ECCN Podcast

Ten years ago, 77% of college students in the U.S. took at least some classes online. But among students that took online classes, only 39% said they offer the same educational value as in-person classes, according to Pew Research. Over the past year, those attitudes have changed. 60% of students and faculty in the U.S. are more optimistic about online learning. And 3 out of 4 students would consider fully-online courses in the future, according to a large survey reported by Inside Higher Ed in April.

As college classes across the US are beginning the fall semester, the demand for online classes only seems to go up, and with it the demand for instructors that can teach online. But what is it like to be an online professor, and how to prepare for this career path? I spoke with Kenny Tapp, who has been teaching meteorology, physical geography, and astronomy, on campus, and for over a decade online — first part-time, and then full-time — at a number of colleges in the U.S.

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Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a towering figure in the world of climate science. Her work changed our ability to develop climate change solutions and expanded the public’s understanding of the effects of climate change. She recently accepted an offer to be the next Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy. And today, June 1, is actually her first day on the new job. 

We met with her a few weeks ago, virtually, to talk about her plans with TNC, about how researchers can better communicate climate change action, and where she sees humanity in this moment it its progress on tackling climate change.

This is our longest episode yet, but it’s worth listening to, because we had a lot to talk about and she had a lot to say.

Collaboration between science and policy is essential to create meaningful legislation and international agreements on climate change and other important issues. We talked to Dr. Julian Reyes, climate scientist and AAAS STP Fellow at the U.S. State Department, about his current work, his career path, and why it is important to have scientists at the policy table.