Having worked for many years as a DJ in RL, Kat brought her love of music and Irish charm to virtual worlds. She is also quite the 3D modelor, game designer, coder, and builder with that unique sense of humor and personality like no other. You can catch Kat’s shows at the 381 Club in sinespace where this witch from Northern Ireland spins tunes three times a week from 6-8 pm Eastern Time on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Wytchwhisper Sadofsky is a Multifaceted Artist, Singer/Songwriter, Advisor, Spiritually Enlightened Wiccan and Comedic Deviant. She has been singing in SL since 2009 Some of her songs can be sung in English, Domestic Cat, Domestic Potatoe and Domestic Chicken.Called a torch singer by some and a freaky fairy by others she has a unique sultry, sensuous, original, jazzy, alternative, oldies, demented, pop, rock sound at her shows. She supplies unique relaxing vocals, stress reducing melodies and life changing knowledge. Listen with caution while driving or operating dangerous equipment.

This is where you’ll find the music of Jim Cook, or Jimtzu as I’m also known on the interwebs, also in Second Life, I go by the name of Tsu (Tsunamijimbunn). The music is a combination of Native American style flutes and guitars and synths and drums and a variety of instruments played by me. I’ve been writing and recording my original music, in many styles, for quite a while. Having played guitar and other instruments for 25+ years before picking up the Native American style flute, it was a natural transition from improvising melodies to, what is called in the flute world, “playing from the heart”. It’s all instrumental, all improvised and I play mostly original instrumental music on the Native American style flutes and guitars.

WEBSITE: http://jimtzu.com/
DOWNLOAD CDs: https://jimtzu.bandcamp.com/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/jimtzu

Tuna Oddfellow is a versatile performer and content creator renowned for his captivating appearances on platforms like Virtual NBC’s “Avatar’s Got Talent” and his engaging live streams on YouTube. In addition to his dynamic performances, Tuna is celebrated for his innovative work in virtual worlds, where he creates and performs the mesmerizing Odd Ball shows. His talents extend to synthesizer music, adding an auditory dimension to his already immersive experiences. Whether he’s showcasing his unique skills, composing captivating tunes, or connecting with fans, Tuna Oddfellow is a name to watch in the digital entertainment space.

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Joyce Bettencourt is co-founder and Vice President of AvaCon, Inc.(https://avacon.org), a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality and 3D immersive spaces. AvaCon were organizers of 2010 in Boston & 2011 in Oakland Second Life Community Convention, the Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds virtual workshops, and the ongoing OpenSimulator Community Conference. AvaCon also currently fiscally sponsors the nonprofit community of practice, Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, where Joyce has been a community leader and host of weekly Friday meetings.

In addition, she is Creative Director of The Vesuvius Group (http://thevesuviusgroup.com), a collaborative studio specializing in developing online immersive and social environments for community-building. Joyce is a 2012 graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies program, focused on applying exponential technologies to addressing Global Grand Challenges.

Previously she was digital media producer for the Online Leadership Program at the educational nonprofit Global Kids and helped produce digital media learning content including the Second Life Curriculum, many virtual and physical world events, and the social issue game CONSENT! As her avatar Rhiannon Chatnoir, she has organized numerous social good online events, including the Virtual Haiti Relief campaign within the virtual world of Second Life that helped raise awareness and $10,000 USD in virtual micro transactions.

http://about.me/joycebettencourt

Ubit is currently a lead Core Developer for OpenSimulator who has been working on the project since 2012. He was instrumental in coding and implementing into the OpenSimulator codebase many of the updates that were part of the OpenSimulator 0.9 update and developing many of the OpenSimulator 0.9.1 and upcoming releases. View his code contributions online: http://opensimulator.org/viewgit/?a=search&p=opensim&h=HEAD&st=author&s=UbitUmarov and please support this key developer by donating to him directly: https://www.paypal.me/UbitUmarov

Kevin has been coding for open-source projects since 1992 including being a member of the OpenSimulator Core Developer team since March of 2014, and created, or maintains several add-on modules including the OpenSimSearch (https://github.com/kcozens/OpenSimSearch), OpenSimProfile (https://github.com/kcozens/OpenSimProfile), and OpenSimMutelist (https://github.com/kcozens/OpenSimMutelist) modules which are used with the Open Simulator project. You can also find him reporting bugs, bug triaging, updating the OpenImulator project wiki pages, and helping users via IRC or the mailing list. Kevin also runs the OpenSimulator developer meetings held weekly in OSgrid (http://www.osgrid.org/). You can view his code contributions: https://www.openhub.net/accounts/kcozens or support him by becoming a Patreon donor to the work he does on open-source code projects: https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens

As an OpenSimulator Core Developer, Melanie has been one of the most active contributors to virtual world software in general, and OpenSimulator in particular. As her avatar “Melanie Milland”, she was a long-time Second Life™ resident and gained much experience in using virtual worlds. Melanie has been involved in a number of virtual world projects including creating, with a team of up to 12 developers, her own “spin” of the OpenSimulator software which powered the Avination Grid. Much of the grid’s code, when shared back to the core code, was the base for many of the new OpenSimulator 0.9 update features.

