Lab Out Loud

Printing Life: Creating Biomaterials with 3D Printers

Oscar Castaño Linares is a professor at the University of Barcelona and a researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in the department of Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies. Through his research, Oscar has been working with 3D printers to print scaffolds that enhance the growth of blood vessels. These are like homes for cells to inhabit, so they have to be porous, biodegradable, and non-toxic. Like a craftsman learning a trade, Oscar's research has taken him all over the world to learn new techniques, but with the goal of transferring that knowledge to his students and to other scientists. Oscar joins us to share how he can print these biomaterials while describing his path in science that led him to this research. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2026/02/episode-285-biomaterials/

The One Science Every Earthling Should be Exposed to

As professor of Environmental Studies and Geosciences at Lawrence University, Marcia Bjornerud knows a lot about rocks. In her new book, Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks, Marcia emphasizes the connection between human experiences and the physical earth, encouraging everyone to learn from the dynamic landscape around us. Marcia joins us to tell us about Turning to Stone and how the book is mapped to her own life, provides suggestions for how schools can improve teaching geosciences, and explains why we are living in a golden age of geoscience. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2025/04/episode-284-turning-to-stone/

Fighting Wellness Scams with Science

Ever feel lost in the world of wellness advice online? Our guest, Dr. Jonathan Stea, has a new book called "Mind the Science" that helps cut through the noise of the wellness industry, exposing pseudoscience and mental health misinformation. As a promoter of science communication, Dr. Stea seeks to empower people to make informed decisions about mental well-being. His new book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the real science behind mental health and protect themselves from misinformation lurking in healthcare, pop culture, and social media. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2024/11/episode-283-mind-the-science/

How to Teach Science with Humor

Science comedy writer Sarah Rose Siskind has some ideas. We met Sarah at SXSWedu in the spring of 2024 where she delivered a keynote titled Science Comedy: Why it's a Thing and How to Do It. Of course we had to have her on the show. To open our 18th season, Sarah joins Lab Out Loud to share insights from her work with Hello SciCom, emphasize the link between humor and empathy, and give some tips for using comedy to communicate science in your classroom. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2024/09/episode-282-teach-science-with-humor/

Measure Locally, Think Globally with Vernier Sensors

It's spring, and it's a great time to get students outside to do some science. Need some ideas? Science teacher Brian Kaestner (St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio) and Vernier Educational Technology Specialist Colleen McDaniel join us to discuss how they use Vernier sensors so students can locally measure the effects of climate change. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2024/05/episode-281-vernier-climate-change/