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The Root & STEM Podcast

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The Root & STEM podcast expands on the Root & STEM publication, and explores issues and storytelling with artists, journalists, educators, and communities engaged in STEAM-focused projects. The episodes are approximately 15-30 minutes long and are available twice a month on the Pinnguaq website, and on your streaming platform of choice including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

Showing 24 in Series

Someone who looks to be launching a boat into a body of water.

Wave Watching

In this episode of The Root & STEM Podcast, guest host Sofia Osborne speaks with Madie Bouvier-Brown, marine operations lead at Open Ocean Robotics.

A spread of swatches of different coloured plant inks; some swatches are in the shape of circles, and others are paint splatters.

Ink & Integrity

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, artist, educator and environmentalist, Betty Carpick, speaks about her unique interest and skill in creating art with natural supplies.

Caroline Whittle is sitting down, with wood surrounding her in the background.

Fostering Fluency

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Director Of Heritage for the Government of Nunavut, Caroline Whittle, shares her insight on the state of language preservation among the Inuit community in Nunavut.

An image of Jess Spagnolo with a white border around her and a blue background

Walls To Wonders

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, muralist Jess Spagnolo, brings us along her journey as an artist. She begins by sharing her behind the scenes thoughts during the illustration of the Root & STEM magazine’s issue 9 cover.

Cultural Canvas

Cultural Canvas

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Sofia Osborne speaks with Tania Willard, an Indigenous artist/curator and assistant professor at the University of British Columbia about her journey as an artist and connecting with and expressing her culture.

Students sitting at a rounch table working on computers.

CyberTitan Spotlight

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Sheeana Bolton and Timothy King of the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) explain CyberTitan, a cybersecurity competition for middle and high schoolers organized by the ICTC.

3 students in the computer lab, spaced out with mask on their faces. They are all facing the camera.

Get Cyber Safe

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Christine Menard of Get Cyber Safe shares loads of tips and advice regarding cybersecurity. She begins with an explanation of what Get Cyber Safe is, and continues by revealing which demographics are the highest risk for cyber attacks.

Participants and organizers of the Kawartha Lakes Pinnguaq Hackathon

Hackathon Heroes

Winners of the 2023 Kawartha Lakes Hackathon, Callum Penney and Aiden Mackey, recap their experience participating in the event.

Julia Young with her catch of the day

Learning’s Latest

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, former Pinnguaq co-op student, Julia Young, shares her unique journey as a highschool student and the helpful tips and tools she learned along the way.

Progress & Privacy

Progress & Privacy

Lawyer and UOIT Business Law Professor, Dr. Rajen Akalu offers insights on the privacy concerns of artificial intelligence and data collection.

Digital Dictionary

On this episode of The Root & STEM Podcast, host and journalist Sofia Osborne speaks with Aidan Pine, a researcher working on the Indigenous Language Technology project at the Canadian National Research Council. Pine shares what got him interested in language revitalization. He then explains how his endangered language dictionary app Mother Tongues was founded. Aidan explains the ReadAlong Studio, a part of the Canadian Indigenous languages technology project that he has assisted, and how it’s helping young learners. Finally, Aidan shares his vision moving forward for Mother Tongues.

A Blanket of Butterflies

A Blanket of Butterflies

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Richard Van Camp, shares all about his ongoing graphic novel series The Spirit of Denendeh. He begins by crediting those who contributed to the creation of the books.

Writer Wisdom

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Richard Van Camp, shares experiences growing up as an Indigenous person in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and how those experiences helped shape him into the successful author he is today.

A statue of a bear.

AR & Attribution

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Matriarchal Firekeeper and project coordinator at UAlberta, Amanda Almond, shares her experiences in research and community engagement, including her involvement in creating an interactive augmented reality (AR) learning experience.

Root & STEM icon cover.

Sequel to Survival

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Anishinaabe author and journalist, Waubgeshig Rice, shares details of his sequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow, his critically acclaimed 2018 novel, and offers insights to Indigenous issues from the perspective of a professional in writing and broadcasting

An image of Jon Corbett standing in the woods.

Cree Coding

his episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Indigenous computational media artist, computer programmer & professor at Simon Fraser University, Jon Corbett, shares his journey in creating a programming language that reflects the values of his Cree culture.

Root & STEM icon cover.

Life & Literacy

Former Parliamentary Poet Laureate Louise Bernice Halfe shares her story of poetry and healing on this episode of the Root & STEM Podcast.

A portrait of a someone. They are taking the photo.

Musical Meanings

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, educator, musician and winner of the 2022 Qilaut songwriting contest, Jocelyn Malla explores the importance of music in literacy education, language preservation, and self-healing. She shares the meaning behind her award-winning song Kajjaarijara and how her love for creating music started.

Focused young man taking notes from books for his study. College student sitting at desk with books for finding information in high school library. Guy studying in classroom and completing project with highschool classmates in background.

Classroom Concepts (Part 2)

n this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, we hear from Andrew McConnell, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator for the YRDSB, once again as he shares the importance of Indigenous knowledge and voices in youth learning.

Root & STEM icon cover.

Classroom Concepts

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Andrew McConnell, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator for the YRDSB, shares the importance of Indigenous knowledge and voices in youth learning. He identifies the areas in which the education of youth and adolescents can be enhanced to include the viewpoints of various Indigenous communities. Andrew describes why non-Indigenous educators teaching Indigenous ideas fall short, before explaining how a change in pedagogy can assist in creating a deeper understanding of Indigenous science and ideas in students.

Sherisse teaching a workshop.

Scratch Skills

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Pinnguaq’s digital skills educator, Sherisse Richards, shares how Scratch–a programming language–can help educators teach students about coding, storytelling, and animation.

and inside look at the game Starscribe.

Documenting Dialects

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, interactive game designer Brandon Bunnie shares how video games and 3D interactives can assist in learning and preserving Indigenous knowledge and language.

Two people standing in front of water.

Podcast & Play – Part 2

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, graduate students, Sofia Osborne and Olivia deBourcier discuss modern science communication. They share their opinions on the role of science in modern media and the benefit for youth

Beyond Ones and Zeros

With Big Tech increasing the collection and analysis of data, clarifying the rules and ethics around who owns, manages, and uses that data is essential.