Rock mechanics on TV!

Today I did an interview for a public television program called SciTechNow. I was contacted because of my affiliation with Science Cheerleaders and because the head of that organization was not available for the interview. I talked mostly about that organization and SciStarter, an online citizen science group.  But it also gave me an opportunity to talk a little bit about the rock mechanics lab and about why I got into science.
This morning after dropping off the baby I headed down to 66th and Broadway to the Tisch WNET studios at Lincoln Center. First stop was up to the green room to get my hair and make-up done.

Then I was brought down to the waiting room couch, right there on the corner of Broadway. I was the last in a series of eight speakers.

When it was my turn, I was fitted with a microphone and the make-up artist touched me up, shellacking that stray hair back out of my eyes.

Hari was really nice and easy to chat with. He asked me several questions about Science Cheerleaders and about Sci Starter. I think I was a little like a deer in the headlights on my first question (I sure hope they do some editing) but after I got warmed up, it went pretty well. 

After the interview I recorded two segments for their  "Ask a Scientist" feature. This is where scientists try to provide an easy to understand answer to a science question in one minute or less. I answered "What is tidal heating?" and "How do we know what's inside the earth?"

I don't remember saying much about subduction zones, but apparently it is physically impossible for a geologist to give an interview and not make this hand gesture.

Afterward Hari took a photo with me. Pretty fun way to spend the morning, but I'm happy to be back in my grubby clothes and in the lab getting dirty again.