Science Sucks
40 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsScience is awesome. It’s fascinating, it sparks curiosity, and it’s the reason most of us are alive today.
Sometimes, it sucks... from applying for funding, to spending hours in the lab, to lack of representation in many science fields.
The show is hosted by Ive Velikova, a Master's candidate in science communication at Laurentian University. Each week, we talk about the ins and outs of scientific research and how it impacts our lives.
Welcome to Science Sucks! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sciencesucks/support
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Episodes
36. Autoimmune Diseases, Celery Juice, and Leonardo DaVinci (w/ Amanda Durkin)
May 19, 2020 05:36 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBLet's get our art on with science artist and PhD researcher Amanda Durkin (she/her) is a PhD candidate at Laurentian University studying a new anti-inflammatory compound. She also creates beautiful anatomical art in her Etsy shop, Amandatomical Art! -- Why we do a land acknowledgement: — Land acknowledgments at Canadian universities and colleges — Land acknowledgments in Ontario A Guide to Land Acknowledgments by The Native Governance Centre — Indigenous Land Acknowledgements, Explained...
35. What rubber bands can tell us about DNA (w/ Adam Fortais)
May 08, 2020 00:52 - 45 minutes - 81.8 MBAdam Fortais (he/him) is a PhD candidate studying the physics of soft matter at McMaster University. Adam co-hosts the AlmaMac, a weekly radio show. Each week, hosts Adam, Shawn, and Matt talk to a researcher about their work — what inspires, excites, and makes them curious. If you’re curious about physics, biology, and everything in between, strap in for this interview! Check out all of Adam's writing and SciComm work on his website! If you're interested in science writing/journalism, che...
34. Birds are Definitely Glamorous Dinosaurs (w/ Dr. Lisa Buckley)
April 07, 2020 04:46 - 32 minutes - 58.1 MBDr. Lisa Buckley (she/her) is part paleontologist, part glamourous bird. Lisa is a vertebrate Palaeontologist and Ichnologist who worked as a Curator & Collections Manager, so she has the tea on what it’s like to work at a museum. Now, Lisa is an independent paleontologist, taking on various jobs and science communication initiatives. This includes a lovely, stunning, gorgeous #BirdGlamour! -- COVID-19 Resources World Health Organization guidelines If you're in Ontario, here's your COV...
33. French Canadians "can't speak" and other language myths (w/ Dr. Michèle Minor-Corriveau)
February 19, 2020 04:06 - 34 minutes - 61.5 MBDr. Michèle Minor-Corriveau (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist and professor, specializing in written language. Michèle busts some myths about language! We talk code-switching, children ruining the language, and how to make classrooms more accessible to ALL kids, regardless of ability. -- Check out the detailed Wet’suwet’en Supporter Toolkit 2020! Why we do a land acknowledgement: Land acknowledgments at Canadian universities and colleges Land acknowledgments in Ontario A Guide...
32. Improving lives through speech and language therapy (w/ Dr. Roxanne Belanger)
February 02, 2020 23:38 - 28 minutes - 51.4 MBDr. Roxanne Belanger (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist and professor at Laurentian University. Belanger worked closely with the Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic, which follows up with families of babies born prematurely to support their development well into childhood. Now, Roxanne teaches the Laurentian School of Speech-Language Pathology and shares why her field is changing lives across the age spectrum. -- We've started doing land acknowledgements on the podcast! Here are some resourc...
This Physicist is Taking the World by Storm (w/ Dr. Claudia Antolini)
January 08, 2020 04:30 - 33 minutes - 60.6 MBDr. Claudia Antolini (she/her) is an Engagement Officer at the Institute of Physics. She shares the joys of having a dynamic science job that’s different from day to day and calls out physics textbooks for being full of old, white men. Claudia turns this tradition on its head through fun physics demos and events. Check out the Institute of Physics' upcoming events in the UK! Follow Claudia on Twitter @CA_AstroComm! -- We've started doing land acknowledgements on the podcast! Here are som...
31. This Physicist is Taking the World by Storm (w/ Dr. Claudia Antolini)
January 08, 2020 04:30 - 33 minutes - 60.6 MBDr. Claudia Antolini (she/her) is an Engagement Officer at the Institute of Physics. She shares the joys of having a dynamic science job that’s different from day to day and calls out physics textbooks for being full of old, white men. Claudia turns this tradition on its head through fun physics demos and events. Check out the Institute of Physics' upcoming events in the UK! Follow Claudia on Twitter @CA_AstroComm! -- We've started doing land acknowledgements on the podcast! Here are som...
