Marnie Gelbart: on personal genetics & building bridges of trust

Posted on November 17, 2016 ScienceSoapboxadmin

Dr. Marnie Gelbart is Director of Programs at the Personal Genetics Education Project (PGEd). With advances in personal genome sequencing and gene editing technologies like CRISPR, PGEd seeks to “increase awareness and conversation about the benefits and ethical, legal, and social implications of personal genetics.” The Science Soapbox team sat down with Dr. Gelbart to chat about some of the programs she is leading, which include designing activities to be taught in schools and advising filmmakers on how they portray science and scientists. Trained as a biologist herself, Dr. Gelbart shares compelling insights into working to build two-way bridges between science and the public and why she is an optimist — a favorite subject of ours.

Here are some of the links and references mentioned during the show:

You can learn more about the Personal Genetics Education Project and their programs on their official site.
We talked a bit about some dark chapters in the history of science, including eugenics. PGEd, has compiled some great resources around the history of this subject.
For any of you educators out there, do check out PGEd’s great lesson plans, available on their website.
This interview was recorded at the Advocating for Science Symposium, so do be sure to check out our hosts, the Future of Research (FoR) and Academics for the Future of Science (AFS) to learn more about what they’re doing to change the future of science

This episode was recorded on September 16, 2016 at MIT during the Advocating for Science Symposium. Special thanks to Visager for music and to the Future of Research and the Academics for the Future of Science for making this interview possible.

Gary McDowell: on reforming the STEM training pipeline

Posted on November 11, 2016 ScienceSoapboxadmin

Dr. Gary McDowell kicks off our short-form Abstract series, featuring interviews with up-and-coming thinkers and policy issues and conundrums facing science. Trained as a biologist, Gary is the Executive Director of The Future of Research and runs the day-to-day operations of the organization, funded by a grant from the Open Philanthropy Project. In this episode, we chat about gaps in scientific training and how we can reform the system to better serve science and its practitioners.

Here are some of the links and references mentioned during the show:

Avital mentioned the excellent feature Nature magazine put out last month on Young Scientists
You can read some of Gary’s great answers in Agents of change on NatureJobs
Gary mentioned the “Alberts, et al. PNAS paper, so here’s a link to Rescuing US biomedical research from its systemic flaws
The Future of Research has a super handy resource for postdocs to know their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act
This interview was recorded at the Advocating for Science Symposium, so do be sure to check out our hosts, the Future of Research (FoR) and Academics for the Future of Science (AFS) to learn more about what they’re doing to change the future of science

Shaughnessy Naughton: on running science up the Hill

Posted on November 3, 2016 ScienceSoapboxadmin

With the 2016 elections right around the corner (please vote!), our prayers to the science gods were answered and we were graced with a surprise visit from Shaughnessy Naughton. Not only is she the founder of of the 314 PAC, a political action committee aimed at providing support for scientists interested in running for political office, she is also a recent contender for Pennsylvania’s 8^th Congressional District Democratic ticket. The Science Soapbox team loves nothing more than a scientist working to alter the state of the scientific drought plaguing our legislation, so we were thrilled to chat about engaging the scientific community, the state of politics, and the channels in between.

Here are some of the links and references mentioned during the show:

Check out 314 PAC to learn more about their mission, see the candidates they’re supporting, and join their pro-science movement.
Science Soapbox friends at the Science Education and Policy Association (SEPA), ScienceDebate.org, and The Young Turks Network teamed up to host a star-studded panel at YouTube Space NY on the state of science in our politics. You can watch the video here.
We referenced a Conservative PAC — called the ClearPath Action Fund to back candidates who support action on climate change. You can learn more about it in this New York Times piece.
Avital mentioned our interview with AAAS Director of the Early Career Scientist Segment, Adam Fagen, which you can listen to here.
Shaughnessy mentioned two other people running for office with backgrounds in science. If you didn’t get a chance to write them down, they’re Katie McGinty for Pennsylvania Senator and Andrew Zwicker for New Jersey General Assembly.
And just as a fun throwback, check out this 2012 OpEd from The New York Times, Why Don’t Americans Elect Scientists?

This episode was recorded on November 1, 2016 in the Rockefeller University Outreach Lab. Special thanks to Visager for music.