The Science Basement Podcast

The Science Basement

We are a team of scientists based in Helsinki and we want to show you how cool science is! Follow us having semi-serious conversations with our sci-guests. New episode every month.

  1. 5.6. Ancient Clues, Modern Risks: How Paleontology tells the future-w/ David Polly, Emmi & Rhiannon

    9 SEP

    5.6. Ancient Clues, Modern Risks: How Paleontology tells the future-w/ David Polly, Emmi & Rhiannon

    Have you ever wondered what fossils really are? And how can looking into the past tell us anything about our future? In this episode of The Science Basement, we talk with Professor David Polly, a palaeontologist based at Indiana University, who studies ancient carnivores and the environments that shaped them. Join us to unpack what fossils are (and aren’t), how they record evolution, and how fossils can be used to predict future landscapes and the effects of climate change. Prof David Polly is the Chair of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) Your hosts for this episode are Emmi Olkkonen and Rhiannon Newman. Editing by Kerttu Kalander. Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    1 h y 1 min
  2. 5.5. Why Science? The Motivations, Challenges, and Triumphs- w/ Victor & Roselydiah

    11 JUL

    5.5. Why Science? The Motivations, Challenges, and Triumphs- w/ Victor & Roselydiah

    How do you know if you should pursue an advanced degree in science—and once you do, how do you set yourself up for success? In this episode of The Science Basement, we sit down with Dr. Victor Oria, to explore the real challenges and rewards of life in research. From growing up in rural Kenya to conducting research across the UK, Germany, the USA, and now Denmark, Victor shares his inspiring journey through academia, and opens up about: 🔹 Navigating self-doubt in academia 🔹 Building resilience through failure 🔹 Why work-life balance is essential to scientific creativity He says “Research can be tough, but if it was easy, everyone would do it.” This episode is especially valuable for early-career researchers and students starting their scientific journey. Tune in for honest reflections and practical tips for traversing your scientific path. Dr. Victor Oria is an Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Your host for this episode is Roselydiah Makunja with help in pre-production from Emmi Olkkonen. Editing by Kerttu Kalander. Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    45 min
  3. 5.4 Breast Milk, Babies, and the Microbiome- w/ Dollwin, Roselydiah & Rhiannon

    6 JUN

    5.4 Breast Milk, Babies, and the Microbiome- w/ Dollwin, Roselydiah & Rhiannon

    Have you ever wondered why breastfeeding is so highly recommended for newborns? What makes breast milk truly special compared to formula? In this episode of the Science Basement podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dollwin Matharu, who specializes in the infant gut microbiome. Dr. Matharu shares her findings about human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—the unique sugars found only in breast milk—and explains how these molecules support babies’ immune systems and overall development. She also highlights how her research connects HMOs with the developing infant microbiome, helping us understand the early foundations of long-term health. Dr. Dollwin Matharu is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki. Your hosts for this episode are Roselydiah Makunja & Rhiannon Newman. Editing by Touqeer Gill. Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    38 min
  4. 5.3 ReproducibiliTea: Grassroots Action for Open Science w/ Vootele, Anastasiia, & Sujai

    2 MAY

    5.3 ReproducibiliTea: Grassroots Action for Open Science w/ Vootele, Anastasiia, & Sujai

    The last decade has been called the decade of the reproducibility crisis—but this isn’t just a temporary flare-up. It’s a chronic, structural issue that cuts across disciplines and impacts the very foundation of how we produce and trust scientific knowledge. In this episode, we speak with members of the ReproducibiliTea Journal Club, a grassroots movement that empowers early-career researchers to tackle problems in reproducibility head-on by building local communities focused on open, transparent science. Together, we explore how flawed incentives, poor data practices, and a culture of publishing over precision have led to a growing erosion of trust in science—from questionable p-values to the exclusion of inconvenient data. And while some of this is driven by pressure or lack of funding rather than bad faith, the consequences are real—especially in fields like biomedicine, where shaky evidence can risk patient lives. But it’s not all bad news. By reading and discussing papers that critically engage with the replication crisis, this journal club is quietly shifting research culture—one department, one cup of tea at a time. Vootele Voiker is Research Coordinator in Mouse Behavioural Phenotyping Facility at the Animal Center Lab in University of Helsinki Anastasiia Marmyleva is doctoral researcher working in the field of mitochondria and metabolism at the University of Helsinki Find their podcast to learn more: https://soundcloud.com/reproducibilitea Your host for this episode is Sujai Banerji Editing by Kerttu Kalander Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    48 min
  5. 5.2 Unlocking puberty: How does the onset of puberty begin? w/ Nidhi, Rhiannon & Uranbaigal

