Physics Alive
49 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsPhysics Alive is the podcast where host Brad Moser, Ph.D., sparks new life into the physics classroom. He speaks with researchers and textbook authors on the frontiers of physics education, life science and health professionals who use physics on an everyday basis, designers and engineers who learn from the natural world, teachers who employ innovative and active learning styles, and students who want the most out of their education.
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Episodes
The Maple: Sweet Siren and Physics Phenom
March 03, 2023 20:45 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBMaple Syrup. Champion of breakfast, the perfecter of pancakes. Sweet addition to butter, beans, and even bacon. But how does that treat travel from tree to table? Phenomenal physics is in no short supply, and Abby van den Berg, a Research Associate Professor at the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center, shares her joy and her expertise. She discusses the wonder of sap flow, long-term tree health, production methods, and the pigments associated with autumn foliage. Full show no...
Universal Design for Learning and Multiple Means of Engagement
February 17, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBThe universal design for learning (UDL) framework is an approach based on educational research that can guide the development of flexible learning environments that are supportive of and accessible to all learners. I’m speaking with Melissa Eblen-Zayas and Kristen Burson, authors on a recent paper describing their efforts to implement UDL and promote student mental health. They specifically focus on physics course modifications that provide multiple means of engagement. Go to the full episo...
Physics with Phones with David Rakestraw
December 29, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 40.6 MBWhat if I told you that you could do velocity, acceleration, friction, rotations, impulse and momentum, pressure, sound, color, and magnetic field labs all with a single measurement device? And what if I told you that almost every student is walking into the classroom with their own device already in hand? Welcome to Physics with Phones curriculum. Each lesson details activities using built-in smartphone sensors to illustrate key physics concepts, including elevation, g force, and angular ve...
The Physics Alive Road Journal
November 02, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 42.9 MBThe Physics Alive podcast is on the road this week! A busy semester has made it challenging to produce new episodes, so your host has taken his microphone on the road, recording while driving. Hear updates about Brad's classes and experiences this semester at his new teaching institution, Plymouth State University. The ups, the downs, the good, the frustrating -- the teacher's journey.
The Investigative Science Learning Environment with Eugenia Etkina
August 19, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 54.7 MBISLE, the Investigative Science Learning Environment, is an intentional holistic learning environment for physics. It addresses two main goals: to help students learn physics by engaging them in the processes that mirror scientific practice and to improve their well-being while they are learning physics. Eugenia Etkina started this approach nearly 40 years ago and has been an ardent teacher educator in the years since. This interview with Eugenia provides the educational philosophy behind IS...
Diffraction of DNA and the DNA of my Physics Class
May 31, 2022 19:50 - 43 minutes - 43.6 MBIn this episode, I talk about DNA: a simple DNA diffraction and interference experiment using the spring from a pen, and the DNA, the structure of my introductory physics class during the spring '22 semester. Full show notes at: www.physicsalive.com/dna DNA Diffraction and Interference Lab and/or Demonstration Figure 1: X-ray diffraction pattern of B-DNA labeled Photo 51 by Rosalind Franklin. Figure 2: Interference pattern from a pen spring. Pattern produced from a red diode lase...
We’re Going on a Planet Hunt with Sara Seager
May 13, 2022 18:30 - 53 minutes - 70.7 MBSara Seager is Professor of Planetary Science and Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on discovering new exoplanets and characterizing their atmospheres. She hopes to find and identify another Earth and searches for signs of life. In this episode, Sara describes how we find planets around other stars and how we can possibly know how their atmospheres are composed. Check out the full show notes at: www.physicsalive.com/exoplanets Learn more abou...
The Future of Education with Jeff Young
March 31, 2022 10:00 - 54 minutes - 47 MBJeff Young is an editor and reporter focused on technology issues and the future of education. He is currently the managing editor at EdSurge and the producer and host of the EdSurge Podcast, a weekly look at the future of learning. We talk about developments he’s seen throughout his career reporting on education, MOOCs and their place in education, the themes of the EdSurge podcast, and his take on the future of education. Check out the EdSurge Podcast! Go to today's Show Notes at: phy...
Podcast Reflections and Recent Articles from The Physics Teacher (Winter 2022)
March 21, 2022 17:00 - 39 minutes - 38.3 MBIn this episode, I summarize four articles from the Winter 2022 issues of The Physics Teacher: reflecting on a difficult year, group work equitability, lab activities on temperature and thermodynamics, and polarimetry measurements for food science. I also reflect on the purpose of this podcast, the many types of episodes you can expect to hear, and how I might better support you - the listener, the educator - to put new ideas into practice. Also, Physics Alive is now on Slack! www.physic...
