Engineering: Recent Episodes
Solve It For Kids - Podcast
Solve It! For Kids (podcast) hosts Jennifer Swanson and Jed Doherty talk with real scientists and engineers to get the stories behind their jobs — and challenge kids to solve a problem related to each guest’s work. Kids: you’ve got what it takes to solve the world’s biggest challenges!
The Solve It! for Kids Podcast is on summer break!
Enjoy our BEST of Learning About the Universe!
You’ll hear clips from:
Ep 192 How Do You Study the Smallest Things?
Ep 170 What Would Happen if we Didn’t have Magnets?
Ep 63 How Do Scientists Listen to Black Holes?
The post Episode 220: The BEST of Learning about Our Universe first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Sirina Nabhan, product and data systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion LaboratorySirina Nabhan is a Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsions Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2017. There, she was a dedicated SWE member and held several positions including President. Today, Sirina works as a Systems Engineer for the Deep Space Network (DSN) which enables Mission’s who visit the moon and beyond to communicate with earth. In her role Sirina translates project data requirements into software configuration in the DSN. She collaborates with several departments from other NASA centers, foreign space agencies, and Universities who build these spacecraft. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Space Systems at Johns Hopkins University. Sirina serves as the Professional Development chair on the Advisory Council for Women (ACW) at JPL. The ACW strives to empower, enable and educate women at JPL for success in the 21st century workplace. Sirina promotes space exploration and women in engineering through outreach and social events.
See what the DSN is up to now. Check it out here: https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html******************
Challenge: Think about what space exploration will look like in 20 years? And see if you can come up with some unconventional jobs that help with space exploration.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode!Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer SwansonBook List:Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer SwansonThe Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet: Everything You Need to Know, from Training to Re-Entry by Terry Virts (Author)Suit Up For Launch With Shay! by Sharon Caples McDougle (Author), Cristielle Pimenta (Illustrator)The Ultimate Guide to Music: A Fascinating Introduction to Music and the Instruments of the Orchestra by Joe Fullman (Sterling Books)
The Hubble Space Telescope: Our Eye on the Universe by Terence Dickinson, Tracy Read (Firefly Books)
The post Episode 215: How Will We Talk to Astronauts on the Moon? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Chris Flagg, Landscape ArchitectThe majority of Chris Flagg’s 40-plus years of professional experience have been devoted to transforming his beliefs in design excellence into a higher quality of life through creativity and collaboration. His talents in master planning, community vision planning, large-scale mixed-use planning, transit-oriented and urban design, have led to multiple design awards and recognition as one of the profession’s foremost visionaries. In 2013, he was elevated to Fellow by the American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows, one of the international organization’s highest honors, for his career of community activism and his dedicated body of highly creative professional work. His ability to teach, create art, inspire, mentor and advocate for the values of creative thinking define his everyday approach to his professional, personal and artistic pursuits.
His current role at Haskell encompasses a wide range of objectives, from increasing the company’s design excellence to mentoring a diverse staff of more than 60 interdisciplinary professionals.
Chris works for Haskell, they build tons of amazing structures (and more) in the architecture, engineering, and construction industy.
Check out their website HERE
And watch this cool video to learn more:
Challenge: If you were a landscape architect, what would you do (or build) to most influence your physical environment?
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode!
Adventures in Architecture for Kids: 30 Design Projects for STEAM Discovery and Learning by Vicky Chan
Book List:
Drawing for Landscape Architecture: Sketch to Screen to Site by Edward Hutchison
Experiments with Plants by Christine Taylor-Butler
Plant Growth by Louise Spilsbury, Richard Spilsbury
The post Episode 214: How Does a Landscape Architect Shape the World? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Rémy Morgan, Network Operations Analyst for Deep Space NetworkRémy Morgan, is a life-long space enthusiast and science communicator, always ready and eager to talk all things galactic, stellar, planetary, or even alien! What started with library rentals of Magic School Bus VHS tapes led to a degree in astronomy and atmospheric science, as well as a passion for education and outreach.
She worked as a planetarium operator, presenter, manager, and script writer/performer for four years in Colorado before relocating to Southern California last year. Currently, she works as a Network Operations Analyst for the Deep Space Network (DSN), helping dozens of satellites out in deep space talk to us back here on her favorite planet, Earth.
Challenge:
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode!Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer SwansonBook List:The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet: Everything You Need to Know, from Training to Re-Entry by Terry Virts (Author)Suit Up For Launch With Shay! by Sharon Caples McDougle (Author), Cristielle Pimenta (Illustrator)The Ultimate Guide to Music: A Fascinating Introduction to Music and the Instruments of the Orchestra by Joe Fullman (Sterling Books)
The Hubble Space Telescope: Our Eye on the Universe by Terence Dickinson, Tracy Read (Firefly Books)
The post Episode 210: What is the Deep Space Network? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Chris Sembroski, Engineer and Inspiration 4 AstronautChris “Hanks” Sembroski represented the pillar of Generosity as part of the crew of Inspiration4 by serving as Mission Specialist on a 3-day mission to orbit. He grew up with a natural curiosity about outer space. He could be found stargazing late at night from the roof of his high school and launching high-powered model rockets deep in the Florida swamps in college. As a U.S. Space Camp counselor, he conducted simulated space shuttle missions and supported STEM-based education designed to inspire young minds to explore these areas and find their passions. As a college student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Chris volunteered with ProSpace, a grassroots lobbying effort that promoted legislation in Washington, D.C., to help open up space travel and allow companies like SpaceX to exist. He then served in the U.S. Air Force, maintaining a fleet of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying for service in Iraq before leaving active duty in 2007. In his civilian career, he has sought innovative, industry-disrupting methods to monitor and maintain mechanical equipment, reduce energy consumption, and use data to drive preemptive action making everything from data centers, to hospitals, to aerospace manufacturing facilities more efficient.
Chris now works as an Avionics Testing Engineer for Blue Origin’s New Glenn program. This reusable rocket stands over 310 feet (95 meters) tall, making it nearly the size of the Apollo program’s Saturn V vehicle. He resides outside Seattle, WA, with his wife, and two young daughters.
Learn More about Inspiration 4 HERE –> https://inspiration4.com/*********************
CHALLENGE: For the challenge, how about encouraging the audience to send a postcard to space? Go to https://clubforfuture.org/postcards/ to learn more about the program, and to learn more about how Club for the Future is “inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM and helping invent the future of life in space.”
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this episode!
Space Care: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson (Mayo Clinic Kids Press)
Book List to Learn More:
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet by Buzz Aldrin (Author), Marianne Dyson (Author)
You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien
The post Episode 202: What’s it Like to be a Civilian Astronaut? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Scientist: Brian Helmuth, Aquanaut and Chief Science Officer for Proteus Ocean GroupBrian Helmuth, PhD., is an aquanaut and marine environmental scientist at Northeastern University who loves to spend his time diving and exploring the ocean as he studies the effects of climate change on bodies of water on our planet.Helmuth lab at Nahant Marine Science Center
Images from the Underwater Forest!
Learn More About the Ancient Underwater Forest
NY Times Article
This is Alabama video of the Underwater Forest by Ben Raines
CHALLENGE: How would you make an underwater habitat?
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this episode!
The Lost Forest: An Unexpected Discovery beneath the Waves by Jennifer Swanson
After local fishers noticed a large swarm of fish in an unlikely area in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of divers found the remains of a forest deep beneath the waves. The ancient trees had been undisturbed for more than fifty thousand years before finally being uncovered by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Acclaimed science writer Jennifer Swanson brings readers along with a group of scientists as they work to explore and map the site, collect samples of cypress wood, and learn about the marine creatures that live here―namely, shipworms. Page Plus links lead to videos of the scientists at work.
For Further Reading:
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson
Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia by Doring Kindersly Books
Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang (Albert Whitman Books)
Dive In: Swim With Sea Creatures at Their Actual Size by Roxie Munro (Holiday House)
Ocean Animals: Who’s Who in the Deep Blue by Johanna Rizzo (NGKids Books)
The post Episode 200: How Much is there Still to Learn About the Ocean? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
The Solve It for Kids Podcast team is on their last week of holiday break. Please enjoy this out-of-the-world episode about launching rockets.
You’ll hear clips from guests who are talking about getting ready for a launch — Episode 171 How Do You Get Ready for a Rocket Launch with Nathalie Quintero
moving rockets — Episode 152 How Do You Move a Rocket with Dan Zapata
and what it’s like to blast off in a rocket– Episode 185 What’s it like to blast off in a rocket with Astronaut Nicole Stott
Look for our new season to start 1/16/2024!
The post Episode 191: The BEST of Launching a Rocket! first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Happy 2024! The Solve It for Kids Podcast team of Jennifer and Jeff are still on holiday break. We have left you a few clips from some of our favorite episodes about energy and engineering.
Get ready to … learn how to get energy from the wind, with Neil Milani– Episode 148
learn how drinking water gets to your house, with Trip Barton– Episode 173
and also how you get materials from the Earth with Alexis Lua — Episode 143
Such wonderful STEM topics to explore!
The post Episode 190: The BEST of Energy and Engineering first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Bob Cabana, outgoing NASA Associate Administrator and astronautCredit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Robert D. Cabana is a former NASA astronaut, currently serving as the agency’s associate administrator, its third highest-ranking executive and highest-ranking civil servant. He is the senior advisor to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. In his role, Cabana leads the agency’s 10 center directors as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at headquarters. He acts as the agency’s chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $25 billion.
Before taking that position, Cabana was director of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In that role, Cabana managed all NASA facilities and activities at the spaceport, including the team of civil service and contractor employees who operate and support numerous space programs and projects.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cabana graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and completed Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola, Florida, in 1972. Cabana then served as an A-6 bombardier/navigator with Marine Air Wings in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and Iwakuni, Japan.
Cabana was selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1985 and completed his initial astronaut training in July 1986. A veteran of four spaceflights, Cabana has logged 38 days in space, serving as the pilot on STS-41 and STS-53 and mission commander on STS-65 and STS-88. His fourth flight was the first assembly mission of the International Space Station in December 1998. Following his retirement as a colonel from the Marine Corps in September 2000, Cabana was appointed a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service. He served in numerous challenging senior management positions at Johnson Space Center in Houston, ultimately becoming deputy director.
