USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia / S a n ta Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 17, No. 47
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
November 29, 2017
1 Section, 8 Pages
STEM-Talk Awarded for Podcast By Tanner Yea Excellence With the rise of podcasts, shows like “Serial,” “Lore” and “TEDTalks” are gaining national recognition as unique forms of media. Now we can add among those ranks our own local “STEM-Talk” podcast, produced by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), which won first place in the Science and Medicine Category at the 12th Annual People’s Choice Podcast Awards. “We were just honored to be nominated in our division. It was a total surprise that we won because we are so new,” said Dawn Kernagis, co-host of the podcast and research scientist at IHMC. Kernagis’s research focuses on human performance operation and risk mitigation in extreme environments, such as undersea, at high altitude and in space. IHMC is a non-profit research lab that focuses on technology for “leveraging and extending human cognition, perception, locomotion and resilience.” Only a little over a year-and-a-half old, the podcast is approaching its 50th episode. The People’s Choice Podcast Awards is the longest running premier podcast awards event, designed to allow fans to show their appreciation by nominating their favorite shows. “STEM-Talk” competed against more than 2,000 shows across 20 categories, and won their category while being honored as a runnerup for the People’s Choice Award—the competition’s grand prize. Former prizewinners of the competition include
Aside from Ford’s interview, Kernagis shows like “This American Life,” “The of fun to be on the other side, and that Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe” and episode is unique because my part was said there are many exciting and inter“Rob Has a Podcast.” recorded under the sea,” she said. esting guests slated to appear, though Kernagis said that she was first apIn addition to Kernagis and Ford, she hesitated to mention many names proached to host “STEM-Talk” not long the program often sees other co-hosts. in case an interview fell through. One after she was offered a job at IHMC. Dominic D’Agostino was a Visiting Se- upcoming episode will feature an in-perKen Ford, CEO of IHMC and co-host nior Research Scientist at IHMC focus- son interview with Flora Hammond, a of the program, had long wanted to do a ing on human health, and hosted many doctor at the Indiana University School podcast as an informative outreach ini- episodes before moving on from the In- of Medicine who focuses on traumatic tiative for the Institute, and asked Ker- stitute. Another regular cohost is Tom brain injuries. nagis if she was interested. Jones, a veteran astronaut who appears Kernagis said that she is honored by “We really didn’t expect this,” said on nearly every episode that has to deal the award and is very proud of their Ford. “Our podcast is just a little more with space and its technologies. whole podcast team. She stressed that than a year old and we’re thrilled to re“The show is all about getting infor- the production team works hard to proceive this kind of recognition so soon.” mation out to the public at no cost on duce the show, which includes producer The podcast features interviews with their part. We have a lot of outreach Randy Hammer and editors Billy Howscientists, engineers and technologists programs that are focused on the local ell and Jason Conrad. talking about their cutting-edge re- community, but STEM-Talk allows us “It’s just a cool opportunity to talk search—as well as their careers, passions to go into different types of topics—re- to some of these absolutely fascinating and motivations. The podcast bills itself ally delving into them—and make it ac- people, and just get to pick their brain,” as “conversations with some of the most cessible globally,” said Kernagis. she said. “I would recommend you start interesting people in the world of sciSTEM-Talk is nearing its 50th epi- at the beginning, but stay tuned—we sode, which will feature an interview have some pretty exciting stuff coming ence and technology.” “We try to vary the focus on our top- with Ford, focusing on his work with up.” ics—to physics, to gravitational waves, artificial intelligence and the founding STEM-Talk is free to listen to, and to geology, to nutritional science, to of IHMC. Ford is also a researcher of available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, health and human performance,” said cognitive science, human-centered com- tunein or RSS feed—with new episodes Kernagis. “We don’t just look for people puting and nutrition, and has served on releasing every other Tuesday. For more who are doing interesting research, but the National Science Board under Presi- information on STEM-Talk or the Florare interesting people in and of them- dent George W. Bush. The episode will ida Institute of Human and Machine selves. A lot of times we’ll hear stories be released in anticipation of Ford’s in- Cognition, visit ihmc.us. through the news, or the interviewees duction into the Florida Inventor’s Hall are friends of friends or colleagues of of Fame. colleagues, so we’ll know that there is something interesting about them.” Their list of interviewees is long and prestigious, including names like nutritionist Kirk Parsley, oceanographer Margeret Leinen, astronaut Harrison Schmitt and recent Nobel Prize laureate Barry Barish. Kernagis said they knew Barrish was up for the prize at that point, but didn’t want that to be the main focus because they try to “keep the interviews as conversational as possible.” Kernagis herself has also been interviewed on the “The show is all about getting information out to the public at no show during her NEEMO-21 NASA mission, cost on their part. We have a lot of outreach programs that are where she lived in an un- focused on the local community, but STEM-Talk allows us to go into derwater habitat for two weeks. “Doing the show different types of topics—really delving into them—and make it really warms you up to be accessible globally.” -Kernagis an interviewee. It’s a lot