The Physics Rundown on Running with Wouter Hoogkamer
March 10, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 50 MBWouter Hoogkamer, Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is the director of the UMass Integrative Locomotion Lab. He studies human locomotion, integrating neurophysiology, biomechanics and energetics. In today’s episode, learn about his research on running economy and breaking the two-hour marathon mark. Plus, we’ll take his expertise and distill it down to some experiments and concepts that we can use in the high school and college intro physics classroom. Show...
The Underrepresentation Curriculum
February 17, 2022 17:25 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBThe Underrepresentation Curriculum is a flexible curriculum designed to help students critically examine scientific fields and take action for equity, inclusion and justice. I’m speaking with Angela Flynn and Moses Rifkin, two editors for the project who are also developing and using the curriculum in their classrooms. Learn all about the project, the resources you can access, and the community you can join. Show notes at: www.physicsalive.com/underrep To learn everything we can abou...
2022 AAPT Winter Meeting retrospective - Day 2
February 02, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.5 MBDr. Anne Leak, from High Point University, Dr. Brian Lane, from the University of North Florida, and yours truly reflect and muse on Day 2 of the 2022 American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Virtual Winter Meeting. The discussion includes the plenary talk by Matthew Greenhouse, physics for future careers, equity and diversity, teacher recruitment, making AAPT meetings and membership welcoming for all audiences, and our personal takeaways. Further details, as available, are includ...
2022 AAPT Winter Meeting retrospective - Day 1
January 20, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 50.4 MBDr. Brian Lane, from the University of North Florida, and I reflect and muse on Day 1 of the 2022 American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Virtual Winter Meeting. The discussion includes topics from the Meeting of the Members, the plenary talk by Fred Myers, hand-picked invited and contributed sessions from the first day, and our top picks for future sessions of AAPT meetings. Further details are included in the show notes: www.physicsalive.com/aaptwm22_day1
Modeling Instruction, Teaching Teachers, and Fluid Physics with Jamie Vesenka
January 13, 2022 11:00 - 59 minutes - 47.7 MBJamie Vesenka is a Professor of Physics at the University of New England. He’s been using Modeling Instruction in the classroom and leading workshops for over 20 years and was an earlier pioneer in the physics for life sciences world, while also staying active in Atomic Force Microscopy research. We talk about the basics of Modeling Instruction, physics for life science, and his role as a teacher’s teacher. Show notes: www.physicsalive.com/jamie Modeling Instruction website: https:/...
The Physics of Trekking Poles with Lindy Smith
December 16, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBWhether you climb mountains or hike on local trails through the woods, trekking poles can benefit your knees, improve your balance, and give you the confidence to navigate the natural world. Lindy Smith, a personal trainer and associate of the pole manufacturing company LEKI, shares her knowledge, experience, and stories about biomechanics, pole anatomy, and the joys of walking. With physics at the forefront, we explore the world of hiking with poles. Show notes at: www.physicsalive.com...
The POGIL Project with Rick Moog
November 29, 2021 18:00 - 55 minutes - 76.4 MBPOGIL is an acronym for Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning. It is a student-centered, group-learning instructional strategy and philosophy developed through research on how students learn best. Today we learn all about POGIL from Rick Moog, Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Franklin & Marshall College. He is the Executive Director of The POGIL Project and has implemented POGIL learning environments in his courses since 1994. Check out the show notes at: www.physicsalive...
An Interview with the Host of Physics Alive
October 23, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 58.1 MBAn interview with Brad Moser, the host of Physics Alive. This episode was recorded at a live session at the 2021 Florida AAPT fall meeting. The tables have turned, as Brian Lane from Let's Code Physics takes a turn interviewing the host about the show.
Labs: Stop Verifying and Start Investigating with Natasha Holmes
October 06, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 75.7 MBNatasha Holmes, Assistant Professor at Cornell University, studies teaching and learning in physics and other STEM courses, especially the efficacy of hands-on laboratory courses. She asks: How do we know what labs are achieving? And, what teaching methods improve outcomes? Today, she’ll share what we should stop trying to do in lab and what we might try instead. Show notes at: www.physicsalive.com/lab Selected articles authored and co-authored by Natasha Holmes 2021 – Best practice...
Teaching Expertise with Carl Wieman
September 21, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBToday I’m speaking with Carl Wieman, 2001 Nobel Laureate, Professor of Physics and Professor of the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, and recipient of the 2020 Yidan Prize, the world’s largest prize in education. He answers the question: How do people learn to make better decisions? “They practice them, and they get feedback on that practice, and they practice some more. If you practice something very intently, your brain changes the connections to be better at doing it.” ...
