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.

Previous Speakers

Living With Chimpanzees

Featuring Zarin Machanda, Ph.D.

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.

MT²: Master Teachers on Teaching

Featuring MƒA Master Teachers

More about the 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!

The Mathematics of Card Shuffling

Featuring Francis Su, Ph.D.

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The Science of Wonder

Featuring Educational Consultant and YouTube Creator Paul Andersen

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Would We Know Life if We Saw It?

Featuring Clara Sousa-Silva, Ph.D.

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

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

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

Featuring Florian Krammer, Ph.D.

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Volcanology: Danger, Discovery, and Delight

Featuring Volcanologist Jess Phoenix

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Singing in the Brain

Featuring Neurobiologist Dr. Erich Jarvis

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Examining Identity, Agency, Positionality and Authority in Mathematics Teaching

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

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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.