Science Magazine Podcast

Reducing calculus trauma, and teaching AI to smell

Aug 31, 2023

Laird Kramer, professor of physics at FIU, discusses improving calculus instruction and reducing calculus trauma. Science staffers share their own calculus struggles. Emily Mayhew, professor at Michigan State University, talks about teaching AI to predict smells based on chemical structure.

37:47

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Episode guests

Laird Kramer

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Quick takeaways

Improving calculus instruction in universities through active learning can increase student success and interest in STEM fields.

Machine learning can be used to predict human perception of odors based on chemical structure, opening doors for advancements in designing smells.

Deep dives

Improving Calculus Instruction for STEM Fields

Physicist and Education Researcher, Laird Kramer, discusses his work revealing how improving calculus instruction at universities might encourage more students to stick with STEM fields. The study found that active learning, such as solving problems in small groups and engaging in discussions, helps students better understand and appreciate calculus, leading to higher success rates and increased interest in STEM subjects.

Introduction

5min

Improving Calculus Education: A Collaborative Approach

5min

The Role of Learning Assistants in Calculus Education

2min

The Importance of Active Student Engagement and Frustration with Adoption of Effective Instructional Practices

2min

Reducing Calculus Trauma with Standardized Exams

6min

Digitizing the Sense of Smell

17min

How active learning improves calculus teaching, and using machine learning to map odors in the smell space

First up on this week’s show, Laird Kramer, a professor of physics and faculty in the STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University (FIU), talks with host Sarah Crespi about students leaving STEM fields because of calculus and his research into improving instruction.

We also hear from some Science staffers about their own calculus trauma, from fear of spinning shapes to thinking twice about majoring in physics (featuring Kevin McLean, Paul Voosen, Lizzie Wade, Meagan Cantwell, and FIU student and learning assistant Carolyn Marquez).

Next on the show, can a computer predict what something will smell like to a person by looking at its chemical structure? Emily Mayhew, a professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at Michigan State University, talks about how this was accomplished using a panel of trained smellers, and what the next steps are for digitizing the sense of smell.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi, Kevin McLean; Meagan Cantwell; Paul Voosen; Lizzie Wade

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk6142

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Science Magazine Podcast

Reducing calculus trauma, and teaching AI to smell

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Improving Calculus Instruction for STEM Fields

Digitizing the Sense of Smell

The Impact of Improved Calculus Instruction

Mapping Smells to Molecules Using AI

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts