BIOL1070: Under the Hood with Tim and Dan

Welcome to the Fall 2026 cohort of BIOL 1070: Discovering Biodiversity! Tune in to meet your course coordinator, Sharon, and your co-instructors, Tim and Dan, as they take you through some key points to help you get to know their course and the University of Guelph. Follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple, and PodBean, or keep an eye on the BIOL 1070 CourseLink page for new and updated episodes throughout the semester. Let’s hit the road! 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 👋 00:07 Meet your course coordinator 🙏 00:37 Meet your instructors 🎤 02:00 Intro to the podcast 🌎 03:11 Intro to the course ☝️ 04:02 Tips for getting started If you’d like to be a producer on the show, or if you have a question that you’d like Tim and Dan to answer on the pod, please send us an email at 1070underthehood@gmail.com 💌 Pit Crew Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Sharon Wang Co-Producer: Mikaela Macht

Welcome to Summer School! While the textbooks might be gathering dust, we’re just getting warmed up. In this special series, we’re hitting the academic highway to check out what other early career faculty in our department are up to. Each guest brings two things to the table: a peek into their research and a tricky question to throw at Tim and Dan. Can our hosts stay on track, or will they take a wrong turn onto Uncertainty Boulevard? But that’s not all, our guests also weigh in on the most important question of all: Who would win in a ridiculous head-to-head challenge—Tim or Dan? This week’s trip features Dr. Quinn Webber, an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, who joins us to share his research, test Tim and Dan’s knowledge, and, of course, settle the all-important debate: who would win in a ridiculous challenge? Grab your sunglasses, roll the windows down, and join us for a summer road trip through science, one pit stop at a time. 🚗💨 📍 Topic Time Stamps 🧪 01:00 – Meet Our Guest & Their Research ❓ 14:01 – The Tricky Question 🎤 48:30 – Our Guest Judges Tim & Dan’s Answers 🏆 58:26 – The Ultimate Showdown: Who Wins the Silly Challenge? No exams, no grades, just curious minds, questionable guesses, and some friendly competition under the summer sun. Let’s hit the road. ☀️

Join us for the final lap of Winter 2026! Tim and Dan take a victory lap revisiting their semester goals, memorable moments, and how the course might take a new turn next semester. We also close the hood on Elysia’s time as the podcast’s longest standing Pit Crew member, and wish her luck on whatever comes next down the road. 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 🎀 00:31 Wrapping up semester goals 🥳 11:28 Student shout-outs 💭 18:27 Reflection on the semester 🩵 24:28 Elysia shout-out If you’d like to be a producer on the show, or if you have a question for Tim and Dan to answer on the pod, please send us an email at 1070underthehood@gmail.com 💌 Pit Crew Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Elysia DaSilva Co-Producer: Mikaela Macht

Tim and Dan are here to help you shift your grades into high gear 🚗💨 It’s that time of the semester to lock in and map a successful route to finals! 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 🙋 00:30 Questions? Comments? Email us! 📺 00:58 Big screen, little screen 💥 04:43 Distraction! 🤫 11:43 Secret distraction… 🧠 13:47 Why is my brain like this? 🍅 18:59 Get that 10% If you’d like to send us an email or voice note please reach out to 1070underthehood@gmail.com 💌 Pit Crew Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Mikaela Macht Co-Producer: Elysia DaSilva Citations Sana, F., Weston, T., & Cepeda, N. J. (2013). Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education, 62, 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.10.003 Ward, A. F., Duke, K., Gneezy, A., & Bos, M. W. (2017). Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2(2), 140–154. https://doi.org/10.1086/691462

Let’s pop the hood on Topic Test 2! Tim and Dan are back in the BIOL 1070 garage to walk through how this test went, highlight what students did well, and take a closer look at some of the trickier questions. Whether your test run felt like a smooth drive or more like hitting a few potholes, this episode will help you get tuned up for what’s coming next. 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 💭 00:26 Tim and Dan’s reflections on Topic Test 2 (and the class average!) 🥳 04:26 Questions that went well 💔 05:24 Questions that students found more challenging 🔮 22:31 Looking ahead to what’s next Pit Crew: Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Elysia DaSilva Co-Producer: Mikaela Macht

Let’s pop the hood on Topic Test 1! Whether you’re cruising down the highway or stuck in traffic, Tim and Dan are here to guide you through the Topic Test road map and get you feeling ready for the next one. Hot tip: Tim and Dan reference the question numbers in Version A, but you can still find each question on your test in Gradescope - they might just show up as different numbers! 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 💭 00:26 Dan and Tim’s thoughts on Topic Tests 🥳 05:45 Questions that went well (and class average!) 💔 09:00 Questions that were hard 🫰 16:45 Test adjustments 🔮 19:50 What next? The BIOL 1070 shop is always open for a tune-up, thanks for stopping by! Pit Crew: Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Mikaela Macht Co-Producer: Elysia DaSilva

