Welcome to another episode of the Tech Explorations podcast! Today, we are honored to have Ahmed Burse, a distinguished veteran with over 30 years of leadership experience in the military and federal government sectors. Ahmed has dedicated his career to fostering communication skills and leadership development within the STEM community. His unique perspective emphasizes the importance of soft skills in complementing technical proficiency, a topic that is often overlooked in STEM circles.
Ahmed begins by sharing his journey, starting from his time in the military where he first recognized the critical role of effective communication and leadership. He explains that successful leaders, regardless of their level, must communicate in a way that is understood by everyone, from the most junior to the most senior personnel. This skill is not just about conveying information but also about motivating and inspiring others to achieve their goals. Ahmed highlights that these soft skills, which include emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, are essential for any leader.
Transitioning from the military to the federal government, Ahmed worked with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Here, he encountered highly skilled engineers who excelled technically but struggled with leadership roles due to a lack of communication skills. Ahmed's role often involved mediating conflicts and helping these technical experts develop the necessary soft skills to lead effectively. He observed that many engineers viewed problems in black and white terms, which is effective for technical tasks but not for managing people. This realization led him to focus on helping STEM professionals develop their communication and leadership abilities.
Ahmed's journey into the STEM community continued as he became an information technology teacher at a local college. In addition to teaching technical skills, he also taught career development, including presentation skills, goal setting, and interviewing techniques. This experience further solidified his understanding of the gap in soft skills among STEM professionals. He noticed that many students, especially non-traditional ones, excelled technically but lacked the skills needed to advance their careers.
In the podcast, Ahmed discusses his current work, which involves coaching individuals to improve their communication and leadership skills. He emphasizes that leadership is about influencing others and that effective communication is a continuous process. Ahmed believes that anyone can develop these skills, regardless of their background. He shares practical advice on how to improve communication, such as active listening, observing non-verbal cues, and seeking to understand others before being understood.
Ahmed also touches on the importance of finding one's authentic voice and the role of organizations like Toastmasters in developing both communication and leadership skills. He encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones, volunteer for new roles, and continuously seek opportunities for growth.
Throughout the interview, Ahmed's passion for helping others shines through. He believes that by improving communication and leadership skills, STEM professionals can not only advance their careers but also positively impact their organizations and communities. His insights are invaluable for anyone looking to develop these essential skills.
Tune in to this enlightening episode to learn more about Ahmed Burz's journey and gain practical tips on enhancing your communication and leadership abilities in the STEM field.
1. Introduction of Ahmed Burse (00:00:00)
- Ahmed Burse is introduced as a veteran in leadership roles across the military and federal government sectors with over 30 years of experience.
- Ahmed offers training and coaching services focusing on the importance of soft skills in STEM.
2. Importance of Communication and Leadership in STEM (00:01:30)
- Ahmed discusses the realization of the importance of communication and leadership skills in STEM, starting from his military experience.
3. Experience with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (00:05:00)
- Ahmed shares his experience working with highly technical engineers who struggled with leadership roles due to a lack of communication skills.
4. Teaching Information Technology and Career Development (00:08:00)
- Ahmed talks about his role as an IT teacher and the importance of teaching career development skills like presentations and goal setting.
5. Role of Toastmasters in Developing Leadership and Communication Skills (00:18:00)
- Ahmed emphasizes the benefits of Toastmasters for developing both speaking and leadership skills.
6. Practical Communication Tips (00:25:00)
- Ahmed provides practical tips for improving communication skills: listening attentively, observing non-verbal cues, and paraphrasing to ensure understanding.
7. Consistency in Online and Offline Communication (00:35:00)
- Ahmed advises maintaining consistency in communication across different platforms and being mindful of one's digital footprint.
8. Core Attributes of Good Communication (00:45:00)
- Ahmed outlines the core attributes of good communication: sender, receiver, and message, emphasizing the importance of understanding the audience.
9. Importance of Leadership in STEM (00:50:00)
- Ahmed explains why leadership skills are crucial in STEM, particularly for ensuring that technical teams have a seat at the decision-making table.
10. Developing Leadership Skills in Young Students (00:55:00)
- Ahmed suggests challenging students and allowing them to experience failure to build confidence and decision-making skills.
11. Final Advice and Contact Information (01:05:00)
- Ahmed advises finding mentors and being willing to fail as part of the growth process.
- Contact information: www.burstconsulting.com and LinkedIn at [email protected].
Here is a list of resources mentioned by Jacob Strickling in the transcript:
1. Make Science Fun - Jacob's company that provides educational science services.
- Website: Make Science Fun
2. Tiny Science Lab - A project by Jacob that reduces the size of traditional science equipment to make it more accessible.
