Kari Byron Artist, Television Host, Innovator

For nearly two decades, Kari has been a strong presence in the world of science television and art. As a student, she studied filmmaking and sculpture. As an accomplished lifelong artist, Kari dreamed of a career where she could use her hands to make and create. Her passions and talents led her to an early internship in prop making and special effects. This would ultimately turn into a ten-year run on the science entertainment show MythBusters.

MythBusters empowered Kari to explore her art through science and engineering. She used clay, wood, and metal to build models and props, challenging myths using experimentation and special effects. Throughout the show, Kari cultivated her natural curiosity, leading with the mantra, “why not.”

After MythBusters, Kari went on to host and produce shows spanning several networks, including Head Rush, Punkin Chunkin, LDRS, Thrill Factor, Strange Trips, America Declassified, The White Rabbit Project, Positive Energy and Crash Test World. 

Kari's passion and advocacy for science literacy continues to be showcased as the co-director and founder of the National STEM Festival. She also continues her mission to inspire, empower, entertain and educate as co-founder and Chief Engagement Officer of the online learning platform, EXPLR. 

Notes and Resources:

You can find all the links and resources from the day here: https://www.thepocketlab.com/blog/links-and-resources-from-scic14-featuring-disney-imagination-campus

Links and resources from this session:

🌟 Learn more about EXPLR classroom https://explr-classroom.com/catalog 

🌟 We are giving away one year subscriptions to EXPLR Classroom with code POCKETLAB. First 1,000 to redeem. Ends August 15th. Just select one year subscription option. https://explr-classroom.com/join Enter the discount code POCKETLAB

🌟 Learn more about the National STEM Festival: https://www.nationalstemfestival.com/ 

• Lots of freebies. Loads of experts. Awesome workshops. Awesome excursions. Delicious food. Real class application. I met so many teachers. https://stevespangler.com/conferences-events/science-at-sea/
  

• Mythbusters YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUAaNhjdc1aN5f_29BPrhw
• https://www.sixflags.com/sites/default/files/SFA_PhysicsDayWorkbook.pdf
• this was from https://www.bjupress.com/search?q=art the Bob Jones University Press website
• The Coal Canyon Institute has a great talk on Youtube about paint technology at Chaco Canyon... it has science, art, and archeology all in one!
• I use this lesson to teach scientific drawing during one of my first art lessons of the year. https://www.calacademy.org/educators/lesson-plans/introduction-to-scientific-sketching
• https://www.thepocketlab.com/video/scic13/fabmaker-studio-and-reynolds-center
• https://www.gnsi.org/ science illustrators
• https://www.okeeffemuseum.org/scientific-imaginations-of-georgia-okeeffe/

• Termite pheromone lab:  how they communicate/behavior lab (MS/HS)   https://www.flinnsci.ca/link/5fe171b5745441a295cd5967a9f9eb10.aspx
• For all international folks… Society for Science does a similar student science fair challenge! https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
• Canada wide science fair: https://cwsf.youthscience.ca/
• It reminds me of STEAM Tank in NJ https://www.njsba.org/services/isteam-2/steam-tank-challenge/
• The Biomimicry Institute also does an international student challenge. Find the details here: https://app.thepocketlab.com/pocketlab-library?filters=Biomimicry
• 🌟 Learn more about the iNaturalist app https://www.inaturalist.org/