Science In Wonderland #350

January 01, 2016

This week, we're learning about imaginative ways to teach science to children, and how to use science as a tool for parenting. We'll hear about fanciful tales written to explain scientific concepts, with Cambridge University science historian Melanie Keene, author of "Science in Wonderland: The Scientific Fairy Tales of Victorian Britain." And we'll talk to author/illustrator Lynn Brunelle about her book "Mama Gone Geek: Calling On My Inner Science Nerd to Help Navigate the Ups and Downs of Parenthood."

Read the companion piece on Skepchick.

Guests:

  • Melanie Keene
  • Lynn Brunelle

Guest Bios

Melanie Keene

Melanie Keene is a historian of science at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, UK, where she is a Fellow and Graduate Tutor. She explores how science has been taught to children over the past two hundred and fifty years, writing about familiar science, board games, construction kits, candles, pebbles, and cups of tea. Her first book, "Science in Wonderland: The Scientific Fairy Tales of Victorian Britain", was published in 2015. Current projects include work on elephants, dinosaurs, magazines, and body-parts (though not all at once).

Lynn Brunelle

A four-time Emmy Award-winning writer for "Bill Nye the Science Guy," Lynn Brunelle has over 25 years experience writing for people of all ages, across all manner of media. A regular contributor to New Day Northwest TV as a family science guru, Martha Stewart Radio as a family activity consultant and a regular contributor to NPR's Science Friday, she is the creator of the Mama Gone Geek blog and Tabletop Science – videos that make science fun and accessible. She has also written for several children’s and parenting magazines. She is active in schools and libraries throughout the region teaching children and adults and raising literacy in language arts as well as in science. She has won four Telly Awards and two CINE awards for her music videos which range in topics from bullying prevention, child protection and the adolescent brain for international curriculums through Committee for Children, to independent projects encouraging science literacy and STEAM.