BIOL1070: Under the Hood with Tim and Dan

Winter 2026 - Topic Test 1: First Lap Pit Stop

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

Winter 2026 - BIOL1070 Tests: The Guide

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 GrunspanProducer: Elysia DaSilvaCo-Producer: Mikaela Macht

Winter 2026 - New Semester: How to Tune Up Before Hitting the Road

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

Winter 2026 - Welcome to BIOL 1070: Start Your Engines

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

Fall 2025 - Topic Test 2: Reflections from the Road

🚗 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 Field20:53 – Pre-Test Discussion: Mapping Out Topic Test 240:31 – 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

Fall 2025 - Topic Test 1: Driving Off The Deep End

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

The iClicker Roadmap: From Scoring to Student Success

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/

Cruising Out of Summer With Dr. Edeline Gagnon: Summer School Series Episode 4

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 Research16:23 – The Tricky Question43:52 – Our Guest Judges Tim and Dan's Answers55:02 – 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

Taking the Scenic Route with Dr. Tess Grainger: Summer School Series Episode 3

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 Research17:11 – The Tricky Question44:50 – Our Guest Judges Tim and Dan's Answers52:57 – 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

Riding Shotgun with Dr. Andy Turko: Summer School Series Episode 2

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