I was matched up with a classroom from near Columbus, Ohio, a state that borders the Great Lakes in the USA. My own experience with Skype a Scientist was enjoyable and challenging, as well as a learning curve that I did not anticipate.
Meeting a scientist and being able to ask them questions about their life and everyday work helps to break down barriers that have previously been erected.
Meeting real scientists and getting an idea of what their lives are actually like is increasingly important in a world where historically, scientists have often been portrayed as an elite group, something outside the norm. “I think you get so many things filtered through various forms of media, and just want something real… I think that’s why our program has been so super successful because we get people direct access to the science.”īut the program is important for more reasons than just the science. Getting that information directly from a scientist gives that added layer of authenticity, as Sarah put it in a recent interview with Short Wave Radio: You can choose to focus in on a study organism, like the squids that Skype a Scientist founder Professor Sarah McAnulty studies, or go for something more general, like climate change or invasive species. A teacher can sign up a class, generally composed for students between 11 and 19 years, for a chat with a scientist from a discipline of their choosing. Participating in the program is a very straightforward experience. In light of the current situation, the program has even been expanded to include families, and any group of more than five students. The group facilitates informal online meetings between scientists and classrooms, and with a sudden global boom in video conferencing ability, its no wonder that Skype a Scientist has seen a rise in popularity. One such group was the Skype a Scientist team, who science communication initiative has flourished over the last month. Others saw it as an opportunity to take science in new and interesting directions. Productivity dropped for many as working from home or general anxiety took its toll. For some, field seasons ground to a halt as the requisite travel and cooperative work became impractical, or even dangerous. As with most of society, the COVID-19 virus has changed how ecological scientists have operated over the last few months.
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