Episode 008_Meet Science Sam: Biologist Samantha Yammine

Listen to the full episode by clicking the play button below or download on iTunes. 

Summary:

Host Margaret O´Sullivan meets Toronto’s Science Sam! Learn about Samantha Yammine’s PhD research in Dr. Derek van der Kooy's Neurobiology Research Group investigating some of the first cells of the brain - neural stem cells. Continue the conversation in our Facebook Group, NGS Navigators, and be entered to win a model brain for your classroom! 

Show Notes:

• Introduction of Samantha Yammine, Science Sam.
• Her research is based on neuro brain cells and their development
• Details on how a PhD program works
• One important part of the scientific process: what are the alternatives if your hypothesis is wrong?
• The research Samantha does is good for brain injuries, alzheimer's disease, or other degenerative diseases.
• PhD looks to see which pharmaceuticals are activating brain cells and how the stem cells build the cells in our brain
• Sam recounts her experience holding a preserved brain in her hands
• It weighs only 3 to 4 pounds but it holds billions of cells
• How information is shared at conferences
• A good skill students should practice is explaining a topic quickly and concisely.
• There is not one path after you finish your PhD program.
• Encourage students to pursue questions and alternatives.
• Many students want more hands on experience
• There needs to be less memorizing and more problem based solving

3 Key Points:

1. Samantha is currently doing PhD work within neurobiology.
2. She gives an inside look into a modern day PhD program and the study of neurology. 
3. Inside of a classroom, there needs to be less memorizing and more hands on experience and problem solving.

Resources Mentioned:

•  Join the NGS Facebook Page: NGS Navigators comment on this episode's post and be entered in the January giveaway! 
• Samantha’s Website: www.samanthayammine.com
• Samantha’s instagram https://www.instagram.com/science.sam/
• Samantha’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/heysciencesam
• Kellen Kartub Ph.D. Candidate - Chemistry Science Communicator - chemistry in our everyday: Instagram.com/chem.with.kellen
• Dr Kate Biberdorf http://www.katethechemist.com/
• Let’s Talk Science (and the report from their national consultation process with kids and educators about the future of STEM ed): https://canada2067.ca/en/)
• @theSTEMsquad on Twitter & Instagram
• Academic resources for young students in blog posts Samantha has written: http://www.samanthayammine.com/academic-support/ (Especially last 2)
• Find on iTunes
• Find on Google Play
• Find on Stitcher
• Find on Spotify
• Incredible Shrinking Thesis Student Activity
• Website for cutting edge peer-reviewed science research adapted for students and can be filtered by reading level, topic, or methodology. https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/ (Use this with the Incredible Shrinking Thesis Activity)
• Book  to go with Incredible Shrinking Thesis activity: "There are so many different types of scientists. What problems are they investigating? #SciCommChallenge takes readers on a journey through the fascinating questions that scientists are investigating around the world. The book does so in two experiments whereby scientists are challenged to communicate their research in less than 200 words (Chapter 1) and also in one tweet (Chapter 2). "

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• Click on the image to download the pdf.

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