In this episode we travel back to the SACNAS National Convention.  SACNAS stands for the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science and is the largest STEM society dedicated to racial and ethnic inclusion.

This year we speak to many scientists about new ideas in their field and our place in academia.  Enjoy these amazing stories of struggle and support.

Part 1 guests: Charee Peters (Astrophysics graduate student), Dominque Butler (model & astronomy student) & Natasha Berryman (Neuroscience graduate student & Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard STEM).

Special thanks to our guests & SACNAS

Image Courtesy of SACNAS

Being a high school student is hard enough but imagine the added scrutiny of being the only all female robotics team at competitions and press attention.  This is the reality of Team Reign from Holy Names Academy.  We sit down with these teenage engineers and talk identity, computer science & the future.

Image Courtesy of Holy Names Robotics Team Reign

In this episode we interview the creators of the highly popular online comic Girl Genius, Kaja & Phil Foglio.  Phil had to step away soon after we started but my guest host, Puyallup librarian Bonnie Svitavsky, and I continued to talk with Kaja about mad scientists, the Tolkien-like Northwest, gender stereotypes and what makes a scientist.  We end with great advice for aspiring sci-fi writers.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Image Courtesy of Girl Genius

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/

What is Kinesiology?  Listen to our show to to find out.  Our guests are Western Washington University (WWU) Biomechanics Professor Dr. Jun San Juan & owner of Pure Fitness Martial Arts in Bellingham, WA, Kru Brooke.

We discuss common injuries, how to avoid them and body alignment.  This episode was recorded in WWU Digital Media Center and video will be available soon.

Enjoy.

This is our third episode from Geek Girl Con.  We interview astrophysicists, Dr. Lisa Will, Dr. Karen Knierman & Dr. Meredith Rawls.  These women were on the Worlds of Star Wars panel at the convention, however we take this time to talk about much more.  We discuss outreach, their path to astrophysics and nerd culture.

Enjoy.

Special thanks to Geek Girl Con & Puyallup Librarian Bonnie Svitavsky

Science Communication & "Nerdcore" Rap are the topics of this epsiode recorded at Geek Girl Con 2016.  

We first speak with Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo, better known as the amazing rapper SAMMUS, about her music and her experience as a PhD candidate.  We then have a great conversation with Rocket Scientist and Astonomer Summer Ash who has been on Star Talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Nerdist with Chris Hardwick.  Summer and I talk about what inspires us and how she found her path into science outreach.

If you would like to know more about SAMMUS & Summer Ash, click on the links below

https://sammusmusic.com/

http://summerash.com/

What is the difference between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (AR)?  Who are the players in these markets?  Is Pokémon Go really AR?

These questions are answered by software engineer and computer scientist Kyle Rader.  We have guest co-host Russell Pearce join us in this lengthy, yet fun discussion on a new way to interact with the “real” world.

Welcome to Season 3 of Spark Science!

Back in October 2016, we recorded serveral interviews at Seattle's Geek Girl Con.  This amazing convention strives to support girls who love comics and STEM.  http://geekgirlcon.com/

Our first interview was the Women of Pixar panel Yun Lien, Angelique Reisch, and Trina Roy.  We had a joy filled discussion about what it is like to work on beloved films, how to get a job at Pixar and learning how to code.

Enjoy 30 minutes of geeking out and giggles.

Spark Science sits down with Behavioral Pharmacologist and WWU professor Dr. Jeff Grimm. 

We talk about his background, new theories on addiction, rat parks and how sugar can be an addictive substance.

You can view the Kurzgesagt video on addiction by clicking on the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg