Science: A Candle In The Dark

This episode was originally broadcast on 88.1 KCFC on August 25, 2017.  Join Dr. Ulrike Muller, Dr. Madhusudan Katti, Dr. Andrew Jones, and Dr. David Lent in a discussion on science as an international collaborative enterprise!  We will be releasing more episodes from our archives alongside new episodes recorded here in Raleigh so make sure you follow us on twitter @science_candle and like our facebook.  Enjoy!

Summary: On this episode, we discuss sustainability and resilience in places across the globe, natural and human systems, and the relationship between equity in society and sustainability. Follow @science_candle on twitter for more updates!

In this episode recorded just before the US government shutdown of 2018-19, hosts Dr. Katie Mack and Dr. Madhusudan Katti interview Dr. Rob Dunn, in a conversation that ranged from climate change to space exploration, from the biodiversity in rainforests to that living with us in in our homes, from microbes in our shower heads to those on the space station, and perhaps even on the Voyager spacecrafts! Hope you enjoy it, and Madhu's poor voice recovering from the cold is not too distracting. 

Let us know what you think on twitter or on our facebook page.

Summary: In our first exciting episode after the recent reboot, listen to Dr. Madhu Katti and new co-host Dr. Katie Mack discuss such events as the beginning of the universe, destruction of our solar system, and the end of the known cosmos. This is one podcast you will never forget!

Image courtesy of wikipedia.org

Science: A Candle In The Dark - Reboot!

Host: Dr. Madhusudan Katti

Airdate: 17 November 2018

Summary:

Dr. Madhusudan Katti gives an update about the ScienceCandle podcast, covering topics such as a new upload schedule, new co-host, and much more!

Science: A Candle In The Dark
Episode 16: The Urban Slender Loris Project
Airdate: 28 June 2016
Host: Vic Bedoian
Guest: Dr. Kaberi Kar Gupta, The Urban Slender Loris Project.

Summary: This month, we had co-producer Vic Bedoian in the host seat. He interviewed Dr. Kaberi Kar Gupta about her remarkable effort to bring together ordinary citizens, naturalists, and scientists to study and help conserve the Slender Loris, a tiny nocturnal primate (pictured above), within the megacity of Bangalore, India. Learn more about the Urban Slender Loris Project on the website, like it on Facebook, and/or follow @urbanloris on Twitter.

Image: Portrait of a Slender Loris, © Kalyan Varma.

Science: A Candle In The Dark
Episode 16: Planets, Moons, Magnets
Airdate: 26 April 2016
Host: Dr. Madhusudan Katti
Guest: Dr. Alain Plattner, Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences, CSU, Fresno.

Summary: This month, we look at planets and moons from a different perspective – a magnetic view, if you will. Dr. Alain Plattner, a magnetic geographer of sorts, who uses measurements made by satellites orbiting planetary bodies to map the magnetic fields generated by the planet or moon, shares insights from his research with host Madhusudan Katti. He also gamely subjects himself to a new segment of semi-rapid-fire questions at the end, including some queries from a high school student. This may become a recurring segment!

Science: A Candle In The Dark
Episode 15: Evolution and Ecology of Bird Diversity
Airdate: 22 March 2016
Host: Dr. Madhusudan Katti
Guest: Dr. Christopher Trisos, Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC)

Science: A Candle In The Dark
Episode 14: Postmodern Winemaking
Airdate: 23 February 2016
Host: Dr. Madhusudan Katti
Guest: Matt Brain, Fresno State’s Winemaker

Topic: In this episode we celebrate the first anniversary of this podcast, with a look back at the wide range of topics covered since our first episode aired in February 2016. With Fresno State’s winemaker Matt Brain in the studio, we raise a glass of some wine he created, and learn a bit about the science and art of winemaking in the postmodern era. And we toast our host station, KFCF 88.1FM, and especially, the station’s Executive Director Rych Withers and our producer Vic Bedoian for taking a chance by putting a scientist on the Central Valley airwaves to talk about science every month!

Science: A Candle In The Dark

Episode 13: Sexual Harassment in Science – a roundable
Airdate: 12 February 2016
Host: Dr. Madhusudan Katti
Guests: Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Dr. Kaberi Kar Gupta, Dr. Kathryn Forbes, Dr. Amanda Mortimer, Dr. Janet Stemwedel, Dr. Katie Hinde, and Dr. Karen James.

Topic: This special hour-long episode of the show features an interview with Congresswoman Jackie Speier who is shining a bright light on the longstanding issue of sexual harassment in science and academia, and leading the effort to bring about legislation to lead us towards better ethical conduct with respect to harassment in science. This is followed by a discussion by a multidisciplinary panel of women scientists on the extent of the problem in academic culture, and ways to start changing that culture.

Graphic from the report in Science by Michael Balter. V. ALTOUNIAN