Dr. William ‘Bill’ Billotte is a biologist, engineer, and leader in exoskeleton technology. Prior to founding Billotte Consulting and Coaching LLC, Bill was the inaugural Executive Director of the ASTM Exo Technology Center of Excellence where he led the development of the center into a thought leading organization in the exoskeleton industry. Before ASTM, Bill spent 17 years advising federal agencies, first responders, and global organizations on exoskeletons, CBRNE detection, and critical infrastructure protection. He helped establish ASTM F48, spent a year with the EU’s Joint Research Centre in Italy shaping international standards, and led a National Academy of Sciences forum on disaster preparedness. His work has delivered 50+ homeland security standards and 100+ reports on first responder gear.

A recipient of the US Department of Commerce Gold Medal for Heroism, Bill blends science and service with a Ph.D. in Biology (University of Dayton), an M.S. in Engineering (Wright State), and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Georgia Tech).

Information about the EXO GAMES:  https://www.etcoe.org/exo-games

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Challenge:  Identify 3 jobs where you can use an exoskeleton. What type of exoskeleton would you build?

Share your observations– or your picture– with us by LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW  about your experience of designing an exhibit.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our  Instagram or Facebook page.

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Highlighted Book for this Episode! 

National Geographic Kids Everything Robotics by Jennifer Swanson

Book List:

DK Eyewitness Books: Robot: Discover the Amazing World of Machines from Robots that Play Chess to Systems that Think by Roger Bridgman

Awesome Robotics Projects for Kids: 20 Original STEAM Robots and Circuits to Design and Build by Bob Katovich

Making Simple Robots: Easy Robotics Projects for Kids Using Everyday Stuff  by Kathy Ceceri

The post Episode 239: Why Would You Build an Exoskeleton? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Meet Stephanie, a seasoned tutor with over a decade of experience and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. She’s a true expert in tutoring high school math and science and highlights the importance of the design process and technical decision-making through real-world engineering examples. She is a trusted and adept resource for guiding young learners toward their educational goals.

WEBSITE  https://www.bostonprivatetutors.com/

Follow on INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/bostonprivatetutors/reels/

A post shared by Stephanie Schmit | Math Tutor | Learning Expert | MIT (@bostonprivatetutors)

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Challenge: Come up with your own invention to solve a problem. Share it with your friends and family

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our  Instagram or Facebook page.

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Save the Crash-test Dummies by Jennifer Swanson (Author), TeMika Grooms (Illustrator)

The Fascinating Engineering Book for Kids: 500 Dynamic Facts! by Dr. Jacie Maslyk

Engineered!: Engineering Design at Work by Shannon Hunt (Author), James Gulliver Hancock (Illustrator)

The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay

Building Bridges (Young Engineers) by Tammy Laura Lynn Enz

Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feats of Engineering with 25 Projects by Donna Latham (Author), Jenn Vaughn (Illustrator)

Architecture for Kids: Skill-Building Activities for Future Architects by Mark Moreno (Author), Siena Moreno (Author)

The post Episode 238: How Can Engineering be a Pathway to Entrepreneurship? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Sarah is a professional communicator of science, with a passion for astrobiology. She currently is pursuing a PhD in Communication and holds a M.S. in communications as well as a bachelor’s of the Arts in English and Writing. Her current grad work is the research coordinator for the Arctek3 Lab, communicating about the Defense Resiliency Platform, a 17 million dollar project funded by the Department of Defense in partnership with several other universities.

Sarah is the recipient of a NASA SCoPE grant for 2024, working with the SciAct team OpenSpace to create a planetarium show and script about the Lost City Hydrothermal field and the research being done there, connecting it to the upcoming science and missions heading to icy worlds such as Europa and Enceladus.

She is a science communication affiliate with Blue Marble Space Institute of Science and there also serves as the Senior Production Assistant for “Ask an Astrobiologist”, a monthly show presented by NASA Astrobiology department. Additionally, she also is partnering with them on a book project related to the discovery and exploration of the Lost City Hydrothermal Field.

