American microbiologist
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Dr. Rita Colwell, internationally recognized expert on cholera and other infectious diseases, shares insights from a lifetime in the field of science.
Dr. Rita Colwell is a pioneering scientist and professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins who has made groundbreaking contributions to microbiology and public health. She joins AMSEcast to discuss her experiences being the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation as well as her advanced research on Vibrio bacteria and cholera while founding CosmosID to improve rapid pathogen detection. During the 2001 anthrax attacks, she led a cross-agency effort to identify the spores, revolutionizing DNA sequencing techniques. Overcoming sexism early in her career, Dr. Colwell's achievements are detailed in A Lab of One's Own. Guest Bio Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies. Colwell is one of the world's leading researchers of cholera—a waterborne disease estimated by the World Health Organization to strike three to five million people annually, many of them young children. Her efforts to track and predict cholera outbreaks are multi-faceted, combining bioinformatics with the pioneering use of satellite imaging. She was one of the first scientists to employ remote sensing for disease prediction, as well as recognize the impact of climate change on the waterborne microbial world. Show Notes (0:35) About Dr. Rita Colwell (1:52) Dr. Colwell's irritation at people saying we need to interest more women in science (2:49) How Rita dealt with overt sexism and still found the determination to keep moving forward (3:56) What lead Dr. Colwell to marine biology and focus on Vibrio (6:20) How she ended up at the University of Maryland (9:31) Rita's groundbreaking work on cholera and obstacles in getting her findings accepted (15:03) How long it took the professional world for her findings to be accepted (18:49) Dr. Colwell's work as the director of the National Science Foundation (21:39) The role she played in the response to the 2001 anthrax attacks (26:03) The prospects for women in the business world (28:58) The cost of persistent sexism (30:41) Rita's thoughts on how to advance women in the science and business worlds (33:40) What's next for Dr. Colwell Links Referenced A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science: https://www.amazon.com/Lab-Ones-Own-Personal-Journey/dp/1501181270
Today, Dr. Nkrumah Grant, Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins the Quality Quorum today to discuss aspects of his work in bacterial evolution, the challenges of setting up a new research laboratory, and his quite inspiring journey in academia. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Nkrumah Grant Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The long term evolution LTEE program by Rich Lenski and his colleagues, studying bacterial evolution in E. coli. Rich Lenski's website. An enjoyable video about this program. A wonderful explainer of the LTEE program for beginning Micronauts. Cholera as a disease. Vibrio cholera the bacterium. Mechanisms of the cholera toxin. An article about Vibrio cholera, chitin, and natural transformation. Rita Colwell, and her research showing how filtering through sari cloth could reduce the incidence of cholera. Here is an overview for new Micronauts. Chris Waters' laboratory website at Michigan State University. An overview from the American Society for Microbiology, suggesting that many food items are in fact antimicrobial. A review article on the topic of antimicrobial components of food. A preprint of Dr. Grant's research that was discussed during the podcast. An inspirational video of Dr. Grant's path through science. Another video about Dr. Grant's life. An article about Dr. Grant's story. An article by Dr. Grant's institution, welcoming him to Urbana, Illinois. Dr. Grant's faculty page at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com
Much of our daily lives is made possible by the placement of objects orbiting our planet. From GPS, to weather forecasts, even your bank's ATM wouldn't be able to function without a timecode from space confirming when your transaction took place. So we're going to explore whether the increasing numbers of satellites up there is a problem, how we can use them to spot potential disease outbreaks before they even happen; why space weather is a threat, and even how one company are planning to forge metals aboard satellites and make things in microgravity for use back here on Earth! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
In this episode, we discuss Rita Colwell's life and accomplishments as outlined by her memoir, A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science. We delve into her work as the first female NSF director, cholera research, the history of Title IX, and more.
It's an episode filled with history and fiction this week on the KPL Podcast. First up we are joined by Historical Fiction and Romance author, Lecia Cornwall. We discuss her latest book, The Woman at the Front. Then Jigisha shares three awe inspiring heroes of World War One in a long overdue history segment. This and more on this week's KPL Podcast! Books:1. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robyn Wall Kimmerer2. A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton3. A Lab of One's Own by Rita Colwell 4. The Hello Girls: America's First Women soldiers by Elizabeth Cobbs5. Courage Portraits by Gordon Brown6. Jane Addams Spirit in Action by Louise w. Knight
Promoting ThinkTech's New Movie. The host for this episode is Ken Howe. The guest for this episode is Rita Colwell. We discuss Rita Colwell's comments on the subject.
Rita Colwell has made major advances in basic and applied microbiology, largely focused on Vibrio cholerae. She describes several lines of evidence for the environmental niche of the bacterium, as well as her work to predict and prepare for cholera outbreaks. Colwell closes with her thoughts on why it's a great time to be a microbiologist.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by infectious disease scientist Dr. Rita Colwell, who served as the first female director of the National Science Foundation and continues to engage in academic research at the age of 86. They talk about her newest book, "A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science." In addition to describing the incredible barriers faced throughout her career, Rita shares stories of her groundbreaking discoveries in microbiology, including uncovering the nature of cholera and anthrax.
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One's Own—One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Rita Colwell is one of the top scientists in America: the groundbreaking microbiologist who discovered how cholera survives between epidemics and the former head of the National Science Foundation. She joins us for International Women’s Day, discussing the trials and successes of being a woman in science and her new book A Lab of One’s Own. Read the related blog post with the transcript of this podcast: https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-humanities/2021/03/08/the-fight-against-sexism-in-science-international-womens-day-featuring-scientist-rita-colwell Subscribe to the Medical Humanities in all podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.
