Igniting Lifelong Learning Through Bugs, Science, and VR with Tony Gustin

PODCAST Season 6 EPISODE 14

Antonio P Gustin

The Bug Whisperer - Director of the Gateway Science Project

Quotes of the Podcast: 

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. 

Introduction of Guest BIO – 

Antonio "Tony" Gustin, known as The Bug Whisperer, is an entomologist and performing science educator who founded Tony's Creepy Crawly Zoo in 1995 as a traveling live invertebrate show. Over roughly 30 years it reached more than 1.5 million students and grew into The Gateway Science Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) STEAM nonprofit whose mission is to turn curiosity into scientific literacy. A UW-Madison-trained entomologist, Tony invented a custom 8K macro 360-degree camera system and spent six years building Tony's Creepy Crawly Zoo 2.0, a macro VR experience that drops viewers inside insect, arachnid, and reptile habitats at roughly a two-inch scale. His work centers on hands-on wonder as the antidote to scientific misinformation, especially for kids.

Interview

Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators.

• 30,000 Ft. View – Why so we, as a society invest in education?
• What drew you to education?
• Science is a verb: hands-on, experiential learning 
• From a traveling live show to macro VR: the 30-year evolution of Tony's Creepy Crawly Zoo 
• VR as an access and equity tool for any classroom 
• Curiosity as the cure for misinformation
• What are the biggest challenges to you?
• What would you like decision makers to know?”

Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts

Experience the app! https://www.meta.com/experiences/tonys-creepy-crawly-zoo-20/26476390235366322/

Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P

Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions

Support the show

Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox

Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions