Science for the classroom and beyond
What is a scientific illustrator? Ella Marushchenko joins Lab Out Loud to discuss her job and her journey from a traditional art background to creating scientific illustrations. Stressing the need for artistic freedom in scientific visualization, Ella describes how she balances the collaborative process between artists and scientists as she translates complex concepts into visually appealing art. Links: Featured image […]
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In a recent survey, Nature asked scientists about their use of Twitter, and discovered that many decreased their use of the platform, and some have decided to leave it completely. To help understand this trend, we welcome bilingual science journalist Myriam Vidal Valero to the show. Myriam reminds us how many scientists need social media to connect, share their work, […]
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To answer our questions about pumpkins, we connected with a pumpkin expert. From the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Rebecca Brown joins us to talk about growing pumpkins, the surprising results of pumpkin breeding, and the pumpkin industry in the United States. About Our Guest Rebecca Brown is an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island in the Department […]
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As schools transitioned to online learning in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Skype a Scientist saw a increased demand for their service. Boasting a database of thousands of scientists, SKYPE a Scientist uses readily available video chat tools to connect scientists to teachers, students and other groups around the world. Founder and Executive Director Sarah McAnulty joins us to tell […]
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For our latest installment of Scientist Out Loud, Dr. Terry McGlynn joins us to discuss his research with ants and other insects found in tropical rainforests. Since 1995, Terry has been working out of La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica studying ants as a model system. Instead of the boring ants we might find in North America, these tropical […]
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This week we explore Meet The Lab, a new educational resource from PBS Wisconsin Education designed for middle school science classrooms. Similar to our #ScientistOutLoud series, Meet the Lab introduces students to real world issues, scientific practices and concepts, and also to the people that work together to research and solve problems using science. To guide us through this new […]
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Our guest this week is Dr. Cassandra Raby, a research fellow at Leeds University Business School looking at diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Dr. Raby recently finishing her Ph.D. studying behavior and disease transmission in Namibian wild baboons, where she reflects: “a lot of my research involves poo”. Cass joins us to talk about collecting (and transporting) poo, what […]
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Continuing our #ScientistOutLoud series, we welcome Susanna L. Harris to the show. As a Ph. D. candidate at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Susanna studies how bacteria stick to plant roots. Susanna joins us to describe her research, discusses how she got interested in science, and candidly shares with us her path in graduate learning – including […]
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This week we welcome Katherine Hatcher to the show. As a fifth year Neuroscience PhD Candidate at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Katherine investigates circadian rhythms and how exposure to environmental factors alters behavior and physiology, particularly in midlife women. Katherine joins us to discuss her path into research, her day-to-day work as a scientist, and how we might apply […]
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This week we welcome glaciologist Mike MacFerrin to the show. As a researcher from the University of Colorado Boulder, Mike studies ice sheet meltwater feedback in Greenland. Recently, his team discovered that growing ice slabs in Greenland are accelerating meltwater runoff that is contributing to rising sea levels. Mike joins us to discuss his work as a glaciologist, explain the […]
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Our guest this week is Sarah McAnulty, squid biologist and founder of Skype a Scientist. Using readily available video chat tools, SKYPE a Scientist connects real scientists with classes around the world. Through these video sessions, classes can learn more about the scientist’s field of study, what it means to be a scientist and how they do their job. Sarah […]
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This week we talk to our guest about time. Extensive time. Time that grounds geologic thinking as a way to unlock the earth’s past. Marcia Bjornerud, Professor of Environmental Studies and Geology at Lawrence University in Wisconsin (and Brian’s neighbor!), joins us to talk about her recent book Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World. Listen […]
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Recognizing that CRISPR and other genome editing technologies have rapidly outpaced standard textbook knowledge, we reached out to R. Alta Charo, professor of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alta joins us to talk about the ethics of CRISPR and genome editing, what current students and parents might need to know about biotechnological advances in genome editing, and […]
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Science degrees can be found in the most intriguing careers. This week we talk with Becca Ransohoff, an analytical chemist for MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati, Ohio. In June, MadTree released Entropic Theory (a hoppy, juicy IPA) with a special can launch party whereby a portion of the proceeds were donated to iSPACE, a local non-profit that promotes education of science, engineering, technology […]
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Our guest this week is Shaun Whitehead, space engineer and founder of Thumbsat. Dreaming of once becoming an astronaut, Shaun now provides the engineering reality to put experiments in space with Thumbsat – a thumbsize platform for space exploration complete with microcontroller, camera, radio, GPS and temperature sensors. Thumbsat data can be harvested through Thumbnet, a global network of monitoring stations (which can even be […]
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