Robert Adams has been an OpenSimulator core developer for many years. His OpenSimulator work includes the BulletSim physics engine, the DSG (distributed scene graph) simulator experiment, and many performance improvements.

Other OpenSimulator projects include the Docker-izing of OpenSimulator, the experimental Basil web browser viewer, and code addition to several of the independent viewer projects. Outside OpenSimulator, he has been a computer developer and researcher for 40 years. He has a current interest in distributed simulation and robotics.

Outside OpenSimulator, he has been a computer developer and researcher for 40 years.

His current interests are in distributed computing and robotics.

Gudule Lapointe is founder and public face of Speculoos World. Born in 2006 on Second Life, she boarded the OpenSimulator experience and created Speculoos World grid in 2011. She developed or contributed to several complimentary solutions for OpenSim grid, like 2do HypEvents, Teleport boards, flexible helper scripts, Debian installation helpers. Currently, she is mostly involved in the developement of W4OS, the OpenSimulator WordPress Interface.

https://w4os.org

https://2do.directory

Robert Adams has been an OpenSimulator core developer for many years. His OpenSimulator work includes the BulletSim physics engine, the DSG (distributed scene graph) simulator experiment, and many performance improvements.

Other OpenSimulator projects include the Docker-izing of OpenSimulator, the experimental Basil web browser viewer, and code addition to several of the independent viewer projects. Outside OpenSimulator, he has been a computer developer and researcher for 40 years. He has a current interest in distributed simulation and robotics.

Outside OpenSimulator, he has been a computer developer and researcher for 40 years.

His current interests are in distributed computing and robotics.

Graham Mills is a retired university academic with an amateur interest in the history of Liverpool. He uses OpenSim as an aid to better understanding issues of place and scale in historical contexts.

Xenon Darrow has been in virtual worlds since 2006. She was originally in Second Life and an active participant in helping others learning virtual world skills, as well as bringing corporate learning into the virtual world and using it’s components to create learning in the real world. She has been an active denizen in OpenSim for about 3.5 years, currently residing at Wolf Territories. She has a personal learning project called Inspiring Learning Spaces in the Virtual World and another for teaching instructional systems design in an immersive environment. She is the founder of WolfTEC – Wolf Territories Educational Community, as well as the Wolf Territories ambassador for VWEC – Virtual Worlds Education Consortium. Xenon is a real life instruction designer at a major medical school, often using AI and virtual world media for content and design. She had a learning and development business for over 32 years, with the core of her clients being Fortune 50 companies. She has worked with & in higher education for over 13 years.

Reiner Schneeberger aka Art Blue is a pioneer in digital art. More at http://art.blue

I am a writer, artist, creative guide. Art is my soul food, I could not exist without it. Currently, as I transition into a new stage of life and gain a different perspective, I am translating the experience into my art.

https://kismareidling.com/

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Joyce Bettencourt is co-founder and Vice President of AvaCon, Inc.(https://avacon.org), a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality and 3D immersive spaces. AvaCon were organizers of 2010 in Boston & 2011 in Oakland Second Life Community Convention, the Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds virtual workshops, and the ongoing OpenSimulator Community Conference. AvaCon also currently fiscally sponsors the nonprofit community of practice, Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, where Joyce has been a community leader and host of weekly Friday meetings.

In addition, she is Creative Director of The Vesuvius Group (http://thevesuviusgroup.com), a collaborative studio specializing in developing online immersive and social environments for community-building. Joyce is a 2012 graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies program, focused on applying exponential technologies to addressing Global Grand Challenges.

Previously she was digital media producer for the Online Leadership Program at the educational nonprofit Global Kids and helped produce digital media learning content including the Second Life Curriculum, many virtual and physical world events, and the social issue game CONSENT! As her avatar Rhiannon Chatnoir, she has organized numerous social good online events, including the Virtual Haiti Relief campaign within the virtual world of Second Life that helped raise awareness and $10,000 USD in virtual micro transactions.

http://about.me/joycebettencourt

Ubit is currently a lead Core Developer for OpenSimulator who has been working on the project since 2012. He was instrumental in coding and implementing into the OpenSimulator codebase many of the updates that were part of the OpenSimulator 0.9 update and developing many of the OpenSimulator 0.9.1 and upcoming releases. View his code contributions online: http://opensimulator.org/viewgit/?a=search&p=opensim&h=HEAD&st=author&s=UbitUmarov and please support this key developer by donating to him directly: https://www.paypal.me/UbitUmarov

