🔎 Episode Overview

In this special Podcasthon Week episode of Math Science History, I sit down with Irene Duah-Kessie, the founder and executive director of Rise In STEM (RiseinSTEM.ca). Rise In STEM is a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Irene shares her inspiring journey, the impact of mentorship, and how her organization is breaking barriers in STEM education.

As part of Podcasthon (Podcasthon.org), this episode highlights an incredible organization making a difference. If you’re passionate about supporting diversity in STEM, tune in and learn how you can contribute!

You can donate to Rise In STEM by visiting their website at RiseinSTEM.ca. Your support helps fund mentorship programs, scholarships, and STEM education initiatives for students who need them most.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

The Importance of Representation in STEM: Why mentorship and visibility matter for young students from underrepresented backgrounds.

The Challenges and Triumphs of Running a Nonprofit: Irene shares the behind-the-scenes efforts to provide resources and mentorship.

How You Can Make a Difference: Ways to support Rise In STEM through volunteering, donations, and community outreach.

🏛 Links & Resources:

Rise In STEM https://RiseinSTEM.ca

Podcasthon https://www.Podcasthon.org

🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com

🌍 Let’s Connect!

Website: mathsciencehistory.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history

🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?

If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:
🌟 Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
📢 Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
🔔 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! https://shorturl.at/bHIsc

If you’d like to support Math, Science, History, consider:
💡 Becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/mathsciencehistory/gift

🛍 Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store

🎵 Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers

Until next time, carpe diem!

🔎 Episode Overview

In this Flashcards episode of Math! Science! History!, we celebrate the life and legacy of Lillian Baumbach Jacobs, the first female master plumber in the U.S. Just in time for next week’s Fix a Leak Week, we explore how Lillian defied societal norms, mastered a trade dominated by men, and became an unexpected icon, even receiving fan mail from soldiers during the Korean War. From her early days learning plumbing alongside her father to becoming the head of Baumbach Plumbers, Lillian’s journey was one of perseverance, skill, and leadership. Her legacy not only paved the way for women in the trades but also serves as a powerful reminder that passion and expertise matter more than outdated stereotypes. In this episode, we discuss three major lessons we can take from her story—breaking barriers, following passion over stereotypes, and creating opportunities by challenging norms. Whether you’re pursuing a career in STEM, trades, business, or leadership, Lillian’s journey proves that no field is off-limits.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Break Barriers in Any Industry
✔️ Follow Passion Over Stereotypes
✔️ Create Opportunities by Challenging Norms

🏛 Links & Resources:

Women in Plumbing & Piping (WiPP) – wipp.org (A network supporting women in the plumbing industry)

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) – nawic.org (Support and scholarships for women in construction and trades)

The United Association (UA) – Plumbers & Pipefitters Apprenticeships – uanet.org

Fix a Leak Week Resources – epa.gov/watersense (EPA resources for water conservation and leak repair)

📢 📢 📢 Check out the podcast Etymoleon –Word History, the etymology podcast: https://etymoleon.com

🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com

📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h

🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?

If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:
🌟 Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
📢 Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
🔔 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

☕ Support the Show Sponsored By: Coffee!! https://shorturl.at/bHIsc

If you’d like to support Math, Science, History, consider:
💡 Becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/mathsciencehistory/gift

🛍 Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store

🎵 Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
On Matters of Consequence from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers

Until next time, carpe diem!

In this special Women’s History Month episode of Math! Science! History! Flashcards, we explore the significance of women in leadership and why recognizing their contributions is more important than ever. We dive into the historic 1893 Congress of Women at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where brilliant women like Ellen Swallow Richards, Mary Putnam Jacobi, and Christine Ladd-Franklin made their mark in science, medicine, and mathematics. Their pioneering work laid the foundation for gender equality in academia and beyond.

✅ The role of the 1893 Congress of Women in advancing gender equality in science and academia.
✅ The groundbreaking contributions of Ellen Swallow Richards in environmental science and sanitation.
✅ How Mary Putnam Jacobi shattered myths about women in medicine and advocated for medical education.
✅ Christine Ladd-Franklin’s revolutionary work in mathematical logic and color vision.
✅ Why Women’s History Month is essential for acknowledging and continuing the legacy of women’s contributions.

The Science and Art of Home Sanitation – Ellen Swallow Richards

Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Politics of Medicine in Nineteenth-Century America – Carla Bittel

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World – Rachel Ignotofsky

The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science – Julie Des Jardins

Smithsonian Women’s History Initiative – https://womenshistory.si.edu

National Women’s History Museum – https://www.womenshistory.org

The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) – https://www.awis.org

🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h

🌍 Let’s Connect!

Website: mathsciencehistory.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history

🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?

