SoonerCon 28 Featured Guest

Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Dr. Lonnie Johnson, a bona fide “rocket scientist,” has just one mission—to ensure the world has enough energy for a prosperous future.  Although he has devoted his life to solving some of the world’s most complex technological problems, he is best known for his widely popular invention, the Super Soaker water gun.  Dr. Johnson is a prolific inventor and holds more than 100 patents, the vast majority of which are energy-related.

In 2000, realizing that that a small start-up company could not compete in a technology where larger well-established companies were already beginning to focus, Johnson looked beyond Lithium-ion, which was the emerging advanced battery technology at that time.  With this “leapfrog” strategy, Johnson Battery Technologies (JBT) has become a leading developer of the next generation of battery technology, Ceramic Solid-State Batteries.  JBT’s technology will not only provide an enabler for the IoT revolution, but also change the paradigm for consumer electronic devices, with more than 2x improvement over Lithium-ion.  In parallel JBT’s sister company, Excellatron, is developing Lithium-Air batteries.  Today, electric vehicles can run ~200 miles on a single charge.  However, with Excellatron’s technology, an electric vehicle could potentially achieve 1,000 miles on a single charge.

An energy expert at the National Science Foundation has identified Dr. Johnson’s third energy invention (the JTEC heat engine) as being “possibly the greatest on earth.”  In 2011, Dr. Johnson was inducted into the Engineering Hall of Fame by the state of Alabama, the first African American ever to obtain such an honor in the state’s history.  He was awarded the “Breakthrough Award” from Popular Mechanics magazine for the JTEC invention that converts heat directly into electricity. He has been featured in countless magazines and newspaper articles and has appeared on numerous television programs.

Dr. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a master’s in Nuclear Engineering, and an honorary doctorate in Science from Tuskegee University.  He served as a Space Nuclear Power Safety Officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he analyzed NASA space systems that utilized nuclear power sources.  During active-duty assignments in the Air Force and tours as an employee at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he helped develop some of the nation’s most advanced technological achievements—including the Galileo mission to Jupiter, the Mars Observer Project and the Cassini Mission to Saturn, and the Stealth Bomber (B-2).  He has received numerous honors including two Air Force Commendation Medals, an Air Force Achievement Medal, and a number of NASA awards.

Dr. Johnson will be attending SoonerCon 28 on
Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th, 2019.

Friday, June 7, 2019 5:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma G

The Journey to Creating the Super Soaker

Rocket Scientist and prolific inventor, Dr. Lonnie Johnson speaks on his history leading up to and the story of the creation of the Super Soaker: The world’s #1 selling water toy of all time.

Panelists: Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Tracks: STEM, Gaming

Tags: GoH

Friday, June 7, 2019 6:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma H

Opening Ceremonies

SoonerCon 28's official opening. Toastmaster Selina Rosen will blast us all into Brave New Worlds.

Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft

Tracks: General Interest

Tags: Ceremony

Friday, June 7, 2019 7:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma B

Friends of SoonerCon Reception

Friends of SoonerCon membership-exclusive social event with SoonerCon 28 guests of honor and featured guests. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided. Thank you to our Friends of SoonerCon supporters!

Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft

Tracks: General Interest

Tags: Reception

Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:00 a.m. | Location: University C

The Power of Perseverance

Dr. Lonnie Johnson speaks about the evolution of technology, and human’s relationship to the ever-changing technological landscape.

Panelists: Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Tracks: STEM, Culture & World Affairs

Tags: GoH

Saturday, June 8, 2019 Noon | Location: Oklahoma E - Autograph Tables

Autographs

Panelists: Lou Antonelli, Deborah Chester, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Craig Wolf

Tracks: Autographs

Tags: Autographs

Saturday, June 8, 2019 3:30 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma B

Nerf Fundraiser

Nerf gaming and special photo op/autograph session with SoonerCon’s featured science guest, Dr. Lonnie Johnson. A bona-fide “rocket scientist,” Dr. Johnson has just one mission—to ensure the world has enough energy for a prosperous future. Although he has devoted his life to solving some of the world’s most complex technological problems, he is best known for his widely popular invention, the Super Soaker water gun. Dr. Johnson is a prolific inventor and holds more than 100 patents, the vast majority of which are energy-related. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Johnson STEM Activity Center in Dr. Johnson’s hometown, Atlanta, GA. Learn more at http://johnsonstem.org/. Donation participation tiers: $20-$30.

Panelists: Josh Updegrove, Phillip Grimes, Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Tracks: Gaming

Tags: Charity Fundraiser

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