Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast We Love Science
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 56: Once Upon a Time - Origin Stories | 15 Sep 2024 | 00:31:52 | |
Episode 52 - Dr. Richard Summers Episode 49 - Dr. Adriana Bankston Episode 46 - Dr. Jishad Kumar Episode 43 - Dr. Maria Qadri Episode 40 - Dr. Laura Canil Episode 37 - Dr. Ijeoma Kola Episode 34 - Dr. Cari Skrdla Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 55: CRISPR Food Science | 29 Jul 2024 | 00:34:54 | |
In the Season 3 finale, We Love Science presents a special episode ALL ABOUT FOOD!! Specifically, we discuss how CRISPR gene editing technology is being used to improve our food and agricultural industry. · How CRISPR gene editing can save our oceans' coral reefs from the effects of climate change · Where to find conscious greens engineered to taste better, and the non-browning banana that stays fresh longer · Food engineered to improve the eating experience: blackberries, cherries, and mandarins · More nutritious tomatoes that can strengthen the immune system · How CRISPR is being used to improve agriculture with increased crop yield, disease-resistant crops etc. · The delicious flatbread, Injera, made from Teff grain · CRISPR-edited animals in the U.S and Japan · Listener Spotlight: Dave in Japan
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| Ep 46: Connecting the Dots between Theory, Physics, and Mathematics - The Journey | 24 Mar 2024 | 00:40:05 | |
We continue our conversation with Jishad Kumar on his journey in science. Jishad remembers his first science wow moment during his childhood when a teacher captivated his interest in optics with kaleidoscopes. His curiosity instantly peaked and he really wanted to learn more about how to make such tools; eventually in high school he successfully built his own optical instrument with friends. While discovering the world of optics, Jishad also started to think more about what he wanted to do with his future; he knew there was more to the world than building fun optical tools. Around this same time, he was fortunate to have a very good math teacher who introduced him to the world of mathematics, and simultaneously Jishad discovered that he was very talented in this subject–always scoring at the top of the class. As he continued in his studies, Jishad was introduced to another amazing mentor–a priest who was also a dedicated physics teacher. This teacher taught him one-on-one the intricate details of physics and pointed out to Jishad that he also has a special talent for physics. This encouragement from his teachers and his natural talent set Jishad on the first steps in his journey into mathematics and physics. As he continued on to college and graduate school, he considered traveling abroad to complete his studies, however, this plan was not financially feasible for him or his family. Undeterred by this small setback, Jishad continued in his education in India and he completed his doctorate at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. He credits his success in his doctoral program to his two outstanding Ph.D. supervisors who really supported him not only through his education but also his growth as an individual. At this stage, Jishad knew he wanted to teach and stay in academia; he set out on completing post doctoral fellowships and traveled the globe from the Czech Republic to the United States to his current position at Aalto University in Finland. His vision of success is still a work in progress; Jishad strives to do so much more in his career. “I want to do more, learn more, and love physics more,” he explains. Tune into this episode to hear Jishad discuss:
Reach out to Jishad: LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/drjishadkumar Other Great Episodes:
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| Ep 45: Connecting the Dots between Theory, Physics, and Mathematics - The Work | 10 Mar 2024 | 00:29:58 | |
In this episode, Shekerah and Fatu have a delightful conversation with Jishad Kumar, a theorist and researcher. As a theorist he uses concrete assumptions and models to solve problems which can then be further investigated with in depth experimentation. Jishad’s journey into theoretical physics started accidentally when he discovered Brownian motion is related to particle motion and has nothing to do with the color brown. From there, he extensively read books and scientific articles building a very solid knowledge base for his graduate studies. But, Jishad had a difficult start in his research career; he struggled with his first project assignment and did not have good support from this research advisor. During this difficult period, however, he found guidance from another advisor who encouraged him to conquer his fear and gave him the motivation to continue with the assignment and ultimately succeed. Things continued to progress and his confidence grew as he was also able to design a very impressive doctoral research project examining superconductivity. Looking back, Jishad sees this initial research experience as very formative in his research journey, and he is grateful for this. “I cannot stay away from science,” he explains as he also looks back and reflects on all the challenges and triumphs of the journey. Currently Jishad’s research focuses on applications of quantum thermo-dynamics, such as quantum heat exchange, and he looks forward to future real-world applications and innovations from this research. His long term goals include setting up his own research lab with students and teaching. To hear more about Jishad’s work tune into the latest episode. Tune into this episode to hear Jishad discuss:
Ep 26: From Postdoc to Assistant Professor - The Work Ep 29: Accidental Discovery of the Microwave Ep 30: Quantum Biology with Clarice Aiello - The Work Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 44: The Colorful Life of Bird Eggs | 25 Feb 2024 | 00:24:32 | |
It’s another Science Short, and today Fatu and Shekerah discover how bird eggs get their color–from brown, white, blue, speckled, and everything in between. To this day, scientists do not have a good understanding of why egg color developed in birds, but they do know that this trait co-evolved with the introduction of open-style bird nests, as opposed to covered nests. Open nests left bird eggs exposed and vulnerable to the outside environment, which led to one hypothesis that egg colors provide camouflage against potential predators. There are also other hypotheses that connect egg color to bacterial resistance, temperature regulation, and even female genetic fitness; literally as many hypotheses as there are egg color patterns. Even though it is still a big mystery as to why birds have colored eggs, how these colors are formed is not. Birds are only capable of making two pigments–blue and brown–and the different combinations of these pigments produce the diverse spectrum of all the colors we see in eggs. With domesticated birds such as chickens, however, egg color is directly linked to the breed of chicken. Specific breeds only lay specific colors, for example Orpingtons lay brown eggs, Ameraucana lay blue eggs, and the “olive egger” breeds lay olive-green eggs. Catch this episode to learn more about the egg-straordinary story of bird eggs and how they got their colors. Tune into this episode to learn more about:
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll also enjoy:
Read about the Nature Ecology and Evolution study Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 43: Science CEO Level: Unlocked - The Journey | 11 Feb 2024 | 00:29:23 | |
Dr. Maria Qadri, CEO of Clearwater Leadership begins the conversation on her journey into entrepreneurship with memories of building things (flat pack furniture) with her father–both of her parents were engineers and science-y discussions were a hallmark of her childhood. As a child, Maria slowly started to envision becoming a doctor, mainly influenced by her diagnosis with type 1 diabetes and the time she spent with medical experts to understand and manage her disease. Ultimately, Maria landed on biomedical engineering as the best path for her, combining all of her interests. As she continued in her studies in college at University of Hartford, focusing on pre-med and biomedical engineering, Maria came to the revelation that she “could have so much more of an impact if [she] made the tools that doctors worked with.” This led to the first twist in her journey and she pursued a Masters at University of Connecticut and then received her doctorate at Rutgers University. Along the way, however, she stumbled upon science policy, leading to another turn in her journey. And again she came across a new realization: “good policy is good communication.” This inspired her to complete a unique post-doctoral fellowship at the Association of American Colleges and Universities focused on science communications and policy. She had found the perfect fit in what she was looking for, again combining several different interests. At this current stage in her career journey, Maria has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge, it was just a matter of somehow putting it all together with the other goals she had in her life–starting a family and buying her first home–to find the perfect sweet spot. And now as the founder of her own company, Maria can proudly say she feels like she has it all–a daughter, a husband, a home, and her own business to invest in her many passions. As she looks back on her journey, Maria thinks about her village of family support and mentors that guided her every step of the way. One of the best pieces of advice she would give to anyone interested in following a similar journey is to “run towards the things you are afraid of.” Tune into this episode to hear Maria discuss:
