American Scientist Podcast

Feb 18 2025 104 ep. 16 mins 7.1k
American Scientist Podcast artwork

Periodic audiocasts from American Scientist, a publication of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.

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First Principles and Beyond

Feb 18 2025 29 mins  
Chris Pickard is a materials scientist who employs what are called first principles methods—modeling techniques that work out material properties using fundamental rules such as quantum mechanics and Newton’s laws. Trained as a condensed matter physicist, he refocused on materials science just as interest in the field was exploding amid advancements in computation. Switching be

Global Discourse on Science Communication

Apr 29 2024 70 mins  
An interview with the president and founder of African Gong, Elizabeth Rasekoala. Her current book "Race and Sociocultaral Inclusion in Science Communication" brings together perspectives from science communicators from the global south. Host, Katie L. Burke, Digital Features Editor at American Scientist. Edited by Nwabata Nnani.

Changing Policies on COVID-19 Transmission

Sep 04 2023 39 mins  
An interview with Virginia Tech environmental engineer, Linsey Marr. Her expertise in aerosols came to center stage as she and her colleagues worked for years to change policies based on faulty ideas about the transmission of the coronavirus. Host, Katie L. Burke, Digital Features Editor at American Scientist. Edited by Nwabata Nnani.

Why We Podcast: Sharing Your Voice in Science

Jul 27 2023 27 mins  
We'll hear from science communication leaders and podcasters on why podcasting is an important platform for Science. Interviews from Samir Honwad—professor at the University of Buffalo, Wendy Zuckerman—host of Science VS and 2022 Sigma Xi IFORE award winner, and Aaron Scott and Emily Kwong from NPR Short Wave as well as one of their guests Dr. Tiana Williams-Claussen from the Y

How to Start a Fusion Fire

Jul 20 2023 43 mins  
Andrea "Annie" Kritcher discusses her and her team's achieved ignition, raising new hopes for fusion as a practical energy source. Host Corey S. Powell and American Scientist Magazine.

The Early Human Social Network

Jul 20 2023 40 mins  
Cecilia Padilla-Iglesias is melding enviromental data and how these early populations interacted. Host Corey S. Powell and American Scientist Magazine.

Physicians Need Caregiving Support Policies

Jul 10 2023 19 mins  
The collision of the Great Resignation and long-standing gender inequities in medicine is heightening calls for improved family leave policies at American health care institutions. Host Jordan Anderson and American Scientist editor Katie L. Burke discuss caregiving support policies, bringing in perspectives from interviewees Christina Mangurian of UCSC, Jessica Lee of UCSC, and Ned

Synthesizing Engineering and Biology

Mar 01 2023 15 mins  
On using synthetic biology to create next-generation diagnostics and therapeutics -- an interview with James J. Collins of Harvard and MIT, one of founders of the field.

Science Curious Through Science Fiction

Sep 06 2022 25 mins  
How science fiction promotes science curiosity and why that matters. Hear from science communication practitioners and scholars Reyhaneh Maktoufi, Thomas DeFrantz, and Stephanie Castillo.

Pulling Back the Cosmic Veil

Aug 01 2022 14 mins  
The first images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are already transforming our view of the universe. Hear from John Mather, Nobel Laureate and senior project scientist for JWST at NASA.