The Vanderbilt University Center for Science Outreach has been working since early 1999 to bring working research scientists together with K-12 students and teacher worldwide. The program’s work is the central focus of Snacks4theBrain! podcast, a weekly quarter-hour or so of interviews and audio which also includes independent music from artists all over the world.
This effort refelects the Center’s dedication to a set of programs designed to enhance student interest in the sciences, and is not limited to the medical sciences. Over the past 22 episodes, S4theB! has broadcast interviews with epidemiologist Dr. William Schaffner, science writer Bill Schaffner, and immunologist/bioengineer Dr. Louise Rollins-Smith. Another series of two shows features Rocky Alvey, Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory superintendent and science songs songwriter. A central theme of the shows is the Center’s robust IVC program (Interactive Videoconferencing), which enables distance learning connections between busy working scientists and classrooms worldwide.
The show may be downloaded by individual episode at its website, http://snacks4thebrain.blogspot.com, or may be “subscribed” to via the RSS feed accessible at the site. For those new to podcasting, the site also provides a brief and informative introduction to the technology which includes links to other enlightening podcasts and podcasting resources.