Best ScienceTalks Podcasts (2025)

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The Plant That Could Fight Cancer 8:06

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4d ago8:06

8:06

Discover the surprising power of Schisandrin B—a potent lignan derived from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (also known as the five-flavor or magnolia berry) In this compelling episode, we'll explore how this plant-derived compound may hold promise as a groundbreaking, natural approach to battling colon cancer. Join us as we break down the findin…

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Can Red Light Lower Your Blood Sugar?! 6:13

11d ago6:13

6:13

In this episode, we unpack a groundbreaking 2024 study from the Journal of Biophotonics showing that just 15 minutes of 670 nm red light exposure—targeting the upper back before a glucose challenge—led to a 27.7% reduction in overall post-meal blood sugar levels and up to 12% lower glucose spikes compared to placebo We explore how this light stimul…

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Air Pollution & Heart Health: Worse Than You Thought 4:50

14d ago4:50

4:50

In this episode, we dive into a groundbreaking BMJ study of nearly 60 million U.S. Medicare beneficiaries, revealing how long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) increases hospital admission risks for heart diseases—even at low levels. Discover how chronic PM₂.₅ exposure raises rates of ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, ar…

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When Viruses Were A Good Thing 5:48

14d ago5:48

5:48

What if part of what makes us human comes from an ancient virus? In this episode, we explore groundbreaking research revealing how retroviral DNA—once thought to be genetic junk—played a critical role in the evolution of myelin. Myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers, supercharged the speed of nerve signals and made complex vertebrate br…

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Olive Oil Molecule Shows Hope for Brain Cancer Treatment 3:31

15d ago3:31

3:31

Can something inspired by olive oil help fight one of the deadliest brain cancers? In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking Phase 1/2A clinical trial of 2-OHOA, a lab-made version of a natural fat molecule found in olive oil. This brain-penetrating lipid is designed to change the way cancer cell membranes work, helping to slow down or even st…

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A Warning for ALL Gym Bros: Proteins Can Give You a Heart Attack 5:09

16d ago5:09

5:09

In this episode, we break down groundbreaking research—published in Nature Metabolism in February 2024—that uncovers how ultra-high protein diets (over 22% of your daily calories) may speed up atherosclerosis and boost heart attack risk. The key player? Leucine, an amino acid abundant in animal proteins like meat, eggs, and dairy, which turns on mT…

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Type 5 Diabetes Explained in a Nutshell 2:35

17d ago2:35

2:35

Type 5 diabetes is one of the rarest and least understood forms of diabetes — but its impact can be life-changing. In this episode, we dive into its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, breaking it down in a way that’s clear for both medical professionals and curious listeners. Whether you’re studying medicine, working in endocrinolo…

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Rethinking Science Communication: Beyond Technology Trends 1:05:34

1M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

This episode unpacks the complex relationship between technology, innovation, and trust in scholarly publishing. With decades of experience and candid insight, Joy Moore and Kent Anderson call out some of the most pressing contradictions facing the publishing world today. They explore how publishers risk losing sight of their core values by chasing…

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The Metadata Behind the Manuscripts: Ed Pentz on the Future of Scholarly Infrastructure 35:52

2M ago35:52

35:52

Every day, over 8,000 scholarly articles are published—but how do they become discoverable, citable, and connected across journals, databases, and platforms? The answer lies in the invisible infrastructure of scholarly publishing: metadata, persistent identifiers, and interoperability. In this episode of Insights Xchange, we’re joined by Ed Pentz, …

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Shaping a Global Research Landscape: Trust, Equity, Inclusivity, and Knowledge Communities 49:22

5M ago49:22

49:22

This episode explores the role of trust, inclusivity, and accessibility in global research publishing today. It highlights how biases in editorial boards exclude underrepresented voices and the critical role publishers play in fostering equity. The discussion also examines the balance between commercial realities and open access, emphasizing the ne…

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AI, Academic Libraries, and the Future of Research: The Librarian’s Perspective 29:29