Reach out to Maria: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajq/ Email: ceo@clearwaterleadership.com Other Great Episodes: Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 42: Science CEO Level: Unlocked - The Work | 28 Jan 2024 | 00:14:23 | |
Our journey into science entrepreneurship continues! In this episode we speak to Dr. Maria Qadri, founder of Clearwater Leadership which specializes in data analysis, science communication, and leadership development training. As a new founder of her own company, Maria already has her sights set on the future–she looks forward to growing the company and bringing on additional people depending on how the portfolio for Clearwater Leadership develops and client needs. Maria admits she has always been afraid of entrepreneurship because of the realities of living with type 1 diabetes and the need to have reliable healthcare access. However, at this stage in her career journey she looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead in running her own company, similar to the intellectual pursuits in completing her doctorate. For those who are interested in following a similar career path, that pulls from education and work experience, Maria advises to ask questions about everything. She also explains, “Don’t treat [the journey] as closing doors, try to treat it as building bridges.” Tune into this episode to hear Maria explain how she:
And, some tips if you are interested in following your own, independent science-focused venture Reach out to Maria: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajq/ Email: ceo@clearwaterleadership.com
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| Ep 41: Discovery, Development, and Cures - The CRISPR Saga | 15 Jan 2024 | 00:55:26 | |
You may think that the CRISPR-Cas genome engineering tool was developed from simple human ingenuity. And while its development certainly involved ingenuity, CRISPR was birthed in the wild. As a product of nature, it has an essential function in its native host; spoilers: its natural function involves defending its host from attacks. From the initial discovery in nature to its adoption as a gene therapy tool it took decades of twists and turns, ups, downs, and yes, ins and outs too. · The cliffhanger that showed the world the first CRISPR sequence · The real purpose of CRISPR in the wild · How scientists assembled the puzzle pieces to use CRISPR for Gene editing · The CRISPR patent dispute · Bonus Food Science Content: Learn all about Russian cuisine For more information on this topic, visit our website: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com
Read Irina’s excellent CRISPR review article: CRISPR–Cas9: A History of Its Discovery and Ethical Considerations of Its Use in Genome Editing. Biochemistry Moscow 87, 777–788 (2022).
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| Ep 40: The Art of Science with Laura Canil - The Journey | 31 Dec 2023 | 00:27:45 | |
We continue our discussion with Laura Canil to learn about her journey in becoming a scientific illustrator. Her earliest memories in science didn't exactly start in science–initially she wanted to be an inventor and then a painter. As she continued in her education, Laura started to also explore science communication. All of these interests remained in the back of her mind as she received her bachelors and masters in physics and materials science in Italy. As a graduate student in Berlin, completing her doctorate research on photovoltaic and photocells, Laura realized that she enjoyed the communications aspect of science a little bite more than the research. She would spend hours making just the right figures and animations to explain her research clearly. As she reached the end of her graduate school journey, Laura began to think critically about what comes next. She didn’t know at this point that scientific illustration was a potential choice for a fulfilling career. By chance, she contacted someone online who was already working in the field, and as she learned more and more about his career, it all just clicked. Laura knew this was the right path for her. After receiving her doctorate, she took a gap year to develop additional skills for professional illustration–powerpoint was just not going to cut it. And as she learned and grew in her art, the company CanilVisuals developed organically as a natural next step to get her professional career off the ground. When Laura looks back on her journey, she doesn’t recall one specific mentor who helped guide her along the way. Rather, she had tremendous support from her community–friends, Ph.D. supervisors, family, illustrators and other freelancers–encouraging her to reach for her goals. And when reflecting on the choices she has made, there isn’t anything she would do differently. “I am who I am because of the choices I’ve made,” explains Laura; that person is a brilliant scientist AND a talented artist. Tune into this episode to hear Laura share her perspectives on:
Reach out to Laura: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-canil-8a203819b/ X (formerly Twitter): @laura_canil More about CanilVisuals: https://www.canilvisuals.com/
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| Ep 39: The Art of Science with Laura Canil - The Work | 17 Dec 2023 | 00:18:22 | |
We Love Science is closing out 2023 with another spectacular interview. In this episode we speak with Dr. Laura Canil, a freelance scientific illustrator with her own company, CanilVisuals. As a scientific illustrator, Laura takes on a variety of projects like creating figures to accompany journal articles, crafting catchy covers for journals, producing original scientific comic strips, and guiding others who need advice in developing their own beautiful and engaging designs. After receiving her Ph.D. in physics, Laura took some time off to plan her transition as a freelance scientific illustrator. There was a lot of fear and excitement during this time in starting her own company, but she took the jump and really enjoys her work creating visuals to accompany groundbreaking research. Laura also found a lot of support in the beginning from friends and colleagues she met during graduate school. Her network served as a receptive audience for constructive criticism during her early days testing the waters as an illustrator. For practice, Laura would select papers from people she knew and designed journal covers and other illustrations to accompany their research publications. This provided her with constructive feedback as she perfected her craft and built her portfolio to move on to the next step of reaching out to new clients. “It’s easier when you really like something because then you have all the motivation to go through the hard parts,” she explains. Tune into this episode to hear Laura share her perspective on:
Reach out to Laura: More about CanilVisuals: If you enjoyed hearing about Laura’s work, you might also enjoy: Ep 32: We Love Birds Too! Ep 20: Who Should Art Represent - The Work Ep 8: The Pen is Mightier than the Pipette - The Work Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 38: The Secret Behind CRISPR Gene Editing | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:26:43 | |
Humans have ~6 billion bases of DNA in each cell. But every gene has a specific and unique sequence that serves as a kind of genetic address. Before any gene can be edited, the editor must first find the gene's location within the genome. Luckily CRISPR-Cas has a built-in GPS component that makes finding a gene address easy, and switching out one genetic address for another is as easy as typing a street address into your Google Maps navigation app...well almost as easy.