In October 2007, Cabana was appointed director of NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. A year later he was reassigned as the tenth director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
Cabana’s many achievements have been recognized with induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and being named an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has received numerous personal awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, and the National Space Club Florida Committee’s Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award. He also is a recipient of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement’s National Space Trophy.
Challenge: Spend some time learning about astronauts. See if you can find one of them that you identify with. It could be where they are from, what they love to do, or what they are interested in. See if you can imagine yourself becoming an astronaut like them one day.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our X (Twitter ), Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this episode!
Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson
Filled with answers from actual astronauts, Spacecare is the perfect book for kids who dream of going to space!Have you ever wondered how astronauts stay healthy in space? What if an astronaut gets sick on the space station? Does snot run in space? This fascinating photo-illustrated look at space and medicine explores how scientists and physicians study astronauts in space, how they help keep them safe, and what we’ve learned about the human body through space exploration. Questions from real kids and answers from astronauts, along with photos from NASA, combine for an out-of-this-world exploration of health.
Book list:
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)
The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
The post Episode 187: How Do You Build a Space Station? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Astronaut Nicole StottPhotograph “I Am Orion” portrait of astronaut Nicole Stott.Photo Date: September 27, 2013. Location: Building 8, Room 183 – Photo Studio. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
Nicole is an astronaut, aquanaut, artist, mom, and now author of her first book Back to Earth ~ What Life In Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission To Protect It. She creatively combines the awe and wonder of her spaceflight experience with her artwork to inspire everyone’s appreciation of our role as crewmates here on Spaceship Earth.
She is a veteran NASA Astronaut with two spaceflights and 104 days as a crewmember on both the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle. Personal highlights of her time in space include performing a spacewalk (10th woman to do so), flying the robotic arm to capture the first free-flying HTV, painting a watercolor (now on display at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum), working with her international crew on science that is all about improving life on Earth, and of course the life changing view of our home planet.
Nicole believes that the international model of peaceful and successful cooperation we have experienced in the extreme environments of space and sea holds the key to the same kind of peaceful and successful cooperation for all of humanity here on Earth.
On her post-NASA mission, Nicole is a co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation — uniting a planetary community of children through the awe and wonder of space exploration and the healing power of art.
Check out Nicole’s Website — Nicole Stott, Earth from Space
Challenge: Accept your role as a crewmate, not a passenger on Earth. Take action!
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our X (Twitter ), Instagram or Facebook page.
Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet―And Our Mission to Protect Itby Nicole Stott
Inspired by insights gained in spaceflight, a NASA astronaut offers key lessons to empower Earthbound readers to fight climate change
When Nicole Stott first saw Earth from space, she realized how interconnected we are and knew she had to help protect our planetary home.
Book List:
Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson
The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet: Everything You Need to Know, from Training to Re-Entry by Terry Virts (Author)
Suit Up For Launch With Shay! by Sharon Caples McDougle (Author), Cristielle Pimenta (Illustrator)The post Episode 185: What’s it like to Blast off in a Rocket? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Erin Winick Anthony, STEM maker, writer, and former NASA engineerErin is the founder of science communication company STEAM Power Media which works to share the creativity in science and engineering, and help others tell their science stories. Erin has a B.S. in mechanical engineering and more than nine years experience working as a STEM communicator.
Erin previously worked as a science communicator for the International Space Station, serving as a storyteller for the science conducted aboard the orbiting laboratory, and a reporter for MIT Technology Review. From writing stories on station science for NASA.gov covering station science to running the @ISS_Research Twitter account to planning media activities around commercial resupply missions, she was deeply immersed in space science communications for more than three years.
Erin engineering as a child
Learn more with about the ISS Benefits for Humanity project landing page HERE
Challenge: Look up when the ISS will be going overhead on this website –>Spot the Station: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode!
Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson
Filled with answers from actual astronauts, Spacecare is the perfect book for kids who dream of going to space!Have you ever wondered how astronauts stay healthy in space? What if an astronaut gets sick on the space station? Does snot run in space? This fascinating photo-illustrated look at space and medicine explores how scientists and physicians study astronauts in space, how they help keep them safe, and what we’ve learned about the human body through space exploration. Questions from real kids and answers from astronauts, along with photos from NASA, combine for an out-of-this-world exploration of health.
Book list:
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)
The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
The post Episode 183: Why is the ISS so important? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Julia Brodsky, astrobiology education researcher and STEM ED lead at Blue Marble Space InstituteJulia Brodsky is a STEM education researcher at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, a former NASA astronaut instructor, an independent school teacher, a math education book author, an educational consultant for gifted students, a University of Maryland lecturer in astrobiology, a homeschooling mom of three, and a parent of a young adult with special needs. Julia’s academic training is in astrophysics and science education. As the founder of the Art of Inquiry – an interactive online science program for curious pre-teens – Julia introduces students to space exploration, astrobiology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence as means for developing their scientific reasoning, systems thinking, and questioning skills. Along with her amazing co-founders, Dr. Yulia Turchaninova, and Dr. Sasha Kaurov, Julia is a founder of an Earthlings Hub non-profit educational initiative serving displaced children in Ukraine. She also volunteers for the Alliance of Indigenous Math Circles.
Want to learn more about the Earth and life on our planet versus others? Check out this awesome website!
Julia is the founder of Art of Inquiry, where kids can learn more about space and the universe. It’s an online space science program for kids Learn more below!!
Challenge: Draft a message to an ET. What would you say? How would you say it? How would you deliver it?
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our X (Twitter) , Instagram or Facebook page.
Alien Worlds: Your Guide to Extraterrestrial Life by David A. Aguilar
Are we alone? Or could life on alien worlds really exist? David A. Aguilar, space artist extraordinaire, shows readers what creatures living on extrasolar planets might be like, using real science and stunning otherworldly illustration.
Just as Earth creatures have adapted to use the air, water, gravity, and other elements of Earth, creatures on planets orbiting distant stars would adapt to their environments. In Alien Worlds, David A. Aguilar explores seven types of alien-friendly worlds and the fun ways the creatures would adapt to the conditions. Accompanied by beautiful photo-realistic artwork, this book will open any kid’s eyes to the likelihood that we are not alone.
Book List:
DK Readers: Invaders From Outer Space by Philip Brookes (Author)
Where Are the Aliens?: The Search for Life Beyond Earth by Stacy McAnulty (Author), Nicole Miles (Illustrator)
Alien Deep: Revealing the Mysterious Living World at the Bottom of the Ocean by Bradley Hague (Author)
What Do We Know About Alien Abduction? by Kirsten Mayer (Author), Who HQ (Author), Tim Foley (Illustrator)
The post Episode 181: How Would You Send a Message to an Extraterrestrial? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Expert: Bob Pepek, Sound Engineer and owner of MelonCollie ProductionsMelonCollie Productions, Bob Pepek, shares with you his passion for crafting sound and visuals to life. He is a leading professional in Sound Design, Scoring, Voiceovers, Recording, Editing, anything sight or sound, you’re covered.
His project credits comprise of an abundance of works, from NBC’s Saturday morning cartoon Astroblast to Netflix horror films such as Self Storage, Infected, among other creative contributions. Bob dedicates nearly a decade of technical expertise in the music and film industry to bring you an expansive collection of pristine audio post production. When enjoying life away from the demands of work, Bob enjoys the company of his two sheltie (toy Collie) best friends Sammy and Pippin, while writing, recording, and listening to music. No stranger to compose and also author music, Bob strives to deliver professional work friendly as a Collie, fresh as a Melon. Think it, imagine it, MelonCollie can Create it.
Check out MelonCollie Production info HERE –>
Challenge: Sit quietly for 2 minutes and listen to what’s going on. See if you can identify 15 different sounds.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our X (Twitter) , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode!
The LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE The Making of the Movie by Tracey Miller-Zarneke (Author)
Journey beyond the on-screen world of The LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE
Packed with stunning concept art, sketches, artwork, inspiration and LEGO® builds, the book tells this fascinating story of how The LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE was made. Find out how your favorite heroes, villains, vehicles, and locations were created for the movie. Learn about each development stage of the movie, from the initial idea and storyboarding to recording the dialogue and special effects. Created with the LEGO Group, with exclusive insights from the filmmakers, animators, and LEGO designers.
THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & The LEGO Group. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, the Brick and Knob configurations and NINJAGO are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group. ©2017 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.
Book List:
Teacher Created Materials – TIME For Kids Informational Text: Action! Making Movies by Sarah Garza (Author)
Making YouTube Videos: Star in Your Own Video! by Nick Willoughby (Author), Will Eagle (Contributor), Tee Morris (Contributor)
The post Episode 176: How Do You Make Sound for a Movie? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Dr. Elliott Heflin, Jr., CEO/Founder realitytechs.comDr. Elliott Heflin, Jr. has an undergraduate degree in Industrial Technology/Computer Technology along with an MS in Technology Education and Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership/Educational Technology. He also has teaching experience in Python Programming Language, Scratch Programming Language. I hold a G.A.C.E certification in Engineering/Technology Education.
Robot Humanoid – Nao
Learn more about Dr. Heflin’s workshops at Reality Tech –> HERE
Challenge: Figure out what type of impact computers have had on your generation.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode!
National Geographic Kids Everything Robotics by Jennifer Swanson
Book List:
DK Eyewitness Books: Robot: Discover the Amazing World of Machines from Robots that Play Chess to Systems that Think by Roger Bridgman
Awesome Robotics Projects for Kids: 20 Original STEAM Robots and Circuits to Design and Build by Bob Katovich
Making Simple Robots: Easy Robotics Projects for Kids Using Everyday Stuff by Kathy Ceceri
The post Episode 175: How Do You Program a AI Robots? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Keri Bean, systems engineercredit: Dutch Slager
Keri Bean is a senior systems engineer at Sierra Space. I am currently a member of the Dream Chaser flight operations spacecraft systems team. She was the deputy lead Rover Planner (aka Mars rover driver and robotic arm operator) on the Curiosity rover and a Helicopter Integration Engineer for the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter. She was also one of the Mars rover Opportunity’s final engineers. She has also worked on the Spirit Mars rover, Phoenix Mars lander, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the asteroid missions Dawn, NEAScout, and Psyche. She got her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas A&M University in meteorology, with her focus on studying the weather on Mars. used to be a systems engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she worked in operations for a variety of spacecraft.