9M ago29:29

29:29

In this episode of Insights XChange, host Nikesh Gosalia speaks with Alyssa Grimshaw, a research and education librarian at Yale School of Medicine. Alyssa shares her insights on the evolving role of librarians in fostering research collaboration, especially in clinical settings. She highlights the importance of communication, technology, and inter…

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The Expanding Influence of AI in Academic Research: Benefits, Pitfalls, and Future Opportunities 51:32

9M ago51:32

51:32

In this episode of Insights XChange, host Nikesh Gosalia speaks with Avi Staiman, founder and CEO of Academic Language Experts and co-founder of SciWriter.ai. They explore the impact of AI on scholarly publishing, discussing its potential benefits and ethical challenges. Avi emphasizes the need to differentiate between various AI applications, asse…

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Redefining Open Access: What Do Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Truly Mean in Research? 52:03

10M ago52:03

52:03

In this episode of Insights Xchange, host Nikesh Gosalia engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Godwyns Onwuchekwa, a social justice advocate and Head of Communities at eLife. The conversation dives deep into integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles into the open access (OA) movement. Godwyns highlights the li…

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Lauren Kane, CEO of BioOne, on Innovation, Non-Profit Collaboration, and Collective Impact in Scholarly Publishing 36:27

11M ago36:27

36:27

In this episode of Insights Exchange, host Nikesh Gosalia interviews Lauren Kane, CEO of BioOne, about the transformation of nonprofit scholarly publishing over the past two decades. Lauren discusses the pressures faced by nonprofits due to tightening resources, increased demand for accessibility, and evolving research needs. She emphasizes the rol…

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Combining AI and Knowledge Management in Academia: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Potential 36:43

1y ago36:43

36:43

In this insightful episode of Insights Exchange, host Nikesh engages in a fascinating conversation with Mitja Alexander, a leader in academic publishing. He emphasizes the crucial role of AI in revolutionizing the accessibility and impact of research, accelerating the dissemination of new discoveries globally. He highlights how open access is revol…

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The Changing Face of Academic Publishing: Transformational Agreements, Interdisciplinary Research, and Evolving Technologies 50:10

1y ago50:10

50:10

In this episode of Insights XChange Dr. Guido F. Herrmann, Managing Director at Wiley, joins Nikesh to discuss the evolving landscape of academic research, AI, and scientific publishing. Dr. Herrmann shares insights on maintaining research integrity amidst challenges like fraud and predatory journals. The conversation explores how AI is revolutioni…

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Scholarly Communication in Mental Health Research: The Editor’s Perspective 52:18

1y ago52:18

52:18

In this episode, Joan Marsh, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Psychiatry, joins Nikesh Gosalia for a thought-provoking discussion about issues in academic publishing and mental health research, highlighting the fight against predatory journals and plagiarism. Joan shares insights on using AI to enhance peer review processes and ensure reviewer diversi…

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Mental Health Awareness in Scholarly Publishing: Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion 39:28

1y ago39:28

39:28

In this episode of Insights XChange, Nikesh engages in an insightful conversation with Randy Townsend, President of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP). Randy dives into the crucial topic of mental health in academia, sharing his experiences and insights. He shares his strategies for promoting mental health awareness, the importance of break…

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Technology, Integrity, and Open Access: The Future of Academic Publishing 50:22

1+ y ago50:22

50:22

In this episode of Insights Xchange, Dr. Harsh Jegadeesan, Chief Publishing Officer and Member of the Management Board at Springer Nature Group, discusses with Nikesh Gosalia the evolving landscape of the academic publishing industry, the various disruptions taking place within it, and the ocean of opportunities in digital publication. Dr. Jegadees…

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Engaging Diverse Audiences, Building Trust, and Embracing Uncertainty: How Can Scientific Research Be Best Made Accessible in Today's Dynamic Media Landscape? 54:23

1+ y ago54:23

54:23

Meagan Phelan, Communications Director, Science Family Journals, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) joins Nikesh Gosalia for an insightful discussion about the myriad challenges in science communication. They explore the balance between media coverage and scientific accuracy, the role of alternate formats in simplifying comp…

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Shaping the Future: Technology, Diversity, and Open Access in Scholarly Publishing with Heather Staines 1:14:28

