This Study Shows

Knowing how COVID-19 emerged is critical for informing global strategies to prevent future outbreaks. But the story of how it originated can differ wildly depending on who you ask. In this special episode of This Study Shows, our hosts Mary-Ann Ochota and Danielle George, explore what the biggest science story of recent years can teach us about how science communication operates in society. Joining the discussion are Dr Benhur Lee, Professor of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; journalist Ian Birrell; psychologist Professor Karen Douglas; and Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations.

We partnered with Earth Optimism Alliance in this special episode to answer the question "why hope?," and to hear some beautiful success stories from around the world.

Discover the truth about the viral fish-punching octopus.

AI has come a long way (it even named this episode) but what does it have to do with science communication? We find the line between the present and the future as we explore how AI will affect science communication, and how has it already taken hold, with Mara Pometti, lead data strategist at IBM, and Professor Charlie Beckett, lead of JournalismAI at the London School of Economics.   We want to know what you think about This Study Shows! Take a short survey and help us make this podcast the best it can be.

As Sarafina Nance (author, PhD student, science communicator extraordinaire) says, "people respond to seeing the human behind the science." So we spend an entire episode talking about science communication for a mass audience: the passion, the stereotypes, the need for community, and more. We want to know what you think about This Study Shows! Take a short survey and help us make this podcast the best it can be.

Has human activity really knocked the earth off its axis?

Have you ever been too embarrassed to ask a question? Or maybe you were ashamed? Grossed out? This episode digs into how science communication can help us understand those taboo subjects. Hear from Florence Schechter, founder of the Vagina Museum, Dr. Matt Ziegelmann, a urologist who specializes in erectile function, and Dr. Rachel Santymire, a wildlife physiologist who studies poop.   We want to know what you think about This Study Shows! Take a short survey and help us make this podcast the best it can be.

Sometimes a tiny change can have a giant impact. In this call-in episode, we hear new ideas to change the science communication game. From the pitfalls of rainbow maps to getting rid of PDFs, we speak to Matt Hall, Paige Jarreau, Alberto Pepe, Crystal Emery, Ngozi Erondu, and Chelsie Boodoo about all the things they would change.   We want to know what you think about This Study Shows! Take a short survey and help us make this podcast the best it can be.

Find out the real story behind that viral face mask study.

Mary-Ann and Dan meet Dr Samuel Ramsey, the host of our new mini series This Study Shows: Spotlight.