Welcome to Science Fare! In this show, scientist and writer Susan Keatley talks with scientists about their latest research and how it relates to what kids learn in the science classroom.
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Welcome to Science Fare! In this show, scientist and writer Susan Keatley talks with scientists about their latest research and how it relates to what kids learn in the science classroom.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © Susan Keatley
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Our guest today is Stephen Steiner.
Stephen is President, CEO, and founder of Aerogel Technologies, a company based outside of Boston. Stephen has a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Materials Chemistry and Engineering which he completed in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Master’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering, also from MIT.
And prior to graduate school, Stephen got his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and that is actually how I know Stephen! I was in the graduate program in chemistry and a lab teaching assistant one summer — I think it was the summer of 2001 — and Stephen was working at the stockroom window where undergrads needed to get various supplies for completing their lab projects.
Stephen has such an interesting story of really falling in love with science at a young age and doing so many interesting things on both the discovery side and the business side of science, focused on aerogels.
In this MINI episode, Stephen talks to us about the invention of aerogels, and how the process of making them defies the ideal gas law, PV = nRT, and how we see that by the formation of a critical fluid. Tune in on Thursday for the full-length interview!
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Stephen and today’s topic [0:56];
*Stephen tells us what aerogels are [3:02];
*Stephen describes the invention of aerogels [3:38];
*Stephen talks about why the ideal gas law no longer holds in the formation of aerogels [6:26].
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Our guest today is Jodi Schottenfeld-Roames. We also have guests hosts — Serena Bunkin and Riley McManus. Serena and Riley are juniors at The Chapin School and are co-hosts of the Bio Break podcast.
Jodi is a lecturer in the Molecular Biology department at Princeton University. She teaches a research course for molecular biology majors in their junior year, she co-teaches a biology course for non-majors, and teaches in the Freshman Scholars Institute. Jodi’s research explores the genetic and cell biological requirements to form a branched tubular organ system, like our circulatory system for example.
Links to resources or topics mentioned in this episode:
Higher Educating — an article featuring Jodi’s teaching, written by Susan Keatley for the Princeton Alumni Weekly magazine
Learn.Genetics: Genetic Science Learning Center (University of Utah)
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Jodi, Serena, and Riley and today’s topic [1:31];
*Riley asks what led Jodi to pursue a career in science [2:55];
*Serena asks Jodi about integrating research and teaching [10:30];
*Jodi talks about the fall research course she teaches for junior molecular biology majors at Princeton [11:17];
*Learning to be a scientist — going from learning the basics in introductory courses to asking questions and designing experiments to push science forward [13:45];
*Susan asks about how Jodi eases this transition of learning to be a scientist for students [15:32];
*Jodi describes genotypes and phenotypes, and talks about the work her students do to better understand this relationship in the fruit fly tracheal system [18:10];
*Jodi shares some results from this work [24:45];
*The amazing and beautiful shapes of cells [25:43];
*Model systems — what are they? How are they helpful in biology? [28:20];
*Riley comments on model systems and Jodi adds more — model systems help us get basic research done so we can do applied work (e.g., develop medicines) in humans [32:56];
*Serena comments and talks about learning style and hands-on learning methods, then she asks how Jodi’s teaching has pushed her research forward and vice versa [36:13];
*Jodi shares how research affects her teaching — the nature of a research class helps Jodi get to know each student deeply and understand what each student needs to learn, and also talks about how teaching impacts research [37:33];
*Riley asks about teaching students who are not science majors [43:40];
*Jodi talks about the importance of teaching science to non-majors and gives examples of when this knowledge could be useful like serving on a jury or facing a difficult diagnosis [44:20];
*Susan asks Jodi about advice she would give to students interested in science - Jodi talks about free outreach events at nearby colleges [49:52];
*Jodi recommends a few online resources for anyone wanting to learn more about biology (these are listed as links above in the show notes) [52:41]
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Our guest today is Jodi Schottenfeld-Roames. We also have guests hosts — Serena Bunkin and Riley McManus. Serena and Riley are juniors at The Chapin School and are co-hosts of the Bio Break podcast.
