Interview: Ainissa Ramirez, PhD., Science Evangelist
The NFL season has wrapped up and we’re heading into another exciting post-season. Our guest today is sharing the excitement of America’s favorite sport, in a different capacity. By using our love for football to get us excited about Science!
This interview is with Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, a science evangelist who is passionate about getting the general public excited about science. MIT’s Technology Review named Dr. Ramirez as one of the world’s 100 Top Young Innovators for her contributions to transforming technology. She co-authored, with Allen St. John, Newton’s Football: The Science Behind America’s Game. In this interview, we discuss her book, as well as get into a great discussion of the challenges she faced and overcame to become a scientist and succeed in STEM. Please enjoy the interview.
Topics Discussed in the Interview:
- How does the shape of the football effect the game?
- How does Chaos Theory apply to the game of football?
- How the modern helmet may have contributed to the concussions
- Is relating a familiar subject, like football, to science a good way to get people interested in science and STEM fields?
- What started Ainissa's interest in science?
- How did Ainissa go about learning science as a young person?
- Why is it important to get kids interested in Science?
- What are the best methods to get kids interested in Science?
Mentioned in the Interview:
- Newton's Football: The Science Behind America's Game
- The DeSean Jackson miraculous punt return to end the game vs. the NY Giants.
Favorite Smartphone App:
Must Follow on Twitter:
Must Read Book Recommendation:
Shameless Plug:
Keep an eye out for Dr. Ramirez's new podcast, launching February 15, Science Underground!
You can reach Ainissa Ramirez at www.ainissaramirez.com and follow her on Twitter – @ainissaramirez