In this week’s episode, we’re joined by mathematical biologist Stacey Smith? to talk about science policy and communication – with a bit of a twist. We learn about how a zombie apocalypse might begin, how scientists might handle it in the early stages, and the barriers to communicating essential scientific information to policymakers and the public.

We also reminisce on the difficulties scientists and science communicators faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how you speak to people who just don’t want to listen – especially when your message is drowned out by the flurry of misinformation and disinformation on social media.

If COVID-19 had been an Ebola outbreak, would the public have reacted differently? Stacey explains why we never want to experience an “interesting” pandemic and how outbreaks in history forced us to reconsider what we actually know about diseases and human health.

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