Podcasts about spark science

Sparks will fly with fascinating fast facts about electric charge, a deep dive into lightning, a question about the dangers of electricity, some ideas about how electricity is generated, and a truly shocking experiment for you to try yourself at home.   Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.   https://www.creativescience.com.au   Episode content: 00:00 Introduction and fast facts 02:07 Lightning 03:46 How dangerous is electricity? 05:21 Electricity generators and renewable energy 07:37 Try this – making things move with static electricity, animals with an electrical sense You will need some paper, torn into small pieces, and a balloon.

We win any time we can incorporate literacy in science into our daily lessons and activities. One low-prep strategy that I love to use is to ask students to analyze authentic science texts… but let's be real, those are HARD to understand. Luckily, there are several organizations who do the amazing work at adapting real science work to a student reading level.More Resources: Three Easy Ways To Support NGSS-Aligned Literacy (iExploreScience)Text Annotation Strategy Guide: Student Key & Rubric (Free Download)Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & FacebookExplore student-driven curricula and professional development through Spark Science.Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons?  Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner.  Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class.  Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps.   Click here to grab this FREE download. Support your own and your students' understanding of the aspects of each Science and Engineering Practice in language you'll all understand. Visit www.iexplorescience.com/practices to grab your own set.You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class. Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons? Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class. Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.

In this episode, Nicole shares how she teaches students to annotate texts, a strategy they can pair with any reading task in the science classroom. Text annotations increase student engagement and comprehension when working with science texts, and they provide the educator a better peek into student understanding of text-based tasks. Plus, text annotations make for a simple, low-prep substitute plan. But of course, you have to teach students the art of annotating texts, and in this episode, you'll get Nicole's step-by-step strategy to build student competence in this life-long learning skill.More Resources: Three Easy Ways To Support NGSS-Aligned Literacy (iExploreScience)19: How to Teach Science VocabularyText Annotation Strategy Guide: Student Key & Rubric (Free Download)Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & FacebookExplore student-driven curricula and professional development through Spark Science.Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons?  Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner.  Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class.  Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps.   Click here to grab this FREE download. Support your own and your students' understanding of the aspects of each Science and Engineering Practice in language you'll all understand. Visit www.iexplorescience.com/practices to grab your own set.You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class. Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons? Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class. Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.

In this episode, Nicole shares her personal reflections on the "labels" we may (inadvertently) assign to classes and how that can impact our relationships, classroom culture, and teaching practice. She shares how this label developed with student block in her own classroom and what she is doing to "rethink and reset" her experiences with this group of students in order to bring more joy and ease back into their work of learning. More Resources: Join The iExploreScience Weekly Newsletter91 The Importance of Building Relationships in the Science ClassroomS1 E13: How to Use Relationships to Support the NGSS classroomTeaching With Respect Agreements (iExploreScience)Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & FacebookExplore student-driven curricula and professional development through Spark Science.Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons?  Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. Click here to grab this FREE download. Support your own and your students' understanding of the aspects of each Science and Engineering Practice in language you'll all understand. Visit www.iexplorescience.com/practices to grab your own set.You're invited to check out Bring Wonder Back, an on-demand video series designed to help you take your first steps to transforming your students into scientists with 3D teaching practices — what the NGSS is all about! Access this video series at iexplorescience.com/wonder and get ready to bring wonder, engagement, and a love for learning back to your science class. Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons? Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class. Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download.

In this episode, Nicole (iExploreScience) shares how she has used respect agreements to establish a positive classroom culture and prevent (and address) behavior challenges within her classroom.What are respect agreements? In short, respect agreements are an effective classroom management strategy that create a stronger community culture than top-down rules and consequences. Through the agreement development process, all students are given a voice in the establishment of our classroom norms and are therefore held more easily accountable to adhering to them.More Resources: Amplify Authentic Engagement (iExploreScience Short-Course)91 The Importance of Building Relationships in the Science Classroom101- The Brain Science Behind Your Students' (Missing) EngagementS1 E13: How to Use Relationships to Support the NGSS classroomTeaching With Respect Agreements (iExploreScience)Teaching Science in 3D on Instagram & FacebookExplore student-driven curricula and professional development through Spark Science.Are you looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to improve your lessons? Download Erin's 3D Lesson Planner. Then, all you have to do is write down what you are already doing in class. Then, she will send you instructions for EASY next steps. Click here to grab this FREE download. Support your own and your students' understanding of the aspects of each Science and Engineering Practice in language you'll all understand. Visit www.iexplorescience.com/practices to grab your own set.