Kevin has been coding for open-source projects since 1992 including being a member of the OpenSimulator Core Developer team since March of 2014, and created, or maintains several add-on modules including the OpenSimSearch (https://github.com/kcozens/OpenSimSearch), OpenSimProfile (https://github.com/kcozens/OpenSimProfile), and OpenSimMutelist (https://github.com/kcozens/OpenSimMutelist) modules which are used with the Open Simulator project. You can also find him reporting bugs, bug triaging, updating the OpenImulator project wiki pages, and helping users via IRC or the mailing list. Kevin also runs the OpenSimulator developer meetings held weekly in OSgrid (http://www.osgrid.org/). You can view his code contributions: https://www.openhub.net/accounts/kcozens or support him by becoming a Patreon donor to the work he does on open-source code projects: https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens

As an OpenSimulator Core Developer, Melanie has been one of the most active contributors to virtual world software in general, and OpenSimulator in particular. As her avatar “Melanie Milland”, she was a long-time Second Life™ resident and gained much experience in using virtual worlds. Melanie has been involved in a number of virtual world projects including creating, with a team of up to 12 developers, her own “spin” of the OpenSimulator software which powered the Avination Grid. Much of the grid’s code, when shared back to the core code, was the base for many of the new OpenSimulator 0.9 update features.

Robert Adams has been an OpenSimulator core developer for many years. His OpenSimulator work includes the BulletSim physics engine, the DSG (distributed scene graph) simulator experiment, and many performance improvements.

Other OpenSimulator projects include the Docker-izing of OpenSimulator, the experimental Basil web browser viewer, and code addition to several of the independent viewer projects. Outside OpenSimulator, he has been a computer developer and researcher for 40 years. He has a current interest in distributed simulation and robotics.

Outside OpenSimulator, he has been a computer developer and researcher for 40 years.

His current interests are in distributed computing and robotics.

Heike Philp is CEO of let’s talk online sprl, an immersive education specialist for language teaching and learning. She is co-initiator of EU funded LANCELOT (virtual classroom) and AVALON (virtual world) and the CAMELOT project (machinima for language teachers) and GUINEVERE (games in virtual worlds). She is founder of the Virtual Round Table Conference and co-owns EduNation in Second Life and in OpenSim.

Mal Burns is host of the “Inworld Review” – a weekly news and discussion program mostly focused on the hypergrid which has been running for over 15 years. Mal has used virtual environments for nearly two decades, is concerned about user interfaces in general and has a wealth of media and design experience behind him. In the organic sphere he is now retired and uses his experience to deploy and promote immersive spaces. He also has a twitter stream (@malburns) which provides news links on a daily basis.

AvaCon volunteer staff member and fan of Open Simulator. Also does a weekly webcast with Mal Burns.

17 years in Virtual Worlds education with the Virtual Pioneers and Islands of Enlightenment.

Educator in elementary education, Technology Integrator, now Technology Director.

Https://www.virtualpioneers.org
Https://www.coffeewithageek.org
https://islandsoe.weebly.com

Dr. Valerie Hill is a library and information science educator with a research focus on the intersection of information literacy and global digital participatory culture. She has taught at all age levels, served as a school librarian, and is a National Writing Project trainer. She is a co-coordinator of the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium and Director of the Community Virtual Library.

https://valibrarian.net/

https://linktr.ee/Valibrarian

https://about.me/valibrarian
https://www.metaverselibraries.org/
https://communityvirtuallibrary.org/

Becky Adams, PhD, served as the Director for Online Course Development at the University of New Mexico and is co-coordinator of the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium. She is passionate about best practices of using technology for learning and is an early adopter of teaching in the metaverse.

Bruce became drawn to 3D Virtual Immersive Environments for training after being introduced to them at a professional association meeting for trainers. Bruce realized they created opportunities for both synchronous and asynchronous trainings for learners, and offered a very cost-effective solution for companies utilizing them. He realized that 3D environments enabled better engagement for learners, and began implementing use of 3D Environments as replacements for PowerPoint slides in webinars (where he had attendees watch via the webinar screen as he explored the topics in the 3D world). And he was able to convince the company leadership to try a pilot program using 3D worlds for training as a substitute for the expensive face-to-face, week-long training marathons that had been a staple of the company leadership development.

After completing the highly successful pilot 3D leadership training series, he was able to continue and expand the 3D course offerings and subsequently ran a 5-year 3D-based training program before retiring from the company. Holding certifications in DDI®️, Forte®️, and 3D Virtual Worlds from the University of Washington (2012), Bruce brings a broad spectrum of experience in training and enjoys using and sharing knowledge gained from his 15+plus years of training experience.