30. Getting stuck in the Gulf of Mexico, and other fieldwork shenanigans (w/ Juita Martinez)
November 20, 2019 04:50 - 37 minutes - 67.2 MBJuita Martinez is a Ph.D. student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She uses camera traps to study brown pelicans in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico! Juita was nervous to get on the mic, but she’s a natural! Her energy and contagious laugh made this episode an absolute blast. We talk fieldwork mishaps, camera traps, and how you can start exploring the outdoors yourself! Check out Juita's website and her fieldwork shenanigans on Twitter! Consider NOAA's internship opportunities...
30. Getting stuck in the Gulf of Mexico, and other fieldwork mishaps (w/ Juita Martinez)
November 20, 2019 04:50 - 37 minutes - 67.2 MBJuita Martinez is a Ph.D. student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She uses camera traps to study brown pelicans in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico! Juita was nervous to get on the mic, but she’s a natural! Her energy and contagious laugh made this episode an absolute blast. We talk fieldwork mishaps, camera traps, and how you can start exploring the outdoors yourself! Check out Juita's website and her fieldwork shenanigans on Twitter! Consider NOAA's internship opportunities...
29. From Astrophysicist to a Dream SciComm Job (w/ Dr. Parshati Patel)
November 12, 2019 00:55 - 31 minutes - 57.4 MBDr. Parshati Patel (she/her) is an astrophysicist and science communicator at the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration at Western University. She shares how she got where she is today, tackles misconceptions about being an astronomer, and explores why we are so breathtaken by the night sky. Check out Parshati on Twitter and Instagram! ___ Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get Angela Saini's Inferior into high schools across Canada! Check it out. You can find me (your hos...
28. A Beginner's Guide to Science Illustration (w/ Dr. Gaius J. Augustus)
November 06, 2019 17:24 - 35 minutes - 63.9 MBDr. Gaius J. Augustus (he/him and they/them) is a science illustrator and visual storyteller. They create infographics, illustrations, animations, and tell science stories through art. They also teach and consults to help others create #SciArt masterpieces. Gaius demystifies the technical aspect of science illustration, so if you're interested in creating science art, this episode is for you! Gaius also happens to identify as non-binary and trans. They share their experiences coming out and...
27. How To Make $$$ in Grad School (w/ Kelsey Doerkson)
October 21, 2019 23:06 - 40 minutes - 71.9 MBKelsey Doeskrson (she/her) is a NASA engineer and creator of The Poor Grad Student blog. She did her Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University, and just wrapped up her Masters of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Western Ontario. We get REAL about money in grad school — conferences, reimbursements, scholarships, and how the system needs to change. --- Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get Angela Saini's Inferior into high schools across C...
26. Why do we love science podcasts? (w/ Kyelle Byne)
October 15, 2019 10:00 - 30 minutes - 56.1 MBKyelle Byne (she/her) is wrapping up her degree in Laurentian University's Science Communication program—the only one of its kind in Canada! She did her Master's research on science podcasts. Why do we love them? What keeps us coming back for more? Are they useful tools in communicating science? Check out Our Science, a podcast hosted by the 2019 SciComm cohort. Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get Angela Saini's Inferior into high schools across Canada! Check it out. You ca...
25. A Scientist's Guide to the Federal Election (w/ Evidence for Democracy, TSPN, and SPE)
October 10, 2019 05:22 - 33 minutes - 60.8 MBIve tackles the upcoming federal election — with a science twist! You'll hear from Sivani Baskaran and Molly Sung, co-founders of the Toronto Science Policy Network, Irene Calloyanis from Science and Policy Exchange, and Kimberly Girling and Emma Bugg of Evidence for Democracy to help us unpack this upcoming election and what it means for science. #elxn43 is just around the corner, and this episode will help you get informed. Get involved in the #VoteScience Campaign! Find when, where, an...
24. How To Quit Your PhD and Dive into Teaching (w/ Jalina Bielaska Da Silva)
October 07, 2019 01:45 - 29 minutes - 53.6 MBJalina Bielaska Da Silva (she/her) is a researcher turned teacher. She's a science communication wiz, a critic of burnout culture in academia, and a tutor at The Math Guru. In this episode, Jalina shares tips for self-care, science communication, and good teaching practices. Follow Jalina on Twitter! Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get Angela Saini's Inferior into high schools across Canada! Check it out. You can find me (your host, Ive) on Twitter, Insta, and YouTube. Let's...
