Science + Design

By Meredith Banasiak

Part Science. Part Design.

The premier microlearning channel covering Science + Design featuring short educational video episodes. Each episode, host Scientist-Designer Meredith Banasiak, shares insi... more

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How many episodes does Science + Design have?

The podcast currently has 8 episodes available.

Science + Design episodes:

April 23, 2024 Uncovering the dangers of interior design in space missions
Is interior design the most dangerous part of space travel?
Deprived environments
Prolonged exposure to under-stimulating, deprived environments leads to serious health consequences. Given that round trip travel to Mars will take 1.5 to 2 years, as we plan to go to Mars, how can we mitigate the dangerous health risks of environmental deprivation through design? Designers play a crucial role in crafting enriched environments not only for astronauts, but also for all those experiencing impacts from environmental deprivation on Earth. Let’s explore the cosmos of possibilities for creating a future where design does no harm, on Earth and beyond.
This episode is a companion to Enriched Environments,    • Is Design a Rx for Brain Health and L...

With special thanks to SkyFactory, https://skyfactory.com/product/iris-t... :
3D printed Extraterrestrial Habitat POD (Prototype Outfitting Demonstrator)
2022 demo project for NASA (Foster + Partners, Branch Technology, Sky Factory, Inc.)
Photos by Cameron Muilenburg and Sky Factory, Inc.
Stock Music by four_track, from Pond5
Images and videos by:
lovemushroom / Pond5
scenelabpro / Pond5
Cash Macanaya / Unsplash
NASA / Unsplash
Merlin74 / Pond5
Martha Dominguez de Gouveia / Unsplash
Marco Chilese / Unsplash
De an Sun / Unsplash
Ichigo121212 / Pixabay
Emiliano Bar / Unsplash
andreha / Pond5
Alex Shuper / Unsplash
Planet Volumes / Unsplash
Nick Ross / Pixabay
Mulyadi / Unsplash
James Lee / Unsplash
Nadine Primeau / Unsplash
Aerial_Views / Pond5
Mikhail Nilov / Pexels
BioFEELia by Meredith Banasiak and Cody Thurston. Photos by Cody Thurston.
josie lynn richards / flickr
Joachim Schnürle / Pexels
Projects references:
Kennedy Space Center Florida
Johnson Space Center, Houston
Blur Building and Braincoats. Diller, Scofidio and Renfro. (2002). dsrny.com/project/blurbuilding
https://dsrny.com/project/blur-braincoat
Spatial Flux: A Media Lab Project by Carson Smuts, C. Kapelonis and K. Larson
https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/sp...
Literature references:
Lobel, J. & Akil, H. (2018). Law & Neuroscience: The Case of Solitary Confinement. Daedalus, 147, 61-75.
Xiong, Y., Hong, H., Liu, C. et al. (2023). Social isolation and the brain: effects and mechanisms. Molecular Psychiatry, 28, 191–201.
Strong, J., Reiter, K., Gonzalez, G. et al. (2020). The body in isolation: The physical health impacts of incarceration in solitary confinement. PLoS ONE, 15, 10, e0238510.
AIA 2020. Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Rule 1.404. https://content.aia.org/sites/default...
United Nations General Assembly. (2015). United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). Rule 45 1.
Rich, N. (Feb. 25, 2024). Can Humans Endure the Psychological Torment of Mars?, New York Times Magazine, www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/magazine/mars-isolation-experiment.html
Abbott, R.& Diaz-Artiles, A. (2022). The impact of digital scents on behavioral health in a restorative virtual reality environment. Acta Astronautica, 197, 145-153.
Gushin, V., Ryumin, O., et al. (2021). Prospects for Psychological Support in Interplanetary Expeditions. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 750414.
For further reading:
Shen F. (2019). Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, and the Case Against Solitary Confinement. Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law, 21, 4, 937.
Bachman, K., Otto, C., Leveton, L. (2012). “Countermeasures to Mitigate the Negative Impact of Sensory Deprivation and Social Isolation in Long-Duration Space Flight”, NASA/TM-2012-217365.
Arbib, M., Banasiak, M. & Othón Villegas-Solís. (2022). Systems of Systems: Architectural Atmosphere, Neuromorphic Architecture, and the Well-Being of Humans and Ecospheres. In M. Kanaani (Ed.), The Routledge Companion to Ecological Design Thinking.
Greene, K. (2020). Once upon a time I lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth. St. Martin’s Press. www.kategreene.net/books/
Kobie, N. (2019). The design secrets Nasa's using to keep astronauts happy in space.
www.wired.co.uk/article/space-travel-design-mental-health-interiors
Blanco-Suarez, E. (2019).The Effects of Solitary Confinement on the Brain. Psychology Today.
Engstrom, K., & van Ginneken, E. (2022). Ethical Prison Architecture: A Systematic Literature Review of Prison Design Features Related to Wellbeing. Space and Culture, 25(3), 479-503.
Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/
NASA,    • Hazards of Human Spaceflight | Hazard...
   • The Most Disturbing Prison In The Uni...
I'm at www.meredithbanasiak.com
X @MerBanasiak
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5min
December 12, 2023 Is Design a Rx for Brain Health and Longevity?
Enriched environments for aging and neural decline
Let’s dive into the world of enriched environments; exploring the connection between complex, stimulating spaces and their impact on brain health. What design features contribute to neural stimulation and benefits for brain health, repair, and longevity? How might enriched environments be used in preventative and therapeutic treatment for stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and even normal aging?
Stock Music by four_track, from Pond5
Images and videos by:
Microsoft Bing Image Creator powered by DALL·E, Generated with AI ∙ ‎Nov ‎28 & 29, ‎2023
Alexandr Gusev on Unsplash
May on Unsplash
Pixabay
Ahsan Ashraf from Pixabay
Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash
Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash
Chris Martin from Pixabay
scarlet green on flicker
Takahiro Hayashi, mayor_of_clutch0625 on flicker
Justin Ziadeh on Unsplash
Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash
Tom Doel on flickr
Studio Pizza on Unsplash
joyce huis on Unsplash
Tumisu from Pixabay
Fan art by Wahwe7
References:
Kempermann, G., Kuhn, H. & Gage, F. (1997). Nature, 386(6624), 493–495.
Van Praag, H., Kempermann, G. & Gage, F. (2000). Neural Consequences of environmental enrichment. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 1(3):191-198.
Hebb, D. (1947). The Effects of Early Experience on Problem-Solving at Maturity. American Psychologist, 2, 306–307.
Han, Y. et al. (2022). The role of enriched environment in neural development and repair. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 16:890666.
Snowdon, D. (1997). Aging and Alzheimer's disease: lessons from the Nun Study. Gerontologist. 37, 2, 150-6.
Snowdon, D. & Nun Study (2003). Healthy aging and dementia: findings from the Nun Study. Annals of internal medicine, 139(5 Pt 2), 450–454.
Snowdon, D. (2008). Aging with grace: what the nun study teaches us about leading longer, healthier, and more meaningful lives. Random House Publishing Group.
Mandolesi, L., et al. (2017). Environmental Factors Promoting Neural Plasticity: Insights from Animal and Human Studies. Neural plasticity, 7219461.
Clemenson, G., Gage, F. & Stark, C. (2018). “Environmental Enrichment and Neuronal Plasticity” in The Oxford Handbook of Developmental Neural Plasticity, Chao, M., ed. Oxford University Press.
Jeffers, M. & Corbett, D. (2018). Synergistic Effects of Enriched Environment and Task-Specific Reach Training on Poststroke Recovery of Motor Function. Stroke, 49(6), 1496–1503.
Bruer, J. T. (1997). Education and the Brain: A Bridge Too Far. Educational Researcher, 26(8), 4-16.
Bourdon, E. & Belmin, J. (2021). Enriched gardens improve cognition and independence of nursing home residents with dementia: a pilot controlled trial. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 13(1), 116.
Revolution Revelation by Mercan Dede and Carlito Dalceggio, at Istanbul Borusan Music House.
Crown Fountain, Millennium Park, Chicago, USA. By Jaume Plensa.
The Site of Reversible Destiny – Yoro Park, Japan. By Shusaku Arakawa + Madeline Gins. https://www.yoro-park.com/en/
Reversible Destiny Lofts, Mitaka, Japan. By Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins. https://www.rdloftsmitaka.com/eng/
577 Foundation, Perrysburg, Ohio. https://577foundation.org/
Horniman Museum Sound Garden, London.
I'm at www.meredithbanasiak.com
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
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4min
October 03, 2023 Is there a Goldilocks Zone for design?
Getting the Person-Environment fit "just right".
You’ve heard of the Goldilocks Zone, you know, that perfect spot where everything just clicks. But is there such a thing within our built environments? In this episode, we’ll explore the person-environment fit model. We'll uncover the effects of environments that are either too demanding or too unstimulating, and why we often change ourselves instead of our surroundings. Learn how shaping spaces in support of a broad, flexible Goldilocks zone creates more opportunities for everyone to thrive.
Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5
Images and videos by:
Microsoft Bing Image Creator powered by DALL·E, Generated with AI ∙ September 19, 2023
Photo by Alex Bodini on Unsplash
Video by Ilya Klimenko from Pexels
Video by Michael Burrows from Pexels
Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash
Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash
Photo by Nick Linnen on Unsplash
