Thursday Think Speaker Series

Thursday Think Speaker Series

The MƒA Thursday Think Speaker Series brings accomplished speakers who dive into cutting edge topics in STEM education to MƒA. A unique part of our professional course offerings, these talks, held on a Thursday of every month throughout the school year, invite MƒA teachers and their colleagues, as well as other educators and the general public to learn and engage with these thought leaders and professionals in mathematics, science, and education.

Upcoming Events

September 23 — The Science of Wonder

Featuring Paul Andersen

Wonder is one of our greatest emotions. It drives us to build knowledge by asking and then answering questions about our world. Student wonder can be a powerful driver in the classroom as well. However, unstructured inquiry can be frustrating to both teachers and learners alike. In this Thursday Think talk, Paul Andersen will model a three dimensional cycle of inquiry centered on authentic phenomena and problems.

MƒA teachers can register for this event on the Small-World Network. Other guests should please register here.

More about Paul Andersen

Paul Andersen is an educational consultant and YouTube creator living in Bozeman, MT. He is an experienced educator, having taught science in Montana for 20 years. He was the 2011 Montana Teacher of the Year and was also one of four finalists for the 2011 National Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching, Paul has created hundreds of YouTube science tutorials that have been viewed millions of times by students around the world. Paul has provided training for thousands of students, teachers, and administrators nationally and internationally. The Wonder of Science website was created to support the next generation of science teachers. The website aggregates resources developed by Paul and other science teachers implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

October 7 — Would We Know Life if We Saw It?

Photo credit: Bex Coates

Featuring Clara Sousa-Silva, Ph.D.

Over the last few decades, scientists have found thousands of planets beyond our own. Some of those planets might be habitable, and perhaps even inhabited already; but how can we tell? Dr. Clara Sousa-Silva looks for signs of life on other planets using astronomical tools such as spectroscopy to detect the faint signals emitted by potential alien biospheres. In this Thursday Think talk, Dr. Sousa-Silva will answer the question, “Would we know life if we saw it?” drawing on her experience investigating peculiar molecules on foreign planets, such as the possibility of phosphine on Venus and through her collaborations with students of all ages.

MƒA teachers can register for this event on the Small-World Network. Other guests should please register here.

More about Clara Sousa-Silva

Dr. Clara Sousa-Silva is a quantum astrochemist at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. She investigates how molecules interact with light so they can be detected on faraway worlds. Dr. Sousa-Silva spends most of her time studying molecules that life can produce so that one day she can detect an alien biosphere. When she is not deciphering exoplanet atmospheres, she is working hard to persuade the next generation of scientists to become an active part of the astronomical community. Dr. Sousa-Silva holds a doctoral degree in quantum chemistry from the University College London, and a master’s degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Among her many achievements, Clara is the recipient of the prestigious 51 b Pegasi Fellowship from the Heising Simons Foundation. The fellowship supports the growing field of planetary astronomy and exceptional postdoctoral scientists who make unique contributions to the field of astronomy. Dr. Sousa-Silva’s work and commentary have been featured in the BBC, WIRED, and the New York Times, among others. Prior to joining the Center for Astrophysics, Clara served as a research scientist at MIT.

November 4 — The Mathematics of Card Shuffling

Featuring Francis Su, Ph.D.

It is often said that it takes seven shuffles to mix a deck of cards. What does that mean, and how do we know it to be true? In this Thursday Think talk, Dr. Francis Su explains the key ideas behind this mathematical riddle, including some of the delightful combinatorial insights about the standard riffle shuffle, in which half of the deck is held in each hand and the cards are released by the thumbs so that they fall to the table interleaved. In addition, he will demonstrate a selection of card “tricks” based on the mathematics of card shuffling. These are mathematical card tricks, meaning they work on mathematical principles and not sleight of hand! Bring a deck of cards to follow along!

More about Francis Su

Dr. Francis Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and a former president of the Mathematical Association of America. His research is in geometric combinatorics and applications to the social sciences. In 2013, he received the Haimo Award, a nationwide teaching prize for college mathematics faculty, and in 2018 he won the Halmos-Ford writing award. His work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times. His book Mathematics for Human Flourishing, winner of the 2021 Euler Book Prize, is an inclusive vision of what math is, who it’s for, and why anyone should learn it.

December 16 — MT²: Master Teachers on Teaching

Featuring MƒA Master Teachers

MT²: Master Teachers on Teaching features original and thought-provoking presentations by MƒA Master Teachers, similar to a TEDx event. The theme for the tenth annual Master Teachers on Teaching is “Strength in Numbers”. What does this mean in your classroom, and classrooms across New York City? Come find out and bear witness to these innovative and inspiring talks by our own MƒA Master Teachers!

January 6 — Living With Chimpanzees

Featuring Zarin Machanda, Ph.D.

In this Thursday Think talk, Dr. Zarin Machanda will discuss what it’s like to be a field primatologist studying chimpanzees in Uganda. She will highlight the basics of chimpanzee behavior and how researchers collect data on a species so closely related to our own. In particular, Dr. Machanda will discuss some of her recent research findings on how and why chimpanzees form friendships, how these change as individuals get older, and what this might tell us about our own aging process.

More about Zarin Machanda

Dr. Zarin Machanda is the Usen Family Career Development Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Tufts University and one of the Directors of the Kibale Chimpanzee Project which has been studying the Kanyawara community of chimpanzees in Uganda since 1987. Zarin’s research is focused on understanding how and why chimpanzees form long-term bonds at all stages of their lives. She is also involved in several other chimpanzee projects studying hunting, cooperation, and communication.

Previous Speakers

Math Anxiety: Who Has It, Why It Develops, and How to Guard Against It

Featuring President of Barnard College Sian Beilock, Ph.D.

Watch the Video

COVID-19 Vaccines: What Do We Know Four Months Into Vaccine Rollout?

Featuring Florian Krammer, Ph.D.

Watch the Video

Volcanology: Danger, Discovery, and Delight

Featuring Volcanologist Jess Phoenix

Watch the Video

Singing in the Brain

Featuring Neurobiologist Dr. Erich Jarvis

Watch the Video

Examining Identity, Agency, Positionality and Authority in Mathematics Teaching

Featuring National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) President Dr. Robert Berry

Watch the Video

When Content Meets Context: Toward a Revolution in STEM Education

Featuring Professor Chris Emdin

More about Chris Emdin

Christopher Emdin is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also serves as the Associate Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. He is the creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement and Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S., as well as the author of the award-winning book Urban Science Education for the Hip- Hop Generation and the New York Times best seller For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll Too. Emdin was named the 2015 Multicultural Educator of the Year by the National Association of Multicultural Educators and has been honored as a STEM Access Champion of Change by the White House under President Obama. In addition to teaching, he served as a Minorities in Energy Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Made You Look: Statistics Through Data Visualization

Featuring Data Editor of Guardian US Mona Chalabi

Learn more about Mona Chalabi's talk on the MƒA blog

Hands-On Puzzles

Featuring Mathematician and Sculptor Dr. George Hart

Learn more about George Hart's talk on the MƒA blog

For speaker inquiries or speaking opportunities, contact Jennifer Cody, Program Officer for Engagement and Communications.

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