Hi, I’m Brian I help out in the 3D printing lab, and I am a big fan of prop fabrication and mixed reality. I find the idea of bringing previously fictional objects to the real world, and vice versa, imaginatively transforming. I’m incredibly grateful to work here and have access to teachers and classes related to my field of study. I hope to eventually work on building assistive educational technology for neurodivergent learners. These days I’m learning to do more work in VR. I enjoy talking about game development, and transporting things between the virtual and real worlds.
As a nontraditional student. I naturally sort of found my way to CalNerds. At first I was just a student using the space while taking classes to prepare for grad school. I always kept thinking to myself that I wish I had something like this in my undergrad years. Organizations like CalNerds are important for fostering a community for students who otherwise may feel like they don’t belong. They are sanctuaries where one can work, rest, and break bread with fellow classmates between all the chaos and demands of academic life. The support I received from Di to help navigate Berkeley was invaluable. Without it, I would not have had the determination to stay and continue working towards my goal of being a researcher. I started volunteering in the 3D printing lab since it was a way I could contribute and give back. The CalNERDS mission to assist non-traditional students is directly related to what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. The opportunity to begin now and make changes I can already see, while I continue my education, keeps me motivated and driven. It is a privilege to work here.