The Ingenuity team attaches a piece to the flight model in early 2019. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Want to learn more about the Ingenuity Helicopter? Check out this NASA website
Challenge: Watch videos of NASA’s Ingenuity and Perserverance operating on Mars.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode!
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum
Book List:
You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien (Author, Illustrator)
Mars: The Red Planet: Rocks, Rovers, Pioneers, and More! by Elizabeth Carney
Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars by Richard Ho (Author), Katherine Roy (Illustrator)
The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch
The post Episode 174: How Do You Fly a Helicopter on Mars? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.
Meet the Expert: Trip Barton, Engineering Manager for Illinois American WaterTrip Barton is an Engineering Manager for Illinois American Water with broad-based experience primarily including water and wastewater engineering projects and geographic information systems applications. Mr. Barton has over 30 years of experience in the public and private sector including work at two engineering firms, a municipal sanitary district, and a private water company.Trip has BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Bradley University and is a registered Professional Engineer in Illinois. He is also accredited as a Geographic Information Systems Professional and a licensed remote pilot. Water clarifiers remove waste from the water Pumping station for the water A cool example of a water tower (courtesy Yesterland and Disney)
https://youtu.be/PEKXB3N6g3I******************Challenge: Figure out how you can conserve water. Every time you brush your teeth, turn off the water instead of leaving it running. How else can you help? Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.****************** Highlighted Book for this Episode!When the World Runs Dry: Earth's Water in Crisis by Nancy F. CastaldoWhat would you do if you turned on the faucet one day and nothing happened? What if you learned the water in your home was harmful to drink? Water is essential for life on this planet, but not every community has the safe, clean water it needs. In When the World Runs Dry, award-winning science writer Nancy Castaldo takes readers from Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey, to Iran and Cape Town, South Africa, to explore the various ways in which water around the world is in danger, why we must act now, and why you’re never too young to make a difference. Book List:* National Geographic Readers: Water by Melissa StewartLakes and Ponds!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids by Johannah Haney (Author), Tom Casteel (Illustrator)Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner (Author), Christopher Silas Neal (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Nathalie Quintero, Core Stage Launch Operator Lead for Boeing Space on the SLS Project
Nathalie Quintero originally from Caracas, Venezuela is an Aerospace Systems Engineer working on NASA’s Space Launch Systems rocket with The Boeing Company. She serves as the Core Stage Launch Operations and Test Lead, where she is responsible of overseeing critical core stage operations for Artemis Missions and is the prime interface with the NASA Stages customer and Explorations Ground Systems (EGS)/COMET personnel. In addition, she leads and integrates a multi-disciplinary test team through launch and integration planning, test execution readiness and non-conformance test coordination.
These efforts were recognized in the Engineer of the Year 2021 award at her Florida Space Coast Operations (FSCO) site, and the Great Minds in STEM (GMIS) Most Promising Engineer Advance Degree award in 2022.She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering degree with a double minor in AerospaceLife Sciences and Computer Aided Design from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (’15), and then a Master’s in Systems Engineering from Cornell University (’19), while working full-time. She is the founder of her bilingual personal project “STEM for Aerospace”, which seeks to inspire youth to be interested in the aerospace industry.
She is a mentor for STEM minority organizations, such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) to promote STEM fields of study to young women and the Latino community. In her free time, she is a flamenco dancer at Flamenco del Sol Academy in Orlando, FL where she performs in the Central Florida Arts community, and enjoys traveling to new countries. She hopes to continue to inspire many more women and Latinas to break industry barriers in aerospace.
Images of Nathalie next to the SLS/Artemis 1 at Kennedy Space Center and in the VAB
Want to learn more about how the Space Launch System (SLS) was prepared for launch? Check out these awesome resources: * Summary Videos + Boeing Video – Artemis I Launch Time Lapse Video (with JFK Speech / from CS1 roll out through end of Artemis I Mission) + Boeing Video – Artemis I Launch Video + Boeing Video – Boeing Engineers Prepare to Hot Fire NASA’s Space Launch System Rocket Core Stage + Additional Videos can be found here * Live Videos + NASA Video – Artemis I Launch Broadcast + Boeing Video – 499.6 seconds: NASA and Boeing Complete Hot Fire-2 for Space Launch System Core Stage * Links + 12/9/22: NASA describes inaugural Artemis launch as ‘eye watering’ + 11/16/22: Liftoff! Space Launch System powers historic lunar mission + 11/14/22: Space Launch System rocket counting down to Wednesday liftoff + 8/2/22: Leading Up to Launch + 6/20/22: Fourth Wet Dress Rehearsal pushes Artemis I towards Launch
https://youtu.be/LDbHFXqeOhQ
https://youtu.be/QfyEw7nk8o0
Challenge: NASA has created a packet of Artemis-themed “at home experiments” for kids to do over the summer. The experiment on stabilizing fins on pages 6-7 is particularly interesting to Nathalie! https://www.nasa.gov/stem-ed-resources/artemis-camp-experience.html .
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this episode! How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Book List: Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson
The Hubble Space Telescope: Our Eye on the Universe by Terence Dickinson and Tracy Read
Exoplanets by Seymour Simon
Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space by Miranda Paul (Author), Sija Hong (Illustrator)
The Solve It for Kids Podcast is on vacation for the month of July. But we have left you a great clip of three episodes that show the BEST of Thinking Like an Engineer! Listen to short chats from these three amazing guests:
Dr. Jermey Matthews --Ep 91: How Do Scientists Get Kids Excited about STEM?
Dr. Cory Hixon --Ep. 77: How do Engineers Think?
and
Tracy Drain --Ep 124: How Do You Study Another Planet's Moon?
Enjoy these fun and interesting topics and see you next week for new episodes!
The Solve It for Kids podcast is on summer break! But we have left you a few clips of some the best space exploration episodes to enjoy.
Carl Sandifer from NASA Glenn Research Center-- How do you Power a Spacecraft?--
Dr. Sarah D'Souza from NASA Ames Reserach Center--Why does a spacecraft need a heat shield?--
Julie Wolfson at Lockheed Martin -- How do you slow down a spaceship?---
Don't miss these out-of-this-world episodes!
Take a listen to some of our favorite episodes about Working with Robots!
You'll hear from Dr. Carlotta Berry-- How Do You Talk to a Robot? --
Dr. Darren Lipomi (How do humans--and robots-- feel?) --
Dr. Topher Hunter ----How do you build a droid?--
Have fun listening and learning from these amazing guests!
Meet the Expert: Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA from 2016 to 2022 Thomas H. Zurbuchen, known in the space community as Dr. Z, is a Swiss-American astrophysicist, leader, and innovator.
He was the longest continually serving Head of Science at NASA from October 2016 through 2022, the leading program worldwide for doing science in and from space. During this time, he drove all aspects of leadership in space science, launching 37 missions and starting another 54. His achievements include bringing the international James Webb Telescope to launch, overseeing two Mars landings - the Perseverance rover and the first controlled flight away from the Earth with the Ingenuity helicopter - and developing the Parker Solar Probe, a mission to touch the Sun. He also conceived and led the Earth System Observatory, an advanced multi-platform observatory that creates a 3D holistic view of the Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere, and oversaw humanity’s first successful attempt at moving a celestial object, using a spacecraft impact.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Zurbuchen built multiple space instruments, such as the MASS sensor on NASA’s WIND spacecraft, launched in 1992, and the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer, for which he served as team leader, on NASA’s Messenger, the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury.
Due to his achievements, Dr. Zurbuchen is a sought after international expert in innovation and leadership of pioneering organizations. He chaired the US National Academy of Sciences committee, for example, that produced a report on CubeSats in 2016, widely credited for diversifying Mission portfolios and tech approaches for science and Earth observations.
The Ingenuity helicopter is the first ever helicopter to have flown successfully on another planet!
You can learn more about its creation and amazing technology on NASA JPL's website
HERE
NASA Ingenuity helicopter image (credit NASA)
The James Webb Space Telescope has allowed humans to see further in space than ever before. The images are STUNNING!
Check them out and learn more about the JWST HERE
James Webb Space Telescope (credit: NASA)
https://youtu.be/xy6pn-6z76E
Challenge:
Take the time to sit outside and stare at the night sky. Watch how it changes, just as you are sitting still. What do you notice?
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
A Great book for Exploring!!
