Science For the Rest of Us
Summary: Back to Basics: Freedom implies justice; justice requires truth; truth is built on facts. Science and Technology drive society forward and Science for the Rest of Us is here to talk about it. We have conversations with Nerds in the Know and do our best to illuminate the science underlying so much of our lives. Science shouldn’t be the last word in our social and civic discourse – it should be the first. We can all strive to understand the basic science and facts underlying each issue, and then apply our social, ethical and religious values to the debate and plot a course forward -- together. Science For the Rest of Us exists because it's much more fun to learn than it is to fight. After all, where is the time to hate when there is so little time to love?
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- Artist: Alex McKiernan
- Copyright: All rights reserved
Podcasts:
Dr. Janine Bempechat from Boston University helps us understand who homework helps and if we should we should make our kids do it.
"Nutrient Pollution" is becoming a(nother) major flashpoint between rural and urban communities and we discuss the farm contribution to the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico, algal blooms in our surface waters, what it means for our drinking water, and the difficulty of decreasing this fertility-laden runoff. Dr. Matthew Helmers is the Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and he helps us understand a complex issue with no simple answers.
Forty-seven states have legalized some form of Medical Marijuana, but Idaho, South Dakota and Nebraska have yet to join the party. Dr. Bia Carlini of the University of Washington's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute discusses the current state of research into cannabis and what it has to offer therapeutically.
The podcast has been slacking as our farming season has come on strong, but here is a recap with some highlights from Season 1, a short update on where the podcast is heading in Season 2 and details on our new sponsor, The Lydia Foundation for Social Engagement.
A wide ranging discussion with Dr. Chuck Francis from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln about alternative approaches to farming. We discuss organic agriculture, cover crops, soil health, "feeding the world" and Chuck takes a well-earned opportunity to wax poetic.
Put your nerd hat on -- we cover a lot of ground in this fast-paced discussion with Dr. Frank Mitloehner of the University of California-Davis about the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the meat and dairy we consume. We consider how livestock emissions compare to other sectors of the US and global economies, the carbon footprint of vegetarian diets and what is the most effective way to reduce individual carbon emissions.
Dr. David Hemenway from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health takes us through what's known about gun violence and what can be done to decrease it. We discuss suicide, gun access, mental health, video games and much more.
Dr. Matthew Peavy talks math, encryption technologies and really, really, really, really, really, really, reallyreallyreally big numbers. This will seriously blow your mind and we have some fun along the way too.
How is electricity generated? Coal, Nuclear, Hydro, Wind, Solar -- how do all of these create the power we are so dependent on? How is power stored and delivered? We tackle these subjects and work to understand the intricate challenges of increasing our renewable energy portfolio with Dr. Jerry Hudgins of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Dr. K. Michelle Peavy of Evergreen Treatment Services in Seattle, Washington helps us understand opioid, methamphetamine and alcohol addiction. Plus the science of treatment -- what actually works to break the cycle of addiction?
Dr. Jenna Gibbs of the University of Iowa’s Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health discusses a sampling of common agricultural chemicals and their impact on human health.
Dr. Jennifer Kuzma from NC State walks us the complicated world of regulations (or lack thereof) that control how genetically engineering plants and animals make into our world and onto our plates. Perhaps our most interesting conversation yet!
Many parts of the world struggle with limited water resources and seemingly unlimited demands on them. We discuss water laws nationwide with Don Blankenau, of Blankenau, Wilmoth and Jarecke (even more boring than a scientist: a lawyer!). We have a specific focus on Nebraska to understand issues like surface water and groundwater rights, river compacts between states, and priority of use between cities, agriculture and industry, but also learn about novel cases working their way toward the Supreme Court.
A conversation with Dr. Dan Thomson, Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, about production livestock agriculture and cattle in particular. How are antibiotics and hormones used? How do they affect human health? How is "animal welfare" defined in livestock agriculture? Do Confined Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs) meet standards of animal welfare?
Dr. Don Wilhite discusses climate science and addresses ongoing misinformation while detailing the impacts to Nebraska agriculture in particular.
