Lab Out Loud

This week, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Jared Lipworth to the show. As Executive Producer and head of Outreach and Impact at HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Jared oversees the production of documentaries in addition to the outreach and impact campaigns built around them. Recent NSTA Conference attendees will recognize HHMI's "Night at the Movies" hosted at the annual Conference. Without a physical conference to attend, Lab Out Loud wanted to help share some of the media produced by the studio that harness the power of storytelling to inspire interest in science. Jared joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the mission of Tangled Bank Studios, describes the kinds of stories they create and even shares a little advice to teachers and students making their own visual stories. Listen to the show to hear titles of shows that you can share with your students in the classroom or at home! Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/11/episode-235-hhmi-tangled-bank/

As the Lab Out Loud podcast continues to explore the use of video in science education, they turn their attention to the use and creation of short format films. To guide them through that discussion, they are joined by Douglas Dicconson from Theorem Studios and Kim Birbrower from Big Picture Educational Consulting. Theorem Studios and Big Picture Educational Consulting recently paired up to create content for Chemistry Shorts, a project sponsored by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation to communicate the breadth & depth of chemistry’s impact on humankind. Doug and Kim join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss their work with Chemistry Shorts, the appropriate use of video in the science classroom, and the art and work of making compelling short format films. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/11/episode-234-chemistry-shorts/

Continuing their exploration into science documentaries, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes environmental photographer James Balog to the show. For almost four decades, Balog has been building a visual time capsule documenting the complicated and intimate relationship between humanity and nature. In The Human Element, Balog exposes this relationship with vivid and often uncomfortable imagery that illustrates unmistakable human impacts on the essential elements of water, air, fire and earth. Balog joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about making the documentary, shares how he delicately balances the portrayal of hope and despair in his visual stories, and discusses his upcoming book with the same name. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/10/episode-233-james-balog/

The guest for the Lab Out Loud podcast this week is director, writer and producer Scott Hamilton Kennedy. At the 2019 NSTA Conference in St. Louis, Kennedy hosted a screening of his recent documentary "Food Evolution" (2016). Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, "Food Evolution" investigates GMOs to showcase how misinformation and fear can drown out rational evidence and divide communities. Kennedy joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the process of making science documentaries, how he works to understand and portray the science correctly, and describes an upcoming project on vaccines. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/10/episode-232-food-evolution/

This week, the Lab Out Loud podcast talks with Dave Bakker, co-founder and COO of PocketLab. In March, Dave and some of his colleagues were looking for a way to provide professional development to STEM teachers while #COVID-19 kept many of them at home. The result was a virtual conference called ScIC (Science is Cool) that has attracted tens of thousands of science teachers and education professionals from around the world. Dave joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the origins of ScIC, celebrate the success of the first three conferences, and share some of their upcoming events. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/09/episode-231-scic-conference/

This week, the Lab Out Loud podcast features GIS Specialist and author Tyler Danielson. As part of his work with civil engineering firm Bolton & Menk, Tyler has recently written a book geared towards children to help them understand GIS in the world around them. In "Lindsey the GIS Specialist - A GIS Mapping Story," the title character Lindsey helps to explain what GIS is, describe what data she might collect, and how she could use that data to create digital maps. Listen to the show to hear more about the free eBook, how it might be used in STEAM learning, and how to access other free STEAM books in the series from Bolton & Menk. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/09/episode-230-gis-specialist/

As some schools are returning to in-person learning this fall, science teachers will need to address virus mitigation both in the traditional classroom and in lab environments. To discuss safety considerations while teaching science in the pandemic, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. Ken Roy back to the show. With health and safety always as the priority, Ken joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss important safety aspects such as checking for clean water pipes and functioning gas lines, using and cleaning safety goggles, when to use classroom and lab ventilation, and addressing safety for at-home investigations. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/08/episode-229-pandemic-lab-safety/