Astronaut- Aquanaut by Jennifer Swanson
Book list: Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)
The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
Meet the Expert: Dr. Sarah D'Souza, the Orion Thermal Protection Deputy System Manager at NASA AmesDr. Sarah D’Souza is currently the Orion Thermal Protection System (TPS) Deputy System Manager at NASA Ames Research Center which is part of NASA’s Artemis program. Dr. D’Souza is a California native with a passion for all things aerospace and a proud graduate of the University of California at Davis in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. Sarah’s passion for space has led her to a vibrant career at NASA Johnson Space Center and NASA Ames Research Center working in laboratory, engineering, and space operations environments. She has worked on ISS Water Recovery Systems for sustainable living in space, Space Shuttle Mechanical and Robotics Systems training for astronauts, Ice Sensing & Electromagnetics Systems, Orion Flight Dynamics and Trajectory Design, and in the Orion European Service Module Integration Office. https://youtu.be/XH4VVpfr9Bs*******************Challenge: Try to design your own protective shield for an egg or other rounded object. You can create your own panels or cushion or whatever works. Then test it out! Did it work? Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.******************* Highlighted Book for this episode!Spacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson Book list:** How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John RoccoGutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa ReichleyAstronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D. * Share:
Meet the Expert: Dr. Brenna Argall, robotics engineerDr. Argall is an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University. Her research lies at the intersection of robotics autonomy, machine learning and human rehabilitation. She is director of the assistive & rehabilitation robotics laboratory (argallab) at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the nation’s premier rehabilitation hospital. The mission of the argallab is to advance human ability by leveraging robotics autonomy.Argall is a 2016 recipient of the NSF CAREER award, and was named one of the 40 under 40 by Crain’s Chicago Business. Her Ph.D. in Robotics (2009) was received from the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, where she was a member of the CORAL Research Group. Her B.S. in Mathematics (2002) also was received from Carnegie Mellon, where she minored in Music and Biological Sciences. Prior to joining Northwestern and RIC, she was a postdoctoral fellow (2009-2011) in the Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Prior to graduate school she held a Computational Biology position in the Laboratory of Brain & Cognition at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn more about the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and all of the amazing things they do HERE Dr. Brenna working on a cropped wheelchair with her team (credit: Northwestern University)
https://youtu.be/KQO_1Gi75KY*******************Challenge: Try to move your arm the way Dr. Brenna does. Is it difficult? Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.******************* Highlighted Book for this Episode!National Geographic Kids Everything Robotics: All the Photos, Facts, and Fun to Make You Race for Robots by Jennifer Swanson Book List:** Fascinating Engineering Book for Kids: 500 Dynamic Facts! by Dr. Jacie MaslykHow Technology Works: The Facts Visually Explained by DKArtificial Intelligence: Thinking Machines and Smart Robots with Science Activities for Kids by Angie Smibert (Author), Alexis Cornell (Illustrator)Super Surprising Trivia About Artificial Intelligence by Lisa M. Bolt Simons
Meet the Expert: Julie Wolfson, Orion Program Risk Manager at Lockheed MartinIn this role, she works to ensure that Orion risks to the success of every Artemis mission areidentified early and handled properly. She collaborates with engineers from multiple disciplinesanalyzing technical and safety concerns, and finance staff to accurately assess the potentialcost and schedule impact of risks. In November she had the privilege of viewing the Artemis Ilaunch from the Kennedy Space Center. Her focus now is on both Artemis II and Artemis III, thefirst two crewed Artemis missions.Julie recently served as the Chair for the Lockheed Martin Space Women’s Impact Network(WIN), which comprises over 2,500 members across 12 locations. In 2021 she received theWIN Mission Award. She was recognized specifically for positively impacting the recruitment offemale representation, increasing employee retention rates, and the advancement of women atLockheed Martin.Julie has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Memphis and aSystems Engineering Certificate from Colorado State University. She enjoys living in beautifulColorado with her husband and daughter. What is the Orion Spacecraft?Read this cool page on Lockheed Martin's website about Orion --> HERE https://youtu.be/kZ20H8sHo9w *******************Challenge: Did you know that they are as big as a football field? Next time you go by a football field, imagine the parachutes stretched out across all of it. Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.******************* Highlighted Book for this episode!Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson Book list:** How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John RoccoGutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa ReichleyAstronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
Meet the Expert: Dan Zapata, Crawler Systems Engineer, Exploration Ground Systems Kennedy Space CenterDan Zapata is a crawler systems engineer for the Exploration Ground Systems Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. One of seven certified drivers for the agency’s crawler transporters –six-million-pound platforms that carry rockets and spacecraft from Kennedy’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad – Zapata is part of the team that will take NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Complex 39B for the Artemis I launch. Artemis I is the first in an increasingly complex series of missions that will ultimately send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon, paving the way for long-term presence in lunar orbit and serving as a steppingstone for future missions to Mars. What is the Crawler-Transporter?
From NASA's website:"A pair of behemoth machines called crawler-transporters have carried the load of taking rockets and spacecraft to the launch pad for more than 50 years at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Each the size of a baseball infield and powered by locomotive and large electrical power generator engines, the crawler-transporters stand ready to keep up the work for the next generation of launch vehicles to lift astronauts into space.The crawlers are unique in the world, having been built in 1965 to move the massive Saturn V rocket from Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39. After the Moon landing and Skylab programs ended, the crawlers continued their work, taking space shuttles to their launch pads for 30 years.With the shuttle fleet retired in 2011, the crawlers are envisioned as critical elements of future launch operations at Kennedy. Crawler-Transporter 2 will be integral to the Artemis program, sending the first woman and the next man to the Moon." Take a look at some more awesome pics and videos of the crawler-transporter from NASA HERE Want to see Dan driving the Crawler-Transporter? Click on the video below! *******************Challenge: Calculate how fast the crawler-transporter moves with this math challenge --> You are 4 miles from the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Bldg), if you move 1/2 mile and hour, how long will it take you to get back to the VAB?Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.******************* Featured Book for this Episode!Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts PhD Book List:** Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer SwansonSpacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer SwansonThe Ultimate Book of Space by Anne-Sophie Baumann (Author), Olivier Latyck (Illustrator)How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Meet the Expert: Dan Zapata, Crawler Systems Engineer, Exploration Ground Systems Kennedy Space CenterDan Zapata is a crawler systems engineer for the Exploration Ground Systems Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. One of seven certified drivers for the agency’s crawler transporters –six-million-pound platforms that carry rockets and spacecraft from Kennedy’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad – Zapata is part of the team that will take NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Complex 39B for the Artemis I launch. Artemis I is the first in an increasingly complex series of missions that will ultimately send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon, paving the way for long-term presence in lunar orbit and serving as a steppingstone for future missions to Mars. What is the Crawler-Transporter?
From NASA's website:"A pair of behemoth machines called crawler-transporters have carried the load of taking rockets and spacecraft to the launch pad for more than 50 years at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Each the size of a baseball infield and powered by locomotive and large electrical power generator engines, the crawler-transporters stand ready to keep up the work for the next generation of launch vehicles to lift astronauts into space.The crawlers are unique in the world, having been built in 1965 to move the massive Saturn V rocket from Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39. After the Moon landing and Skylab programs ended, the crawlers continued their work, taking space shuttles to their launch pads for 30 years.With the shuttle fleet retired in 2011, the crawlers are envisioned as critical elements of future launch operations at Kennedy. Crawler-Transporter 2 will be integral to the Artemis program, sending the first woman and the next man to the Moon." Take a look at some more awesome pics and videos of the crawler-transporter from NASA HERE Want to see Dan driving the Crawler-Transporter? Click on the video below! *******************Challenge: Calculate how fast the crawler-transporter moves with this math challenge --> You are 4 miles from the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Bldg), if you move 1/2 mile and hour, how long will it take you to get back to the VAB?Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.******************* Featured Book for this Episode!Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts PhD Book List:** Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer SwansonSpacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer SwansonThe Ultimate Book of Space by Anne-Sophie Baumann (Author), Olivier Latyck (Illustrator)How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Meet the Expert: Dr. Topher Hunter, scientist and expert droid builderTopher Hunter, PhD, is a scientist at a small medical device company. However he didn’t start out planning to go there. He’s been a professor of engineering, a company scientist, a volunteer medical first responder, a professional photographer, and a professional science communicator at various points in life. About a decade ago, he decided to try building a full-size working R2-D2; since then, his collection has grown to five Star Wars droids, three original creations, and dozens of other weird and wacky projects. Today he lives in Cincinnati with his partner, two dogs, four cats, and more projects than even he can keep track of. DROIDS BUILT BY TOPHER! BT-1 from the Darth Vader comic. Steampunk Droid Want ideas of how to build your own droid? Check out this link: https://science.howstuffworks.com/droid-building-news.htmhttps://youtu.be/f_tJLO0Mwm0 ******************Challenge: Go back and watch a movie or a video with a droid in it. See if you can tell how it moves, or when it's opening and closing a door by using a tool. Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.****************** Highlighted Book for this Episode! National Geographic Kids Everything Robotics by Jennifer Swanson Book List:*DK Eyewitness Books: Robot: Discover the Amazing World of Machines from Robots that Play Chess to Systems that Think by Roger BridgmanAwesome Robotics Projects for Kids: 20 Original STEAM Robots and Circuits to Design and Build by Bob KatovichMaking Simple Robots: Easy Robotics Projects for Kids Using Everyday Stuff by Kathy Ceceri
Neil Milani is currently a senior application engineer for Bachmann electronic and lives in Greenville, SC with his wife, 2 kids and Bongo their pet sugar glider. He has a B.S. in both Physics and Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering along with 30 years of experience working in automotive, telecom and renewable energy systems. Neil's focus has been working on wind turbine control systems for the past 15 years and enjoys a variety of diverse projects and associated field work.When not climbing wind turbines, Neil enjoys nearly all of the terrestrial and aquatic options offered by the great outdoors. When not outside, he can be found building contraptions in his home workshop out of wood and metal." https://youtu.be/U5_cZ3IRUkU******************Challenge: Look up how your house is powered and find out what type it is. Maybe even follow it back to the source to discover where it came from. Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.****************** Highlighted book for this episode! Geoengineering Earth's Climate: Resetting the Thermostat by Jennifer SwansonGreen Earth Book Award Winner!"[A] good starting place for teen readers and researchers on a critical issue."―Kirkus Reviews Book List!*The Power of the Wind Harvested - Understanding Wind Power for Kids Children's Electricity Books by Baby ProfessorThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Picture Book Edition by William Kamkwamba (Author), Bryan Mealer (Author), Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrator)Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future With 20 Projects by Joshua Sneideman (Author), Erin Twamley (Author), Heather Jane Brinesh (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Vera Demchenko, Systems Verification & Test Engineer with Lockheed Martin's Orion Program. Vera Demchenko is a Systems Test and Verification Engineer on Lockheed Martin's Orion Program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and beyond. In this role, Vera ensures that the Orion spacecraft is properly tested and verified for system integrity before it is deemed safe for flight. Before working on the human spaceflight program, Vera studied astrophysics and planetary science at CU Boulder, where she also developed a love for hiking, public speaking, and philosophy. She used to work at the Fiske Planetarium which enabled her to engage in astronomy outreach and present her own lectures to a wide range of audience. Vera is a proud cat mom and a space Lego set collector.