1+ y ago1:14:28

1:14:28

In this episode, Nikesh Gosalia engages in conversation with Heather Staines, Director of Community Engagement and Senior Consultant at Delta Think and a veteran in scholarly communications and academic publishing. They discuss the evolving role of technology in academics, the importance of diversity in academic content, and the challenges and oppo…

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Higher Education: Remote Learning, AI, Research, and THE University Rankings with Phil Baty 1:01:41

2y ago1:01:41

1:01:41

In this episode, Nikesh Gosalia interviews Times Higher Education's (THE) Chief Knowledge Officer Phil Baty to talk about the importance of transparency in ranking systems, key trends in university rankings, and the consultancy services offered by THE to help universities improve their reputation. They also discuss the long-term impact of the COVID…

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Open Access: Myths, APCs, and Barriers to Adoption with Robyn Mugridge 56:57

2y ago56:57

56:57

For journals, the shift to open access can feel like venturing into the great unknown, but is there a way to make this process easier? In this episode, Nikesh Gosalia speaks with Robyn Mugridge about the adoption of open access practices. Robyn debunks some common myths surrounding open access, talks about how paywalls could hold back scientific pr…

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Automation, Algorithms, and Research Integrity: What does a Hybrid Human-Machine Future Look Like for Academic Publishing? 1:10:15

2y ago1:10:15

1:10:15

This episode features Nikesh Gosalia in captivating conversation with Dr. Leslie McIntosh, Vice President of Research Integrity at Digital Science and Founder of Ripeta, a software and services company with a mission to enhance the transparency, reproducibility, and quality of scientific research. Together, they delve into the dynamic intersection …

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Open Access, Inclusivity, and Pre-Prints: What's the Future of Academic Publishing? 58:37

2y ago58:37

58:37

In this episode of Insights Xchange, Nikesh Gosalia hosts a compelling conversation with Ashley Farley, of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Together Nikesh and Ashley explore the transformative landscape of academic research, delving into open research, the shift towards open access, sustainable publishing models, and the evolving role of AI …

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Scientific Misconduct, Paper Mills, and Social Media with Elisabeth Bik 22:51

2+ y ago22:51

22:51

Nikesh Gosalia and Elisabeth Bik continue their conversation on scientific misconduct, starting with the role played by research institutions in combating research misconduct. Elisabeth talks about the organized crime of research fraud: paper mills, which are companies that produce fake research papers and sell their authorship position to research…

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Fake Photos, AI Tools, and Research Fraud with Elisabeth Bik 25:01

2+ y ago25:01

25:01

Research fraud is increasingly common these days. Will AI tools just make this worse or can they help combat fraud? Nikesh Gosalia talks to Elisabeth Bik about research fraud, starting with the plagiarism incident that inspired Elisabeth to become a full-time research integrity volunteer. She talks about the main factor pushing researchers to commi…

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ChatGPT: The New AI Rubber Duck with 67 Bricks 22:25

2+ y ago22:25

22:25

Nikesh Gosalia continues talking to Simon Epstein and Will Bailey from 67 Bricks. They delve deeper into the use of ChatGPT in research. Will thinks ChatGPT could increase global inclusivity in research despite its lack of insightfulness, and Simon suggests open access as a solution to the problems posed by ChatGPT. They also talk about using ChatG…

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67 Bricks on Large Language Models (LLMs) in Academic Publishing 30:12

2+ y ago30:12

30:12

Big changes are afoot in the publishing world, with the creation of AI tools like ChatGPT. Nikesh Gosalia talks to Will Bailey and Simon Epstein from 67 Bricks about these developments and their impact on research. They start by sharing the origin story of 67 Bricks: the name was inspired by the number of post-its on a whiteboard during a meeting! …

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Barriers to Open Access Adoption with Robyn Mugridge 26:43

2+ y ago26:43

26:43

In the second part of this episode, Nikesh Gosalia and Robyn Mugridge kick off their discussion by addressing the two main barriers that prevent societies from adopting open access — financial risk and differing mindsets. Robyn breaks down the concept of transformative agreements; these are contracts intended to ease the transition toward open acce…

