3M state of science index podcasts

Science champions podcasts

Season 2

  • What better way to explore science and technology than by building your own wondrous creations? We explore the hands-on science of maker culture with our guest, Dr. Lucy Rogers.

    Featured guests:
    Dr. Lucy Rogers, Founder, Guild of Makers and Makertorium

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    Most people have what we’d call a “clickbait headline” level of scientific knowledge. How can we inspire the desire to learn more? And will genetic engineering lead to genius babies and velociraptors? Joanne Manaster answers the hard questions.

    Featured guest:
    Joanne Manaster, Faculty Lecturer/Online Course Developer, U of I Urbana-Champaign

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    Gen Z kids are going to college, bringing with them a unique set of predispositions, advantages and challenges. Physics professor Jeff Terry shares how science education is changing to better engage the next generation of scientists.

    Featured guest:
    Dr. Jeff Terry, Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology


Season 1

What does the average person think about science? Does the average person think about science? Science champions anywhere in the world can help foster conversations about the impact of science on our lives and inspire the next generation. In this podcast series, we discuss issues related to the global perception of science with some of the brightest minds in the field.

  • season 1, bonus episode 4: science aspiration & elevation
    Bonus Episode 4: Science Aspiration & Elevation

     

    What's the point in thinking like a scientist, even if you're not one? How does scientific thinking advance human beings as a species? We ask expert scientists and educators in this bonus highlights episode.

    Featured guests:
    Rita J. King, Co-Director, Science House

    Erica Redline, Senior Research & Development Scientist & Engineer, Organic Materials at Sandia National Laboratories

    Jim Kakalios,Taylor Distinguished Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota

    Abigail "Astronaut Abby" Harrison, Founder & President, The Mars Generation

  • season 1, bonus episode 3: science fascination & communication
    Bonus Episode 3: Science Fascination & Communication

    Children are naturally fascinated by science. How can we make it just as thrilling for adults, too? Some extremely accomplished science communicators share their thoughts in this bonus episode.

    Featured guests:
    Derek Lowe, Director in Chemical Biology & Therapeutic, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

    Laurie Fink - Vice President of Science, Science Museum of Minnesota

    Pat Hamilton - Director of Global Change Initiatives, Science Museum of Minnesota

    Adam Frank, Astrophysicist, University of Rochester

    Jennifer Rohn, Group Leader/Principle Research Associate at University College London

    Dru Crawley, Bentley Fellow / Director, Building Industry Development

  • season 1, bonus episode 2: science innovation & transformation
    Bonus Episode 2: Science Innovation & Transformation

    What does the future hold for scientific advancement? What's most exciting? What challenges still remain? We round up expert opinions in this special highlights episode.

    Featured guests:
    Roger Highfield, Director of External Affairs, Science Museum Group

    Jeremy Fryer-Biggs, Co-Founder & CTO, Evaptainers

    Carolina Ödman-Govender, Chief Scientist at thumbzup

    David Wees, Mathematics Formative Assessment Specialist, New Visions for Public Schools

  • season 1, bonus episode 1: science inspiration & education
    Bonus Episode 1: Science Inspiration & Education

    How can we inspire the next generation to learn about -- even love -- science? Expert educators give their opinions on this special bonus episode. 

    Featured guests:
    Vanessa Hill, Producer & Host, BrainCraft

    Joanne Manaster, Lecturer & Online Course Developer, University of Illinois

    Dianna Cowern, Creator, Physics Girl

    Jeff Terry

  • season 1, episode 16: science and the future of space exploration
    Episode 16: Science and the Future of Space Exploration

    Will humans walk on Mars in our lifetime? What is the value of human space exploration? Our guest explores how space travel challenges and inspires us.

    Featured guest:
    Abigail "Astronaut Abby" Harrison, Founder & President, The Mars Generation

  • season 1, episode 15: bam! pow! biff! when science meets pop culture
    Episode 15: Bam! Pow! Biff! When Science Meets Pop Culture

    What can Spider-Man and Superman teach us about science? Our guest, The Physics of Superheroes author Jim Kakalios, explores how pop culture can be educational as well as entertaining.

    Featured guest:
    Jim Kakalios,Taylor Distinguished Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota

  • season 1, episode 14: a day in the life of a scientist
    Episode 14: A Day in the Life of a Scientist

    What does a scientist do all day? What skills do you need to pursue a career in science? Our expert discusses what she does - and why she loves it.

    Featured guest:
    Erica Redline, Senior Research & Development Scientist & Engineer, Organic Materials at Sandia National Laboratories

  • season 1, episode 13: science and innovation
    Episode 13: Science and Innovation

    What's the point in thinking like a scientist, even if you're not one? We explore the value of scientific thinking in the corporate world with guest Rita J. King.

    Featured guest:
    Rita J. King, Co-Director, Science House

  • season 1, episode 12: the science of renewable energy
    Episode 12: The Science of Renewable Energy

    Easy access to affordable, sustainable energy would revolutionize human civilization. Scientists may be closer than ever to cracking the code. Our expert guest Dru Crawley explains how far we've come, what's next, and how you can help.

