Introducing the Shaping Science Podcast
Welcome to “Shaping Science,” the podcast where we talk with experts from science, academia, industry, and beyond to explore the latest in research, education and innovation for the public good. You’ll hear directly from many of today’s pioneering minds and will gain valuable insights and perspectives into what’s fueling the most urgent scientific debates of our time. In this era of short attention spans, our freewheeling, no holds barred interview format enables us to go deep – without sacrificing nuance or complexity. Episodes are released on a bi-monthly basis.
Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of Tata Sons.
Featured Episodes
#06 Angus Fletcher on the Hoax of AGI, Teaching Creativity, and the Future of the Humanities
November 11, 2025
Angus Fletcher, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss how the humanities inform the sciences, the role of neurons as action initiators, and why he thinks artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a hoax. With degrees from the University of Michigan and Yale University, he is currently a professor of story science at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative. Trained in both neuroscience and literature, Prof. Fletcher bridges the sciences and humanities to explore how stories shape the human mind, inspire innovation, and foster resilience. His latest book – ‘Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know’ – argues that it’s our unique form of human intuition, imagination, and emotional intelligence that give humans an edge even in the age of AI.
#05 D. Graham Burnett on the Philosophy of Science, the Crisis of Human Fracking, and the Need for Attention Sanctuaries
November 3, 2025
D. Graham Burnett, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss the role of democracy in science and the impact technology has on attention spans. Prof. Burnett is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History at Princeton University. He co-authored the paper “Attention sanctuaries: Social practice guidelines and emergent strategies in attention activism” published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
#04 Stuart Firestein on the Science of Smells, Learning from Failure, and the Utility of Uncertainty
October 20, 2025
Stuart Firestein, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss the science of smells, learning from failure, and the utility of uncertainty. Formerly the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, Prof. Firestein is the author of “Ignorance: How it Drives Science” and “Failure: Why Science is So Successful,” which have been translated into 12 languages. "Ignorance: How it Drives Science" was released by Oxford University Press in 2012. His second book, "Failure: Why Science is So Successful," appeared in October 2015. They have been translated into 12 languages.
#03 Peter Salovey on Emotional Intelligence, Public Trust in Science, and the Future of Higher Education
October 6, 2025
Peter Salovey joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss his groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence and lessons he’s learned after more than two decades in higher education leadership. Prof. Salovey served as the twenty-third president of Yale University from 2013 to 2024 and currently is Sterling Professor of Psychology at Yale with secondary appointments in the Schools of Management and Public Health. A clinical psychologist by training, Prof. Salovey is renowned for his work in the realm of emotional intelligence, which focuses on the important role emotions play in thinking and behavior.
#02 Ariel Ekblaw on the Intersection of Physics, AI, Philosophy, and Ethics in Space Exploration
September 22, 2025
Ariel Ekblaw, PhD, founder and CEO of Aurelia Institute, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss the complexity and promise of modern space exploration. Dr. Ekblaw talks about the work her nonprofit is doing in developing “space LEGOs” to create customizable space structures for humans, the utility of zero gravity for medical applications, and her thoughts on democratizing space travel to make it as accessible as possible.
#01 Mary Woolley on Threats to Science, the Role of Advocacy, and Funding Research
September 9, 2025
Mary Woolley, President of Research!America, joins Nick Dirks in the premiere episode of Shaping Science, The New York Academy of Sciences' new podcast. Mary discusses her more than three-decade career at the helm of Research!America, the importance of federal support for research, and hope for the future of science, despite recent challenges.
