PODCAST · education
Knowing Nature
by knowingnature
Background information and perspectives on nature and the environment with teaching tips and activity ideas.
Episodes
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Ep. 68 Platypus matters. Not weird, just wonderful.
Interview with Jack Ashby about his recent book, Platypus Matters. We talk a bit about the amazing platypus, the history of natural history collecting, and why we should think carefully about the language we use to talk about animals. Full show notes
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Ep 67 - Going on a Moss Safari
Conversation with Andy Chandler-Grevatt about moss safaris, how to meet a tardigrade, and how encounters with tiny animals can spark interest in nature and science. Follow Andy on Twitter Full show notes Follow Knowing Nature on Twitter
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Ep 66 - Bogs and moss
Conversation with Joshua Styles from British Botany and the Northwest Rare Plants Initiative. We talk about bogs, their importance for carbon storage, and about some of the amazing plants that live in these harsh habitats. Full notes at KnowingNature.cc
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Ep 65 - SciComms and job interview advice
Looking to get into science communication? Wanting to move from the classroom to environmental education outdoors or in museums? In this episode I'm joined by Alison Shean to discuss what a science communicator does, and share job interview tips. Job interview tips at 12:00 Full show notes
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Ep 64 - Project Seagrass
Seagrass meadows are one of the least-known habitat types, but they are very important for carbon sequestration and as nurseries for many fish species. In this episode I speak with Project Seagrass to learn more about seagrass habitats, restoration success, and how people can get involved in...
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EP 63 -LGBTQ+ inclusivity in biology education
Supporting LGBTQ+ students in higher education. Why identity matters in STEM, the positive impacts of an instructor choosing to be out, and reducing anxiety in active learning practices. Full show notes with links to related resources and in-depth reading.
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Ep 62 - LGBTQ+ tours in zoology museums
Interview with the University Museum of Zoology in Cambridge about their Bridging Binaries tours. These tours look at the contributions that LGBTQ+ perspectives have made to natural history, and highlight ways in which nature is more complex than simple binaries. Full show notes here
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Ep 61 - Queer Identity, research, and cricket behaviour
Interview with Thomas Green, PhD candidate at the Centre for Biological Diversity at the University of St Andrew’s. We discuss how heteronormative and queer perspectives have shaped research into animal reproductive behaviour. Thomas share's about their research into evolution of same-sex sexual...
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Ep 60 - Bat ecology, citizen science, and walks
Interview with Phillip from the Bat Conservation Trust about their citizen science programmes. We also discuss a bit of bat ecology and share tips for leading a successful bat walk. Full notes on the podcast website. Follow the podcast on twitter @KN_podcast Music in this episode: Marble Machine…
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Ep 59 - Birdwatching and Community science
Interview with the Tahoma Audubon Society about birdwatching, community science, and issues to think about when feeding birds. Read the full show notes here.
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Ep 58 - Oil spills, science, and community in Alaska
Discussion about environmental education in Cordova, Alaska. How the programs at the Prince William Sound Science Centre address the legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. We also talk about their summer programs. Bringing together kids from across the Copper River watershed, and allowing them to...
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Ep 57 - Saving the Shea Tree with Agroforestry in Uganda
Interview about a campaign to develop local agroforestry in order to encourage communities to protect shea trees from being cut down for charcoal production. Save the Shea Tree campaign website Full show notes
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Ep 56 - Butterfly conservation and livelihoods in Kenya
Interview with the manager of the Kipepeo Butterfly Project, a conservation initiative manged in part by the National Museum of Kenya. The project works with locals around the Arabuko Sokoke forest national park to breed butterflies for export to butterfly displays around the world. The project…
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Ep 55 - Philosophy and the environmental movement
Conversation with Professor Martin Bunzl about what philosophy has to add to discussions around environmental issues. We also look at some of the themes in his latest book, Thinking While Walking. How should we think about the nature of the risks posed by climate change? What are the moral...
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Ep 54 - Bumblebees and citizen science
Interview with Dr. Richard Comont from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust about their citizen science programmes. Information about what's involved in each scheme with suggestions for the amount of time and experience is needed for each one. We also discuss recommendations for ID guides of UK bees...
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Ep 53 - Film Club - Seaspiracy
Discussion with Rosie and Cristina about the 2021 documentary Seaspiracy. We discuss its successes and failings as a piece of science communication or environmental education, including the pitfalls of using the conspiracy framing. We also share a few ideas for how teachers might make use of the...
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Ep 52 - Evaluating success in environmental education
Discussion with Lorna Fox about evaluation in environmental education. We talk about some of the limitations with how educators generally evaluate the success of their programmes, and highlight some of the pitfalls of relying on observations of student engagement during sessions. Check out this...