Masters in Library and Information Systems Candidate, San Jose State University
M.A., Communications, California State University, Fullerton

Shannon Broden is slated to graduate from the MLIS program at San Jose State University in December 2024, with studies focusing on emerging technology and digital content. In 2024, the California State Library Association presented her with the Technology New Leader Award. For the 2023-2024 school year, she served as the Web Coordinator for the San Jose State student chapter of the American Library Association, which received the ALA Student Chapter of the Year for its efforts. She is also a student member of the American College and Research Libraries Association, also known as ACRL (part of ALA).

In virtual worlds as Kreatya Shannon, Shannon Broden is a member of VCARA – a virtual worlds and VR common interest group founded in Second Life in 2009 by the School of Information at San Jose State University, now involved in a variety of virtual worlds and celebrates 15 years this year. She also serves as Directory Lead for the board of the Community Virtual Library, which maintains listings of educational communities in the Metaverse, as well as contact information for those willing to mentor others in the virtual space.

Xenon Darrow has been in virtual worlds since 2006. She was originally in Second Life and an active participant in helping others learning virtual world skills, as well as bringing corporate learning into the virtual world and using it’s components to create learning in the real world. She has been an active denizen in OpenSim for about 3.5 years, currently residing at Wolf Territories. She has a personal learning project called Inspiring Learning Spaces in the Virtual World and another for teaching instructional systems design in an immersive environment. She is the founder of WolfTEC – Wolf Territories Educational Community, as well as the Wolf Territories ambassador for VWEC – Virtual Worlds Education Consortium. Xenon is a real life instruction designer at a major medical school, often using AI and virtual world media for content and design. She had a learning and development business for over 32 years, with the core of her clients being Fortune 50 companies. She has worked with & in higher education for over 13 years.

Andrew Stricker serves as an innovation and strategy analyst for LeMay Center at Air University. Previously, Dr. Stricker served Vanderbilt University as associate provost for innovation through technology. He has also served 27 years as an Air Force officer and scientist specializing in learning sciences and human-factors engineering. His research is focused on modeling adaptive expertise and the design of learning technologies. His graduate work was conducted at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas and Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

JJ Drinkwater is a Virtual Librarian in a Real World, or a Real Librarian in a Virtual World, or both, or neither. Curatorial experience includes the real & imaginary 19th c, American Culinary History, and Speculative Fiction. Current research is Interactive/Immersive/Improvisatory Narrative in Virtual Environments.

Frankie comes from the higher education world where she specializes in instructional systems and emerging technologies in support of learning. Frankie is also known to be a curious traveler immersed in virtual worlds for empowering learning experiences in the company of kindred spirits.

Dr Grant lived, studied and worked in China for 8 years. He has taught Chinese language and culture at tertiary level for more than 20 years. He coordinates and teaches two gateway units in the Monash University Chinese Studies program. He is the creator of the Monash Chinese Island virtual language learning simulation in Second Life that has been part of the formal introductory level curriculum at Monash since 2008.

Scott has also conducted collaborative research and jointly published a number of papers on educational uses of 3D multi-user virtual environments covering topics including self-efficacy, cognitive skills , second language acquisition and foreign language anxiety. His PhD thesis was based on his work on task-based language learning in the virtual environment of Chinese Island. Scott’s current research focuses on educational uses of high immersion VR and AI.

Veo Voom’s eclectic music spans Oldies, Folk, and Alternative Rock with a unique flair as he looks to uplift spirits and unite people through the power of music on his guitar, piano, harmonica, accrodion, bass, drums and much more!

James Olmos (SL: Acoustic Energy) is a songwriter & photographer who finds creative outlets through life’s moments. His inspiration and muse, along with medium often changes as he discovers and crosses new paths. James takes chances with his art and is constantly evolving. He is curious and can’t sit still. James gets anxious and craves exploration on many levels. His social network posts range from songs he has written, photographs he’s captured and blog ramblings about his philosophical thoughts and life’s moments. James also enjoys a healthful lifestyle and is passionate about obstacle course racing, mud runs, trail runs and the all-out, kick ass times he has while breathing, living, and journeying through life’s moments. As for his music, James is one of those artists who doesn’t need 1,000 listeners; he only needs one to listen. He doesn’t need a 1,000 viewers; just one to see.

Sun Tzu (a.k.a. David Fliesen) has been causing a ruckus in the Metaverse for nearly two decades, teaming up with AvaCon and the U.S. Military to blur the lines between reality and virtual awesomeness.

But at OSCC 2024, hold onto your goggles because I’m dusting off my headphones for my first DJ set in over 20 years! The theme? Steampunk—an era that never happened but absolutely should have. I’ll be spinning tunes, including a few of my own Steampunk AI-generated music tracks, because why not let robots with monocles join the fun?

Back in the analog days, I graced the airwaves at Milwaukee’s WBCS FM-103 and WMKE AM-1340, as well as WCQL AM-1370 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, all while juggling high school at John Marshall’s specialty program in TV and Radio Broadcasting. I even chased after my FCC license at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) before diving into a 21-year career as a U.S. Navy Journalist.