Jackie Sanders narrates a memoir on sexism in science from Rita Cowell, a leading microbiologist and the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation. Host Jo Reed and Robin Whitten discuss Jackie Sanders’s straightforward narration, mirroring Cowell’s strategy when dealing with obstructionist male colleagues—stay calm and avoid channeling melodramatics or anger. Cowell persevered in her career to make historical discoveries but faced systemic sexism and bias, and she does not shy away from detailing specific discrimination. An inspiring and illuminating listen for those in the sciences. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Blackstone Publishing, a 30-years plus strong independent audiobook publisher that is now also publishing print books and ebooks. This Fall, we are publishing an array of stellar titles -- Cecilia Aragon's memoir Flying Free which tells the odds-defying story of how she became the first Latina pilot on the US Aerobatic Team; the historical fiction novel Escaping Dreamland by NY Times bestselling author Charlie Lovett; the YA dystopian thriller The Key to Fear from NY Times bestselling author Kristin Cast, and Don't Move - a horror novel from Darren Wearmouth and television star James S. Murray. Learn about these and more titles from Blackstone's Fall 2020 list at BlackstonePublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.Dr. Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.She was the 11th director of the National Science Foundation, authored or co-authored 17 books and over 800 scientific publications, and has been awarded 55 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education. And these are just a few of the many accolades and honors Dr. Colwell has amassed in her long career.She joins Dr. Pam this episode to talk about her new book A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science, and share stories or the experiences and the obstacles in her hard-fought journey to become a scientist as a woman, touching on resiliency, grit, equality, and opportunity in the field.
Dr. Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.Dr. Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.She was the 11th director of the National Science Foundation, authored or co-authored 17 books and over 800 scientific publications, and has been awarded 55 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education. And these are just a few of the many accolades and honors Dr. Colwell has amassed in her long career.She joins Dr. Pam this episode to talk about her new book A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science, and share stories or the experiences and the obstacles in her hard-fought journey to become a scientist as a woman, touching on resiliency, grit, equality, and opportunity in the field.
Dr. Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.Dr. Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.She was the 11th director of the National Science Foundation, authored or co-authored 17 books and over 800 scientific publications, and has been awarded 55 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education. And these are just a few of the many accolades and honors Dr. Colwell has amassed in her long career.She joins Dr. Pam this episode to talk about her new book A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science, and share stories or the experiences and the obstacles in her hard-fought journey to become a scientist as a woman, touching on resiliency, grit, equality, and opportunity in the field.
"It worked really well with everyone concentrating on their area of strength." Lee-Anne Walters on Green Connections Radio What would you do if your water came out of the tap brown? As we congratulate Flint, Michigan residents for winning a big settlement recently for the lead contamination of their water supply, finally, after years of fighting for it, listen to the courageous and tenacious Lee-Anne Walters, one of the main community organizers, explain to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson how she brought the community together to fight for clean water – and collected the scientific support they needed. It's lessons in community organizing we can all benefit from, especially as the country protests the scourge of police brutality, injustice and inequality. Lee-Anne was awarded the prestigious Goldman Sachs Environmental Leadership award for her work. You'll hear: How the community started to organize, from the ground up. How she used her Medical Technician skills to identify why the water was brown and who was to blame. Why having an Emergency Manager for the city in its financial crisis was the exact wrong strategy. How partnering with Virginia Tech University to test the water independently was a key to fixing the crisis - and continues nationwide. “I’ve always been a very blunt person…and in this it’s been my biggest asset.” Lee-Anne Walters on Green Connections Radio You’ll also want to listen to: Nayyirah Shariff, Flint, Michigan activist for clean water (on their lead poisoning crisis) Talia Buford, ProPublica reporter covering the Flint, Michigan lead poisoning water crisis. Rita Colwell, frmr NSF head, Univ of Maryland, Gulf of Mexico Research chair, water science expert NASA Contest-Winning Teen Girls – About their award-winning water filtration system. Subscribe to our newsletter for our weekly GCR episodes, Joan's Forbes blogs, and career advice -- plus special coaching offers to keep you ahead of the curve. We look forward to having you in our community. Subscribe to Green Connections Radio podcasts on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leave us a review! Join our Facebook Page and share your insights! Feedback? Post it to us on Twitter @joanmichelson or Facebook
Rita Colwell pioneered the study of microbial ecology and genetics and served as Director of the National Science Foundation during 1998-2004. Her new book A Lab of Her Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science tells two evolutionary stories. The first is the story of her career studying microbial genetic evolution, including diseases such as cholera and anthrax. The second is the story of cultural evolution and the lack thereof, such as entrenched sexism in science and the reluctance of the medical establishment to embrace new ideas. My conversation with Rita uniquely weaves these two themes of her book and life together into a single braid. Other Referenced Materials: "Ages of Discord", Peter Turchin TVOL podcast on education with Peter Gray "Diffusion of Innovations", by Everett M. Rogers --- Become a member of the TVOL1000 and join the Darwinian revolution Follow This View of Life on Twitter and Facebook Order the This View of Life book
