What's the future of science education? With Steve ‘Jake’ Jacobs

Science education has been struggling in recent years - how can we change this?
Join Prof. Steve ‘Jake’ Jacobs to explore one way to fix this problem in an interactive, demonstration filled Discourse. Jake’s work takes inspiration from the pioneering work of Michael Faraday, showcasing how practical hands-on science, without the need for expensive equipment, holds the key to reigniting a passion for science.
This Discourse was filmed at the Ri on 1 September 2023.
Jake demonstrates how, using nothing more than things you can find around the house, you can create remarkably simple, yet stunningly revealing science demonstrations. He demonstrates many of these during this Discourse: firing smoke rings across the theatre, moving heavy objects with static electricity, making matter magically disappear, and even igniting a 100 foot tube filled with flammable gas! These activities unlock the secrets of the natural world while honing critical thinking skills. More than educational, these activities stimulate an eager interest in pursuing a life of science learning.
Endorsed by the UN, the qualities of these demonstrations are rooted in the Royal Institution's rich history. Over two hundred years ago, pioneering scientist Michael Faraday began this approach, inspiring and educating generations of students with live science demonstrations. Now, Jake and his team continue this tradition, exhibiting captivating science phenomena with exciting hands-on science.
Watch the Q&A for this talk (exclusively for KZbin Channel members):
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Prof. Steve ‘Jake’ Jacobs, is an accomplished scientist, educator, author, international media personality with advanced degrees in mathematics and chemistry. He has built a career out of making science fun and accessible. The former chief scientist of television’s Discovery Channel, Jake has written and presented a series for the Discovery Channel, and also for National Geographic TV and Fox Television where he was the creator and on-air host of the series Jake’s Attic.
As well as over 15 years of classroom teaching & administration, he also has a wealth of experience in science communication. He is Director of Science Education at Children’s Museum of Wichita & Mr. Wizard Studio, Hollywood, as well as Science consultant to Disney, National Public Radio (NPR), the Smithsonian, PBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount Television and FOX Television.
Jake is known in the US as Wizard IV, a title inherited from his predecessors: television’s Mr Wizard, Don Herbert (Wizard III), Hubert Alyea of Princeton University (Wizard II), and the inspirational leader of all science communication wizards, the Royal Institution’s very own Michael Faraday. Jake is currently participating in a worldwide hunt for Wizard V, an aim he wishes to achieve through aim encouraging the next generation to acquire skills enabling them to ‘think as a scientist’, and to apply those skills in everyday living.
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Discourses are one of the Ri’s oldest and most prestigious series of talks. Since 1825, audiences in the theatre have witnessed countless mind-expanding moments, including the first public liquefaction of air by James Dewar, the announcement of the electron by JJ Thomson and over 100 lectures by Michael Faraday. In more recent times, we have had Nobel laureates, Fields medal winners, scientists, authors and artists - all from the cutting-edge of their field. Discourses are an opportunity for the best and brightest to share their work with the world.
Steeped in nearly two centuries of tradition, a Discourse is more than just a lecture. The Discourse lasts exactly an hour, and a bell is rung to mark the beginning and end. To keep the focus on the topic, presenters begin sharply at 7:30pm without introduction and we lock the speaker into a room ten minutes ahead of the start (legend has it that a speaker once tried to escape!). Some of our guests and speakers dress smartly for our Discourse events to add to this sense of occasion. Read more about Discourses here: www.rigb.org/explore-science/...
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[@serta5727]

Science is a great inspiration for children

[@milemarker301]

I recall when I first began professoring in a science discipline, I went to the Chair of the department and naively asked him about teaching resources on campus, to get some assist for the large Intro course I was assigned. He looked at me a long moment and then said that my time really ought to be spent on writing and publishing. And that was that.

[@carolspencer6915]

Good evening RI and Steve 'Jake' Jacobs Just truly brilliant. Super sophisticatedly simple. But important nonetheless. Again, love this. Fun lovingly Grateful indeed. 😀 💜

[@RTPtourist]

Thank you Ri, shared with kids in North Carolina.

[@petevenuti7355]

So you have kids that moved there too?

[@rockets4kids]

The problem comes when demonstration becomes more entertainment then teaching. What is so sorely lacking is the teaching of critical thinking skills.

[@andycordy5190]

❤Ever since I was a kid, I have loved the RI for its demonstrations of the magic of science. I became an artist not a teacher but my art is full of the same magic and I know other artists whose work is inspired by it. I gives me such hope to think of this project going out around the world.

[@tonyparatore888]

Beautiful 👍👍👍

[@MidnightScienceClub]

You can find more of Jake's work over at our Channel: Midnight Science Club! kzbin.info/door/zKqYWetfL7it3XUjf-OHmQ

[@user-ln5nk7mg4v]

Nice Mr. Wizard stuff.

[@user-uu8wh9du1d]

Wow, exciting...

[@e.p.4767]

Arthur "2sheds" Jackson likes this.

[@jaredrubin8452]

You're much funnier than the audience gave you credit for :)

[@YonoZekenZoid]

but why does the balloon do that though?

[@Mostima25]

If you're talking about the temperature change, I believe it has something to do with internal energy and entropy (both are complex notions to understand) which is why I can't give you anymore info since I forgot almost everything about them 😅, what I can tell you is that the key notion to understanding anything that has to do with thermodynamics and entropy is realizing that heat is more or less just the speed (kinetic energy to be more accurate) of the atoms of any object, the faster they go the hotter the object gets and vice-versa. So with this shallow information I've given, I believe ( it's my own interpretation) that it's partly because when you abruptly pull on a balloon you give more kinetic energy to the atoms of the balloon and it heats up, and vice-versa that's why it gets cold when it reverts to its original state TL;DR You give energy to an object -> it heats up /// When the object reverts to a specific state -> it consumes energy -> it gets colder

[@beachboardfan9544]

🥳🥳🥳

[@Betterjobnexttime]

Every improvement that is put upon the real estate is the result of an idea in somebody's head.

[@SankalpaSatyal]

: )

[@Betterjobnexttime]

There's something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of facts!

[@Betterjobnexttime]

Get your facts first, and’-’then you can distort ‘em as much as you please.’ Future of all sciences is putting spins on facts!

[@thekaxmax]

may distort for teaching purposes, not destroy. Don't make 'em 'alternate facts'.

[@peartreedu]

Massive audience, lol.

[@BrettSucks]

Is this the same video as yesterday’s? Which was members only , I almost unsubscribed yesterday because of that!

[@frankburkhard5701]

On THE FUTURE of science education: enters a 80+ yo white man, wisely meandering to himself mostly, about his expertise… 🫣 Yes to everything he says, and hats off to the work, and the intentions. But take a step back, dear organisers, and tell me you don’t see the glaring dissonance in this setup.

[@paolocaldato2301]

Yes you are right - the Royal Institution should not pick its speakers on the basis of their expertise and ability to educate and inspire, but rather by reference to their age, gender and skin colour. Maybe we should check what his religious beliefs are too.