In this episode Gemma chats to Adrian Daub about his latest book What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley. Adrian Daub is a professor of comparative literature and German studies at Stanford University, and the director of Stanford’s Program in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. What Tech Calls Thinking (FSGO x Logic) @adriandaub...
In this episode we chat to Lee Vinsel and Andrew Russell authors of The Innovation Delusion (2020), where they take on 'innovation speak' and advocate for a greater focus on what keeps the world going - maintenance. Interview starts ~20min mark. Lee Vinsel is a Professor ub the Department of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech. Andrew Russell is a Professor of History and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The Innovation Delusion Lee Vinsel ...
In this episode we chat to writer and science historian Audra Wolfe about organised labour, constructing a union for scientists, and the myth of apolitical science. Audra's writing has appeared in the Washington Post and The Atlantic. She is the author of Freedom's Laboratory: The Cold War Struggle for the Soul of Science and the award winning Competing With the Soviets: Science, Technology, and the State in Cold War America. Audra Wolfe @ColdWarScience Never Just Science newsletter audrajwolfe....
In this episode we chat to Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West authors of Calling Bullshit: The Art of Scepticism in Data-Driven World. Carl Bergstrom is a theoretical and evolutionary biologist and Professor of Biology at the University of Washington. Jevin West is an Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, he also co-founded the DataLab and directs the Center for an Informed Public. Show notes: @CT_Bergstrom @jevinwest / jevinwest.org Calling Bullshit (Allen La...
In this episode we chat to Richard Ovenden OBE, author of Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack! Richard is the Bodley's Librarian at the University of Oxford, and is the the 25th person to hold this post since its creation in 1600. Burning the Books (2020) Richard's Twitter Richard's article in The Economist on preserving digital information...
In this episode we chat to Kat Arney author of Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution and the Science of Life. *episode starts around the 12 minute mark. Rebel Cell Kat's Twitter Gemma's Moonshot article
In this episode we chat to Stuart Ritchie author of Science Fictions: Exposing Fraud, Bias, Negligence and Hype in Science! We return to the roots of our podcast and explore the flaws in science and what actions can be taken to make it better. Stuart is a lecturer at King's College London within the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre with interests in meta-science. The interview starts around the 11 minute mark. @StuartRitchie Science Fictions Book...
In this episode we chat to Akshat Rathi an energy and climate reporter at Bloomberg. He is also the editor of United we are Unstoppable, the topic of this episode, a collection of 60 inspiring stories from young climate activists across the globe. Twitter United we are Unstoppable Akshat's Bloomberg writing...
In this episode we talk to economist Rob Larson about the immense power of the big 5 tech companies (even if in the intro I say big 4...sorry Microsoft), the economics of how they got to be so big, the tyrannical rulers at the helm, and the perverse business practices that insure them against competition. Rob is a Professor of Economics at Tacoma Community College and author of Capitalism vs. Freedom (2018), and Bit Tyrants (2020). He also writes for venues such as Jacobin and Current Affairs. T...
In this episode Gemma chats to journalist and author Tim Maughan. Tim’s first novel Infinite Detail (2019) which tells a dystopic time-shifting tale of the pre and post-apocalypse following the global technological shutdown was selected by The Guardian as their Science Fiction and Fantasy book of the year. (The episode starts at 13.45) Infinite Detail Tim's writing / projects . Twitter Guardian Best Fantasy / Sci Fi books 2019. Could we blow up the Internet? (Motherboard)...
We chat to Adam Hart Professor of Science Communication at the University of Gloucestershire and author of Unfit For Purpose: When Human Evolution Collides with the Modern World.
We spoke to materials scientist and author Ainissa Ramirez about her brilliant new book The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, all about the 8 inventions that shaped our society and the materials behind them. Relevant links: The Alchemy of Us @ainissaramirez
In this episode we chat to historian Rutger Bregman author of Humankind: A Hopeful History (2020) and the bestseller Utopia For Realists (2014). We talk about the shaky social studies and historical perspectives that have driven a wedge between communities, kindness as a fundamental trait of humanity, and the people who are baking cooperation and decency into their institutional structures. Relevant Links Humankind: A Hopeful History Utopia for Realists Rutger's Twitter...
We chat to Mark O'Connell author of To Be A Machine (2017) and Notes From An Apocalypse (2020). We talk about finding lessons about humanity in the strangest of places, being an awarded science writer while not considering himself a science writer, and privilege, decency and purpose. Relevant Links Notes From An Apocalypse (2020) To Be a Machine (2017) Mark’s Twitter...
In this episode we chat to Sabine Hossenfelder , a physicist and author of Lost in Math . In the book Sabine makes the case that physicists have committed themselves to ideas of beauty rooted in maths that are unsupported by the data. She calls for a radical re-evaluation of how physics is done. Relevant Links Lost in Math (2018) Sabine's Twitter...
In this episode, we’re chatting about Science Disrupt 2.0 - what we mean when we talk about ‘disruption’, what deeper conversations we now need to have about science, and how and why our own ideas have evolved over the last 4 years. We talk about what’s changed in science since 2016, including the more open nature of critical conversation in academia; how the cult of personality (of consultants, startups and VCs) can make a mockery of science and tech, and what deeper questions aren’t being aske...