23. Tips from Award-Winning Science Writer Dr. Kimberly McCoy
September 18, 2019 04:07 - 36 minutes - 66 MBOne of this year's AAAS Mass Media Fellows, Dr. Kimberly McCoy (who goes by Berly) spent the summer writing at PBS News Hour. We chat about how her love for snowboarding let her to a PhD, how she got her writing gig at It’s Ok to be Smart, and how you can join the NPR SciCommers community! Don't forget to check out Berly's clips for PBS News Hour and her full portfolio on her website! Interested in the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship? Shoot your shot! Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundrai...
22. How did birds evolve from dinosaurs? (w/ Talia Lowi-Merri)
September 03, 2019 03:09 - 47 minutes - 44.2 MBThis week, we step into the Royal Ontario Museum (aka the ROM) to talk to Talia Lowi-Merri (she/her), a Ph.D. student whose office is right in the museum! And if you stay ‘till the end, you’ll get an exclusive, never-before-seen-by the-general public tour of the bird archives. We go behind the scenes for this one. It’s like the movie “Night at the Museum,” but less Ben Stiller and more paperwork. Check out her Twitter for field research pics and bird facts! Follow along with all the speci...
21. Road Trip to the first-ever ComSciConCan
August 19, 2019 01:14 - 34 minutes - 62.2 MBComSciConCAN is Canada’s FIRST national science communication workshop for graduate students. This 3-day professional development conference helps graduate students expand their communication skillset—creating videos, writing policy, crafting stories, and more! Ive was lucky enough to attend and bring some wisdom from the conference back to the podcast. With the help of 8 special guests, Ive takes you on a trip to ComSciConCan 2019! Thank you to our awesome guests! Alana Wilcox Laurissa...
20. Why is LGBT STEM Day important?
July 29, 2019 16:24 - 27 minutes - 49.1 MBThis episode is an ode to LGBT STEM Day! The second-annual #LGBTSTEMDay was on Friday, July 5, 2019. It’s a day full of events, campaigns, and storytelling to celebrate LGBTQ+ folks in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It also acknowledges the unique challenges faced by trans and queer scientists in these fields. To celebrate queer folks in STEM, I invited 6 guests to chat about their experiences as LGBTQ+ scientists. Here are our guests: Meet Maya Degrood, Instagram's ve...
19. How To Use Social Media Like a Scientist (w/ Lina Duque)
July 02, 2019 19:45 - 34 minutes - 62.7 MBLina Duque, MBA (she/her) is a social media strategist who advises academics, executives, and CEO's on social media and personal branding. She’s been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes magazine, and the Globe and Mail. Lina has given talks and lectures at Harvard Law School, McGill University, University of Toronto, and York University. In this episode, Lina shares tips on how to use social media for networking and career advancement. Lina has specific tips to build your audien...
18. Coming Out (w/ Natalie Westwood)
June 18, 2019 02:38 - 32 minutes - 58.3 MBNatalie Westwood (she/her) is an ecologist working on her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. We chat about her field research adventures in Costa Rica, coming out as queer as a scientist, and why ecology more than just the food chain you learned about in elementary school. Check out Natalie on her Twitter and Instagram! Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get Angela Saini's Inferior into high schools across Canada! Check it out. You can find me (y...
17. Let's Talk About Sex (w/ Eva Bloom)
June 03, 2019 10:00 - 37 minutes - 67.2 MBMeet our first guest of Pride Month, Eva! Eva Bloom (she/her) is a sex researcher wrapping up her Master’s on sexting behaviour in Canadian women! She is also a sex-ed YouTuber with over 7000 subscribers! On her channel, she talks about pleasure, masturbation, social justice, bisexuality, and sexual health in all its forms. This year, Eva hosted at a workshop on kindness and casual sex at Good For Her, a sex toy shop in Toronto! Eva recommended @blkgirlmanifest @gabalexa and @whatswrongwit...
16. Chasing Non-Science Passions (w/ Krishana Sankar)
May 27, 2019 09:00 - 35 minutes - 64.4 MBKrishana Sankar (she/her) is a doctoral fellow studying diabetes at the University of Toronto. She is a self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur,” having kickstarted the #150minutes campaign for diabetes awareness, her organization WOCSCAN, and the Inferior In Canada Campaign. We chat about her research, advocacy, and the perks of chasing hobbies alongside your career! Follow Krishana on Twitter and Instagram! Click here to check out the TED Talk I mentioned. Support #InferiorinCanada, as we...
