Latest Science outreach Podcast Episodes
Lung Microbiomes in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - February 27, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe microbiome has gotten a lot of attention recently, with gut health being emphasised in everything from digestion to mental health. But when is the last time you thought about the microbiome in your lungs? Here to tell us all about the fascinating environment that is our lungs is Jack Thomas ...
Regenerative Engineering in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - December 15, 2022 16:00 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe human body is capable of some amazing things, including the magic of regeneration! And biomedical engineers are doing some fascinating things to magnify that power. Northwestern University PhD student Rebecca Keate shares more about how how healing can be controlled through electricity and h...
Smart Pathogens in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - October 27, 2022 14:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWelcome back to In the Spotlight! For our season 4 premiere, we'll be talking all about the struggle between humans and pathogens -- one we're, unfortunately, all too familiar with. Here to talk us through one of the many ways bacteria outsmart our immune system is Northwestern PhD student Alexa...
Green Spaces in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - June 16, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsFor our season 3 finale, we're uncovering all there is to know about green spaces and green infrastructure for cities! Many people don't realize the dozens of benefits that trees and green spaces give us, including in stormwater collection and preventing flooding. Northwestern PhD Candidate Coll...
Transnationalism in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - June 02, 2022 11:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsHumans are messy, complicated beings. Who we are is influenced by a number of factors, ranging from our upbringing to our geography. Here to walk us through the study of transnationalism, and how it's changing, is David Duske. David is a 2nd year MA student at the University of Buffalo, in the D...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: Mental Health Crisis Response 4
In the Spotlight - May 26, 2022 14:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on new strategies in men...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: Mental Health Crisis Response 3
In the Spotlight - May 25, 2022 13:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on new strategies in men...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: Mental Health Crisis Response 2
In the Spotlight - May 24, 2022 13:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on new strategies in men...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: Mental Health Crisis Response 1
In the Spotlight - May 23, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on new strategies in men...
Computational Materials in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - May 12, 2022 11:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsComputational modelling has revolutionised complete fields, leading to increasingly advanced theories and applications. But what does computational modelling look like in material science, a field often associated with material things? PhD candidate Sean Koyama is here to walk us through the ble...
Developmental Biology in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - May 05, 2022 12:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe process of developing from a single fertilized egg cell to a mature adult requires your cells to know exactly what specialization they will have AND spatially where they need to be in the developing organism. That's a lot for us to figure out! PhD student Andrew Montequin uses frogs to study...
Prehistoric Climates in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - April 28, 2022 11:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsClimate change is something a lot of us hear about on a daily basis, but how much do we really know about the history of our climate. It turns out our Earth's past may hold some clues to its future. Here to walk us through her work in Deep Time is Nilou Sarvian, a 5th year PhD candidate in the ...
Adolescent Suicidality in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - April 21, 2022 13:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsEvidence-based interventions are so critical to treating mental illness and behaviors like suicide, but the road to developing these interventions is far from easy. Psychology PhD candidate Abby Ridge-Anderson shares more about her path into adolescent suicide research, how new treatments can sp...
Tiny Houses in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - April 06, 2022 11:00 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWhile the concept of tiny houses may evoke imagery straight out of a fairy tale, these small abodes help empower women around the world. Here to walk us through this fascinating concept is Alice Wilson, a 3rd year PhD candidate in urban sociology at the University of York, in the United Kingdom....
Science Policy in the Spotlight: COVID-19 and Schooling 4
In the Spotlight - March 31, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on the impact of the COV...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: COVID-19 and Schooling 3
In the Spotlight - March 30, 2022 11:00 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on the impact of the COV...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: COVID-19 and Schooling 2
In the Spotlight - March 29, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on the impact of the COV...
Science Policy in the Spotlight: COVID-19 and Schooling 1
In the Spotlight - March 28, 2022 11:00 - 41 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe are introducing a new monthly policy episode series called "Science Policy in the Spotlight," where we will focus our attention on a timely and local policy topic in the greater Chicago area and understand how science helps inform the topic. This series, we're focused on the impact of the COV...
Prostheses in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - March 24, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe world of prostheses has been advancing rapidly, but how can we make sure that the benefits are reaped by everyone that needs it? Here to talk us through prosthetic development and equity initiatives in the field is Maggie Swerdloff, a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering at Northwestern U...
In the Spotlight Season 3 Podcast Trailer
In the Spotlight - March 21, 2022 18:00 - 3 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWelcome to In the Spotlight, the science communication podcast brought to you by Northwestern University's Science Policy Outreach Taskforce! This season, we are unveiling a new episode series alongside our normal content, called "Science Policy in the Spotlight." We want to showcase some local ...
Platelets and Immunology in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - March 17, 2022 18:00 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe world of immunology has fascinated many of us even more since the COVID-19 pandemic, but there's still so much to discover. PhD student Becca Mellema loves microbiology and is here to share a lot of new information - especially fun facts! - about the tiny cells called platelets. While you mi...
Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - March 10, 2022 12:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsAutism Spectrum Disorder affects roughly 1% of the world's population, yet it's cause remains a multi-faceted mystery. Kicking off Season 3 of In The Spotlight, we welcome Daniel Giffney, a technician working at the University of Edinburgh on understanding the genetic causes of ASD. If you want...
Decarbonization of Natural Gas in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - December 23, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsFor our season 2 finale episode (!!!) , we're looking forward to new types of decarbonization strategies that can make all the difference in how our energy needs can change to survive climate change. Renewable energy and even more extreme technologies are great, but there are also baby steps tha...
The Microbiome In The Spotlight
In the Spotlight - December 16, 2021 12:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe live in a bacterial world. Not only are the microscopic organisms all around us, they're found inside our bodies -- living and growing alongside us. Joining us to tell us all about the wonders of the microbiome is Dr. Liisa Veerus. It turns out some bacteria may be more important than we real...
Bogs and Peatlands in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - December 09, 2021 12:00 - 1 second ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsBogs are small but mighty - they may make up a small percentage of the Earth's surface, but they are powerful ecosystems that act as "carbon sinks." PhD student Peter Lebrocquy Cox from Dublin, Ireland shares a bit more about these fascinating environments and the research behind their rehabilit...
Thermoelectric Materials in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - December 02, 2021 12:00 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsLet's dive back into the crazy science of materials! Our guest this episode, recently crowned Dr. Ramya Gurunathan, works with thermoelectric materials and shares a bit about how this field has originally found utility in space robots and satellites, but may be finding its way into our factories...
Bumblebees In The Spotlight
In the Spotlight - November 24, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsClimate change is one the most daunting problems the world faces. It affects facets of everyday life, ranging from the seasons all the way to the humble bumblebee of the Rocky Mountains. Joining us today is PhD candidate Jackie Fitzgerald, from our very own Northwestern University, to tell us al...
Dental Pain in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - November 18, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWhile a trip to the dentist might not be your first choice activity, the relationship between teeth, pain, and neuroscience is sure to intrigue you! Pain isn't always a bad thing, and figuring out HOW these pain mechanisms work can help us understand and treat complex diseases. PhD student Katie...
Plant Cryopreservation in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - November 11, 2021 12:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsScience fiction has long popularised the idea of being frozen alive to achieve a sort of immortality. While that remains a fantasy for the future, cryopreservation has a very real role to play in the present. Joining us all the way from Colorado, PhD candidate Fionna Samuels is here to tell us a...
Neural Electrodes in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - November 04, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe wonders of the brain aren't going to unlock themselves... we need engineers working on the tools to decipher them! That's where graduate students like PhD student Megan Baker come in. Megan shares some brief insights into what matters when you design neural probes, what problems currently ex...
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