In this episode we chat to Wendy Liu author of the brilliant book, Abolish Silicon Valley ! We talk about the myth of the meritocracy, reclaiming entrepreneurship, and what innovation looks like beyond capitalism. Relevant Links Abolish Silicon Valley (2020) Wendy's Twitter Our quick review From inspiring early experiences in open-source software development, to crushing disappointment in the search for startup funding, Wendy Liu writes a refreshingly candid account of how she fell in, and then ...
In this one we talk about people talking about science, and scicomm, and journalism, and open science. Some things we mentioned in the episode: Why the coronavirus is so confusing - Ed Yong Covid projections dashboard - David Yu Covering science at dangerous speeds - Ivan Oransky How to boost the spread of coronavirus science on social media - Samantha Yammine Twitter: @lawrenceyolland @gemmamilne @sciencedisrupt...
Gemma's book Smoke and Mirrors launched last week and we talk about it. You can pick up a copy here .
After a long summer we're back, and we're here to talk spaaaace! Specifically the issue of satellite sustainability and the startup leading the charge. In this episode of the Science: Disrupt podcast we chat to Harriet Brettle, Business Analyst at the startup Astroscale and co-founder of the London Space Network. Astroscale is a space startup that is developing a solution to the environmental concerns over space debris and all of the challenges that that can bring. We also discuss Harriet's path...
In this episode we chat to science fiction author, Anne Charnock. For Anne's latest novel " Dreams Before the Start of Time " received the Arthur C Clarke award in 2018, and explores the future of fertility, and pre-natal genetic screening. Anne was also a Phillip K Dick Award nominee for here 2013 novel "A Calculated Life". It's becoming more and more clear that sci-fi and futurism can have great influence in our culture. In our chat with Anne we dive into the role of sci-fi as a launchpad for ...
In this episode we chat to Charles Fracchia , CEO and Co-Founder of BioBright a bioscience data company driven to make labs faster and smarter. Showing that building out a smart lab isn't the preserve of the roboticists, Biobright hoovers up every drop of experimental data with a view to make science more reproducible. Their product 'DarwinSync' can hook up to you electronic lab notebooks, be searched through voice, and can even help with the analysis and visualisation of lab data. Charles' CV r...
In this episode we chat to science writer, podcaster, speaker, author, and now communications consultant Dr Kat Arney on all things science communication! We dive into the current state of the science communication industry, from the tools of the trade, things that 'scicommers' can improve, and the work Kat does training researchers in the art of storytelling. Relevant links: Kat's Twitter Kat's podcast Genetics Unzipped Kat's book - Herding Hemingway's Cats Gemma's Article on ' Why Science Need...
In today's episode we are joined by Richard Clarke, a PhD researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine! Richard is a member of the the Vaccine Confidence Project, an initiative that monitors public confidence in immunisation for the purpose of detecting public concerns around vaccines. These concerns can have massive implications for the effectiveness of vaccine programmes and as such researchers must address them as early as possible. In this episode we explore what research...
In today's episode Gemma speaks to Hila Cohen the International Business Development Lead of the World Food Programme's Innovation Accelerator . We dive into the invaluable work done by the WFP, the benefits of considerate locally focussed innovations in food tech, and whether there should be concerns given the aging farming community. The WFP Innovation Accelerator identifies and nurtures solutions to hunger globally. They also provide financial support to WFP innovators and external start-ups,...
Today's guest is Antipem Ofori Charles, a Ghanaian inventor and entrepreneur who is intent on transforming science education within Ghana and beyond. Antipem is the founder of the DEXT Technology, an accessible science set designed to engage students in underserved communities with the wonder of science. One of Antipem's inspirations for developing DEXT was through his own pathway into science. His father, a local high school teacher, framed what it meant to be a scientist for him by designing r...
In this episode we are joined by our pal, the inimitable Harry Destecroix. Harry is CEO of Unit DX and Carbometrics, and is former CEO of Ziylo. We chat about why (and how) he managed to have such a mental job title, how Bristol is fast becoming a spinout factory, and how entrepreneurship can be fostered in the sciences with just a little bit more education, and a bit more ecosystem support. If you want to find out more about the story of Ziylo and Carbometrics, Gemma covered the astounding news...
In this episode we chat to Mary Ward, the co-founder of Counter Culture Labs , an Oakland based community space that draws a diverse crowd to scientific exploration.
In this episode we chat to UC San Diego Physicist Brian Keating on his new book ' Losing the Nobel Prize '. Brian Keating was in the running for a Nobel with the gravitational waves discovery, but his Nobel hopes evaporated when what they had really detected was the cosmologists nemesis ... interstellar dust. Brian talks us through the history of the Nobel, scientific incentives, and the perception of the Nobel through time. We also delve into some key things that the Nobel should change - such ...
In this episode we spoke to Dr Jenny Molloy, a Cambridge Synthetic Biologist who, among many things, is the Director of the Cambridge Biomakespace , and is on the organising committee for the Gathering for Open Science Hardware . We spoke about her work in developing the GOSH manifesto, and the recently released Open Science Hardware Roadmap which advocates for open science hardware as a ubiquitous component of everyday lab life. We also dove into the space that hardware fits into, in the ever a...