Fluency Bias and Deliberate Practice with Louis Deslauriers
September 17, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 48 MBThis is part 2 of an interview with Louis Deslauriers, the Director of Science Teaching and Learning and Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University. We discuss two recent publications from his research group. In the first, he finds that students can actually feel like they are learning more while passively listening to a polished lecture than engaging in active learning. We’ll talk about that finding and what that means. In the second, we dive into his latest work on deliberate practi...
The Wins and Challenges of Active Learning with Louis Deslauriers
September 10, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 47.2 MBLouis Deslauriers, the Director of Science Teaching and Learning and Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, discusses what he’s learned the last decade about the successes and challenges of research-based instructional strategies for both students and faculty. Full episodes notes at: www.physicsalive.com/louis Articles mentioned in Part 1 and Part 2 of this interview: Improved learning in a large-enrollment physics class Learning and retention of quantum concepts with ...
Better Allies with Karen Catlin
August 13, 2021 05:05 - 39 minutes - 55.4 MBShow notes at www.physicsalive.com/ally Karen Catlin, a leadership coach and an acclaimed author and speaker on inclusive workplaces. She coaches women to be stronger leaders and men to be better allies for members of all underrepresented groups. In her book and through her online presence, Karen shares how to cultivate an environment where coworkers feel welcome, respected, and supported, how to amplify and advocate for others, and how to use more inclusive language. She gives us the tools...
2021 Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching with Anne Cox
August 01, 2021 10:01 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBIn episode #26 of Physics Alive, I speak with the recipient for the 2021 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching, Anne Cox. She is a Professor of Physics at Eckerd College. This award is given in recognition of contributions to undergraduate physics teaching, and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students. Anne’s current research interests are curriculum development ...
2021 Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching with Brad Talbert
August 01, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 50.9 MBIn episode #25 of Physics Alive, I speak with the 2021 Paul Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching Award winner, Brad Talbert. He is a physics teacher at Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah. This award is in recognition for contributions to pre-college physics teaching, and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students. Full show notes at: www.physicsalive.com/pz21 Learn more about Brad Talbert and...
STEPUP for Women in Physics
July 19, 2021 10:00 - 50 minutes - 70.3 MBShow notes also available at www.physicsalive.com/stepup Episode Description: STEP UP is a national community of physics teachers, researchers, and professional societies seeking to mobilize physics teachers to help engage young women in physics and change deep-seated cultural views about physicists. I’m speaking with Anne Kornahrens, STEP UP Project Manager and Bree Barnett Dreyfuss, High School Physics Teacher and a Teacher Advisor & Consultant for the project. Learn all about the projec...
Sap, Redshift, Justice, and Universal Design for Learning
July 02, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 56.9 MBToday we talk about three articles and one new column from the May 2021 issue of the journal The Physics Teacher. Check out the show notes online at www.physicsalive.com/may2021 Journal: The Physics Teacher Article #1 [Starts @ 2:30]: Title: Sap Is Clever? Sap Ascent for Undergraduates Investigated with an Artificial Tree Authors: Sergio González-Cámara, Soledad Sanz-Alférez, Maria-Isabel Orús, and Jose-Ramón Ares Article #2 [Starts @ 11:30]: Title: Three Redshifts: Doppler, Cos...
What's Next? Do We Reinvent Education?
June 25, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 25.3 MBAfter a year of major upheaval in education due to the global pandemic, we are left wondering “What's Next?” In this episode, a compassionate perspective is offered: focus on healthy teaching and focus on your own wellbeing first. You are what’s next. All is well, it really is. Sink into that. Then move from there, wherever your energy, inspiration, and motivation might take you.
Physics in the News & Pop Culture with Rhett Allain
June 14, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBDo Angry Birds obey physics principles? How likely is it that two baseballs will collide in mid-air? How realistic are those science hacks in the tv series MacGyver? Are you curious how you can bring current news in science and pop culture as well as fictional fun into the classroom? Then you’ll enjoy today’s conversation with professor, author, blogger, youtuber, and tv consultant Rhett Allain. Full show notes: http://www.physicsalive.com/rhett Links to Rhett’s work Check out Rhett’s ...
20: Getting the Word Out on Education Research with Nick Young
May 28, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 37.4 MBNick Young is currently a physics education research & computational math and science PhD candidate at Michigan State University. He founded the website PERbites, dedicated to making the results of physics education research meaningful and accessible to all with bimonthly posts that provide short, clear descriptions of what’s happening in the field of physics education research. His current dissertation work explores the graduate admissions process in physics and whether or not the physics G...