With the first topic test approaching, studying can feel overwhelming without a clear game plan. In this episode, Tim and Dan help you pop the hood on your study habits, swap out what’s not working, and build a system that’ll keep you running smoothly all semester long. 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 00:18 Logistics of the Topic Tests 02:04 Do's and Don'ts 19:23 Reading Carefully 23:55 Test Anxiety 31:23 How to Use the Stems Fuel up, buckle in, and let’s take your study habits for a test drive! 🚗📖 Credits: Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Elysia DaSilva Co-Producer: Mikaela Macht

Whether you’re starting the race or just starting a new lap, there can be a lot to take in at the beginning of a new semester. In this episode, Tim and Dan want to make sure you have all the tools needed to tune up and be running well before you put the pedal to the metal. 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 💁 00:30 New semester, new me! 🗓️ 02:50 Before the semester starts: set your system 😌 07:50 Dealing with the first week information overload 👯 16:10 Find your people (including Tim and Dan!) Check your oil and torque your tires, we’re hitting the road! 🚗💨 Credits: Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Mikaela Macht Co-Producer: Elysia DaSilva

Welcome, Winter 2026 class, to BIOL 1070: Under the Hood with Tim and Dan! This episode is here to start your engines and give you a roadmap for your semester in class with Tim and Dan. 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 👋 00:29 Welcome to BIOL 1070 and the podcast 🧐 01:42 Something different this semester… 📝 06:23 Tim and Dan set challenges for each other ✅ 10:07 How to get involved Rev your engines and hit the gas - this semester is off to the races! 🚗💨 Credits: Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Mikaela Macht Co-Producer: Elysia DaSilva

🚗 Buckle Up—We’re Back on the Road! The semester’s cruising along, and it’s time to shift gears for Topic Test 2. But before we hit the highway, we’re making our first pit stop with Dan, who answers a question that’s been in the rearview for a while: what’s his research field? Then, before our students take the driver’s seat for Topic Test 2, Tim and Dan map out their route sharing their predictions and opinions on what twists, turns, and speed bumps might lie ahead. Once the test is complete, we’ll circle back to see how their forecasts held up. Tim and Dan reflect on what students nailed, where they took unexpected detours, and what insights they picked up along the way. 🕒 Topic Time Stamps: 0:25 – Dan’s Research Field 20:53 – Pre-Test Discussion: Mapping Out Topic Test 2 40:31 – Post-Test Reflections: Lessons from the Road So fasten your seatbelts, check your mirrors, and join us as we take another spin through ideas, insights, and the open road of learning. Credits: Executive Producers & Hosts - Dan Grunspan & Tim Bartley Producer - Mikaela Macht Co-Producer - Elysia DaSilva

Lap one is done and we’re already gearing up for lap two! Time to tune up before we hit the road again. Cruise along with Tim and Dan as they discuss the rough roads, smooth sailing, and sharp turns from Topic Test 1. 📍 Topic Time Stamps: 🐠 00:30 Dan asks about Tim’s specialty, freshwater ecology 📝 05:21 Tim & Dan gear up for Topic Test 1 📊 30:20 Tim & Dan reflect post-test 🦫 45:06 Tim & Dan discuss a student question: Can one species be both a keystone and foundation species? Rev your engines and hit the gas - this semester is off to the races! 🚗💨 Credits: Executive Producers and Hosts: Tim Bartley & Dan Grunspan Producer: Elysia DaSilva Co-Producer: Mikaela Macht

Welcome back to this semester of BIOL1070 Under the Hood with Tim & Dan, we’re cruising into the world of iClickers! 🚦 Tim & Dan pop the trunk on how the format and scoring system actually work, why they’ve chosen to take this tool out for a spin in BIOL1070, and how students can get the smoothest ride possible out of using it. Before we hit the gas, Tim & Dan steer us into a big-picture pit stop: What’s the real purpose of iClickers in a class like BIOL1070? After that, it’s time to put the pedal down on practical strategies—what you can do in class to get the most mileage out of iClickers, and what Tim & Dan most want students to take away from the experience. 📍 Topic Time Stamps 🔧 01:53 – iClicker Under the Hood: Format & Scoring 🛞 4:43 – Why Tim & Dan Drive With iClicker in BIOL1070 ⛽ 13:54 – Getting the Most Mileage Out of iClicker: Student Tips & Expectations There’s lots of ground to cover in this episode, so buckle up, adjust your mirrors, and enjoy the ride! 🚗💨 Citations: Horn, M. (2025, September 4). Memory: How to Boost It [Podcast]. Science Vs. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MeYlobqLvWbazrailtiZp?si=39648fa607b44793 Karpicke, J. D., & Blunt, J. R. (2011). Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning than Elaborative Studying with Concept Mapping. SCIENCE, 331, 772–775. https://doi.org/10.1126 Mazur, E. (2015, May 29). Eric Mazur - Peer Instruction [YouTube]. The Brainwaves Video Anthology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUY049rIjdM Mazur, E. (2025a). About the Group. Mazur Group. https://mazur.harvard.edu/about Mazur, E. (2025b). Peer Instruction. Mazur Group. https://mazur.harvard.edu/research-areas/peer-instruction?page=2 Our Company History. (2025). iClicker. https://www.iclicker.com/company/ 🔈 Sound Effects from: https://pixabay.com/

