Month: September 2020

Ep. 36 – Rebecca Giggs on the world in the whale

Ep. 36 – Rebecca Giggs on the world in the whale

In 2013, a sperm whale washed up dead on Spain’s southern coast. In its ruptured digestive tract, scientists found an entire flattened greenhouse that once grew wintertime tomatoes, complete with plastic tarps, hoses, two flower pots, and a spray canister. The whale also contained an ice cream tub, mattress parts, a carafe, and a coat hanger. And that was just the obvious human refuse. Our toxic chemicals build up in whale blubber over years such that the concentration of pollutants in some whale bodies now far exceeds that of the water surrounding them. In whales’ vastness, the reach of humanity’s destruction is magnified — but so too is the potential of our compassion. In her genius debut book, Fathoms: The World in the Whale, writer Rebecca Giggs asks: Who are we to whales? What does it mean to pollute not just places, but animals? What can understanding our ecological crises through the perspectives of other creatures teach us about ourselves? In this episode, we speak with Giggs about the astonishing ways in which whales and humans live in each other’s wakes and the enormous power of the world’s largest mammals to expand our own moral capacity.

Getting a PhD in public health is frustrating

Getting a PhD in public health is frustrating

Most people appreciate that studying for a PhD in public health is a very difficult and often frustrating endeavor. However, most students don’t anticipate getting a PhD at a time when so many people clearly disregard public health experts. In this episode, Mallory Ellingson, a 2nd-year PhD student at the Yale School of Public Health, and Erica Zeno, a 2nd-year PhD student at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, discuss the emotions that come with getting a PhD in epidemiology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sustaining Yale’s research mission during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sustaining Yale’s research mission during the COVID-19 pandemic

Preparations for this extraordinary academic year have been like no other. While implementing innovative teaching methods and setting up comprehensive health protective protocols, Yale also has been resuming its search for ideas and solutions. President Salovey discusses the ramping down and reactivation of research with Diondra Dilworth, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Chemistry, and Chris Londa, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Classics.

QuestBridge

QuestBridge

The Yale Admissions Office is a proud partner with QuestBridge, a national non-profit organization that connects students from low-income backgrounds with leading colleges and universities. Mark and Hannah interview QuestBridge Founder and CEO Ana McCullough about the organization’s strategy for matching top low-income students with full-need scholarships at top schools. Admissions officer Corrine also joins to share how Yale admissions staff review QuestBridge applications.

Special Episode: 50WomenatYale150: The First Female PhDs at Yale

Special Episode: 50WomenatYale150: The First Female PhDs at Yale

In celebration of 150 years of women at the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and 50 years of women at Yale College, hosts Kelsie, Carrie Ann, and Emma highlight the first seven women to receive PhDs at Yale, the life and scholarship of Otelia Cromwell, the first African American woman to receive a PhD at Yale, and the work of Beatrix McCleary Hamburg and Yvette Fay Francis-McBarnette the first two African American women to graduate from Yale School of Medicine.

Special Episode: 50WomenatYale150: Six Women in Science

Special Episode: 50WomenatYale150: Six Women in Science

In this episode, hosts Kelsie, Carrie Ann, and Emma highlight six women in science who have inspired them. These women are Janaki Ammal, Barbara McClintock, Rachel Carson, Gladys West, Mae C. Jemison, and Marci Bowers. The work of these scientists spans botany, cytogenetics, science communication, computer programming, space travel, and surgical advancements.

Special Episode: 50WomenatYale150: Women in Clinical Trials

Special Episode: 50WomenatYale150: Women in Clinical Trials

In this episode, hosts Mallory and Kelsie discuss the challenges and history of including women in clinical trials. Particularly focusing on the lack of female inclusion in early PreP drug trials and what this means for the future of women in clinical trials.