Some think of their best ideas while jogging, walking in the park or even in the shower. Yet it was a morning commute that inspired a new podcast series, CrissCrossing Science.
Michael Crosser, associate professor of physics, discovered the wonders of podcasting while driving to and from his sabbatical research site at Oregon State University in the fall of 2014. During the long daily commute, Crosser realized that few segments were dedicated to scientific topics, and joined forces with Christopher Gaiser, professor of biology and associate dean of faculty, to launch CrissCrossing Science.
As Linfield colleagues for more than a decade, Crosser and Gaiser are both passionate about their fields and enjoy engaging in scientific dialog.
“We discovered quite a while ago that we like talking about science and we like learning about each other’s field,” Gaiser said.
In the age of short, often misleading, media soundbites, the two are hoping that the podcast format will provide listeners a clearer window into scientific topics.
“Podcasts can act as long-form radio, which spends more time delving into themes than a five-minute radio clip can,” Crosser said. “You can really get into the weeds with us and think about the details.”
The series is targeted toward listeners who are interested in science, but not experts in the field. Within each segment, Crosser and Gaiser craft descriptions in a way that enables non-scientific listeners to understand technical information. For example, in a recent podcast, “Phenomenon of Superconductivity,” Crosser uses the game Plinko to help the audience understand how the electrical resistance of certain materials will disappear at very low temperatures.
As they banter, they recraft information using analogies and metaphors. Both understand the importance of educating non-scientists, and are not afraid to ask questions.
“I like talking about science in a way others can understand,” Gaiser said. “Explaining science to folks who aren’t scientists is the reason I came to Linfield.”
Last year, they began recording podcasts at the KSLC studio and have since produced a number of segments, graphic artwork, a Facebook page and even a theme song. Crosser generally edits segments to around 30 minutes, which is the most difficult part of the process, as the two could spend hours covering the breadth of each theme.
They have interviewed a forest specialist and a physicist, and plan to include more diverse perspectives on scientific topics and issues in future episodes.
In many aspects, the objectives of CrissCrossing Science are similar to those achieved in their classrooms.
“Teaching is trying to figure out how to say something in multiple different ways, because you never know which metaphor or analogy the other person’s brain is going to latch onto,” Gaiser said. “It’s amazing how much learning can be done when you use the right metaphor.”
Crosser, at Linfield since 2006, holds a bachelor’s from Centre College, and a master’s and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Gaiser came to Linfield in1994 and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University.
Listen to a podcast and submit suggestions for future podcasts.
