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

April 15 -- Math Anxiety: Who Has It, Why It Develops, and How to Guard Against It

Featuring Sian Beilock, Ph.D.

Basic math skills are important for success in school and everyday life. Yet many people experience apprehension and fear when dealing with numerical information, termed math anxiety. Perhaps not surprisingly, math anxiety is associated with poor math performance. In this talk, Sian Beilock explores the cognitive, neural, and social antecedents and consequences of math anxiety, revealing some surprising insights into its onset, risk factors, and elimination.

MƒA teachers must register on the Small-World Network. Other guests should please register here.

More about Sian Beilock

Dr. Sian Beilock is the eighth President of Barnard College at Columbia University, the premier institution for empowering women to change the world. Prior to her appointment, Beilock served at the University of Chicago as Executive Vice Provost, an officer of the university, and the Stella M. Rowley Professor of Psychology. She is one of the world’s leading experts on the brain science behind “choking under pressure” and the brain and body factors influencing all types of performance: from test-taking to public speaking to your golf swing. Beilock has authored two critically acclaimed books—Choke and How the Body Knows Its Mind—and over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Her 2018 TED Talk has been viewed over two million times. She has won eight major awards from national and international societies devoted to psychology, sport psychology, and education. Beilock earned her B.S. in cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego, and doctorates of philosophy in both kinesiology and psychology from Michigan State University.

May 6 -- The Story Collider

Featuring MƒA Master Teacher Storytellers

Since 2010, The Story Collider has brought true and personal stories about science to life through their many live shows as well as their weekly podcast. The knowledge gained has been instrumental in teaching scientists how to use narrative in their work to show that science is now, more than ever, a vibrant and integral part of all of our lives, and that everyone — regardless of class, race, gender, sexuality, or education — has a story to tell about how it has impacted them. At this Thursday Think, you’ll hear from MƒA Master Teacher storytellers as they share the times things went wrong, and occasionally right, in their labs, classrooms, and beyond. Some of the stories will be heartbreaking, others will be hilarious, but they will all be true and very personal.

Previous Speakers

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.