of shuffle around a bit and go back to
sleep.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Living in space is easy. Coming back, it’s pretty hard. You
have lots of aches and pains because you haven't walked
around for a long time. I mean you float in space and so, we
do a lot of exercises that keep us healthy, but you haven't sat
down for a long time. So, it gets uncomfortable to sit down for
long periods of time because your body is not used to it.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
We're still in such early stages of the human spaceflight era.
We're starting off relatively slowly, but I think as time passes,
we will just get more and more people and countries into
space and I think, ultimately, we will be truly a spacefaring
world. We will be going to other planets and establishing
bases and other places to live. I think that is where we're
going to end up.
((NATS))
((PKG)) HI TECH - CLO-BOT / ROBOT GOES TO
SCHOOL
((Banner: Robotics))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Producers: Elizabeth Cherneff, Martin Secrest))
((Map: Baltimore, Maryland))
((Main characters: 2 females; 1 male))
((NATS:
Reporter: Tell me your name.
Cloe: Cloe.
Reporter: Tell me how old you are.
Cloe: 11))
((Popup Banner: Homebound by surgery, Cloe attends
school virtually with a device from Double Robotics))
((NATS))
((Rob Gray, Cloe’s Father))
At it’s heart, it’s incredibly convenient. Once we found out it
was basically an I-Pad on a segway, it was like that makes a
lot of sense.
((NATS:
Student: Cloe, you look tired.
Teacher: Cloe, what was something your group had?
Cloe: They bring like special tools for the data.))
((Mary Fucella, Fifth Grade Teacher))
Yeah, it was just like having another student in the
classroom, yes. It’s really nice and they help her out like the
same way that they would help out another student.
((NATS:
Reporter: And how’s it been for you?))
((Mary Fucella, Fifth Grade Teacher))
I’ve enjoyed it. I also feel like it’s a learning experience too,
to be able to interact with someone that’s at home but then
feeling like they’re still in the classroom. I think is so
important.
((NATS:
Mary Fucella: What’s the first thing that we do? Raise your
hand and tell me.))
((Mary Fucella, Fifth Grade Teacher))
I mean I feel like it’s wonderful because I know I’ve always
heard of a lot of students that had to be on home teaching
and then them missing a lot of curriculum and then also
missing the socialization with their friends. And now for her,
to be able to rest at home but then also be able to be in the
classroom, is wonderful.
((Cloe, Student))
Like I said, I think it means that it was a small step for him but
when he tells like other people, they’ll think, ‘Oh my God, it’s
so cool!’
((NATS:
Cloe: I think I know the answer. I’ll try it and I get it right. I’m
like, ‘Oh, personal victory. Whoa.’
((NATS))
COMING SOON
((Banner))
Coming soon: Cropland Artist
((SOT))
I went to high school in a really rural place and I didn’t really
know that being an artist was still a thing. When I was in high
school, it was this, sort of, I was on a list of like blacksmiths
and cobblers like people used to do that. I was born in a very
rural part of the country like agricultural landscapes and the
machinery and the equipment that goes with that. It was an
early influence.
((Banner))
Coming soon: Yoga for Kids
((SOT))
There are lot of benefits to yoga and it’s especially beneficial
to have kids start doing yoga at an early age. The reason
why it is because kids experience a lot of emotions and
feelings that a lot of times they don’t know how to feel with
their feelings and learn how to take deep breath and get
some movement into their daily lives.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 112
AIR DATE 03 06 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Harnessing Power
((SOT))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Walking Tall
((SOT))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
It’s crazy to think that in just a year-and-a-half, I went from my
normal life to the lowest point in my life back to basically
where I was before if not better.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Floating High
((SOT))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Even in high school, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut but I
had no idea what it took to be an astronaut.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) GIRL POWER
((Banner: Girl Power!))
((Reporter/Camera: Jeff Swicord))
((Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Toledo, Ohio))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Courtesy all photos: Dr. Sandrine Mubenga))
((MUSIC))
((NATS: Solar field hum, Dr. Mubenga walking through
snow))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I was born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Congo and I
grew up in Kikwit which is a small town. So, it has brick
houses, roads and everything except that there was no
running water, no electricity.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
FS 275. 75 watts each.
((NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
When I was 17, I got really sick and when we called the
doctor, she told me, ‘You have appendicitis. You need to go
under surgery right away.’ Unfortunately, there was no
electricity in the general hospital. So, for three days, I was
between life and death.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
I’m going to check this and make sure everything…..this one
is a little bit…..
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
After those three days, where I was really in pain and I was
scared, I found my motivation to become an electrical
engineer.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
This is good. If they break, the whole line is broken. There is
disconnection here.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((NATS: Wind, water, birds))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I came to the United States to study electrical engineering at
The University of Toledo. I was very interested in renewable
energy. So, when I was doing my undergrad, I learned to
design and install solar systems and completed my
bachelor's, my master’s and my Ph.D. here.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
So, this week, we are going to continue with introduction to C
and some of…..
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I could see that it was very important, not only to find
solutions to problems but to teach others how to find
solutions and how to implement those solutions. So, that's
why I became a professor to pass on the knowledge I've
learned.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
This is a way to get the answer.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
Typically I have zero women. We are lucky to have three
women in class.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
You got it? Okay, good.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
Why do we have few women in the STEM field? Science,
technology, engineering and math.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
Oh, Connor. Jennifer?
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
It's very easy. When you go in a store, you see all the toys for
women and girls are dolls and things like that and for the
boys, you would have tools. So unfortunately, society is
pretty much sending a message that science, technology,
engineering and math is for men.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
And then you have the LED here.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
Right now, there's a lot of work that's being done to say,
‘Know you are a woman, you can do STEM.’ That message
needs to be sent early.
((NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
After I got my professional engineer license, I started SMIN
Power Group because that was my dream. In 2013, then we
opened the office in Kinshasa. We installed solar systems
and designed solar systems for communities in the Congo. I
always wanted to lead a company that would provide energy
solutions in places like Kikwit. It's not as much the money
but it's the social impact coming from my experience, you
know, almost dying because of the lack of electricity. It was a
huge effort to educate the customer. And we were pleased to
see that after this effort, that more people are interested in
solar in the Congo. So, it's been a positive experience.
((NATS: People walking to event))
((Banner: Girl Power! event at Imagination Station))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
The University News Network wrote an article. It was called,
Women Killing It in Sustainability and they listed me. And
Imagination Station read the interview. So, they contacted
me. They said, ‘We are doing the Girl Power! event to
introduce girls from Toledo to the STEM field. Would you like
to be part of it?’ So that’s how I was invited to be the keynote
this year.
((SOT: Girl Power! Host))
Please help me give a big round of applause to our amazing
speaker, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga.
((NATS: Applause))
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
Thank you very much for this introduction.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I believe they had about 200 girls attending. It’s always
energizing to be around young people full of hope, you know.
I just love that positive energy.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
So that together we can find solutions to our problems.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I was surprised by the level of maturity of some of those girls.
I remember one of them asked me if it was difficult to be a
mother and to pursue a career in STEM. She must have
been 10. And I realized that often times that is a reason that
would slow women to go into the STEM field. So, I explained
to the girl that I basically had my children as I was building
my career. If you have a good support system, if you are well
organized, you can pursue your dream, have your kids, have
your company.
((NATS: Parents and children exploring Imagination
Station))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I think the best way to encourage more women and young
girls is be there.
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
You are a natural. Wow!
((SOT: Instructor
Yeah, she’s getting it.))
((SOT: Dr. Mubenga))
She’s good.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
First, show them that it is possible to be done.
((SOT: Instructor))
Great!
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I think it's possible that one day, half of my class will be
women.
((SOT: Instructor))
Put your code right there.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
If we focus more into introducing STEM early on, in the
school program.
((NATS: Robot whirring, laughing, high-five))
((SOT: Little girl))
Thank you.
((SOT: Instructor))
You’re welcome.
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
So, this is what we would like to see.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
First Step
((SOT))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
The first time I stood up in Ekso, it was a little terrifying but so
exciting. But once I got the hang of it, it was so great. I
couldn’t get the smile off of my face.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) BIONIC BODIES -- EXOSKELETONS
((Banner: Bionic Bodies))
((Reporter: Crystal Dilworth))
((Camera: Austin Harris))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Wallingford, Connecticut))
((Main characters: 2 males; 2 females))
((Popup Banner: Exoskeletons are wearable robots for
enhanced independent mobility))
((NATS))
((Matt Tilford, Paraplegic))
When I was 18 years old, I was in a motor vehicle accident
and I sustained a T-12 burst fracture to my spinal cord. It left
me paralyzed from the waist down.