Welcome back to Summer School! The semester may be shifting into gear, but our conversations are just getting started. In this series, we spotlight the work of early-career faculty in our department and explore the stories behind their research. Each episode, our guest brings two things to the table: an insider’s perspective on their work and one thought-provoking question designed to challenge our hosts, Tim and Dan. Will they navigate it with confidence—or take a wrong turn along the way? We’ll also ask our guests to weigh in on a lighter tradition: deciding who wins a playful head-to-head challenge between Tim and Dan. This week, we’re joined by Dr. Edeline Gagnon, Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology. She shares her research, puts our hosts to the test, and helps settle the latest round of our ongoing friendly competition. 🕒 Topic Time Stamps: 1:02 – Meet our Guest and Their Research 16:23 – The Tricky Question 43:52 – Our Guest Judges Tim and Dan's Answers 55:02 – The Ultimate Showdown: Who Wins the Silly Challenge? So buckle up, check your mirrors, and join us as we take the conversation for a spin one last time this summer! 🚗✨ Hosted and edited by Massimo Maiuri

Welcome back to Summer School! The campus might be quiet, but we’re just getting started. In this seasonal spotlight, we’re taking a scenic detour through the exciting work of early career faculty in our department. Each episode, our guest brings two essentials: an insider’s look at their research and one brain-bending question designed to throw our hosts, Tim and Dan, off course. Will they navigate it with confidence—or end up lost in the weeds of confusion? But wait—there’s more. Our guests also weigh in on the most important question of all: Who would win in a ridiculous head-to-head challenge—Tim or Dan? This week, we’re cruising with Dr. Tess Grainger, Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology. She’s here to unpack her research, put Tim and Dan to the test, and cast her vote in the ongoing saga of silly showdowns. 🕒 Topic Time Stamps: 1:39 – Meet our Guest and Their Research 17:11 – The Tricky Question 44:50 – Our Guest Judges Tim and Dan's Answers 52:57 – The Ultimate Showdown: Who Wins the Silly Challenge? So buckle up, throw on your shades, and come along for a joyride through the world of science—one quirky conversation at a time. 🚙✨ Hosted and edited by Massimo Maiuri

Welcome to Summer School! While the textbooks might be gathering dust, we’re just getting warmed up. In this special series, we’re hitting the academic highway to check out what other early career faculty in our department are up to. Each guest brings two things to the table: a peek into their research and a tricky question to throw at Tim and Dan. Can our hosts stay on track, or will they take a wrong turn onto Uncertainty Boulevard? But that’s not all—our guests also weigh in on the most important question of all: Who would win in a ridiculous head-to-head challenge—Tim or Dan? This week’s trip features Dr. Andy Turko, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology. He joins us to share his research, test Tim and Dan’s knowledge, and of course, help settle the all-important debate: who would win in a completely unnecessary but deeply serious challenge? 🕒 Topic Time Stamps: 0:48 – Meet our Guest and Their Research 10:35 – The Tricky Question 35:00 – Our Guest Judges Tim and Dan's Answers 42:30 – The Ultimate Showdown: Who Wins the Silly Challenge? Grab your sunglasses, roll the windows down, and join us for a summer road trip through science—one pit stop at a time. 🚗💨 Hosted and edited by Massimo Maiuri

The final lap is over, and it's time to pop the hood and see how the engine ran! In this special post-race episode, Tim and Dan take a deep dive into Topic Test 3, also known as the BIOL1070 Final Exam. They pull into the garage to inspect how students handled the road ahead, reviewing student performance, breaking down their own exam questions, and reflecting on what went smoothly… and what hit a few potholes. 📍 Topic Time Stamps 🔍 00:47 – Tim & Dan Discuss What the End of the Semester Looks Like for Them 📝 8:50 – Tim & Dan Reflect After Topic Test 3 ❗ 40:00 – Summer Podcast Update Buckle up and get ready to hit the road one last time as we tune into what worked, what stalled, and what we learned from the final test. 🚗💨 🔧 FYI: We hit a bit of a bump in the road with the audio quality in this episode, our apologies! You might notice a few rough patches, but we’re already under the hood working on it and tuning things up for future episodes. Thanks for sticking with us!

This week on BIOL1070 Under the Hood with Tim & Dan, we’re shifting into gear to discuss Topic Test 2! Tim & Dan take you behind the wheel of the test design process, breaking down how it all comes together and reflecting on what worked, and what didn’t. Before we cruise into the test, we’re kicking things off with a big-picture question: If you could assess students in BIOL1070 in any possible way, how would you do it? After we’ve taken the test apart, we turn to a student-submitted Slido question: What does the Y chromosome actually do? Does it have a purpose beyond sex determination? And what do its genes even code for? 📍 Topic Time Stamps 🔍 00:49 – Testing the Limits: How Would You Assess BIOL1070? 📝 10:50 – Tim & Dan Reflect Before Topic Test 2 12:45 - Favourite question 16:05 - What question are you cheering for the students to do well on? 18:00 - What question do you think will be the hardest? 21:30 - What questions are you worried may need to be thrown away? 24:14 – Which question do you think may have more than one right answer? 🤔 28:32 – Tim & Dan Reflect After Topic Test 2 30:17 – Favourite Question 32:31 - Cheering for students: how did it go? 33:47 – What was the hardest question? 36:24 - What questions got thrown out? 37:11 - Did any questions have more than one correct answer? 37:47 – Point adjustments and why Tim and Dan made them? 43:09 - What did Tim & Dan learn from this experience? ❓ 46:53 – Slido Spotlight: What does the Y chromosome actually do? Does it have a purpose beyond sex determination? And what do its genes even code for? There’s plenty to explore under the hood in this episode, so buckle up and enjoy the ride! 🚗💨

This week on BIOL1070 Under the Hood with Tim & Dan, we’re taking a look in the rearview mirror at Topic Test 1. Dan & Tim break down what went into designing the test, reflect on what worked (and what definitely didn’t), and give us a peek into the decision-making process behind which questions get scrapped. But before we shift gears to Topic Test 2, we’re answering a big student question: I didn’t do as well as I wanted—what did I do wrong? There’s a lot of thought and care that goes into these tests (and, well… Dan and Tim had a lot to say), so buckle up—this one’s a long ride, but hopefully, it helps you hit the road with confidence for Topic Test 2! 📍 Topic Time Stamps 🔍 00:45 – Tim & Dan's Reminisce on Test Taking in University 📝 12:04 – Tim & Dan Reflect Before Topic Test 1 13:54 - What is Tim's favourite question 16:00 - Are there any questions that may have more than one right answer? 19:09 - What question are you cheering for the students to do well on? 21:07 - What question does Tim think will be the hardest? 23:11 - How many questions do you think will be thrown away? 🤔 24:56 – Tim & Dan Reflect After Topic Test 1 28:30 - Cheering for students: how did it go? 29:17 - What was the hardest question? 34:32 - What questions got thrown out? 35:08 - Did any questions have more than one correct answer? 42:51 - What did Tim & Dan learn fro this experience? ❓ 48:17 – Slido Spotlight: I Didn’t Do Well… What Did I Do Wrong? Buckle up—it’s going to be a ride full of twists and turns! 🚗💨

This week on BIOL1070: Under The Hood, Tim & Dan discuss the decision to introduce Codon as a key learning tool for the course. But before we hit the gas on that discussion, they take a pit stop in The Prof's Archive, reminiscing about the textbooks they used in undergrad. Then, we shift into high gear with The Central Dogma, breaking down why Codon made it into BIOL1070 this year—what makes it different, how it fits into the course, and what they hope students get out of it. Finally, in the Slido Spotlight, we take a detour into de-extinction: Is bringing back woolly mammoths really a good idea? 📍 Topic Time Stamps 📚 00:00 – The Profs’ Archive (Textbooks from Tim & Dan’s Undergrad) 🧬 07:04 – The Central Dogma (Why Codon?) ❓ 38:23 – Slido Spotlight (Should We Bring Back Woolly Mammoths?) Buckle up—it’s going to be a fun ride! 🚘

In this episode, Tim and Dan tackle the Slido question: "Are Viruses Alive If They're Evolving?" They’ll share their thoughts and perspectives on the topic, based on their knowledge and understanding. Please note that their answers reflect their personal views and should not be taken as definitive scientific fact. Tune in to hear if they agree—and what they think about this fascinating question!