Meet the Expert: Alexis Lua, industrial engineerBorn in Mexico City where her love for rock formations, exploring caves and cenotes with her dad led to a passion for mineral exploration. Alexis’ curiosity drew her to study Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University. Soon after she moved to France cementing her mining foundation, developing raw material extraction and handling systems for a specialized Engineering firm.Alexis pursued her love for adventure and moved to Germany where she learned everything about mine development, raw material processing and export. After five years living abroad, travelling the World for work (and one additional husband later),Alexis returned to Texas to focus on limestone, gypsum and calcium carbonate mining.During her mining years Alexis seldom met another fellow female engineer. She made it her mission to empower other women to pursuit a career in the field: “mining is not just for boys, the mining World opened my eyes to unknown adventures and gave me the possibility to travel and explore the most beautiful and remote places on Earth”.Alexis’ background in minerals made it possible to pivot and pursuit a career in nano-technology, where she now works as a Global Director of Strategic Accounts. Her involvement as a media company co-founder provided her experience to help organizations improve their marketing initiatives and brand messaging. A skillset she can give back with to non-profit organizations focusing on STEM education and female empowerment. Helping to expand their outreach and attract funding. Alexis at the Atacama Desert Watch this cool video about how some of these giant mining machines work!
https://youtu.be/2lDcyfgIJLs******************Challenge: Go outside and pick up some rocks. Take a good look at them. What kinds of materials do you think they would make that would be useful to you?Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.****************** Highlighted book for this episode! Outdoor School: Rock, Fossil, and Shell Hunting: The Definitive Interactive Nature Guide by Jennifer Swanson (Author), John D. Dawson (Illustrator) Book List:* My Book of Rocks and Minerals: Things to Find, Collect, and Treasure by Devin DennieGeology for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Rocks, Minerals, and the Earth Beneath Our Feet by Meghan VestalAmerica at Work: Mining by Ann Love (Author), Jane Drake (Author), Pat Cupples (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Rachel Ignotofsky, New York Times Best Selling nonfiction author and illustrator Rachel Ignotofsky grew up in New Jersey on a healthy diet of Star Trek and pudding and graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2011 with a BFA in Graphic Design. Rachel’s career as a scientific communicator started by nurturing her own curiosity. Out of college, she created art and infographics about topics she found interesting and important- with a focus in science literacy. She had many friends starting their careers in teaching, and Rachel wanted to create resources to help them with their lessons. Soon Rachel’s online store was selling her posters to schools, labs and science enthusiasts across the country and her work was scooped up to be featured on the likes of Scientific American, Fast Company, PRI and PBS. Rachel’s art has been embraced by the science community and she has spoken at and partnered with institutions like NASA, The Salk Institute, The San Diego Natural History Museum, The Chicago Field Museum, The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and many more!Since then, Rachel has continued to use her background in graphic design and her skills as a storyteller to make dense information fun and accessible. Her work is published in over 24 different languages and enjoyed by readers all over the world! This book is the first of its kind — a fully illustrated book that spans over 25,000 years of human history and tells the story of our evolving relationship with technology. Rachel sees all of her books as a love note to educators, and is thrilled to see them used in classrooms.Rachel has not stopped there. At her seaside home studio, sitting in her big red chair, she is working on several new books right now! She can’t wait to share them all with you! https://rachelignotofskydesign.com/ https://youtu.be/Gsr3NuRCSv8******************Challenge: Find something you want to learn more about and then go and do the research to learn more!Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.******************Highlighted book for this episode!* The History of the Computer: People, Inventions, and Technology that Changed Our World by Rachel Ignotofsky Book List:** The Way Things Work Now by David MacaulayHow Does the Internet Work? by Jennifer Swanson (Author), Glen Mullaly (Illustrator)Coding Concepts for Kids: Learn to Code Without a Computer by Randy LynnEverything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guideby Workman Publishing (Author), Grant Smith (Contributor)
Meet the Expert: Carl Sandifer, Manager, Radioisotope Power Systems Program, NASA Glenn Research CenterMr. Carl E. Sandifer II is the Chief of the Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Program Office in the Space Flight Systems Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC). In this position, Mr. Sandifer also serves as the RPSProgram Manager for the Planetary Science Division (PSD) of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) to enable or significantly enhance the ability for missions to meet their science objectives.Prior to this role, Mr. Sandifer served as the Deputy Chief for the Space Science Project Office at Glenn. In conjunction with the chief, he managed the science portfolio at GRC with the exception of Biological and Physical Sciences. Including, but not limited to, the negotiation and development of new technologies, instruments, and systems to enable science missions throughout the solar system and beyond, in conjunction with other NASA centers, mission directorates, industry and academia. Want to learn more about radioisotope power? Maybe even come up with a way to energize your space exploration dreams?? Take part in the NASA Power to EXPLORE Student Challenge!
To learn more, click HERE https://youtu.be/AorPmzKHeFY******************Challenge: Do the Power to Explore Student Challenge! And if you don't make the current one, wait, and there will be another one. Look around at the type of energy that you use every day. Where do you think it comes from?Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.****************** Highlighted Book for this Episode! Welcome to the Future: Robot Friends, Fusion Energy, Pet Dinosaurs, and More! by Kathryn Hulick (Author), Marcin Wolski (Illustrator) Book List:* Energy (A True Book: Physical Science) by Jacob BatchelorFinding Out about Nuclear Energy (Searchlight Books ™ ― What Are Energy Sources?) by Matt DoedenDKfindout! Energy by Emily Dodd
Meet the Expert: Rob Chambers,Business Development Director Commercial Civil Space Space Systems Company, Lockheed Martin
Rob Chambers is the Business Development Director for Lockheed Martin’s Commercial Civil Space line of business.
In this role, he is focused on Lockheed Martin’s blueprint for extending humanity’s knowledge of our planet, our solar system, and the universe at large. With the company’s unparalleled heritage in robotic and human spaceflight, weather and Earth science, and communications, Lockheed Martin is working with our government, commercial, and international customers and partners to answer fundamental questions about where we come from, where we’re going, and whether we’re alone in the universe.
Rob has been with Lockheed Martin since 1993 and has worked on a variety of Space Systems Company programs including Earth remote sensing satellites, the Space Shuttle, Orion, and deep space habitats.
Rob has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. Throughout his career, Rob has led the development of guidance and controls subsystems, avionics, and flight software.
Learn more about Callisto and how YOU can send a message to space HERE: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/space/callisto.html
https://youtu.be/MbGmVzwsrp0
WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU SEND TO A SPACECRAFT?
Challenge:
If you have an Alexa, ask it "Take Me to the Moon". See what happens! You can also send a message to Callisto by following the directions above.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this episode!
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson
Book list: How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)
The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
Meet the Expert: Louise Ulukaya, creator and designer of Mon Couer sustainable clothing for kids
Born in New York, Louise Vongerichten Ulukaya would spend her childhood days growing up in both New York and the south of France where she studied and practiced ballet. In 2005, Louise went to Washington DC to study finance at American University. Upon completing her degree, she returned to France to pursue her MBA at ESSEC Business School in Paris. After living in Dubai and Hong Kong, Louise returned to New York City. Since her return, New York has been graced with two of her restaurants under the Chefs Club name. In 2016 Louise decided to establish the Food Dreams Foundation with her family and to pursue her philanthropic endeavor by helping students access education and jobs within the culinary industry. Since then, more than 60 students from every part of the world have been participating in the program.
After the birth of her first son in 2019, Louise decided to create a children's clothing brand that cares for the environment, respects the people making it, and that looks and feels good while being accessible for all. She set out to design clothes that would care for the planet and for the environment while also not compromising on the comfort, look, and feel of the clothes. After 2 years of research to perfect the best technologies and blends of materials to make earth friendly clothes for kids, Mon Coeur was born.
https://youtu.be/BVzts6-Xaoo
Challenge:
Donate your old clothes, old Halloween costumes, or any other clothing you don't need any more to local charities, to schools, or find a way to recycle it.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Footprints Across the Planet by Jennifer Swanson
Every footprint―from the physical to the digital and the permanent to the fleeting―leaves a mark on Earth telling a story of the past, the present, or the future. What type of imprint will YOU leave?
Book List: Save the Ocean (Save the Earth) by Bethany Stahl
Environmental Activist Wangari Maathai (STEM Trailblazer Bios) by Jennifer Swanson
Mend It, Wear It, Love It!: Stitch Your Way to a Sustainable Wardrobe by Zoe Edwards
Meet the Expert: Sean Barton, the Director of Curriculum and Strategy for STEM Sports Sean Barton is the Director of Curriculum and Strategy for STEM Sports®. Sean formerly served as Director of Athletics, Extended Day Director, Summer Camp Program Director, and Middle School PE teacher in Seattle, Washington. During this time, he also served on the Athletic Advisory Council as Head Basketball Commissioner for Catholic Youth Organization Athletics. Most recently, Sean served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Native American Basketball Invitational Foundation. Preceding Sean’s professional career, he competed in basketball at St. Clair College (MI) after receiving a scholarship, where he played baseball as well. Sean would go on to earn his M.A. in Business Administration from Northcentral University. Sean’s goal is to apply his professional and academic experiences to support and drive the mission of STEM Sports®, diligently serving students and educators in a vast and changing world.
Sports wouldn't happen without SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH!! Check out the COOL activities for kids at STEM Sports
https://youtu.be/hFWPXGOoyAA
Challenge:
Next time you are playing sports or watching it, look for the science, technology, engineering, and math that is happening.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode! The Secret Science of Sports: The Math, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering Behind Every Grand Slam, Triple Axel, and Penalty Kick by Jennifer Swanson
Book List: The Book of Wildly Spectacular Sports Science: 54 All-Star Experiments (Irresponsible Science) by Sean Connolly
Learning STEM from Baseball: How Does a Curveball Curve? And Other Amazing Answers for Kids! (STEM Sports) by Marne Ventura
Newton's Football: The Science Behind America's Game by Allen St. John and Ainissa Ramirez
Meet the Expert: Dr. Carlotta Berry, Electrical and Computer Engineer
Carlotta Berry is a professor and Dr. Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT). She is one of a team of faculty who created the first multidisciplinary minor in robotics. She has two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics from Spelman College and electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She has a master’s from Wayne State University and PhD from Vanderbilt University.
Her research interests include robotics education, human-robot interaction, and increasing marginalized and minoritized populations in STEM fields. Berry is a prolific speaker and author of the text, “Mobile Robotics for Multidisciplinary Study”. Berry is also the founder and co-director of the Rose Building Undergraduate Diversity (ROSE-BUD) Program and advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers. She was previously the President of the Technical Editor Board for the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Computers in Education Journal, ASEE fellow and IEEE senior fellow.
She has a special passion for diversifying the engineering profession by encouraging more women, marginalized and minoritized populations to pursue STEM degrees. She achieves this purpose with robotics education, engineering education and human-robot interaction research to bring more people to STEM. During 2020, she worked with colleagues around the world to start two non-profit organizations, Black In Engineering and Black In Robotics. They have a mission to bring awareness to systemic racism and inequity in STEM, build community, advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and connect with allies and sponsors.