15. Science Meets Policy (w/ Dr. Vanessa Sung)
May 06, 2019 09:00 - 33 minutes - 60.4 MBDr. Vanessa Sung (she/her) is a fresh new doctor who recently defended her Ph.D. in biochemistry at McGill University, with a focus on breast cancer research. Having wrapped up her Ph.D., Vanessa now works as a science policy analyst for the Chief Science Advisor in Canada, Dr. Mona Nemer. We talk about her cool job, how to have your voice heard, and the importance of having your very own lady web. Where you can find Vanessa! Twitter Website Policy curious? Check these out! Toronto Sci...
14. Teen Mom to Cancer Epidemiologist (w/ Ashley Stenzel)
April 30, 2019 15:25 - 28 minutes - 52.2 MBAshley Stenzel (she/her) is a PhD candidate in cancer epidemiology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY. We chat about her experience as a teen mom, turning her back on science only to come back, and her passion for science outreach and education. Plus, we debunk some myths and conspiracy theories about cancer, coming from a cancer researcher herself. Where you can find Ashley: Twitter Website Look out for her talk on the Story Collider podcast. Cancer Resources! United Stat...
13. Earth Day Special Extravaganza (w/ Anita Luu, Ellen Gute, Emily Wissel, and Dr. Richelle Tanner)
April 22, 2019 23:44 - 27 minutes - 49.6 MBWelcome to our Earth Day Special Extravaganza! This week, I welcome 4 special guests to share their love for the outdoors. We also share tips and resources on what we can do to reduce our impact on climate change, both at the individual and systemic level. Enjoy! Folks to follow: Anita Luu Ellen Gute and the Toronto Science Policy Network (TSPN) Dr. Richelle Tanner Emily Wissel Podcasts: She Explores Women on the Road Outside/In Book: The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultur...
12. The 17-Year-Old STEM Founder (w/ Keeley Aird)
April 15, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 57.3 MBKeeley Aird is a grade 12 student and recent graduate of the Ontario Science Centre Science School. She is the co-founder of STEM Kids Rock, an mobile science centre run for kids, by kids. We chat about curiosity, bug collections, and how important it is for kids to ask weird questions! Enjoy! Check out STEM Kids Rock! Twitter Instagram Get Involved! Follow Keeley on Twitter! Check out Pippin (Keeley's dog!!) on Instagram! Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get Angela Sain...
12. Science for kids, by kids (w/ Keeley Aird)
April 15, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 57.3 MBKeeley Aird (she/her) is a grade 12 student and recent graduate of the Ontario Science Centre Science School. She is the co-founder of STEM Kids Rock, an mobile science centre run for kids, by kids. We chat about curiosity, bug collections, and how important it is for kids to ask weird questions! Enjoy! Check out STEM Kids Rock! Twitter Instagram Get Involved! Follow Keeley on Twitter! Check out Pippin (Keeley's dog!!) on Instagram! Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to get A...
11. Canada and the Future of Space Travel (w/ Dr. Sara Mazrouei)
April 08, 2019 10:00 - 29 minutes - 54.2 MBDr. Sara Mazrouei (she/her) is a planetary scientist and science communicator. She has a PhD in planetary science with a focus on moon collisions. Sara has given a phenomenal TEDx Talk about the barriers she faced when studying space. She has been on radio and TV networks talking science news, and currently works in on the Space Matters outreach project at the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX). We about about the moon as a time capsule, her love of the Ontario Science Centr...
10. How To Get Into Science Writing (w/ Sophie Okolo)
April 01, 2019 19:04 - 30 minutes - 54.3 MBSophie Okolo (she/her) is a public health researcher and science writer. She writes about the latest health tech, dementia, ageism. She helps run The STEM Squad, an inclusive online community for women and non-binary folks in STEM. In this episode, we give you a detailed guide on how to start your gig as a science writer! If you're even a little bit interested in science writing, this is the episode for you. Tips: 1. Find a niche. 2. Write, write, write! 3. Find a mentor. Resources f...
9. Get Outside! (w/ Ashley Gary)
March 25, 2019 10:00 - 29 minutes - 53.3 MBThis episode is all about the great outdoors. Ashley Gary (she/her) is a wildlife educator and outdoor advocate. She runs The Wildlife Newsletter and hopes to one day have her own wildlife show. She talked about how to get outdoors (even if you live in a city) and offered powerful advice on how to start chasing your dreams today! Ashley's tips to get outside: • Go to a park • Look for birds... they're everywhere! • Visit a garden, nature centre, or botanical garden • Grow your own gard...