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Ep 51 - Rocks, erosion, and decomposition in a cemetery park
Interview with Dimuthu about the education programme at the Soanes Centre in Tower Hamlets Cemetery park. Dim walks us through a few of the sessions he runs, including sessions on soil formation and rocks which take advantage of one of the special features of the cemetery park, the historical…
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Ep 50 - Balancing needs of nature and people in a cemetery park
Interview with Kenneth Greenway, about balancing the needs of people and nature in a historic cemetery park. He tells us how he uses foraging as a way to encourage people to value their park while also learning some botany. Ken also shares how staff manage antisocial behaviour like teenagers…
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Ep 49 - A cross-curricular unit on parts and needs of plants
Ideas for a cross curricular unit on the parts and needs of plants based on the UK year 3 curriculum (ages 7-8). Starts with an example story inspired by the history of strawberries. Full show notes here
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Ep 48- Journal Club - Climate in curriculum; benefits of hope-enhancing programmes
Discussion of two pieces of research and what they mean for environmental educators. Potential problems with embedding climate and sustainability in the curriculum. How environmental-hope-enhancing programs could resolve some of these issues. State of climate education in the UK - Teach the…
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Ep 47 - Art and meaningful work kids are proud to take home
Interview with Educator and Artist Charlotte about her experiences facilitating art workshops, and helping people take pride in their work. Then ideas for how environmental educators can adjust what we have kids do so that the experiences are more meaningful, and kids actually want to take home…
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Ep 46 - South London Botanical Institute
Interview with Sarah Webley, Education and Outreach Coordinator at the South London Botanical Institute. We discuss how they structure their school sessions, and get an overview of the huge variety of programmes they offer. Find out more on their website https://www.slbi.org.uk/ Full notes and...
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Ep 45 - Film club - Arrival
Discussion of the 2016 film Arrival. Podcaster and author Atul Kumar discusses how taking a totally alien perspective can help break through impasses in tackling environmental issues. You may want to watch the film before listening and consider: How does Louise’s approach to communication differ...
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Ep 44 - Pond dipping and night-time nature at London Wetland Centre
Interview with Paul, Learning manager at the London Wetland Centre (LWC). A site maintained by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). We discuss the ever popular pond dipping sessions, how they're structured and the resources provided to support students. Paul also shares his thoughts on the...
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Ep 43 - Enviro Ed research news; moth evolution resource
Part 1: Discussion on a report from Learning Through Landscapes about the results of a pilot project involving 47 UK schools and 1000+ students. Part 2: Primer on a resource on the peppered moth and evolution, using digitized specimens from the collections of the Natural History Museum. Full show...
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Ep 42 - EcoActive and forest school
Interview with environmental educator Catia about her work with EcoActive, a charity based in East London. EcoActive runs workshops with schools and community groups, concentrating on long term projects with schools with emphasis on being experiential and solutions focused. We particularly talk...
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Ep 41 - Film Club - Whitefang
Discussion of the 2018 film Whitefang. Educators Maggie and Ayesha return to discuss the relationships between humans and animals depicted in the movie. You may like to watch the film first and think about: What are the different ways people interact with their environment and animals? How do you...
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Ep 40 - Activities for early years
Interview with freelance educator Gini Trower about her work with afterschool clubs and nursery groups. She shares her experience getting started as a freelance environmental educator and talks us through a few of her favourite activities. Find out more about Gini and her workshops:...
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Ep 39 - Season 2 Intro and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Interview with Lorna Fox, Head of Engagement and Learning at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. We talk about some of the Trust's most successful programmes, and a new pilot project aimed at helping school make use of their own green spaces so that nature becomes a part of the school culture. Full...
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Ep 38 - Ocean School
Interview with Lucija, Science producer at Ocean School. Ocean School aims to provide learners, the next generation of ocean citizens, with the knowledge and tools to understand our influence on the ocean and the ocean’s influence on us. They produce educational experiences which use powerful...
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Ep 37 - Decolonizing environmental education
How colonialism has affected environmental education. Arguments for the relevance of this topic in places which don't have a recent history of colonization by another culture. Tips for culturally responsive teaching and suggestions for avoiding common pitfalls. Full notes at...
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Ep 36 - Journal Club - Ways of Knowing
Discussion on the article “Indigenous knowledge and science revisited”, by Aikenhead and Ogawa (2007) from the journal of Cultural Studies of Science Education. The article describes and compares Euro-American sciences, Indigenous, and neo-indigenous ways of knowing. We're joined by Maggie and…
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Ep 35 - Film Club - Lost City of Z
Discussion about the 2016 film The Lost City of Z. We discuss themes of how people relate to the Amazon and the peoples who live there. The first of a few episodes which will look at issues of colonialism in environmental education. You may want to watch the film first and think about: How is the...