Getting the Word Out on Education Research with Nick Young
May 28, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 37.4 MBNick Young is currently a physics education research & computational math and science PhD candidate at Michigan State University. He founded the website PERbites, dedicated to making the results of physics education research meaningful and accessible to all with bimonthly posts that provide short, clear descriptions of what’s happening in the field of physics education research. His current dissertation work explores the graduate admissions process in physics and whether or not the physics G...
STEM Inclusion and the Spark Science podcast with Regina Barber DeGraaff
May 21, 2021 10:00 - 48 minutes - 45.4 MBToday's Guest Regina Barber DeGraaff, Senior Lecturer and STEM Inclusion and Outreach Specialist at Western Washington University, doesn’t mince words as we dive into the topic of inclusion. She acknowledges that this can be tough work, but vital as well. Learn about the challenges and opportunities in her role, recognizing and reflection on our identities, and Community Ambassadors, an upcoming SEA-change webinar that she will co-facilitate. Regina is also the host of the podcast Spark ...
Reimagining: Final Exam Week
May 07, 2021 10:00 - 18 minutes - 17.7 MBDuring final exam week, student activities groups across the nation provide experiences that will help reduce student stress. But in this episode, the spotlight is pointed at the high stakes, cumulative exams themselves, and the flurry of late semester assignments that generate these stress loads. Let’s reimagine final exam week. Are traditional final exams really a meaningful and appropriate way to end the academic year or can we create a finale that sends students off in grand style? Let’s...
Math Shame and Anxiety
April 30, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 31.8 MBIn this episode, I explore the shame and anxiety brought on by math. I think this is widespread experience, from those individuals who struggle to understand “simple” mathematics to those who struggle to understand “complex” mathematics. Sometimes, shame can be motivating, but largely I think it is debilitating. The shame message is unconsciously passed on by media, peers, and even faculty. In the world of education, we can reframe our responses to students' challenges with math, recognize ...
Biological Physics, Scale-Up and Modeling with Dawn Meredith
March 17, 2021 17:41 - 55 minutes - 51.9 MBDawn Meredith, Professor of Physics at the University of New Hampshire, has been an integral member of the Physics Education Research community since the late 1990’s and she has been a principal investigator on 8 PER grants. In this honest and down to earth conversation, we discuss not only the ideas and methods that have worked well, but also what hasn’t worked and why. There is just as much for the education community to learn from crash landings as from the soaring successes. But don’t wo...
Interactive Video and Pivot with Peter Bohacek
February 17, 2021 18:30 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBPivot Interactives are complete learning modules for students that are available online. Many of them center on interactive video, which is a video where students can observe an event and then engage with the video by changing variables and taking measurements. These can be a great teaching tool during a regular school year, but during a global pandemic they stand out as a way to provide remote labs in a meaningful and valuable way. Today I’m speaking with Peter Bohacek, high school physics ...
A Meditation for the New Semester
January 28, 2021 17:13 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBA short guided meditation for the new semester. A call to embody the breath and create distance between common teacher thoughts of expectations, stress, to do lists, perfectionism...and that still quiet place inside of you that already knows everything is perfectly okay and that you are free to be imperfectly you. [07:20] - Go to the beginning of the meditation. Please visit www.physicsalive.com for more information about the podcast.
Biomimicry in the Classroom – An intersection of physics, engineering, biology, and problem solving
January 25, 2021 16:00 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MB“Biomimicry is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges — and find hope along the way.” This is the introduction on the Biomimicry Institute’s website. “The goal of biomimicry,” they continue, “is to create products, processes, and policies — new ways of living — that solve our greatest design challenges sustainably and in solidarity with all life on earth.” Biomimicry is just as much physics and engineering as it is biology. Plus...
Let's Code Physics with W. Brian Lane
January 18, 2021 08:00 - 48 minutes - 45.3 MBHave you ever wanted to bring coding into your classroom? Or maybe you’ve introduced some computation, but you want to move to the next level? Let’s go code some physics! In this episode I talk with W. Brian Lane, the creator of the YouTube channel Let’s Code Physics. We talk about his videos, the online coding platforms he recommends, and how to get started coding in the classroom. We also talk about the workshops and exercise sets available through the PICUP community, and then branch ...
2021: Resolutions and Podcasts
January 04, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this first episode of 2021, I share a few New Year’s teaching resolutions, and I offer some education-related podcast recommendations. My teaching resolutions for 2021: Don’t depend on content. Do depend on what students want to learn. Don’t grade unnecessarily. Do offer meaningful work. Do help students learn how to learn. Give more attention to the students I’ve withheld attention from in the past. Education podcast recommendations Teaching in Higher Ed EdSurge Podcast Sc...
