Science 360

In this the second of a three part series, I asked my astronomy students to record a two minute explanation of some aspect of space. In this episode, the theme is stars.

This is a group of grade 11 and 12 students who are getting their senior science high school credit by learning about space. Although they are representing their knowledge in lots of different ways in class, I felt that using this electronic and public medium would be a great experience for them...and maybe spur them on to continue to add to the global "body of knowledge" on their own, with their own topics.

I really appreciate their efforts here to incorporate. some research, knowledge and sometimes a bit of fun as they talk about the stars. Enjoy!

As a teacher, we are always looking for ways for our students to express their knowledge. I have always felt that the best way to firm up in your mind the things that you have learned, is to talk about it and better yet, teach it!

So I asked my students to pick a topic they have learned in class (choice), research a bit more about it (life long learning), and prepare a two minute "lesson" to record for this podcast (communication).

I got such a wide variety of topics that I decided to group them by theme, and this episode's theme is the solar system. This is their first forage into the world of podcasting and I hope that for some of them, it won't be their last. You will hear that some of them have a real knack for this and likely would make a great podcaster themselves. I'm looking forward to the future to see what else they can create. This may be the first step to a long and enjoyable journey.

In the meantime, listen to some of my students speak on a few topics about...the solar system.

I first came across Ross Reid on Instagram and his account @NerdyAboutNature. I loved learning about the trees and the natural ecosystems from a funny, kind of quirky guy who just seemed to know so much!

I invited him on my podcast and I'm so glad I did. Such insight and a true admonition to connect with nature. He urges the school system to get back to the "poetic beauty of science" and to make it real for everyone. He says the way we communicate science needs to draw people in, instead of scare them off, as science is apt to do.

Ross always refers to the Pacific Northwest as Cascadia. I asked him about that and he explained in depth why we need to think of the land as a whole being, of which we are a part. But in order to benefit from nature, we need to start from a place of humility, recognizing that the land is not ours to build another parking lot on. Rather it is a resource that if managed properly, will sustain us, just as it did the First Nations peoples for 1000s of years.

Ross details a beautiful metaphor of a tree, whereby it's resilience through all circumstances can be likened to our lives. That through the successes and struggles of life, we can find our own individual beauty, just as the tree does in the forest.

This episode is the sort that will make us want to connect to nature, it will make us want to rethink our place in nature and will make us want to be thankful for all that nature does for us.

Follow Ross on Instagram and YouTube at @nerdyaboutnature and as he says "smash him some likes and follows".

https://www.rossjreid.com

Lilly is one of a growing number of people I've come to know and respect who now reside on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Lilly combines an incredible knowledge of environmental issues with formal education, a passionate desire to effect change, and an incredible ability to communicate so clearly her mission and love for the planet.

Lilly is the manager of the Pacific Rim chapter of Surfrider and takes every chance she can to speak to people about the state of the planet, the climate issues, plastic pollution and any other topic that is a concern to our future on Earth.

People like Lilly need to be heard. Her message is poignant yet down to Earth. Young people in schools today need to spend time listening to what she has to say. If enough of them do, we can all have hope for cleaner, more sustainable future. Please share this one widely...it's that good!

Follow Lilly on Instagram: @lillywoodbury

In this podcast, I talk with Vanessa Jones and Natalie Cook, two recent university grads who are doing research into the effects of climate change in suburban Burnaby, British Columbia. I always find it inspiring to hear stories of young people who, while getting a good education, meet people along the way that influence and change their direction towards finding their mission in life.

Both of these researchers studied under Dr. Dave Clements at Trinity Western University. Dr. Clements has been a guest on Science360, and his connections were able to land the funding for this research in the City of Burnaby. Now with their research wrapping up, both look forward to further studies...Vanessa doing graduate research into invasive plant species at UVic and Natalie in GIS at BCIT and dendrochronology at UBC. And if you don't know what those are, neither did I! But Natalie will explain it to you. Enjoy...

This is the second part of my interview with Christian Knudsen, a Mars One candidate to make a one way voyage to Mars. Because of that experience, Christian understands the nuances of space flight better than most. He describes in this episode the issues to be dealt with in making a 6-8 month trip to Mars, the psychology, the health risks, and the issues of landing safely and setting up a colony. He also describes details of terraforming Mars for a comfortable human presence.

This is very fascinating stuff and you will learn a lot about what it takes to get to Mars.

Christian is a tech expert with great insight into space exploration from his time training to be on the Mars One mission. This was a privately funded mission to put a community on Mars, pushing the envelop of exploration further than publicly funded NASA could do. Presently, that mission is on hold so Christian is working in the tech sector in Germany, while taking every opportunity he can to share his knowledge, hoping to inspire the next generation of space travellers.

This is a two part series. The first part deals with general themes of education, the Mars One background, Christian's insight into launch and space travel and thoughts on the Falcon Heavy and crewed Dragon launches of Spacex.

Gain the wisdom of someone who has been inside the space industry. Follow Christian on social media:

Twitter: @MrMonster911
Tedx Talk: https://youtu.be/hB7JlJtFCsE

Read more about the Mars One mission at www.mars-one.com

Rachel studies Geography and Anthropology at UVic. Having worked as a Parks guide, she has become very knowledgeable about the ocean and in this episode, shares a vast array of ocean literacy. From the intertidal zone to the salmon forest, with insight into First Nation's relationship with the west coast. You will learn a lot and your next visit to the coast will be much more interesting once equipped with the knowledge Rachel shares.

Enrique is a student I taught in Summer Session. We met and connected on many areas of similar interests. I had no idea at the time though, of the incredible story that lead him and his family out of El Salvador and into Canada. Held at gunpoint and thinking this was the end, the family survived the ordeal and re-located to Canada. Now today a student at UBC, Enrique speaks with poise and insight on topics ranging from what life was like in a rural country with no internet, to how AI and Informatic Engineering may help lead a world out of a pandemic. Both teachers and students alike will find enormous value in hearing this interview!

Alys is passionate about the oceans. Coming from rural northern England, she has found her place in Tofino, BC, where she works as a kayaking guide and an employee at Surfrider. A university degree in languages, she was inspired to pursue her passions after travelling throughout Europe and South America, ending up on the west coast of Vancouver Island to do this important work of educating kids in schools and the general public about how they can help us move towards a cleaner and healthier ocean.

Surfrider (www.pacificrim.surfrider.org) is an international organization that works closely with The Ocean Legacy (www.oceanlegacy.ca) to collect and re-purpose plastic in the circular economy.