From DJing in far-off places like Honduras to running TV and radio stations aboard aircraft carriers (because nothing says “high seas” like a good music set), I’ve seen—and spun—it all. I also taught undergrad courses on Radio Skills and Voice & Diction at the Defense Information School (DINFOS), ensuring military broadcasters could bring news and tunes to troops worldwide via the Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS).

So, come for the Steampunk vibes and stay for a voice that’s been fine-tuned to make you forget I have a face for radio.

Kay McLennan is a Professor of Practice at the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement. Kay created the Tulane SoPA Metaverse (newly known as the SoPA Metaversity) and has been creating and using virtual world learning simulations in her online economics and business studies courses since 2008. Kay uses student feedback to continually refine and expand the educational simulations she creates to use in her e-courses. She has written about her creation and use of OpenSimulator-based learning simulations – see “Interactivity, Engagement, and Increased Learning Outcomes in 3D Virtual World Educational Simulations” (@ http://www.editlib.org/p/40849), “Prisoners’ Dilemma” simulation use case example (@ https://sites.google.com/view/the-prisoners-dilemma/home), and “Data Detectives Game” simulation use case example (@ https://sites.google.com/view/data-detectives-game). Also, the video clips from the December 2018 “Mainstreaming Virtual World Learning Colloquium” event – organized by Kay — can be viewed @ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLctERt0Fl50gLOgYPdfHDE8NcPtuO4wb0.

https://sites.google.com/view/the-prisoners-dilemma/home

https://sites.google.com/view/data-detectives-game

Lisa Laxton is the Founder of Infinite Metaverse Alliance® (IMA) and President of Laxton Consulting with experience providing various solutions for education, research, business, and defense clients. You may have seen her around the Hyperverse as Shelenn Ayres busy building content or engaged in testing but she is available to anyone in the Open Simulator community interested in collaborating to advance virtual worlds technology and/or to improve accessibility by design.

https://www.opensimfest.com/
https://echovoice.infinitemetaverse.org/

Frank Rulof is a retired Senior Systems Engineer from Thales Netherlands with expertise areas in Training & Simulation. He led research and innovation activities related to Open Simulator technology within the Thales Global Company using multiple Open Simulator grids focused on user needs. He continues project efforts during his retirement by continuing collaboration with IMA.

I am founder and CEO of AvatarLife.com and I am from India.

Accredited TESOL/EAP (online) educator, Helena Galani (Dip. RSA, University of Cambridge/UCLES; M.A ELT, University of Nottingham) blends her lessons in immersive VWs for online, flipped and hybrid classes. She owns ELT Treasure Island, Kitely, OpenSim and taught/trained EFL teachers for INDIRE, EdMondo. As EVO moderator and as Speaker, Helena trains language teachers to use Virtual Worlds with Transmedia Storytelling, games and Interactive Scenarios. Helena is EduNation, Second Life/OpenSim resident, CAMELOT.eu Award winner and presenter, actively supporting the value of VWs and machinima to promote language acquisition. With her recent passion for creating online courses, Helena is an EdTech expert using an immersive language teaching approach. As presenter for VWBPE, VRT, NYS TESOL, JALT CALL, SLMOOC and TESOL Greece, Helena highlights the usefulness of designing games, Interactive Scenarios and Transmedia Storytelling experiences in VWs for ELT/EAP.

Lone Wolf has been the owner of Wolf Territories Grid for 3 years, we are the largest privately owned grid in the metaverse.

https://www.wolfsoftwaresystems.co.uk

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Mal Burns is host of the “Inworld Review” – a weekly news and discussion program mostly focused on the hypergrid which has been running for over 15 years. Mal has used virtual environments for nearly two decades, is concerned about user interfaces in general and has a wealth of media and design experience behind him. In the organic sphere he is now retired and uses his experience to deploy and promote immersive spaces. He also has a twitter stream (@malburns) which provides news links on a daily basis.

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Nara Malone is an award-winning author, poet, and game writer. In addition she is a pioneering virtual world explorer, environmentalist, and game developer. Nara loves pushing the boundaries of all that is creative or geeky.

https://www.youtube.com/@nextdimensiontales

Dorena: Dorena Bree, who used to go by Endora Twinklens in OpenSim, has been a part of Nara’s Nook since 2014. This was her first experience in 3D story building and she continues to learn something new every day. Primarily, she enjoys helping the writers at the Nook by making props for their stories. Her own stories tend to be comedically entwined with her love for campy B movies.”

Romance Author, Graphic Artist and Content Creator.

Petlove is a virtual denizen who has been involved in virtual worlds since 2006. She has focused on creative machinima and the positive effects virtual worlds can have on peoples’ real lives.

