As professor of Environmental Studies and Geosciences at Lawrence University, Marcia Bjornerud knows a lot about rocks. In her new book, Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks, Marcia emphasizes the connection between human experiences and the physical earth, encouraging everyone to learn from the dynamic landscape around us. Marcia joins us to tell us about Turning to Stone and how the book is mapped to her own life, provides suggestions for how schools can improve teaching ge...
Apr 11, 2025•45 min•Season 18Ep. 284
Ever feel lost in the world of wellness advice online? Our guest, Dr. Jonathan Stea, has a new book called "Mind the Science" that helps cut through the noise of the wellness industry, exposing pseudoscience and mental health misinformation. As a promoter of science communication, Dr. Stea seeks to empower people to make informed decisions about mental well-being. His new book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the real science behind mental health and protect themselves from misi...
Nov 19, 2024•48 min•Season 18Ep. 283
Science comedy writer Sarah Rose Siskind has some ideas. We met Sarah at SXSWedu in the spring of 2024 where she delivered a keynote titled Science Comedy: Why it's a Thing and How to Do It. Of course we had to have her on the show. To open our 18th season, Sarah joins Lab Out Loud to share insights from her work with Hello SciCom, emphasize the link between humor and empathy, and give some tips for using comedy to communicate science in your classroom. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2024...
Sep 30, 2024•59 min•Season 18Ep. 282
It's spring, and it's a great time to get students outside to do some science. Need some ideas? Science teacher Brian Kaestner (St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio) and Vernier Educational Technology Specialist Colleen McDaniel join us to discuss how they use Vernier sensors so students can locally measure the effects of climate change. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2024/05/episode-281-vernier-climate-change/
May 06, 2024•35 min•Season 17Ep. 281
Video version at: https://youtu.be/7zvYh4XvFVk In 2017, Sam Cornwell launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to make a pinhole camera called the Solarcan. Now a successful company with the same name, the Solarcan is a simple camera that takes extremely long time exposures capable of capturing the path of the sun. Sam joins us for this special video episode of Lab Out Loud to tell us how the Solarcan combines art and astronomy for the citizen scientist in all of us. Show notes at: https://labo...
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr•Season 17Ep. 280
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. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2024/01/episode-279-scientific-illustrator/...
Jan 14, 2024•34 min•Season 17Ep. 279
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, and build connections to help advance their careers. With the recent changes at Twitter, Myriam helps us navigate through the frag...
Oct 19, 2023•48 min•Season 17Ep. 278
To talk to us about the life cycle of our technology, we welcome Lucas Gutterman to the show. As the director of the Design to Last campaign with PIRG, the Public Interest Research Group, Lucas provides us with some insight and strategies on how we can advocate to make our devices last longer, and in turn save money and previous raw materials. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2023/08/episode-277-chromebook-churn/...
Aug 25, 2023•41 min•Season 17Ep. 277
Artist Dan Nott joins Lab Out Loud to tell us about his new graphic nonfiction book called Hidden Systems. With the help of visual metaphors, Dan illustrates systems that we often take for granted, such as the internet, the electrical grid, and providing water. Hidden Systems reveals these difficult to understand and often hidden systems that we tend to care about most when they aren't working. Through his research and art, Dan also reveals their history, with sometimes uncomfortable truths abou...
May 16, 2023•42 min•Season 16Ep. 276
Meet the Friends of Big Bear Valley, a group that maintains two solar powered webcams focused on Jackie and Shadow, a pair of bald eagles in Big Bear Valley, California. Executive Director Sandy Steers and Candee Roberts join us to share a little of Jackie and Shadow’s life while describing the continuous challenges that the eagles face. Listen to the show to learn how you can observe these eagles in your classroom for environmental awareness, appreciation and enjoyment. Show notes at: https://l...
Apr 05, 2023•33 min•Season 16Ep. 275
Announced in 1984 by President Reagan as a way to boost science education, the Teacher in Space program invited teachers to apply to become the first citizen into space. Realizing that two teachers from Wisconsin were selected, we reached out to connect with one of them. From Tomah, Wisconsin, science teacher Larry Scheckel was a finalist in the program alongside Christa McAuliffe. Larry joins the show to describe the Teacher in Space application and selection process, tell us about the state of...
