ASME's Unconventional Engineering

Unconventional Engineering Episode 25: “3D Printing and Leading the Next Industrial Shift” with Nora Toure

Tom Costabile and Jay Flores met with Nora Toure—Founder of Women in 3D Printing, a global organization advancing visibility and connection across the additive manufacturing ecosystem. Nora brings deep experience in strategy, business development, and leadership across additive manufacturing and healthcare applications.

Unconventional Engineering Episode 24: “From the Lab to the Playing Field” with Ilayda Samilgil

Tom Costabile and Jay Flores met with Ilayda Samilgil - Co-Founder & CEO of LLume, a company developing wearable sensors (“Light Lace®”) which can measure pressure, motion, respiration, CO₂, etc., using light and fiber optics. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, her company has worked on research projects with the U.S. Department of Defense and Major League Baseball. Her unique story began with a passion for ice skating, leading her to research at Cornell University and become a young CEO.

ASME Insights - “Addressing the Engineering Talent Gap Using a Local-First Workforce” with Chandrakant Patel

In this ASME Insights special episode, Dr. Lester Su (ASME President) is joined by guest Chandrakant Patel. Chandrakant Patel is a consultant and advisor on technology strategy. He previously worked at HP for 37 years as a Senior Vice President, Senior Fellow and Chief Engineer. He has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Chabot College and at the University of South Florida. In 2021 he was awarded the ASME Foundation’s Inaugural Next Gen Award. Chandrakant covers the engineering industry’s critical need for local workforce development, and how community college programs such as ASME’s Community College Engineering Pathways Program (CCEP) can help bridge that gap.

ASME Insights - “IMECE and Engineering a Resilient Future” with Dr. Calvin Mackie and Dr. Akin Keskin

In this special ASME Insights episode, Dr. Lester Su (ASME President) is joined by guests Dr. Calvin Mackie and Dr. Akin Keskin. Dr. Calvin Mackie is an award-winning inventor, author, former engineering professor, speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of STEM NOLA and STEM Global Action, two non-profit organizations with the goal to inspire and engage communities in learning about opportunities in STEM. Dr. Mackie is also a keynote speaker for ASME’s IMECE conference on November 16–20, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Akin Keskin is the IMECE Conference Chair and Vice President Digital - Business Aviation and RR Deutschland at Rolls-Royce. Dr. Mackie covers teases his keynote speech about fostering the next generation of engineers, and Dr. Keskin shares the unique features of the 2025 IMECE conference.

ASME Insights - "AI and the Energy Sector: Preparing Mechanical Engineers for the Future" with Dr. Arindam Banerjee

In this episode of ASME Insights, Dr. Lester Su (ASME President) is joined by guest Dr. Arindam Banerjee. Dr. Arindam Banerjee is the Paul B. Reinhold Professor and Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics at Lehigh University. His scholarly background is in fluid mechanics and energy systems, with research spanning renewable energy, turbulence, and data-enabled modeling. He is an ASME Fellow and a former associate editor of ASME’s Journal of Fluids Engineering. Dr. Banerjee was recognized as Associate Editor of the Year in 2023. Dr. Banerjee discusses why the energy space is uniquely positioned for AI impact and how mechanical engineering curricula must evolve. He also reflects on takeaways from a recent ASME session with department chairs and his presentation at ASME’s Mechanical Engineering Education (MEEd) Conference on March 29–31, 2026 at George Mason University.

