Meet the Expert: Dr. Amy Apprill, Marine Microbial Ecologist Dr. Amy Apprill is a marine microbial ecologist and Associate Scientist in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry department. Apprill’s research focuses on the ecology of microbial communities (or ‘microbiomes’) residing in association with sensitive animal hosts and ecosystems of the ocean. She studies the factors driving… Continue Reading Episode 81: Do Whales Have Germs?
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Meet the Expert: Travis Land, Herptology Curator My name is Travis Land, and I am currently working as a Ranger Tech for the City of Newport News Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department. I am committed to helping its mission of enhancing the quality of our community and its citizens by assisting its wildlife rehabilitation efforts, educational… Continue Reading Episode 79: How Do You Work With Snakes… Safely?
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Meet the Expert: Dr. Cory Hixon, Assistant Professor of Engineering After earning his B.S. in Engineering Science at Penn State University, Dr. Cory Hixson began working as an audio-video engineer/designer. He then made a career transition to teach high school physics. Having sparked his love for education, Dr. Hixson went back to school to earn… Continue Reading Episode 77: How Do Engineers Think?
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Slender Tower Challenge: You need 10 sheets of paper, scissors, and a roll of tape. Your challenge is to build the tallest tower you can with the smallest base (or footprint). Share your observations– or your picture– with us by LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW about your experience of designing an exhibit or share with us… Continue Reading Episode 74: How Do Structures Stand Up?
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Meet the Expert: Danielle Schroeder, Civil Engineer Danielle Schroeder is a Bridge Engineer in Pennsylvania. She graduated from Drexel University in 2017 with both her bachelor’s and master’s in Civil Engineering and is the first engineer in her family. As an advocate for STEM outreach, she frequently leads and volunteers at outreach events focused on… Continue Reading Episode 74: How Do Structures Stand Up?
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Meet the Expert: Susan Summers, Zookeeper and Wildlife Biologist Susan has had a career as a zookeeper, wildlife biologist, and environmental educator. Science and nature have always been part of her life. She worked as a zookeeper for the Ecotarium (formerly known as the Worcester Science Center), the Franklin Park Zoo, and the Virginia Living… Continue Reading Episode 73: How Do You Keep Zoo Animals Happy?
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Meet the Expert: Gabriel-Phillip Santos, paleontologist and cosplay science educator Gabriel Santos is a paleontologist and educator at the Alf Museum of Paleontology in Los Angeles, California. He received his B.Sc. in biology at University of California-Irvine, and his M.Sc. in geology at California State University-Fullerton. His previous research interests focused on the Eocene vertebrate… Continue Reading Episode 72: How Did Marine Fossils End Up on Dry Land?
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Challenge: Get and apple and a pencil. Give the apple 2 or 3 stabs with the pencil. Let the apple sit on the counter for a couple of days. Watch and see what happens. (Hint: the apple decaying is like your teeth decaying.) Explore this by making holes of different sizes and maybe even having… Continue Reading Episode 71: Why Do Teeth Decay?
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Meet the Expert: Norman Black, Retired Air Force Colonel and Payload Integrator Norman Black is a seasoned and tested space systems professional with over 25 years of highly specialized technical expertise and documented success in space and satellite operations for the military and civil agencies (NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office). He is a product… Continue Reading Episode 70: Why Do Science Experiments Travel by Balloon instead of by Jet?
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Meet the Expert: Dr. Ryan MacDonald, theoretical physicist Dr. Ryan MacDonald is a theoretical astrophysicist researching exoplanet atmospheres at Cornell University’s Carl Sagan Institute. He develops techniques to characterize the atmospheres of these distant worlds using ground and space-based telescopes. Dr. MacDonald is currently working on modeling exoplanet atmospheres in preparation for the launch… Continue Reading Episode 69: Where are the Aliens?
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Meet the Expert: Dr. Alison Pearce Stevens, biologist and children’s author Alison Pearce Stevens has been chased by a trumpeter swan, bitten by a bronze-winged duck, and served as a climbing wall for geckos and baby bats. She used to be a beekeeper and still thinks pollinators are some of the coolest things on the… Continue Reading Episode 67: What Can Ancient Rhinos Tell Us About the Midwest?
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Challenge: Check out the flora and fauna in your own neighborhood. Quietly observe what you see, write it down in a journal, or draw in your notebook. Then share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page and you’ll automatically be entered to win a copy of the book on the episode page!
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