Science for the classroom and beyond
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 welcome Laurie Wallmark to the show. As a computer science teacher and award-winning children’s author, Laurie has been writing picture book biographies that recognize women in STEM. Her breakout book Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine (Creston Books) debuted in 2017 and was readily recognized with numerous awards. Laurie’s most recent book, Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life, was just […]
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This week we welcome science writer Carl Zimmer to the show. As Zimmer often writes about life, he has been wondering about the concept of life and if there is a way to properly define it. To shed some light on the matter, he recently hosted a series of live conversations with some leading thinkers on life—including chemists, physicists, […]
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For our 200th episode, we welcome Phil Plait (The Bad Astronomer) back to the show. Phil joins us to discuss the current status of exoplanet discovery and gives us a glimpse of what we might find in the future. Listen to the show to hear Phil discuss new techniques and technologies in planet hunting, looking for life on other worlds and […]
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Are you noticing less insects in your biology textbook? You’re not alone. Jennifer Landin, with student and co-author Kiran Gangwani, recently decided to quantify the coverage of insects in college-level introductory biology textbooks over time. By exploring the coverage of insect diversity concepts, the visual representation of insects, and conducting a text analysis of keywords, they discovered a significant […]
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Gillian King-Cargile and Dr. Kristin Brynteson join us this week to talk about STEM Read – a program from Northern Illinois University that uses live and online programs to inspire a broad range of readers in order to learn more about the science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in popular fiction. Listen to the show to learn more about STEM Read […]
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This week we talk STEM gifts with Monica Cardella and Elizabeth Gajdzik from Purdue’s INSPIRE Research Institute. Each year, the INSPIRE lab evaluates toys, games, and books that engage girls and boys in engineering thinking and design. Monica and Elizabeth join us to talk about some gifts on the list, how they are evaluated and share some advice for educators who would […]
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This week we talk with Tim Enwall, CEO of Misty Robotics. A spin-off company from Sphero, Inc., Misty Robotics is focused on building personal robots for the home and office. They recently announced Misty II, a first-of-its-kind easily programmable robot, complete with a special program for STEM teachers and students. Listen to the show to hear about the growing robotics industry, […]
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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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To learn about STEM resources and other learning opportunities within ag science, we welcome Leah Gibson to the show. As Education Specialist from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Leah helps provide and share K-12 educator resources about agriculture. Listen to the show to hear Leah tell us about the STEM challenges and resources found in Purple Plow, games […]
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This week we talk about science in art that can be done with some of our youngest learners. To talk about their experiences with preschoolers learning science concepts through ephemeral artwork, we welcome to the show Sandra Redmore (director of the Clarendon Childcare Center in Arlington, VA) and Peggy Ashbrook (an early childhood science teacher and The Early Years columnist for NSTA’s Science and […]
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For this week’s episode, we invite Eric Pyle to the show to discuss NSTA’s recent adoption of a position statement on the teaching of climate science. In addition to helping write the position statement, Eric is a Professor in the Department of Geology & Environmental Science and the Coordinator of Science Teacher Preparation at James Madison University in Virginia. 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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NSTA members will probably recognize our guest as the man behind Blick on Flicks: Jacob Clark Blickenstaff. As we both podcast for NSTA, we thought it was time to invite Jacob to the show and geek out about science and movies! Jacob talks to us about his column and podcast, gives us some hints for finding science anomalies in the […]
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To kick off season 12, we look for inspiration in science education from an unlikely classroom setting – within the juvenile justice system. Michael Krezmien and Martina Nieswandt (both Associate Professors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst) join us to talk about Project RAISE: Reclaiming Access to Inquiry-based Science Education. Developed with the help of a three million dollar NSF grant, Project […]
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As science teachers are preparing for the summer, many will be planning lessons and purchasing supplies for their classes next year. But just how much do science teachers spend on their classes from their own personal funds? After conducting a nationwide survey of middle and high school science teachers, a research team at North Carolina State University has an answer […]
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Have you ever had a good idea for a game where kids can learn science? Our guest this week has, and he has even made those ideas into a reality! Nathan Schreiber joins us this week to talk about his Science Ninjas games that teach real science with engaging graphics, fun characters, and easy-to-follow instructions. Listen to learn how you might […]
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Do you have middle and high school students doing original research? Consider connecting them with the open-access Journal of Emerging Investigators for guidance and a chance to publish their findings. Jamilla Akhund-Zade (Co-Editor-In-Chief) and Nico Wagner (Director of Outreach) join us to talk about the Journal of Emerging Investigators and how it can guide young scientists in the research process that […]
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For the third episode in a three-part series on place-based education in science, we welcome Chris Wyland to the show. Chris is a middle school math and science teacher at the Cottonwood School of Civics and Science in Portland, where the focus of the entire school is encouraging exploration of the natural world and involvement in the local community through […]
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For the second episode in a three-part series on place-based education in science, we welcome Kevin Krasnow to the show. As ecologist, researcher and educator at Teton Science Schools, Kevin is currently studying differences in field research by comparing the outcomes from inquiry research, citizen science, and adventure hike experiences for middle/high school students. Kevin joins us to discusses the […]
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