Follow Spacecase Sarah on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAKkTRGAx4X9e4MI0omioDQ

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Challenge: Is it possible for a telescope to see the far side of the Moon?

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our  Instagram or Facebook page.

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The Ultimate Guide to Music: A Fascinating Introduction to Music and the Instruments of the Orchestra by Joe Fullman (Sterling Books)

The Hubble Space Telescope: Our Eye on the Universe by Terence Dickinson,  Tracy Read   (Firefly Books)

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Recent Episodes

• Episode 235: How Do Sea Creatures Inspire Technology? May 1, 2025
• Episode 234: The BEST of Exploring the Moon May 1, 2025
• Episode 233: The BEST of Working with Animals May 1, 2025

Challenges

• Episode 205: How Do Birds Fly?
• Episode 226: How Do Animals Cooperate with Each Other?
• Protected: Teacher Pack: Horticulturist Kid Innovator Pack

The post Episode 236: What is a Radio Telescope? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Episode 106 How Do We Know the Dinosaurs Could Fly? with Dr. Jingmai O’Connor

Episode 205 How do Birds Fly? with Alex Troutman

Episode 223 How Do you Rehabilitate a Bald Eagle? with Marge Gibson

If you enjoy these, go back and listen to the whole podcast! Jennifer and Jeff wish you a very Happy Holidays!

The post Episode 232: The BEST of Flying Creatures first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Lauren Clayman was born, raised, and now resides in northeast Ohio. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, with a minor in mathematics, from the University of Toledo. Lauren began working at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) as a cooperative education student while earning her engineering degree. She has been working as the Radioisotope Power Systems Program Chief Safety and Mission Assurance Officer for over 4 years. In this role, she helps to ensure the Program operates in a manner that is consistent with NASA and GRC safety and mission assurance design processes, specifications, and best practices. Before that, Lauren was the CSO for the Space Communications and Navigation Project Office at GRC for 3 years. Prior to working as a CSO, Lauren worked as a thermal designer, analyst, and test engineer for 13 years supporting such projects as Spacecraft Fire Safety and the Orion program. In her spare time Lauren loves being with her family. Her two school-aged children and dog keep her very busy!

You can learn all about Radioisotope Power at this NASA Webiste:  NASA.gov/RPS

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Challenge: 

Do the Power to Explore Student Challenge! Answer the question:  What Moon would You Explore?

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

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Highlighted Book for this Episode! 

Welcome to the Future: Robot Friends, Fusion Energy, Pet Dinosaurs, and More!  by Kathryn Hulick (Author), Marcin Wolski (Illustrator)

Book List: 

Energy (A True Book: Physical Science) by Jacob Batchelor

Finding Out about Nuclear Energy (Searchlight Books ― What Are Energy Sources?) by Matt Doeden

DKfindout! Energy by Emily Dodd

The post Episode 230: How Does NASA Keep its Missions Safe? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Tim Bailey is the Inflight Manager for Zero-G. He is responsible for the training and management of the Flight Attendants and other Cabin Crewmembers aboard G FORCE ONE along with various other security duties. Tim also serves as Executive Director of the ZG4STEM Foundation, a nonprofit effort to encourage students to enter STEM careers. Tim has been with Zero-G in various roles since 2003. In that time he has accumulated nearly 9,000 parabolas over 400 flights.

Outside of his Zero-G work, Tim has put together space conferences around the globe and covered space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center. He is Executive Director of The SpaceKind Foundation (best known for their annual Yuri’s Night parties) which also serves as the fiscal sponsor of ZG4STEM. Tim also sits on the Board of ATHENA Rapid Response Innovation Lab in Alexandria, VA. Prior to his current role at Zero-G, he was an independent program management consultant with clients including NASA, DARPA, the Marine Corps, and the US Department of Energy.