Jodi is lecturer in the Molecular Biology department at Princeton University. She teaches a research course for molecular biology majors in their junior year, she co-teaches a biology course for non-majors, and teaches in the Freshman Scholars Institute. Jodi’s research explores the genetic and cell biological requirements to form a branched tubular organ system, like our circulatory system for example.
In this MINI episode, Jodi talks about the relationship between genotype and phenotype, and how her lab conducts research to learn more about this connection in the fruit fly tracheal system. Tune in on Thursday for the full-length interview!
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Jodi, Serena, and Riley and today’s topic [0:56];
*Jodi explains the terms genotype and phenotype and how they relate to each other [2:42];
*Jodi describes the research she and her students do to better understand the genotype-phenotype connection in the fruit fly tracheal system [6:47];
*What this works suggests about cell shape [9:22];
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Elizabeth is the leader of the Metric Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, also known as NIST, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In this role, Elizabeth serves as the national advocate for the International System of Units, known as the SI, in the United States.
Our timing could also not be better, as this episode will air during Metric Week in the United States! October 5 - 11.
Links to resources or topics mentioned in this episode:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Kibble balance including video
Top 10 Tips for Teaching the Metric System
US Metric Association Science Fair Award Program
US Metric Association National Metric Awards
NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)
NIST International and Academic Affairs Office
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Elizabeth and today’s topic [1:43];
*What led Elizabeth to pursue a career in metrology [3:06];
*Origins of the metric system [12:15];
*Metric system prefixes over the last 150 years [15:12];
*Structure of the metric system — the units, constants, and prefixes [17:26];
*Replacing the final physical objects of the metric system in 2018 [19:24];
*Conventional versus the Kibble balance and impact on measurement accuracy [21:33];
*The Metric Program and everything Elizabeth does as leader [26:55];
*Metric system misconceptions [30:09];
*Examples of the metric system in everyday life [33:40];
*Visualizing volume with the metric system [37:27];
*Science literacy and the metric system [39:08];
*Importance of standardization in science and measurement [41:30];
*Resources for students and teachers [43:50];
*US Metric Association awards [48:56];
*NIST internships and professional development programs for middle school teachers [51:30]
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Elizabeth is a physical scientist and the leader of the Metric Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, also known as NIST, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In this role, Elizabeth serves as the national advocate for the International System of Units, known as the SI, in the United States. As the NIST website states, “The Metric Program supports businesses, officials, educators, and the public in understanding and applying the SI across commerce, education, and daily life.”
Our timing could also not be better, as this episode will air during Metric Week in the United States! October 5 - 11.
In this MINI episode, Elizabeth talks about the origins of the metric system and dispels a misconception about the metric system. Tune in on Thursday for the full-length interview!
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Elizabeth and today’s topic [0:56];
*Origins of the metric system [2:11];
*Metric system misconceptions [6:33]
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Sarina is a product manager at a software company that specializes in lab safety, SciSure.
Topics mentioned in this episode:
On safe chemical storage: Stanford Compatible Storage Group Guide
Prudent Practices In the Laboratory
CSHEMA- Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association
Chemical and Engineering News series on Lab Safety in Wake of UCLA Accident
On careers in HVAC:
He Skipped College to Become a Repairman from the Wall Street Journal August 2024
Why I Skipped College to Be an HVAC Tech from the Wall Street Journal June 2024
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Sarina and today’s topic [1:41];
*What led Sarina to pursue a career in lab safety [3:27];
*What does Sarina love about her job and why is it a good fit for her skill set? [7:20];
*Some of the top safety concerns real labs face [9:29];
*How has safety software helped? [15:09];
*Compliance versus safety and how software plays a role in compliance [16:46];
*Ensuring centralized and standardized information in a lab [18:48];
*On how the culture of lab safety has changed in recent decades [23:31];
*On safe chemical storage, and a listener question from a 6th grader at Cockeysville Middle School in Baltimore Country about mixing chemicals [31:03];
*Examples of specific chemicals that should not be mixed [36:28];
*The joys and dangers of dry ice [37:48];
*What are the career opportunities in the safety field and what skills are required in these jobs? [40:40]:
*The sustainability aspect of lab safety [42:55];
*Sarina’s advice for students interested in science [45:37]
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Sarina is a product manager at a software company that specializes in lab safety — the company is called SciSure. Sarina has a background in chemistry — she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Haverford College, and went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from New York University. I reached out to Sarina about the podcast when I read on her Linked In page that she works at the intersection of science, safety and software. I loved this description — it made me think about the importance of safety in the lab on a lot of levels - personal safety in terms of lab accidents but also longer term exposure to certain chemicals, etc and also environmental safety — and made me want to learn more about how software tools can help with safety.
