In this episode, Brian Wargo and Jacob Beckey engage with Dr. Philip Kitcher, discussing the intersection of philosophy and science education. They explore the importance of curiosity, the role of reading in the classroom, and the need for dialogue in understanding scientific concepts. Kitcher shares insights on the evolution of his views on science and creationism, the significance of kindness in society, and the challenges posed by AI in the workforce. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of ethical engagement and effective communication in education, particularly in fostering a democratic society.

Book List:

6:34

Theory and Reality: an Introduction to the Philosophy of Science by Peter Godfrey-Smith

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn

7:04

Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith

Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind by Peter Godfrey-Smith

Living on Earth: Forests, Corals, Consciousness, and the Making of the World by Peter Godfrey-Smith

8:34

The Lives to Come: The Genetic Revolution and Human Possibilities by Philip Kitcher

9:35

Living with Darwin: Evolution, Design, and the Future of Faith by Philip Kitcher

11:15

Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism by Philip Kitcher

15:30

Science in a Democratic Society by Philip Kitcher

18:50

The Main Enterprise of the World: Rethinking Education by Philip Kitcher

25:14

The Quest for Certainty by John Dewey

38:07

The Rich and the Poor by Philip Kitcher

42:36

The Ethical Project by Philip Kitcher

Moral Progress by Philip Kitcher

46:50

Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif

57:37

Men of Mathematics by E.T. Bell

The Idealized Science Podcast -- Season 2 Ep. 02 -- Infinite Powers with Prof. Steven Strogatz

In this episode of the Idealized Science Podcast, hosts Jacob Beckey and Dr. Brian Wargo engage with Professor Steven Strogatz to explore the themes of calculus, teaching, and the importance of history in mathematics. Strogatz shares insights from his book 'Infinite Powers,' discussing the beauty of calculus, the significance of real-world applications, and the role of educators in inspiring students. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by teachers, the need for a deeper understanding of math concepts, and the impact of influential educators on students' lives. Strogatz emphasizes the importance of storytelling in teaching and the necessity of fostering a love for learning in students, while also addressing the complexities of the education system and the need for investment in teachers.

📚 Help us transform science education: www.idealizedscience.org/donate

The Idealized Science Podcast -- Season 2 Ep. 01 -- Einstein's War with Prof. Matthew Stanley

In this first episode of the second season of the Idealized Science podcast, hosts Jacob Beckey and Brian Wargo engage with Professor Matt Stanley, author of 'Einstein's War.' The conversation explores the intersection of science, history, and philosophy, emphasizing the importance of integrating these elements into science education. Stanley shares his journey from physics to the history and philosophy of science, discussing the significance of storytelling in teaching and the ethical dilemmas faced by scientists. The discussion also highlights the collaborative nature of scientific discovery, the role of popular science books in education, and the impact of historical context on scientific progress. Ultimately, the episode advocates for a more holistic approach to teaching science that fosters curiosity and critical thinking among students.

Why Should Physicists Study History?

https://physicstoday.aip.org/features/why-should-physicists-study-history

✉️ Email Matthew Stanley - ms5100@nyu.edu

In the eighth episode of the Idealized Science podcast, Dr. Beckey chats with Dr. Wargo about a 2013 article entitled “Inquiry-Based Instruction and Teaching About Nature of Science: Are They Happening?” by Capps and Crawford. They define inquiry, nature of science, and discuss their similarities and crucial differences before discussing a study that aimed to assess to what extent teachers are really engaging their students in inquiry and explicit teaching about the nature of science. Sadly, the study finds that even our most qualified and motivated teachers fail to teach inquiry and nature of science in way that aligns with the most recent reform pedagogy. Throughout, they discuss the ways in which the ISI is attempting to address these issues. As always, you can find more information or support our mission, please visit us at https://www.idealizedscience.org or on social media via https://linktr.ee/idealizedscienceinstitute.

In the seventh installment of the Idealized Science podcast, Dr. Beckey and Dr. Wargo discuss "Learning and Understanding: Improving Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in U.S. High Schools," a report published by the National Research Council in 2002. Despite being published over two decades ago, this report remains a relevant and accessible read for all high school STEM teachers.

In this episode of the Idealized Science podcast, Dr. Wargo and Dr. Beckey discuss the age old question of depth versus breadth in education. In particular, they review the 2008 article entitled "Depth Versus Breadth: How Content Coverage in High School Science Courses Relates to Later Success in College Science Coursework" by Schwartz et al. and give recommendations to educators on how to utilize this article's findings.

In the fifth episode of the Idealized Science podcast, Dr. Beckey and Dr. Wargo discuss the vital role argumentation plays in a well-rounded science education. They focus on a paper entitled "Establishing the norms of scientific argumentation in classrooms" by Driver, Newton, and Osborne published in the 2000, but still highly relevant today.

In the fourth episode of the Idealized Science podcast, Dr. Beckey and Dr. Wargo discuss peer instruction -- a simple pedagogical technique that promotes classroom engagement and has been shown to lead to increased learning gains across scientific disciplines. We discuss implementing the technique, the paper entitled Why Peer Discussion Improves Student Performance on In-Class Concept Questions by Smith et al., and point the listener to a step-by-step guide entitled Peer Instruction: Engaging Students One-on-One, All at Once by Crouch et al.