YOU  can go on the Zero-G experience (if you ask your parents), Take a look at their COOL website here –> https://www.gozerog.com/

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Challenge: If you were a landscape architect, what would you do (or build) to most influence your physical environment? 

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

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How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco

Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids by Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator)

The Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! by Lisa Reichley

Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator)

Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.

The post Episode 221: What’s it Like to Experience Zero Gravity? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Enjoy our BEST of Learning About the Universe!

You’ll hear clips from:

Ep 192 How Do You Study the Smallest Things?

Ep 170 What Would Happen if we Didn’t have Magnets?

Ep  63 How Do Scientists Listen to Black Holes?

The post Episode 220: The BEST of Learning about Our Universe first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Sirina Nabhan is a Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsions Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2017. There, she was a dedicated SWE member and held several positions including President. Today, Sirina works as a Systems Engineer for the Deep Space Network (DSN) which enables Mission’s who visit the moon and beyond to communicate with earth. In her role Sirina translates project data requirements into software configuration in the DSN. She collaborates with several departments from other NASA centers, foreign space agencies, and Universities who build these spacecraft. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Space Systems at Johns Hopkins University. Sirina serves as the Professional Development chair on the Advisory Council for Women (ACW) at JPL. The ACW strives to empower, enable and educate women at JPL for success in the 21st century workplace. Sirina promotes space exploration and women in engineering through outreach and social events.

See what the DSN is up to now. Check it out here: https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

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Challenge: Think about what space exploration will look like in 20 years? And see if you can come up with some unconventional jobs that help with space exploration. 

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

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The Ultimate Guide to Music: A Fascinating Introduction to Music and the Instruments of the Orchestra by Joe Fullman (Sterling Books)

The Hubble Space Telescope: Our Eye on the Universe by Terence Dickinson,  Tracy Read   (Firefly Books)

The post Episode 215: How Will We Talk to Astronauts on the Moon? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

The majority of Chris Flagg’s 40-plus years of professional experience have been devoted to transforming his beliefs in design excellence into a higher quality of life through creativity and collaboration. His talents in master planning, community vision planning, large-scale mixed-use planning, transit-oriented and urban design, have led to multiple design awards and recognition as one of the profession’s foremost visionaries. In 2013, he was elevated to Fellow by the American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows, one of the international organization’s highest honors, for his career of community activism and his dedicated body of highly creative professional work. His ability to teach, create art, inspire, mentor and advocate for the values of creative thinking define his everyday approach to his professional, personal and artistic pursuits.

His current role at Haskell encompasses a wide range of objectives, from increasing the company’s design excellence to mentoring a diverse staff of more than 60 interdisciplinary professionals.

Chris works for Haskell, they build tons of amazing structures (and more) in the architecture, engineering, and construction industy. 

Check out their website HERE

And watch this cool video to learn more:

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Challenge: If you were a landscape architect, what would you do (or build) to most influence your physical environment? 

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

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Highlighted Book for this Episode!

Adventures in Architecture for Kids: 30 Design Projects for STEAM Discovery and Learning  by Vicky Chan

Book List: 

Drawing for Landscape Architecture: Sketch to Screen to Site by Edward Hutchison

Experiments with Plants by Christine Taylor-Butler

Plant Growth by Louise Spilsbury, Richard Spilsbury

The post Episode 214: How Does a Landscape Architect Shape the World? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Rémy Morgan, is a life-long space enthusiast and science communicator, always ready and eager to talk all things galactic, stellar, planetary, or even alien! What started with library rentals of Magic School Bus VHS tapes led to a degree in astronomy and atmospheric science, as well as a passion for education and outreach.

She worked as a planetarium operator, presenter, manager, and script writer/performer for four years in Colorado before relocating to Southern California last year. Currently, she works as a Network Operations Analyst for the Deep Space Network (DSN), helping dozens of satellites out in deep space talk to us back here on her favorite planet, Earth.

