Science’s Blind Spots - a podcast by PRX

from 2015-05-14T18:51:49

:: ::

One of the things we assign to science is that there are true, absolute facts. But scientists are human and, it turns out, as prone to blind spots in their thinking as the rest of us, especially when cultural assumptions and biases get in the way.






Emily Martin


& Richard Cone



In this episode, biologist Christina Agapakis explores ways these blind spots, especially around gender and sexism, have affected research and women’s careers in science. She talks with one of her heroes, anthropologist Emily Martin, and her husband, biophysicist Richard Cone, about Emily’s 1991 article “The Egg & The Sperm.” Reading that article about the ways cultural romantic assumptions limited scientists’ understanding of human reproduction was a turning point for Christina as a young scientist who considered her feminism as something separate from science.






Kate Clancy



She also talks with anthropologist Kate Clancy who has spent a lot of time thinking and writing about the ways women’s careers in science are different from men’s. Kate offers some thoughts on what science needs to consider to truly bring in more underrepresented voices and perspectives. New perspectives and voices in science may be key to science seeing blind spots for the first time.



Episode Extras — Your Transistor producers have picked out some further reading on this topic and how it affects both men and women:





This episode was produced by Kerry Donahue and Sruthi Pinnamaneni, and mixed by David Herman.



Music Credits:


Hauschka: “Cube” from Salon des amateurs


Anna Meredith: “Bubble Gun” from Jet Black Raider


Four Tet: “As Serious As Your Life” from Rounds


Not Waving: “Two-Way Mirror” from Intercepts


Laurie Spiegel: “Patchwork” from The Expanding Universe

Further episodes of Transistor

Further podcasts by PRX

Website of PRX