For more information on this topic, visit our website: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com
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| Ep 37: Sista, Sista! Graduate School Years - The Journey | 19 Nov 2023 | 00:23:37 | |
In this episode Shekerah and Fatu continue their discussion with Ijeoma Kola, a public health historian of race and medicine. When she was younger, Ijeoma didn’t exactly have a science spark moment, but she was positively influenced by her mother’s career as a nurse. She remembers in middle school attending a summer program, Center for Talented Youth, at Johns Hopkins University, where she was first introduced to genetics and genomics. From this experience, Ijeoma was convinced that she would continue to study science and become a doctor. Things started off as she expected during her undergrad at Harvard University; however, one late night studying organic chemistry Ijeoma suddenly realized that maybe this career path wasn’t really for her. She wanted to help people, but didn’t see how memorizing amino acids was the best way to reach this goal. “Do I want to make people better by prescribing medicine, or do I want to make people better by changing the environment that we live in?—So their social health is better, so their neighborhoods are better, so that their socio-economic status is better. All of those things also shape our health and health outcomes,” explains Ijeoma. It took a little bit of quick thinking, but she was able to transition from her molecular biology major to a history and science major without losing any credits. After receiving her doctorate from Columbia University in history of public health, Ijeoma took an “eat, pray, love” style gap year to reset her thoughts on what to do next. After some brainstorming and reflecting on her own graduate school journey, she founded Cohort Sistas to support black women and non-binary individuals pursuing graduate degrees. Looking back on her journey, Ijeoma wishes she had given herself more grace and forgiveness along the way, to take care of herself not only intellectually but also mentally and physically. The journey is hard enough as it is after all, and as long as it's getting done, we are all doing a good job—it doesn't need to be perfect. Tune into this episode to hear Ijeoma discuss: Mentoring and the impacts on her career journey How to shift in your career journey as you find new ways to reach your goals What skills and experiences inspired her to found Cohort Sistas
info@cohortsistas.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ijeomakola/ And be on the lookout for her book! More about Cohort Sistas: https://www.cohortsistas.org To join Cohort Sistas: https://community.cohortsistas.org
Ep 7: STEMLand Future of Science - The Journey Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 54: The Colorful Life of Bird Eggs - Chickens and Turkeys | 14 Jul 2024 | 00:23:44 | |
The egg color saga continues as Fatu and Shekerah look into how domesticated birds like chickens and turkeys got their egg colors. In the previous episode, we learned that the breed of chicken is responsible for egg color and this is all linked to the genetics of the rooster and hen. In the US for example, Leghorn chickens are the most common breed for egg-laying and they always produce white eggs, while Orpington’s lay brown eggs and Ameraucana lay blue eggs. Through many years of research, scientists have discovered exactly which genes in chickens are associated with egg color. For chickens that lay blue eggs like the Ameraucana and Dongxiang they both have the SLCO1B3 gene. And even more interesting, this gene has a specific mutation caused by an avian retrovirus that directly changes the way this gene is expressed to produce the blue egg color. So it is both the presence of the SLCO1B3 gene and the avian retrovirus mutation in Ameraucana and Dongxiang that is responsible for the trait of blue egg color. Even with the whole spectrum of the colors available to chicken eggs, consumer preference and culture ultimately determine what color eggs are sold around the world. Europeans have different color preferences compared to Americans and Japanese and this leads to the different egg colors across countries. To hear more about chicken egg color, and even turkey egg color listen to the episode. Tune into this episode to learn more about:
If you enjoyed this episode, check out one more:
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| Ep 36: Sista, Sista! Graduate School Years - The Work | 05 Nov 2023 | 00:29:35 | |
The good conversations just keep coming! In this episode we meet Dr. Ijeoma Kola, a historian of public health with an emphasis on race and medicine; her current research focuses on the evolution of the understanding of asthma in Black urban communities in the 20th century. In short, she is a storyteller—pulling together the full narrative, or history, of medical and health innovations and their impacts on broader communities. In addition to looking at the broad impacts of health and medicine, Ijeoma also has a specific interest in understanding how individuals and communities view their own health and their relationship within the larger medical institution. As a researcher and historian, Ijeoma has several publications and she is now in the process of writing a book on the history of the rise of asthma in the Black community. The book will cover the early perception of asthma as a predominantly White, elite illness to the present day, with asthma mostly impacting Black urban communities. When she is not writing and researching, Ijeoma is the founder and executive director of Cohort Sistas, a mentoring organization that supports black women and non-binary doctoral students through building community and providing resources to help individuals succeed and thrive through their graduate education. Her own experience as a doctoral student was isolating, stressful, and even miserable in some instances, and she wants to change this for the next generation, especially for underrepresented scholars. “The entire goal and vision is to be able to provide folks with the resources, mentorship, and community I wish I had when I was getting my Ph.D.,” she explains. Ultimately, she hopes to grow the Cohort Sistas community to 10,000 scholars to capture individuals at many stages of their training. Tune into this episode to hear Ijeoma’s thoughts on:
Ep 17: Mentors of Incalculable Worth - Anthology Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 35: How CRISPR Gene Therapy is Bringing Hope to the World | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:24:39 | |
Every year, approximately 8 million children are born with a serious genetic disorder, and 3 million of them die before the age of 5. This disease burden is about to change. In this episode, we launch the CRISPR Chronicles series that will run throughout season 3. Since the pivotal paper by Doudna and Charpentier in 2012, CRISPR has taken the world by storm. Scientists have used this genome engineering tool in the lab to quickly and easily create mutants to study gene function in laboratory animals. But more importantly, the power of CRISPR gene editing as a biomedical intervention to cure diseases has been realized. Currently, dozens of clinical trials are ongoing or on the verge of being launched to cure everything from genetic blindness and sickle cell anemia, to cancers and HIV. In fact, the Sickle Cell Disease treatment, exa-cel is poised to become the first CRISPR gene editing therapy to be approved by the FDA. Due to its far-reaching impacts, Doudna and Charpentier won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020 for discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing; thereby, breaking the boundary as dual female winners of this prize.