Tom's next guest is a scholar of Urban Education who is the creator of the Hip Hop Ed social media movement, which explores the intersection of hip hop and education. Dr. Christopher Emdin is the author of several books, including the New York Times best-seller, For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y'All Too, and STEM, STEAM, Make Dream. Dr. Emdin is a Professor of Education at the University of Southern California, where he holds an endowed chair in Curriculum Theory, and he directs youth engagement and community partnerships at the USC Race and Equity Center. Dr. Christopher Emdin joins us on Zoom from Los Angeles, California. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you like Sci-Fi and Fantasy? Then you like Speculative Fiction and so do we.   Dr. Lysa Rivera joins us again, after being one of Spark Science's first guests, to talk about the history of Black and Brown voices in this genre and to also share some great recommendations, beyond Octavia Butler. However we of course talk about her too.  At WWU, Dr. Rivera specializes in Chicano/a/x and African American literature and has an extremely popular class focused on this field. She also currently serves on the editorial board for Femspec, an interdisciplinary and peer-reviewed journal devoted to the study of speculative fiction within feminist contexts.

Today's Guest   Regina Barber DeGraaff, Senior Lecturer and STEM Inclusion and Outreach Specialist at Western Washington University, doesn’t mince words as we dive into the topic of inclusion. She acknowledges that this can be tough work, but vital as well. Learn about the challenges and opportunities in her role, recognizing and reflection on our identities, and Community Ambassadors, an upcoming SEA-change webinar that she will co-facilitate. Regina is also the host of the podcast Spark Science. The show’s tagline is “exploring stories of human curiosity.” She discusses making science more accessible and less intimidating, and how humanizing scientists can help the next generation see themselves in such a career.   Links from today’s episode:   Regina’s new website: https://www.scienceregina.com/ The Spark Science podcast! “Exploring stories of human curiosity.” https://www.sparksciencenow.com/   Western Washington University info: Regina’s biography STEM Inclusion and Outreach Specialist   SEA Change webinar Community Ambassadors - An Approach to Enhance Equity in STEM Wednesday, May 26th, 2021 from 4-5 pm ET Email program manager Alexis Knaub (aknaub@aapt.org) to learn how to join in  

“Which one did you get, Pfizer or Moderna?” This was the big question at the start of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout but how do these vaccines work? Why do they have to be kept at ultracold temperatures? What is mRNA?   These questions are answers in this episode featuring WWU Biology professor and RNA researcher, Dr. Suzanne Lee. Lastly, if you haven’t already, Spark Science would like to encourage you to get any COVID-19 Vaccine available, mRNA or not.

A really fun conversation with Ben Hyde. Ben is a science educator and advocate for the Electric Universe. You can find his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Spark-science-137581603027542/  

What are clam gardens? Join us on Spark Science’s first research field trip up the coast of Vancouver Island, BC. Dr. Marco Hatch answers this question by showing us a day in the life of a marine ecologist. We learn about clam habitat and how people have been managing these beaches for thousands of years.   Photo of clam garden rock wall located in Fulfod Harbor B.C. courtesy of Dr. Marco Hatch. For more information on his research, go to his website https://wp.wwu.edu/hatchlab/ If you would like to learn more about the garden in the image and other efforts to manage these historical gardens, check out the Clam Garden Network.

How different are people's paths into science and what are students going through right now? Each spring Spark Science host, Dr. Barber DeGraaff, teaches a science communication course where students can create podcasts for a final project. This episode features WWU student Khleo Isaguirre interviewing Biology professor, Dr. Adrienne Wang. This episode also shares WWU student Kassidy Haluska speaking to other College of Science and Engineering majors about their choices.  

What is it like to study and handle the African giant pouched rat? How do these rodents interact with humans? Dr. Danielle Lee returns to Spark Science to answer these questions by sharing an experience that you won’t forget. Dr. Lee was a keynote speaker at the National SACNAS Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii and you can find out more about Dr. Lee’s work by following her on twitter and instagram @DNLee5 and/or watch her TED talks on Finding Landmines Using Giant Pouched Rats & How Hip-Hop Helps us Understand Science.   Image Credit: Laura M. Boykin

Robots on Mars! This isn’t science fiction or the future; this is now. We are lucky enough to have NASA scientist, Mars rover team member, and extremely talented science communicator Dr. Melissa Rice share her knowledge for our Season 5 finale.    We talk about studying the scientists that operate the rover, the history of robots on Mars and the future of Mars exploration.   A special thanks to Dr. Melissa Rice (the Steve Martin of Spark Science), Janet Vertesi’s book “Seeing like a Rover” and the WWU DMC.   A video of this interview can be viewed at https://www.sparksciencenow.com/videos/

