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A biweekly podcast from NSTA on science teaching, science news, and anything else with “science” in it.
Science teachers Brian Bartel and Dale Basler discuss science news and science
education with leading scientists, researchers, science writers, and
other important figures in the field. A selection of links and notes
accompanies each episode, enabling the listener to dig deeper into the topics discussed.
Check out Brian and Dale's reporting from the NSTA National Conference on Science Education at the NSTA Conference Blog.
Episodes
- Lab Out Loud 17: Sir Harold Kroto on Science Education (2008.09.22)
To open their second season, Brian and Dale talked with Sir Harold Kroto. Kroto won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 (along with Curl and Smalley) for the discovery of fullerenes. He talks to us about a loss of hands-on experiences in our world and how to reform science education, and offers a new resource for science (and other) educators.
- Lab Out Loud 16: Building Connections in Science Education (2008.05.19)
In this episode, Dale and Brian chat with Dr. Karen Harpp, Associate Professor in Geology at Colgate University in New York. Dr. Harpp talks about her research, science outreach, and creating connections between science teachers and researchers.
- Lab Out Loud 15: Expelled Exposed (2008.05.05)
In response to the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, we decided to talk with someone who has invested her life defending evolution. Dr. Eugenie Scott, Director for the National Center for Science Education, talks to us about the movie, the NCSE response, and the place of evolution in science education.
- Lab Out Loud 14: Bill Nye Talks About Energy and More (2008.04.21)
For our contribution to Earth Day, we had the opportunity to chat with Bill Nye about his new show on the new Planet Green channel called Stuff Happens.
- Lab Out Loud 13: Scepticism and The Bad Astronomer (2008.04.07)
This week Dale and Brian talk with Terry Devitt from The Why Files: Science Behind the News, the popular website at the University of Wisconsin.
- Lab Out Loud 12: Skepticism and The Bad Astronomer (2008.03.17)
This week's guest calls himself The Bad Astronomer. Phil Plait is an astronomer, an author, and a well-known blogger at www.badastronomy.com. Phil talks to us about myths and skepticism in the science classroom.
- Lab Out Loud 11: Death of the Chemistry Sets (2008.03.03)
This week Brian and Dale talk with Steve Silberman, contributing editor for Wired magazine. Steve talks to us about the demise of the chemistry set (as related to his article "Don't Try this at Home") and what that might mean for the future of scientific curiosity in our children.
- Lab Out Loud 10: Boston, Here We Come (2008.02.18)
Get a preview of what's in store for you at the 2008 National Conference on Science Education, as we chat with conference chair Joyce Croce.
- Lab Out Loud 9: Blogging with PZ Myers (2008.02.04)
In this episode, we chat with PZ Myers, lead author of the blog Pharyngula (Pharyngula is hosted at Science Blogs—a project from Seed magazine). Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
- Lab Out Loud 8: The Future of Particle Physics (2008.01.21)
In this episode, Dale talks with physicist Don Lincoln of the DZero detector experiment at Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratories. Don talks about physics, Fermilab, his books, and some opportunities for teachers and students with QuarkNet.
- Lab Out Loud 7: Cloning Monkey Embryos (2008.01.07)
In this week's episode, we talk with Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov about his recent breakthrough in cloning monkey embryos and the scientific methods that got him there.
- Lab Out Loud 6: Adam Rogers from WIRED Science (2007.12.17)
Adam Rogers discusses the new PBS show titled WIRED Science.
- Lab Out Loud 5: Sir Alec Jeffries and DNA Fingerprinting (2007.12.03)
Professor Sir Alec Jeffries talks to us about the discovery of DNA fingerprinting, its uses/abuses, and its impact on society.
- Lab Out Loud 4: Science Education Myth? (2007.11.19)
This week we talk with Vivek Wadhwa, columnist for Business Week, Wertheim Fellow at the Harvard Law School, and executive in residence at Duke University. Wadhwa will be discussing his recent article (The Science Education Myth) regarding science education in the United States.
- Lab Out Loud 3: Steve Squyres and the Roving Mars (2007.11.05)
This week we talk with Steve Squyres, principal investigator for the science payload on the Mars Exploration Rover Project and Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
- Lab Out Loud 2: Biologist Sean B. Carroll (2007.10.22)
Dr. Sean B. Carroll (Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Wisconsin) talks to us about evolution, his new project, and science literacy.
- Lab Out Loud 1: Introductions and Gerry Wheeler (2007.10.08)
Meet the hosts of NSTA’s Lab Out Loud podcast—Dale Basler and Brian Bartel. Later, Dale and Brian chat with NSTA Executive Director Gerry Wheeler, who reflects on Sputnik and its impact on science education, the importance of science literacy and 21st century skills, and how NSTA is helping science teachers both young and old.
Guests planned for the months ahead
- Lesley Stone (Scientists and Engineers for America)
- Dr. Jeffry Kahn (Bioethics Institute)
- Dr. Kiki Sanford (science journalist)
- Ed Begley Jr. (actor and "green" enthusiast)
- Jeffry Kahn (University of Minnesota)
- Bassam Shakashiri (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
About Your Hosts
Dale Basler has been a teacher of science in Appleton, Wisconsin since 1998. He currently teaches physics and physical science at Appleton East High School. Across the river, Brian Bartel has been teaching biology and chemistry at Appleton West High School since 2000.
Since 2001, Dale has also been serving as webmaster for his state’s science teacher organization, the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers (WSST). In 2004, Dale was elected President-Elect of WSST and served for four years on the WSST Board of Directors. For two of those years, Dale served as President of WSST. In 2001, Brian joined Dale in the Publications' Committee of WSST by serving as the newsletter editor for WSST. Brian is currently the President of WSST (2007-2008).
In June of 2006, Dale and Brian started Periodicity, the podcast of the WSST. Together they produced 52 episodes that discussed topics in science news and science education by interview key leaders in science. As co-host, Dale has received both local and national recognition for his interviews.
Dale is also an independent consultant and web page designer who specializes in work for institutions and organizations in education.
Brian manages a blog at www.explodingsink.com and for the Wisconsin Discovery Educator Network.