Closing out the second season of It’s Time for Science, it’s time to talk about STEM learning and women in STEM! Host Tom Racine talks with teacher Stacy Gale and science communicator Dr. Alex Dainis!
Stacy Gale is a 4th grade teacher and the former STEM specialist at Paul Cuffee School in Providence, RI. Her love of outdoor education began during her time as a camp counselor in Lake George, NY. Ms. Gale has been a GEMS-Net Science Teacher Leader since 2014. Before that, she was a Science Communication Fellow onboard the EV Nautilus, where she learned about a multitude of STEM careers while exploring the depths of the ocean with Dr. Robert Ballard and his team. In 2018 she won the Greenovation Award for Environmental Innovation and STEM through Project Green School. In 2022 she was named the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association Teacher of the Year, and was a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) state finalist in 2024.
Tom and Ms. Gale have an in-depth discussion about why STEM education is important to teach in schools. Ms. Gale talks about what got her interested in teaching STEM and how STEM is an easy way to engage students. They also discuss how STEM can help students find pathways into careers and bring all the 21st-century skills together.
The conversation covers teaching students how to fail, the importance of improving equitable access to STEM, and how STEM relates to the science of reading. Ms. Gale continues by emphasizing why teachers and parents need to keep pushing for incorporating more STEM in schools, as it assists in showing all students themselves in the field. Resources for teachers and how educators can benefit from utilizing a STEM specialist are highlighted.
Dr. Alex Dainis is a freelance science communicator and video producer with over a decade of experience producing digital, educational content for the web. Her background includes a PhD in genetics from Stanford University, and she was honored to be a 2019 Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellow. Recent projects include “Hungry Planet,” a six-episode series for PBS Digital Studios. Additionally, Dr. Dainis is the project coordinator for the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation’s Chemistry Shorts Program and a host and writer for the American Chemical Society’s Reactions YouTube channel. She is a recent recipient of the 2024 National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications.
Tom and Dr. Dainis talk about why STEM education is critical for preparing people to draw conclusions about science and how student experiences may change their lives. Dr. Dainis shares her personal experiences in being mentored and inspired and reflects on the critical thinking skills developed through STEM education that transcend science. The conversation touches on the importance of getting women and girls excited and keeping them in STEM. Dr. Dainis expresses why representation matters and shares what got her started in science communication. She reflects on her work in helping people feel welcomed into ongoing conversations in science. The episode concludes as Dr. Dainis shares some of the new communication work she’s excited about and how she tries to showcase passion in her work.
You can find Dr. Dainis on the web at;
www.helicasemedia.com
Twitter: @alexdainis
Instagram: @alex.dainis
TikTok: @alexdainis
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