A Science Advocacy Podcast. We get great interviews with science writers, and scientists, on their specialties. Rather than focus on topicality, we talk to our guests on the implications of their research and writings with regards to larger issues. Dr. Greg Laden is an anthropologist with extensive research in Africa, as well as on climate change. With his expertise as a research and as a professor, he and Mike Haubrich, engage wtih our guests and audience to ensure meaningful content.
We are back!
[caption id="attachment_321" align="alignright" width="199"]
Bill Schutt, auther of Pump: A Natural History of the Heart[/caption]
Join us with part one of an interview with zoologist and author Bill Schutt, as we discuss his latest book, Pump: A Natural History of the Heart, a delightful and informative exploration of the heart, in all its (anatomical) forms.
We have changed our format a little, and hope you enjoy it. Feedback is welcome as long as you are nice about it.
Material discussed in this and the next episode:
Pump: A Natural History of the Heart
Meteorite Crash-Landed in Canada Woman's Bed
COVID-19 slows birth rate in U.S., Europe
Bat guts become less healthy through diet of 'fast food' from banana plantations
Threatened rattlesnakes' inbreeding makes species more resistant to bad mutations
Dr. Karen Stollznow is a linguist who earned her PhD at the University of New England, in Australia. She hosts the skeptical podcast Monster Talk with Blake Smith (subscribe, you'll thank us!) She is also a prolific author, having published academic works, non-fiction as well as fiction.
In this episode, we open with the ways in which we judge and stereotype each other based on the dialect and language that we use and move on to the meanings of words and how the change in time and space. Not only does the cafe lose the accent after a time, but bad words turn good and good words turn bad. It's hysterical, how that works.
We marked this episode "explicit" because we discuss some of the words that are not used in polite language and how the relative offense of using some words varies based on where the speaker is as well as how the audience may be.
Check out her Amazon Author's Page Here and also check out Monster Talk.
Anastasia Bodnar, PhD, is our guest on this episode. This is her second stint on Ikonokast, and for a refresher or if you are new to the show, we welcome you to listen to Genetic Engineering and Food Security.
Our topic for this show is the importance of disclosure of potential conflicts of interest while conducting and reporting on research. Anastasia is a founding member and a director of Biology Fortified, an organization that presents information and research on the topic of genetic engineering. Recently, Anastasia had a close up look at a potential conflict of interest, and we discuss that in depth.
Also, there are opportunities for science communicators to join the Biofortified group and Anastasia, Greg and Mike talk about what volunteer needs can be filled.
Biology Fortified Support Opportunities
Top Cancer Researcher Fails to Disclose Corporate Financial Ties in Major Research Journals
Conflicts of Interest Ethical Systems.org
Finally, here's a video describing the GMO Corn Experiment discussed during the podcast:
Today, Ikonokast visits with Joe Romm, author of How To Go Viral and Reach Millions: Top Persuasion Secrets from Social Media Superstars, Jesus, Shakespeare, Oprah, and Even Donald Trump.
In this interview, as well as in Romm's book, you'll learn about the tried and true methods of creating a message that sticks. You'll also learn about the one thing Donald Trump is very good at (much to our collective peril).
Books by Joe Romm:
Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know
Language Intelligence: Lessons on persuasion from Jesus, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Lady Gaga
Philip Moriarty is the guest for this episode of Ikonokast. The interview is a wide-ranging tour of education in the US and the UK, where Professor Moriarty teaches physics and is delighted on the first day of term to see all of the t-shirts with the names of metal bands, as the students file into class.
Music depends on waves. Wave functions depend on, um, waves, too. So music and quantum physics are naturally related in form, if not always function. The humanities and science are not so easily separated. In Moriarty's book and in this podcast the two are firmly forged.
A selection if things mentioned in the podcast:
Get me off Your Bleeping Mailing List (Peer reviewed PDF)
Jess Phoenix is running for California's 25th District Congressional seat. Our Congress lacks expertise in science and how science works at a basic level, and as a result there are some poorly thought out decisions are being made. Even worse, Congress is allowed to engage in explicitly anti-science political activities, such as assembling activist science deniers as the so-called science committees or subcommittees in both houses. This would not be as easy if there were a few dozen actual scientists in the House and Senate.
Jess Phoenix sees this as a challenge that must be met by scientists joining as active and influential members of the government. The seat she is running for is currently being held by a climate denialist.
Please consider donating to the campaign. Even if you don't live in her future district, as a nation we need to have more scientists guiding policy from seats of power, such as the House of Representatives. Here is the campaign site: Jess2018.
Here is a TEDx talk, about geology, by the candidate:
Greg Laden interviewed Dr. Phoenix for this podcast.
It is too late for the planet, and civilization, to not suffer serious consequences of climate disruption owing to human release of fossil carbon into the atmosphere for a century or too. But, perhaps it is not too late to reduce the effects to the point where we can maintain our civilization. But, Carter and Woodworth argue, for that to happen, we need to get past the criminals who are holding us back and get on with the changes that should be made.
01:00:38
4/1/2018