To learn more about Black in Robotics click HERE To learn more about Black in Engineering click HERE Watch Dr. Carlotta in action as she teaches about robotics!
https://youtu.be/OJQpX6tRwbE
Challenge:
Build your own robot or learn about how to design one.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode! National Geographic Kids Everything Robotics by Jennifer Swanson
Book List: DK Eyewitness Books: Robot: Discover the Amazing World of Machines from Robots that Play Chess to Systems that Think by Roger Bridgman
Awesome Robotics Projects for Kids: 20 Original STEAM Robots and Circuits to Design and Build by Bob Katovich
Making Simple Robots: Easy Robotics Projects for Kids Using Everyday Stuff by Kathy Ceceri
Meet the Expert: Tracy Drain, Flight Systems Engineer NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Tracy Drain is a Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is currently the lead Flight Systems engineer for the Europa Clipper mission. This spacecraft will launch in 2024 set off on a 5.5-year journey to study Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter. In the past, Tracy has worked on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission (launched in 2005, still orbiting Mars), the Kepler mission (launched in 2009, and used to discover thousands of new planets in our galaxy) the Juno mission (launched in 2011, still in orbit around Jupiter) and the Psyche mission (slated to study an asteroid named Psyche). In her spare time, she loves to read, watch a variety of shows (documentaries, sci-fi, and most recently kdramas!), study languages (Spanish and Korean) and travel.
Some fun pictures of Tracy. As you can see, she loves Star Wars and Star Trek!
What is Europa?
According to NASA https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons/europa/overview/
"Europa may be the most promising place in our solar system to find present-day environments suitable for some form of life beyond Earth. Scientists are almost certain that hidden beneath the icy surface of Europa is a salty-water ocean thought to contain twice as much water as Earth’s oceans combined. And like Earth, Europa is thought to also contain a rocky mantle and iron core."
Click on the Link Above to learn more.
https://youtu.be/Ko33Z9dk8p0
Challenge:
Learn about magnets and magnetic fields by playing around with them. Try this website: https://babbledabbledo.com/fun-science-experiments-magnet-magic/
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this Episode! Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact (National Geographic Kids) by Jennifer Swanson
Book List: Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)
The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
Meet the Expert: Cindy Lawrence, the CEO and Executive Director of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
Cindy Lawrence, a native New Yorker and lifelong math enthusiast, began her professional career as a CPA, working in both public accounting and the private sector. Her career then segued into education as she became a lead instructor and national editor for an international professional review program, Becker Professional Education, writing and editing curriculum and reaching thousands of students worldwide. Ms. Lawrence also created and continues to direct an extracurricular mathematics program for gifted middle school and high school students, run through a joint venture with Brookhaven National Laboratory.
In January 2015, after having been promoted first to Associate Director and then to Co-Executive Director, Ms. Lawrence was named Executive Director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). In her leadership role at MoMath, Ms. Lawrence strives to change public perceptions of mathematics and to improve and diversify mathematics education. She focuses on the creative design process for all exhibits and programs, both onsite and online, as well as overseeing all aspects of Museum operations, including public outreach and engagement.
Cindy's Five Tips to get your child to fall in love with math:
-
Engage children in fun, extracurricular, hands-on learning experiences that bring math to life (present math in a new way)
-
Share your curiosity for the subject with them and engage in math experiences together
3.Make connections between mathematics and other areas of interest (music, animation, etc.)
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Build a community of math-loving peers
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Don’t give up. Even if your child is struggling with math, rather than assuming they’re “just not a math person.” Find another path in, there’s a way to reach everyone with mathematics
What is the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)?
The National Museum of Mathematics is located in Manhattan at 11 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue. The Museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week, 364 days a year. MoMath is closed on Thanksgiving Day and after 2:30 pm once per month for Math Encounters presentations, generally held on the first or second Wednesday of each month. Please check visit.momath.org for specific dates and times.
https://youtu.be/g7zhCGE1yzI
Challenge:
You're in a hallway with 100 lockers. Kid #1 opens all the lockers. Kid #2 closes every other locker. Kid #3 opens every other locker. If the locker is open, he closes it. And so on through all 100 kids. What does the hallway look like at the end?
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Featured Book for this Episode! The Big Fat Middle School Math Workbook: 600 Math Practice Exercises by Workman Publishing (Author), Editors of Brain Quest (Author)
Book List: Everything You Need to Ace Pre-Algebra and Algebra I in One Big Fat Notebook by Workman Publishing (Author), Jason Wang (Author)
Math Riddles For Smart Kids: Math Riddles And Brain Teasers That Kids And Families Will love by M Prefontaine (Author)
Perfectly Logical!: Challenging Fun Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles for Smart Kids by Jenn Larson
Meet the Expert: Dr. Rosa León Zayas, environmental microbiologist
Rosa León Zayas is an environmental microbiologist and bioinformatician. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, she studied the genomes of ultra deep-sea single-cell microbes from the Puerto Rico Trench and Mariana’s Trench at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego. During her postdoctoral work at the University of Delaware, she focused on studies of deep subsurface environments like the Tonga Trench and the Costa Rica margin. Currently, Dr. León Zayas is an Assistant Professor at Willamette University, a small liberal arts college in in Salem, OR. At Willamette University Dr. León Zayas is dedicated to educating the next generation of scientists by doing science, or in other words providing opportunities for undergraduate students from all backgrounds to experience the process of generating new knowledge. Dr. León Zayas is also deeply committed to the advancement of underrepresented minorities in STEM, particularly Puerto Rican/Hispanics and the queer community, and as part of those efforts she has also collaborated with the University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program to create a series of science videos in English and Spanish.
Don't forget to check out Karen Romano-Young's
Where she profiles all of the scientists that went on the Alvin's historic dive, including Dr. Rosa
https://youtu.be/WmYYERal8-A
Challenge:
Think about how much pressure you'd feel on your thumb at the bottom of the ocean. What about your hand? Your whole arm? Would it be like 10 elephants on your thumb? Discuss with your family and friends.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean by Michelle Cusolito (Author), Nicole Wong (Illustrator)
Book List: Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson (NGKids)
Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia by Doring Kindersly Books
Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang (Albert Whitman Books)
Dive In: Swim With Sea Creatures at Their Actual Size by Roxie Munro (Holiday House)
Ocean Animals: Who’s Who in the Deep Blue by Johanna Rizzo (NGKids Books)
Meet the Expert: Alexandra Siy, Award-winning science author and photographer
Alexandra Siy is a science writer for kids, merging STEM and art to make STEAM! Many of her titles use primary source scientific imagery to reveal both outer space and the microscopic, inviting young readers to enter worlds that can only be visited using science and technology. Worlds where spiders are superheroes, insects are much more than bugly, a simple sneeze is a micro-second adventure through the body, and the interstellar age is now. Alexandra is also a photographer and the creator of instastem.com, a STEM inspired photography workshop that gets kids reading writing, and creating their own science-as-art photographs. As a visiting author, she travels to schools and libraries nationwide, sharing her passion for science, books, and photography. She's also worked as a teacher in diverse communities, including Alaska and Colorado. Alexandra lives in New York State on her 73-acre sustainable family forest with her teenage son and their cat. Please visit her at www.alexandrasiy.com Alexandra's research to find out more about the Bristlecone Tree:
As a kid, I knew that by counting tree rings you could find out the age of a tree. I've been a tree-lover since childhood (grew up in the woods). My SCBWI nonfiction work-in-progress research grant enabled me to visit and photograph ancient bristlecone pines in two locations where the oldest trees on Earth survive (some are more than 5,000 years old).
At the outset I knew the stories--that people who were close to bristlecones died young (there was a "King Tut" kind of mythology surrounding these trees). Edmund Schulman who discovered them to be the oldest trees (he cored the Methuselah tree in the late 1950s and counted the rings all night using a microscope and a lantern in his forest camp) died at 49, two months before his National Geographic article was published. The article and other stories are posted on my website www.bristleconebook.com
What I eventually learned from my research is that tree rings store climate information in their rings. Scientists are using tree rings to understand climate change and they have created a chronology dating back 10,000 years using living trees and preserved dead wood from bristlecones.
More information from the National Park Service about Bristlecone Trees HERE
https://youtu.be/lVI_8KKX5To
Challenge:
Go out in your neighborhood and find a pinecone or two. Compare the pinecones to each other and to the trees. Notice any differences. Draw a picture of them or just have a discussion with your family!
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode! Bristlecone: The Secret Life of the World's Oldest Tree Alexandra Siy (Author) Marlo Garnsworthy (Illustrator)
Book List: Can You Hear The Trees Talking?: Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest by Peter Wohlleben
Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees by Patricia Daniels
The Book of Amazing Trees by Nathalie Tordjman (Author), Julien Norwood (Illustrator), Isabelle Simler (Illustrator)
Mosquito Bite Alexandra Siy (Author) Dennis Kunkel (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Jessica Taylor, physical scientist and principal investigator for NASA's Globe Clouds Project
Jessica Taylor grew up in Florida where her love of thunderstorms led her to pursue a career in atmospheric science. Jessica's participation in GLOBE began in 2001 as a student at Florida State University. Now as a Physical Scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Jessica is the Principal Investigator for GLOBE Clouds. GLOBE Clouds recently celebrated a huge milestone: reaching one million satellite matches to GLOBE citizen science data. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time on the beach with her family.
What is NASA Globe Clouds?
Check out the AWESOME resources on these websites for watching clouds, recording your observations, and sending it to NASA!
- GLOBE Clouds Family Guide
- GLOBE Cloud Chart
- Get the GLOBE Observer app
Want to see what clouds look like from space? Take a look at this video taken of the Earth
from the ISS (International Space Station)
https://youtu.be/86YLFOog4GM
Challenge:
Make observations of the sky. There is no right or wrong! Just write, draw, or talk about what you observe with your family. Then consider checking out the NASA Globe app.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode!
Learn about Clouds (Glass Jar Science) by Golriz Golkar (The Child's World)
Book List:
National Geographic Kids Everything Weather: Facts, Photos, and Fun that Will Blow You Away by Kathy Furgang
What's the Weather?: Clouds, Climate, and Global Warming by Fraser Ralston and Judith Ralston
A Drop Around the World: The Science Of Water Cycles On Planet Earth For Kids by Barbara Shaw McKinney (Author), Michael S. Maydak (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Elizabeth Booker, Retired Coast Guard Pilot and Female Aviation Advocate
Elizabeth Book transitioned to full-time writer in 2019 after a 28-year career as a Coast Guard helicopter pilot and foreign diplomat. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She continues to fly, pursuing an extensive aviation bucket-list—a.k.a. ‘research’.
