Scientists not the Science

Recorded in February 2020. We talk about Michael's journey into science, from creating a fake school so that he could order chemicals online to conduct experiments as a kid, to inspiring the next and current generation of scientists. Full show notes: https://scinotsci.com

An update on Scientists not the Science.

Continuing conversation with Professor Chris Jackson, talking about what I might change in academia, given the power. Full show notes: https://scinotsci.com

February 3rd 2020 marked the fifth anniversary of Scientists not the Science. So for fun, Professor Chris Jackson interviews me and we get discuss a little of my background and our views and thoughts about academia. Full show notes: https://scinotsci.com

Reflecting on what I’ve learnt from five years of interviews for Scientists not the Science. Find a link to the original published article in the show notes. Full show notes:

What influences young people's aspirations to work in science and science-related careers? This episode talks to the team behind the ASPIRES project, a longitudinal project studying this topic. Full show notes: http://scinotsci.com

Compilation episode featuring some of the best bits from season four of Scientists not the Science, ahead of the beginning of season five. Full show notes: http://scinotsci.com

Notes from a recent workshop on academic mental health, organized by the UK Chapter of the Marie Curie Alumni Association. Full show notes: https://scinotsci.com

David Walt is Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. We talk about his background and how he founded a multi-billion dollar company. Full show notes:

Hamid Ghanadan is the Founder of The Linus Group, a health and life sciences marketing and creative agency. We talk about his experiences talking to scientists, and how to target products to a scientific audience. Full show notes:

English is the language of science, but for most people it’s not their native tongue. What’s it like working in science and academia, in a foreign language?  Full show notes:

Chris Jackson is Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial College London, and advocate for improving research and professional standards in academia. We talk about his journey through academia. Full show notes:

Alex Lathbridge is a PhD student at the University of Bath, founder of the network Minorities in STEM and creator of the podcast Why Aren't You a Doctor Yet? We talk about Alex's background and creating content.  Full show notes:

Matt Faria is a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. We talk about improving research standards and his move into science from software engineering. Full show notes: http://scinotsci.com

Alexandros Kouris is a PhD student at Imperial College London. We talk about his research and career. Recorded live at the Imperial Festival 2018. Full show notes: http://scinotsci.com

Ben Britton is a Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London. We talk about his research and career. Recorded live at the Imperial Festival 2018. Full show notes:

Sandrine Heutz is Professor of Functional Materials at Imperial College London. We talk about her research and career. Recorded live at the Imperial Festival 2018. Full show notes:

Emma Chapman is a Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellow at Imperial College London. We talk about her research and career. Recorded live at the Imperial Festival 2018. Full show notes:

Kirsty Shaw is a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University. We talk about teaching students and balancing different roles within academia. Full show notes:

Roma Agrawal is a structural engineer, responsible for hundreds of structures around the UK, most notably the Shard in London. We talk about moving from physics to engineering. Full show notes:

Meriame Berboucha is a physicist at Imperial College London. We talk about how Meriame uses social media to communicate science and reach young people.  Full show notes:

Joanna Haigh is Professor of Atmospheric Physics at Imperial College London. We talk about her experience of academia, and what is means to be a head of department. Full show notes: http://scinotsci.com

Jennifer Gelinas is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University. We talk about being both a medical and a PhD doctor. Full show notes:

Compilation episode featuring some of the best bits from season three of Scientists not the Science, ahead of the beginning of season four.   Full show notes:

Listen to the performances of poets and scientists, working together to combine their two disciplines. This is part two, to hear more about the project and how it came to be, listen to part one first.   Full show notes:

Experimental Words is an engagement project that pairs poets and scientists to produce unique performance pieces. This episode I document taking part in the event and talk to the scientists and poets involved.   Full show notes:

Angela Saini is a science journalist and author. We talk about her latest book ‘Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong – and the New Research That’s Rewriting the Story’.   Full show notes:

Michael Sanders is the Chief Scientist at the Behavioural Insights Team, commonly known as the ‘nudge unit’. We talk academia and policy, how he uses the scientific method in his work, and the label of scientist.                                                       Full show notes:

