Snacks4theBrain!

On July 10, 2008, ten School for Science and Math seniors and 19 Research Internship Program (RIP) students presented their summer research at two poster sessions in the north lobby of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Light Hall. Snacks4theBrain was there, amidst the bustling parents, teachers, and medical professionals who came to hear what these immensely talented students had to say.

Because it was so well attended, and because each student was talking at once in the great lobby of the newly renovated Light Hall, there’s a great deal of background noise. This can be experienced by you, the listener, as either really really annoying or really really exciting. I prefer the latter, as I share with you three talented high school students explaining how they spent the last month and a half of their working lives. The human brain wants to make sense of what it senses. Let yours register the joy and excitement of this very impressive morning of results from some of the most innovative science outreach in the nation!

First up? A few words from Tiffany Ellis-Farmer, Summer Research Coordinator for the RIP program. Then you’ll hear, in order of appearance, Hana Erhu, from the Nashville School of the Arts (and the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt), Tagbo Obi from Father Ryan High School, and Loi Hoang from the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt.

Innovative indie rock from Magnatune.com, Texas rocker Arthur Yoria, rounds out the podcast. BTW, I redid the opening welcome. What do you think? Comment here!

Download Episode number 72 of Snacks4theBrain! right here, or click “Links” in the sidebar and listen in our very own Podcast Pickle Player!

There’s also a little slideshow of pics I took at the session. Check them out:

Cheers!

Hey, ya’ll. Snacks 56 features audio captured from a marvelous interactive videoconference delivered by Vanderbilt AIDS Outreach volunteers Brenna Simons and Kyra Richter-Oswald. Students in New Jersey and Massachusetts were prepped with a pre-test quiz beforehand, then the presenters opened up discussion on the content of the test by performing a dramatic simulation of how infection spreads, often invisibly, through the sharing of fluids. Listen up to the little sample of audio, then feel free to visit the Center for Science Outreach’s website for more information on the Virtual Scientists program.

There’s podsafe music from the Podsafe Music Network, a tune from Austrian electronica artist Dreamweaver, and one from Magnatune, tasty pop from Artemis‘ album, Orbits, a song called “Fountain of Life.”

And there’s a tech tip from Dr. T. at Completelyfreesoftware.com via Worldstart.com. It’s all about how CDs are burned!

Enjoy your snack by downloading right here or visiting the Links page for the Podcast Pickle Player. Hear ya later!

Hey,ya’ll, This S4theB! is dedicated to the determined group of Graduate Students known as Vanderbilt AIDS Outreach, or “AIDSO.” Led by the capable Brenna Simons, these students work to help make Middle School and High School students aware of the dangers of AIDS and of their options in situations where contracting the disease might be a consequence of their actions. I talked with Brenna at the Panera Bread Company and it was crowded inside so we parked ourselves at a little wrought-iron table and chatted away over green tea (Brenna) and coffee (me–their espresso maker was out of order ). Benna’s group is putting the finishing touches on a 30 minute video highlighting the personal experiences of folks infected with HIV and others affected by relationships with AIDS sufferers. Once it’s ready it’ll be available online both here and at the AIDSO website. This group is doing some amazing work, as you’ll hear amidst the traffic sounds and occasional “order is ready” announcements. Think of S4theB! 53 as a soundseeing tour of sorts!!! In the show, we talk briefly about the interactive videoconferencing programs that AIDSO is planning via the CSO VSIVC program. Those dates are 04/16/07 1:00 pm and 04/23/07 1:00 pm. Teachers, if you want to sign up visit the CSO website and do so!!!

Music for this show is from Magnatune.com, and features the fantastic fretwork of acoustic guitarist Jeff Wahl. Nice listening, and if you like what you hear you’ll love the rest of his album, available for purchase at the Magnatune website. You’ll also get an informative TechTipTidbit this show, all about how to erase your harddrive, courtesy of Dr. T. at completelyfreesoftware.com via worldstart.com’s computer tips, used with permissions. About to recycle or donate or sell a computer?

Better listen up to this one!!! Download S4theB!53 right here or click the Podcast Pickle Player on the links page for (near) instant listening!

Cheers, all