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Ep 34 - Film Club - Arachnophobia
Discussion of the 1990 film Arachnophobia. We talk about the ecology of the movie spiders as they relate to real world species, and about whether the film shows science in a bit of a bad light. You may want to watch the film first and think about: How does the film depict spiders? Are they…
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Ep 33 - Teaching about habitats
What is a habitat? What makes a specific habitat? Why should we care about the topic? We explore the answers to these questions and offer some suggestions for approaching it in classrooms and outdoor settings. Full show notes: https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Music: Gradual Sunrise by...
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Ep 32 - Game-based education with Minecraft
An interview with Sarah Elliott, teacher at the Royal Ontario Museum, about she's using Minecraft for remote engagement with students. She shares how the programme began with rocks and minerals, but has since become a more complex world where students explore responsible resource use and develop...
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Ep 31 - Journal club - Art in environmental education
Discussion about the current science focus in environmental education and how art might enhance scientific investigation skills. We also share experiences of being pigeonholed into thinking of ourselves as science or art people and consider the benefits of breaking down these self imposed…
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Ep 30 - Locust pheromones and science as a process
A suggested outline for effective science reporting using examples of news articles about the identification of a pheromone associated with swarming locusts. We critique reporting in Nature, The Daily Mail, and Business insider. Arguing that focusing too much on results could undermine long-term...
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Ep 29 - Murder hornets and science news literacy
Using science news literacy skills to put click-bait in context. Discussion about recent stories of ‘murder hornets’ found in monitoring traps in the United States. Tips to avoid being distracted by emotionally charged language. Full notes at https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Music:...
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Ep 28 - Film club - Moana
Discussion about environmental themes in the 2016 Disney film, Moana. We discuss the ocean, representation, and depiction of indigenous knowledge and skills. You may want to watch the film first and think about: How does the movie make you feel about the ocean? How does it give you that feeling?...
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Ep 27 - Journal Club - Uncertainty and the nature of science
Discussion about challenges of teaching science. The discussion is framed by a paper by Rabinovich and Morton (2012) which looked at participants beliefs about the nature of science and how it impacts their response to varying degrees on uncertainty in science communication. Full notes at:...
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Ep 26 - Teaching about climate change
Issues and considerations when teaching about climate change in schools and other environmental education providers. We talk problems with curriculum, climate anxiety, and the benefits of taking a whole school approach. Full notes at: https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Music: Selfish by...
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Ep 25 - Introduction to climate change
A brief teacher's guide to some climate change terminology and impacts. Full notes at: https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Music: Selfish by Derek Clegg. Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 US License
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Ep 24 - Film club - Finding Nemo
Discussion of the 2003 film Finding Nemo, directed by Andrew Stanton. Featuring guests Ayesha and Rosie. You may want to watch the film first and think about: How do parents in the movie deal with risk? Full notes at: https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Music: Selfish by Derek Clegg....
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Ep 23 - Film club - The Meg
Discussion about the 2018 film The Meg, directed by Jon Turteltaub. You may want to watch the film first and think about: What does the film make you feel about the shark? What human impacts on the ocean are depicted? Full notes at https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Intro/Outro music:...
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Ep 23 - Making the most of ponds
Tips for setting up a wildlife pond and ideas for using it with kids or classes. Safety considerations (11:15) Plants and animals (20:07) Lesson planning tips and ideas (26:00) Full notes at https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Intro/Outro music: Selfish by Derek Clegg. CC 3.0 US License
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Ep 21- Film club - Jurassic park
Discussion of the 1993 classic of palaeontology, Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg. Guests this episode: Tom and Conor. You may want to watch the film first and think about: Are there situations where you would want to bring back an extinct species? Full notes at:...
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Ep 20- Successful bug hunting
Tips for running a successful bug hunt as an educator. What to consider when setting up a wildlife area. Ideas for planning bug hunting lessons. Full notes at: https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Intro/Outro music: Selfish by Derek Clegg. Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 US License
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Ep 19 - Video games and enviro-ed
Discussion on how video games can be used as a tool for learning about the natural world. Ideas for teachers. Discussion on Minecraft, Oxygen not Included, and Animal Crossing. This episode's guest is Tom L. Full show notes at https://knowingnaturepodcast.wordpress.com/ Intro/Outro music: Selfish...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Knowing Nature have?
Knowing Nature currently has 69 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Knowing Nature about?
Background information and perspectives on nature and the environment with teaching tips and activity ideas.
How often does Knowing Nature release new episodes?
Knowing Nature has 69 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Knowing Nature?
You can listen to Knowing Nature on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Knowing Nature?
Knowing Nature is created and hosted by knowingnature.
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