((NATS))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
My friends and I were getting ready to go out to dinner and I
had stepped out on to the balcony to make a phone call and I
went to go sit on the railing and I just fell right back off of it
and I landed on the ground 3-stories below. The next thing I
remember, I was in the medical clinic. I had to re-learn
everything that I had taken for granted so few weeks before. I
remember a big goal of mine was to put on my pants by
myself.
((NATS))
((Jess McNair, Stroke Survivor))
I suffered multiple strokes. The process of being strapped in
makes you feel more and more secure because there are
many, they kind of pinpointed the areas where people would
feel kind of sensitive. The machine really supports you. This
is like a big hug around my waist.
((NATS))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
My physical therapist told me that it was possible for me to
get in this exoskeleton device and get up and start walking
again and that was news to me.
((NATS))
((Jack Peurac, HCEO, Ekso Bionics))
Ekso Bionics was originally a research project at UC
Berkeley. They were studying how to make soldiers be able
to carry more capacity further without injuring the soldiers
and that technology developed all kinds of different human
wearable robotics that could allow people to do things they
otherwise they couldn’t do.
((NATS))
((Jillian Harpin, Paraplegic))
The first time I stood up in Ekso, it was a little terrifying but so
exciting. But once I got the hang of it, it was so great. I
couldn’t get the smile off of my face. It’s crazy to think that in
just a year-and-a-half, I went from my normal life to the lowest
point in my life back to basically where I was before if not
better.
((NATS))
((PKG)) ROBOT RANGERS
((VOA Ukrainian))
((Banner: Robocop))
((Reporter: Khrystyna Shevchenko))
((Camera: Vitaliy Chvak))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Huntington Beach, California))
((Main characters: 1 male; 1 female))
((Sub characters: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Cosme Lozano, Chief, Huntington Park Police))
This is an autonomous robot. It operates essentially on its
own. It’s on a program. It's extremely useful because it frees
up our officers to concentrate on, you know, other important
community policing matters. It is a live monitoring system, so
we are able to monitor the cameras live at the
communications center. These are the four cameras that are
positioned within the unit and it's always recording. So,
everywhere it goes, it's capturing all of that data. It also has a
license plate reader feature which operates by this device
right here. It's able to read license plates of vehicles in
parking lots and it actually captures that data.
((NATS))
((Cosme Lozano, Chief, Huntington Park Police))
It also has a distress button which is located here. So,
somebody were to need assistance or they want to contact
our communication center, they can do it by way of that
distress button. And there's people that are monitoring on the
other end. So, the system also has the ability for a dispatcher
or a monitor to get into the software and actually project
communication through the robot to the person that has
pressed the distress button.
((NATS))
((Brianna, Resident, Huntington Park))
If something wrong happens, the police can see it from the
robot. And then the police can come and figure out what’s
happening to us.
((NATS))
((Karina Macias, Mayor, Huntington Park))
We saw the autonomous robot in one of the conferences and
we decided it might be something that could work for the
parks as we've been having some concerns about safety.
This park is the largest park in the city and it's highly used by
the community, especially now during the summer. So, we
wanted an extra set of eyes that would help the police
department in order to patrol it 24/7.
((NATS))
((Cosme Lozano, Chief, Huntington Park Police))
It travels the entire park. It is a programmed path but we're
able to change the path and adapt it to, maybe, different
activities that we become aware of. So, there's a person
coming. If it senses it too close, it'll stop for a moment.
Good morning.
All of this information is recorded. It’s downloaded to a hard
drive. If something were to happen and we needed to go
back to look at the video recording, we can always access
that video also.
((NATS))
((Karina Macias, Mayor, Huntington Park))
Cost is around $65,000 a year. We already use different
funds in order to cover it. And like I said, it's a year-on-year
basis. So, if we decide to renew it, it will come back to the
council so we can vote on it.
