Reals World Talks

Real World Talks are sessions designed to connect Fab Learning Academy participants with professionals from around the globe who bring digital fabrication and related technologies into real educational contexts. Before each Field Activity, invited guests, including educators, researchers, practitioners, and education industry experts, share their experiences and projects. They provide practical examples on how digital fabrication and related technologies such as AI, electronics, programming can be utilized in education context. These talks aim to inspire participants, offering diverse perspectives and practical insights that help bridge the gap between learning and real-world application.

Real World Talks 2025

Chong Ing Kai Founder and CEO of Stick'Em

Kai is the founder & CEO of Stick 'Em. Tinkering with air cannons and flamethrowers since primary school, he started Stick'Em to make STEAM education more accessible to all with chopstick robots.

Since launching Stick 'Em in 2020, the startup has reached over 12,000 students and 1200 teachers across 11 countries, including 95 schools.

Kai is one of the youngest Forbes 30U30 Asia nominees, Philip Yeo Initiative Fellow, Tatler Gen T Leader of Tomorrow and global winner of the coveted Hult Prize 2025

Talk video: Making STEAM Education More Accessible

Khushbu Kshirsagar Researcher at Tufts University

Khushbu Kshirsagar is an engineer, educator, and researcher passionate about hands-on STEAM learning beyond screens. Fascinated by making since childhood, she designs educational technologies that work offline, blending science, art, and storytelling into playful experiences. Currently studying STEM Education at Tufts University and researcher at the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO).

Khushbu explores how prototyping can make learning more tangible and inclusive. She previously worked at Bosch Ltd, managed a makerspace in New Delhi, and designed STEM-based toys.

Talk video: Designing Screen-Free Learning Experiences

Real World Talks 2024

Dr Steven Greenstein Associate Professor of Mathematics, Montclair State University, US

Learning to teach elementary mathematics through digital design fabrication and evaluation

Bartholomew Ting Fab Lab Singapore

Creating big cardboard structures

Donn Koh Co-founder and Design Principal of STUCK Design

AI in Design

Megumi Iwata Researcher at University of Oulu, Finland

Generation AI

Erin E. Riley

Arts and Digital Fabrication

Kirk Iin

Digital Fabrication and Crafts in Taipei