Podcasts by Scientists not the Science
A podcast about the culture of being a scientist. Winner: Best Interview Podcast at the British Podcast Awards. Dr Stuart Higgins talks to scientists, science communicators, journalists and comedians to find out what it means to be a scientist.
Further podcasts by Stuart Higgins
Podcast on the topic Wissenschaft
All episodes
Ep73: Communicating New Ideas - Michael Levin from 2023-08-23T11:29
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 a...
Listen
Ep72: Update on Scientists not the Science from 2023-08-23T11:24
An update on Scientists not the Science.
Listen
Ep71: Happy (Belated) Birthday (Part 2) from 2020-11-13T09:00
Continuing conversation with Professor Chris Jackson, talking about what I might change in academia, given the power. Full show notes: https://scinotsci.com
Listen
Ep70: Happy (Belated) Birthday (Part 1) from 2020-11-12T09:00
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 though...
Listen
Ep69: Understanding Scientists is Key for Science from 2020-11-11T12:17:20
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:
Listen
Ep68: Aspiring to be a Scientist from 2020-01-06T14:37:47
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. Ful...
Listen
Ep67: Highlights from Season Four from 2019-12-23T10:01:43
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
Listen
Ep66: Notes from a Mental Health Workshop (Bonus Episode) from 2019-05-09T18:00
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
Listen
Ep65: Entrepreneur – David Walt from 2018-12-23T12:31:34
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 s...
Listen
Ep64: Selling to Scientists – Hamid Ghanadan from 2018-12-10T10:35:23
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 scie...
Listen
Ep20: [Rerun] Mind Your Language! from 2018-12-03T08:44:02
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:
Listen
Ep63: Being a Positive Role Model – Chris Jackson from 2018-11-12T09:26:22
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...
Listen
Ep62: Making New Things - Alex Lathbridge from 2018-10-29T11:44:27
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 cre...
Listen
Ep61: From Software Engineer to Scientist – Matt Faria from 2018-10-15T06:39:40
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
Listen
Ep60: Live at the Imperial Festival – Alexandros Kouris (Bonus Episode) from 2018-10-01T07:48:21
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
Listen
Ep59: Live at the Imperial Festival – Ben Britton (Bonus Episode) from 2018-09-17T07:00:36
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:
Listen
Ep58: Live at the Imperial Festival – Sandrine Heutz (Bonus Episode) from 2018-09-02T11:47:46
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:
Listen
Ep57: Live at the Imperial Festival – Emma Chapman (Bonus Episode) from 2018-08-20T13:37:19
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:
Listen
Ep56: Teaching and Researching – Kirsty Shaw from 2018-07-09T08:05:18
Kirsty Shaw is a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University. We talk about teaching students and balancing different roles within academia. Full show notes:
Listen
Ep55: Structural Engineer – Roma Agrawal from 2018-06-25T08:00
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:
Listen
Ep54: Social Media Scientist – Meriame Berboucha from 2018-06-11T08:00
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:
Listen
Ep53: Climate Physicist – Joanna Haigh from 2018-05-28T05:50:40
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://scinotsc...
Listen
Ep52: Medical Doctor, PhD Doctor – Jennifer Gelinas from 2018-05-14T08:00
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:
Listen
Ep51: Highlights from Season Three from 2018-04-30T08:45:05
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
Ep50: Experimental Words (Part 2) from 2017-12-13T08:24:09
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 fir...
Listen
Ep49: Experimental Words (Part 1) from 2017-11-28T14:59:50
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 poe...
Listen
Ep48: Inferior – Angela Saini from 2017-11-12T16:44:45
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:
Listen
Ep47: Chief Scientist of the Nudge Unit – Michael Sanders from 2017-10-31T10:08:31
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 labe...
Listen
Ep46: Technicians Make It Happen from 2017-10-21T14:13:22
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:
Listen
Ep45: The Recovering Physicist – Martin Zaltz Austwick from 2017-09-25T20:36:41
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-...
Listen
Ep34: [Rerun] Feeling Like an Imposter at Work? from 2017-08-28T08:00
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 P...
