On this episode of Go! For Launch, hosts Audrey and MacKenzie are joined by two extraordinary high school leaders, Sophia and Michelle, who serve as Chief Science Officers through SciTech Institute’s international CSO program. From organizing STEM fairs to meeting with elected officials, these student changemakers are redefining what youth leadership looks like—and showing how young people can spark real impact in their communities.

Sophia and Michelle share how they each found their way into STEM, what it means to be a Chief Science Officer, and why creating action plans has transformed their perspective on leadership, communication, and possibility. Whether they’re designing healthcare innovations or presenting at national conferences, these two are walking proof that curiosity, initiative, and collaboration can unlock powerful opportunities—at any age.

You’ll also hear how the CSO program prepares students to lead, travel, and advocate for issues that matter, and how Sophia and Michelle are already thinking ahead to futures in biomedical research, AI, and regenerative medicine. If you’re a student (or know one) who’s looking to lead with purpose, this is the episode to press play on.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What the Chief Science Officers program is—and how to get involved

2. How action plans help students build real-world leadership and technical skills

3. The power of student voice in shaping schools, policy, and community engagement

4. Why exposure to conferences, travel, and networking is critical for young scientists

5. What regenerative medicine and AI in healthcare could mean for the future

Timestamps:

00:00:34 – Meet Sophia and Michelle: future biomedical innovators

00:01:29 – What a Chief Science Officer is—and what they do

00:03:10 – How they each discovered STEM and the CSO program

00:05:45 – How to start a CSO chapter at your school

00:08:11 – What is an “action plan” and why it matters

00:10:11 – Favorite projects and building momentum across schools

00:12:19 – Real-world lessons in leadership and professional growth

00:14:38 – From Florida to Chicago to D.C.: learning to lead on the road

00:16:05 – Talking with elected officials and advocating for STEM

00:17:40 – Reflections on growth and community impact

00:20:19 – Opportunities that emerged because of the CSO program

00:22:35 – Advice for students who want to lead and make a difference

00:25:32 – What’s next: colleges, careers, and continuing the mission

00:31:07 – What excites them most about biotech and healthcare

00:34:17 – Curiosities that keep them up at night—from environmental justice to unknowable science

Helpful Links:

• SciTech Institute’s Chief Science Officers Program – https://scitechinstitute.org/chief-science-officers/

• National STEM Ecosystems – https://stemecosystems.org/

• MIT InvenTeams – https://lemelson.mit.edu/inventeams

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This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider volunteering with us or making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

On this episode of Go! For Launch, science policy fellow Dr. Natasha Dacic joins hosts Audrey and MacKenzie for a compelling look at how scientific research intersects with government decision-making—and how young scientists can help shape the future.

Dr. Dacic shares her journey from a small liberal arts college in Idaho to earning a PhD in environmental science at the University of Michigan, with research stops at NASA and fieldwork deep in the Idaho wilderness along the way. Now serving as a science and technology policy fellow through the AAAS on Capitol Hill, she offers an inside view of how science informs legislation—and why it often doesn’t.

Together, they explore the difference between fellowships and internships, how to communicate science to policymakers, and what it was like to help pass her first piece of legislation recognizing World Migratory Bird Day. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about using science for public good, bridging policy and research, or just wondering how to make an impact without having it all figured out at once.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What a science and technology policy fellowship actually is—and what fellows do on Capitol Hill

2. How Natasha navigated an unconventional path from physics and fieldwork to policy and politics

3. Why science often doesn’t drive policy, and how that can (and should) change

4. Practical advice for students and early-career scientists who want to make a difference

5. What it takes to pass a bipartisan piece of legislation—about birds

Timestamps:

00:00:34 – Natasha’s background and introduction to the AAAS fellowship

00:02:09 – Her journey from Idaho to NASA and the University of Michigan

00:08:21 – Discovering the NASA Student Airborne Research Program

00:14:25 – What drew her to science policy: environmental philosophy and beyond

00:16:35 – What science policy really means—and why it’s not all about data

00:20:39 – Why relationships, politics, and timing shape legislation more than science alone

00:26:41 – The role of science communication in influencing policy

00:29:21 – Internships vs. fellowships: what’s the difference?