To wrap up season 13, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Ainissa Ramirez back to the show. As science teachers are building their reading lists for the summer, they may want to check out Ainissa's new book - The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. In this collection of stories about eight inventions (from clocks to silicon chips), Ramirez unearths vivid stories that showcase how humans have created inventions, and in turn, how those inventions have shaped us. Ainissa joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss her new book, share some insights into her research and writing style, and challenge all of us to question if new inventions are pointing us in the direction we want the world to be heading. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/06/episode-228-ainissa-ramirez/

Lab Out Loud's guest this week is Kris Brown from the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA. As a NASA engineer, Kris used to work with critical hardware used on numerous shuttle missions. Now, as Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, Kris works towards creating unique opportunities for students and the public to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and discovery, and to building a diverse future STEM workforce by engaging students in authentic learning experiences with NASA’s people, content and facilities. Kris joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about these opportunities and resources, the importance of the upcoming partner launch with SpaceX on May 27, and shares specific activities NASA has to engage students and their families around that mission. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/05/episode-226-nasa-stem-engagement/

The Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. Alex Evans to the show. From a young age, Alex developed a love for science that eventually led to a career as a research scientist in animal physiology, focusing on measuring the energetics of animals in flight. Changing gears to science communication, Alex now works as a science educator, presenter, and writer. Joining co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler, Alex discusses his love of parrot Twitter accounts, describes what we can learn from bird energetics that can be applied to real world problems (and mythical creatures), and encourages young scientists to get out and find new information about the world around them. #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Loud found Alex (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, the podcast will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/05/episode-226-alex-evans/

The Lab Out Loud podcast guest this week is Dawn Fallik, reporter and associate professor at the University of Delaware. As a medical reporter, Dawn writes about loneliness and the medical consequences of loneliness in Millennials and Gen Z. At SXSWedu, Dawn recently presented as part of a panel about Generation Lonely: 10,000 Followers and No Friends, discussing what's behind increasing feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Dawn joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the difference between loneliness and social isolation, how Millennials and Gen Z might be better equipped to communicate and function during the COVID-19 stay at home orders, and how teachers might look out for and help students combat loneliness. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/04/episode-225-loneliness/

Lab Out Loud's guest this week is Joanne O'Meara, a physics professor from the University of Guelph. In an effort to help educators right now, the Guelph physics department is creating videos to answer user generated science questions. Called AMASE (Ask Me Anything: Science Edition), these videos have been tackling concepts such as the speed of light, rainbows, and Schrodinger's Cat. Joanne joins the Lab Out Loud podcast to discuss the AMASE project, how she (and her daughters) made the first video on the speed of light, and share her experiences in teaching and parenting during the pandemic. Show notes: https://laboutloud.com/2020/04/episode-224-joanne-omeara/

As our students continue their science instruction online and at home, we wanted to take some time to share some free resources from NSTA and beyond. We also get a chance to talk to Fred Ende's kids - referred to as "6" and "9" - as they share their experiences in science education and connecting with people online. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/03/episode-223-learning-at-home/

Joining the Lab Out Loud podcast 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss collecting (and transporting) poo, what we can learn from studying disease transmission and social behavior in baboons, and how her experience with field research has helped her succeed in her current research. #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Koud found Cass (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, the podcast will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/03/episode-222-cassandra-raby/

This week, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. J. Bryan Henderson to the show. As an assistant professor at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, part of Bryan’s research is geared towards using the science of learning to design physical and digital environments that encourage student interaction in evidence-based argumentation. This research has helped him to develop Braincandy, a suite of free, online formative assessment tools that seeks to help students better listen to and build upon differing ideas. Bryan joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss evidence-based argumentation, how Braincandy can be used to facilitate this practice, and how we can critically reflect on and evaluate student use of technology on their screens, beneath their screens and beyond their screens. Dr. J. Bryan Henderson's research is geared towards using the science of learning to design physical and digital environments that encourage student interaction in evidence-based argumentation. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/02/episode-221-bryan-henderson/

