Communicating with conspiracy theorists.
Teaching students to be advocates for science.
Rebuilding trust in science communications.
Special guest host Dr. Jenna Usprech and I sat down with Dr. Gabriel Potvin to discuss all this and more in our latest episode.
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Guest:
Gabriel Potvin
Associate Professor of Teaching, UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering
Dr. Potvin's current focus is in engineering pedagogy and curriculum development, with a particular interest in problem-based learning, laboratory instruction, sustainability education, and interdisciplinary education.
The challenges we face as a society, and as a species, are complex and multi-faceted. Engineers must be able to tackle them in creative ways, and be comfortable working on collaborative open interdisciplinary projects. The training of engineers must include these skills. To this end, he aims to create developmental opportunities for students, and actively support a number of undergraduate design teams, student projects, student competitions, and special research projects. He is a steadfast advocate of science and engineering literacy, and is also involved in a number of STEM outreach initiatives.
Learn more about Dr. Potvin here
Special Guest Host:
Jenna Usprech
Assistant Professor of Teaching, SBME
Dr. Usprech, PhD, PEng, is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the School of Biomedical Engineering. She received her PhD from the University of Toronto, her Master’s from Queen’s University (both in different areas of tissue engineering research), and her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering from the University of Guelph. Dr. Usprech joined UBC in 2019 so that she could introduce new areas of the field to undergraduate students and continue to be immersed in biomedical engineering education. She is particularly passionate about student wellness, science communication, and classroom strategies that promote critical thought and retention of material.
Learn more about Jenna here
Hosts:
MIGUEL EICHELBERGER
Communications & Engagement Manager, SBME
Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.
Learn more about Miguel here