Finding a Lab of One’s Own with Dr. Rita Colwell
AMSEcast
Dr. Rita Colwell is a pioneering scientist and professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins who has made groundbreaking contributions to microbiology and public health. She joins AMSEcast to discuss her experiences being the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation as well as her advanced research on Vibrio bacteria and cholera while founding CosmosID to improve rapid pathogen detection. During the 2001 anthrax attacks, she led a cross-agency effort to identify the spores, revolutionizing DNA sequencing techniques. Overcoming sexism early in her career, Dr. Colwell's...
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AMSE Science Report with guest Camper English
AMSEcast
Whether you like to have an occasional drink or are a teetotaler, you will enjoy a conversation I had on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Camper English about his book Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails. Camper’s book is a fascinating look at how, over the centuries, many alcohols and various things we add today to cocktails originally had medicinal purposes. For example, monks in the Middle Ages were at the center of research on agriculture and the distillation of alcohol. One thing they produced for medicinal uses can be found...
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The Wonders of Psychological Science with Joel Levy
AMSEcast
Renowned author and science historian, Joel Levy, shares his expertise on consciousness, intelligence, and the delicate dance between nature and nurture. Through his latest work, "Psychology for Busy People," the discussion traverses psychology's extensive history, from its origins to contemporary challenges and applications. Joel offers captivating perspectives on thought experiments, the core of consciousness, the nature-nurture debate, and the subtleties of mental health. Tune in as Alan and Joel guide us through the intriguing and complex realm of psychology. Show Highlights...
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AMSE Science Report with guest Sam Kean Author of the Bastard Brigade
AMSEcast
Ridge, Tennessee. Our home of Oak Ridge got its start as a major part of the monumental Manhattan Project, the nation’s successful effort to build the first atomic bomb and end World War II. We talk a lot at AMSE and the K-25 Atomic History Center about the history of the Project, the science and engineering behind it, and the role of Oak Ridge and other locations in its successful outcome. But what is hard to teach is the atmosphere that surrounded that work. Our nation was at war, our soldiers and marines, our sailors and airmen, fighting and dying on the battlefields of Europe and Africa,...
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AMSE Science Report with Carl Zimmer
AMSEcast
I have a fundamental question for you – what is life? For something seemingly so basic, it is quite hard to define. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Carl Zimmer, took on that topic in his book Life’s Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive. I spoke with Carl on our podcast, AMSEcast, and, among other indicators of life, he raised one that was a bit surprising – life is defined, in part, by decision making, and not just for us creatures who have brains.
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Finding Balance Between Tightness & Looseness with Dr. Michele Gelfand
AMSEcast
Dr. Michele Gelfand is a cultural psychologist and author of Rule Makers, Rule Breakers. She joins us to discusses how “tight” and “loose” cultures shape societies. Tight cultures, like Japan’s, respond to threats with strict rules and order, while looser ones, like the U.S., allow greater flexibility. Gelfand suggests a balanced “Goldilocks” approach, adjusting strictness and flexibility to suit each environment's needs, from families to organizations. She also explores online accountability, recommending "nudges" to promote civility, and sees AI as a potential tool for managing...
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How Windell Oskay is Inspiring a New Generation of Mad Scientists
AMSEcast
In this episode, Alan talks with Windell Oskay, co-founder of Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. Windell discusses updating Make: The Annotated Build-it-Yourself Science Laboratory, a childhood favorite of his, to inspire today’s young scientists. They highlight the importance of hands-on learning, creativity, and safety, especially in electrical experiments. Windell is also the author of Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components, which explores the hidden beauty inside electronics, showcasing intricate cross-sections of devices from vacuum tubes to smartphones. Additionally, he...
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AMSE Science Report with guest Luis Elizondo
AMSEcast
Welcome to the AMSE Science Report. Are we alone in the universe? Many people are now taking a fresh look at that question thanks to recent revelations about unidentified aerial phenomena or UAPs, and those revelations have been spearheaded by the important work of Luis Elizondo. Lue recently joined me on our podcast, AMSEcast, to talk about his New York Times bestselling book, Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs. In a truly incredible, candid, eye-opening conversation, we spoke about several characteristics that distinguish these seemingly inexplicable vehicles. Here is part of...
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AMSE Science Report Sava Sobel
AMSEcast
Dava Sobel is an American writer of popular expositions of scientific topics. Her books include , about English clockmaker ; , about 's daughter ; and The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars about the . Taken from Wikipedia
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AMSE Science Report with Ian McNeely
AMSEcast
Welcome to The AMSE Science Report. I spoke on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Ian McNeely, about his fascinating book titled Reinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internet. At our institutions in Oak Ridge we focus every day on the collection and use of knowledge, so it was fascinating to talk with Ian about how knowledge has been viewed and transmitted throughout the ages.
info_outlineRita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.
Colwell is one of the world’s leading researchers of cholera—a waterborne disease estimated by the World Health Organization to strike three to five million people annually, many of them young children. Her efforts to track and predict cholera outbreaks are multi-faceted, combining bioinformatics with the pioneering use of satellite imaging. She was one of the first scientists to employ remote sensing for disease prediction, as well as recognize the impact of climate change on the waterborne microbial world.
Show Notes
- (0:35) About Dr. Rita Colwell
- (1:52) Dr. Colwell’s irritation at people saying we need to interest more women in science
- (2:49) How Rita dealt with overt sexism and still found the determination to keep moving forward
- (3:56) What lead Dr. Colwell to marine biology and focus on Vibrio
- (6:20) How she ended up at the University of Maryland
- (9:31) Rita’s groundbreaking work on cholera and obstacles in getting her findings accepted
- (15:03) How long it took the professional world for her findings to be accepted
- (18:49) Dr. Colwell’s work as the director of the National Science Foundation
- (21:39) The role she played in the response to the 2001 anthrax attacks
- (26:03) The prospects for women in the business world
- (28:58) The cost of persistent sexism
- (30:41) Rita’s thoughts on how to advance women in the science and business worlds
- (33:40) What’s next for Dr. Colwell
Links Referenced
- A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science: https://www.amazon.com/Lab-Ones-Own-Personal-Journey/dp/1501181270