The Root & STEM Podcast

Former Parliamentary Poet Laureate Louise Bernice Halfe shares her story of poetry and healing on this episode of the Root & STEM Podcast. Louise begins by thinking back to the origins of her love for writing (01:10) and shares where she draws inspiration from (06:30). She explains what works to preserve Cree language (10:23), before offering some honest guidance to those with aspirations of b...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, educator, musician and winner of the 2022 Qilaut songwriting contest, Jocelyn Malla explores the importance of music in literacy education, language preservation, and self-healing. She shares the meaning behind her award-winning song Kajjaarijara (00:53) and how her love for creating music started (03:29). Jocelyn describes her reaction to winning th...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, we hear from Andrew McConnell, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator for the YRDSB, once again as he shares the importance of Indigenous knowledge and voices in youth learning. He explains how the language we use can affect the validity of Indigenous science (00:27). Andrew describes the importance of incorporating a compulsory hig...

On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Andrew McConnell, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator for the YRDSB, shares the importance of Indigenous knowledge and voices in youth learning. He identifies the areas in which the education of youth and adolescents can be enhanced to include the viewpoints of various Indigenous communities (01:41). Andrew describes why non-Indi...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Pinnguaq’s digital skills educator, Sherisse Richards, shares how Scratch–a programming language–can help educators teach students about coding, storytelling, and animation. She explains what Scratch is, how it can be used, and why it’s gained global popularity (00:49). She dives into Scratch’s core uses beyond programming education, including digita...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, interactive game designer Brandon Bunnie shares how video games and 3D interactives can assist in learning and preserving Indigenous knowledge and language. He shares the tools he uses in developing a game (2:32) and the step by step process of development from idea to completion (03:39). Brandon describes his recent creation Star Scribe and how it’s...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, graduate students, Sofia Osborne and Olivia deBourcier discuss modern science communication. They share their opinions on the role of science in modern media and the benefit for youth (00:40). The two then describe why it's important for trustworthy science educators to adopt new platforms and methods of communication (05:36), before offering advice...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, graduate students, Sofia Osborne and Olivia deBourcier, discuss their podcast Beyond Blathers , an educational show that expands on the scientific discoveries made along the journey through Animal Crossing: New Horizons , a Nintendo Switch game (01:49). Sofia shares the origins of the show (03:33) and they explain how they are able bridge the gap bet...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, David Cote, a research scientist at Fisheries & Oceans Canada, shares the responsibilities of him and his colleagues at Fisheries & Oceans (1:09) and the change in trends he’s observed since the early days of his career (2:39). Next, David describes an alternate method of collecting water samples called eDNA (4:56) and its advantages in compa...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, cartoonist Kevin Frank shares how he thinks comics and cartoons can assist in learning. He describes the value of comedy in illustration art even when creating educational pieces (2:54). Kevin shares his workload, creation process, and the tools he uses (3:20), before explaining how art aids learning (6:45). Finally, Kevin explains the difficulty in...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Haíɫzaqv advocate Desiree Lawson shares her mission to preserve and promote her Indigenous values. She explains how the Haíɫzaqv nation views the ocean and why it’s healthy for the environment (2:58). She reminisces about traditions she shared with her family and how environmental changes have affected those traditions to describe how Indigenous know...

A brief summary of this episode

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, PhD candidate and former science educator Patrick Wells shares his experiences as a high school science teacher to exemplify effective methods of teaching. He shares his thoughts about what organizations can do to better support their educators (02:22). He explains the work behind a successful ocean research project that involved his students before...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Dr. Boris Worm explores the challenge of preserving and protecting marine ecosystems as a Research Professor of marine conservation biology at Dalhousie University and the Scientific Director of Ocean School. Dr. Worm explains how his current research highlights the relationship between humans and the ocean (00:57). He details the effects of ocean wa...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Matt Roy and Kim Pilgrim share their experiences travelling to remote and Indigenous communities as STEM camp instructors for Actua. They explain the ways in which they connect the camp and its learning experiences to each specific community to give kids a sense of relevance and familiarity in what they learn (4:37). They also describe the importance...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Erin Keenan shares insight into the effort to protect marine wildlife in Northern Canada as manager of Arctic Marine Conservation at World Wildlife Fund (1:27). She details some of the threats posed to Arctic marine wildlife (3:20) and how they affect the people of nearby communities (6:28). Erin explains how the WWF works to keep a healthy relations...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Nova Scotia-based artist Teresa Young shares her approach to creating art (1:25), and how her art creates emotional connections without a predetermined meaning (2:55). Teresa also talks about the unique way in which she discovered her Indigenous heritage and how it shows in her art (3:56). She talks about political issues relating to Indigenous art i...

In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, B.C. based writer Sofia Osborne brings light to the mysterious sea star wasting syndrome that has been killing an alarming number of starfish along the west coast of North America since 2013. Sofia speaks to educator Robyn Quaintance about the effects of the disease (1:25), and the data collection effort she organized to better understand it (2:53)....

How can technology and the use of data improve urban ecosystems? In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, PhD candidate Sophie Nitoslawski describes urban forestry (00:54) and explains how she uses data and technology to improve urban green spaces (04:26). She outlines the role that green spaces have in urban centers (08:37) and what leads to their success (11:13). Finally, Sophie offers so...

How can different perspectives improve the study of astronomy? In this episode of Root & STEM podcast, we hear from Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, the Resident Astronomer at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the Principal Investigator for SIGNALS. Laurie speaks on how Indigenous knowledge and methodologies have helped her understand the universe (01:19) and impacted the way she views the stars (...

How can different perspectives improve the study of astronomy? In this episode of Root & STEM podcast, Hilding Neilson, an astrophysicist and assistant professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, explores how we can bridge Indigenous methods of science with Western methods of science to broaden our understanding of space. Hilding offers an encouraging message to science love...

How much do we really know about the stars in the sky? In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Ininiw/Cree Star Knowledge Keeper and retired science educator Wilfred Buck shares his expertise on the origins behind multiple constellations like, Mista Muskwa (Great Bear) and Kokominakasis (Grandmother Spider, the netmaker), and discusses the lack of acknowledgement given for Indigenous knowl...

How can we use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve and protect space technology and exploration? In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Kelsey Doerksen, a space system engineer for satellite operations at Planet, and a Ph. D student at the University of Oxford studying machine learning and artificial intelligence, explores the benefits of machine learning in space tech...

How does one become an astronaut? In this episode of Root & STEM podcast, Sofia Osborne, a writer and audio producer based in B.C., interviews junior space operations engineer, Abby Lacson, about the path to becoming an astronaut and her professional experiences working with MDA Space, participating in Air Cadets, and pursuing her education in engineering. Abby offers advice to aspiring astron...

What are “hackathons” and how do they inspire innovation? In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, John Stewart, digital producer and host, sat down with Glenn Ye and Leo Wang, two undergraduate students and the winners of the Best Game award for the University of Toronto’s Hack the Valley IV. They explore what their experience was like competing in a hackathon, including the pros and cons...