On a groggy morning, maybe you’ve wondered: What’s the fastest way to stir this creamer into my cup of coffee? A student at Tennessee Tech is trying to find the answer — and gaining national attention for his endeavor.
Robert Lakatosh has been podcasting since he was in high school, and he’s now one of 10 finalists in NPR’s annual Student Podcast Challenge for his science story, “The fluid dynamics of coffee.” You can listen to his creative approach by pressing play above.
Lakatosh tells WPLN News that he was initially a self-taught podcaster and completed more than 60 history-centric episodes while in high school. He then studied audio engineering.
So how did he find his lane in explanatory podcasting? He says he’s too young to be a true expert on any one subject.
“My default position, being 19, is to take the perspective of knowing just enough to come up with a good topic and to ask what I think are interesting questions,” he says.
Maybe not an expert, but wise!
As for his coffee-stirring research, it did lead to one change in habits. These days, he’s puts the creamer in first.
“By the time you’re finished pouring the coffee, it self-stirs,” he says, “and that doesn’t dirty any dishes.”
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