Feb 27, 2023•39 min•Season 16Ep. 274
Rhett Allain returns to Lab Out Loud for his 5th time to talk about ChatGPT, a novel artificial intelligence chat tool from OpenAI. In the last few months, Rhett has also been exploring how to use ChatGPT to see how it can solve physics homework, serve as a suitable teaching assistant and even write code. Rhett shares his experience as we think about the utility of emerging AI tools and how they might challenge educators to teach differently. Show notes: https://laboutloud.com/2023/01/episode-27...
Jan 19, 2023•48 min•Season 16Ep. 273
Thinking of snow? We first talked to Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht in 2006 when the US Postal Service began featuring his photographs of snowflakes on stamps. 16 years later, we wanted to find out what’s changed in snowflake science, so we invited him back to the show. Dr. Libbrecht joins us again to share new discoveries in snowflake science, describe how he became the snowflake expert for the movie Frozen, and discuss some tips on talking your own pictures of snowflakes. Show notes and snowflake photo...
Dec 29, 2022•31 min•Season 16Ep. 272
Sloan Science and Film is an online publication from the Museum of the Moving Image that examines the intersection of science and film. As curator of Science and Technology at the museum and the Executive Editor of scienceandfilm.org, Sonia Epstein returns to Lab Out Loud to discuss how Sloan films were used during the pandemic, how you can use the teacher’s guide with over 60 science-themed short films available to stream, and what you might find if you get a chance to visit the Museum of the M...
Nov 17, 2022•29 min•Season 16Ep. 271
For the last decade, this episode on zombie neurobiology has been a seasonal favorite. Listen to Dr. Steven Schlozman describe how to use zombies to teach science. More show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2022/10/episode-270-zombie-science-returns/
Oct 17, 2022•25 min•Season 16Ep. 270
Pencils. Notebooks. Glue sticks. Dry erase markers. Safety goggles. Tissues. As students returned to school this fall, they were asked to obtain numerous school supplies for their own use and sometimes for the entire classroom. When are school supplies necessary and when are they excessive? Dale and Brian discuss the topic of school supplies for all classrooms and particularly for the science classroom. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2022/09/episode-269-school-supplies/...
Sep 26, 2022•29 min•Season 16Ep. 269
After 15 years, the Lab Out Loud podcast is changing. What does this mean? We are incredibly thankful for the support that NSTA has provided for the show, but after 15 years we are now looking for alternative funding to continue the show. We need your help! Learn how you can support Lab Out Loud as a listener or an advertiser. Will we still produce shows? Yes, that's our plan. But we may not be as regular as we have over the last 15 years. Thank You. Making this show has been an incredible pleas...
Aug 29, 2022•14 min•Season 16Ep. 268
Stephen Pompea joins the show to discuss how scientists can support science education in formal and informal settings. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=5624
May 23, 2022•47 min•Season 15Ep. 267
Nathan Schreiber returns to the Lab Out Loud podcast to talk about his newest project using a series of graphic novels designed to teach chemistry concepts. Building off of the popular game, Valence uses science ninjas in an action packed adventure that teaches foundational chemistry about what makes up the universe, how it’s measured, and how it’s transformed. Nathan joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss his games and graphic novels, describe how his characters can engage stude...
May 09, 2022•36 min•Season 15Ep. 266
The next guest on the Lab Out Loud podcast is National Geographic Explorer and storyteller Tara Roberts. For the last couple of years, Tara has been following a group of black scuba divers around the world as they search for and help document slave shipwrecks. These explorations to the ocean floor and within human journeys have been shared as rich stories through her "Into the Depths" podcast and as a cover feature in the March issue of National Geographic magazine. Tara joins Lab Out Loud to sh...
Apr 25, 2022•52 min•Season 15Ep. 265
Our guest this week is Tim Hartelt from the Department of Biology Education at the University of Kassel in Germany. With colleagues Helge Martens and Nina Minkley, Tim recently co-authored a study investigating if science teachers were able to diagnose the alternative conceptions the may hold when teaching biology concepts. Tim joins us to discuss the study and its findings, how teachers might identify alternative conceptions, and explain how they might be connected to their own professional exp...