Picking up from their conversation with Jamie Kubiak last year (episode 206: Affirming and Representing LGBTQIA+ Students in Science), the Lab Out Loud podcast connects with Lewis Maday-Travis (he/him/his) and Sam Long (he/him/his) to talk about the need for gender inclusivity in biology and other science classes. Lewis and Sam join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the importance of providing and affirming personal pronouns, offer strategies for gender inclusive practices and language in our classrooms, and provide some resources to guide us in these tasks. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/01/episode-220-gender-inclusivity/

Continuing their series on #ScientistOutLoud, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. Lauren Robinson to the show. As a postdoc at the University of Veterinary medicine in Vienna, Austria, Lauren studies cooperation and partner roles in canids - particularly North American Grey Wolves. Lauren joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss how she uses her background in psychology in her animal research, describes navigating through scientific research in another country, and shares a little about what we might learn from the social behavior of wolves. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/01/episode-219-lauren-robinson/

Kicking off a new decade, Lab Out Loud is happy to welcome Joe Shane (Shippensburg University) and Lee Meadows (the University of Alabama at Birmingham) to the show. Joe and Lee (in addition to Ronald Hermann and Ian Binn) are co-authors of a new book from NSTA Press called Making Sense of Science and Religion: Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond. Written for teachers at all levels and also for informal science settings, Making Sense helps educators prepare for student questions about science and religion so they can confidently facilitate discussions while respecting student beliefs. Joe and Lee join us to talk about their new book, describe how they benefit from their attendance at professional conferences, and share some of their strategies for making sense of science and religion in science education. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/01/episode-218-science-and-religion/

Continuing their #ScientistOutLoud series, Lab Out Loud welcomes 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to describe her research, discuss how she got interested in science, and candidly share her path in graduate learning - including her successes and setbacks. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/12/episode-217-susanna-harris/ #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Loud found Susanna (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, they will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work.

To answer some questions about Christmas trees, Lab Out Loud decided to connect with some experts. Tree farmers Neil Krueger (from Kreuger's Christmas Tree Farm) and Shawn Schottler (from St. Croix Valley Trees and the Science Museum of Minnesota) join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss growing and maintaining Christmas Trees, the sustainability of the industry, and even how to keep your tree lasting longer. Make sure to listen to the end of the episode where Shawn proposes a question that science educators can ask their students! Record their answers and submit them to [email protected], and your students might be featured on a future show! Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4710

Returning for a second year, Lab Out Loud is happy to welcome Dr. Elizabeth Gajdzik and Dr. Tamara Moore back to the show to showcase the 2019 Engineering Gift Guide. Each year, Purdue’s INSPIRE Research Institute lab evaluates toys, games, and books that engage girls and boys in engineering thinking and design. Elizabeth and Tamara join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the selected gifts, how they are evaluated and what research is involved when selecting items that promote engineering practices ranging from coding and spatial reasoning to problem solving and critical thinking. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/11/episode-215-stem-toys/

As a former science teacher and now professor of education at Stanford, Dr. Bryan A. Brown is keenly interested in improving science teaching and learning in urban communities by investigating how language and culture matter for effective science teaching. Some of this work is shared in his new book Science in the City, where Brown examines the interplay of language and culture in effective science teaching. Dr. Brown joins Lab Out Loud to discuss his new book, the power of using technology to adapt to the cultural background of our students, and the need for adjusting our science language that better serves students in inner-city contexts. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4684

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss her path into research, her day-to-day work as a scientist, and how we might apply research in her field to help live our lives better. #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Loud found Katherine (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work. Shownotes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/10/episode-213-katherine-hatcher/

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes Randall Munroe to the show. As creator of the webcomic XKCD, Munroe often features aspects of technology, math, computer science and physics in his drawings. These topics have also had prominence in his books, including his newest book called How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. To hear more about How To, Randall joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about how he started in his career, how he got Serena Williams to serve a tennis ball at a drone (for book research, of course), and how you might use XKCD comics to help teach science in your classroom. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/10/episode-212-randall-munroe/

