This week Lab Out Loud talks 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 art, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler 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 Children). Listen to the show to hear how you can get s...
Oct 15, 2018•29 min•Season 12Ep. 193
For this week's episode, Lab Out Loud invites 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 to the show to learn about what the position statement says about teaching climate science, how it can be use...
Oct 01, 2018•29 min•Season 12Ep. 192
Recognizing that CRISPR and other genome editing technologies have rapidly outpaced standard textbook knowledge, Lab Out Loud reached out to R. Alta Charo, professor of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alta joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler 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 the increasing importance of careers at the intersection of s...
Sep 17, 2018•36 min•Season 12Ep. 191
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! Listen to the show to hear Jacob talk to us about his column and podcast, offer some hints for finding science anomalies in the media that we watch, and share some STEM opportunities through his new job at Microsoft. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/09/episode-19...
Sep 03, 2018•45 min•Season 12Ep. 190
To kick off season 12, Lab Out Loud looks 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about Project RAISE: Reclaiming Access to Inquiry-based Science Education. Developed with the help of a three million dollar NSF grant, Project RAISE delivers an innovative digital biolog...
Aug 20, 2018•51 min•Season 12Ep. 189
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 for us. Their research revealed that 70 percent of science teachers do not have adequate funding to support science instruction f...
Jun 03, 2018•42 min•Season 11Ep. 188
Have you ever had a good idea for a game where kids can learn science? Lab Out Loud's guest this week has, and he has even made those ideas into a reality! Nathan Schreiber joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler 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 teach with Valence, a game that combines advanced chemistry with simple rules and ninjas! Show notes at: ht...
May 14, 2018•45 min•Season 11Ep. 187
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 Lab Out Loud to talk about the Journal of Emerging Investigators and how it can guide young scientists in the research process that ultimately helps them develop the skills they need to publish their own research....
Apr 30, 2018•22 min•Season 11Ep. 186
For the third episode in a three-part series on place-based education in science, Lab Out Loud welcomes 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 the arts and sciences. Continuing a discussion of place-based education in science, Chris joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale B...
Apr 16, 2018•36 min•Season 11Ep. 185
For the second episode in a three-part series on place-based education in science, Lab Out Loud welcomes Kevin Krasnow to the show. As ecologist, researcher and educator at Teton Science Schools, Kevin is currently studying the 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the experiment while sharing some of his prelimi...
Apr 02, 2018•38 min•Season 11Ep. 184
Lab Out Loud is proud to present a three-part series on place-based education in science. To kickoff this series, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler welcome Ethan Lowenstein, Ph.D. (professor of curriculum and instruction at Eastern Michigan University and Director of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) and Greg Smith (emeritus professor of education from the Lewis & Clark College Graduate School of Education and Counseling) to the show. Ethan and Greg join Lab Out Loud to defin...
Mar 19, 2018•34 min•Season 11Ep. 183
Lab Out Loud's guest this week is Neal Manegold, director of Minecraft Education. Many listeners are probably familiar with Minecraft, and a few might even know about Minecraft Education Edition, which builds on the open-world game while promoting creativity, collaboration and problem solving in a teacher supervised environment. Now students can learn some science in the Minecraft world with the recent Chemistry update of Minecraft Education Edition. Join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to...
Mar 05, 2018•44 min•Season 11Ep. 182
How do you address controversial science issues in your classroom instruction? This week Lab Out Loud welcomes the co-authors of a recent Phi Delta Kappan publication that might give you some insight in how to help prepare students to become scientifically literate citizens by incorporating socioscientific issues in the classroom. David Owens (College of Education, University of Missouri), Troy Sadler (professor of education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and Dana Zeidler (universi...
Feb 18, 2018•36 min•Season 11Ep. 181
Lab Out Loud's guest this week is Sabari Raja, co-Founder & CEO of Nepris. Acting as matchmaker for classrooms to scientists (and other professionals), Nepris tackles the heavy lifting of finding professionals eager to provide educational outreach in their field of expertise. Sabari joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the history of Nepris, its goal of creating equity of access, and how you can start connecting with science professionals in your classroom! Show notes at...
Feb 04, 2018•28 min•Season 11Ep. 180
A few years ago, Lab Out Loud showcased Clifton Roozeboom’s PocketLab - a small, rugged wireless sensor platform that could easily collect a suite of common measurements while simultaneously reporting to a device for data visualization and analysis. A few years later, with newer and less expensive sensors, PocketLab has developed a novel product that can now measure air quality. Called PocketLab Air, this wireless device contains six built-in sensors for measuring Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, Particul...
Jan 21, 2018•23 min•Season 11Ep. 179
With the growing implementation of engineering principles and Makerspaces in our schools, Lab Out Loud decided to reach out to science fiction writer Cory Doctorow to chat about his most recent novel Walkaway. Set in a near future ruined by ecological and technological catastrophe, Walkaway is a story about scarcity and surviving outside the default limits of societal norms. But Walkaway also offers a glimpse into a future where today's emerging technologies (think 3D printers and drones) are us...
Jan 07, 2018•38 min•Season 11Ep. 178
This week on Lab Out Loud, Hakhamanesh Mostafavi, PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University and co-author of a recent paper, Identifying genetic variants that affect viability in large cohorts, joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the evidence for and examples of continuing human evolution. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2017/12/episode-177-human-evolution/...