In this MINI episode, Sarina talks a bit about what it’s like to have a career in lab safety, discusses some of the safety challenges real labs face, and answers a listener question from a 6th grader about mixing chemicals. Tune in on Thursday for the full-length interview!
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Sarina and today’s topic [0:55];
*What led Sarina to pursue a career in lab safety [2:09];
*Some of the top safety concerns real labs face [4:54];
*On safe chemical storage, and a listener question from a 6th grader at Cockeysville Middle School in Baltimore Country about mixing chemicals [6:15];
*Example of chemicals that should not be mixed together [10:26]
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Alan Lightman is a writer and physicist.
Originally from Memphis, he has served on the faculties of Harvard and MIT and was the first person at MIT to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities.
He is currently a professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT.
Alan has authored numerous books, including Einstein’s Dreams, an international best seller, and The Diagnosis which was a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction. And along the way, he has done research on the astrophysics of black holes and stellar dynamics.
In this episode, Alan Lightman talks to us about the scientific method, what makes science a unique and powerful discipline, and the contributions scientists have made in history, are making now, and surely will continue to make.
Highlights of the episode:
*Susan introduces Alan and today’s topic [1:41];
*What led Alan to become a scientist [3:06];
*Why Alan decided to shift from science to writing [4:35];
*The scientific method is a way of thinking, and why science is conducive to this way of thinking because we can check hypotheses [6:16];
*The objectivity of science results from the community working together and challenging each other [9:30];
*Why is it more difficult to test a hypothesis in other disciplines? [10:28];
*The importance of experiments that don’t work and hypothesis that don’t work [14:20];
*You can disprove a hypothesis, but you can’t prove it. Why? [18:13];
*How science progresses through theories and then experiments that disagree with those theories [21:15];
*The unfortunate and harmful situation of flashy headlines in science communication [23:25];
*Science does not progress by flashy news, but by accumulation of small steps and “not mostly dramatic breakthroughs” [26:48];
*Scientists as people — what are they like? What did Alan learn from profiling scientists in his new book, The Shape of Wonder, co-written with Martin Rees? [27:33];
*Scientists are curious about the world and want to do experiments — you can even do it at home, not just in the classroom! [30:43];
*What is Alan hopeful about in science and what is concerning? [31:40];
*Alan’s advice to students interested in science [35:17]
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In this mini episode, Alan Lightman talks to us about the scientific method, why we can disprove but not prove hypotheses, and offers advice to students interested in science. For the full-length interview, tune in on Thursday!
Alan's Bio:
Alan Lightman is a writer and physicist.
Originally from Memphis, he has served on the faculties of Harvard and MIT and was the first person at MIT to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities.
He is currently a professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT.
Alan has authored numerous books, including Einstein’s Dreams, an international best seller, and The Diagnosis which was a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction. And along the way, he has done research on the astrophysics of black holes and stellar dynamics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Science Fare podcast!
On the Science Fare podcast, we aim to bring you conversations with scientists doing fascinating, cutting-edge work on all kinds of interesting phenomena, ranging from physics, to chemistry, to biology, and even the nature of science itself. Every other week in Season 3, we’ll release two episodes — a short-ten minute episode on Mondays which focuses on how the scientist’s research connects to what kids are learning in the classroom, and then the full-length interview on Thursdays.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.