Utah STEM Action Center Launches New Podcast with Host Temple Grandin

Salt Lake City, UT (February 18, 2022) – There are a lot of brilliant minds around the world, doing some incredible things in the STEM field. So how did they get there? Everyone has a different answer to that question. The Utah STEM Action Center is launching a new podcast on Friday, February 18, featuring scientists, biologists, educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and more, speaking about their journey into STEM. 

The host of the series is Dr. Temple Grandin, well known for her work as a spokesperson for people with autism and her lifelong work in animal behavior. In the podcast, Dr. Grandin interviews STEM experts to learn about their path to STEM, what kind of thinker they are, and the benefit of a multifaceted approach to STEM education.

Some of the first guests on the podcast include Dr. Nalini Nadkarni and Dr. Erik Jorgensen. Dr. Nadkarni is an ecologist specializing in the study of rainforest canopies. Dr. Jorgensen is a professor of Biology at the University of Utah. He studies how the human brain works on a molecular level.

“We’re thrilled to be launching the first podcast by the Utah STEM Action Center. Not only is it exciting to hear from innovators in STEM, it’s also inspiring to hear how they got to where they are, and how their way of solving problems is so unique,” said Dr. Tami Goetz, director of the STEM Action Center. “We are delighted to have Dr. Grandin as the host of the podcast; she does a great job of recognizing and celebrating the different ways in which we all learn and how we can enhance STEM education for future generations.” 

Later in the series, podcast guests include Erin Krier and Maya Ajmera. Krier is a Professor of Agriculture at Allan Hancock College. Currently her National Science Foundation research, based in California, highlights her passion and commitment to increasing opportunities for Latino communities in biotechnology.

Maya Ajmera is the Founder of the Global Fund for Children and President and CEO of The Society for Science. In addition to publishing science news, Ajmera invests her time and effort to elevate science fairs and competitions worldwide.

The podcast is produced and co-hosted by Sheri Quinn, a longtime award-winning journalist. Quinn founded the Utah science radio show SQ Radio, and KIAN, the first science show on community radio in Salt Lake City. The podcast is also produced and co-hosted by Rosalie Winard, an award-winning photojournalist, artist, and lecturer. Julienne Bailey with the Utah STEM Action Center also produces and distributes the podcast. A new episode will be released every other Friday until the first series concludes. Episodes are 30 minutes on average. 

This podcast is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (under Grant No. NSF 1745674).  It debuts February 18, 2022 and can be found wherever you stream your podcasts. For more information, visit stem.utah.gov/podcast.