Photo by BENCE BOROS on Unsplash
Video by Broll by Videezy
Video by Ted Drake on Flickr
Photos by Inhabitat on flickr
Photo by Lauren Manning on flickr
Photo by uBookworm on flickr
Photo by Pamela Rouse on flickr
Use of The Isolater image is covered by the U.S. fair use laws as it is:
- A historically significant photo of a famous individual.
- Much lower resolution than the original.
- Being used for informational purposes.
- Adds significantly to the article because the photo and its historical significance are the object of discussion in the article.
References:
Pinkwater, D. 1977. The Big Orange Splot. Scholastic Inc., New York. For the full story, check out: • The Big Orange Splot
Lewin, Kurt. 1936. Principles of Topological Psychology. Translated by Fritz and Grace Heider. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lawton, M. & Nahemow, L. 1973. An ecological theory of adaptive behavior and aging. In C. Eisdorfer & M.P. Lawton (Eds.), The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging (pp. 657-667). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
Lawton, M. P. (1977). An ecological theory of aging applied to elderly housing. Environment and Aging, 31(1), 8-10.
Siegel, E., Bowers, B., Carder, P., & Young, H. 2021. Assisted Living: Optimal Person-Environment Fit. Research in gerontological nursing, 14(1), 5–12.
Kidd, C., Piantadosi, S., & Aslin, R. 2012. The Goldilocks effect: human infants allocate attention to visual sequences that are neither too simple nor too complex. PloS one, 7(5), e36399.
Ellard, C. 2017. A new agenda for urban psychology: Out of the laboratory and onto the streets. Journal Of Urban Design and Mental Health. 2(3).
Hugo Gernsback, The Isolator. Science and Invention Vol. 13, No. 3, July 1925. Cf also: https://manifold.umn.edu/read/the-per...
Chatterjee, A. April 2016. "The Use of Workplace Productivity Drugs Is the Probable Future". New York Times.
For a more recent position, confer also: Elizabeth Bowman et al., 2023. Not so smart? “Smart” drugs increase the level but decrease the quality of cognitive effort. Sci. Adv.9,eadd4165.
Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris. By Jean Nouvel and Architecture-Studio.
Al Bahar Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE. By AHR (formerly Aedas Arquitectos).
Ed Roberts campus, Berkeley, CA. By Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects.
I'm at www.meredithbanasiak.com
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
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4min
July 31, 2023 Can places influence romantic attraction?
The Science Behind Romantic Attraction: The Role of Places and Misattributed Arousal
Our environments play a vital role in shaping experience, even in igniting the flames of romance! Research findings and real examples will shed light on the interplay between arousal-inducing built environments and the intricate dance of attraction.
Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5
Images and video by:
Kalhh on pixabay
DCStudio on Freepik
Video by freepik
Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Rottonara (Mario) on pixabay
fabio-comparelli on Unsplash
Hert Niks on Unsplash
Chris de Tempe on Unsplash
Jonny Gios on Unsplash
Christian Holzinger on Unsplash
Jake C on Unsplash
Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Marina Stroganova from Pixabay
Elena Gordienko on Unsplash
Alexander Dorofeev on Unsplash
David Vives on Unsplash
Ayana Wyse on Unsplash
Michiel Annaert on Unsplash
Elio Santos on Unsplash
Dessy Dimcheva on Unsplash
References:
Storbeck, J., & Clore, G. L. (2008). Affective Arousal as Information: How Affective Arousal Influences Judgments, Learning, and Memory. Social and personality psychology compass, 2(5), 1824–1843.
Dutton, D.G., & Aron, A.P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30, 510-517.
Meston, C. M., & Frohlich, P. F. (2003). Love at first fright: partner salience moderates roller-coaster-induced excitation transfer. Archives of sexual behavior, 32(6), 537–544.
Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
James, William. (1890) The Principles of Psychology. Henry Holt, New York.
Bishop Castle by Jim Bishop, Rye, Colorado.
Grand Canyon Skywalk by Mark Ross Johnson, Grand Canyon West, Arizona.
Zaryadye Park by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) with Hargreaves Associates, Moscow, Russia.
The Edge at Hudson Yards by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), Manhattan, New York.
MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) by Amanda Levete Architects, Lisbon, Portugal.
I'm at www.meredithbanasiak.com
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
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3min
June 21, 2023 How can we alter perception through design?
Unlocking the Secrets of Perception Shifting Through Design using Sensory Juxtaposition.

Perception is how our brain interprets sensory information. Sensory juxtaposition is a powerful design tool to amplify perception for greater impact. By juxtaposing sensory qualities like light and dark, color, room scales, and acoustic treatments, designers can make spaces seem bigger, brighter, louder.

Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5
Images and video by:
Kayahara, Nobuyuki (2003). Silhouette Illusion. Procreo Flash Design Laboratory, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Abeer Zaki on Unsplash
Stock footage provided by olga_gl, from Pond5
Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash
Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Gift and purchase; Carol M. Highsmith; 2011; (DLC/PP-2011:124).
Library of Congress
The U.S. National Archive
References:
Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lipatova, O., & Campolattaro, M. M. (2016). The Miracle Fruit: An Undergraduate Laboratory Exercise in Taste Sensation and Perception. Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, 15(1), A56–A60.
Bernal, B., Guillen, M., & Marquez, J. C. (2014). The spinning dancer illusion and spontaneous brain fluctuations: an fMRI study. Neurocase, 20(6), 627–639. https://doi.org/10
Troje, N. F., & McAdam, M. (2010). The viewing-from-above bias and the silhouette illusion. i-Perception, 1(3), 143–148. https://doi.org/10.1068/i0408
Philip Johnson, Chapel of St. Basil, Houston
James Turrell, The Light Inside
Frank Lloyd Wright, Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago
Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona
Le Corbusier, Unite d' Habitation, Marseille, France
Maria Cole for Davis Partnership, Anchor Center for Blind Children, Denver
I'm at www.meredithbanasiak.com
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
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4min
May 16, 2023 Can buildings be Bouba or Kiki?
Characterizing round buildings as Bouba, and angled buildings as Kiki, is one example of our brain making associations across the senses. Learn how designers engage this unique perceptual ability by using building form for sensory messaging!
Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5
Images and video by:
Freepik
Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
Christian Perner on Unsplash
Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
Utkarxh Rathore on Unsplash
Bernd Dittrich on Unsplash
Inga Mucke on Unsplash
Cosmin Caciuc
Cody Thurston
References and Resources:
Lea, M., Thomas, R., Lamkin, N., & Bell, A. (2007). Who do you look like? Evidence for the existence of facial stereotypes for male names. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(5), 901-907.
Köhler, W. (1929). Gestalt Psychology. New York: Liveright.
Ramachandran, V. & Hubbard, E. (2001). Synaesthesia—A window into perception, thought and language. Journal of Consciousness Studies 8: 3–34.
Ramachandran, V. (2004). A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness: From Impostor Poodles to Purple Numbers, Pi Press.
Nanda, U. (2005). Sensthetics: a crossmodal approach to the perception, and conception, of our environments. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University.
Banasiak, M. (2020). A Sensory Place for All. In G. Lindsay (Ed.), Contemporary Museum Architecture and Design: Theory and Practice of Place. New York: Routledge.
Lupton, E. & Lipps, A. (2018). “Why Sensory Design?” In The Senses: Design beyond vision edited by Lupton, E. & Lipps, A. New York. Princeton Architectural Press.
Spence, C. (2021). Sensehacking: How to use the power of your senses for happier, heathier living. London, UK: Viking Penguin