Homeschooling parents can often be intimated by teaching science and math as their children progress in their schooling. Medical Doctor and homeschooling mom of 3, Kim Mason, shares with us the Charlotte Mason approach to science and math and the practical ways she implements this in her family. Kim also gives insight into the use of technology into today's homeschool and some of the ways she utilizes different technologies to suit her family's Charlotte Mason lifestyle. There's lots of goodness and resources in the episode you don't want to miss! Resources mentioned: Salsa Spanish Videos Tommy Smith's Animals A Bunch of Wild Flowers for Children Animal Life in Field and Garden The Mystery of the Periodic Table Seterra Geography App (full) Sabbath Mood Homeschool For the Children's Sake

How can we watch an action and instantly know how to do it? What about 'Empathy' in humans? What kind of research is happening on the Western Washington University campus? Listen to this episode to find out.    Outstanding Behavioral Neuroscience (BNS) graduate, Anna Marie Yanny, interviews BNS chair Dr. Jantzen for WWU Science Communication course. Another student in the class, Lilah Nay, then interviews Anna Marie Yanny about the research undergraduate BNS students are performing at WWU.   Lilah Nay also interviews WWU graduate students and faculty to show what kind of research happens on campus.   The material for this episode was created in a science communication course taught by Spark Science host, Dr. Barber DeGraaff, to help undergraduate science students gain skills in effectively sharing their work with the public and other fields.   Image Credit: Medium.com

Immunology, Tay Sachs, vaccines and the feeling of intimidation when interviewing a person who has won a Nobel prize are the topics of this episode. Dr. Beutler, who was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another researcher, came to Bellingham, WA in 2018 and I have a few minutes to have a discussion with him. I also enlisted the help from Spark Science veterans and WWU scientists Dr. Jackie Rose and Dr. Dahlberg to answer some of the questions I had about biology terminology and analysis of Dr. Brutler's answers. A big THANK YOU to WWU Chemistry for fitting Spark Science in Dr. Beutler's schedule. Make sure to check out Dr. Rose and Dr. Dahlberg back in Season 1.

This episode turns the table on the Spark Science interview process. WWU Women in Physics students Grace Eliason and Megan McAndie interview their WWU Physics professors, Dr. Kristen Larson & host Dr. Regina Barber DeGraaff.     We talked about family life, paths to physics, being yourself in physics courses, historic women in STEM and what our experiences are as a woman in the physics department at WWU.   Please enjoy this fun and personal episode.   Image credit: Women in Physics - Jessica Reyna  

Friday, September 15th, 2017, Spark Science and the Planetary Society held a public wake at the Shakedown in Bellingham, WA, to celebrate the life of the Cassini Mission -- a 19-year space mission to study Saturn and its many moons.   This episode features the eulogies read by Planetary Society’s Director of Space Policy Casey Dreier, NASA scientist Melissa Rice, Author George Dyson and music by Scary Monster and the Super Creeps.   Enjoy the ride.     Image credit: NASA Check out pictures of the wake on our Instagram page @sparkscience & Twitter @sparksciencenow    

Attending Geek Girl Con is now a tradition for Spark Science.   This time we are featuring famed science communicator and creator of the DIY Zone (at Geek Girl Con) Dr. Raychelle Burks. We also had the pleasure of speaking with awesome astronomer Dr. Nicole Gugliucci (also known as twitter's @noiseyastronomer), the Bug Chicks, SciFi writer Astrid Amara and more.   We hope you enjoy listening to these amazing women.

Welcome to Season 4!    We hope you enjoy our first episode of the season featuring author of The Martian and Artemis, Andy Weir.    We had a great conversation about space elevators, history, & character development.  The co-host for this show was environmental student and Spark Science blogger, Jonathan Flynn.   Thank you to Andy Weir, WWU Video Services and Village Books Photo: Jonathan Willams - WWU  

In this episode we have a round table discussion about what disaster and horror movies say about our society with WWU medical anthropology professor Dr. Sean Bruna and a couple of anthropology students.     The first student works under Dr. Bruna's and also happens to be the Spark Science video editor, Kyle Mullins.  The second student continues the Spark Science tradition of family member co-hosts, Dr. Barber DeGraaff's father Ramon Barber Jr.  Ramon is finishing a degree in Anthropology at SDSU.   Enjoy this short pop culture filled episode.   Image Courtesy of Universal Studios

New U.S. sanctions against Russia have reignited speculation that global politics could undermine cooperation in the International Space Station. Could Russia cut off rides for US astronauts to the ISS? Later, Casey Dreier joins Spark Science host Dr. Regina Barber Degraaff for a conversation with U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen, Democratic representative of Washington state’s 2nd District. We also check in on NASA's 2018 budget, which is currently moving through the Senate. Did they provide funding for a new Mars orbiter?