You can find out more about Elizabeth and help support female aviators at her website, https://aviatrixbookreview.com/ What Does the Coast Guard Do?
DESTIN, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2005) - A 47-foot rescue boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Destin performs a basket hoist today with an HH-65B Dolphin rescue aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans. Coast Guard boatcrews are required to perform hoisting drills in order to prepare for search and rescue missions. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi
According to their website, gocoastguard.com:
Semper Paratus - Always Ready. That is our Coast Guard motto.
The Coast Guard is one of our nation's five military services. We exist to defend and preserve the United States. We protect the personal safety and security of our people; the marine transportation system and infrastructure; our natural and economic resources; and the territorial integrity of our nation–from both internal and external threats, natural and man-made. We protect these interests in U.S. ports and inland waterways, along the coasts, on international waters.
We are a military, multi-mission, maritime force offering a unique blend of military, law enforcement, humanitarian, regulatory, and diplomatic capabilities. These capabilities underpin our three broad roles: maritime safety, maritime security, and maritime stewardship. There are 11 missions that are interwoven within these roles.
Challenge:
Learn about a female aviator -- other than Amelia Earhart-- and share her story with your friends and family.
Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode!
High Flyers: 15 Inspiring Women Aviators and Astronauts by Ann McCallum Staats
Book List:
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books) by Nikki Grimes and E. B. Lewis
Amelia Earhart: Legendary Aviator (Graphic Biographies) by Jameson Anderson (Author), Charles Barnett III (Illustrator), Rod Whigham (Illustrator)
101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space: Aviators and Astronauts by Dr. Penny Rafferty Hamilton
Meet the Expert: Dr. Marsha Tufft, engineer Dr. Tufft has degrees in mechanical (BSME-Purdue), aerospace (MSAsE- University of Cincinnati), and materials engineering (Ph.D.- University of Dayton). She worked 30+ years that I worked as an engineer professionally at GE Aviation .She is also an active volunteer with GE volunteers and Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. Dr. Tufft has received awards for science experiments she developed and led with more than 1,000 girls over the years during the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio’s summer camps. You can find her experiments and projects on her website, www.putneydesigns.com. Dr. Tufft’s passion is helping kids become creative problem-solvers and engage with STEM–science, technology, engineering, math. She wrote a fiction book series to help change attitudes about science and math to encourage more kids to consider STEM fields, get comfortable with learning from failure, and bounce back with renewed confidence. Her thoughts are that stories change attitudes.
Love to learn about the wonders of engineering and technology? Don't miss this fabulous episode with snippets from AMAZING engineering!!
Dr. Arturo Dominguez discusses (How To Hold the Sun in a Donut),
Dr. Anna Michel chats abt (How to Design a Sensor to Learn about the Deep Ocean)
and Jim Geffre (How Will Astronauts Get Back to the Moon).
Scientists/engineers from Princeton's Plasma Physics Lab, WHOI and NASA will take you to the edges of new technology!
Enjoy this COOL selection of our BEST of ICE episodes with
Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj (How are Glaciers Nature's Time Machine?)
Dr. Will Grundy (Why Do We Study Alien Ice?)
and Dr. Alan Stern (What is it Like to Fly by Pluto?)
If you like these short clips, listen the full episode on our website.
Have fun chilling out!
Meet the Expert: Richard Sheridan, CEO Menlo Innovations
Menlo Innovations CEO Richard Sheridan became disillusioned in the middle of his career in the chaotic technology industry. He had an all-consuming thought: things can be better. Much better. He had to find a way. Why couldn't a workplace be filled with camaraderie, human energy, creativity, and productivity?
Ultimately, Rich co-founded Menlo Innovations in 2001 to end human suffering in the workplace. Menlo's unique approach to custom software creation is so surprisingly different that 3,000 people a year travel from around the world just to see how they do it.
Rich's passion for creating joyful work environments led to his bestselling and widely celebrated book, Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love. His second book, Chief Joy Officer, continues to prove that a positive and engaging leadership style is actually good for business.
Learn more about Menlo Innovations HERE . You can see how much fun they have at their jobs below!
https://youtu.be/8gaooHx-iOk
Challenge:
Find out why Lagrange points are so important to satellites!
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You by Jennifer Szymanski
Book List:
Code Cracking for Kids: Secret Communications Throughout History, with 21 Codes and Ciphers by Jean Daigneau (Author)
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Ella Schwartz, Cybersecurity engineer and author
Ella is a cybersecurity warrior interfacing with the U.S. federal government on strategic technology initiatives. She has a bachelor's and master's degree in engineering from Columbia University. Ella Schwartz writes fiction and nonfiction books for young readers. Ella is the author of CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE? (Bloomsbury, 2019), STOLEN SCIENCE (Bloomsbury, 2020), IS IT OKAY TO PEE IN THE OCEAN? (Bloomsbury, 2020) and MAKE THIS! (National Geographic Kids, 2019). She is also a featured writer for National Geographic Kids magazine.
When she's not working, writing, or training to run a marathon, she volunteers on outreach initiatives to promote women in science and improve science literacy. www.ellasbooks.com
https://youtu.be/XiU72Vzs5Is
Challenge:
Use the tips Ella gave you in the podcast to come up with a really secure password, one that you will also remember! Then keep it safe.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Featured book for this episode!
Can You Crack the Code?: A Fascinating History of Ciphers and Cryptography by Ella Schwartz (Author), Lily Williams (Illustrator)
Book List:
Code Cracking for Kids: Secret Communications Throughout History, with 21 Codes and Ciphers by Jean Daigneau (Author)
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Laurie Wallmark, computer scientist and children's author
Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark is a former software engineer and computer science professor. She writes picture book biographies of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as fiction.Her books have earned five starred trade reviews, been chosen as Junior Library Guild Selections, and received awards such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Best STEM Book, Cook Prize Honor Book, Crystal Kite Award, Mathical Honor Book, and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. Her titles include ADA BYRON LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE, GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE, HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE, NUMBERS IN MOTION, and CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER. Laurie has an MFA in Writing from VCFA. You can find Laurie on the Web at www.lauriewallmark.com and @lauriewallmark.
https://youtu.be/LhS8N6oJdno
Challenge:
Come up with your own code and use it to write a secret message to your friends or your parents.
Let us know how it worked OR send us a coded message and see if we can decode it!
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode:
Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Brooke Smart (Illustrator)
Book List:
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Hedy Lamarr's Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Ada Byron Lovelace & the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark (Author), April Chu (Illustrator)
Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Yevgenia Nayberg (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Dr. Anna Michel, Associate Scientist/ Ocean Engineer Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Dr. Michel graduated with her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering in 2007. In 2012, she began her career as an assistant scientist at WHOI. She went on to lead the Chemical Sensors Laboratory as an associate scientist, which works on developing new sensors for studying ocean chemistry, including methane sensing, carbon dioxide sensing, and microplastics sensing.
Dr. Anna Michel has been appointed as the new chief scientist of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF).
Michel, an associate scientist in WHOI’s Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, is the first woman to serve in this high-profile role effective July 1st, 2021.
The Chief Scientist for Deep Submergence (CSDS) role places her at the forefront of deep submergence for the academic research community, working as a liaison to connect scientists with the WHOI teams that operate WHOI’s underwater vehicles. More information HERE
Some cool underwater pictures where Dr. Michel sends her sensors
Read Dr. Michel's awesome interview about how girls can love engineering! "Girls Just Wanna Be Engineers"
A cool video interview with Dr. Michel about her work:
https://youtu.be/Lu_-r1Px784
Challenge:
Take a plastic egg and make it neutrally buoyant. Here is a suggested experiment from the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Share pictures of your egg with us.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted Book for this Episode!
Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere by Barb Rosenstock (Author), Katherine Roy (Illustrator)
Book List:
The Oceanology Handbook: A Course For Underwater Explorers (Ologies) by Prof. Pierre Aronnax
Marine Science for Kids: Exploring and Protecting Our Watery World, Includes Cool Careers and 21 Activities by Bethanie Hestermann, Josh Hestermann, and Stephanie Arne (Foreword)
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola (Author, Illustrator)
100th episode special guest Meet the Expert: Jim Geffre, NASA's Orion Vehicle Integration Manager
Jim Geffre is the manager for vehicle integration in the Orion Program Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He brings more than 20 years of NASA experience to this role, in which he is responsible for spacecraft system design and analysis, and program integration within the Common Exploration Systems Development and Artemis Campaign Development Divisions for the Orion program. He is also responsible for Orion systems engineering and integration; vehicle systems performance; guidance, navigation, and control; as well as integrated design architecture.
A native of Minnesota, Geffre joined the Orion Program Office in 2005 and has supported Orion in various other leadership and integration roles prior assuming his current position in 2019. Before joining the Program Office, Geffre supported Johnson’s Exploration Office, performing conceptual designs of future NASA human exploration initiatives to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations. He also served as a core member of NASA’s Exploration Systems Architecture Study developing conceptual architectures and Orion designs for human lunar return.
Throughout his career, Geffre has been recognized for his achievements, including the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, Exceptional Achievement Medal, the Johnson Space Center Director’s Commendation, and the Silver Snoopy Award.
https://youtu.be/RxzC2S8Z2Ng
See more amazing videos about Artemis HERE
Learn more about the Orion Spacecraft HERE
See more awesome images of the Orion Spacecraft and how it was built HERE
Challenge:
How do you keep people alive for 21 days in the Orion capsule -- what types of technology need to be invented to do this? And how can this technology be used in your own homes?
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode:
Highlighted book for this episode!
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Book List:
Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)
The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
Meet the Expert: LCDR Rebecca (Becky) Shaw, NOAA hurricane hunter
Rebecca Shaw is a Wp-3D Hurricane Hunter & Test Pilot at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Experienced Test Pilot with a demonstrated history of working in the Military industry, she has a Master’s Degree in Space Systems Engineering from John’s Hopkins University and graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 2009. She is passionate about aerospace, education and advocacy for Women in STEM.
https://youtu.be/edlkeBUNci4
https://youtu.be/9aK4UhYfYho
Challenge:
See if you can track a storm by getting two positions from the National Weather Service to try and track a storm and predict where it goes.
