A couple weeks ago Dr. McWaine and I participated in one of my favorite annual events, the opening of the new Antarctic season. As usual, I spoke at the evening reception hosted by Antarctica NZ, sat with the Mayor and Mayoress at a diplomatic corps luncheon hosted by the Christchurch City Council, attended a wreath-laying at Scott’s statue, and read a passage from scripture at the traditional “South to Antarctica” church service.

One of my most vivid memories from Antarctic adventures past.

I enjoyed catching up with my Antarctica NZ friends Lou Sanson, Ed Butler,and Rob Fenwick. I learned quite a lot talking with the departing scientists as well as the American air crews that ferry U.S. and N.Z. personnel, equipment, and supplies southward. I had fun with the verbal jousting with Mayor Bob Parker that defines our relationship (and sometimes startles innocent bystanders). And of course I was delighted to catch up again at the opening reception with Lady June Hillary, one of my favorite folks.

continue reading…

Last month I wrote about my friend Tom McFadden … Stanford University brainiac, Fulbright Fellow, biology teacher, and itinerant rapper.  AKA The Rhymebosome, Tom has been touring New Zealand, spreading his infectious enthusiasm for science to intermediate and secondary students through raps and rhymes. You may have seen him in the media recently as he hip-hopped from Auckland to Dunedin where he is completing the Masters degree he started as a Fulbrighter.

Tom and a posse hip-hopping toward, rather than fleeing from, science.

His recent tour was intended in part to promote a competition that he inspired to get students interested and involved in science by making it more fun and interactive. The contest, titled New Zealand‘s Science Idol, encouraged students to write and perform rap or hip hop songs about a science topic that interests them.

Twenty-seven contestants submitted video clips. Judges (including Tom) narrowed the field to eleven finalists based on scientific content, lyrical ingenuity, and performance quality. After intense scrutiny and vigorous debate, the judges selected winners in three age-group categories:  8 -14 years, 15-21 years, and 22-101 years. Each winner received a shiny new iPad to facilitate his or her ongoing scientific explorations.

I thoroughly enjoyed the winning videos, so I thought I’d share them with you here. The winner in the 8-14 category was Ella Cameron, a student at Tahuna Normal Intermediate School in Dunedin. She dominated the field with her fun-filled and factual rhyming video clip, The Heart Goes Boom:

James Mustapic, a student at John McGlashan College in Dunedin, took the 15-21 year-old category with Covalent Love, a daring nuclear parody of one of Justin Bieber’s most recent releases:

Topping the older-folks category with the visually and lyrically cool Auditory System was American expat Lee Tripp, who teaches science in Nelson:

The Science Idol competition culminates late next week at the grandly titled New Zealand International Science Festival in Dunedin, this year themed ”What Makes Us Tick.” On Friday, July 6th, one of the three age-category winners highlighted above will be named the grand prize winner.

In addition to being showered with acclaim, the newly crowned Sci-Rap Grand Master π will perform live with The Rhymebosome on stage at the Festival. He or she will also be invited to use the University of Otago’s studio facilities to make a music video.

I’m running my own populist poll, so please watch the three videos above and drop me a note before next Friday (July 6th) with your choice for the grand prize winner — The Heart Goes Boom, Covalent Love, or Auditory System. I’ll let you know the week after the Festival whether we the people agreed with the judges.

The Rhymebosome in action at Cardinal McKeefry School in Wellington.

Although, disappointingly, he doesn’t communicate with me in rhyme, Tom can’t stop gushing about how proud he is of the ”creativity and scientific swagger” demonstrated by everyone who entered the contest or engaged with him during his tour. Having viewed many of the videos myself, I can see why he is so impressed.

I have to say, though, that I turn the proud-and-impressed thing right back on Tom. He has used his Fulbright time in New Zealand exceptionally well. Yes, there’s the creativity and scientific swagger, but there’s also infectious passion and extraordinary generosity of spirit and time. Big thanks to Tom for being such a great ambassador and catalyst, cerebral and otherwise.

Big thanks as well to the folks at Fulbright for having the wisdom to recognize and select such an impactful free spirit for such a prestigious exchange program. And, of course, big thanks to the budget-challenged governments that continue to invest in the future in a pound-wise manner by funding academic exchanges such as the Fulbright.

One of the many pleasures of my job is bumping into other Americans doing interesting things here in New Zealand. Perhaps my most unique new American acquaintance is Tom McFadden, whom I met last year when he came to Otago University as a Fulbright scholar to pursue a Master’s degree in science communication. Known around the ‘hood as The Rhymebosome or the Science Rapper, Tom certainly has a special way of talking about things like cell differentiation and organic chemistry.

An instructor in human biology at Stanford University before being awarded the Fulbright, Tom is passionate about stimulating interest and enthusiasm in science, particularly with students not naturally drawn to the subject. Conveying his course material in rap form was an experiment in focusing attention and improving recall, and it worked exceedingly well according to his former students, some of whom were known to tap their feet, rock side to side, and mumble rhymes during examinations.

And that’s a useful lesson for all of us. Science is all about understanding ourselves and the dynamic world around us. Even for those of us not in university or pursuing careers in science, understanding various science topics including things like anatomy, nutrition, biology, and technology can extend our lives and make our time on Earth much more happy and rewarding. In addition, understanding scientific method and basic concepts will make us more informed voters and citizens, less likely to be hoodwinked by fear-mongers and political tricksters.

For those reasons and others, I believe that credible science education should be a top priority for every student. Too often, though, traditional curricula kick the life out of science and turn students off. That’s why jazzed-up, over-caffeinated, non-traditional sci-high folks like Tom are so important.

Only those with their own passion for science can infuse the life and energy back into the subject for the rest of us. Only those who view science as a big shiny wild pile of games, toys, puzzles, songs, dances, and curiosities can make science engaging and accessible, particularly for small children just starting to learn.

So naturally I’ve been looking for opportunities to leverage Tom’s talents. Fortunately, he decided to stay on for another year in Dunedin after his Fulbright scholarship ended in order to complete his degree.

The extra time has allowed us to arrange and schedule a tour of primary and intermediate schools in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin this month, during which Tom will teach a variety of science topics to kids using music and rap.

While on tour, Tom will also be promoting “Science Idol,” which challenges students to write and perform their own songs with science themes, culminating in a competition at the International Science Festival in Dunedin.

I’ve been polishing up my own rap about the characteristics of heterocyclic molecules, set to Dr Dre’s “Nuthin but a G Thang,” but Tom tells me that I’m over the age limit.

That’s fine. It’s probably best for everyone if I’m in the audience rather than on stage. Tom’s the performer. I’ve heard him rap a few times, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him again while he’s on tour. If you get the chance to attend a performance or class of his, I bet you’ll enjoy the experience as well.

Tom street surfing with a friend in Dunedin.

If you are interested in hearing more about Tom and his work, take a look at his Facebook page or search for more of his videos on YouTube. And, of course, do share Tom’s music with the youngsters and students in your family. You and they will be glad you did. His passion and energy are infectious. In a good way.