From the Archives
Ethics in Pediatric Research
December 9, 2022
Recent progress in the understanding of human disease has led to an explosion in the number of new medicines and therapeutics available for adults — however, significantly fewer drugs are developed and evaluated specifically for children due to complex ethical and logistical issues. Listen to this podcast addressing topics on how to provide children with […]
The Intersection of Conflicts of Interest and Healthcare
October 1, 2021
Individuals. Institutions. For-profit companies. Non-profit organizations. All participants in healthcare are vulnerable to financial or ideological conflicts of interest. How do we balance this pervasive susceptibility to conflicts with the best health interest of the population? In this podcast you will hear from healthcare, government, bioethics, research, industry, media and other experts on how conflicts […]
Big Data: Balancing Privacy and Innovation
February 25, 2019
Presented by: Science & the City Often cited as the “4th Industrial Revolution” big data has the potential to transform health and healthcare by drawing medical conclusions from new and exciting sources such as electronic health records, genomic databases, and even credit card activity. In this podcast you will hear from tech, healthcare, and regulatory […]
Rethinking Climate Change
January 5, 2018
Climate change may be controversial in the political realm, but for three Blavatnik Awards Scholars, all leading experts in environmental studies, there is no debate. The Earth’s ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and animals have all been altered by high levels of CO2 and increasing global temperatures. But are these changes permanent? This podcast examines the latest […]
Reevaluating Clinical Trial Design
October 20, 2017
Clinical trials to evaluate new drugs are typically built around one design, the randomized controlled trial, but this method has come under scrutiny in recent years for being expensive, lengthy, and cumbersome. In this podcast you’ll hear from experts asking if alternative designs would be better for determining the safety and efficacy of new therapies. […]
Bioethics Meets R&D: The Ethics of Pre-approval Access
June 2, 2016
Patients with life-threatening illnesses face challenges in accessing potential therapies at the cutting-edge of research and development, which have not yet been proven in a clinical trial. Some pharmaceutical companies produce and provide medicines on a case-by-case basis through expanded access or “compassionate use” programs. The tension among principles of fairness, equity, and compassion are […]
Is There a Limit to Human Knowledge?
May 12, 2016
Modern physics and its leading theories have been remarkably successful in describing the history of our universe, and large-scale experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, are continuously producing new data that extend our knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, our understanding of some physical concepts that seek to explain our universe—dark matter and dark energy, […]
Improving Clinical Trials through Mobile Technology
January 20, 2016
Mobile technology is emerging as a powerful tool for transforming the way clinical research is conducted now and in the future. Acquisition of real-time biometric data though the use of wireless medical sensors will allow for around-the-clock patient monitoring, reduce costly clinic visits, and streamline inefficient administrative processes. With the promise of this technology also […]
Proof of Concept Centers: Energy Technology
October 26, 2015
It’s easier to find people to invest in a great new tech product if you can show that it will be profitable relatively quickly. Unfortunately, that’s not so easy to demonstrate. Learn how we’re working to change that. The New York Academy of Sciences and NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) […]
Podcasts Featuring Academy Leaders
Regulating AI Podcast | The Future of AI in Higher Education and Scientific Research
Capitalisn’t | Trump’s War on Universities
People & Science Live presented by Karger Publishers Research Integrity and Scientific Publishing
El Podcast | Former Berkeley Chancellor Nick Dirks on the Rising Costs and Uses & Abuses of the University
TechNation Radio Podcast | The International Science Reserve and AI
The Politics Guys | The Uses and Abuses of the Modern University
unSILOed Podcast | The Delicate Balance of Teaching and Research in Modern Academia
The Commonweal Podcast | What Are Universities For?
dotEDU | Beyond Berkeley: Lessons from a University Chancellor on the Front Lines
Chasing Leviathan | Free Speech, Controversy, and the University
Women Who Code | A Catalyst for Innovation: Philanthropy in Science and Tech
New Books Network | City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University
Converging Dialogues | Science Communication and Free Speech in Academia
Sylvia & Me | Female Scientists Breaking Barriers
The Realignment | The Uses and Abuses of the University – Where Does Higher Ed Go from Here?
Keen On | Why American universities need to reinvent themselves in our winner-take-all age of social media and AI
The PhD Life Raft Podcast | The Changing Culture of the University
When Science Speaks | Applying Scientific Insights to Global Challenges
The Thought Stretchers Education Podcast | Science, Truth, And Trust
Times Higher Education | Campus Interview: Dr. Nicholas Dirks
Women in STEM | Tips and Techniques for Early-career Scientists and How to Navigate the Process from Research to Publication
This Anthro Life | Bridging the Gap: Bringing Science to the Public Imagination
Let’s Talk PR & More! | The Importance of Science Communications and Ways to Make Science Topics More Accessible and Attractive to the Public
EdUp Experience | Science for the Public Good
Clearer Thinking | What good is college now that we can learn everything for free on the internet?