Lab Out Loud

Cartoonist Randall Munroe, of the webcomic XKCD, often creates comics that feature aspects of technology, math, computer science and physics. We discuss how his work has helped science teaching.

As a researcher from the University of Colorado Boulder, Mike studies ice sheet meltwater feedback in Greenland.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As a Math for America fellow and chemistry teacher at Park East High School in New York City, Jamie Kubiak joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss why this work is important while sharing some valuable resources and simple strategies that you can use to affirm and represent LGBTQIA+ students in your science classroom.

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!

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.

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.

Hear Laurie Wallmark discuss Hedy Lamarr in her new book, how she chooses women in STEM to write about, and why her work is so important.

Science writer Carl Zimmer discusses the concept of life.

For our 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.

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.

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.