For more information on this topic, visit our website: welovesciencepodcast.com
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| Ep 34: Get Your LifeBack: How to Honor the Human Being Behind the Employee - The Journey | 08 Oct 2023 | 00:37:49 | |
There's more from Dr. Cari Skrdla on her journey in becoming a neuroscientist and successful business woman, as we continue season 3. In her youth, Cari was always drawn to the world around her; she constantly asked questions to better understand how and why things are the way they are. This curiosity stayed with her as she became interested in theater and acting. Cari was really inspired by how individuals could change to embody different characters as part of a story. How can a person be King Lear in a play one day and the next a character from the musical Color Purple? After high school, Cari received her bachelors in psychology from Eastern Michigan University, but she didn’t want to be a therapist; rather she used her psych background as part of her first position in human relations and employee management. As Cari continued in her journey, she attended graduate school at Boston University for a doctorate in neuroscience. As part of her graduate research she conducted an interesting study on runners to understand how their thinking, especially memories, can influence not only how quickly they start a race, but also how likely they are to win. With all of these experiences, and her innate drive for curiosity, Cari was able to develop the foundations of her current personal coaching service, LifeBack Investing Club—how are human beings manufactured and programmed, and how can you use this to your advantage? Cari’s career path so far has been an amazing journey; she has had several influential mentors including her father and constantly tells herself to just keep doing what you are doing—be a disruptor! As she gets ready for the next phase in her life and journey, she looks forward to getting even more fulfillment from areas in her life other than work, like family, and building a legacy. Tune in to the episode to hear Cari bring light to:
Reach out to Cari: questions@everythingandjack.com cari@lifeback.life take the Mindset Quotient Test: mindsetquotienttest.com If you Enjoyed hearing about Cari's work, you will also enjoy:
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| Ep 33: Get Your LifeBack: How to Honor the Human Being Behind the Employee - The Work | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:51:34 | |
We Love Science Podcast kicks off season 3 with Dr. Cari Skrdla, a passionate neuroscientist and accomplished businesswoman. As the founder and CEO of LifeBack Consulting, Cari uses her research findings to guide employers in bringing the human experience to the forefront in the workplace. Through the evolution of the hiring process from paper applications, to background checks, to personality tests, Cari says that employers are still missing so much. Employee turnover is rampant--new hires quickly became unhappy at the workplace and leave. This highlights the importance of considering the human aspect in employee recruitment and retention, and her research gives some insight into this.
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| Ep 32: We Love Birds too! | 16 Jul 2023 | 00:20:18 | |
We are doing some summer reading y’all! In this special book review episode, Fatu and Shekerah learn about birds, from the book Crazy for Birds by Misha Maynerick Blaise. In this book, Misha takes the reader on a whirlwind trip into all things birds–how they fly, how they communicate, how they build nests, what they eat, how birds are reflected in different cultures around the world. From sooty-capped hermits to cliff swallows to red-breasted chats and everything else in between the book is strewn with lovely illustrations and nuggets of knowledge about all things birds. Listen to the podcast to hear our review of Crazy for Birds, and If you are already a big bird fan, or just need an interesting read, pick it up at your local library or bookstore today! Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 31: Quantum Biology with Clarice Aiello - The Journey | 02 Jul 2023 | 00:20:05 | |
Our conversation with Dr. Clarice Aiello continues! In the beginning, Clarice actually didn’t have a passion for science; she was a big reader and had little interest in math and related subjects. She originally wanted to be a journalist and when she didn’t get into a journalism program, engineering became her plan B. That is how she discovered her love of physics. As an engineering student, Clarice met an amazing mentor who took her under his wing and introduced her to quantum mechanics–a truly life changing moment. “Nothing is linear; you end up where you end up. That’s very scary and that is also the beauty of it,” Clarice explains as she reflects on the many detours and turns she has had in her career journey to become a quantum biologist. One of the biggest challenges facing the field of quantum biology, however, is the lack of acceptance as a legitimate field from other researchers within the biological sciences. Clarice explains how she is working with her colleagues to build out the field from the ground up; and one day she hopes that others will also see the vision of future discoveries that can come from understanding the intersection of biology and quantum engineering. Being a pioneer can be a lonely path, but someone has to do it! Listen to the episode, to learn more about Clarice’s journey and the emerging field of quantum biology. Email - cla@g.ucla.edu And read her recent article - It’s Time to Take Quantum Biology Research Seriously And if you are interested in quantum biology, check out the book Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Johnjoe McFadden and Jim Al-Khalili Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 30: Quantum Biology with Clarice Aiello - The Work | 18 Jun 2023 | 00:27:16 | |
Meet Dr. Clarice Aiello! She is a principal investigator at the quantum biology tech lab at the University of California, Los Angeles. Clarice has a background in quantum engineering, which means she studies the teeniest, tiniest particles that behave under their own special laws–the laws of quantum mechanics. Her current work combines her expertise to understand how nature might use quantum mechanics to function and function optimally. From her work she has seen that chemical reactions are directly affected by quantum mechanics, for example electrons use tunneling to optimize their function and magnetic fields influence chemical reactions due to a property called spin. This may come across as far out complicated science, but there are direct implications to how quantum phenomena, such as magnetic fields, cause changes in our cells which can lead to disease. As a primary investigator and leader of a research team the favorite part of her job is talking with her team about science. Listen to the episode, to learn more about Clarice’s work and the emerging field of quantum biology. If you enjoyed listening to our episode with Clarice, check out an episode with one of our past guests:
Email - cla@ucla.edu And read her recent article - It’s Time to Take Quantum Biology Research Seriously And if you are interested in quantum biology, check out the book Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Johnjoe McFadden and Jim Al-Khalili Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 29: The Accidental Discovery of the Microwave | 05 Jun 2023 | 00:16:23 | |
Ever wondered what your life would be like if you didn't have access to a microwave oven? And I don't mean cooking over a fire for your camping trip or your Appalachian Trail hike (Ooooo this sounds awesome!) I mean every day for the rest of your life, planning and preparing all your meals, leftovers, quick snacks, movie night popcorn...everything! Now let's be clear, there are many people in the world who live their lives this way, and it's normal for them. But can you do it? Or is just the thought of it giving you terrifying end-of-the-world-daymares. I can speak from personal experience that it's not easy. When I go visit my family, even heating up water for tea has me pacing or grinding my teeth--my sister might say, "it's just an opportunity to practice patience." Aaaarrgghh!!!
Other Great Episodes:
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| Ep 28: Yogurt-Making DIY Style - A Food Science Short | 21 May 2023 | 00:24:19 | |
Fatu and Shekerah are back at it with more fermentation talk . . .but this time in yogurt making! The process of fermentation, as a way to preserve foods, goes back thousands of years, as we learned in our first Food Science Short (The Science behind Baking with Yeast). Unlike with baking, however, yeast are not part of the process of fermenting milk to make yogurt, rather the work is done by our other favorite microorganism—bacteria! In yogurt making, bacteria break down the sugars in milk to produce acid, which changes the consistency of the proteins in the milk leading to a tart, thick, rich, smooth custard-like product. And, under the right conditions, it is very easy to even make yogurt at home! Interestingly, yogurt has been associated with many positive attributes that are believed to contribute to overall good health, but no one has been able to prove this definitively, even with modern studies. Listen to the episode to learn more and you might even be inspired to start your own delicious experiments in the kitchen! For more information visit our website: welovesciencepodcast.com Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 27: From Post doc to Assistant Professor - The Journey | 08 May 2023 | 00:22:16 | |
Caroline Bartman, Ph.D. didn’t start her science journey in childhood; in fact, she wasn’t even interested in science at all in her youth. It wasn’t until Caroline got into college that she was drawn into the problem solving and experimental aspects of research. After her first summer job at the NIH studying HIV, Caroline began to envision herself as a future scientist. However, as an international studies major in college with only one semester of lab experience, she felt she was at a disadvantage to make this pivot in her journey. Fortunately, Caroline had another opportunity to join a lab at the University of Chicago and her mentor instilled in her the confidence and support to follow her dream of becoming a scientist. Looking back, one thing she would do differently is learn basic programming for data analysis; this is a skill Caroline wished she had spent time on rather than learning it on the fly with google. Now that she is getting ready to set up her own lab, her dream is to do exciting and rigorous science with colleagues and lab members who feel motivated and supported to come to the Bartman lab everyday. Click the link to hear more about Caroline’s journey as a “late bloomer” in science.
