Science For the Rest of Us
Science Podcasts
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?
Location:
United States
Genres:
Science Podcasts
Description:
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?
Language:
English
Website:
http://www.scienceforus.org
Email:
nerd@scienceforus.org
Episodes
Storing Carbon: Sweeping it Under the Rug Won't Work...
10/25/2021
Dr. Naomi Vaughn of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK pushes hard on a wide-ranging conversation aimed at understanding the strategies for removing carbon from the atmosphere, the impact and viability of solar geoengineering and more.
Duration:01:52:08
All Flesh is Grass
8/22/2021
Chris Helzer from The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska discusses grassland ecology and conservation, fire, grazing, climate change and the idea of "invasive" species.
Duration:01:25:11
Rocks for Jocks (and Nerds)
7/16/2021
Dr. Demian Saffer from UT-Austin discusses earthquakes -- natural and anthropogenic -- the impact of fluid and fluid pressure beneath our feet, future fossil fuels, fracking and more.
Duration:01:27:42
CovidCovidCovidCovidCovid
6/17/2021
Fast-paced conversation with the Dean of UNMC's College of Public Health. We discuss current Covid-19 infection and vaccination statuses in Nebraska, nationally, and the world. Covid-19 genesis, difference between coronaviruses and influenza, MERS/SARS, vaccine development, effectiveness and oversight, predicting/monitoring future pandemics, public trust.
Duration:00:59:13
Socializing Tech
5/19/2021
A discussion with Reverend Parisa Parsa about the impact of technology on our civic discourse and the work Cortico is doing to use tech in a more "pro-social" way.
Duration:00:57:59
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
4/22/2021
Statistics are everywhere and whether you like it or not, inferences and decisions are constantly made around them. This conversation is aimed at making you better consumer of the data and stats that surround us everyday.
Duration:00:53:30
Attempt at Reboot with Ty Walker
1/23/2021
Covid has put too much on Alex's plate and this conversation with Lydia Foundation Board Member Ty Walker is an attempt at reboot. We cover mental health during the pandemic, Stoic philosophers and why Alex does the podcast.
Duration:01:05:51
What Do We Know About Hate?
8/7/2020
Dr. Peter Simi from Chapman University describes the research surrounding violent extremism and right wing domestic extremism in particular.
Duration:01:27:42
Good Cop, Bad Cop: Understanding Police Use of Force
6/28/2020
A great conversation with University of Nebraska - Omaha Professor Justin Nix about police use of force, bias in policing, how we compare to other countries and alternative models of law enforcement.
Duration:01:07:53
To Be or Not to Be: Mental Health and Wellbeing
6/5/2020
Guest Host and Lydia Foundation Board Member Ty Walker interviews Dr. Christine Chasek from University of Nebraska - Kearney about the science behind mental health and wellbeing.
Duration:01:06:48
Is Homework Worth Doing?
1/25/2020
Dr. Janine Bempechat from Boston University helps us understand who homework helps and if we should we should make our kids do it.
Duration:00:58:35
Would You Like Some Nutrients with Your Water?
12/28/2019
"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.
Duration:01:00:24
High or Healthy? The Science of Medical Marijuana
9/19/2019
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.
Duration:01:13:53
The Science of Recycling Podcast Content
7/15/2019
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.
Duration:01:25:36
Don't Get All Agro(ecology) On Me: Alternative Agriculture
4/7/2019
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.
Duration:01:21:58
Eructation Inflation: Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Livestock
3/1/2019
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.
Duration:00:49:32
Here a Gun, There a Gun: The Science of Gun Violence
2/7/2019
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.
Duration:01:09:45
Nerd to the Nth Degree: BIG Numbers
1/13/2019
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.
Duration:00:57:30
Powered By Dinosaurs: Understanding Electrical Energy
12/21/2018
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.
Duration:01:31:30
One's Too Many, A Hundred's Not Enough: Addiction and Treatment
11/27/2018
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?
Duration:01:29:53