New U.S. sanctions against Russia have reignited speculation that global politics could undermine cooperation in the International Space Station. Could Russia cut off rides for US astronauts to the ISS? Later, Casey Dreier joins Spark Science host Dr. Regina Barber Degraaff for a conversation with U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen, Democratic representative of Washington state’s 2nd District. We also check in on NASA's 2018 budget, which is currently moving through the Senate. Did they provide funding for a new Mars orbiter?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New U.S. sanctions against Russia have reignited speculation that global politics could undermine cooperation in the International Space Station. Could Russia cut off rides for US astronauts to the ISS? Later, Casey Dreier joins Spark Science host Dr. Regina Barber Degraaff for a conversation with U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen, Democratic representative of Washington state’s 2nd District. We also check in on NASA's 2018 budget, which is currently moving through the Senate. Did they provide funding for a new Mars orbiter?

Spark Science's Regina Barber DeGraaff came by with a pocket full of interviews with comic creator Gene Luen Yang (Superman, New Super Man, Secret Coders), and we chatted with her about about Gene and his works. Be sure to check out the Spark Science podcast wherever fine podcasts are served.

Today's episode features reporting on the March for Science by Spark Science correspondent Natalie Moore.  We were on location at a satellite march in Bellingham, WA. While Dr. Barber DeGraaff was busy with march organizing, Natalie asked event speakers and participants why they were compelled to come out in full support for SCIENCE. Listen to former astronaut Captain Wendy Lawrence speak on inconvenient truths and her hope for the future.  We include Dr. Melissa Rice, Mars Rover Scientist, mesmerize the crowd with a passionate and rallying speech on a defense of the scientific method.  Stay for the interviews of community members and physics students at the march. Please enjoy the show. Special Thanks to Natalie Moore for the reporting, editing and producing of this episode. 

Welcome to Season 3 of Spark Science!   Back in October 2016, we recorded serveral interviews at Seattle's Geek Girl Con.  This amazing convention strives to support girls who love comics and STEM.  http://geekgirlcon.com/   Our first interview was the Women of Pixar panel Yun Lien, Angelique Reisch, and Trina Roy.  We had a joy filled discussion about what it is like to work on beloved films, how to get a job at Pixar and learning how to code.   Enjoy 30 minutes of geeking out and giggles.  

Spark Science sits down with Behavioral Pharmacologist and WWU professor Dr. Jeff Grimm.  We talk about his background, new theories on addiction, rat parks and how sugar can be an addictive substance. You can view the Kurzgesagt video on addiction by clicking on the link below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg

In September 2015 gravitational waves were directly detected for the first time.  It was recorded simultaneously at two Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatories (LIGO) in Hanford, WA and Livingston, Louisiana. Spark Science attended a tour at LIGO with physic students from WWU and student correspondents Lia Cook and Nathan Miller.  LIGO's Outreach Coordinator Dale Ingram takes us through the facilities and tells tales of mice in tubes, earthquakes and moths.  We also want to thank the other post-doc guide, Sheila Dwyer. Links PhD Comic Video Feature Song: LIGO Feel That Space

In this episode Spark Science partners with the Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA to host a "Science on the Screen" event.  WWU professors Dr. Amites Sarkar and Dr. Stephanie Treneer discuss the work of the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan before a screening of the film about Ramanujan's life, "The Man Who Knew Infinity" starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons. The event was filmed and can be viewed by clicking the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3nCtWsI7bA A special thanks to Lucas Holtgeerts who filmed & edited the video and also.... Pickford Film Center: http://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/ Science on Screen: http://scienceonscreen.org/ Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. UK

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics and Spark Science got the CEO to come to the Spark Radio studios for an interview. We talk about what the heck photonics is, spying with film and student chapters worldwide.  Spark Science even calls into Hsinchu, Taiwan to talk to some wonderful SPIE chapter members. Enjoy our show on how the world is affected by LIGHT.

Spark Science recorded on location in Washington, DC at the SACNAS National Convention.  This convention is the largest gathering of minority scientists and I went around and asked the questions "Why did you become a scientist?" and "What and who supported you?"I apologize for the audio quality due to my inexperience.  However, the stories are definitely worth a listen.  Enjoy.Image:  Myself and Dr. Dione Rossiter. 

