Dan Suh is the one you’d ask probably one too many questions about his thoughts on raising kids. His expertise is on the correlations between spatial skills/language and STEM abilities. In other words, what helps your kids become better at calculating/critical thinking? There were literally too many directions to take the conversation that I ended up back tracking a few times. But I’m glad I did. Dan gives tremendous insight that is very accessible, and shares his thoughts on topics ranging from his thoughts oh PhD, his field, how he’d raise his kids, and being a Christian at a high level of education that requires critical thinking rigor that only a few of us would be able to tolerate. Thanks for joining me, and I hope you gain a nugget of insight or two…or a hundred. Below is the outline I barely followed. Thanks for joining in and inviting me and Dan into your personal space! Timeline: 3:10 – What is spatial skills? 4:10 – How did you get into studying spatial skills? 5:50 – Defining Spacial concepts and Spacial Language & It’s applications 10:50 – Spatial skills & Tech & kids/infants – application theory to practicality 13:55 – How would you raise your kids to have the best ability at spatial skills? 17:01 – Why not Med school and why PhD? 25:40 – Has there been anything you found out that was surprising? 29:35 – What type of studies do you do/data collection 33:30 – The challenges of PhD students… 35:03 – PhD students & professors seem very stressed; how do you cope? 36:08 – Publish or perish 38:15 – Being a Christian in a scientific setting 41:00 – Evolutionary viewpoints & interpretations 47:30 – Where do you want to be in 10 years? 48:15 – If you can put 1 message on the front homepage of google, what would it be? 50:40 – How can I develop my spatial skills? JOB – ACTUAL DESCRIPTION What do you do? So how would you describe to a 10 year old what you’re actually studying What are some of the most exciting correlations you have seen so far, either in your own data or in others? How can your field really help people practically in 10-20 years from now? Are there differences in spatial skills between Korean and US children? Describe to me some of the kinds of test you do technology have on spatial skills and what does this mean? If I have a kid, how do I best help my child develop spatial skills? To what extent does spatial skills have an actual impact on ones life? Tell me one thing that you have found surprising during your studies Why a Phd? PhDs are long thought of as marathons. I don’t think people understand the length it takes, the amount of uncertainty, and the stress of having to develop an entire thesis. Is it all true? PERSONAL VIEWS & INSIGHT Describe to me, your personal worldview of this world How does this perspective coalesce, or cause friction with your field? How is your personal beliefs received among other colleagues? How politically correct do you have to be?