Science podcasts rock!
The explosion of podcasting in the past few years offers busy teachers an awesome opportunity to subscribe to science content that you simply don’t get on most standard radio stations. Not only are podcasts a great way to discover interesting facts and fascinating stories about our world, but you can also make use of those lost hours stuck in traffic! The best bit about podcasts is that there would be students in your room who definitely would enjoy them too… if only they knew about them!
As with any media your job is to look after students so you might want to listen to the content first to make sure that you’re happy with the level of science, the language and the themes but considering that there would be some readers here who have older students it’s likely that certain podcasts are spot on for inspiring students in science. Below is just a small list of some of the science podcasts that the team at Fizzics listens to. Of course, there is no way that we could cover all of the myriads of options available to you… perhaps you could share some of your favourites in the comments below!
Radiolab
Produced by WNYC studios, this podcast covers a large variety of science & technology topics and is supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Science Vs.
Hosted by Wendy Zuckerman and supported by Gimlet Media, Science Vs. looks at the science of current trends as well as looking into what is real and what is simply made up.
Inquiring Minds
Hosted by neuroscientist and musician Indre Viskontas and science educator Kishore Hari, this podcast brings together science, society and politics to put the discoveries into context. Produced by Adam Isaak in partnership with the Climate Desk.
Story collider
A fascinating podcast where scientists speak about what it really like to work as a scientist as well as with a variety of stories from everyday people with a strong interest in science. Supported by the Simons Foundation.
Infinite Monkey Cage
A massively successful science discussion show produced by the BBC and hosted by Professor Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince.
StarTalk Radio
Love your space? This science podcast might grab your fancy as renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson brings together pop culture and science in an entertaining format.
60 second science
If you haven’t got much time to listen to a full-length science podcast, perhaps these short format podcasts by the Scientific American team might do the trick
The Skeptics Guide to the Universe
Science or Pseudoscience? Explore critical thinking and rationality in this podcast series that looks at facts and fallacies found in a variety of topics. Hosted by Dr Steven Novella and produced by SGU Productions.
Stuff you should know
Put simply, how does stuff work? Find out how all sorts of common things work in a format that takes the popular ‘how stuff works’ website to an audio format. Hosted by Charles Bryant and Josh Clark.
The Naked Scientists
Run by researchers from Cambridge University, this podcast aims to make science more accessible to anyone wanting to learn more about their world.
The Science Show
Hosted by Robyn Williams from ABC’s Radio National, this science podcast covers the latest news and research in a longer format so as to cover the issues from multiple angles
Nature Podcast
Kerri Smith and Adam Levy work together to create a series of entertaining science podcasts covering the latest content on the Journal Nature
FizzicsEd Podcast
Interviews with leading science educators and changemakers from around the world. What makes them tick and what we can learn from them? Combined with education tips & tricks, this weekly science teaching podcast is well worth checking out!
FizzicsTWIST
The stranger side of science as well as current science news.
Regardless of how you look at it, there is a world of knowledge out there just waiting to be discovered. Soon you and your students might find yourself just as much looking forward to the next instalment of your favourite podcast just as much as the anticipation many have for your favourite weekly TV show!
Happy teaching,
NEW Primary science teaching book!
“Be Amazing! How to teach science, the way primary kids love”
Comments