Ep 3: Dr. Erin Jimenez: Ninja Warrior Scientist - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1720419/8978865 Ep 14: Dr. Kelli Duncan: Estrogen Heals Both Sexes - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1720419/11216573 Twitter: @Caroline_Bartma Lab website: https://bartmanlabpenn.squarespace.com Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 53: Safety and Ethics in a CRISPR World | 01 Jul 2024 | 00:48:26 | |
In this episode of "We Love Science," hosts Shekerah and Fatu delve into the safety and ethical considerations surrounding CRISPR gene editing technology. Joined by special guest, Irina Gostimskaya, we explore the complexities and implications of advances in biomedical technology, including the use of CRISPR in humans. The main purpose of ethical guidelines in biomedicine is to protect patients and ensure responsible scientific conduct. Past abuses of biomedical technology including inhumane medical experiments set the stage for modern bioethics. Key moments that shaped current ethical guidelines include: the 1947 Nuremberg Code developed after the trial of Nazi doctors, and the 1978 Belmont Report issued in response to an unethical Syphilis study conducted on African American men. Throughout the decades, groundbreaking advancements in biotechnology have compelled the scientific community to unite in discussion to create new guidelines for their responsible and ethical use. The advent of CRISPR genetic engineering has been met with the same commitment to responsible application of the technology and ethical biomedical conduct. Tune in to learn about: · Historical context of Bioethics · Safety concerns with DNA manipulation · CRISPR-specific safety issues · Ethical challenges with CRISPR gene editing · The CRISPR babies scandal
Catch up on the previous CRISPR episodes: · Ep 35: The first CRISPR Chronicles episode: How CRISPR gene therapy is bringing hope to the world · Ep 38: A foundational discussion explaining the secret behind CRISPR gene therapy · Ep 41: A look into the ups and downs of how the CRISPR saga developed · Ep 47: The CRISPR Cure for Sickle Cell Disease · Ep 50: CRISPR clinical trials Also check out:
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| Ep 26: From Post doc to Assistant Professor - The Work | 26 Apr 2023 | 00:25:35 | |
Today we are speaking with the wonderful Caroline Bartman, Ph.D. about her transition from post doctoral fellow at Princeton University to assistant professor at UPENN. Caroline currently studies cellular metabolism as a postdoc with the goal of understanding how and why metabolism differs in cancer cells compared to healthy cells. Overall, she has enjoyed her time as a postdoc and the opportunity to conduct independent work on interesting research. While the prospect of setting up her own lab in the near future is a little bit scary, she is looking forward to building a positive, supportive community where everyone feels they belong and can contribute to great science. The research focus of the Bartman Lab will be cells with extreme metabolism such as immune cells and cancer cells—an expansion of the focus of Caroline’s current research as a postdoc. As a woman in science, overall her experience has been very good, but there have been moments when Caroline has felt undervalued for what she brings to the table. As she establishes her own lab and advances in her career, Caroline wants to work towards addressing issues that negatively impact the participation women in science. Click on the link to hear more about Caroline’s work and her research interests! Reach out to Caroline: Twitter: @Caroline_Bartma Lab website: https://bartmanlabpenn.squarespace.com Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 25: Wine-Making with Yeast - A Food Science Short | 09 Apr 2023 | 00:17:54 | |
In this special short episode Shekerah and Fatu continue their deep dive into the food science of yeast—this time exploring how our favorite little microbe is a key player in fermented beverages like wine and beer. Humans have been fermenting beverages for thousands of years, and after many many years of trial and error, the underlying chemistry of fermentation started to come together. For almost 100 years beginning in the 1780’s, many scientists experimented with different conditions to understand exactly how sugars were broken down into carbon dioxide and alcohol. But, it wasn’t until 1850 when Louis Pasteur discovered that yeast were responsible for driving this specific reaction. Today, beer and winemakers have honed and perfected their understanding of both natural and commercial yeast to produce the many different varieties of fermented beverages available today, each with unique characteristics and flavors. For more information, visit our website: welovesciencepodcast.com Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 24: From Dyslexia to Nobel Prize Winner! - Hidden Genius Challenge #1 | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:08:44 | |
The Challenge is on!! In this episode, we launch “The Hidden Genius,” a new series in which we explore the lives of great scientists and challenge you to figure out who they are. Can you guess who is this episode’s hidden genius? For more information, visit our website: welovesciencepodcast.com Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 23: The Accidental Discovery of Penicillin | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:12:17 | |
Do you know what penicillin is? Chances are that someone in your family or even your pet has taken this drug. Penicillin is an antibiotic that’s used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, from strep throat and skin and ear infections, to more serious illnesses like pneumonia and sepsis; its use has saved millions of lives worldwide. What would you say if I told you that the discovery of this life-saving drug was completely accidental? Waaaaatttt!!! Yep that’s right Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 when he wasn’t even looking for it. In this episode, we explore the accidental discovery of penicillin and the decade-long struggle to purify it and develop it into a drug that has had a significant public health impact. This story highlights the power of curiosity in scientific discoveries. Are you curious? Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 22: The Science Behind Baking with Yeast - A Food Science Short | 26 Feb 2023 | 00:13:53 | |
Let’s talk about yeast y’all!! On this special episode short Fatu and Shekerah dive into one of humankind's most favorite microbes. Responsible for giving bread its rise and adding that extra touch to beer and other adult beverages, yeast has been used by humans for centuries to improve our cooking. Learn how the yeast we use commercially at the store compare to wild yeast found naturally all around us and exactly what makes yeast so useful for cooking. Warning, this episode may even inspire you to get into the kitchen and start developing your own recipes, because sometimes the best experiments start in the kitchen! Additional Resources: https://redstaryeast.com/science-of-yeast/#how-yeast-is-made https://www.seriouseats.com/all-about-dry-yeast-instant-active-dry-fast-acting-and-more Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 21: Who Should Art Represent? - The Journey | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:15:58 | |
In this episode, Chidiebere shares his journey from childhood curiosity to dual success. From a young age, he was driven by his endless curiosity, always eager to tinker, fix and explore. But it wasn't until high school that another side of him was awakened - a love for the art of drawing. Inspired by a friend's incredible talent, he decided to teach himself how to draw. And despite being self-taught, Chidiebere's passion for art only grew stronger as he relentlessly pursued perfection. Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 20: Who Should Art Represent? - The Work | 15 Jan 2023 | 00:22:58 | |
In this episode, Chidiebere Ibe talks about his work as a medical illustrator. He is known for producing vivid depictions of people of color in various medical contexts. Some of these contexts are so normal and universal to humans that it's surprising to find a paucity of such images including persons of color. Here, he shares with us the details of some of his current projects, his creative process, and his future plans to fulfill his mission of normalizing diversity in medical illustrations. Tune in to learn more, and to find out how you can support this mission and advocate for this very important work. Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 19: The Truth about Food - The Journey | 09 Dec 2022 | 00:21:01 | |
Dr. Julia Olayanju shares her amazing journey so far, describing her bombshell "aha" moment and how her personal circumstances inspired and shaped her journey. She also gives some powerful advice about moving forward despite all the doubts, fears, and odds! And remember that throughout our lives "we are all becoming someone," so just embrace the journey and live the life you want. Reach out to Julia: Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 18: The Truth about Food - The Work | 23 Nov 2022 | 00:21:28 | |
Meet Julia Olayanju! She is a scientist, educator and thought-leader driving change in the food industry. Her food passion stems from a desire to explain the why--the science behind food--by providing an evidence-based rationale for food choices. Driven by her passion, Julia founded two organizations: FoodNiche and FoodNiche-Ed. Each organization is focused on promoting food and health using different approaches. Through FoodNiche Inc, Julia forms strategic partnerships with food industry leaders and brings together innovators to tackle the problems in our food system. Each year FoodNiche Tech Summit and FoodNiche Global Summit brings hundreds of leaders together. FoodNiche-Ed is a technology company with a platform that empowers teachers to drive change through education by introducing the science of food and health to students, without increasing the teachers’ workload.