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Joyce Bettencourt is co-founder and Vice President of AvaCon, Inc.(https://avacon.org), a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality and 3D immersive spaces. AvaCon were organizers of 2010 in Boston & 2011 in Oakland Second Life Community Convention, the Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds virtual workshops, and the ongoing OpenSimulator Community Conference. AvaCon also currently fiscally sponsors the nonprofit community of practice, Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, where Joyce has been a community leader and host of weekly Friday meetings.

In addition, she is Creative Director of The Vesuvius Group (http://thevesuviusgroup.com), a collaborative studio specializing in developing online immersive and social environments for community-building. Joyce is a 2012 graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies program, focused on applying exponential technologies to addressing Global Grand Challenges.

Previously she was digital media producer for the Online Leadership Program at the educational nonprofit Global Kids and helped produce digital media learning content including the Second Life Curriculum, many virtual and physical world events, and the social issue game CONSENT! As her avatar Rhiannon Chatnoir, she has organized numerous social good online events, including the Virtual Haiti Relief campaign within the virtual world of Second Life that helped raise awareness and $10,000 USD in virtual micro transactions.

http://about.me/joycebettencourt

Michael Bailey has been working with technology for the past 24 years. Originally a programmer, he discovered Second Life in 2007, and then became invested in the OpenSimulator project in 2009. Since then, he has acquired expertise scripting and building in virtual environments, as well as familiarity with the OpenSimulator software and it’s configuration. As an open source advocate, he makes heavy use of tools such as Blender and Open Broadcaster Studio. He’s streamed for the OpenSimulator Community Conference (OSCC) since 2014. He was instrumental in the OSCC 2016 live streaming setup, coordination, training, and A/V promotional materials. Currently a staff member at AvaCon Inc., he is dedicated to promoting projects for social good by means of video tutorials, presentations on useful software, and content creation.

AvaCon staff member for many years.

Grace Zhang is a freshman at MIT studying Computer Science with a focus in Artificial Intelligence. Passionate about applying machine learning to address real-world challenges, she is an active member of AI@MIT’s Permeate project group. Grace is also engaged in innovative undergraduate research that aims to enhance multi-agent reinforcement learning by tackling optimization and scalability. In addition to her technical pursuits, Grace is a member of MIT’s Student Events Board and a copy editor for The Tech, MIT’s student newspaper.

I’m a third year MIT student born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. My interests are in machine learning and systems programming (+ their intersection!). Currently, I work with the Camera Culture group of the MIT Media Lab as an undergraduate researcher in the Decentralized AI effort. My experience in the project has been extremely fun and I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn and try new things.

Rosie Vojtek/Roxie Neiro is co-founder and Chief Communication, Design, and Innovation Officer (CCO) for Edovation and the Editor in Chief for the Virtual Education Journal. During her career in both Oregon and Connecticut she served as the Assistant Executive Director for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS), and as a curriculum director (Oregon City Public Schools), elementary principal (Forest Grove Public Schools, OR, and Bristol Pubic Schools, CT), and a middle and elementary school teacher (Winston-Dillard Public Schools, OR). Rosie earned her BS in elementary education from Oregon State University, and her MA and PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Oregon.Together with her husband Bob, the Vojteks co-authored: Motivate! Inspire! Lead! 10 Strategies for Building Collegial Learning Communities. (Corwin Press, 2009); and, co-authored The Technology Column for the Journal of Staff Development (JSD 1995-2000).

Bob/BJ is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Edovation and the Design Editor for the Virtual Education Journal. During his career, he has worked in both Higher Education and K12, as Teacher Leader, Associate Professor, Director, Dean, and Assistant Provost. These organizations include Los Angeles Unified School District, Avon Public Schools, College of the Redwoods, Concordia University, University of Hartford, and Harvard Law School – Harvard University. Bob earned a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, an MA in Education Leadership from Cal Poly Humboldt, and a PhD in Education Policy and Management from the University of Oregon. Together with his wife Rosie, the Vojteks co-authored: Motivate! Inspire! Lead! 10 Strategies for Building Collegial Learning Communities. (Corwin Press, 2009); and, co-authored The Technology Column for the Journal of Staff Development (JSD 1995-2000).

As a 3D Immersive Virtual Worlds Evangelist and medical laboratory scientist, Sally S. Cherry, MLS(ASCP) creates 3D immersive virtual worlds, and relevant social media postings to share clinical lab-related information; distribute curated content; and to conduct specialized training sessions.

Her special interests include: 3D immersive virtual worlds; social media; information exchanges; medical laboratory science; medical laboratory science careers awareness; communicable diseases; laboratory methods for the detection and identification of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); network weaving; and public health awareness.

Depending on the time and place, she has several additional roles… Kitely Resident; Generative AI Art Creator; STI Laboratory Consultant/Instructor; 3D Virtual Worlds Photographer; Social Media Strategist; Network Weaver; RL Photo Storyteller; Board member; Webmaster; Blogger; Mother and Friend.