This week, Liberty and Kelly discuss The Death of Vivek Oji, The Black Kids, True Story, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community; Henry Holt and Co. and The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi; and Being Lolita: A Memoir by Alisson Wood. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots by Morgan Jerkins The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott Lobizona: A Novel (Wolves of No World Book 1) by Romina Garber The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun, Lizzie Buehler (translator) Life of a Klansman: A Family History with White Supremacy by Edward Ball Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi Fangirls: Scenes from Modern Music Culture by Hannah Ewens True Story by Kate Reed Petty Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson Luster: A Novel by Raven Leilani A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America’s Hurricanes by Eric Jay Dolin WHAT WE’RE READING: Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall Camp Murderface by Saundra Mitchell and Josh Berk The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt by Jill Watts MORE BOOKS OUT THIS WEEK: Prelude for Lost Souls by Helene Dunbar The Last Lie (The List) by Patricia Forde It Came from the Sky by Chelsea Sedoti And Then I Turned Into a Mermaid by Laura Kirkpatrick Tomboyland by Melissa Faliveno Defacing the Monument by Susan Briante The Comeback by Ella Berman Rules for Being Dead by Kim Powers Talking Animals: A Novel by Joni Murphy The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannine Atkins Toybox Americana: Characters Met Along the Way by Tim Lane Dance on Saturday: Stories by Elwin Cotman Imperfect Women: A Novel by Araminta Hall A Journey Toward Hope by Victor Hinojosa, Coert Voorhees, Susan Guevara Nymph by Leila Marzocchi The Silent Wife: A Novel (Will Trent Book 10) by Karin Slaughter The Lost Pianos of Siberia by Sophy Roberts Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon A Con) by Ashley Poston Ellie’s Voice, or Trööömmmpffff! by Piret Raud, Adam Cullen (translator) The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman Creating Anna Karenina: Tolstoy and the Birth of Literature’s Most Enigmatic Heroine by Bob Blaisdell The Tunnel by A. B. Yehoshua, Stuart Schoffman (translator) Auntie Poldi and the Handsome Antonio by Mario Giordano, John Brownjohn (translator) The Devil’s Harvest: A Ruthless Killer, a Terrorized Community, and the Search for Justice in California’s Central Valley by Jessica Garrison Salvation by Caryn Lix The Finisher (A Detective Peter Diamond Mystery) by Peter Lovesey Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne Weird Women: Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers: 1852-1923 by Leslie S. Klinger, Lisa Morton Personal Writings by Albert Camus Committed Writings by Albert Camus Poetic License: A Memoir by Gretchen Cherington Double Lives: A History of Working Motherhood by Helen McCarthy Dead West (Nils Shapiro Book 4) by Matt Goldman Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure by Jeff Kinney The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenberg The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, Louise Heal Kawai (translator) The Infographic Guide to Grammar: A Visual Reference for Everything You Need to Know by Jara Kern All Together Now (Eagle Rock Series) by Hope Larson How to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger The Buddhist on Death Row: How One Man Found Light in the Darkest Place by David Sheff My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman Universe of Two: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan Maenam: A Fresh Approach to Thai Cooking by Angus An I Am Here Now by Barbara Bottner Sometimes I Never Suffered: Poems by Shane McCrae Great Demon Kings: A Memoir of Poetry, Sex, Art, Death, and Enlightenment by John Giorno What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous, and Resilient Women by Marisa Porges Court of Lions: A Mirage Novel by Somaiya Daud Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer The World Aflame: A New History of War and Revolution: 1914-1945 by Dan Jones and Marina Amaral The Secret of You and Me: A Novel by Melissa Lenhardt You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria Crash Course: If You Want to Get Away with Murder Buy a Car by Woodrow Phoenix Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan, Lisa C. Hayden (Translator) You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here by Frances Macken Tales of Two Planets: Stories of Climate Change and Inequality in a Divided World by John Freeman After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America by Jessica Goudea Paris Never Leaves You: A Novel by Ellen Feldman The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan The Friendship List by Susan Mallery 12 Seconds of Silence: How a Team of Inventors, Tinkerers, and Spies Took Down a Nazi Superweapon by Jamie Holmes The Southland by Johnny Shaw Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaght Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls Horse Crazy: The Story of a Woman and a World in Love with an Animal by Sarah Maslin Nir Star Settlers: The Billionaires, Geniuses, and Crazed Visionaries Out to Conquer the Universe by Fred Nadis All the Right Mistakes: A Novel by Laura Jamison In the Clearing by JP Pomare Love After Love: A Novel by Ingrid Persaud The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne: A Mystery by Elsa Hart All Stirred Up: Suffrage Cookbooks, Food, and the Battle for Women’s Right to Vote by Laura Kumin A Lab of One’s Own : One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science by Rita Colwell, Sharon Bertsch McGrayne A Saint from Texas by Edmund White The Likely World by Melanie Conroy-Goldman The Living Dead by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World by Lesley M.M. Blume The Beggar’s Pawn: A Novel by John L’Heureux Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir by Lisa Donovan The Revenge of the Werepenguin by Allan Woodrow The Silence: A Novel by Luca Veste Louisiana Lucky: A Novel by Julie Pennell Why Visit America by Matthew Baker The Good for Nothings by