- Website: Tiny Science Lab
3. YouTube Channel - Jacob mentioned starting a YouTube channel where he shares his science experiments and projects.
- YouTube: Make Science Fun
4. Clip Circuit - A type of educational kit for learning about electricity, which Jacob has adapted for better educational use.
- Example Product: Snap Circuits
5. Laser Cutter - Jacob emphasized the importance of a laser cutter in his work for creating various components.
- Example Product: Glowforge
6. 3D Printer - Used for creating custom parts for his science kits.
- Example Product: Prusa 3D Printers
7. Channel 10 - Jacob mentioned an upcoming appearance on a popular TV show related to business pitching, which airs on Channel 10.
- Channel 10: 10 Play
Here is a list of tips and advice mentioned by Jacob Strickling in the transcript:
1. Engage Students First: Focus on engaging students through hands-on, practical experiences before delving into theoretical concepts.
2. Encourage Exploration and Play: Allow students to explore and play with scientific concepts using everyday items like candles, syringes, and balloons to spark curiosity.
3. Use Small Equipment: Smaller, more accessible science equipment can make experiments safer, quicker, and more engaging for students of all ages.
4. Incorporate the Scientific Method: Teach students to approach experiments with an unbiased mind, focusing on fair testing, controlling variables, and collecting data.
5. Hands-On Learning: Emphasize learning through doing, which helps students understand and retain scientific concepts better.
6. Use Real-Life Applications: Relate experiments to real-life scenarios to make learning more relevant and impactful.
7. Adapt and Innovate: Be open to adapting existing tools and creating new ones to improve the learning experience. For example, using a soldering iron gas burner as a mini Bunsen burner.
8. Leverage Technology: Utilize online teaching tools and platforms to reach a wider audience and provide interactive learning experiences.
9. Iterate and Improve: Continuously test and refine your teaching methods and equipment based on feedback and observations.
10. Collaborate and Scale: Work with other educators and scale your efforts by training others to use your methods and tools.
11. Embrace Mistakes: Understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process and can lead to valuable insights and improvements.
12. Use Simple Tools Effectively: Invest in versatile tools like laser cutters, which can significantly speed up production and allow for quick prototyping and customization.
13. Think Practically: Focus on practical solutions that are easy to implement and can make a significant impact on the learning experience.
14. Be Prepared for Change: Be ready to adapt to new opportunities and challenges, such as increased visibility and competition.
15. Inspire and Motivate: Aim to inspire students to want to learn and explore further on their own.
16. Provide Comprehensive Resources: Offer a combination of equipment, workbooks, and videos to create a complete learning package.
17. Seek Support: Don't try to do everything alone; seek support and collaboration to achieve your goals.
18. Make Decisions Quickly: Don't get bogged down in overthinking; make decisions and be willing to adjust as needed.
19. Focus on Safety: Ensure that all experiments and equipment are safe for students to use.
20. Promote Scientific Thinking: Encourage students to think scientifically, question assumptions, and seek evidence-based answers.
Tech Explorations Podcast with Peter
Episode: Featuring Jacob Strickling
Peter: So on this episode, I'm excited to introduce Jacob Strickling, a mechanical engineer who has a passion for science education. Jacob spent 24 years teaching science in the classroom. That's a lot of years, Jacob. And during that time, he noticed that many students lacked access to hands-on practical experiences. Determined to change that, Jacob founded Make Science Fun, a company that provides educational science services. He also created Tiny Science Lab, which reduces the size of traditional science equipment, making it more accessible to students of all ages. I met Jacob a couple of years ago when my children attended one of his online chemistry labs during the pandemic. It definitely made chemistry and science fun and inspirational for the next generation of scientists. So Jacob, thank you for joining me in this episode of the Tech Explorations podcast. How are you today?
Jacob: Very well. Thank you for having me along, Peter and listeners.
Peter: Perfect. So without taking any more time from our discussion, I'd like to invite you to start by telling us a little bit about your story. I call it the elevator pitch style introduction. So who are you, Jacob?
Jacob: Born in Sydney, I have fond memories of doing science at the kitchen table when I was five years old while my mum cooked dinner. I had a set of candles and matches and cans, and my parents encouraged me to do hands-on science. I was always that kid who pulled things apart—broken TVs and stereos—to see how they worked. I could never put them back together, but I was always intrigued. I was naturally good at science as a student and wanted to become an inventor. So I did mechanical engineering and discovered I had a knack for teaching and explaining things. I went into teaching, where I was the guy always doing hands-on shows and practical experiments. Eventually, I started a YouTube channel for my fun explosions and projects at home. This led to producing Tiny Science Lab, bringing practical experiences to homeschool families and distance ed families. Surprisingly, schools now prefer the small equipment to the regular equipment.
