D. Graham Burnett, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the fifth episode of Shaping Science to discuss the role of democracy in science and the impact technology has on attention spans. Prof. Burnett is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History at Princeton University. He co-authored the paper “Attention sanctuaries: Social practice guidelines and emergent strategies in attention activism” published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences: https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/nyas.15313.
Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of Tata Sons. For more info, visit: nyas.org/ideas-insights/podcasts/
00:00 Intro
02:28 Is a Whale a Fish or a Mammal?
06:26 Pre-Darwin Taxonomy of Animals
12:21 The Role of Democracy in Science
15:58 The History and Philosophy of Science
26:18 The Crisis of Attention Exploitation and Human Fracking 35:30 How Does Technology Impact Attention Span?
44:40 Using Artificial Intelligence in Teaching
Stuart Firestein, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the fourth episode of Shaping Science to discuss the science of smells, learning from failure, and the utility of uncertainty. Formerly the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, Prof. Firestein is the author of “Ignorance: How it Drives Science” and “Failure: Why Science is So Successful,” which have been translated into 12 languages.
"Ignorance: How it Drives Science" was released by Oxford University Press in 2012. His second book, "Failure: Why Science is So Successful," appeared in October 2015. They have been translated into 12 languages.
Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of Tata Sons. For more info, visit: nyas.org/ideas-insights/podcasts/
00:00 Intro
01:59 How Memorizing Theatre Lines Led to Success in Organic Chemistry
10:04 Debating the Sensory Dominance of Smell for Dogs
15:01 The Most Interesting Components of Smell for Humans
18:50 Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence
20:49 Controlling for the Aging Brain
26:56 Ignorance and Knowing What You Don't Know
32:49 Handling Failure and Uncovering the Unknown Unknowns
36:08 Finding the Balance Between Failure and Success
39:39 Assessing the Current State of Funding for Science
Peter Salovey joins Nick Dirks in the third episode of Shaping Science to discuss his groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence and lessons he’s learned after more than two decades in higher education leadership. Prof. Salovey served as the twenty-third president of Yale University from 2013 to 2024 and currently is Sterling Professor of Psychology at Yale with secondary appointments in the Schools of Management and Public Health. A clinical psychologist by training, Prof. Salovey is renowned for his work in the realm of emotional intelligence, which focuses on the important role emotions play in thinking and behavior.
Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of the Tata Group. For more info, visit: nyas.org/ideas-insights/podcasts/
00:00 Intro
01:45 How Emotional Intelligence Revolutionized the Field of Psychology
10:10 The Role of Dan Goleman and Journalism in Emotional Intelligence
17:13 Emotional Intelligence and Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
21:50 How Effective Leaders Utilize Emotional Intelligence
26:13 Challenges in Higher Education Administration: Renaming Yale’s Calhoun College
36:25 “No Jump Balls” and Differentiating Principle from Application of Principle
44:52 How Scientific Leaders Should Respond to the Current Moment
Ariel Ekblaw, PhD, founder and CEO of Aurelia Institute, joins Nick Dirks in the second episode of Shaping Science to discuss the complexity and promise of modern space exploration. Dr. Ekblaw talks about the work her nonprofit is doing in developing “space LEGOs” to create customizable space structures for humans, the utility of zero gravity for medical applications, and her thoughts on democratizing space travel to make it as accessible as possible.
Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of the Tata Group. For more info, visit: nyas.org/ideas-insights/podcasts/
Also read from Dr. Ekblaw: https://on.ft.com/4gJuSkx
Mary Woolley, President of Research!America, joins Nick Dirks in the premiere episode of Shaping Science, The New York Academy of Sciences' new podcast. Mary discusses her more than three-decade career at the helm of Research!America, the importance of federal support for research, and hope for the future of science, despite recent challenges.
Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of Tata Sons.
For more info, visit: nyas.org/ideas-insights/podcasts
Welcome to the "Shaping Science" podcast where we talk with experts from science, academia, industry, and beyond to explore the latest in research, education and innovation for the public good.