The SICTR Second
What does Innovation mean to you? Welcome to the SICTR Second. It's a podcast about the people that make the Student Innovation Center (SICTR) at Iowa State University great. We keep you up to date on the events, trainings and the personalities of SICTR, plus how we are defining innovation through our makerspaces.
Episodes
In Episode 14 of the SICTR Second, Jon sits down with one of the original student-workers of the Student Innovation Center, Sushant Chiramana. Sushant has worked in four of the makerspaces of the building, and experienced it all. The Aerospace Engineering major will graduate in December and is eagerly awaiting what will come next. Hear about his time with the SIC, NASA, and more! We hope you enjoy this episode of the SICTR Second! ...
In Episode 13 of the SICTR Second, Jon sits down with Assistant Professor with the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communications, James McNabb. The discussion spans innovation both through course offerings that are operating out of the Student Innovation Center's Digital Media Studio, and how the world of sports broadcasting has evolved over the years. Hear how McNabb has adapted to the always innovative world of sports tel...
In Episode 12 of the SICTR Second, Jon turns the mic over during the Student Innovation Center's annual Excite! event. Students, faculty and staff could sit down and talk about anything on their mind with hopes of inspiring the next podcast to launch from the Student Innovation Center. Hear what some have to talk about, what they think of the space, and even if pineapple should be on pizza?!
In the first episode of the 2025-26 academic calendar, host, Jon Schaeffer, sits down with Start Something LAS Academy Director, Jeff Bull. Bull dives into what innovation means to him, how the Start Something Academy is shaping future innovators and their thinking, plus a discussion about Iowa State University alum, Eleanor Kahn returning to campus for an upcoming art installation on October 1st at the Student Innovation Center. Y...
In Episode 10 of the SICTR Second, Jon Schaeffer changes up the format a bit as we look back on what innovation has meant to the guests of SICTR Second. We will get back to our normal format for episode 11. We hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening!
In Episode 9 of the SICTR Second, Jon is joined by two members of the Cardinal Space Mining team. CSM has back-to-back wins at Nasa's Lunabotics Challenge and in 2025, they're hoping to bring some competition to Iowa State's Student Innovation Center. Hear how they're utilizing the makerspaces in SICTR to bring their lunar robot to life, what "moondust" is made of, and so much more! Enjoy episode 9!
In Episode 8 of the SICTR Second, Jon is joined by Makerspace Supervisor, Rick Willey. Rick joined the Student Innovation Center team in December of 2024, and has hit the ground running since. As an ISU alum, Rick dives into his days as a student at Iowa State, his professional experiences machining around the world, and what he hopes to bring to the Heavy Metals Makerspace of SICTR. Enjoy episode 3!
In Episode 7 of the SICTR Second, Jon Schaeffer sits down with Peter Zuroweste, an Iowa State University Associate Professor of Practice in Architecture for the College of Design. Zuroweste is a practicing architect, and most recently took the Lio Lab course that he instructs, to Lima, Peru. Zuroweste talks about the various ways his class utilized the Student Innovation Center on campus, and the partnership that has been created w...
In Episode 6 of the SICTR Second, Jon Schaeffer sits down with Tera Lawson, the Senior Program Specialist for the Iowa State University Student Innovation Center. Lawson is keeping SICTR busy with various programming events. She explains how her background through years of work at ISU has shaped her aspirations to help students innovate. There are plenty of events that she is helping shape to draw more students into SICTR and its m...
Episode 5 of the SICTR Second features two guests who are giving students the tools and knowledge to cook up some delicious meals on a budget. Host Jon Schaeffer is joined by Mahala Mueller and Isabel Ekwall who are are teaching the Culinary Bootcamp course out of the Culinary Creations Lab on the third floor of the Student Innovation Center. Hear how Culinary Bootcamp got its start through the CALS Start Something program and a pa...
In Episode 4 of the SICTR Second, Jon sits down with Makerspace Supervisor, Ethan Thomas. Ethan helps oversee the 2222 makerspace in the Iowa State Student Innovation Center. He is an expert in all things 3D printing, and shows off some of the creepiest things he's printed so far in SICTR's Electronics, Textiles and 3D Printing room. Ethan also talks about being an Iowa State alum, back on campus helping students who were...
In Episode 3 of the SICTR Second, Jon is joined by Abram Anders, the Associate Director of Student Innovation Center at the Iowa State University Student Innovation Center. Abram has a vast background with generative artificial intelligence, leadership communication and more. In this episode Jon and Abram discuss the various programs within SICTR, artificial intelligence, as well as the innovation competition held annually and so m...
In Episode 2 of the SICTR Second, Jon sits down with Millicent Jackson, the events coordinator at the Iowa State University Student Innovation Center. We hear from Millicent about the various events SICTR hosts, the great spaces organizations, students and faculty can utilize and All-Makers Eve. Millicent tells you how she makes the events happen within our building, plus the fun quickfire.
You can visit https://sictr.iast...
In the debut of the SICTR Second, our host, Jon Schaeffer, sits down with Jim Oliver, the Pithan Executive Director of Innovation ant Iowa State University's Student Innovation Center. Jim talks about how he helped bring SICTR to life in the heart of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Find out what makes SICTR a unique place to innovate on the ISU campus. Plus a look at upcoming events in SICTR from October 7th to October 21st.
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