Danielle Banas Bear Necessity: A Novel by James Gould-Bourn What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson The First Sister (The First Sister trilogy) by Linden A. Lewis The Bitch by Pilar Quintana, Lisa Dillman (translator) Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, Sarah Moses (translator) Two Trees Make a Forest: Travels Among Taiwan’s Mountains and Coasts in Search of My Family’s Past by Jessica J. Lee Looking for Miss America:A Pageant’s 100-Year Quest to Define Womanhood by Margot Mifflin The River Home: A Novel by Hannah Richell Vanishing Falls: A Novel by Poppy Gee Orientation (Marvel: Avengers Assembly #1) (1) by Preeti Chhibber and James Lancett No Fuzzball! by Isabella Kung Addis Ababa Noir (Akashic Noir) by Maaza Mengiste Radical Hamilton: Economic Lessons from a Misunderstood Founder by Christian Parenti Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More by Uma Naidoo In the Valley: Stories and a Novella Based on Serena by Ron Rash Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World by Carl Bergstrom, Jevin West Tampa Bay Noir (Akashic Noir) by Colette Bancroft Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe With or Without You: A Novel by Caroline Leavitt Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn by Betsy Carter Bronte’s Mistress: A Novel by Finola Austin The Woman in Red by Diana Giovinazzo The Weekend by Charlotte Wood Hobbit Virtues: Rediscovering Virtue Ethics Through J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by Christopher A. Snyder Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho The Book of Atlantis Black by Betsy Bonner Every Bone a Prayer by Ashley Blooms The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson My Captain America: A Memoir by Megan Margulies The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers by Emily Levesque The Mystery of Charles Dickens by A.N. Wilson Behind the Red Door: A Novel by Megan Collins More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood Space Station Down by Ben Bova, Doug Beason The Heirs of Locksley by Carrie Vaughn The Wicked Sister by Karen Dionne The Forest of Stars by Heather Kassner In Case of Emergency: A Novel by E. G. Scott Out of This World #1 by Chris Wooding Being Lolita: A Memoir by Alisson Wood Moms by Yeong-shin Ma and Janet Hong Six Days in August: The Story of Stockholm Syndrome by David King Here Is the Sweet Hand: Poems by francine j. harris Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo Some Kind of Animal by Maria Romasco Moore Inventory: A Memoir by Darran Anderson Seven Devils by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim The Night Swim: A Novel by Megan Goldin Convince Me: A Novel by Nina Sadowsky The Lost Jewels: A Novel by Kirsty Manning The Boys’ Club: A Novel by Erica Katz To the Lake: A Balkan Journey of War and Peace by Kapka Kassabova The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals: A Novel by Becky Mandelbaum If I Had Two Wings: Stories by Randall Kenan Guillotine: Poems by Eduardo C. Corral Queen of the Court: The Extraordinary Life of Tennis Legend Alice Marble by Madeleine Blais A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong Thread Doodling: Over 20 modern designs for stitching in the moment by Carina Envoldsen-Harris The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi Asylum: A personal, historical, natural inquiry in 103 lyric sections by Jill Bialosky Why I Don’t Write: And Other Stories by Susan Minot
GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM, Poe 202, NC State University GES Mediasite - Video w/slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite More info at http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium | Twitter -https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU Expanding the general public's interest, understanding and acceptance of scientific knowledge is a perpetual challenge. The gap is considered bridgeable through multidisciplinary approaches. Arts and humanities is one such approach as evidenced by its combination with biotechnology, i.e. the "Art's Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures." While visual and representative art coupled with laboratory science are this exhibition's major approach other forms of creativity are available. The communication of science via poetry combines the two worlds of C.P. Snow. "The Two Rita's" a poem, celebrates two highly-honored contributors to their fields, Pulitzer Prize recipient poet Rita Dove and former National Science Foundation director and American Association for the Advancement of Science president microbiologist Rita Colwell. It provides a keen example of the possibilities and opportunities for science communication through combining their significance in poetry that poses that there is no difference between the inherent creativity of the arts and sciences. Speaker Bio Darrell Stover is a cultural historian, science communicator and performance poet. His career life has always been an intersection of science and art sifted through history with an emphasis on community and individual empowerment through the same. He is on the faculty at NC State University where he teaches “Black Popular Culture: From the Blues to Afrofuturism” and “Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society.” He studied microbiology and American Studies at the University of Maryland at College Park and acquired his Master of Arts degree in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University. While in the Washington, DC area he worked at the National Cancer Institute as research assistant in support of the isolation and examination of retroviruses via cell culture, molecular biology, monoclonal antibodies, and electron microscopy. He moved into the private sector to Cambridge Scientific Abstracts as Senior Microbiology Editor developing content, coverage, and codification of published research for online databases in microbiology and biotechnology. Upon arrival in the Triangle he worked as science writer at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and was Science Writing Fellow at Virginia Tech University. His more recent public programs have been the performance/lecture “The Natural History of Afrofuturia” and the curation of a series on the cultural significance of the “Black Panther” film featuring a panel discussion on the science and technology represented on screen. The presentation of "Dream STEAM: Afrofuturist Dances with the Sciences" at the "Afrofuturism and Indigenous Futurities” conference held at UNC-Chapel Hill expounded on the representation of biological sciences in African diasporic speculative fiction. He is a member of the 2019-2020 Southeast cohort of science impactors. LINKS Art's Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures - https://go.ncsu.edu/artswork Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co
