The Root & STEM Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, graduate students, Sofia Osborne and Olivia deBourcier, discuss their podcast Beyond Blathers, an educational show that expands on the scientific discoveries made along the journey through Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a Nintendo Switch game.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, David Cote, a research scientist at Fisheries & Oceans Canada, shares the responsibilities of him and his colleagues at Fisheries & Oceans and the change in trends he’s observed since the early days of his career.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, cartoonist Kevin Frank shares how he thinks comics and cartoons can assist in learning. He describes the value of comedy in illustration art even when creating educational pieces.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Haíɫzaqv advocate Desiree Lawson shares her mission to preserve and promote her Indigenous values. She explains how the Haíɫzaqv nation views the ocean and why it’s healthy for the environment.

PhD candidate and former science educator Patrick Wells shares his  experiences as a high school science teacher to exemplify effective methods of teaching. He shares his thoughts about what organizations can do better support their educators. He describes a successful ocean research project he involved his students in before explaining the qualities that make a good leader.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Dr. Boris Worm explores the challenge of preserving and protecting marine ecosystems as a Research Professor of marine conservation biology at Dalhousie University and the Scientific Director of Ocean School.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Matt Roy and Kim Pilgrim share their experiences travelling to remote and Indigenous communities as STEM camp instructors for Actua.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Erin Keenan shares insight into the effort to protect marine wildlife in Northern Canada as manager of Arctic Marine Conservation at World Wildlife Fund.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Nova Scotia-based artist Teresa Young shares her approach to creating art, and how her art creates emotional connections without a predetermined meaning.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, B.C. based writer Sofia Osborne brings light to the mysterious sea star wasting syndrome that has been killing an alarming number of starfish along the west coast of North America since 2013.

How can technology and the use of data improve urban ecosystems? In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, PhD candidate Sophie Nitoslawski describes urban forestry and explains how she uses data and technology to improve urban green spaces.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Ininiw/Cree Star Knowledge Keeper and retired science educator Wilfred Buck shares his expertise on the origins behind multiple constellations like, Mista Muskwa (Great Bear) and Kokominakasis (Grandmother Spider, the netmaker), and discusses the lack of acknowledgement given for Indigenous knowledge in the field of Western astronomy. Wilfred als

How can different perspectives improve the study of astronomy? In this episode of Root & STEM podcast, Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, the Resident Astronomer at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the Principal Investigator for SIGNALS, a program aimed at observing star-forming regions in nearby galaxies.

How can different perspectives improve the study of astronomy? In this episode of Root & STEM podcast, Hilding Neilson, an astrophysicist and assistant professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, explores how we can bridge Indigenous methods of science with Western methods of science to broaden our understanding of space. Hilding offers an encouraging message to science lovers who want to learn more about space and life above us.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Kelsey Doerkson, a space system engineer for satellite operations at Planet, and a Ph.D student at the University of Oxford studying machine learning and artificial intelligence, explores the benefits of machine learning in space technology.

In this episode of Root & STEM podcast, Sofia Osborne, a writer and audio producer based in B.C., interviews junior space operations engineer, Abby Lacson, about the path to becoming an astronaut and her professional experiences working with MDA Space, participating in Air Cadets, and pursuing her education in engineering.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, John Stewart, digital producer and host, sat down with Glenn Ye and Leo Wang, two undergraduate students and the winners of the Best Game award for the University of Toronto’s Hack the Valley IV.

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Jessa Gamble, an author and science writer, and Briana Brownell, an entrepreneur, discuss how we can identify the learning patterns of AI and what that means for technology innovations in the future.

How can research into ringed seals and environmental changes provide a better understanding of climate change?

Teachers have faced a turbulent year, forced to consider how technology could be used to keep learners safe and engaged in education during a pandemic. The first episode of Root & STEM explores how educators from diverse geographies are responding to the pandemic, whether it’s online or in the classroom.