Bluesky URL
https://cherrynetwork.bsky.social/

Julian Reyes is the Founder and Director of the Virtual Worlds Museum™, dedicated to exploring, preserving, and sharing the evolution of immersive worlds. Julian has held positions at Meta, Cisco Systems, Founders Workshop, and Exponent, and has received training through the Oculus Launch Pad, Oculus Start programs, and EveryRealm Metaverse Academy.

Currently, Julian is focused on mapping immersive worlds as part of the Museum’s mission. A recognized thought leader, he has spoken at events such as AWE XR Conference 2024, MetaCenter Global Week, and Spectrum Business Conference. He has also been invited to serve as a judge for the 2024 MIT XR Hackathon and the Polys WebXR Awards.

Mal Burns is host of the “Inworld Review” – a weekly news and discussion program mostly focused on the hypergrid which has been running for over 15 years. Mal has used virtual environments for nearly two decades, is concerned about user interfaces in general and has a wealth of media and design experience behind him. In the organic sphere he is now retired and uses his experience to deploy and promote immersive spaces. He also has a twitter stream (@malburns) which provides news links on a daily basis.

Born in San Diego, the son of a Navy carrier pilot whose deployments took his family all over the United States before returning to San Diego for high school and college. BS Physics, UCSD ’92.

Philip fell in love with coding in middle school, and started a software company in high school which helped pay for college. Moved to San Francisco in ’94, discovered the Internet, and created FreeVue, a videoconferencing app that worked over dialup with the earliest web cameras. Acquired by RealNetworks in late ’95, where he led the creation of RealVideo and became CTO.

In ’99, Philip left RealNetworks and founded Linden Lab to create Second Life and fulfill his dream to build an open virtual world. After 10 years running Second Life as CEO, he started several experimental new companies with two co-founders, including LoveMachine, Worklist.net, and Coffee & Power. In 2013, after experimenting with the mems gyro chips that would enable the Oculus Rift, they started High Fidelity to build a new open-source virtual world platform for VR Headsets. In 2019, with VR failing to gain wide consumer acceptance, refocused High Fidelity on spatial audio.

Presently working on a number of new projects at IRL415 lab in San Francisco, including FairShare, which aims to provide a basic income and reduce wealth inequality using a group-based digital currency.

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Dr. Rachel Umoren is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Associate Professor of Healthcare Simulation Science and Global Health at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on innovative uses of technology to improve the quality of newborn care.

Mr Cook is a Research Engineer at the University of Washington and lead developer for the virtual ENC project.

In the dynamic realm of the metaverse, I serve as both an architect and a trainer, crafting immersive digital landscapes as a metaverse builder, imparting knowledge and skills as a metaverse trainer, and illuminating the path forward as an educator in the virtual world. Through the fusion of innovation and education, I am dedicated to shaping a transformative metaverse experience, where virtual worlds become not just simulations but dynamic classrooms, empowering individuals to explore, learn, and connect in ways previously unimaginable.

I am also known as Marcel Mosswood in SL.

https://about.marcellinamaria.my.id

Lyr is a Professor Emerita at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches doctoral AI classes and since 2005, 62 classes held in virtual worlds. A $25,000 Grand Prize winner for the Mars space simulation, she tests game simulations at Virtual Harmony. Lyr volunteers for AvaCon as a research scientist and is co-chair of the OSCC Organizing Committee

https://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Joyce Bettencourt is co-founder and Vice President of AvaCon, Inc.(https://avacon.org), a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality and 3D immersive spaces. AvaCon were organizers of 2010 in Boston & 2011 in Oakland Second Life Community Convention, the Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds virtual workshops, and the ongoing OpenSimulator Community Conference. AvaCon also currently fiscally sponsors the nonprofit community of practice, Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, where Joyce has been a community leader and host of weekly Friday meetings.

In addition, she is Creative Director of The Vesuvius Group (http://thevesuviusgroup.com), a collaborative studio specializing in developing online immersive and social environments for community-building. Joyce is a 2012 graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies program, focused on applying exponential technologies to addressing Global Grand Challenges.

