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: ...

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/ 

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...

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/ 

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...

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: ...

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...

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: ...

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...

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...

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/

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/

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

[ 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...