Scientists Learn Improv

In our final episode we meet educator Diane McSweeney as she learns to swim. We listen as her teacher Jennifer Murrin, a marine scientist and competitive sea swimmer, guides Diane’s first dip in the pool at University College Dublin. Jane and Shane reflect on the importance of trusting a teacher when diving in to scary new worlds. We talk to neurogeneticist Kevin Mitchell from Trinity College Dublin about how practice makes perfect. Finally, we look back at making 101 The Ways We Learn and reflect on how it’s changed our attitudes to learning and the role of education in society.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Diane McSweeney | Jennifer Murrin | Kevin MitchellProduced by ⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

If you could learn something new, what would it be? One of the most common responses people give is a musical instrument. In this episode, we tune our attention to learning how to play one. We meet geneticist Aoife McLysaght from Trinity College Dublin who’s learning djembe drums with Trinity bio-engineering student Charles Adebayo. Inspired by this, Shane teaches Jane a simple song on the ukulele. We chat about why so many people are motivated to learn music, the informal way most of us learn it, and talk to music education lecturer Marita Kerin from Trinity College Dublin about what makes a great music teacher.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Aoife McLysaght | Charles Adebayo | Marita KerinProduced by ⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

For many, the idea of learning to code conjures an image of a person working alone. Perhaps a mathematically inclined person who just ‘gets it’? In this episode we meet Lynn Scarff, Director of Science Gallery Dublin, who’s learning to code with Niamh Scanlon, EU Digital Girl of the Year, 2015. Sharing her experiences of learning in a community of other young people, Niamh challenges Lynn to see coding as a creative way to solve problems with others. This leads Jane and I to discuss the communities in which we learn many things. We speak to Noah Finkelstein from the University of Colorado on how learning is inherently a social enterprise where communities not only help to shape our learning, but also negotiate what should be learned.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Lynn Scarff | Niamh Scanlon | Noah FinkelsteinProduced by ⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

If you’ve ever tried to design something, you’ll know that learning is a slow process. It’s messy, and it takes time. In this episode, we meet science communicator Miriam Harte and graphic designer Robert Farrelly—who guides Miriam through the brainstorming stage of the graphic design process, using the visual identity for this very podcast as a starting point. After the lesson, Jane and Shane chat about different aspects of design education, and what it can teach us about the learning process. Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Miriam Harte | Robert FarrellyProduced by ⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

We live in a golden age of TV baking shows. When watching, do you ever find yourself wishing you could create such masterpieces? This episode sees Joseph Roche—astrophysicist and assistant professor in Science Education at TCD—don his apron and try his hand at baking. Guided by culinary researcher, storyteller, and cook, Clare Anne O’Keefe, we see Joseph rise, like his sponge, to the challenge! Jane and Shane listen to Joseph’s adventures and ask if fun is one of the key ingredients needed for success. We also talk to primary school teacher and researcher Sorcha Browne from University College Dublin about how children prioritise fun in their learning, and about the positive effects that can have. Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Joseph Roche | Clare Anne O’Keefe | Sorcha BrowneProduced by ⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

In this episode, we follow a group of UCD scientists as they try improv to communicate their research to the public. Their teachers for the day are from the Alda Centre of Science Communication. In a busy room, full of laughter, we meet scientists embracing improvisation and play as a way to learn. Play is wonderfully freeing; it allows us to imagine, construct, and test new possibilities. Jane and Shane chat about the stretchy, outside-the-box, thinking that play brings, and talk to science education researcher Prof Colette Murphy (Trinity College Dublin) about how play leads to deep learning. We also consider the implications for how science is done, and how it engages the public.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Niamh Shaw | Carol Schindler | Laura LindenfeldProduced by ⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

How can education empower young people? When done well, can it give them a voice? In this episode, we meet Astrid and Thomas, both teenagers and members of the 'Young Leonardo' advisory group at Science Gallery Dublin. We also meet Cristina Meehan, then the Donor Relations Officer with Plan International, an expert in activism with an MSc in Political Science and International Relations. Together, they explore how young people’s voices can be heard and turned into action. In this episode, we explore the importance of motivation, diversity and access in education, and we ask how teachers can help empower their students.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Cristina Meehan | Astrid | ThomasProduced by ⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

Rocket scientist David McKeown (UCD) turnss a joke into a cartoon. We meet David as he learns from Maria (aka Twisteddoodles). The ability to draw is one of those skills that most of us believe we either do or do not have, but in this episode we discuss this question and consider how good teaching can give everyone a shot at becoming a cartoonist.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing David McKeown | Maria (Twisteddoodles)Produced by ⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

Sinéad Burke learns how to make perfume in the Dublin store of parfumier Marija Aslimoska. Smell can often evoke memory. A hit of a fragrance can immediately connect you with a past event or feeling. Conjuring new scents that capture the imagination is the job of a parfumier. Marija blends craft with science as she and Sinéad play with scents both natural and synthetic. Jane and myself also talk to neuroscientist Shane O’Mara (TCD), to learn more about how memories are formed but also to reflect on how knowledge is more than just remembering things.Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Sinéad Burke | Marija Aslimoska | Shane O'MaraProduced by Shaun & MauriceMusic by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland

In this, our first episode, we meet Jessamyn Fairfield, a physicist at NUI Galway who is learning to cycle. We also meet Stephanie McCalla - a childhood friend of Jessamyn. Stephanie is a professor of bio-engineering, and in this episode she’s also Jessamyn’s teacher. In this episode, Jane and Shane reflect on Jessamyn’s endeavours and talk about a breadth of educational ideas including the importance of learning from a person you trust, and why it’s harder to learn some things as an adult. We also call on psychologist Deirdre Robertson (ESRI) to inform our discussion. Hosted by Shane Bergin | Jane ChadwickFeaturing Jessamyn Fairfield | Stephanie McCalla | Deirdre RobinsonProduced by ⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠Music by Chris ZabriskieSupported by Science Foundation Ireland