Peter: I liked what you said about being young and pulling things apart. I remember those days. I used to do the exact same thing. With Tiny Labs, that's how we met because we homeschool our kids. It was a great opportunity to get them introduced to science where we, the parents, are not the teachers or a book. So, could we take a few minutes to focus on Tiny Labs and how you started teaching kids? What inspired you, and how did kids and families accept you?
Jacob: I remember how it started. I was doing my Make Science Fun videos with normal experiments and equipment. One day, I saw an Instagram post of someone holding a small conical flask. I thought it was cute and bought some tiny beakers on eBay. I started doing small experiments in videos just because I thought it was cute. Kids at school suggested I do ASMR videos with the small equipment, but I didn't like that. Then I thought, I should find a small Bunsen burner. There wasn't one available, but I adapted a soldering iron gas burner with a 3D-printed part. This allowed me to create a proper Bunsen burner at home. Shrinking the equipment made it more accessible, safer, quicker, and used fewer chemicals. Homeschool families could now do the same experiments as kids at school. I wrote worksheets and produced videos, offering the golden trifecta: equipment, workbooks, and videos. Schools now prefer this small equipment because it allows every student to participate, unlike traditional setups where only one or two students do the work.
Peter: That's so interesting. I guess we're not talking about decades, right? Maybe three years?
Jacob: Yes, very fast production. It's quick. My philosophy has always been to engage students first. I don't like the name Make Science Fun; I prefer Make Science Practical or Hands-On. Students should learn through exploring and playing. For example, squeezing a shampoo bottle in the bathtub or burning candles. In school, I gave brief descriptions of experiments and let students explore. Afterward, we discussed the concepts. This approach engages students and inspires them to study further. I've had students do very well because they were inspired to learn, not because I was a great teacher. Hands-on learning is crucial.
Peter: I guess the maker philosophy is about engaging with whatever you're learning. It's not just academic; it's a whole-body activity. This approach where every kid has their own kit and does experiments takes time but has a far greater impact. After the experiment, you can discuss the science behind it.
Jacob: Correct. For example, heating water in a beaker can relate to fish kills in warm lakes. Putting carbon dioxide in a bottle and measuring temperature introduces global warming. I'm big on scientific thinking, collecting data, graphing, and looking at relationships. I love experiments.
Peter: Can you speak more about the scientific method? How do we train the next generations to sort out everyday life chaos?
Jacob: The classic scientific method involves coming up with a question, developing a fair experiment, and testing it. For example, does temperature change the viscosity of honey? You change the temperature (independent variable) and measure viscosity (dependent variable). It's important to approach experiments with an unbiased mind. For instance, we were taught that the tongue had four zones for different tastes, but that was disproven. A fair experiment would have involved blindfolds and controlled variables. You have to come to experiments with an unbiased mind and approach them fairly.
Peter: Can you give an example where the experiment's result surprised the students?
Jacob: Sure. If I blow up one balloon big and another small, and connect them with a tube, students predict the air will equalize. But when I open the valve, the small balloon gets smaller, and the big one gets bigger. This surprises them and leads to discussions about elasticity, pressure, and material science. Simple experiments can open up a world of scientific principles.
Peter: That's fascinating. It shows that not everything is common sense. Science teaches us to think critically. What other Tiny Labs are there?
Jacob: Our flagship is the chemistry set. We also have an electricity set based on clip circuits but designed for science education. It includes three light globes, alligator clips, an ammeter, and a voltmeter. Teachers find it easier to use than traditional setups. We also have a solar-powered car set and a physics set. We use a laser cutter for many components, which has significantly increased our productivity. We also do some 3D printing for specific parts.
Peter: That's impressive. You've built a business while fixing a problem in education. Congratulations. What's next for you in the next three or four years?
Jacob: I've just filmed for a major TV show, which will air in August. This will bring more visibility and competitors, which I welcome. Practical science in schools will change as more people adopt the idea of shrinking equipment. Our company will be part of that change.
Peter: That's amazing. Can you tell us which channel to look out for?
Jacob: It's on Channel 10, a very popular show related to businesses and pitching. I can't say more, but everyone knows this show.
Peter: I'm sure it will go great. Where can people find more information about you and your products?
Jacob: You can find us at www.tinysciencelab.com.au. You can see our products and my overall philosophy there.
Peter: Thank you, Jacob. It was a real pleasure talking to you today. Thank you for listening, everybody. Bye for now and talk soon.
Jacob: Bye-bye, everybody.