We received our match the next day and scheduled a call with our scientist the following week.

I remember wishing this program had existed when I was a high school science teacher, so I was ecstatic to learn it was now possible to participate and immediately filled out the online application for our family to be matched with a scientist. I learned about Skype a Scientist a few years ago after listening to an episode of the HelloPhD podcast. You can also request a scientist from a group that is underrepresented in STEM fields so that participants can see a scientist who looks like them or can relate to their experiences. Teachers (and now families) can choose the type of scientist that is a good fit, from computer scientists to marine biologists and everything in between. And hopefully, with more interaction misinformation can be dispelled, trust can be rebuilt, and an entire new generation of children will be inspired and excited to pursue their interests in science.Skype a Scientist provides an easy way to for people to meet a scientist and allows scientists to reach people from all over the world without having to leave the lab. What started as a few connections, is now thousands of connections (and growing) each year. But nonprofits like Skype A Scientist are embracing technology, connectivity and curiosity to literally bring science education anywhere, and to everyone. In recent months the nonprofit has set up Science After Hours, interactive trivia for adults and Skype A Scientist LIVE (via YouTube), where anyone can log in, submit questions and listen to scientists teach about the work that they do.Īs the Covid-19 pandemic goes into winter with us, traditional methods of learning and lecturing will continue to be disrupted. And, building and maintaining science conversations isn’t just for kids. The scientists involved have also created a strong presence online, including an active Twitter account with more than 22 thousand followers, where they and the public interact and share passions.īut the importance of opening up lines of communication extends far beyond social media and Skype sessions. In fact, to make science as assessible as possible, there are currently more than 14 languages offered, including American Sign Language. The form also allows for families and teachers to request matching with scientists based on everything from language spoken to race and gender – showing students that scientists look and sound just like them. It’s as simple as filling in a Google form about what topic you’re interested in and the kind of scientist you’d like to request. McAnulty explained how the process works.

Skype a scientist sarah mcanulty