00:34:17 – Natasha’s two NASA internships and how she landed them

00:36:46 – What it’s really like working in the Senate as a science fellow

00:41:00 – How she helped pass legislation for World Migratory Bird Day

00:46:51 – What’s next after the fellowship—and why it’s a tough time for science jobs

00:48:55 – Advice for young people wanting to use science to change the world

00:54:43 – Do phone calls to Congress matter? (Yes!)

00:55:08 – Natasha’s final reflections and what she’s most curious about today

Helpful Links:

• AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships – https://aaas.org/programs/science-technology-policy-fellowships

• NASA Student Airborne Research Program – https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/early-career-opportunities/student-airborne-research-program/

• U.S. Congressional Research Service – https://usa.gov/agencies/congressional-research-service

• World Migratory Bird Day – https://migratorybirdday.org/

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This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider volunteering with us or making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

On this episode of Go! For Launch, planetary scientist Dr. Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry joins hosts Audrey and MacKenzie to share his incredible journey—from growing up in Egypt dreaming about space and dinosaurs, to working on missions for ESA, NASA, and the UAE Space Agency. Now an associate professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, Dr. El-Maarry is helping lead planetary science education and exploration across the Middle East.

He walks us through his winding path into planetary geology, the serendipity of working on comet 67P with ESA’s Rosetta mission, and the experience of joining NASA’s New Horizons flyby of Arrokoth—one of the most distant objects ever visited. Along the way, we explore the UAE’s ambitious plans for Mars, the Moon, and asteroid missions, and how global collaboration is fueling the next chapter of space science.

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring planetary scientists, space enthusiasts, and anyone wondering how curiosity and courage can shape a world-class career—even when you start far from the world’s biggest space agencies.

—

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Dr. El-Maarry’s passion for both space and geology led him to planetary science

2. What it’s like to work on missions to Mars, comets, and the Kuiper Belt

3. The UAE’s vision for space exploration and science education

4. Why international collaboration is vital to advancing space technology

5. How an asteroid came to be named after Dr. El-Maarry—and why it matters

—

Timestamps:

00:00:34 – Dr. El-Maarry’s early life and educational path

00:05:24 – Discovering planetary geology and defying expectations in Egypt

00:12:07 – Working with NASA and ESA on Mars missions

00:18:14 – Falling in love with comets through ESA’s Rosetta mission

00:25:14 – From Mars to comets: expanding a research focus to icy worlds

00:30:03 – Joining NASA’s New Horizons mission to Arrokoth

00:36:43 – The challenge of reaching Uranus and Neptune

00:37:29 – The UAE’s space exploration program: Hope mission, lunar plans, and asteroid tour

00:45:12 – The role of international collaboration in space research

00:48:23 – Space exploration as a catalyst for education and technology

00:54:11 – Why planetary science constantly evolves—and why that’s exciting

00:57:15 – Tangible innovations born from space research

00:57:46 – How an asteroid got Dr. El-Maarry’s name

01:01:55 – What Dr. El-Maarry is most curious about today: solar system formation and exoplanets

—

Helpful Links:

• Dr. Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry – Khalifa University profile https://ku.ac.ae/college-people/mohamed-ramy-el-maarry

• Rosetta Mission Overview – ESA https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta_overview

• New Horizons and Arrokoth – NASA https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/kuiper-belt/arrokoth-2014-mu69/

• Emirates Mars Mission – Hope Probe https://emiratesmarsmission.ae/

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—

This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider volunteering with us or making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

On this episode of Go! For Launch, wildlife presenter and author Patrick Aryee joins host Audrey Odwuor to explore how nature fuels innovation—from Velcro to bullet trains—and how science communicators can drive real-world impact. Patrick shares captivating stories from the wild, actionable advice for STEM content creators and science communicators, and how biomimicry is helping solve some of today’s most urgent challenges.

He traces his journey from studying cancer biology to working with the BBC Natural History Unit and presenting award-winning wildlife series. Along the way, he unpacks the incredible potential of biomimicry—revealing how animal adaptations have inspired technologies that improve our daily lives.From the dexterity of elephant trunks to a breathtaking encounter with a sperm whale, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Patrick also offers bold, practical guidance for aspiring science communicators—blending marketing psychology, storytelling frameworks, and content strategy to help science reach farther and resonate deeper.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How nature’s innovations have inspired breakthrough technologies

2. Patrick’s path from molecular biology to global science storytelling

3. Why first-principles thinking can transform how we solve problems

4. The power of marketing and psychology in science communication

5. What it’s like to swim alongside a sperm whale

Timestamps:

00:01:33 – Patrick’s early spark for science: Tomorrow’s World and Star Trek

00:04:03 – Extracting DNA from an onion: the eureka moment that changed everything

00:06:54 – Choosing wildlife communication over lab work

00:10:30 – What is biomimicry and why does it matter?