((NATS))
((PKG)) SHAKE ALERT SYSTEM
((VOA Persian))
((Banner: Shake Alert))
((Reporter: Crystal Dilworth))
((Camera: Austin Harris, Kelly Butler))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Pasadena, California))
((Main characters: 1 female; 2 males))
((NATS))
((Pop-Up Banner: California’s ‘ShakeAlert’ earthquake
warning system uses in-ground and surface sensors))
((NATS))
((Locater: San Andreas Fault near Los Angeles, California))
((Elizabeth Cochran, Seismologist, US Geological
Service))
So, both along the fault, we like those sensors really close
the fault because that gives us really those first motions that
are coming out of the earthquake. It tells us the earthquake
has started. So, once that earthquake started, seismic waves
start travelling away from where that earthquake starts. ‘P
waves’ or primary waves are the first waves that arrive.
They’re faster and you feel sort of a jolt coming up beneath
you. The ‘S waves’ would travel along behind those and start
shaking you back and forth.
((NATS))
((Locater: In-ground wave sensor site, Pasadena,
California))
((Robert Michael De Groot, ShakeAlert Coordinator, US
Geological Service))
So, we’re in Pasadena and we’re at one of the seismic
stations. At the bottom of this vault, this is what it is. So, and
it moves relative to the earth and basically whatever happens
in here, gets turned into an electrical signal and boom. It
takes some very, very precise observation about what’s
happening.
((NATS))
((Dave Sotero, Communications Manager, Los Angeles
Metro Rail))
Well, we were one of the early adopters of the ShakeAlert
system. We implemented it in January of 2017 and it gives
us precious seconds to anticipate an earthquake that may be
coming to (the) Los Angeles area and that will enable us to
put an alert out to our operators. Part of the protocol is to
slow down the train as it is moving in advance of an
earthquake. So, the slower you’re moving, the more safely
you can operate the vehicle and stopping the vehicle is the
best course of action for a large scale event.
((NATS))
((Robert Michael De Groot, ShakeAlert Coordinator, US
Geological Service))
For very large earthquakes, the ShakeAlert early warning
system is going to use seismometers,
((Pop-Up Banner: GPS stations))
but with the really big earthquakes, we’re going to need
information from these stations because what’s going to
happen is that if there’s a really big earthquake, these
stations are going to move very quickly in a very short
amount of time. And that information is critical to understand
the biggest of earthquakes. We’re talking (about)
earthquakes that are magnitude 8 and above.
((NATS))
((Pop-Up Banner: Northeastern Japan. March 11, 2011.
Magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami))
((Robert Michael De Groot, ShakeAlert Coordinator, US
Geological Service))
Big earthquakes in places like Iran and Indonesia and they
could stand to have their own earthquake early warning
systems and this has actually become a really interesting
international community. We’re all learning from each other.
One thing we want to do and the big currency of ShakeAlert
is time. Time is really important to us. Currently, the time that
it takes to get messages out is taking way too long and we
want to reduce what we call ‘latencies’ as much as possible.
So, we’re working with a whole array of partners, the
telecommunications industry. We’re working with mass
notification providers, to get those messages out as quickly
as possible.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Remote Learning
((SOT))
((Cloe, Student))
I think I know the answer. I’ll try it and I get it right. I’m like,
‘Oh, personal victory. Whoa.’
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) PIA -- LIFE IN SPACE -- SHANNON WALKER
((Banner: Above the Earth))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Houston, Texas))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Courtesy on space related B Roll throughout: Courtesy of
NASA))
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Science is everything. Science is how society accomplishes
being a society. Science is how everything gets done. It’s
how we move forward. It's how all our products get built and
made better. We wouldn't be anywhere if we didn't have
scientists constantly asking: How does this work? Can I
make that? Can I make this better?