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss his work as a glaciologist, explain the revelations and implications from his research, and even describe how climate change is unearthing a secret cold war base buried in Greenland ice. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/09/episode-211-glaciologist-mike-macferrin/

As a science teacher at Curry College in Massachusetts, Abby Hafer is a staunch advocate of teaching peer-reviewed, scientifically accurate content in her college classes. In an effort to protect science education in the state, Hafer recently worked with legislator Kenneth Gordon to draft a bill that adds language to existing curriculum standards that seeks to limit science instruction in Massachusetts to age-appropriate, peer-reviewed scientific fact. In addition to combating academic freedom legislation recently passed in Tennessee (2012) and Louisiana (2008), Hafer hopes this bill will also provide model legislation that protects science education, science teachers and students of science across the nation. Hafer joins Lab Out Loud this week to discuss the bill and its potential impact, while describing how she worked with her legislator to impact science education through politics. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/09/episode-210-requiring-peer-reviewed-science/

To kick off season 13, Lab Out Loud is proud to welcome NSTA President Dennis Schatz to the show. As senior advisor at Pacific Science Center and field editor for NSTA’s Connected Science Learning journal, Dennis has a lifetime of experience delivering science learning beyond the walls of the traditional science classroom. Dennis joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss NSTA's name change that reflects a broader scope on science teaching, the importance of science learning in informal settings, and share some of his science passions with PacSci-Doku and #MondayNightScience. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/08/episode-209-science-and-beyond/

As teachers prepare for the summer months ahead, Lab Out Loud welcomes Griff Jones back to the show to close out season 12. Working with Griff, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has developed engaging, interactive resources found within their new IIHS in the Classroom website. Designed for grades 5-12, IIHS in the Classroom uses the results of highway safety research to help students explore the science behind what happens in a car crash — both to the car and to those inside it — and discover why some vehicles are safer than others. Griff joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the features of the new IIHS website, and discusses the perils of distracted driving and the need for crash avoidance technology. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4572

An NPR poll recently discovered that most teachers don't teach climate change, yet parents wish they did. To find out more about these findings, Lab Out Loud invited NPR education correspondent Anya Kamenetz to the show. Anya joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to explain why teachers might not teach climate change, provides a few resources for us to change that behavior, and also challenges parents to have these conversations at home. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/05/episode-207-teaching-climate-change/

While still in St. Louis, Lab Out Loud reflects on the NSTA 2019 National Conference on Science Education. Listen to the show to hear co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler discuss conference highlights such as astronaut Scott Kelly's keynote, coming changes to NSTA's name and memorable speakers, sessions, and exhibitors from NSTA's largest professional development gathering for science teaching. Don't forget to check out the show notes for links, tweets and pictures! Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/04/episode-205-nsta-2019/

Nathan Schreiber returns to Lab Out Loud to talk about his newest project using a graphic novel to teach physics concepts. In Big Trouble with Simple Machines, Schreiber's characters solve problems using their knowledge of simple machines, with each chapter providing a new challenge with ramps, wedges, screws, levers, pulleys, wheels, and axles. There is even an illustrated appendix guiding readers to make and experience their own simple machines! Nathan joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the recently released graphic novel, how comic book art can engage students in learning science, and how his work can portray science concepts in a way that photographs cannot. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/04/episode-204-simple-machines-graphic-novel/

Lab Out Loud's guest this week is Sarah McAnulty, squid biologist and founder of Skype a Scientist. Using SKYPE or other 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 joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the program, and how it promotes scientific literacy, communication and outreach. Listen to the show to find out how you can be matched with a scientist or join a live Q&A session held weekly. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/03/episode-203-skype-a-scientist/

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes 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 released in February from Sterling Children's Books. Listen to the show to hear Laurie discuss Hedy Lamarr in her new book, how she chooses women in STEM to write about, and why her work is so important. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/02/episode-202-women-in-stem/