Previously she was digital media producer for the Online Leadership Program at the educational nonprofit Global Kids and helped produce digital media learning content including the Second Life Curriculum, many virtual and physical world events, and the social issue game CONSENT! As her avatar Rhiannon Chatnoir, she has organized numerous social good online events, including the Virtual Haiti Relief campaign within the virtual world of Second Life that helped raise awareness and $10,000 USD in virtual micro transactions.

http://about.me/joycebettencourt

Kay McLennan is a Professor of Practice at the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement. Kay created the Tulane SoPA Metaverse (newly known as the SoPA Metaversity) and has been creating and using virtual world learning simulations in her online economics and business studies courses since 2008. Kay uses student feedback to continually refine and expand the educational simulations she creates to use in her e-courses. She has written about her creation and use of OpenSimulator-based learning simulations – see “Interactivity, Engagement, and Increased Learning Outcomes in 3D Virtual World Educational Simulations” (@ http://www.editlib.org/p/40849), “Prisoners’ Dilemma” simulation use case example (@ https://sites.google.com/view/the-prisoners-dilemma/home), and “Data Detectives Game” simulation use case example (@ https://sites.google.com/view/data-detectives-game). Also, the video clips from the December 2018 “Mainstreaming Virtual World Learning Colloquium” event – organized by Kay — can be viewed @ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLctERt0Fl50gLOgYPdfHDE8NcPtuO4wb0.

https://sites.google.com/view/the-prisoners-dilemma/home

https://sites.google.com/view/data-detectives-game

After 4 decades of writing code in the Real World, Kayaker Magic has been scripting in virtual worlds since 2008. By taking apart items made by Arcadia Asylum, Kayaker learned a great deal about building vehicles in OpenSim, animating, 3D modeling, UV mapping, texture mapping and efficient mesh. He wants to preserve Arcadia’s work so others can learn these lessons as well.

MikesKayakJournal.net

Cuga Rajal is an active content creator and assists with OpenSimulator core development. He provides physics engine support and testing, produces unmanaged libraries for Apple/macOS hardware, and developed a process to update Bullet to the latest version 3.25. He leads the DMV at Burn2, the Burning Man regional in Second Life, where he manages scripting and resources for a large collection of “art car” land vehicles, along with cross-grid scripting compatibility.

Joyce Bettencourt is co-founder and Vice President of AvaCon, Inc.(https://avacon.org), a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality and 3D immersive spaces. AvaCon were organizers of 2010 in Boston & 2011 in Oakland Second Life Community Convention, the Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds virtual workshops, and the ongoing OpenSimulator Community Conference. AvaCon also currently fiscally sponsors the nonprofit community of practice, Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, where Joyce has been a community leader and host of weekly Friday meetings.

In addition, she is Creative Director of The Vesuvius Group (http://thevesuviusgroup.com), a collaborative studio specializing in developing online immersive and social environments for community-building. Joyce is a 2012 graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies program, focused on applying exponential technologies to addressing Global Grand Challenges.

Previously she was digital media producer for the Online Leadership Program at the educational nonprofit Global Kids and helped produce digital media learning content including the Second Life Curriculum, many virtual and physical world events, and the social issue game CONSENT! As her avatar Rhiannon Chatnoir, she has organized numerous social good online events, including the Virtual Haiti Relief campaign within the virtual world of Second Life that helped raise awareness and $10,000 USD in virtual micro transactions.

http://about.me/joycebettencourt

Michael Bailey has been working with technology for the past 24 years. Originally a programmer, he discovered Second Life in 2007, and then became invested in the OpenSimulator project in 2009. Since then, he has acquired expertise scripting and building in virtual environments, as well as familiarity with the OpenSimulator software and it’s configuration. As an open source advocate, he makes heavy use of tools such as Blender and Open Broadcaster Studio. He’s streamed for the OpenSimulator Community Conference (OSCC) since 2014. He was instrumental in the OSCC 2016 live streaming setup, coordination, training, and A/V promotional materials. Currently a staff member at AvaCon Inc., he is dedicated to promoting projects for social good by means of video tutorials, presentations on useful software, and content creation.

Sun Tzu (a.k.a. David Fliesen) has been causing a ruckus in the Metaverse for nearly two decades, teaming up with AvaCon and the U.S. Military to blur the lines between reality and virtual awesomeness.

But at OSCC 2024, hold onto your goggles because I’m dusting off my headphones for my first DJ set in over 20 years! The theme? Steampunk—an era that never happened but absolutely should have. I’ll be spinning tunes, including a few of my own Steampunk AI-generated music tracks, because why not let robots with monocles join the fun?

Back in the analog days, I graced the airwaves at Milwaukee’s WBCS FM-103 and WMKE AM-1340, as well as WCQL AM-1370 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, all while juggling high school at John Marshall’s specialty program in TV and Radio Broadcasting. I even chased after my FCC license at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) before diving into a 21-year career as a U.S. Navy Journalist.

From DJing in far-off places like Honduras to running TV and radio stations aboard aircraft carriers (because nothing says “high seas” like a good music set), I’ve seen—and spun—it all. I also taught undergrad courses on Radio Skills and Voice & Diction at the Defense Information School (DINFOS), ensuring military broadcasters could bring news and tunes to troops worldwide via the Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS).

So, come for the Steampunk vibes and stay for a voice that’s been fine-tuned to make you forget I have a face for radio.

AvaCon volunteer staff member and fan of Open Simulator. Also does a weekly webcast with Mal Burns.

AvaCon staff member for many years.