Brahe’s Battles: The Outcome
What do science and rapping have in common? Usually not much. Unless you happen to be Tom McFadden that is, and then rapping becomes a tool for teaching kids about science.
Tom McFadden is no stranger to music and science. Tom is a science communicator whose hit single, Regulatin’ Genes, garnered him national recognition. In 2010 he became famous with our readers as he competed in the first ever BioPop Rap Battle.
Currently Tom is teaching 8th grade biology and he continues to use his musical prowess to share scientific melodies.
Last year Tom started out on a new venture: to teach kids about famous scientific controversies by enabling them to write and produce rap videos describing the conflicts. Using crowdfunding through Kickstarter, Tom initiated Brahe’s Battles: The Battle Rap Histories of Epic Science project to make 5 professional music videos highlighting scientific debates.
The topics include:
- Is Pluto a planet?
- Rosalind Franklin vs. Watson & Crick
- Tycho Brahe vs. Johannes Kepler
- Alfred Wegener vs. ‘The Fixists’
- Black Plague vs. Yellow Fever
The videos are being produced and let’s just say, they are epic. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself in this Rosalind Franklin vs. Watson and Crick science rap battle:
Two other videos have been released and can be found on Tom’s blog, sciencewithtom.com. Not only does he share the produced videos, he describes, in detail, the process for writing, creating and producing the videos, hoping to help other science educators in the process.
I can’t wait to see the release of the next 2 videos and what Tom has planned next.