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| Ep17 : Mentors of Incalculable Worth - Anthology | 01 Nov 2022 | 00:43:51 | |
The first compilation episode featuring mentors as the superstars they are! Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 52: How Science and Philosophy Intertwine - The Journey | 16 Jun 2024 | 00:20:40 | |
We continue our conversation with Richard Summers, a theoretical biologist and emeritus professor at the University of Mississippi, to learn more about his career journey. Richard’s first science spark moment hit him very clearly when he was a young high schooler– he experienced first hand a lunar eclipse with his friends and this experience instilled in him a wonder for the natural world and the interconnectivity of all things. As a high school student, however, his mind was not focused yet on a potential career path; he just wanted to be cool. Once Richard entered college, he dedicated his time to find a suitable career path and spent weeks reading countless books in the college library. After reading hundreds of pages, Richard was still undecided. But he came to a wonderful conclusion: “I did realize one thing. I was limited in my understanding of what was in any of those books only by the amount of mathematics I could understand." This drive to fill in the gaps of his knowledge led Richard to pursue a degree in mathematics with a minor in physical chemistry. From his undergraduate coursework, Richard also gained an appreciation for the role of the observer within biology and this inspired him to go to medical school. His first week in medical school, however, came as a shock, when he realized there were no equations in his anatomy textbooks. After Richard graduated medical school, he had a full career as a doctor and academic. Although he has written many peer-reviewed articles throughout that time, it was not until much later in life that he considered writing books to share his ideas with broader audiences. When Richard reflects back on the many influential mentors who impacted his journey, he is grateful for two mentors he had as a post-doc after medical school. His mentors helped him to understand how to think and reason, which are lessons he carries even to this day. Now that he is retired, Richard notes that the best and worst thing about retirement is waking up and having to decide what to do everyday. Currently his family and grandchildren help him to fill the time and truly feel fulfilled in life. Listen to the episode to hear more!
You can find Richard’s latest book here: Science as Natural Philosophy and Finding our Place in the Universe Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 16: Storm Chasing and Forensics - The Journey | 30 Sep 2022 | 00:37:49 | |
Growing up, Joey was interested in space and weather, basically anything destructive if you ask his family. He was also a big X-Files fan and the show drew him into science, exploration, and forensics. He went on to earn a master’s degree in biomedical forensic science, but after learning more about the realities of that field he decided against pursuing forensics as a career, and decided instead to jump into research and earn a doctorate. Reflecting on how far he has come, he credits some very amazing high school teachers who really impacted, encouraged, and cemented his love of science. In grad school, his thesis advisor (Hey Carol Lutz!), was also an excellent role model and mentor as he grew into an independent researcher. Looking back, he would give one very powerful piece of advice to his younger self. Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 15: Storm Chasing and Forensics - The Work | 17 Sep 2022 | 00:27:27 | |
It’s a Rutgers reunion y’all! In this episode, Fatu and Shekerah reconnect with another Rutgers alum–Joseph Iacona, who is a Scientist in Experimental Pathology at Janssen. Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 14: Estrogen Heals Both Sexes - The Journey | 31 Aug 2022 | 00:32:23 | |
As the conversation continues, Dr. Duncan talks about her journey to becoming a scientist. Initially, Kelli had her mind fully set on becoming a veterinarian. Then, the universe interceded, and gave her the opportunity to do an independent summer research project with an entomologist at her school . This experience opened her eyes into the world of research and completely turned her world around—veterinary school suddenly became a thing of the past. As Kelli describes it, “One single email brought her into the field.” Among the obstacles for Kelli to overcome along her journey was her own unwillingness to give things a try--at times counting herself out in advance. Overcoming this helped to open her eyes and mind to new opportunities. From professors to her postdoc advisor to colleagues, Kelli was influenced by numerous cheerleaders, mentors, and friends, and she still keeps in touch with her mentors as her career has progressed. These special individuals saw "that thing" in her before she saw it in herself. While Kelli has no regrets on her career journey overall, if there was one thing she could do again, she would consider being more of a risk-taker rather than playing it safe with her choices—there’s no harm in hearing no, and sometimes you might even get a yes. Kelli ends the conversation with her advice for those interested in applying to academic positions and encouragement for how to remain motivated in the face of rejection. Listen to Kelli's amazing Journey! Estrogen Formation and Inactivation Following TBI: What we Know and Where we Could go Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 13: Estrogen Heals Both Sexes - The Work | 21 Aug 2022 | 00:44:36 | |
In this episode, Shekerah and Fatu jump back into academia to speak with Dr. Kelli Duncan, a neuroscientist and professor of biology at Vassar College. Kelli studies the neuro-protective properties of estrogen during traumatic brain injury (TBI). Interestingly, Kelli has discovered that there is a difference between the sexes with regards to brain injury and estrogen production pathways. This discovery leads to even more questions about what happens with neural injuries as estrogren levels change such as during pregnancy, menopause, and peri-menopause. At Vassar, Kelli enjoys the balance between working in the lab and teaching in the classroom. Most of her work is funded through internal grants provided by the university, but she also has the option of applying for larger NIH grants when needed. She enjoys not having the pressures of running a lab at a more research-intensive institution, like constantly writing grants. There are also challenges with this environment, however, since her lab is mostly powered by undergraduates; balancing her own schedule with that of students in the lab who have a full course load, extracurriculars, and other obligations can be challenging in a different way. As a black faculty member, the hardest lesson for Kelli to learn was to overcome her own doubts in her abilities–she is good at what she does and was hired for that reason, period! However, as a black faculty member at a predominately white institution, it can be easy to become overburdened and do too much. As Kelli has advanced in her career, she has learned to balance being a mentor for students of color in STEM alongside her own personal career goals, and other obligations for the university. Kelli explains,“[This] works for me,” and with the variety of opportunities within academia, there is something for everyone interested in combining research and teaching–it’s just about finding the right fit. Estrogen Formation and Inactivation Following TBI: What we Know and Where we Could go Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 12: Immunology and squid | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:48:36 | |
Meet Dr. Sarah McAnulty—she has combined her love of science and entrepreneurial skills to start the educational non-profit, Skype a Scientist! For students, families, and others who want to speak directly to scientists and ask questions that no one else seems to know the answer to, Skype a Scientist makes this opportunity possible. As an Executive Director, Sarah uses her creative energy to run all the day-to-day activities of the Skype a Scientist program from developing and scheduling Instagram posts to matching scientists with students to coaching scientists on how to speak to audiences of various ages. Skype a Scientist: https://www.skypeascientist.com/ Reach out to Sarah: Tic Tok, Instagram, Twitter - @SarahMackAttack Squid facts hotline: Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 11: The Power of a Managing Editor - The Journey | 30 May 2022 | 00:36:33 | |