Spark Science welcomes back the "Martian" herself Dr. Melissa Rice and Casey Dreier, the Planetary Society's Director of Space Policy, to talk to us about the science of the award winning film, The Martian.We discuss the Planetary Society, Water on Mars, Matt Damon and other space missions.Enjoy our rants on Hollywood science.Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Welcome back to Spark Science!We are in our second season now and our first episode of the new year is my trip to GeekGirlCon.  This convention is much like the famous ComicCon in San Diego however GeekGirlCon is more to promote female participation and support in Geekdom.  It was wonderful and I brought my guest co-host my daughter, Dori. I interview scientists at the DIY Science Zone located in the heart of GeekGirlCon.  We talk about science, pop culture and their own complex identities as geeks.A Special thanks to: GeekGirlConhttp://geekgirlcon.com/STEM Boxhttp://www.mystembox.com/Generation Anthropocenehttp://anthropocene.stanford.edu/

In the Season 1 finale, Spark Science interviews Comedian and founder of the Upfront Theater in Bellingham, WA, Ryan Stiles.  We discuss the difference between improv and stand up comedy, how one teaches comedy and the benefits of laughter.  We also bring in the Upfront Theater improv instructor who taught our very own Jordan Baker.  Oona Cava discusses the methods of improv in more detail and how one can use improv techniques to become a better university professor.Enjoy our jokes and come back for new episodes in January 2016.

Spark Science was in the skies over Bellingham, WA with pilot, computer scientist and friend of the show, Dr. Aran Clauson.  Dr. Clauson offered to take Jordan and Dr. Regina in a tiny Cessna and we had a great time.  We recorded part of the show in the air and part in the KMRE Spark Radio studios.Join us for a show where we discuss the science that goes into flight (lift, drag and crosswinds) and some history of aviation.  Throughout the whole episode, listen to us giggle while we reflect on our trip to the "Danger Zone!".. 

Spark Science welcomes the return of Astrophysicst Dr. Kevin Covey.  In this episode we discuss how extra-solar planets or "Exoplanets" are found using three methods and how they are found using a space observatory named Kepler.  Exoplanets are other worlds found outside of our solar system and they are also something the general public can now name.  Listen to this show to find out how......Image Courtesy of NASA

In this episode of Spark Science, we discuss what physicists mean when we say "Energy".  Our guest is a physics professor and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Western Washington University, Dr. Brad Johnson.  We talk about changing the dialogue of "Global Warming" and thinking about stored energy in the atmosphere.  Enjoy this short crash course in energy conservation, phase change, randomness and air quotes.Image Courtesy of NASA

On July 14th NASA recieved a call home from the New Horizons Spacecraft sent to study Pluto.  This contact with Earth was confirmation that the spacecraft had survived and that humanity had now explored the mysterious ends of our solar system."Pluto Revealed" was a live event, sponsored by the Spark Musuem, Western Washington University (WWU) and the Planetary Society where over 100 people in Bellingham, Washington experienced this historic accomplishment together.  This audience also participated in a live taping of Spark Science with guests Casey Dreier- Planetary Society Director of Advocacy, Dr. Melissa Rice, Dr. Mike Kraft and Dr. Kirsten Fristad (all geophysicists from WWU) discussing features on Pluto. Please make sure to view the images on this site (located on the left site of the site labeled "Pluto Revealed Images..."), while listening to the show.Images Courtesy of NASA

The Spark Science hosts finally watch the film Interstellar. In our fourth episode, Dr. Kevin Covey - fellow WWU Astrophysicist, talks with us about the Science of Interstellar, Gravity and 2001: A Space Odyssey.Image Courtesy of Warner Brothers Studios

In our third installment of Spark Science, we talk with Dr. Jackie Caplan-Auerbach about Mt. St. Helens, ocean volcanoes, earthquakes, Hawaii, and bad geology related movies like the Core and San Andreas.        Image of "Rinjani 1994" by Oliver Spalt. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Spark Science spoke to Captain Wendy Lawrence about how she became an astronaut, human activities in the space station, astronaut food, radiation dangers and waste in space.Additional Info I forgot to ask:  Astronauts have to exercise for 2.5 hours everyday.Image Courtesy of NASA

In the first episode of Spark Science, we talk with Dr. Melissa Rice about the Mars Curiosity Rover, the geology of Mars, Missions to Mars and Mars related movies!Image Courtesy of NASA