Inspiration

I was inspired by my father Otto Phanstiel III, who taught science at both Stanton High School and Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, FL from 1978 to 1999. He started by having his students sing the Ideal Gas Law (PV = nRT) to his revised version of the Beatles song, "Yesterday". I was impressed by the number of his students that remembered this song many years later! I thought this would be a cool and fun way to inspire my own students via the Internet.

My father and his zany antics (e.g., ignited gummy bears and his first science song) are highlighted in this short video produced during his DisneyHand 1994 Teacher of the Year Award. Enjoy!

Inspirational Note

Dr. Phanstiel,

Hello from one of your father's former students at Episcopal. I'm teaching General Chemistry this semester here at Winthrop and when we hit the Gas Laws chapter, I had to search to see if anyone had a version of the 'Ideal Gas' song your father used to teach it to me and so many of us. I still can't get it out of my head. Imagine my surprise when I found it and the nice tribute you made for it.

Your father was a great man and I was lucky to have him as my advisor during my years at Episcopal. Thanks for making the page available.

Best of luck in your research,
Go Gators,
Jason C. Hurlbert, Ph.D.
University of Florida Class of '93 and '99
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Winthrop University