And/OR see if you can predict how many major hurricanes we will have in a year, how many names we will get through, etc.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Highlighted book for this episode!
Eye Of The Storm: NASA, Drones, and the Race to Crack the Hurricane Code by Amy Cherrix
Book List:
All About Hurricanes (A True Book: Natural Disasters) by Cody Crane
Extreme Weather! Weather For Kids Book On Storms: Hurricanes, Tornados, Blizzards, Thunderstorms & Much More by Leanne Annett
National Geographic Kids Everything Weather: Facts, Photos, and Fun that Will Blow You Away by Kathy Furgang
Hurricanes by Seymour Simon
Meet the Expert: Dr. Jermey Matthews, chemical engineer and MIT Press book editor
Jermey N. A. Matthews, PhD joined the MIT Press in 2016 after working for nine years as industry reporter and book reviews editor for Physics Today magazine. He holds a PhD degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland.
In 2021, Jermey was promoted to senior acquisitions editor at The MIT Press, where he publishes books on topics in the physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics. He also helped launch two new children's book imprints, MIT Kids Press and MITeens Press. Independent of--and prior to--his work with MIT, he cofounded STEM Reads Book Club, a community for educators, librarians, and parents to discover and discuss children’s STEM books.
STEM Reads Website: www.stemreadsbookclub.com
Social Bio: https://sleek.bio/jnamatthews
Instagram: @stemreads
Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn: Also @stemreads
Publication Highlights: * The Atom: A Visual Tour by Jack Challoner. A perennial bestseller on Amazon * The Dialogues: Conversations about the Nature of the Universe by Clifford Johnson. Named a 2018 “book of the year” by NPR Science Friday * The Curie Society by Heather Einhorn, Adam Stafforoni, and Janet Harvey. The first-ever YA original graphic novel from the MIT Press. * Mage Merlin’s Unsolved Mathematical Mysteries. A highly illustrated Arthurian adventure through 16 famous unsolved mathematical problems, accessible to anyone with a middle school math background. * (MIT Kids Press) Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman * (MIT Kids Press) I’m a Neutrino by Eve Vavagiakis
https://youtu.be/RJeWKvQD90Y
Challenge: Go out and read a STEAM/STEM book! It can be about a topic you like, or maybe one you don't, just give it a try.
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Recommended Reading:
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact (NGKids) by Jennifer Swanson
Journey from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of ASTRONAUTS and AQUANAUTS really are.
Book List:
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
The Ultimate Book of Space by Anne-Sophie Baumann (Author), Olivier Latyck (Illustrator)
If You Were a Kid Docking at the International Space Station (If You Were a Kid) by Josh Gregory (Author), Jason Raish (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Lou Ramon, former NASA Engineer
Lou Ramon has been a “space cadet” his entire life. As a young boy, he had his own model plane “air force” hanging from his bedroom ceiling and he grew up reading and watching science fiction TV shows and movies. So it’s no wonder he ended up turning that passion into a lifelong career in the space industry.
Lou received a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly University in Pomona, Calif. Accomplishments of his nearly 50-year career, in and around the Johnson Space Center in Houston, are too numerous to mention. He has been involved in nearly every U.S. human spaceflight program from Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, the International Space Station to Orion. Among the many highlights for him was working as part of Apollo 11, alongside astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. He worked on the development of the Manned Maneuvering Unit and the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System for the Space Shuttle. He also led a team that had a hand in the design of the International Space Station. After the Columbia Disaster, Lou led a Boeing team to assure the Space Shuttle was safe to return to flight. He continues to be passionate about human spaceflight and considers himself to be an “old-fashioned spaceman.”
Lou began as a docent at the Discovery Center in the summer of 2013 and he volunteers because it offers him the opportunity to combine his interests in space and education. Lou retired in July of 2013 and he and Cindy, his wife of 30 years, settled down in Woodland Park, Colorado. In addition to volunteering with the Space Foundation, Lou also volunteers with the FIRST Robotics Competition, the BEST Robotics Championships in Denver and the Woodland Park Music Series.
https://youtu.be/yRqUPjl3tTQ
Challenge: You’ll need two pieces of paper, a marker, pen, or pencil, and a ruler.
The first part of the challenge is to look at accuracy. Lay the first piece of paper down in front of you. Imagine there is a line running from the top of the paper to the bottom that cuts the paper in to two halves. Take your marker and put a mark or a dot about 2 inches (5 cm) to the right (or left) of the imaginary center line of the paper. Then put one or two more marks above that equally space toward the between the first mark and the top of the paper, again about 2” from the centerline or middle of the paper Then do the same (two marks) between the first mark and the bottom of the paper.
Now fold the paper in half and crease it. Then, open it back up and measure the distance from the center crease to each of your dots. write that distance down beside each of the 5 dots you drew.
That shows how accurately you could estimate where the center was and how far two inches was from it.
For the second part, to show how precisely you can make your marks, take the second piece of paper. fold it in half like you did the first piece of paper. Now, take you marker and make 5 marks on the crease from the top to the bottom of the paper.
Take your ruer out and measure how far from the grease each of the 5 marks are and write that number down.
This shows how precisely you can make your marks when you have a reference to help you. In the case of a robot arm like the Shuttle or Space Station Manipulator, it shows how controllable your end to end system (eyes, brain, and arms or you could say vision system, guidance and computer and servomechanisms) is. I think you’ll find that your position errors are much smaller when you have a point of reference (like the crease) than when you have to rely on your end-to-end system to tell you where to place your mark
We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Recommended Reading:
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact (NGKids) by Jennifer Swanson
Journey from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of ASTRONAUTS and AQUANAUTS really are.
Book List:
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.
The Ultimate Book of Space by Anne-Sophie Baumann (Author), Olivier Latyck (Illustrator)
If You Were a Kid Docking at the International Space Station (If You Were a Kid) by Josh Gregory (Author), Jason Raish (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Lisa Leinbaugh, Electrical Engineer
As a kid, I loved collecting rocks. I still go rockhounding when I can. Rocks are made of minerals. Minerals have amazing crystal structures. I decided to study electrical engineering in college because semiconductors are made from crystals that conduct electricity.
After over six years of college, I earned my masters degree and went to work for a company that makes CPUs, computer brains. At the time, the size of individual circuit lines were 1/100 the width of a human hair. One tiny particle could make the whole CPU fail. My job was to find those particles before they caused problems. I used laser scattering, pattern matching, and high-power microscopes to find particles. I analyzed the data from experiments I designed searching for which equipment caused the particles.
Nowadays, I write books for kids. I always put interesting science in my stories. I live with my husband and three kids in the heart of Silicon Valley in California most of the year. During the summer, we live in a rustic cabin with an outhouse. Her website is lisaleinbaugh.com
https://youtu.be/HdcLRMv3D3g
Challenge:
Grown your own crystals, so you can understand how silicon crystals are grown. Here is a great resource: https://sciencenotes.org/how-to-grow-crystals/. We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.
Recommended Reading:
Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You by Jennifer Szymanski
Booklist:
Help Your Kids with Computer Science by DK (Author)
Kids Can Code!: Fun Ways to Learn Computer Programming by Ian Garland
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Katy Wu (Illustrator)
Meet the Expert: Nils Larson, NASA Test Pilot
David Nils Larson is a research test pilot at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He is NASA’s lead pilot for the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft, and is assigned to Armstrong’s F/A-18, F-15, T-34 research and mission support aircraft and DC-8 airborne science aircraft. Larson also serves as senior advisor for NASA aeronautical flight research. In this role, he is a strategic advisor to program directors for agency mission directorates concerning aeronautics flight research planning, execution, aircraft airworthiness and risk management for future flight research projects.
The experimental X-59 aircraft will demonstrate the ability to fly faster than the speed of sound and reduce the loudness and intensity of the sonic boom, typically associated with such speeds. In support of this effort, Larson has flown numerous supersonic research flights in support of NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technologies project. This has included supersonic flights in California, Florida and Texas, preparing NASA for community overflights of the X-59 starting in 2024.
Prior to joining NASA in 2007, Larson was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force. He has accumulated more than 7,000 hours of military and civilian flight experience in more than 100 fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft.
During his time in the Air Force, Larson served as a first assignment instructor pilot in T-37 trainers; an operational U-2 pilot; a test pilot flying the F-15, T-38C and RU-38; a test pilot instructor on exchange at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School teaching systems and fixed-wing flight test in the F/A-18, T-2, U-6A and X-26; and as commander of the U-2 flight test detachment and depot in Palmdale, California. He finished his Air Force career as the deputy group commander for the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base. He retired from active duty in 2007 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
At NASA, Larson previously served as Armstrong’s flight crew branch chief, also known as chief pilot, and was responsible for supervision of the pilots, navigators, UAV operators and flight engineers who flew a variety of specialized aeronautical research, operational science and mission support aircraft. Prior to that he served as deputy chief of the flight crew at Dryden (now Armstrong). He has worked on numerous supersonic projects and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) landing radar tests in the F/A-18, the F-16 Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology program, various high speed propulsion projects in the F-15, Intelligent Flight Control projects on the F/A-18 and NF-15B and numerous airborne science missions flown on the ER-2 and DC-8 airborne science aircraft.
Larson earned a Bachelor of Science in astronautical engineering in 1986 from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is an associate fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a graduate of U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Class 95A, “The Spin Doctors.”
https://youtu.be/QBb6IT_nzbQ
Challenge:
Safely watch for lightning during a storm. Once you see the flash count "one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand..." until you hear the BOOM. That tells you how far away the lightning is. Also, you just heard a sonic boom!
If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page and you’ll automatically be entered to win a copy of the book giveaway for this episode!
Book Giveaway for this episode!
Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten W. Larson, Tracy Subisak (Illustrator)
Book List:
Planes: From the Wright Brothers to the Supersonic Jet by Jan van der Veken
Jet Plane: How It Works by David Macaulay, Sheila Keenan
Spy Planes by Therese Shea
One Minute Paper Airplanes Kit: 12 Pop-Out Planes, Easily Assembled in Under a Minute by Andrew Dewar