Growing up Sarah had two subjects that she enjoyed—writing and biology, and while everyone was sure she would become a writer, Sarah had several mentors along the way that nurtured her love for science and discovery. And now, Sarah works in the best of both worlds, in science communications. Shekerah and Fatu continue their conversation with Dr. Sarah Ellinwood, Managing Editor at BioBuzz and Workforce Genetics on how she got to where she is now. As an undergrad at Roanoke College, Sarah was initially in pharmacy and in her sophomore year things took a turn when she was exposed to hands-on bench research. Working with a professor, she contributed to research exploring environmental impacts on fish populations. Later on, she participated in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Through this program, she worked in a protein biology lab at the University of Michigan; this ultimately became the deciding factor to convince her to go to graduate school. Early on in her grad program at the University of Maryland, Sarah was certain that she did not want to stay in academia, but she did not know of any alternative career paths other than industry. By chance, after returning to her alma mater for an alumni event with current students, Sarah was introduced to the field of science communications. After completing her doctorate, she found interesting roles as a medical writer and communications consultant for biotech companies, before joining BioBuzz and Workforce Genetics. It was a winding, bouncy road through the trenches, but she made it! Click the link to hear more about Sarah’s journey including what advice she would give her younger self and why she encourages bringing your authentic self to work every day. Reach out to Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ahlbrand/ @SarahE_PhD (Twitter) Recent article from Sarah: How Science and the Arts are Intermixing in the BioHealth Capital Region American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Art of Science Communication https://www.asbmb.org/career-resources/communication-course Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 10: The Power of a Managing Editor - The Work | 24 Apr 2022 | 00:34:20 | |
Shekerah and Fatu continue their journey into the world of science communications with Dr. Sarah Ellinwood, Managing Editor at BioBuzz and Workforce Genetics. BioBuzz, the media and publication arm of Workforce Genetics, provides information for job seekers in the Washington D.C./Philadelphia area interested in the biotech field, like newly minted PhDs and postdocs looking for alternatives to academia. In addition to targeting job seekers, BioBuzz publishes articles for those interested in the regional biotech industry more broadly and want to know “who’s who” in the field. As a managing editor, Sarah can more or less do whatever she wants (within reason), but the main focus of her work is managing the editorial content of BioBuzz. This includes writing her own articles; providing final edits and reviewing articles written by staff writers or freelancers; coordinating the newsletter; and running with her own sparks of inspiration to craft articles she feels would connect well with readers. Recently, Sarah published an article connecting the life of plants to the biotechnology sector—and it was a hit! Sarah’s interest in science communication began in grad school; through workshops and networking, she was able to navigate the path of her career journey. For others interested in a similar career path, Sarah recommends getting out there and networking, and encourages reaching out to those already working in the field to learn more about how to get started. To help prepare the next generation of writers and managing editors, Sarah teaches a course on science communication with the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Click the link to hear more about Sarah’s story. Reach out to Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ahlbrand/ @SarahE_PhD (Twitter) Recent article from Sarah: How Science and the Arts are Intermixing in the BioHealth Capital Region American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Art of Science Communication https://www.asbmb.org/career-resources/communication-course Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 9: The Pen is Mightier than the Pipette - The Journey | 01 Apr 2022 | 00:40:36 | |
Our story with Sarah continues this week as she discusses her road to science writing. Initially, Sarah followed her love of animals and began working at a local veterinary office. There she became interested in understanding how pet medications work to treat animals and was advised to study biochemistry. Completely sold on this idea and fueled by her curiosity, she completed an undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Puget Sound, and then completed her doctorate in biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder. After completing her Ph.D., all the signs were pointing Sarah towards science writing, even though she was unsure of this decision herself. She attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, to complete a certificate in science communication. Through this program, Sarah gained experience working at several different media outlets focused on local news, audio storytelling and podcasting, and research news for a global outlet. Toward the end of the certificate program, Sarah attended a unique postdoc opportunity at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; this unforgettable experience allowed her to work close to the science without actually having to do the science, which she enjoys. Eventually all of her experiences, from working at the veterinary office to discovering her interest in writing about science, culminated in her current position at U Washington in the College of Engineering and the Information School as a PIO. Sample news articles from Sarah’s portfolio can be found in part 1 of this 2-part series. If you are interested in becoming a science writer, Sarah recommends putting together your own portfolio, or sample of writing. You can get started with your local university paper, or university news office.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mcquate-b2aab880/ Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 8: The Pen is Mightier than the Pipette - The Work | 11 Mar 2022 | 00:36:18 | |
Are you curious about becoming a public information officer (PIO)? What exactly are they and what do they do? Well, meet Sarah McQuate, a public information officer at University of Washington. Sarah spoke with Fatu and Shekerah about how her love of science (gently) pushed into her career path that aligned with her three goals: making science accessible to the general public, helping scientists explain their science better, and increasing diversity in science. Sarah writes about the amazing research that is produced from the College of Engineering and the Information School at U of Washington with topics ranging from traditional technology (robots, search engines, etc) to climate and air quality to the intersection of technology and medicine. Her day to day as a PIO varies everyday, which Sarah enjoys. She is often juggling her time between interviewing scientists for a story, writing a story and reading research papers, and connecting reports to researchers for a story. And, when Sarah is not writing articles in her office she is actively involved in university diversity and equity committees that support leadership in hiring, retention, and developing equitable practices for the future of the institution. Sarah also takes some time to answer listener questions about how she got started and what her least and most favorite parts are about her job. Click the link to hear more Reach out to Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mcquate-b2aab880/ Read some articles from Sarah:
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| Ep 7: STEMLand Future of Science - The Journey | 14 Feb 2022 | 00:34:59 | |