00:12:01 – The story behind Velcro and how animals inspired it

00:14:02 – Patrick’s message for young readers of 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter

00:17:02 – How to start looking to nature for solutions

00:21:51 – Communicating science across divides—without shame or judgment

00:27:22 – The power of understanding audience motivation

00:30:01 – Why science communicators should study marketing

00:31:14 – Copywriting frameworks that can improve your messaging

00:33:07 – Advice for building a personal brand and online presence

00:36:03 – Helping others through digital products and STEM entrepreneurship

00:39:29 – Tools for discovering what people are already curious about

00:42:05 – Biomimicry in action: elephants, robots, and problem-solving

00:48:18 – Close encounter with a sperm whale: a profound, life-changing moment

00:54:02 – Patrick’s deep curiosity: ancient texts, words, and the nature of reality

Helpful Links:

• Patrick Aryee’s website: https://patrickaryee.com/

• 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter: https://amazon.com/Animals-That-Made-Smarter-Ingenuity/dp/1642832677

• Patrick on Instagram: https://instagram.com/patrick_aryee

• Think Media podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThinkMediaPodcast

• AnswerThePublic: https://answerthepublic.com/

• AlsoAsked: https://alsoasked.com

• Ahrefs keyword tool: https://ahrefs.com

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This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider volunteering with us or making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider volunteering with us or making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

In this episode of Go! For Launch, Audrey Odwuor speaks with Sarah Hansen and Curt Newton from MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW)—a pioneering initiative that’s been making world-class MIT course materials freely available online for over two decades.

Curt, OCW’s director, and Sarah, who leads open education innovation and hosts the Chalk Radio podcast, share the origin story of the program and its global impact on learners, educators, and institutions. They dive into what makes OCW unique, how it empowers self-directed learners, and why openly licensed education has never been more important in a changing world.From inspiring career pivots to new frontiers in AI-driven translation and open pedagogy, this episode explores how access to knowledge can truly transform lives—and how you can start learning today, for free.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How MIT OpenCourseWare became a global leader in open education

2. What makes OCW different from other online education platforms

3. How learners around the world are using OCW to launch new careers

4. Why openness, cultural relevance, and adaptability matter in education

5. How AI and translation tools are expanding OCW’s global reach

Timestamps:

00:01:33 – What is MIT OpenCourseWare and who is it for?

00:04:44 – MIT’s bold decision in 2000 to give its course materials away for free

00:06:48 – Building a global movement for open education

00:08:03 – How educators adapt OCW to fit local cultures and communities

00:10:16 – Favorite STEM courses and how they help new learners

00:12:01 – Why “How to Speak” is OCW’s most-watched video

00:14:11 – OCW’s global impact and the power of AI-driven translation

00:17:12 – A Ukrainian initiative using AI to translate OCW into native language

00:19:00 – How an artist used OCW to pivot into a career in finance

00:20:42 – Learners in Uganda, Sudan, and beyond share their stories

00:23:00 – The case for lifelong learning: “K to gray” education

00:25:24 – Sarah and Curt share their nontraditional paths to MIT

00:29:13 – How AI might shape the future of self-directed learning

00:32:18 – Where to begin with OCW and how to find your learning path

00:33:32 – “OpenCourseWare is like the Grand Canyon—choose your own adventure”

00:34:52 – What Sarah and Curt are deeply curious about

00:37:32 – The human side of MIT and the heart behind open learning

Helpful Links:

MIT OpenCourseWare: https://ocw.mit.edu

Chalk Radio podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUl4u3cNGP63YwKIMA9K08FFvdeBEl6Lo&si=W7vozMfP1TxRF84j

Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing: https://computing.mit.edu/cross-cutting/social-and-ethical-responsibilities-of-computing/

MIT MicroMasters Programs: https://micromasters.mit.edu

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This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

In this episode of Go! For Launch, we meet Dr. Jessica Esquivel, a particle physicist working at a national lab who’s on the front lines of unlocking the secrets of the quantum realm. From studying muons and magnetic fields to dreaming about teleportation and time travel, Jessica shares what it’s like to be part of some of the most complex and collaborative scientific efforts in the world.

Jessica takes us inside the Muon g-2 experiment—an ambitious collaboration involving a massive magnetic ring, intense particle beams, and hundreds of scientists all working together to test the limits of the Standard Model of particle physics. She also opens up about her unconventional path into science, the importance of representation, and how asking so-called “stupid” questions might just lead to world-changing discoveries.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How muons may hold clues to undiscovered particles and new physics

2. Why failure and curiosity are essential tools for scientists3. How quantum physics connects to futuristic ideas like time travel

4. What it’s really like to work on large-scale, interdisciplinary experiments

5. How high-energy physics and AI are working together to push discovery forward

Timestamps:

00:01:49 – What it means to be a particle physicist

00:03:16 – The power of representation and sci-fi inspiration

00:05:56 – Building and working with massive detectors

00:08:00 – Busting the lone genius myth in science

00:09:03 – The next generation of neutrino experiments

00:11:27 – Why physics is getting more interdisciplinary

00:13:25 – What is a muon—and why study it?

00:16:43 – Quantum fluctuations and virtual particles

00:18:09 – The three frontiers of high-energy physics

00:21:30 – Could this research lead to time travel?

00:23:28 – The role of failure in scientific discovery

00:26:22 – How AI and quantum computing are reshaping physics

00:30:23 – Redefining success in experimental physics

00:32:24 – What comes after Muon g-2?

00:37:21 – Why the future of physics is all about neutrinos

00:40:06 – Transferable skills and careers beyond the lab

00:43:12 – How particle physics tools could transform everyday life

00:45:33 – Final thoughts from Jessica

Helpful Links:

Careers in national labs:

https://www.energy.gov/science/careers

Muon g-2 experiment: https://muon-g-2.fnal.gov/

Intro to particle physics: https://www.fnal.gov/pub/science/

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#GoForLaunch #ParticlePhysics #MuonG2 #QuantumPhysics #ScienceCareers #JessicaEsquivel #NationalLabs #Neutrinos #Podcast

In this episode of Go! For Launch, we sit down with Dr. Heather Whitley, Associate Program Director for High Energy Density Science at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), to talk about what it’s really like to work on some of the most advanced science in the world—and how you could be part of it.From simulating fusion reactions like the ones that power the sun to exploring how to deflect asteroids, LLNL is tackling some of the biggest questions in science and security. Heather breaks down how her team made history by achieving ignition—producing more energy from fusion than they put in—and what that means for the future of clean energy. She also shares the many paths into the lab, from internships to apprenticeships to PhDs, and what LLNL looks for when hiring curious, motivated young people.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ What it’s like to work on real experiments that simulate stars, explosions, and extreme environments✅ How ignition works—and why it’s one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time✅ How young adults can get started at LLNL through internships, postdocs, or even hands-on technician roles✅ What skills and mindsets make someone a great fit for national lab careers✅ Why LLNL values team players, lifelong learners, and people who ask big questions✅ How Heather navigated her own unexpected path from chemistry student to fusion energy leader🎧 Timestamps:00:00:43 – What does LLNL actually do?00:02:28 – Fusion, astrophysics, and high energy density science00:05:16 – Simulating asteroid impacts and planetary physics00:07:18 – Career paths: from PhDs to apprenticeships00:11:17 – Internships and postdocs: how to get your foot in the door00:14:20 – What LLNL looks for in early-career hires00:17:14 – The ignition breakthrough explained00:19:51 – What’s next for fusion—and future job opportunities00:23:40 – Heather’s career story: from New Mexico to Livermore00:32:02 – Quantum computing, astronomy, and asking better questions🔗 Helpful Links:🔹 Careers and internships at LLNL: https://www.llnl.gov/join-our-team🔹 Watch LLNL’s science in action: https://www.youtube.com/@LivermoreLab🔹 Explore more about the National Ignition Facility: https://lasers.llnl.gov/Follow Accelerator Media🔹 X (Twitter): https://x.com/xceleratormedia🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/xcelerator.media/🔹 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/accelerator-media-org🔹 Website: https://acceleratormedia.org/#GoForLaunch #FusionEnergy #LLNL #STEMCareers #ScienceJobs #CleanEnergy #Ignition #NationalLabs #Podcast