Dec 09, 2017•14 min•Season 11Ep. 177
This week we're proud to introduce their youngest guest ever on the show. Ten year old Elaina Garg and her younger sister Kaylie wrote The Organic Coloring Book with the help of their father Neil, a professor at UCLA. Designed to help kids learn about common chemicals around them, the Organic Coloring Book features over 25 pages of chemicals to draw, complete with Cheesy the Mouse as a guide for the reader. Elaina and Neil join Lab Out Loud to talk about why they made this coloring book, how the...
Nov 26, 2017•14 min•Season 11Ep. 176
Making his third appearance on Lab Out Loud, we welcome science storyteller Sam Kean back to the show. As author of The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb, Sam has a new book out called Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us. Sam joins us to talk about how a chemistry thought problem lead to the title of his new book, why we should care about the air around us, and also shares some insights on science writing. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2017/11/episo...
Nov 06, 2017•24 min•Season 11Ep. 175
It's Mole Day! Celebrated on October 23, Mole Day recognizes Avogadro's number (6.02 x 10^23), which is a basic unit of measurement in chemistry. Lab Out Loud co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler discuss mole day, reminisce on how they have celebrated it, and celebrate Maurice Oehler, the founder of the National Mole Day Foundation. How do you celebrate Mole Day? Leave a comment at laboutloud.com, tweet a picture to @laboutloud or leave a message at facebook.com/LabOutLoud/. Show notes at: http...
Oct 20, 2017•9 min•Season 11Ep. 174
Science degrees can be found in the most intriguing careers. This week Lab Out Loud talks 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 and math for kids. Also a product of science and research, MadTree invested over two years of...
Oct 16, 2017•24 min•Season 11Ep. 173
Continuing with a theme of teacher created content, Lab Out Loud is proud to share Matt Blackman's physics games and apps. As physics teacher and adjunct instructor at Rutgers Graduate School of Education, Matt founded The Universe & More where he creates educational games and apps such as Crack the Circuit and Action Graphing. Matt joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about his games, how they might supplement and enhance (but not replace) good teaching, and how you can use t...
Oct 01, 2017•25 min•Season 11Ep. 172
As the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) takes full effect this fall, educators might be curious to know how this new legislation affects STEM education. To help us navigate through ESSA, Lab Out Loud welcomes James Brown to the show. As executive director of the STEM Education Coalition, James works with the Coalition to raise awareness in Congress, the Administration, and other organizations about the critical role that STEM education plays in enabling the U.S. to remain the economic and techn...
Sep 18, 2017•14 min•Season 11Ep. 171
From Math for America, Lab Out Loud welcomes John Ewing (President) and Megan Roberts (Executive Director) to the show. With a goal of making teaching a viable, rewarding and respected career, MƒA provides a mechanism that encourages professional STEM educators to engage in their subject matter while working in a collaborative and supportive environment. In practice, MƒA's fellowship program engages New York City teachers to engage in professional growth within a professional community that rece...
Sep 03, 2017•21 min•Season 11Ep. 170
To kickoff season 11, Lab Out Loud welcomes Christopher Preece to the show. As a high school chemistry teacher, Chris recently created Che[M]ystery - a graphic novel that teaches chemistry concepts. Written by Preece and illustrated by Josh Reynolds, Che[M]ystery follows the adventures of two kids as they gain superpowers, fight a radioactive monster and learn some science along the way. Chris joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss how he created Che[M]ystery , and shares how he ...
Aug 21, 2017•21 min•Season 11Ep. 169
To close season 10, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler welcome back Dr. Sean B. Carroll - award-winning scientist, writer, and educator. Dr. Carroll's new book, The Serengeti Rules, examines the fundamental question of how life works as he uncovers the rules that determine the number of species in an environment and the diversity within that community. What this molecular biologist learns in the field provides insights into evolution, conservation and functional environmentalism that affect u...
May 22, 2017•33 min
This week, Lab Out Loud welcomes Darlene Cavalier to the show. In addition to her position as Professor of Practice at Arizona State University's Center for Engagement and Training, Darlene is the founder of SciStarter - an online community to designed to help people find, join and contribute to science through both formal and informal research projects and events. Darlene joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to help promote Citizen Science Day - a month-long challenge (through May 20, 20...
May 08, 2017•23 min
This week, Lab Out Loud welcomes Matt Brady to the show. Along with wife Shari, these two high school science teachers have been working to bring pop culture into the classroom to increase student engagement and understanding of science. Their website The Science Of helps broadcast these ideas and strategies with the goal of providing a place for popular culture to act as a springboard to science education, discussion and information. Matt joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk abou...
Apr 24, 2017•33 min
Fredi Lavjardi teaches marine science at Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, where he is also coach of Falcon Robotics - an extracurricular high school STEM program that won the 2004 MATE National Underwater ROV championships with their robot "Stinky," besting juggernaut teams such as MIT. This inspiring story was originally covered by Wired Magazine, expanded by the same author into a book, and graced the silver screen in 2015 as the movie Spare Parts. Along with other engaging stories, the suc...
Apr 10, 2017•31 min
Co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler recently discovered EO Kids - a web publication that brings engaging science stories from NASA's Earth Observatory to a younger audience. Published with support from NASA's Landsat, Terra, and Aqua missions, EO Kids provides kid-friendly content in a PDF that can be easily downloaded or printed. Each issue of EO Kids also features hands-on activities, experiments and opportunities for students to interact with real data. To learn more about EO Kids, listen t...
Mar 27, 2017•27 min