    Featured guest:
    Dru Crawley, Bentley Fellow / Director, Building Industry Development

  • season 1, episode 11: the science funding conundrum
    Episode 11: The Science Funding Conundrum

    Can we put a price on scientific innovation? And who should be picking up the tab? We explore how science gets funded with our expert guest, Jenny Rohn of Science Is Vital.

    Featured guest:
    Jennifer Rohn, Group Leader/Principle Research Associate at University College London

  • season 1, episode 10: science skeptic or supporter
    Episode 10: Science Skeptic or Supporter

    Skepticism is a healthy part of the scientific method. But skepticism about science itself is counter-productive. How can scientists make sure they're earning the trust of the public?

    Featured guests:
    Adam Frank, Astrophysicist, University of Rochester

    Derek Lowe, Director in Chemical Biology & Therapeutic, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

  • season 1, episode 9: fascination & fun with science
    Episode 9: Fascination & Fun with Science

    Science is fascinating and fun when you're doing hands-on activities at a science museum. How can we transfer some of that joy to the classroom and the lab? Our guests explore how to make science more appealing to kids and adults.

    Featured guests:
    Laurie Fink - Vice President of Science, Science Museum of Minnesota

    Pat Hamilton - Director of Global Change Initiatives, Science Museum of Minnesota

  • season 1, episode 8: science and the media
    Episode 8: Science and the Media

    How can scientists better leverage the media to speak to the public? Our guests explore how scientists can be more effective communicators in traditional and new media.

    Featured guests:
    Deborah Berebichez, Ph.D., Chief Data Scientist, Metis

    Corey Powell, Science Editor, Aeon Magazine

  • season 1, episode 7: the global perception of science
    Episode 7: The Global Perception of Science

    Do people feel differently about science in Japan than they do in Zimbabwe? Science should be an international effort for the betterment of all humankind. But there's no denying that cultural history and level of technological development change how people view scientific advancement. Our guest explores the unique challenges we face in trying to make science a genuinely global endeavor.

    Featured guest:
    Carolina Ödman-Govender, Chief Scientist at thumbzup

  • season 1, episode 6: the human impact of science
    Episode 6: The Human Impact of Science

    The fruits of scientific advancement are all around us, from smartphones to electric toothbrushes to Roombas. But nearly half of the people we surveyed said science doesn't make much of a difference in their everyday lives. Our guests discuss how scientists and educators can be better ambassadors to the public at large.

    Featured guests:
    David Wees, Mathematics Formative Assessment Specialist, New Visions for Public Schools

    Alok Jha, Wellcome Trust Fellow, Science Journalist, Broadcaster and Public Speaker

  • season 1, episode 5: a new hope for the future of science
    Episode 5: A New Hope for the Future of Science

    Flying cars, teleportation, colonizing other planets: Science fiction has a unique idea of what the future of scientific advancement will look like. But who wants to run out of gas at 8,000 feet? Our guests discuss what the future of science will actually look like, and where we should be focusing our attention to improve humanity and protect the planet.

    Featured guests:
    Jeremy Fryer-Biggs, Co-Founder & CTO, Evaptainers

    Roger Highfield, Director of External Affairs, Science Museum Group

  • season 1, episode 4: how society views science
    Episode 4: How Society Views Science

    Over a third of adults say if science didn’t exist, their lives would be about the same. Clearly, science has a public relations problem. How can we demonstrate the value of science to the public at large? Our guest shares how she helps shine a spotlight on just how much science affects our daily lives.

    Featured guest:
    Dianna Cowern, Creator, Physics Girl

  • season 1, episode 3: the next evolution of science education
    Episode 3: The next evolution of science education

    Science has advanced rapidly in the past decade. Has science education kept up with the changes? How can educators reach children who have the world’s knowledge — and infinite distractions — at their fingertips? Our guest brings decades of experience in science education to explore these questions.

    Featured guest:
    Jeff Terry

  • season 1, episode2: science treck: the next generation
    Episode 2: Science trek: the next generation

    What inspires someone to choose a career in science? As we seek to ignite the passion of a new generation of scientists, it’s a crucial question to answer. Our guests discuss what started them on the path to a scientific career, and share their ideas on how we can shape the scientists of the future.

    Featured guests:
    Vanessa Hill, Producer & Host, BrainCraft

    Joanne Manaster, Lecturer & Online Course Developer, University of Illinois

  • season 1, episode 1: introducing science champions
    Episode 1: Introducing Science Champions

    Jayshree Seth is the Chief Science Advocate at 3M. In this introductory episode, Jayshree talks about her personal journey to become a scientist and explores data from the 3M State of Science Index, a survey of more than 14,000 people’s attitudes toward, and perceptions of, science.

    Featured guest:
    Jayshree Seth, 3M Chief Science Advocate