    4 ABR

    5.2 Unlocking puberty: How does the onset of puberty begin? w/ Nidhi, Rhiannon & Uranbaigal

    Puberty, a process nearly all of us are familiar with - voice cracks and growth spurts to sudden mood swings and acne surprises all included! But how does puberty actually begin? In this episode, Rhianon and Uka sit down with Nidhi Madhusudan, to talk about the key to puberty - Gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH). Join us to dive into how GnRH triggers puberty from within the brain, what it takes to study such processes in the lab and some exciting findings from Nidhi’s research to date. Nidhi Madhusudan has an MSc in Neuroscience from Graduate school of Systemic Neurosciences LMU Munich and is currently a doctoral researcher in the Raivio lab at The University of Helsinki. Your hosts for this episode are Rhiannon Newman & Uranbaigal Turmunkh Editing by Rhiannon Newman Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    37 min
  6. 5.1 Birds, Bees, & Sustainability: A Year in Review with the Basement Crew w/Sujai, Emmi, Uranbaigal

    7 MAR

    5.1 Birds, Bees, & Sustainability: A Year in Review with the Basement Crew w/Sujai, Emmi, Uranbaigal

    We’re kicking off Season 5 with a roundtable chat between the hosts! In this episode, we look back at some of the most interesting research we’ve come across over the past year—those discoveries that made us say, “Whoa, that’s amazing!” From scavenger birds and learning bees to tackling sustainability challenges, we’re covering a little bit of everything. But that’s not all—we’re also pulling back the curtain on our own research. Each of us shares what we’ve been working on and what’s coming next. Whether it’s finishing a thesis, communicating science, or chasing new ideas, we’re giving you an inside look at the work we do when we’re away from the mic. Plus, we dive into the bigger picture: how science intersects with politics, sustainability, and society. Where is research heading? What should we be paying attention to in the coming year? Join us for a fun, insightful, and curiosity-fueled conversation to kick off Season 5! The guests for this episode were: Sujai Banerji, PhD student in the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki Uranbaigal Turmunkh, Master's Student in Urban Studies & Planning, University of Helsinki Emmi Olkkonen, Ph.D. student in Helsinki Institute of Life Science Editing by Kerttu Kalander Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    54 min
  7. The Innovation Journey: From Academia to Impact w/ Sarah, Rhiannon & Rose

    19/12/2024

    The Innovation Journey: From Academia to Impact w/ Sarah, Rhiannon & Rose

    In our final episode of TSB x HiLife series, we discuss how to translate research into impactful innovations. We spoke to Sarah O’Keefe, a passionate scientist and innovator, about practical strategies for bridging the gap between academia and real-world applications. Drawing from her own journey of developing 'mitoguarder,' Sarah shares actionable insights, personal experiences, and real-world examples to guide you in identifying opportunities, overcoming challenges, and creating meaningful impact through your research. Whether you're just beginning to think about innovation or ready to take the leap, this podcast will inspire and equip you to to turn your research into a real world solution. Dr Sarah O' Keefe is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme in University of Helsinki, Finland Find her research on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-o-keefe-81b602b4/ X (formerly twitter): @sokeefe91 Learn everything about Mitoguarder on: www.linkedin.com/company/mitoguarder Your hosts for this episode are Rhiannon Newman & Rose Lydiah Makunja Editing by Alexis Engrand Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    41 min
  8. Into the wild: A Biologist’s Notes on wildlife adaptation to climate change w/ Katja, Sujai & Emmi

    02/12/2024

    Into the wild: A Biologist’s Notes on wildlife adaptation to climate change w/ Katja, Sujai & Emmi

    What does it take to study the natural world up close? In this episode, your hosts, Sujai & Emmi, explore the dual challenges of understanding species’ remarkable adaptations to environmental change and navigating the risks of fieldwork. Our guest, Dr Katja Rönkä, shares fascinating insights into the behavioral and evolutionary strategies animals use to survive, from cuckoos outsmarting their hosts to predators learning to avoid toxic prey. Katja also dives into the realities of field research—staying calm in disorienting reeds, avoiding encounters with moose and ticks, and the life-saving magic of duct tape! This episode is packed with stories and advice for aspiring field biologists and nature enthusiasts alike. Dr Katja Rönkä is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences in University of Helsinki, Finland Your hosts for this episode are Sujai Banerji & Emmi Olkkonen Editing by Iina Sivonen Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org

    43 min
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We are a team of scientists based in Helsinki and we want to show you how cool science is! Follow us having semi-serious conversations with our sci-guests. New episode every month.

Información

  • Creador
    The Science Basement
  • Años de actividad
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodios
    95
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
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    The Science Basement Podcast