• Transcript

Uncoventional Engineering Episode 23: “3D Printing and Blazing Your Own Trail” with Jason Lopes

Tom Costabile and Jay Flores met with Jason Lopes - 3D printing expert and special effects pioneer. From humble beginnings as an aspiring pro-skateboarder to leading effects teams working on Hollywood blockbusters, Jason’s career journey is as unconventional as it gets! 00:00 Show opening 00:44 Welcome to the show with Jay Flores and Tom Costabile 1:21 Guest introduction - Jason Lopes, 3D printing expert and special effects pioneer 1:53 Jason describes his early career journey 7:07 Jason provides his perspective on why teamwork is so vital to supporting innovation 9:45 Jason details his transition from working at Stan Winston Studios to Legacy Effects 15:45 Tom asks Jason to provide some insights on the future of AI 23:25 Tom and Jason share their affinity for certain 3D printers 27:00 Jay asks Jason to give his advice for those still searching for what they want to do with their careers 30:33 Thank yous and goodbyes

Unconventional Engineering Episode 22: “Latina Engineer – Empowering and Inspiring the Next Generation” with Diana Iracheta

Tom Costabile and Jay Flores met with Diana Iracheta, founder of “Latina Engineer.” Through her social channels and speaking engagements, Diana shares her career journey with the hope of inspiring the next generation of engineers. 00:12 Welcome to the show with Jay Flores and Tom Costabile 00:47 Guest introduction - Diana Iracheta, Founder of Latina Engineer 2:23 What drew Diana to engineering in the first place 4:06 Diana shares her "Top 3 Influences" 5:26 Background of the Latina Engineer organization 7:50 Diana describes the achievement she is most proud of 8:54 Diana explains the impetus for tapping into social media to connect with audiences 11:30 Advice for young women considering a career in engineering 12:45 Thank yous and goodbyes

Unconventional Engineering Episode 21 "Conformity Assessment and Competency Standards"

Host Tom Costabile spoke with guests Dr. Phil Hopkins and Patrick Vieth about conformity assessment and competency standards, as seen through the lens of the pipeline industry. 00:09 Welcome to the show with Tom Costabile 00:23 Guest introduction - Patrick Vieth and Dr. Phil Hopkins 1:46 Phil and Patrick share their "Top 3 Influences" 5:19 "Innovation Station" - discussion about the future of engineering and AI 12:55 The importance of Conformity Assessment and Competency Standards in engineering 22:56 Discussion about STEM education and the ASME Foundation "Dr. Phil Hopkins Scholarship" 25:55 Thank yous and goodbyes

Unconventional Engineering Episode 20 - “From Super Soaker to Energy Solutions” with Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Dr. Lonnie Johnson is an inventor with over 100 patents to his name, most notably, the Super Soaker® water gun, he is the President and Founder of Johnson Research and Development, as well as its’ affiliates Johnson Energy Storage and JTEC Energy. 00:09 Welcome to the show with Tom Costabile and Jay Flores 00:21 Guest introduction - Dr. Lonnie Johnson 1:10 Lonnie describes how he discovered a passion for engineering and inventing things during his childhood 2:11 Discussion about what can be done to support the future of engineering, in particular by encouraging the youth of today to explore STEM-related activities 5:37 Lonnie describes the different roles he's held over the years including his time at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in the U.S. Air Force, as well as NASA 13:54 "Innovation Station" - the backstory of how Dr. Johnson invented the Super Soaker, as well as his efforts in developing solid state batteries 19:41 Lonnie describes what motivates him to stay in the lab and reflects on some of his favorite inventions 24:07 Discussion about the future of engineering 29:09 Lonnie describes his interests, both in and out of the lab 33:20 Thank yous and goodbyes

Unconventional Engineering Episode 19 - "E-Fest Tech Connect 2025"

A panel of esteemed ASME volunteers provide their perspective on E-Fest Tech Connect – a unique, virtual event designed for students and early-career engineers. 00:00 Welcome to the show with host Tom Costabile 00:22 Guest panel introductions - Elisabeth Deeb, Nikhil Menezes, Santiago Campana Reyes, and Charbel Bou-Mosleh 1:41 Background of E-Fest Tech Connect event including history, current format, program content and the value of attending 3:45 The new ASME Digital Landmark Program and the partnership between the ASME History & Heritage Committee and the Student & Early Career Development Sector 4:55 Detailed description of what event attendees can expect 10:20 Tom and panel share their point of view on why events like E-Fest Tech Connect are valuable for attendees 15:35 Details of how to register for the event 18:55 Thank yous and goodbyes

Unconventional Engineering Episode 18 - "STEM From Dance" with Yamilee Toussaint

Yamilee Toussaint is harnessing the power of dance to introduce young girls to STEM. By combining a love of dance, her Mechanical Engineering training and a passion for education, Yamilee hopes to help light the creative spark for those who typically lack representation in science.