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Challenge: See what the DSN is up to now. Check it out here: https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

Send us a picture or leave a comment below.We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

*****************************************************************************************************************************

The Ultimate Guide to Music: A Fascinating Introduction to Music and the Instruments of the Orchestra by Joe Fullman (Sterling Books)

The Hubble Space Telescope: Our Eye on the Universe by Terence Dickinson,  Tracy Read   (Firefly Books)

The post Episode 210: What is the Deep Space Network? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Chris “Hanks” Sembroski represented the pillar of Generosity as part of the crew of Inspiration4 by serving as Mission Specialist on a 3-day mission to orbit. He grew up with a natural curiosity about outer space. He could be found stargazing late at night from the roof of his high school and launching high-powered model rockets deep in the Florida swamps in college. As a U.S. Space Camp counselor, he conducted simulated space shuttle missions and supported STEM-based education designed to inspire young minds to explore these areas and find their passions. As a college student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Chris volunteered with ProSpace, a grassroots lobbying effort that promoted legislation in Washington, D.C., to help open up space travel and allow companies like SpaceX to exist. He then served in the U.S. Air Force, maintaining a fleet of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying for service in Iraq before leaving active duty in 2007. In his civilian career, he has sought innovative, industry-disrupting methods to monitor and maintain mechanical equipment, reduce energy consumption, and use data to drive preemptive action making everything from data centers, to hospitals, to aerospace manufacturing facilities more efficient.

Chris now works as an Avionics Testing Engineer for Blue Origin’s New Glenn program. This reusable rocket stands over 310 feet (95 meters) tall, making it nearly the size of the Apollo program’s Saturn V vehicle. He resides outside Seattle, WA, with his wife, and two young daughters.

Learn More about Inspiration 4 HERE –> https://inspiration4.com/

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CHALLENGE:  For the challenge, how about encouraging the audience to send a postcard to space? Go to https://clubforfuture.org/postcards/ to learn more about the program, and to learn more about how Club for the Future is “inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM and helping invent the future of life in space.”

We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

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Highlighted Book for this episode! 

Space Care: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson (Mayo Clinic Kids Press)

Book List to Learn More: 

Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact  by Jennifer Swanson

Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity by Bruce Betts Ph.D.

Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet by Buzz Aldrin (Author), Marianne Dyson (Author)

You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien

The post Episode 202: What’s it Like to be a Civilian Astronaut? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.

Brian Helmuth, PhD., is an aquanaut and marine environmental scientist at Northeastern University who loves to spend his time diving and exploring the ocean as he studies the effects of climate change on bodies of water on our planet. Helmuth lab at Nahant Marine Science Center

Images from the Underwater Forest!

Learn More About the Ancient Underwater Forest

NY Times Article

This is Alabama video of the Underwater Forest by Ben Raines

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CHALLENGE:  How would you make an underwater habitat? 

We LOVE hearing from you!! If you liked this episode, leave a comment below OR share with us on our Twitter , Instagram or Facebook page.

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Highlighted Book for this episode!

The Lost Forest: An Unexpected Discovery beneath the Waves by Jennifer Swanson

After local fishers noticed a large swarm of fish in an unlikely area in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of divers found the remains of a forest deep beneath the waves. The ancient trees had been undisturbed for more than fifty thousand years before finally being uncovered by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Acclaimed science writer Jennifer Swanson brings readers along with a group of scientists as they work to explore and map the site, collect samples of cypress wood, and learn about the marine creatures that live here―namely, shipworms. Page Plus links lead to videos of the scientists at work.

For Further Reading:

Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia by Doring Kindersly Books

Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang (Albert Whitman Books)

Dive In: Swim With Sea Creatures at Their Actual Size by Roxie Munro (Holiday House)

Ocean Animals: Who’s Who in the Deep Blue by Johanna Rizzo (NGKids Books)

The post Episode 200: How Much is there Still to Learn About the Ocean? first appeared on Solve It For Kids - Podcast.