January 20, 2009 - 6:25am
It may not be rocket science, but it does take some work to make science interesting and entertaining to the average radio listener. It’s a challenge Todd Barsby and Greg Arkos take seriously.
The two Vancouver Island University (VIU) professors are part of a team of producers behind “Not Rocket Science” (NRS) a weekly, science-themed radio show on CHLY 101.7 fm. They see a relationship between good radio and good teaching, and they want to dispel the biggest myths about science: that it’s hard and only for scientists.
“Science is for anyone who cares about the world,” said Barsby, a Chemistry professor at VIU. “It’s a challenge to communicate my subject area without stripping it, but there’s a way to maintain the scientific integrity. The ideas aren’t always easy, but even things that aren’t easy to understand can be explained in a way that is interesting.”
Incorporating all kinds of science over the half hour show, NRS features widely varying segments back to back, including math puzzles, segments on genetics, teasers for upcoming science and technology lectures and stories from VIU’s field schools. Topics range from the chemistry of food and cooking, to horticulture and gardening, to astronomy and the star of Bethlehem.
“We like to keep it seasonal and topical,” said Barsby. “Occasionally we pick a theme - for Valentine’s I did a segment on the chemistry of chocolate.”
“For Christmas there was a segment on the real reasons for Rudolph’s red nose,” said Arkos, who teaches in the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy. “The biologists were discussing parasitic infections, totally seriously. There’s often inadvertent humour. We like to explore and be flexible – there’s no limit.”
“You can do real science and still find it interesting,” said Arkos. He adds that having an understanding of science is important for making decisions in everyday life. “Climate change, travel, medicine – making smart choices is important.”
Barsby and Arkos welcome participation from their listeners. “We’re eager for questions, if they’re science related,” said Barsby. “We’ll either build it into a segment or send a reply back via email.”
The show is recorded in sound studios at VIU prior to broadcast and has a number of contributors. “We give them a time limit for the segment and get them set up with the studio,” said Barsby.
Arkos said the NRS crew is always looking for new people to pull the show together week to week. “We’d love to have more students but the reality is that they’re really busy.”
According to Arkos, NRS has also helped build community between scientists at VIU. “The sciences are scattered between buildings on campus,” he said. “This show is really great because it brought people together from a bunch of different disciplines. We learn from each other and ideas cross-pollinate.”
NRS was dreamed up in a faculty retreat as a way of spreading the word about VIU’s science programs.
“We wanted the community to understand that you can come and do varied science at VIU,” said Barsby. “People are actually doing work and research in the sciences up here. You don’t have to leave town to go to school.”
Arkos said that there are enormous benefits for students staying at VIU rather than going elsewhere. “Our professors put a lot of effort into their teaching and are accessible to students,” he said, adding that smaller class sizes mean that students aren’t just faces in the crowd. “We have a ‘yes, of course I know who you are’ level of connection at VIU,” said Arkos.
For more information on the Sciences at VIU contact admissions at (250) 740-6410 or visit viu.ca. Not Rocket Science can be heard on CHLY 101.7 fm every Saturday from 1 pm to 1:30 pm. Send your science-related questions to NotRocketScience@viu.ca.
Tags: In the Community