8. Gynaecology's Dark History (w/ Charly Evon Simpson)
March 18, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 57 MBCharly Evon Simpson (she/her) is a playwright, teacher, performer in New York City. Her play, Behind the Sheet, recently had its world premiere at Ensemble Studio Theatre. Her play shared the dark history of gynaecology, in which a white doctor experimented on black enslaved women. It tells the story of a great medical breakthrough through the eyes of a community of enslaved black women who were involuntarily involved the discovery. I'm thrilled to bring you my interview with Charly. Where ...
7. Chemistry Hater to Chemistry Grad Student (w/ Reeda Mahmood)
March 11, 2019 02:54 - 31 minutes - 56.7 MBReeda Mahmood (she/her) a Master's student at Ryerson University and co-founder of IdeaMosaic, a company that aims to bridge the gap between scientists and the public. She shares her journey from vowing to never take chemistry again to studying doing a Master's degree in that very field. Here's what to do when school makes you hate a subject you eventually learn to love. Where you can find Reeda! Twitter Check out IdeaMosaic! Website Twitter Instagram Support #InferiorinCanada, as we ...
6. Your Guide to Science Journalism (w/ Bianca Nogrady)
March 04, 2019 13:50 - 31 minutes - 43.3 MBBianca Nogrady (she/her) is an Australian freelance science journalist. We chatted about life as a freelancer, why science writing is so important, how she got into it, and what advice she has for young women in STEM. If you need some inspiration, this is the perfect episode for you. Where you can find Bianca! Twitter Website Bianca's Books! The End: The Human Experience of Death The Best Australian Science Writing 2015 The Sixth Wave Support #InferiorinCanada, as we fundraise to ge...
5. How To Support Women in Science (w/ Shweta Mahajan)
February 11, 2019 17:32 - 28 minutes - 51.8 MBOn International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I present my interview with Shweta! Shweta Mahajan (she/her) is a microbiologist, podcaster, and science communicator. She hosts the podcast Science with Shweta where she interviews scientists, chats about the daily research grind, and gives advice for science students. We discuss the barriers that women have to face in STEM fields, and how we can support and empower one another to break those barriers down. Where you can find Shweta! ...
4. Breast Cancer in Black Women (w/ Shawn Hercules)
February 04, 2019 15:50 - 31 minutes - 57.9 MBShawn Hercules (he/him) is PhD candidate at McMaster University studying breast cancer. Specifically, he studies triple-negative breast cancer, a very aggressive type of cancer that is more common in black women than in other populations and is linked to higher mortality rates. This episode features a lot of learning and laughs. Enjoy! Shawn featured on 5 Minutes of Science! Race and breast cancer: Is there a link? Shawn's 3 Minute Thesis! News! What is the polar vortex and how is it lin...
3. How to Make Science More Inclusive (w/ Ana Sofia Barrows)
January 29, 2019 15:32 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBAna Sofia Barrows (she/her) works in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Ana Sofia has coordinated events, given talks, and written articles focused on advancing EDI in science. Her energy is contagious—I left our interview feeling more energized than ever! If you are working towards making science more inclusive, this episode is required listening. You don't want to miss this. Quick steps to be more inclusive: • Acknowledge your i...
2. How do marine organisms build their shells? (w/ Robert Ulrich)
January 23, 2019 04:01 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MBRobert N. Ulrich (he/him) is PhD candidate at UCLA. He explores how marine organisms make their shells. Spoiler alert: We don't know exactly how they do it!! We chat about why nature is so much cooler if you know more about it, how we were lied to in high school chemistry, and more! Where you can find Rob: Twitter Insta Check out Queers in STEM! News! James Watson: Scientist loses titles after claims over race (BBC) The Origin of Race in the USA (The Origin of Everything, hosted by D...
1. Enzymes Can (probably) Save the World (w/ Maya DeGrood)
January 09, 2019 05:41 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBWelcome to the first-ever episode of Science Sucks! On this show, we debunk the myth the science sucks, one awesome chat at a time. This week, we talked to Maya DeGrood about... enzymes! Enzymes are nature's catalysts. The speed up reactions so that literally... every function in our body can happen. Maya has a background in protein biochemistry and used crystallography to understand how enzymes work. Using research like hers, scientists use enzyme properties to save! lives! Leaving cryst...
1. Enzymes Can (probably) Save the World (w/ The Molecular Maven)
January 09, 2019 05:41 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBWelcome to the first-ever episode of Science Sucks! On this show, we debunk the myth the science sucks, one awesome chat at a time. This week, we talked to Maya, the Molecular Maven herself (seriously, check out her killer Insta) about... enzymes! Enzymes are nature's catalysts. The speed up reactions so that literally... every function in our body can happen. Maya has a background in protein biochemistry and used crystallography to understand how enzymes work. Using research like hers, sc...