Vartanian, O., Navarrete, G., Chatterjee, A., Brorson Fich, L., Leder, H., Modroño, C. & Skov, M. (2013). Impact of contour on aesthetic judgments and approach-avoidance decisions in architecture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 110,10446–10453.
Bar, M. & Neta, M. (2007). “Visual elements of subjective preference modulate amygdala activation”. Neuropsychologia 45, 2191–2200.
Friedenberg, J., Lauria, G., Hennig, K., & Gardner, I. (2023). Beauty and the sharp fangs of the beast: degree of angularity predicts perceived preference and threat. Psychological research, 10.1007/s00426-023-01822-y.
Denver Art Museum. “Modern & Contemporary Art: Matthew Brannon, Last to Know.” (2010).
Peter Zumthor, Therme Vals
Daniel Libeskind, Hamilton Building, Denver Art Museum
Daniel Libeskind, Jewish Museum Berlin
Frank Lloyd Wright, Jester-Pfeiffer House
Phoenix Earthship, Taos New Mexico
I'm at https://www.meredithbanasiak.com/
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
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3min
May 16, 2023 Does architecture affect my brain?
In this episode, we will answer the question: Does architecture affect our brains? Spoiler alert: the answer is a resounding YES! In just two minutes, learn about the landmark study that launched the field of Neuroscience for Architecture.
Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5
Images by:
Jamaal Cooks on Unsplash
Jared Rice on Unsplash
Milad Fakurian on Unsplash
Hal Gatewood on Unsplash
Annemarie Horne on Unsplash
Alexandr Gusev on Unsplash
Susan Q Yin on Unsplash
Matthew Mejia on Unsplash
Grant Durr on Unsplash
Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash
References:
Kempermann, G., Kuhn, H. G. & Gage, F. H. (1997). More hippocampal neurons in adult mice living in an enriched environment. Nature, 386(6624), 493–495. https://doi.org/10.1038/386493a0
Eriksson, P., Perfilieva, E., Bjork-Eriksson, T., Alborn, A., Nordborg, C., Peterson, D. & Gage, F. (1998). Neurogenesis in the adult human hippocampus, Nature Medicine, 4:1313-7.
Van Praag, H., Kempermann, G. & Gage, F. (2000). Neural Consequences of environmental enrichment. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 1(3):191-198.
Peen, J., Schoevers, R., Beekman, A. & Dekker J. (2010). The current status of urban–rural differences in psychiatric disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 121(2):84-93.
Lederbogen, F., Kirsch, P., Haddad, L., Streit, F., Tost, H., Schuch, P., et al. (2011). City living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans. Nature, 474(7352), 498-501.
Golembiewski, J. (2017). Architecture, the urban environment and severe psychosis: Aetiology. Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health; 2:1
Lobel, J. & Akil, H. (2018). Law & Neuroscience: The Case of Solitary Confinement. Daedalus 2018; 147 (4): 61–75. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_00520
Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA). www.anfarch.org
I'm at www.meredithbanasiak.com
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
...more
3min
May 10, 2023 Science + Design Trailer
Host Meredith Banasisk, Part-Scientist, Part-Designer, launches a new microlearning series called Science + Design. In this series, she’ll explore the latest scientific research and trends which are transforming the future of design.
Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5
I'm at https://www.meredithbanasiak.com/
Twitter @MerBanasiak
Instagram science.and.design
...more
2min

FAQs about Science + Design:

How many episodes does Science + Design have?

The podcast currently has 8 episodes available.