An interview with Juliana Texley, author of The Story of Science Classroom Companion: Einstein Adds a New Dimension (e-Book), conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

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Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 7 ′11″)

Juliana Texley's book adds teacher and student materials to Joy Hakim's Einstein Adds a New Dimension, which brings to life the history of Albert Einstein and his fellow scientists as they lay the groundwork for concepts of particle physics and quantum mechanics.

And if would like to hear the full interview, including how Juliana relates the value of a scientifically literate mind to understanding contemporary and historical world events, go to the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 12′51″).

An interview with Dick Konicek, author of Everyday Science Mysteries, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 6′56″)

What causes condensation? Does temperature affect how well a balloon will fly? How do tiny bugs get into oatmeal? Through 15 mystery stories, Everyday Science Mysteries memorably illustrates science concepts for students and reinforces the value of learning science through inquiry.

And if would like to hear the full interview, including Dick’s thoughts about how the “make yourself the kind of teacher student’s want to solve,” go to the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 13′19″).

An interview with Bill Robertson, author of Stop Faking It: Chemistry Basics, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 6′13″)

One of NSTA’s best-selling authors, Bill takes a fresh approach to chemistry fundamentals by helping you understand them from the ground up. Instead of hounding you to memorize the characteristics of atoms and the periodic table, Chemistry Basics will help you see those characteristics as a natural consequence of our understanding of atomic structure.

And if you would like to hear the full interview, including Bill’s thoughts on quantum mechanics and where he might be found on Super Bowl Sunday (it relates to his explanation of quantum mechanics), go to the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 20′13″).

A short interview with Joy Hakim, the author—really, storyteller—of Einstein Adds a New Dimension, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 4′46″)

Now, it’s time for your students to look over Albert Einstein’s shoulder as he develops a new kind of physics that points the way to more recent theories of particle physics and quantum mechanics. Joy Hakim demonstrates in Einstein Adds a New Dimension how scientific thoughts today are often written in the language of mathematics, such as E = mc², and explains clearly what this means. Students learn why relativity and quantum theory are perhaps the most important ideas in modern science, maybe of all time.

A brief discussion with Gail Jones, Amy Taylor, and Mike Falvo, three of the authors of Nanoscale Science: Activities for Grades 6–12, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 7′50″)

For the first time in human history, we have the ability to manipulate and build materials from the atom up. Nanoscale Science—written by experts at developing effective ways to teach about nanotechnology—is a pioneering instructional guide to this important subject. Use it as a fascinating supplement to studies of biology, physics, chemistry, math, and the environment.

And if you would like to hear the full interview, including Gail’s expanded thoughts on how teachers might use the book and her favorite activity, go to the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 17′06″).

A brief discussion with Page Keeley, one of the authors of Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 1: 25 Formative Assessment Probes, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 5′29″)

Before your students can discover accurate science, you need to uncover the preconceptions they already have. Uncovering Student Ideas helps pinpoint what your students know (or think they know) so you can monitor their learning and adjust your teaching accordingly. Loaded with classroom-friendly features you can use immediately, the book is comprised of 25 “probes”—brief, easily administered activities designed to determine your students’ thinking on 44 core science topics (grouped by light, sound, matter, gravity, heat and temperature, life science, and Earth and space science).

And if you would like Page’s thoughts on how teachers might use the book and its connections to state standards, go to the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 15′48″).

A chat with Bill Robertson, author of Stop Faking It! Math, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 5′32″)

Flummoxed by formulas? Queasy about equations? Perturbed by π? Now you can stop cursing over calculus and start cackling over Math, the newest volume in Bill Robertson’s accurate and amusing Stop Faking It! books. Like the other six titles in this award-winning NSTA Press series, Math is meant for homework-helping parents, math-averse science teachers, and homeschoolers. It’s written for everyone who lacks the background to teach with confidence and is sick of relying on avoidance strategies. As Robertson sees it, too many people view mathematics as a set of rules to be followed, procedures to memorize, and theorems to apply. This book takes a unique approach by focusing on the reasoning behind the rules, from math basics all the way up to a brief introduction to calculus.

And if you would like to hear the long version, including Bill’s description of how he works with Brian Diskin, go to the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 10′43″).

Quantoons illustration by Tom Bunk
(Click on the picture to see a larger version)

A wide-ranging discussion with Tomas Bunk, illustrator, and Arthur Eisenkraft, one of the authors of Quantoons: Metaphysical Illustrations, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 6′24″)

Finally: the perfect book for science and math buffs who crave physics problems but want something just … a little different. Quantoons combines challenging problems and provocative quotes with intricate drawings that mix Isaac Newton and Marie Antoinette with Romeo, Juliet, and Einstein. The book is a compilation of 58 contest problems that ran between 1991 and 2001 in Quantum magazine, a collaboration between US and Russian scientists that was published by NSTA. The problems and cartoons make inquiring minds think about physics and art in new ways—and have fun doing it.

To hear more from Tom and Arthur, play the extended version of the interview (mp3 format, 32′26″).

A talk with Karen Rohrich Ansberry and Emily Morgan, authors of Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, conducted by Tyson Brown, Director, New Products and Services, NSTA.

Play / download podcast (mp3 format, 7′51″)

Wouldn’t it be perfect if an expert combined the appeal of children’s picture books with Standards-based science content—and then offered you the ready-to-teach results? Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry makes that exciting idea a reality. This delightful book for new and experienced elementary teachers (grades 3–6) presents 15 ready-to-teach lessons—complete with student pages and assessments—that use picture books to guide science inquiry explicitly tied to the National Science Education Standards.