Sector Vector with James O'Brien
December 14, 2020 09:00 - 42 minutes - 40.9 MBBoard games in the classroom? Absolutely! In this episode I talk with Interim Dean and Associate Professor James O’Brien, co-founder of 4th Law Labs, a company dedicated to making education more accessible and more enjoyable. We discuss the games Sector Vector and Resistile, gamification of education, and an innovative collaboration that brought physics and industrial design students together. For full episode notes, go to physicsalive.com/vector See Brad play the Physics Alive theme on ...
Science Communication, Glaciers, and a Podcast with Kate Hruby
December 07, 2020 05:02 - 38 minutes - 36.3 MBKate Hruby is a self-proclaimed physics doubter turned physics enthusiast. She sails boats, plays with flubber, has great insights about education and science communication, and hosts a fun and informative podcast called Go Forth and Science. Kate graduated from the University of New England in 2016 with a B.S. in environmental science and from the University of Maine in 2019 with a Masters in Earth and Climate Science. She is currently Chief Mate for the company Deep Sea Wilderness, where ...
Giving Thanks for Students
November 26, 2020 03:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBA special message of thanks to students.
40 Years of Physics Education Research with Joe Redish
November 23, 2020 05:07 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBIn 2020, Joe Redish retired from a 50-year career as a physics professor at the University of Maryland. During that time he was actively involved in the subject of physics education, from the use of computers, to cognitive modeling of student thinking, to the role of student expectations and epistemologies in their learning, and his more recent focused on the development of a new introductory physics course for life science students. Joe has so much passion and enthusiasm for education, and ...
Poiseuille, Bernoulli, and the Circulatory System
November 16, 2020 05:21 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBI present a kinesthetic model of the human circulatory system. This model connects the physical principles of Poiseuille’s Law and mass conservation to blood flow throughout the human body. Students grapple with conflicting principles, see the limitations of the Bernoulli principle, and ultimately gain a deeper understanding of the physics behind critical components of anatomy and physiology. Physics teachers collaborate with biology colleagues and learn from them how to create truly authent...
How a PhET is Made with Ariel Paul
November 08, 2020 04:14 - 59 minutes - 55.1 MBFor many physics educators, PhET’s are an essential teaching technology both in and out of the classroom. In this episode, I speak with Ariel Paul, the Director of Development for the PhET interactive simulation project. Ariel discusses the ins and outs of PhET development, how the team goes from an idea to a complete simulation in your web browser. We also talk about the educational goals a simulation is designed to meet and about research-backed ways to use PhET’s in the classroom. Che...
Are We Playing by Rules that Don't Exist?
October 30, 2020 16:03 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBIf no rules about content and grading existed, what would you do? I truly believe that we can do anything. The possibilities are endless. In this episode, I acknowledge the COVID-19 world crisis and the stress that both teachers and students are under. Even under normal circumstances, teachers are chronically stressed and often experience burnout. The rules of education are stifling and lead to exhaustion. But what if we are playing by rules that don’t exist? I pose that the content we cover...
Build a Highly Successful Physics of Medicine Program with Nancy Donaldson
October 30, 2020 16:03 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBHave you ever stepped into the classroom and found yourself surrounded by…pre-health students? Many of them don’t necessarily want to take physics, but here they are, sent to you by their program’s requirements. What do you do? Well, you could do what my guest today did: ask the medical professionals what students should be learning in a physics class, then teach THAT. With a grassroots approach, Nancy Donaldson has built an impressive and thriving Physics of Medicine program at Rockhurst Un...
Find everything you ever wanted to know about PER on PhysPort with Sam McKagan
October 30, 2020 16:02 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBWhat if I told you there is a place where you can discover new teaching methods, access scores of validated assessments, find videos to train your TA’s and LA’s, and even read a guide for how to move a lab course online. And what if I told you it is absolutely free and open access. Don’t believe me? Well it’s true! It’s called PhysPort, and today I’m speaking with Sam McKagan, the director and mastermind behind this website. She shares how it got started and what you can find on the site, a...
Welcome to Physics Alive
October 30, 2020 15:59 - 36 minutes - 36.2 MBIn the beginning, we stood and lectured to our students, filling the chalkboard with brilliant mathematics, dazzling from our stage. Then, education research showed that there are many, many better ways to facilitate learning. In this inaugural episode, your host, Brad Moser, shares his current perspectives within his ongoing journey through physics education, why he's decided to start a podcast, and what big ideas the show will encompass.