News :: Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach

The Center for Science Outreach is pleased that its popular podcast, Snacks4theBrain! has been included in the newly released Discover Archive, an extraordinary project from Vanderbilt's Jean and Alexander Heard Library. The rapidly growing research resource offers many ways to access S4theB! but one way is to perform a simple search for "snacks" and "brain", which results in this page.

The next episode, number 78, of Snacks, will feature amazing end of semester presentations by the School for Science and Math's sophomore class, as well as some fun independent music and the return of Tech Tip Tidbit! Stay tuned!!!

Scott Merrick, Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach's Teacher-in-residence, has accepted an invitation from conference organizers to speak at this year's Internet2 membership meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference website explains that the "Fall Member Meeting will feature track sessions and demonstrations that highlight innovative uses of advanced networking for research and teaching, as well as the development and evolution of high-performance network infrastructures in support of local to global cyberinfrastructure." Merrick will share the spotlight October 14 on a panel about Virtual Worlds with Margaret Corbit, Cornell University; Ben Fineman, Internet2, Moderator; Merrilea Mayo, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Chris Melissinos, Sun Microsystems; Rob Rothfarb, Exploratorium; and Kathy Schrock, Nauset Public Schools. He will also attend sessions from the event-packed program and network with leaders in information management from all corners of the nation.

The CSO's podcast, Snacks4theBrain! is now available for listening on your iPhone! Visit the Vanderbilt iPhone portal at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/iphone/ to hear the latest, episode 69, featuring Dr. Jennifer Ufnar describing an exciting four weeks of learning for Middle and High School science teachers. Participants will make a laser (Physics), design a cancer drug (Chemistry), study the biology of light (Biology) and begin creating powerful personal learning networks with Web 2.0 tools (Technology–available for teachers at any K12 grade level).

Don't have an iPhone? Visit the Snacks4theBrain! blog (http://blogs.vanderbilt.edu/s4theb/) to hear the podcast on your computer or iPod. The show also contains new music releases from Nashville's Ross Falzone and Vanderbilt's very own Rocky Alvey!

The Vanderbilt AIDS Outreach ("AIDSO") team presented their first interactive videoconference to high schools in Massachusetts and Louisiana through the Center for Science Outreach's Virtual Scientist Program this afternoon. Prior to the videoconference, students were asked to fill in a "pre-test" to find out their basic understanding of HIV/AIDS-related topics and during the videoconference they discussed the answers and their questions with AIDSO team members. Following the videoconference, students and teachers were asked to complete an evaluation, describing their experience and suggesting what impact the program may have had on them. As an ongoing resource, students and teachers have the option to confidentially ask additional questions of the AIDSO team by emailing vandyAIDSO@gmail.com. With the help of HIV-positive people from Nashville Cares — a non-profit agency in Middle Tennessee that "promotes and participates in a comprehensive and compassionate response to HIV and AIDS through education, advocacy, and supportive services" — the AIDSO team has just completed a video, "Living with HIV," that is now available for viewing online (view in Windows Media | QuickTime [coming soon]). Also, listen to Brenna Simon's interview on a recent Snacks4theBrain! podcast.

The one-room schoolhouse is alive again in Arkansas thanks to the Aspirnauts Initiative that was officially launched on April 10, 2007. Students at Sheridan Schools received Apple iPods and Apple MacBooks to use during their up to three hour commute to and from school each day. Their school bus is equipped with wireless internet access, allowing them to email teachers at their school and/or scientists at Vanderbilt University or other schools their class may partner with. See a video from Little Rock's KTHV 11 story on the program (click here to view in Windows Media Player).

Working with the Center for Science Outreach, Dr. Billy Hudson, biochemist and director of the Center for Matrix Biology, is helping bring 21st Century technology to students in his childhood hometown, rural Grapevine, Arkansas. In the summer of 2006, students and teachers from Grapevine spent a week at Vanderbilt University. They experienced what it is like to work in research laboratories, met with scientists and researchers to learn about and discuss the opportunities and advancements that are taking place on campus, and even got to explore what "big city" Nashville has to offer. On April 10, 2007, the program continues with a preview of its next step, giving students laptops to use for research and homework while riding an internet-connected school bus to and from school each day — up to 90 minutes each way for some children. Though the site is still under construction at this time, the program will be highlighted by the students and teachers at the Aspirnaut Initiative's website soon.

The CSO's Virtual Scientist Interactive Videoconferencing program is back! Read about the program and sign your class up for a session or two before they fill up! If you aren't already on our videoconferencing email list, sign up for it! You'll receive notices of when we have new videoconferences and other programs available. It will not be shared with anyone else.

Currently in the process of migrating over to the Vanderbilt blog, you may visit the Snacks4theBrain! podcast anytime to download and listen to our bi-weekly broadcast of interviews with scientists and educators who reach out to the world's K12 science students through the myriad programs the Center for Science Outreach offers. Podcasts also feature timely computer tips and fresh "podsafe" music from independent songwriters and performers. Watch for the New Year show, episode 51, when Scott interviews Emmy-winning Denver television personality Steve Spangler of stevespanglerscience.com.

A Vanderbilt Register article including an interview with our own Podcast Guru, Scott Merrick.

After two videoconferences with schools in Kentucky, the Center for Rural Development's CenterNET2 Network highlighted the CSO in their newsletter that is shared with 139 videoconferencing sites and many others in Kentucky. View the newsletter and take a look at the CenterNET2 website.