Listen
Ep08: [Rerun] Professorship – Chris Hunter from 2017-08-14T08:00
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 ...
Listen
Ep44: It’s All in the Edit – Miriam Frankel and Stephen Harris from 2017-07-31T21:09:05
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 f...
Listen
Ep43: Death of the One-Sided Scientist – Roberto Trotta from 2017-07-16T14:45:18
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 s...
Listen
Ep42: Your Child is a Scientist – Carole Kenrick from 2017-07-04T09:00:11
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:
Listen
Ep41: Managing a Lab and TheScienceShed – Steven Lee and Nick Evans from 2017-06-18T15:24:21
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 ...
Listen
Ep40: Senior Editor – Luigi Martiradonna (Part 2) from 2017-06-05T10:50:19
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...
Listen
Ep39: Senior Editor – Luigi Martiradonna (Part 1) from 2017-05-24T07:28:23
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 respo...
Listen
Ep38: Culture and Science – Robin Ince from 2017-05-07T16:04:05
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 a...
Listen
Ep37: Hybrid Scientist and Engineer – Alon Gorodetsky from 2017-04-28T08:26:33
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:
Listen
Ep36: Highlights from Season Two from 2017-04-07T09:44:43
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:
Listen
Ep35: All Change Please! (Bonus Episode) from 2017-01-03T20:18:45
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:
Listen
Ep34: Feeling Like an Imposter at Work? from 2016-08-10T06:23:06
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...
Listen
Ep33: Are Scientists Like Comedians? – Stuart Goldsmith from 2016-07-25T19:08:50
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:
Listen
Ep32: A Matrix for Life – Kristi Anseth (Bonus Episode) from 2016-07-19T00:00
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:
Listen
Ep31: How to Be a Strategic Academic – Shelda Debowski from 2016-07-11T13:11:23
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. Ful...
Listen
Ep30: What’s a Postdoc? – Joy Warde from 2016-06-25T21:20:33
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:
Listen
Ep29: Having a Family in Science – Emma Chapman from 2016-05-04T22:06:50
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:
Listen
Ep28: Women in Science – Athene Donald from 2016-04-18T02:00
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 fr...
Listen
Ep27: Science Jokes – Helen Arney from 2016-04-05T11:45:20
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 sh...
Listen
Ep26: Success: is it all in the mind? (Part 3) (Bonus Episode) from 2016-03-21T19:59:42
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:
Listen
Ep25: Success: is it all in the mind? (Part 2) (Bonus Episode) from 2016-03-21T19:47:40
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:
Listen
Ep24: Success: is it all in the mind? (Part 1) (Bonus Episode) from 2016-03-21T19:38:51
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...
Listen
Ep23: Scientists on the Radio (Part 2) – Gareth Mitchell from 2016-03-07T08:10:44
Gareth Mitchell is both a lecturer in science communication at Imperial College London and also a journalist at the BBC. In part 2 of this interview we talk about Gareth’s route from electrical and...
Listen
Ep22: Scientists on the Radio (Part 1) – Gareth Mitchell from 2016-02-22T23:28:04
Gareth Mitchell is a lecturer in science communication at Imperial College London and a BBC journalist. In part 1 we talk about how scientists end up on the radio, and Gareth’s reflections on the s...
Listen
Ep21: Reaching Out from 2016-02-16T08:27:35
There are many ways scientists connect with outside world. This episode looks at three different types of public engagement: directly to schools, at public festivals, and in the pub. Full show notes:
Listen
Ep20: Mind Your Language! from 2016-02-02T18:46:56
English is the language of science, but for most people it’s not their native language. What’s it like working in science and academia, in a foreign language? Full show notes:
Listen
Ep19: Highlights from Season One from 2016-01-19T00:46:19
Compilation episode featuring my favourite responses and anecdotes from season one of Scientists not the Science, and a taste of what’s to come in season two.
Listen
Ep18: Light On The Nanoscale – Anna Lombardi (Bonus Episode) from 2015-12-14T13:10:06
Bonus episode: sixth in a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in physics. For more profiles visit:
Listen
Ep17: Quantum Alchemy – Suchitra Sebastian (Bonus Episode) from 2015-12-06T23:03:52
Bonus episode: fifth in a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in physics. For more profiles visit:
Listen
Ep16: Understanding the Universe – Giovanna Cottin (Bonus Episode) from 2015-11-28T13:12:40
Bonus episode: fourth in a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in physics. For more profiles visit:
Listen
Ep15: A Million Billion Photographs - Jasmine Rivett (Bonus Episode) from 2015-11-04T00:08:09
Bonus episode: third in a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in physics. For more profiles visit:
Listen
Ep14: Physics Matters - Susan Haines (Bonus Episode) from 2015-10-19T22:43:37
Bonus episode: second in a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in physics. For more profiles visit:
Listen
Ep13: DNA Origami - Kerstin Göpfrich (Bonus Episode) from 2015-10-11T17:07:07
Bonus episode: first in a series of short interviews recorded with Cavendish Inspiring Women, a group promoting the visibility of women working in physics. For more profiles visit: http://cavinspir...
Listen
Ep12: Physicist in a Chemists’ World - Silvia Vignolini from 2015-08-06T09:33:59
Dr Silvia Vignolini is a lecturer in the chemistry of materials at the University of Cambridge. She shares her experience of lecturing undergraduates, leading researchers, and sharing her research ...
Listen
Ep11: Supersonic Curiosity - James Threadgill from 2015-06-25T11:39:30
James Threadgill plays with supersonic wind and left his industry job to further his love of learning and understanding. He shares his drive for research, and reflections on choosing and pursuing a...
Listen
Ep10: Science on a Mountaintop - Hannah Stern from 2015-06-10T19:15:56
Hannah Stern works with lasers. Really fast lasers. She was inspired to apply for a PhD at the University of Cambridge, thanks to a chance encounter with an academic, high in the mountains on New Z...
Listen
Ep09: Dancing to Doctor - Francesca Boughey from 2015-05-25T16:24:50
Francesca Boughey is a PhD student at the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge. She talks about what it was like moving from ballet to science, and about witn...
Listen
Ep08: Professorship - Chris Hunter from 2015-04-27T08:00
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 fro...
Listen
Ep07: Close Shave - Daniel Sutton from 2015-04-13T08:00
Dr Daniel Sutton is a tribologist at the University of Southampton. He doesn't study tribes. I find out what it’s like being a post-doctoral researcher working at the cutting edge of science, and a...
Listen
Ep06: Senior Lecturer - Matt Fuchter from 2015-03-30T08:00
Dr Matt Fuchter is a senior lecturer in synthetic and medicinal chemistry at Imperial College London. We talk about what is a senior lecturer? What is his role as a PhD supervisor? And much more.
Listen
Ep05: Engaging Audiences - Steve Cross from 2015-03-16T08:00
Dr Steve Cross is head of public engagement at UCL in London, and a science communicator extraordinaire. We talk about public engagement, the open mic nights he has founded (Bright Club, Science Sh...
Listen
Ep04: Industry to Academia - Christian Clear from 2015-03-02T09:00
Christian Clear has just started a physics PhD after working for a number of years in industry. We talk about how his prior experience impacts his work ethic, and what it’s like to be effectively s...
Listen
Ep03: Public Good - Alexandra Rolland from 2015-02-16T09:00
Alexandra Rolland is an epidemiologist working for Public Health England, studying the impact of HIV across the UK. We talk about how she balances data collection and privacy protection as well as ...
Listen
Ep02: In Theory - Florian Steiner from 2015-02-02T18:35:46
Florian Steiner is a theoretical physicist at Imperial College London who does calculations to make better solar cells. I discover who his influences are, what it's like working in a foreign langua...
Listen
Ep01: Academia to Industry - Roland Piper from 2015-02-02T18:11:15
In this first episode I talk to Dr Roland Piper, a physicist who has recently moved from the academic to industrial world. I find out about his experiences in both, and whether PhD students would b...
Listen
Ep00: Introducing Scientists not the Science from 2015-01-31T22:48:58
Scientists not the Science is a new podcast about the people working in science. In each episode I interview a new guest connected to this world and learn about their experiences and thoughts.
Listen