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Robyn Mugridge on Open Access: Myths, APCs, and Revenue Generation 32:03

2+ y ago32:03

32:03

For journals, the shift to open access can feel like venturing into the great unknown, but is there a way to make this process easier? In this episode, Nikesh Gosalia talks to Robyn Mugridge about the adoption of open access practices. They start by discussing Robyn’s journey from an English lecturer to an open access proponent at Frontiers. Robyn …

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Mark Hahnel on the Future of Open Science, Publishing, and Figshare 17:31

2+ y ago17:31

17:31

In the final part of their conversation, Nikesh Gosalia and Mark Hahnel talk about open science, but this time with an emphasis on the future. They discuss carrot-and-stick incentives that can encourage researchers to participate in open science. Mark shares his views on future developments in academic publishing, specifically on how machine interp…

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The Importance of Open Access and Technology with Mark Hahnel 20:24

2+ y ago20:24

20:24

Nikesh Gosalia and Mark Hahnel continue their discussion on making scientific data public, talking about the idea of publishing negative data and the unequal explosion of gold vs. green open access. Mark makes a strong case for keeping all data openly available in time-sensitive research fields such as COVID-19. He also discusses how open access co…

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The Story Behind Figshare with Mark Hahnel 17:59

2+ y ago17:59

17:59

Join host Nikesh Gosalia as he chats with Mark Hahnel from Figshare about the creation of the Figshare platform. Mark talks about his background in genomics and how a gap year spent travelling eventually led him to do a PhD in stem cell biology. As a PhD student, he experienced struggles while trying to publish his research findings, and this inspi…

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Jigisha Patel on ‘Publish or Perish’, Research Integrity, and Peer Review 36:33

3y ago36:33

36:33

This is a special episode for Peer Review Week 2022 featuring research integrity specialist, Jigisha Patel! Hosts Nikesh Gosalia and Jayashree Rajagopalan talk to Jigisha about her career journey from being a medical doctor to a journal editor. She shares her observations on common research integrity dilemmas in publishing, from plagiarism to autho…

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Remote Learning, AI Tech, and Research Frameworks with Phil Baty 29:46

3y ago29:46

29:46

Is remote learning here to stay? In the second part of their conversation, Nikesh Gosalia and Phil Baty discuss changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and various other issues related to higher education. They start with the Research Excellence Framework, and Phil shares his thoughts on the importance of such frameworks and the controversy of univers…

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Phil Baty on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 32:34

3y ago32:34

32:34

In today's episode, Nikesh Gosalia speaks to Times Higher Education (THE) Chief Knowledge Officer Phil Baty about university rankings. Phil talks about THE’s origins and his personal history within the company and delves into the THE World University Rankings and shares insider info on the inner workings of the rankings — he covers everything from …

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Gareth O'Neill on the Open Science Cloud, Metadata, and Impact 22:13

3y ago22:13

22:13

Will research articles exist in the future? Nikesh Gosalia and Gareth O'Neill continue their discussion, talking about the evolution of nanopublications and the role of commercial publishers in open science. To illustrate the global emergence of the open science cloud, Gareth provides an overview of the open science efforts in different countries. …

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The Future of Open Science with Gareth O'Neill 28:26

3y ago28:26

28:26

Gareth O'Neill and Nikesh Gosalia continue their discussion on all things open science, starting with the case of Diederik Stapel, a cautionary tale on the dangers of closed data. Gareth shares his insider knowledge on upcoming open science developments, including FAIR, European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), and the use of AI algorithms to find datase…

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Gareth O’Neill on Open Science and Early Career Researchers 30:02

3y ago30:02

30:02

In today’s episode, Nikesh Gosalia and Gareth O’Neill chat about the recent shift toward open science. They start by discussing Gareth's early days as a linguistic lecturer, his foray into open access, and his activism on behalf of researchers at the European Union, as well as his work with open science projects Eurodoc, FOSTER, and DRC. Gareth sha…

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Lisa Cuevas Shaw on Culture Change, AI in Publishing, and Research Funding 28:13