Apr 11, 2022•46 min•Season 15Ep. 264
[ This episode is sponsored by Siemens STEM Day Possibility Grant Sweepstakes ] This week, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. Meenakshi Sharma to the show. From her unique perspective as a professor of science education who trains pre-service teachers, Dr. Sharma recently wrote an article detailing the characteristics of elementary teachers who effectively implement the Next Generation Science Standards. Dr. Sharma joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss these characteristics, ...
Mar 21, 2022•51 min•Season 15Ep. 263
In this installment of #ScientistOutLoud, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes research and teaching professor Prashant Sharma from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Using morphology and genomic data, Dr. Sharma and his lab recently challenged our understanding of arachnid classification, by adding horseshoe crabs to the same class as spiders and scorpions. Dr. Sharma joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to remind them how modern classification works, describe why his team believes horses...
Mar 07, 2022•57 min•Season 15Ep. 262
Trish Shelton joins the Lab Out Loud podcast to highlight a new learning initiative from NSTA called the Professional Learning Unit (PLU). Designed as an asynchronous mini-course, a PLU is a bite-sized learning experience available on demand when a teacher, department or district needs it most. Listen to the show to hear more about this exciting new learning opportunity, and find out how you can participate in a PLU to help grow your practice. About The Guest Tricia is the NSTA Chief Learning Of...
Feb 21, 2022•34 min•Season 15Ep. 261
From the Learning Scientists podcast, cognitive psychologist Megan Sumeracki joins the Lab Out Loud podcast to talk about the science of learning. With a goal to make scientific research on learning more accessible, the Learning Scientists started as a Twitter account that has now grown to a popular podcast aimed at teachers, students and other educators. Megan joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to describe how scientists research learning, remind us about proper experimental design (an...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr•Season 15Ep. 260
For over a decade, the Bioart Scientific Image and Video Competition has provided an artistic vehicle for biological scientists to share their research beyond the confines of their lab and professional circles. Chris Curran, one of the Bioart judges, joins the Lab Out Loud podcast to talk about the Bioart competition, the intersection of art and science, and how teachers might use stunning visuals to inspire students and advance scientific literacy. About the Guest: Christine Perdan Curran is a ...
Jan 17, 2022•38 min•Season 15Ep. 259
In this installment of the #ScientistOutLoud series, Dr. Carly Anne York joins the Lab Out Loud podcast to talk about the importance of science communication, how she generates enthusiasm for science and the scientific process, and her efforts in making science accessible for students and the public. About The Guest: Dr. Carly Anne York is biology professor who studies animal behavior, physiology and biomechanics at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina. Dr. York is also a squid biologist, s...
Jan 03, 2022•54 min•Season 15Ep. 258
What are phenomena and how can science teachers use these events to engage students in science? Professor of Science Education Todd Campbell joins the Lab Out Loud Podcast to help start a series about using phenomena in science education. Listen now to hear about new strategies in how pre-service science educators are being prepared, where to start if you are beginning a journey to adopt NGSS, and how we can all use phenomena to help students explain the world around them. Show notes at: https:/...
Dec 13, 2021•42 min•Season 15Ep. 257
Laurie Wallmark returns to the Lab Out Loud podcast to share two new stories celebrating women in STEM: Code Breaker, Spy Hunter about Elizabeth Friedman and Numbers in Motion about Sophie Kowalevski. Laurie joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to share these fascinating stories while discussing the role of STEM in schools and the importance of exposing all kids to STEM learning opportunities. About the Guest Laurie Wallmark is a computer science teacher and award-winning children’s autho...
Nov 29, 2021•28 min•Season 15Ep. 256
Sometimes surprising discoveries happen when scientists aren't looking for them. While analyzing biological samples from California Condors as part of a conservation effort, a team at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance discovered an unusual phenomenon: two condors born in captivity that contained only maternal DNA. This startling observation confirmed a rare event known as facultative parthenogenesis - a form of asexual reproduction in females that typically reproduce sexually. From that team, Dr. ...
Nov 15, 2021•38 min•Season 15Ep. 255