Unconventional Engineering Episode 17 - “Ready to Launch” with Joan Melendez-Misner

As a Spacecraft Systems Engineer and science influencer, Joan Melendez-Misner is on a “mission” to not only help NASA return to the Moon, but also use her passion and expertise to encourage and empower minorities to pursue careers in STEM.

Unconventional Engineering Episode 16 - The ASME Committee on Sustainability

Climate action is a long-term proposition that requires persistence and the ability to pivot where necessary. The ASME Committee on Sustainability, led by Chair Sean Bradshaw and Vice-Chair Timo Marquez, is charged with ensuring ASME remains committed to doing its part in contributing to the larger prospect of realizing actionable progress in addressing climate change.

Unconventional Engineering Episode 15 - Discovering “The Intentional Engineer” with Jeff Perry

The ability to be intentional with our own career path requires a certain amount of objectivity that’s not always easily attainable. Jeff Perry works with engineers to find ways to sustain their career development using a unique toolkit of training and coaching techniques. His ultimate goal is to help engineers unlock their unique potential, today and well into the future.

Unconventional Engineering Episode 14 - Manufacturing, Automotive & Tech, with Shauna McIntyre

One crucial element to charting how technology will continue to evolve is the ability to remain objective. With decades of experience in manufacturing, automotive and the tech sector, Shauna McIntyre provides a unique perspective on the topic, in particular how engineers can play a pivotal role in bringing about innovation.

Unconventional Engineering Ep. 13 - Reimagining Women’s Workwear with Ana Kraft

Creating a startup isn’t for the faint of heart. Armed with her engineering background and a determination to help women, Ana Kraft founded Xena Workwear, which seeks to outfit women with PPE designed just for them. With no experience in the footwear industry, Ana faced an uphill climb to say the least. She recently sat down with Tom and Katlyn to share her unique success story.

Unconventional Engineering Ep.12 - It's Not Magic, It's Science! with Jay Flores

Instilling a passion for STEM in the youth is essential to ensuring a constant pipeline of talent that will help solve the world’s problems. In this episode, Tom and co-host Karen Russo caught up with STEM Ambassador Jay Flores about his engineering journey and the exciting things he’s involved in. Jay has taken up the mantle of helping to inspire young minds to keep doing cool things in STEM.

Unconventional Engineering Ep.11 - Goal Setting & Career Journeys with Sylvia Acevedo

The ability to establish goals can be a critical component to driving successful career journeys. In this episode, Tom and Katlyn speak with Sylvia Acevedo, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of America, Systems Engineer at IBM, and Rocket Scientist at NASA(!), about her introduction to engineering and the professional development and interesting turns she experienced along the way.

Unconventional Engineering Ep.10 - Exploring the Hydrogen Supply Chain with Matthew Blieske

In the ongoing discussion about alternative energy, hydrogen has emerged as a viable solution. Tom and ASME’s Managing Director of Strategy & Innovation Christine Reilley had the chance to speak with Matthew Blieske, CEO of LIFTE H2, a hydrogen supply chain integrator, to shed some light on how hydrogen can play a role in the global net zero emissions conversation.

Unconventional Engineering Ep. 9 - Cyber Security & Data Protection with "CyberSecurityGirl"

Cyber security and data protection are two hot button topics in an ever-changing technological society. In this installment, Tom and his co-host Katlyn Coolbaugh, speak with Caitlin Sarian, who goes by the name “CyberSecurityGirl” on social media. Caitlin shares her career story and the trio delve into the finer points of how businesses and individuals can adopt best practices to keep their information safe and secure.