This episode I talk to Stephen Franey and Thomas Pitcher from Kings College London, and Michelle Rea from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, about the role of technicians in science.   Full show notes:

Dr Martin Zaltz Austwick has been a solid-state physicist, a medical physicist, and a senior lecturer. He now describes himself as a recovering physicist. We talk about his PhD experience and work-life balance.   Full show notes:

This is a rerun of an episode from season 2. You can listen to me on The Cinemile podcast here: http://www.thecinemile.com/ - we reviewed the new sci-fi movie, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Here’s the original blurb for this episode: What is the imposter syndrome and how does it affect academics? In this final episode I explore the phenomenon, how it manifests in academics, some of the reasons why it might occur, and strategies to deal with it. Full show notes: 

This is a rerun of an episode from season 1. You can my other podcast series ‘Down to Earth’ which is all about space tech spinoffs here: http://www.scinotsci.com/down-to-earth Here’s the original blurb for this episode: Professor Chris Hunter is the Herschel Smith Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. I ask him what being a professor actually means, and he shares his wisdom and insight from a highly successful career in science. Full show notes: 

Miriam Frankel and Stephen Harris are science editors at The Conversation – an online news website where all the articles are written by academics. We talk about how they edit scientists’ writing for a wider audience.

Roberto Trotta is an astrophysicist, a lecturer, an author, and the director of the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication at Imperial College London. We talk about being a multi-faceted scientist.   Full show notes:

Carole Kenrick is Scientist & Inventor-in-Residence at a primary school in North London. We talk about the importance of teaching children about what it means to be a scientist.   Full show notes:

Steven Lee and Nick Evans are academics – together they present TheScienceShed podcast, a ramble through academic life. We talk about their experience of managing a research group and more.   Full show notes:

Before becoming a journal editor at Nature Materials, Luigi Martiradonna was a researcher. In part 2 we talk about his experience as a scientist and on the transition to academic publishing.   Full show notes:

Luigi Martiradonna is a senior editor at the journal Nature Materials. In part 1 we talk about the publishing process, how he makes the decision to accept or reject papers, and how scientists respond to his decision.   Full show notes:

Robin Ince is a comedian, writer and performer, best known for presenting The Infinite Monkey Cage on BBC Radio 4. We talk about public understanding of science, and the interplay between science and culture.   Full show notes:

Alon Gorodetsky is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine. We talk about working in an interdisciplinary research field and his experience of academia.   Full show notes:

Compilation episode featuring some of the best bits from season two of Scientists not the Science, ahead of the beginning of season three.   Full show notes:

Being a scientist means being comfortable with change. I talk to Christian Clear and Jean-Philippe St-Pierre to explore their personal experiences of change in academia.   Full show notes:

What is the imposter syndrome and how does it affect academics? In this final episode I explore the phenomenon, how it manifests in academics, some of the reasons why it might occur, and strategies to deal with it.   Full show notes:

Stuart Goldsmith is a stand-up comedian and host of The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast. We compare the industries of science and comedy to see if there are any parallels.   Full show notes:

Bonus episode: part of a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in science.   For more profiles visit:

Dr Shelda Debowski is a Senior Consultant in Higher Education Development, working with academics to help them to achieve their goals. We talk about the challenges facing the modern academic.   Full show notes:

Dr Joy Warde is the Postdoc Staff Coordinator at the University of Cambridge. We talk about what a postdoc is and the challenges researchers face in developing their careers.   Full show notes:

Dr Emma Chapman is an astrophysicist and a mum. We talk about what it’s like to juggle doing a PhD and a postdoc with having a child, and the barriers faced by academic parents.   Full show notes:

Professor Dame Athene Donald is a physicist at the University of Cambridge and advocate for women in science. We talk about the challenges women face, the impact of social media, and experiences from her career. Full show notes:

Helen Arney is a songwriter, comedian, and one third of the science-comedy trio Festival of the Spoken Nerd. We talk about how despite running away from science, it came back to find her.   Full show notes:

Professor Athene Donald, Professor Michelle Ryan, Dr Tom Stafford, and Jessica Wade discuss success, stereotypes and science, and their impact on women in science.   Full show notes:   CiW website: