Us and STEMM Eleanor Bladon

This week I talk to Dr Kirsty MacLeod about lizard mothers, the importance of fika, the highs and lows of moving for academia, deciding how honest to be on social media, and all about the wonderful WEE Podcast (theweepodcast.org).

Dr Kirsty MacLeod is a behavioural and evolutionary ecologist, with broad interests in maternal investment, reproductive systems, stress physiology, and sociality – basically loads of important areas which apply to so much of the animal kingdom! Alongside her research she is an accomplished and enthusiastic science communicator, and if you’re into your science podcasts (which I hope you are, because you’re here!) you may well know her from The Women in Ecology and Evolution podcast, perhaps better known as the WEE Podcast, which highlights awesome women in ecology and evolution.

Intro and outro music: Funky Chunk by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3789-funky-chunk
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

This week I'm joined by geneticist, broadcaster and writer, Dr Adam Rutherford to hear about how he went from a PhD to the BBC, the broadcasting process in lockdown, whether we can combat racism with good science, whether social media is a force for good or evil, and why he teaches celebs to pipette. In a twist we even end up nerding out about Classics.

Dr Adam Rutherford is a broadcaster, writer and scientist. You’ll probably know Adam as the host of BBC Radio 4’s flagship science show, Inside Science, as well as the co-host, alongside Dr Hannah Fry, of the radio show and podcast, The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry. A geneticist by training, Adam is now one of the best known science communicators in the UK, and author of multiple popular science books including "The Book of Humans", "A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived" and his most recently published book "How to Argue with a Racist".

This week I talk to the incredible Dr Helen Scales, about her new books, The Brilliant Abyss and The Great Barrier Reef, her favourite deep sea creatures, the joy of freediving, and her tips for getting into science communication and broadcasting. PLUS get 20% off The Brilliant Abyss by using the discount code in the episode!

Dr Helen Scales is a marine biologist, broadcaster and writer. She is the author of many award-winning books, including “Spirals in Time” and “Eye of the Shoal”. She has just published her first children’s book “The Great Barrier Reef” and her newest release “The Brilliant Abyss” will be available in the UK later this month. Dr Scales has presented radio documentaries covering diverse aspects of marine biology, is a regular guest on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service, and currently co-hosts the “Catch Our Drift” podcast. She also teaches at the University of Cambridge and is a science advisor for the marine conservation charity Sea Changers.

Intro and outro music: Funky Chunk by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3789-funky-chunk
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

This week I talk to the awesome Jack Ashby about why Australian mammals are the best animals, what it takes to get a job in the museum sector, what biases are hidden in plain sight in museum displays, and how we can decolonise natural history exhibits. 

Jack Ashby is the Assistant Director of the Museum of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and an Australian mammal ecologist. He is also the author of the widely-acclaimed book, “Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects”, and a soon-to-be-released book about Australian mammals and why they matter. He has spoken and written widely about the biases in museum collections and exhibits, and how we can start to change this.

Intro and outro music: Funky Chunk by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3789-funky-chunk
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

This week I talk to the amazing Sophie Pavelle about UK beaver reintroductions, her soon-to-be-published book, getting a foot in the door in professional science communication, learning to face the audience on social media, and why she keeps going on 300-mile-long walks.

Sophie Pavelle is a zoologist and science communicator, and Campaign and Communications Coordinator for The Beaver Trust. She has also starred in nature documentaries including Beavers Without Borders and a range of films with the Back from the Brink conservation campaign. She is also a talented nature writer, with work featured in The Metro and BBC Countryfile magazine, and she is currently writing her first book, “Forget-me Not” which will be published by Bloomsbury next year.

Intro and outro music: Funky Chunk by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3789-funky-chunk
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In the first episode of Series 4, I talk to the inspirational Prof. Chris Jackson about the myriad meanings of sustainable geoscience, his dangerous and exciting expeditions, the failings of universities to provide equitable environments for students and staff, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of the RI Christmas Lectures.

At the time of recording, Professor Chris Jackson is Equinor Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial College London, but in February 2021 he will be moving to the University of Manchester to take up the position of Chair in Sustainable Geoscience. Even if you aren’t a geoscience buff, you will likely have heard of Professor Jackson through his broadcasting work. Most recently, many listeners will have invited him into their living rooms as one of the presenters of the Royal Institution’s 2020 Christmas Lectures, broadcast on the BBC. He made history by being the first Black presenter in the programme’s 195-year record. He has also starred in a number of BBC, National Geographic and Channel 5 documentaries, including the BBC series "Expedition Volcano".

Intro and outro music: Funky Chunk by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3789-funky-chunk
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license