As we continue our conversation with David, he shares how he came to enjoy working in science and informal education. He reflects on the early influence the Franklin Institute had on shaping his understanding of who can be a scientist and how science could be fun. From caring mentors to his first job, the people and experiences at the Franklin really were a positive influence for David during his teenage years to early adulthood. Currently, David is really looking forward to creating unique and impactful STEM education experiences in Philadelphia, especially for Black communities. When he is not serving the community as a non-profit STEM education leader, David dedicates his time to his family and is developing a sneaker cleaner, inspired by his days in the lab. Click the link and listen to David’s career journey! Please subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, your favorite podcast app or copy the RSS Feed, and be sure to turn on new episode notifications! Reach out to David: david.buckholtz@stemlandscience.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-b-04902866/ STEMLand Science Foundation: https://stemlandscience.org Subscribe to the newsletter and request a workshop STEMLand Science on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stemlandfoundation/?utm_medium=copy_link Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 51: How Science and Philosophy Intertwine - The Work | 02 Jun 2024 | 00:38:37 | |
In this episode of We Love Science, Fatu and Shekerah explore a world that few modern-day scientists have explored, the intersection of science and philosophy. Today we are speaking with Dr. Richard Summers, a theoretical biologist and emeritus professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His career spans from chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine to vice chancellor for research. Richard has also led cutting-edge research to understand how the human body responds to zero-gravity environments, and has even worked directly with NASA. Throughout his career, between his lab research and academic leadership positions, Richard has co-authored more than 300 publications and books.
You can find Richard’s latest book here: Science as Natural Philosophy and Finding Our Place in the Universe Reach out to Richard: rsummers@umc.edu If you enjoyed this episode, also be sure to check out:
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| Ep 6: STEMLand Future of Science - The Work | 30 Jan 2022 | 00:33:33 | |
Meet David Buckholtz, a program director with STEMLand Science Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to informal science education for students from underrepresented communities. Fatu and Shekerah learn about David’s journey in forming STEMLand Science—from early brainstorming sessions at the local coffee shop, to providing exciting science education for middle school-aged youth, to adapting the STEMLand curriculum in response to the pandemic. David is dedicated to connecting and inspiring young students, and representing the possibility and diversity in science for his students. Building a science education non-profit from the ground up was no easy feat, but with determination and dedicated leadership, David and his colleagues successfully recruited a board of directors and watched STEMLand Science blossom into reality. Listen to David’s journey! Reach out to David: david.buckholtz@stemlandscience.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-b-04902866/ STEMLand Science Foundation: https://stemlandscience.org Subscribe to the newsletter and request a workshop Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 5: FORE Advocating Change - Part 2 | 28 Nov 2021 | 00:48:53 | |
Part1: Dr. Ken Shatzkes, a fellow Rutgers University alumni and senior program officer at the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), joins Fatu and Shekerah to share his journey through science. As a private foundation, FORE supports programs around the country focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery in response to the opioid crisis. Ken has developed programs, convened partners, and built collaborations with grantees covering a variety of different projects to meet FORE’s mission. While it has been challenging to develop the programs portfolio at FORE from scratch, Ken enjoys shaping his grantmaking to meet the direct needs of organizations on the ground and hearing touching anecdotes from grantees about how much their work has progressed with support from FORE. Although his training is in infectious diseases, he credits his ability to look at the complexity of the opioid epidemic and highlight innovation as part of his success in this new role. Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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| Ep 4: FORE Advocating Change - Part 1 | 24 Oct 2021 | 00:48:55 | |
Part1: Dr. Ken Shatzkes, a fellow Rutgers University alumni and senior program officer at the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), joins Fatu and Shekerah to share his journey through science. As a private foundation, FORE supports programs around the country focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery in response to the opioid crisis. Ken has developed programs, convened partners, and built collaborations with grantees covering a variety of different projects to meet FORE’s mission. While it has been challenging to develop the programs portfolio at FORE from scratch, Ken enjoys shaping his grantmaking to meet the direct needs of organizations on the ground and hearing touching anecdotes from grantees about how much their work has progressed with support from FORE. Although his training is in infectious diseases, he credits his ability to look at the complexity of the opioid epidemic and highlight innovation as part of his success in this new role.
Part 2: Fatu and Shekerah continue their conversation with Dr. Ken Shatzkes exploring his journey more fully from his interest in science to gaining translational skills in government, at non-profits, and in academia. His journey into science started in 6th grade with an interesting science fair experiment that examined nicotine addiction. From high school on, Ken had several influential mentors who advised and supported him, including his graduate advisor who supported his decision to pursue a career outside of academia. After graduating with a doctorate in infectious diseases and immunology and starting his career journey, Ken hit a rough patch where his progress came to an unexpected halt. This moment of introspection forced him to re-evaluate what he wanted out of life, what he wanted out of his career, and how to care for his mental health.
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Reach out to Ken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kshatzkes/ Learn more about FORE and check out their grantees:
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| Ep 3: Ninja Warrior Scientist | 05 Aug 2021 | 01:08:41 | |
Let’s talk regeneration! In this episode, Fatu and Shekerah interview Dr. Erin Jimenez, a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a research fellow, Erin studies regeneration in zebrafish at the level of gene regulation--she is answering the age-old question of how organisms are able to regrow damaged body parts by exploring unique regions of the genome. Recently, her biggest success includes developing a transgenic zebrafish by using CRISPR to remove important gene regulatory regions that directly impact the organism’s ability to regenerate. Starting her journey as a first-generation community college student, interested in art, Erin faced some challenges along the way and was ultimately inspired and empowered to pursue a career in science by connecting with others who shared life stories similar to hers. When not in the lab, Erin is a phenomenal martial artist skilled in muay thai and kickboxing; a true super woman kicking butt in and out of the lab! Ultimately, she aspires to become a professor who will promote an inclusive scientific community by maximizing efforts to increase enrollment and ensure support is provided to retain individuals from diverse backgrounds. Please subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, your favorite podcast app or copy the RSS Feed, and be sure to turn on new episode notifications! Reach out to Erin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-jimenez-phd/ Twitter: @ErinJimenezPhD Facebook: Erin Jimenez Email: erinjimenez9@gmail.com Lab Website: https://erinjimenez.com Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu: Reach out to Shekerah:
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