This episode marks the first in a new oral history series from BioScience, entitled In Their Own Words. These pieces chronicle the stories of scientists who have made great contributions to their fields, particularly within the biological sciences. Each month, we will publish in the pages of BioScience, and on this podcast, the results of these conversations. This first oral history is with Dr. Rita Colwell, a distinguished environmental microbiologist and scientific administrator, who previously served as president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. Note: Both the text and audio versions have been edited for clarity and length. Read this article in BioScience. Subscribe on iTunes. Subscribe on Stitcher. Catch up with us on Twitter.
Engaging, enlightening and entertaining interviews with innovators and leaders in energy, clean tech and sustainability – featuring mostly women. Green Connections Radio helps you “live green, work green, earn green.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Find another way.” We all know the power of movies to move us. EMMY-winning documentary filmmaker – and co-executive producer of the masterful documentary “Dispatches From the Gulf” about the scientific impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill – Marilyn Weiner talks with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson about the ups and downs of using filmmaking to spread the environmental message, and this kind of career. This masterful documentary on the Gulf oil spill, released recently with 50 individual shorts, tells the story of how a large group of scientists who never knew each other before collaborated to explore what happened scientifically to the Gulf as a result of the massive BP oil spill and what they found that can help us in many fields. You’ll learn about: The unique role of the documentarian to be an observer – to “document” – and how to do it right. Fundraising for these documentaries. What she learned about scientists while making “Dispatches From the Gulf.” Telling the story – deciding what to use of 80+ hours of footage. Multi-purposing footage. Navigating a career in documentaries. You’ll also want to listen to Joan’s interview with Dr. Rita Colwell, Chair of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, the organization behind the documentary and the scientists. (The Initiative is funded by BP as part of their restitution, but is completely independent.) Go to www.greenconnectionsradio.com or iTunes or any of GCR's publishing outlets. To learn more about Marilyn Weiner (and get the link to “Dispatches From the Gulf”) and Green Connections Radio, go to www.greenconnectionsradio.com. Thanks for subscribing on iTunes or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Also, join our Facebook Page and share your insights! Email us: info@greenconnectionsradio.com or reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Energy is the lifeblood of the economy. Where it we get it from matters, though. With several oil and gas folks set to take top posts in the new administration, it's important to talk with one of the top people who was a liaison between BP and the clean up, from a scientific side: Rita Colwell, Ph.D, with too many top scientific roles to list. One of the first calls after the catastrophic BP Oil Spill blanketed the previously-pristine Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 20110 came in to Dr. Rita Colwell, renowned microbiologist and oceanographer, former head of the National Science, and now a leader at the University of Maryland. She was tasked with building the10-year BP-funded, independent initiative to study the spill’s impact, and no one was better suited. In this enlightening interview with Green Connections Host Joan Michelson, Dr. Colwell explains: how independent the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative really is, the uniqueness of their business model, and what their extensive research by diverse teams of scientists is teaching us about: how to clean up the spill, the impact on marine ecosystem and marine life, and other discoveries that are enhancing our understanding and management of marine life and/or climate change-related environmental consequences. She also offers terrific career advice from her own experience – as a mentor, a mentee and a leader always pushing the boundaries of innovation via science. Read my Hufington Post blog on this here, which includes the trailer of the new documentary about their work, ”Dispatches from the Gulf,” just released on the sixth anniversary of the spill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Đầu năm 2016, một thảm hoạ môi trường quy mô lớn xảy ra tại bốn tỉnh miền trung Việt Nam, hoá chất thải ra từ nhà máy luyện thép Formosa khiến hàng trăm tấn cá chết, cả một vùng bờ biển dài hơn 200 km bị nhiễm độc, hàng trăm nghìn cư dân mất nguồn sinh kế. Theo các nhà quan sát, chính quyền Việt Nam hết sức lúng túng trong việc khắc phục thảm hoạ. Vụ Formosa khiến nhiều người nghĩ đến một thảm họa tràn dầu quy mô lớn tại vùng Vịnh Mêhicô (Hoa Kỳ) cách nay 6 năm. Kinh nghiệm điều tra, đánh giá tác động môi trường trong vụ BP để lại những bài học nào cho Việt Nam ? Tạp chí Khoa học của RFI phỏng vấn tiến sĩ Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến (Đức). Thảm hoạ lớn hàng đầu trong ngành dầu mỏ thế giới - đe doạ nghiêm trọng các hệ sinh thái - đã buộc công ty BP Anh Quốc phải đền bù hàng chục tỉ đô la (chú thích 1). Hai thảm hoạ môi trường BP-Vịnh Mêhicô và Formosa-miền Trung Việt Nam chắc chắn có rất nhiều khác biệt về quy mô và và tính chất, nhưng điều đáng chú ý là, ngay từ đầu, BP đã chấp nhận chi ra nhiều tỷ đô la cho việc nghiên cứu đánh giá thiệt hại môi trường và sức khỏe dân cư, đi liền với các dự án phục hồi, làm cơ sở cho việc đền bù. Bởi thảm họa môi trường trên biển tác động rất phức tạp đến các hệ sinh thái và mức độ thiệt hại sẽ không được đánh giá đúng, công việc sẽ trở nên phức tạp bội phần, nếu việc này không được làm sớm và làm đúng cách. Đây là điều mà tiến sĩ Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến coi là một bài học xương máu đối với việc khắc phục thảm họa nhiễm độc biển do Formosa gây ra tại miền trung Việt Nam (phỏng vấn thực hiện ngày 19/09/2016). Đánh giá khẩn trương, toàn diện thiệt hại RFI : BP đã làm gì trong việc điều tra tác động của thảm họa để khắc phục. Xin chị cho biết một số điểm chính. TS. Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến : Khi thảm họa xảy ra, ngoài việc cứu hộ ngay, BP ngay lập tức công bố hai khoản ngân sách rất lớn cho những « nghiên cứu đánh giá thiệt hại » và những « nghiên cứu sâu, lâu dài ». Dành cho ngân sách đầu tiên, BP chi tổng cộng là 8,7 tỉ, vừa cho đánh giá, vừa cho các chương trình phục hồi sinh thái. Cụ thể về hoạt động này, ngay sau khi thảm họa xảy ra, chính quyền liên bang và các tiểu bang vùng thảm họa đã họp bàn và thành lập một Hội Đồng Ủy Thác Đánh Giá Thiệt Hại Tài Nguyên/ Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees Council (chú thích 2). Mục đích là để đưa ra một bức tranh đầy đủ về thiệt hại sinh thái, từ đó có kế hoạch phục hồi khả thi. Hội Đồng Ủy Thác này phân chia thành 14 nhóm kỹ thuật, phủ hết các dạng sinh thái và các loài sinh vật quan trọng (chú thích 3). Hơn 240 dự án đã thực hiện và nhiều nghiên cứu vẫn đang tiếp tục. Ở giai đoạn đầu, gọi là « tiền đánh giá và phục hồi sớm », người ta đã đưa ra ngay 57 dự án phục hồi sớm ở 5 tiểu bang. Và dựa vào kết quả đánh giá thiệt hại tổng thể và lâu dài (với năm tiêu chí – chú thích 4), Hội Đồng Ủy Thác gần đây đã quyết định là cần phải phục hồi ở 38 địa điểm, với 13 kiểu phục hồi sinh thái khác nhau (chú thích 5), với trọng tâm là phục hồi các hệ sinh thái ven biển. Tiền chi cho các dự án phục hồi các hệ sinh thái này chiếm phần chủ yếu : 4,1 tỉ (chiếm khoảng 50% ngân sách). Việc khẩn trương đánh giá thiệt hại sinh thái, và giai đoạn đầu tập trung vào các vấn đề có tính nhạy cảm về thời gian, như Hội Đồng Ủy Thác thực hiện ở Vịnh Mêhicô, đã giảm thiểu việc mất dấu tích do ảnh hưởng điều kiện tự nhiên. Bài học của việc này là việc chậm trễ đánh giá thiệt hại ở thảm họa Formosa Vũng Áng sẽ rất nguy hiểm khi dấu vết chất độc trên bề mặt đáy biển đã bị sóng, dòng hải lưu xóa mờ, hoặc bị bùn cát lấp phủ trong khi đó chất độc vẫn bị chôn vùi trong bùn cát/trầm tích không quan sát được. Dẫn đến những chỗ này sẽ bị bỏ sót khi khảo sát. Và cũng sẽ bị bỏ qua trong kế hoạch khắc phục hậu quả. Việc khẩn trương đánh giá thiệt hại, như Hoa Kỳ thực hiện, cũng giúp ngay lập tức phát hiện ra những khu vực hoặc các loài sinh vật cần phải được cứu nạn khẩn cấp và triển khai phục hồi sớm tránh tình trạng bị kéo dài phơi nhiễm dẫn đến diệt vong. Đọc thêm : Cá biển chết ở Việt Nam: Hệ lụy có thể kéo dài 50 năm Bên cạnh chương trình nói trên, BP còn dành một ngân sách khác cho nghiên cứu, để « cài răng lược », để khiến cho thông tin khoa học xác thực hơn. Bởi vì ảnh hưởng môi trường ở biển rất phức tạp, các diễn tiến như từ dòng hải lưu phân tán, ảnh hưởng đến các hệ sinh thái, rồi đến lượt các chất dầu tự hủy hoặc do sinh vật phân hủy, hoặc biến đổi khi tác động với các chất khác… Vì vậy, phải có các nghiên cứu chuyên sâu hơn, để khẳng định (hay điều chỉnh) các ước tính thiệt hại ban đầu. Nghiên cứu độc lập, chuyên sâu RFI : Xin chị cho biết rõ hơn về ngân sách thứ hai, tức ngân sách điều tra tác động lâu dài. TS. Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến : Một tháng sau khi xảy ra thảm họa, ngày 24/05/2010, BP đã cam kết chi một khoản 500 triệu USD cho 10 năm công việc nghiên cứu đánh giá tác động ảnh hưởng và tái phục hồi sinh thái và môi trường. Một tổ chức có tên Sáng Kiến Nghiên Cứu Vịnh Mêhicô (Gulf of Mexico Research Initative/GoMRI) đã được thành lập. Đây là một chương trình tổ chức độc lập với BP và chính phủ Hoa Kỳ (vì BP và chính phủ Hoa Kỳ là đối tác của hợp đồng thương mại khai thác dầu ở Vịnh Mêhicô). Tiến sỹ Rita Colwell, người đã có kinh nghiệm làm lãnh đạo của Quỹ Khoa Học Quốc Gia (National Science Foundation), một tổ chức xã hội dân sự, được chọn làm giám đốc của chương trình này. Chương trình nghiên cứu độc lập này GoMRI được đặt trong Viện nghiên cứu Vịnh và đới bờ của liên bang. Đã có 3.941 nhà nghiên cứu đến từ 286 Viện/Trường của 20 quốc gia đồng hành và đóng góp. Họ chia thành các nghiên cứu 1-2 năm, 2-4 năm, 3-5 năm, 6-8 năm… ứng với các diễn biến của thảm họa (ví dụ như đầu tiên là phải nghiên cứu các dòng chảy, hướng phát tán của dầu, sau đó là các nghiên cứu về độc tố…). Với 500 triệu đô la, chương trình này đã có sản phẩm là 784 bài báo được đăng trên các tạp chí khoa học. Ở đây cũng chia thành 5 lĩnh vực : 1) Các nghiên cứu về động lực học và khí tượng hải dương để đánh giá sự di chuyển và phát tán của dầu vào môi trường (cả trên mặt nước, trong cột nước và trầm tích). 2) Các nghiên cứu về sự biến đổi hóa học cũng như quá trình tự phân hủy sinh học của dầu và hóa chất cũng như sự tương tác của chúng lên các hệ sinh thái.3) Các nghiên cứu về ảnh hưởng môi trường của dầu lên các hệ sinh thái ven bờ, đáy, và các tầng nước.4) Các nghiên cứu phát triển công nghệ để nâng cấp các phương pháp ứng phó với thảm họa.5) Các nghiên cứu về ảnh hưởng của thảm họa tràn dầu lên sức khỏe động vật và con người. Đọc thêm : Nhiễm độc biển Việt Nam : Im lặng ‘‘khó hiểu’’ của ngành y Sáng Kiến Nghiên Cứu Vịnh Mêhicô có những chương trình nghiên cứu tương tự như hoạt động của Hội Đồng Ủy Thác, nhưng chuyên sâu. Hai chương trình này phụ trợ cho nhau. Bên Hội Đồng Ủy Thác là đánh giá trên diện rộng và đi thực tế nhiều, còn bên Sáng Kiến Nghiên Cứu Vùng Vịnh Mêhicô thì mang tính chuyên sâu và làm trong phòng thí nghiệm nhiều hơn. Sáng Kiến Nghiên Cứu Vùng Vịnh Mêhicô bổ sung những thiếu hụt cho chương trình đánh giá thiệt hại tài nguyên của Hội Đồng Ủy Thác. Việc các chương trình nghiên cứu sâu song hành từng bước với chương trình đánh giá thiệt hại và phục hồi tái tạo sẽ giúp tối đa hóa hiệu quả phục hồi hệ sinh thái và tài nguyên dựa trên cả khoa học và thực tế. Tôi thấy rằng chính phủ Việt Nam và giới trí thức Việt Nam cần kêu gọi để có một chương trình nghiên cứu độc lập như thế để có thể mời được các trí thức thế giới tham gia. Tôi thấy rất tiếc, vì ở Việt Nam có mời một số chuyên gia nước ngoài tham gia, nhưng thay vì mời họ tham gia vào đoàn của nhà nước, nên để họ làm độc lập, thì họ sẽ có thể đánh giá khách quan hơn, và cung cấp các đối chứng, như thế sẽ thuyết phục được người dân nhiều hơn. Thông tin đầy đủ, minh bạch RFI : Khó khăn chính trong các điều tra về tác động thảm họa ? TS. Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến : Có một điều rất quan trọng khiến Hoa Kỳ và BP thành công là họ có được thông tin. Khi thảm họa tràn dầu xảy ra thì ngay lập tức Trung tâm ứng phó quốc gia và các đại diện địa phương/focus point của các cơ quan có chức năng liên quan biển. Họ có trách niệm thu nhập tất cả thông tin từ mọi nguồn báo về (vùng nào thấy xuất hiện dầu, vùng nào có sinh vật chết… Bất cứ thông tin nào gây nghi ngờ đều được trung tâm này tiếp nhận). Từ đó họ có được một cơ sở dữ liệu đầy đủ về thảm họa, để có thể ứng phó, ứng cứu, và tiếp theo là đánh giá thiệt hại và nghiên cứu lâu dài, và sau cùng là phục hồi. Ở Việt Nam, không có trung tâm ứng cứu quốc gia, và mạng lưới địa phương. Chính vì thế, thảm họa xảy ra từ đầu tháng 4, mà đến cuối tháng 4 mới bắt đầu rầm rộ, truyền thông mới biết, người dân mới biết (chú thích 6). Điều quan trọng nữa là, ở Việt Nam hầu hết tất cả những thông tin về thảm họa của người dân (thường chỉ được phản ánh qua facebook hoặc blog) (chú thích 7) đều không được chính quyền các cấp ghi nhận. Đấy là sự lãng phí vô cùng, sự thiếu thông minh của chính quyền, khi không tận dụng các thông tin, đóng góp của cả xã hội. Điều này dẫn đến tình trạng hiểu biết về thảm họa là rất thiếu hụt. Việc bỏ qua các thông tin phản ánh của người dân thì vừa không tận dụng nguồn lực rộng lớn không phải trả công từ người dân, nguồn nhân lực có thể quan sát môi trường theo từng giờ ở mọi nơi với thông tin sâu sát và đầy kinh nghiệm. Chính vì thế, với 100 nhà khoa học tham gia đánh giá xác định nguyên nhân thảm họa, thông tin đưa ra vẫn luôn thiếu hụt so với những quan sát của người dân (Ví dụ rất nhiều thông tin của người dân trên facebook và blog cho biết, chim chết nhiều, nhiều nơ rừng ngập mặn chết. Trong khi đó chính quyền công bố chỉ có san hô bị ảnh hưởng). Vì thế càng đẩy chính quyền vào tình thế bị đánh giá là không có đủ trình độ, không minh bạch và cố tình bao che cho Formosa (xem bài : "Nhiễm độc miền Trung Việt Nam : Chưa rõ vùng biển nào hải sản an toàn"). Rất nguy hiểm là những kế hoạch khắc phục cũng sẽ thiếu hụt, không hiệu quả hoặc thậm chí là chệch hướng. Ví dụ như việc tranh cãi, có nên hút rửa đáy biển hay không ? Người thì bảo nên, người bảo không, người bảo hút cả chiều dài 200 km dọc bờ biển. Kinh nghiệm của Hoa Kỳ là người ta sử dụng các máy rò, xem chỗ nào có dầu tồn lắng nhiều, thì người ta mới tẩy rửa. Trong khi thảm họa do Formosa, chính vì thiếu hụt thông tin nên không thực hiện được phục hồi, tẩy rửa, hoặc kế hoạch phục hồi bị lệch hướng. Điểm đáng nói là, trong vụ tràn dầu BP, ngay lập tức người ta công bố là thảm họa quốc gia, và người ta sẵn sàng đối mặt với các thực tế của thảm họa, trong khi ở Việt Nam, cá chết hàng trăm tấn, san hô chết 50%, nhưng vẫn cứ nói là « sự cố môi trường ». Chính vì đánh giá lệch lạc về tính chất thảm họa, thành ra không có chương trình nghiên cứu. Cho đến bây giờ không nghe thấy một chương trình nghiên cứu đánh giá thiệt hại hay phục hồi. RFI : Nhìn chung vụ tràn dầu BP còn để lại thêm bài học nào khác về vai trò của Nhà nước ? TS. Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến : Để tránh cho người dân phơi nhiễm chất độc, ngay lập tức Hoa Kỳ đã đóng cửa các bãi biển (chú thích 8). Trong khi đó, ở Việt Nam, các quan chức nhảy xuống tắm biển. Rất là ngược đời. Rất là đau khi thấy người dân tay trần đi thu gom cá chết. Ở trong cá chết, có thể có rất nhiều chất độc khác lây nhiễm qua đường da. Chính quyền đã không có thông tin, truyền thông nào để cảnh báo cho người dân, một là không tắm biển, hai là phải có các phương tiện bảo hộ (chú thích 9). Tìm hiểu quá trình khắc phục hậu quả dầu tràn ở vịnh Mêhicô, tôi thấy chính quyền Hoa Kỳ và BP rất chú trọng đến việc phục hồi các hệ sinh thái. Theo tôi, Việt Nam cũng cần ưu tiên ngay lập tức việc nghiên cứu đánh giá thiệt hại và xây dựng các dự án phục hồi các hệ sinh thái như san hô, cỏ biển, rừng ngập mặn. Đó là ba hệ sinh thái quan trọng, mà chúng tôi là những nhà khoa học về lĩnh vực này chúng tôi rất sốt ruột (chú thích 10). RFI xin cảm ơn tiến sĩ Nguyễn Thị Hải Yến đã dành thời gian cho tạp chí. *** Phải minh bạch độc chất FORMOSA thải ra biển *** Ngày 20/09/2016 - hơn 5 tháng kể từ vụ cá chết hàng loạt tại miền Trung Việt Nam - bộ Y Tế cùng bộ Tài Nguyên Môi Trường và bộ Nông Nghiệp lần đầu tiên xác nhận hải sản « ở tầng đáy » trong phạm vi 20 hải lý dọc bờ biển không « an toàn ». Tiếp theo việc công ty thép Formosa (hồi cuối tháng 6/2016) nhận lỗi xả thải độc chất tại Vũng Áng (Hà Tĩnh), thông báo nói trên một lần nữa khẳng định thực chất và quy mô của tình trạng nhiễm độc ven biển bốn tỉnh miền Trung Việt Nam đang dần dần sáng tỏ, bất chấp các nỗ lực che giấu (*). Bài học từ thảm họa dầu tràn (Hoa Kỳ) cho thấy việc đánh giá khẩn trương, toàn diện và đầy đủ các tác động môi trường hậu thảm họa là vô cùng quan trọng, để giảm thiểu các thiệt hại với con người và môi trường. Chính quyền Việt Nam có thể học hỏi kinh nghiệm của Mỹ trong việc thành lập một cơ chế nghiên cứu độc lập, nhằm thu hút rộng rãi các đóng góp quốc tế, bên cạnh các hoạt động của nhóm các nhà khoa học nhà nước. Tuy nhiên, nghiên cứu sẽ chỉ thực chất và hiệu quả khi làm sáng tỏ được các chất độc mà Formosa đã thải xuống biển. Theo nhiều chuyên gia, nếu những thông tin này - cũng như thông tin cụ thể về quá trình di chuyển của các độc chất trong nước biển - bị chính quyền tiếp tục che đậy, thì việc điều tra về tác động của chúng đến môi trường sinh thái và sức khỏe con người không thể cho ra được kết quả chính xác. Việc khắc phục do vậy sẽ muôn vàn khó khăn, nếu không nói là bất khả thi. Trong một thảm họa như vụ Formosa, hy vọng các hệ sinh thái bị nhiễm độc nặng tự hồi phục - mà không có các nghiên cứu đánh giá tác động và dự án phục hồi - chỉ là ảo tưởng. Cho rằng sức khỏe người dân tự điều chỉnh, mà không cần các biện pháp phòng tránh, chẩn đoán, điều trị kịp thời chính là cách các lãnh đạo chính quyền thoái thác trách nhiệm, để mặc người dân trong lo sợ, đau khổ, tuyệt vọng. Tình hình càng để chậm, càng khó cứu vãn. ---(*) Có người cho rằng vụ cá chết vừa qua có thể trong cái rủi lại có cái may đầy nghịch lý. Đó là nếu không có vụ cá chết hàng loạt, hóa chất độc hại từ (các) nhà máy cứ tiếp tục xả ra biển với liều lượng vừa đủ để hải sản nhiễm độc, nhưng không chết ngay, từ đó con người ăn phải mà mắc nhiều bệnh nan y, chết dần, chết mòn. Bên cạnh đó là tình trạng yên ổn giả tạo, khi các hệ sinh thái tầng đáy bị hủy diệt dần dần, nhưng tầng mặt vẫn tỏ ra bình yên vô sự. Đó có thể chính là tình trạng đáy biển bốn tỉnh miền Trung mà bộ Y Tế vừa công nhận ngày 20/09.
