As middle and high schools across the country implement new cell phone bans, we consider what drove this bold step and what science says about how digital devices affect our attention and focus. An assistant principal describes how his school implemented the ban, despite protest from students and parents, and what happened next.

Guests:

Alison – 14 year old high school student

Raymond Dolphineighth grade assistant principal at Illing Middle School in Manchester, Connecticut

Alan17 year old high school student

Gloria MarkPsychologist, professor in the Department of Informatics at University of California, Irvine, author of book “Attention Span.”  

Descripción en español

Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake

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for our three part series on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Big Picture Science is an immersive radio show and podcast that reveals the unexpected connections in science.

Our Skeptic Check episodes take a critical look at extraordinary science claims and pseudoscience.

Don’t settle for a science snapshot. Get the big picture. 

Hosted By

Molly Bentley Executive Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science  

Seth Shostak Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

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