Snacks4theBrain!

The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt is an innovative model of how higher education can reach out to our embattled and endangered public school systems and make a difference, not just suggesting change but creating it. We’ve talked about the program in previous shows, but a little review is in order:

The School offers high school students a four-year, interdisciplinary, research-centered learning experience at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities, where internationally recognized faculty are leading the way in diverse fields of scientific study.

This unique program is limited to 25 students per grade, and only those attending an MNPS school are eligible. To ensure every qualified student who is chosen can participate, there is no charge for the program.

Through the tireless efforts of Drs. Virginia Shepherd and Glenn McCombs and their aggressively efficient staff and faculty, the School has made it past the mid-point in its second year, day after day offering quality research-centered work to its students. Recently, the 25 sophomore class members gave group presentations on research questions they are especially drawn to after their first semester of sophomore work. What you’ll hear after the jump is the dialog that ensued during and in between those presentations. Just put on your fly-on-the-wall superhero costume and enjoy.

Before we do, let’s hear from my good friend, Nashvillian Ross Falzone, whose music comes to us from his fabulous CD “Life Here on Earth.” I love the disclaimer on Ross’s CD cover: “Subject matter may not be suitable for children and some adults.” But that’s not, generally, because of profanity or lewdness: Ross’s lyrics range from topics like homelessness to the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, and his sensitive, lyrical songs are just as impressive as the ones that are borne of frustration with organized religion and government. “I’ve Got Your Love on My Side” is a song of joy and hope. I’ll close the show with his “I’ve Got It All Figured Out (which elaborates, “except when I have my doubts”), which I predict will become his anthem, if it’s not already. I’ll tag on at the end a bonus–his “Waiting for My Savior to Call” with Linda Cornell’s fantastic vocals belying Ross’s self-proclaimed status as “god-fearing atheist.” Grab Ross Falzone’s excellent, thought-provoking music at http://rossfalzone.com!

Download S4theB! Episode 78 here, or click on Links above and listen in our Podcast Pickle Player!