In this episode of Naturally Speaking Shorts, Taya Forde and Karen Hotopp catch up with distinguished Professor Rita Colwell, of the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, to talk about the impact of her work on cholera and the changing opportunities for women in science.
Margaret Leinen is a big name in oceanography. She’s the director of the Scripps Oceanographic Institute and vice chancellor of marine sciences at Scripps. She was previously assistant direct of the National Science Foundation, where she worked with IHMC CEO and Director Ken Ford, who calls her “one of the most effective and most pleasant assistant directors of NSF.” Leinen’s interest in science started early: In high school, she became interested in geology and the history of the earth. When she discovered oceanography in college, she never looked back. In this episode, Leinen talks about her first dive in the Pacific, where she stumbled onto a huge hydrothermal vent system teeming with worms, clams and other colorful life forms. She also addresses current and future threats to the ocean, a non profit she established to look into mitigating the effects of climate change, and the overall resilience of the oceans. Host Dawn Kernagis, whose own interest in becoming a scientist—started with her childhood fascination with the ocean—conducts this interview. 3:00: In 2000, NSF director Rita Colwell asked Leinen to come to D.C. to talk to her about working at NSF to coordinate environmental science, engineering and education across entire foundation. 5:32. Leinen says a theme of her career has been cross disciplinary coordination. “I think it takes an optimist, and that’s me, I’m definitely a glass is half full kind of person.” 6:28: “People want to be able to cross boundaries, and most of the time they think that they do, but organizations put obstacles in front of them. My job is to find out what the obstacles are and then embrace them.” 9:10: Leinen talks about her role as director of Scripps, the oldest institute for oceanography, which just celebrated its 114th birthday. 10:00: Scripps has programs with University of California-San Diego medical and pharmacy schools. The oceans influence human health—and “Not just safety of seafood, red tides, or harmful algal blooms.” 10:24: “When you take a big breath of that wonderful salt air, you’re also inhaling thousands of viruses and bacteria from the ocean.” That may be harmful, or it may confer immunity. 11:57: We’ve gone beyond detecting climate change and attributing it to what is natural or human-induced; and we are now interested in how it impacts humans, the land and oceans—and how we must adapt.” 12:34: Understanding all these threads is “deeply inter-disciplinary.” 13:34: Leinen talks about the non-profit she started, the Climate Response Fund, to research “climate engineering,” or mitigating climate change. 17:15: The Climate Response Fund was a group of scientists and policy experts working with the public, governmental groups, non-profits and scientific groups. “It was a facilitator of discussions.” 18:00: In the U.S., research agencies have been reluctant to fund research in climate engineering, both because of the lack of a good policy framework as well as the potential pubic response. European groups have also struggled. 20:58: Leinen describes her early interest in geology as a high school student. Later, in college, “I just got seduced by oceanography.” 23:05: Leinen talks about the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS), which looked at the carbon cycle in the ocean: “The ocean’s role in really the thing that keep the planet alive.” 24:13: The Equitorial Pacific extends across half the planet. “It’s very, very productive,” but that depends on whether it’s an El Nino time or not. 25:05: During normal (non El Nino) times, there is “An upwelling of deep waters,” and the breakdown of organic material by microbes. “During an El Nino this is limited, [the ocean] is not as biologically productive.” 26:50: JGOFS involved nine different two-month long cruises from the U.S. team, with 70 major scientists and their respective teams. There were other teams from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Chile.
A few weeks ago, the Society had its Annual Conference in Liverpool. We spoke to a few of the researchers that were presenting at the event and asked them about their work. On the podcast this month: Professor W. Ian Lipkin, talking about pandemics and Hollywood movies. Dr Laura Clarke, talking about bacteria that do strange things to nematodes. Professor Marvin Whiteley, talking about polymicrobial infections. Dr Roger Sanders, talking about the chances of developing an HIV vaccine. Dr Rita Colwell, talking about the challenges facing early-career women scientists. Image Credit: Thinkstock
With the recent cholera outbreaks in Haiti, the impact of climate change on communicable diseases is becoming a major public health issue. Join use for the third installment of the Changing Tides lecture series, featuring Dr. Rita Colwell, a former director of the National Science Foundation and Distinguished University Professor at both the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Colwell's research looks at the connection between the ocean and human health, in particular waterborne infectious diseases, such as Cholera. This lecture was presented February 24, 2011.
In this episode, Stanford's David Relman talks about the microbial life that lives on and in humans. Princeton's Andrew Dobson discusses the importance of parasites to an ecosystem. And former National Science Foundation director Rita Colwell mentions a low-tech practice with big public health implications. All from a conference on microbes and the environment at the American Museum of Natural History. Plus we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Websites mentioned on this episode include www.amnh.org/biodiversity.