If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:
🌟 Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
📢 Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
🔔 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

☕ Support the Show

If you’d like to support Math, Science, History, consider:
💡 Becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/mathsciencehistory/gift

🛍 Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store

🎙 Sponsored By: Coffee!! https://shorturl.at/bHIsc

🎵 Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers

Until next time, carpe diem!

🔎 Episode Overview

In this episode of Math, Science, History, we explore the incredible journey of Marjorie Rice—a homemaker who defied expectations and made a lasting impact on the world of mathematics. With nothing more than curiosity, determination, and a pencil, she discovered new classes of pentagonal tilings that had eluded professional mathematicians for decades. We’ll dive into her early life, the moment that sparked her fascination with tessellations, and the innovative methods she used to uncover patterns that changed mathematical history.

How did an amateur mathematician working from her kitchen table revolutionize an entire field? And what can we learn from her perseverance and unconventional approach to discovery? Join me as we uncover the remarkable story of Marjorie Rice and her legacy in the world of mathematics.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How Marjorie Rice discovered four new types of pentagonal tilings; something experts believed was impossible.

✔️ The importance of independent curiosity in mathematical discovery and how self-taught mathematicians have made major contributions throughout history.

✔️ How pentagonal tilings apply to real-world structures, from architecture to art and even natural patterns.

🏛 Links & Resources:
📖 Read more: Tilings of the Plane by Ehrhard Behrends https://amzn.to/4bcNdUf
📖 Read more: Tessellations: Mathematics, Art and Recreation https://amzn.to/416rkRC
🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h

🌍 Let’s Connect!

Website: mathsciencehistory.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history

🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?

If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:
🌟 Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
📢 Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
🔔 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

☕ Support the Show

If you’d like to support Math, Science, History, consider:
💡 Becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/mathsciencehistory/gift

🛍 Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store

🎙 Sponsored By: Coffee!! https://shorturl.at/bHIsc

🎵 Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers
From Page to Practice by Bryan Teoh
Shopping with Mom by Gabrielle Birchak

Until next time, carpe diem!

🔎 Episode Overview

In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math! Science! History!, we’re diving into a simple yet powerful math trick: The Rule of 72. Have you ever wondered how long it takes for your investment to double? Or how quickly inflation can cut your purchasing power in half? The Rule of 72 offers a quick mental shortcut to estimate these changes without needing a calculator.

Join host Gabrielle Birchak as she breaks down the math behind this rule, explains why it works, and explores real-world applications in investing, savings, and inflation. Learn how small percentage changes can significantly impact your financial future, and discover why savvy investors use this rule to guide their decisions.

Whether you're new to finance or just love a good math hack, this episode is packed with valuable insights! Tune in, get smarter, and impress your friends with this easy mental math trick.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ The Rule of 72 is a Quick Way to Estimate Doubling Time
✔️ It Works for Both Investments and Inflation
✔️ Could be a great party trick, if you’re feeling nerdy

🏛 Links & Resources:
📖 Read more: 33 SMALL BUSINESS CALCULATIONS: https://amzn.to/4ic87Fb
🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com

🌍 Let’s Connect!

Website: mathsciencehistory.com
Bluesky: @mathsciencehistory.bsky.social
Instagram: @math.science.history

🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?

If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:
🌟 Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
📢 Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
🔔 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

☕ Support the Show

If you’d like to support Math, Science, History, consider:
💡 Becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/mathsciencehistory/gift

🛍 Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store

🎙 Sponsored By: Coffee!! https://shorturl.at/bHIsc

In this episode of Math! Science! History! we explore the life and legacy of Bob Moses, a pioneering activist and math educator. Discover how Moses used mathematics as a tool for social justice, empowering underserved communities with the freedom to learn and create change. We will delve into his work with the algebra project, his impact on civil rights, and how his unique approach to teaching math has influenced generations. Tune in for a deeper look at the role of education in shaping history.

If you are interested in reading more about Bob Moses, as well as the history of math and science, please visit me on my blog at www.MathScienceHistory.com !

Links and resources:

The Algebra Project
Bob Moses Biography

To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h

Thank you for listening! Until next week, carpe diem!

Gabrielle

MUSIC:

Gift of the Stars is by Lloyd Rodgers and is public domain. www.LloydRodgers.com
Delta and Mississippi Tyranny is by Gabrielle Birchak. Vocals by Anthony Williams. Music is copyrighted (2025) and not for public use.

It's Flashcard Friday! Have you ever made a mistake, and then realized it was the best mistake you've ever made?! Today's Flashcard is about a vacation, a petri dish and a mistake. For the transcripts, come visit us at www.MathScienceHistory.com ! And while you're there, please feel free to buy us a cup of coffee!

Thank you for listening! Until next week, carpe diem!

Gabrielle

Music is public domain. Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers. www.LloydRodgers.com