3y ago28:13

28:13

Nikesh Gosalia and Lisa Cuevas Shaw discuss open science and its major challenges in depth, covering AI tech to research funding. Lisa shares her thoughts on the funder’s role in driving change and addresses the unique issues that currently affect research funding. They tackle another very relevant topic for researchers — the use of AI-based tools …

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Making Open Science the Default Practice with Lisa Cuevas Shaw 29:20

3y ago29:20

29:20

In today's episode, Nikesh Gosalia talks to Lisa Cuevas Shaw about open science practices and her journey in the publishing industry. Lisa unpacks her experiences, from her beginnings at Sage to her stint at McGraw Hill, before her return to Sage to help expand Corwin. She discusses the opportunities that led her to the Center for Open Science, whi…

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AI Tech in Publishing and Research Promotion with Duncan MacRae 20:38

3y ago20:38

20:38

Nikesh Gosalia and Duncan MacRae continue their conversation on the current issues in the publishing industry, starting with the use of AI technology to manage the recent boom in journal submissions. They discuss the increasing importance of research promotion in recent years and the need for journals to establish a brand, particularly on social me…

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Duncan MacRae on Open Access, Peer Review, and Journal Discoverability 18:21

3+ y ago18:21

18:21

Plan S, an initiative for scientists to publish outside paywalls, has made waves in the publishing industry. Host Nikesh Gosalia and Duncan MacRae tackle the relevant topic of open access in scholarly publishing. Duncan talks about journals transitioning from subscription-based to open access, inefficiencies in journal workflow, and the importance …

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Charlie Rapple on Kudos, Climate Change, and The Founder’s Perspective 17:38

3+ y ago17:38

17:38

In the second part of their conversation, Nikesh Gosalia and Charlie Rapple dive deeper into Kudos and the gaps in the system that led Kudos to extend their support to researchers directly. Kudos’ main goal is to present findings as part of a global narrative. They discuss Kudos’ foray into “showcases,” an audience-centric informal way of sharing r…

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Public Engagement in Research with Charlie Rapple 22:08

3+ y ago22:08

22:08

In this episode, Nikesh Gosalia talks to Charlie Rapple about bringing research to a wider audience. They discuss the growing importance of public engagement, as well as the role of publishers and individuals in promoting research to a broader audience. Charlie talks about the inspiration behind Kudos, the changes she has seen in the publishing ind…

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Virtual Conferences, Revenue Generation, and Making Mistakes with Sami Benchekroun 20:17

3+ y ago20:17

20:17

In a continuation of the chat with Nikesh Gosalia, Morressier’s Sami Benchekroun shares his expertise on the inner workings of virtual conferences. He talks about the use of virtual conferencing to spur revenue generation, as part of an integrated business model that takes into account the key components of content, conference members, and sponsors…

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Sami Benchekroun on Morressier, Virtual Conferencing, and Online Networking 15:30

3+ y ago15:30

15:30

Join host Nikesh Gosalia in a conversation with Sami Benchekroun, co-founder of Morressier. Sami talks about the circumstances that led him to Morressier, a combination of his natural penchant for network structures and existing inefficiencies in academic conferences. Growing up with scientist parents who came from poorer countries, Sami was inspir…

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Dr Elodie Chabrol on Overcoming Stereotypes, Pint of Science, and SciComm Training 29:31

3+ y ago29:31

29:31

In the second part of the podcast with Dr Elodie Chabrol, hosts Nikesh Gosalia and Jayashree Rajagopalan dive deeper into a discussion peppered with personal anecdotes and eye-opening metaphors. Dr Chabrol talks about the geeky scientist stereotype, overcoming these clichés through her science communication work, and how revealing scientists to be …

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Bringing Science to the General Public, with Dr Elodie Chabrol 27:16

3+ y ago27:16

27:16

An essential part of being a scientist is sharing scientific findings with the general public. But is there a way to communicate science more effectively? Join hosts Nikesh Gosalia and Jayashree Rajagopalan in a conversation with Dr Elodie Chabrol, International Director of the global science festival Pint of Science, as they discuss the fundamenta…