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes 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, and a philosopher. Supported by a grant from Science Sandbox, these conversations are now available as a podcast series with seven episodes called "What is Life?" Zimmer joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the concept of life, shares some insights from his guests and even reveals how his thinking about life changed based on these conversations. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/02/episode-201-what-is-life/

For their 200th episode, Lab Out Loud welcomes Phil Plait (The Bad Astronomer) back to the show. Phil joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the current status of exoplanet discovery and shares a glimpse of what we might find in the future. Listen to the show to hear Phil discuss new techniques and technology in planet hunting, looking for life on other worlds and the role of science in science fiction. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4458

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 decline in biology textbook content dedicated to insects, along with an increasingly neutral tone in addressing the animal kingdom's largest group. Jennifer joins Lab Out Loud to discuss her research, how it mirrors the decline of natural history in education, and the implications that taxonomic bias might have on our understanding of ecosystems and human society. Show notes: https://laboutloud.com/2019/01/episode-199-disappearing-insects/

Gillian King-Cargile and Dr. Kristin Brynteson join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler 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 to learn more about the science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in popular fiction. Listen to Lab Out Loud to learn more about STEM Read and the educational opportunities it offers, including book-aligned lesson plans, a podcast featuring an author or STEM expert and even a STEM Read Summer Institute.

This week, listen to Lab Out Loud discuss 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 co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about some gifts on the list, how they are evaluated and to share some advice for educators who would like to incorporate STEM toys and Makerspaces in their instruction. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/12/episode-197-stem-toys/

This week co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler 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 Lab Out Loud to hear about the growing robotics industry, Misty II's revolutionary new capabilities, and how teachers and students might use Misty II in the classroom - like taking attendance with a robot! Show notes: https://laboutloud.com/2018/11/episode-196-mistyii/

This week Lab Out Loud talks 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, joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about her recent book Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World. Listen to the show to hear how you can learn about the world using your feet, find connections to earth science careers, and help your students appreciate time as a means to fully view the world in four dimensions. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/11/episode-195-timefulness/

To learn about STEM resources and other learning opportunities within ag science, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler welcome Leah Gibson to the show. As an Education Specialist from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Leah helps provide and share K-12 educator resources about agriculture. Listen to Lab Out Loud this week to hear Leah talk about STEM challenges and resources found in Purple Plow, games and resources for young learners within My American Farm, and professional development opportunities for educators through On the Farm STEM. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/10/episode-194-purpleplow/

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 started making ephemeral art to learn science with any age learner. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/10/episode-193-ephemeral-art/

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 used to support teachers, administrators and school boards, and where you can find more resources in the teaching of climate science. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/10/episode-192-teaching-climate-science

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 science, policy and law. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/09/episode-191-bioethics-of-crispr/

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-190-blick-on-flicks/

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 biology curriculum to incarcerated students in the Massachusetts juvenile justice system. Through a unique iPad app developed by Project RAISE that adheres to principles of universal design for learning (UDL), students engage with science through project-based inquiry activities and virtual laboratory experiences. Listen to the show to hear more about Project RAISE, how it addresses challenging factors within the justice system and how it adapts the learning environment for various learning styles and educational needs. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/08/episode-189-project-raise/

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 for their students, leading to almost 95% of science teachers spending their own money to support learning in their classroom. To discuss their research and its implications for science instruction in urban, rural and suburban schools, Emily Cayton (Graduate Research Assistant) and M. Gail Jones (professor of STEM Education) join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to close out season 11 of Lab Out Loud. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/06/episode-188-science-teacher-spending

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: https://laboutloud.com/2018/05/episode-187-science-ninjas/

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. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/04/episode-186-emerging-investigators/

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 Basler to explain this approach in an ecology unit where his middle school students are partnering with the Portland Parks and Recreation Department to apply their scientific knowledge to fieldwork that benefits their local community. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2018/04/episode-185-place-based-education-ecology-unit