I spent the morning in Grapevine, Texas, right outside of Dallas, talking to the folks at the National AfterSchool Association convention. A number of folks came up to say hello and I’m always appreciative of the praise they heap on Science Friday. Who wouldn’t? But one comment in particular caught my attention.

 

Chasing me down the hallway as I was racing to get out of town (more on that later) she tugged on my arm and said, “I’d just like you to know that after hearing you speak about your show and your website, I will no longer flip the dial as I hear your show come on. I’m actually going to stay tuned to listen to it.” I gave a little chuckle and thanked her, and advised her to download our app, too. These comments, from people who are not science minded, have special meaning. It’s easy to preach to the converted. But when people who don’t usually pay attention to science (“English majors”) tell you that you’ve got them interested, it feels special.

 

So do comments from people who are interested in science, and do find new uses for our app, like this one:

 

Hello to all the great people who bring science into our lives. I have 
been a fan of the SciFri radio show for many years; however, I would 
have to be in the right place at the right time to catch it, typically
 in the car.
This phone app is wonderful because it allows me to access 
the info when I have an opportunity and in a convenient way. Showing 
the video of the Lego shuttle in space last week to my 10, 8, and 6 
year olds opened up so many discussions we may never otherwise had.


What a great educational tool.


 

Thank you,

Joe Zaweski

Asst. Professor

Arcadia University

 

Sorry professor if you wanted me to keep this letter private. But I couldn’t help but share that bit of good news, too.

Final note: I did get out of Dallas airport today before that awful tornado hit. I was not so lucky last year, when a thunderous hailstorm from a tornado that struck Oklahoma ripped through DFW also. Having suffered through that one, and having watched the purple blobs on the doppler radar, I raced to the airport early and probably caught the last flight out of town, dodging a bullet in Dallas before they closed the airport. Others were not so lucky. Repeating my experience last year to the driver of the shuttle taking me to the airport, I asked him if Dallas is considered to be part of tornado alley. He said no, Oklahoma usually gets the tornados. Dallas just got the hail. I mentioned that if global warming predictions are right and storms are more powerful, that tornados might be visiting Dallas, too. We both had a smile; about two hours later the tornados hit DFW.