Lab Out Loud » science literacy

Episode 48 – Don’t Be Such a Scientist

Brian — Mon, 10 May 2010 05:15:07 +0000

Randy Olson (Credit: Sandy Huffaker for the New York Times

For our 100th podcast interview (including 52 interviews with Periodicity), we talk with former marine biologist turned filmmaker and author Randy Olson. Since we last talked with Randy about Flock of Dodos, he has since put out another movie (Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy) and a book (Don’t Be Such a Scientist: ). We talk with Randy about his new book and the importance of how scientists communicate.

We’d like to thank NSTA for their continued support of Lab Out Loud. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to join or renew your membership. If you have any comments from our third season, or have any suggestions for next year, please contact us.

Links:

Barnacle Sex Music Video (Barnacles Tell No Lies)

Direct download: LOL48.mp3

Episode 39 – Standards and Science Education

Brian — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:15:33 +0000

Barry Cartwright

Our guest this week is Barry Cartwright – the Science Content Specialist for the Colorado Department of Education. In November, Colorado recently released their Final Draft of the Colorado Academic Standards in Science. Barry discusses some of the highlights of the new Colorado science standards and the future of standards in science education.

Links:

Books Recommended By Barry:

Direct download: LOL39.mp3

Episode 38 – National Lab Day

Brian — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:15:59 +0000

Jack Hidary

Our guest this week is Jack Hidary, chairman of National Lab Day. Designed to encourage partnerships between scientists, engineers, teachers and students, National Lab Day emerged from a partnership between NSTA, the American Chemical Society (ACS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Jack D. Hidary Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. Jack talks to us about the program and website, and what educators and other scientists can do to get involved.

Links:

Direct download: LOL38.mp3

Episode 36 – The Scientific Method Starts with Curiosity

Brian — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:15:15 +0000

Dr. Bonnie Bassler

With the upcoming 2009 HHMI Holiday Lecture on Science in December (Exploring Biodiversity), we decided to talk with one of the presenters – Dr. Bonnie Bassler. The focus of Dr. Bassler’s research is on how bacteria communicate with each other in a process called quorum sensing. This research has earned her a MacArthur fellowship in 2002, and her work is being carefully watched for the development of new antimicrobial drugs. Dr. Bassler inspires us with her curiosity, her research, and science education.

Links:

Direct download: LOL36.mp3

What does it take to be called 'scientist'?

Dale — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:39:24 +0000

While reviewing early recommendations for new social studies standards, a review team for the Texas State Board of Education decided to remove Neil Armstrong from the ‘science strand’ of their fifth grade social studies textbook.

Their reasoning? Armstrong wasn’t a scientist.

Now, I understand what this team is trying to do. They wish to keep the focus on learning instead of memorizing names and dates. But come on, he walked on the moon! He’s on one of the shortest short-lists of all time.

Nevertheless, this isn’t what bothers me the most. Saying Armstrong isn’t a scientist is preposterous. If being part of one of the most monumental investigations known to humanity doesn’t make you a scientist- what in the world (or out of the world) does?

I stress to my students that science is for all of us regardless of the careers we choose. As citizens, we all need to be scientists. So many of the issues that our country is struggling with (climate change, health care, energy) have roots in science. How do we explain to our students that they are qualified to join the scientific community and examine issues critically and rationally when others don’t even consider walking on the moon enough to be called ‘scientist’?

Even if Armstrong isn’t technically a scientist (which I disagree with- engineers count in my book) he should still be included as an important part of science since he represents the ultimate citizen scientist.