Harouna Ba is the Director of SciPlay at New York Hall of Science (NYSCI). Dr. Ba has extensive experience in investigating children's development of digital literacy skills and the impact of complex science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs in formal as well as informal educational settings. Prior to joining NYSCI, he led several research and evaluation projects about technology and STEM at the Education Development Center's Center for Children and Technology. Through this research, he helped inform the processes that institutions use to provide quality and effective learning opportunities to underserved children and adults. Dr. Ba designed, conducted, and managed rigorous quantitative and qualitative research projects focused on the implementation of technology infrastructure and support in K-12 systems statewide and the use of technologies to enhance teaching practices and promote student learning across formal and informal settings. Dr. Ba has an interdisciplinary educational background in the social sciences and humanities with a special focus on children's exploration of places and learning across multiple settings. 

Cynthia Char is Principal of Char Associates, an educational consulting firm based in Montpelier Vermont with clients throughout the United States, and specializing in the design and evaluation of educational programs and products. She began her research career at Harvard Project Zero and Children's Television Workshop in the late '70's. Prior to establishing her consulting firm, Dr. Char was a senior associate in research and design at both Bank Street College's Center for Children and Technology in New York and the Education Development Center (EDC) in Newton, Massachusetts. Her evaluation work includes developing and overseeing formative research and process evaluations to help organizations maximize the educational value and effectiveness of their programs and products, and outcomes-based and summative evaluations to assess programs' educational impact and outcomes. Dr. Char's particular areas of expertise include learning in formal and informal learning settings (schools, colleges, museums, libraries, zoos, parks, community-based organizations), educational media and technology, and student learning and professional development in science and mathematics. Among her current evaluation projects, she is a senior research advisor for Change the Story, a systemic change initiative promoting the economic well-being of women in Vermont. Dr. Char has a background in human development and learning.

Ajay Nair is the President of Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. He is also a nationally recognized expert in student affairs issues and an accomplished social justice, race, and ethnicity scholar. At Arcadia, Dr. Nair has instituted Arcadia UKnighted, a presidential initiative and interactive forum for members of the University community to engage in dialogue and collaboration. Dr. Nair has served on a wide range of university and civic boards and organizations, including as director of the Division for Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice for NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education). At the 2018 NASPA Conference, Dr. Nair received the Dr. Doris Michiko Ching Shattering the Glass Ceiling award for his impact on the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American community through his leadership, service, and scholarship. Previously, Dr. Nair held executive leadership positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and the University of Virginia. Dr. Nair serves on the editorial board of INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education. His research interests include quality assurance in educational systems, service learning and civic engagement, and second-generation Asian American identity.