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Science is everything. Even in high school, I knew I wanted
to be an astronaut, but I had no idea what it took to be an
astronaut. There's no one path to get to where I am
today. Some people are scientists, some people are
engineers, some people are medical doctors, some people
come from the military because what we need as astronauts
are people that can do a lot of different things. We need lots
of diverse people and we need diversity within a single
person.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
I was actually born and raised in Houston and so, having the
Johnson Space Center in my backyard always stoked that
interest for me because I was always aware of what we were
doing and what was going on and I spent about six months in
space in 2010. My ride to and from the Space Station was on
the Soyuz spacecraft and I was actually trained as the co-
pilot on there. So, I spent a lot of time in Russia, training and
understanding, learning how to fly that spacecraft.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
We will wake up in the morning. Overnight, the control
centers have uplinked schedule to us and what they want us
to do that day is what we do that day. And it could be
maintenance. It could be science. It could be rearranging
the space station. It could be dealing with stowage. It’s just
whatever the ground needs to accomplish. And so, you do a
little bit of everything in space.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
And I remember very distinctly, for about the first month that I
was in orbit, I would wake up almost every night feeling like I
needed to turn over but that doesn't do any good in space
and so, you just sort of shuffle around a bit and go back to
sleep.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
Living in space is easy. Coming back, it’s pretty hard. You
have lots of aches and pains because you haven't walked
around for a long time. I mean you float in space and so, we
do a lot of exercises that keep us healthy, but you haven't sat
down for a long time. So, it gets uncomfortable to sit down for
long periods of time because your body is not used to it.
((NATS))
((Shannon Walker, American Scientist, NASA Astronaut))
We're still in such early stages of the human spaceflight era.
We're starting off relatively slowly, but I think as time passes,
we will just get more and more people and countries into
space and I think, ultimately, we will be truly a spacefaring
world. We will be going to other planets and establishing
bases and other places to live. I think that is where we're
going to end up.
((NATS))
((PKG)) HI TECH - CLO-BOT / ROBOT GOES TO
SCHOOL
((Banner: Robotics))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Producers: Elizabeth Cherneff, Martin Secrest))
((Map: Baltimore, Maryland))
((Main characters: 2 females; 1 male))
((NATS:
Reporter: Tell me your name.
Cloe: Cloe.
Reporter: Tell me how old you are.
Cloe: 11))
((Popup Banner: Homebound by surgery, Cloe attends
school virtually with a device from Double Robotics))
((NATS))
((Rob Gray, Cloe’s Father))
At it’s heart, it’s incredibly convenient. Once we found out it
was basically an I-Pad on a segway, it was like that makes a
lot of sense.
((NATS:
Student: Cloe, you look tired.
Teacher: Cloe, what was something your group had?
Cloe: They bring like special tools for the data.))
((Mary Fucella, Fifth Grade Teacher))
Yeah, it was just like having another student in the
classroom, yes. It’s really nice and they help her out like the
same way that they would help out another student.
((NATS:
Reporter: And how’s it been for you?))
((Mary Fucella, Fifth Grade Teacher))
I’ve enjoyed it. I also feel like it’s a learning experience too,
to be able to interact with someone that’s at home but then
feeling like they’re still in the classroom. I think is so
important.
((NATS:
Mary Fucella: What’s the first thing that we do? Raise your
hand and tell me.))
((Mary Fucella, Fifth Grade Teacher))
I mean I feel like it’s wonderful because I know I’ve always
heard of a lot of students that had to be on home teaching
and then them missing a lot of curriculum and then also
missing the socialization with their friends. And now for her,
to be able to rest at home but then also be able to be in the
classroom, is wonderful.
((Cloe, Student))
Like I said, I think it means that it was a small step for him but
when he tells like other people, they’ll think, ‘Oh my God, it’s
so cool!’
((NATS:
Cloe: I think I know the answer. I’ll try it and I get it right. I’m
like, ‘Oh, personal victory. Whoa.’
((NATS))
COMING SOON
((Banner))
Coming soon: Cropland Artist
((SOT))
I went to high school in a really rural place and I didn’t really
know that being an artist was still a thing. When I was in high
school, it was this, sort of, I was on a list of like blacksmiths
and cobblers like people used to do that. I was born in a very
rural part of the country like agricultural landscapes and the
machinery and the equipment that goes with that. It was an
early influence.
((Banner))
Coming soon: Yoga for Kids
((SOT))
There are lot of benefits to yoga and it’s especially beneficial
to have kids start doing yoga at an early age. The reason
why it is because kids experience a lot of emotions and
feelings that a lot of times they don’t know how to feel with
their feelings and learn how to take deep breath and get
some movement into their daily lives.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
