I recently attended a large synthetic biology conference. Pam Ronald, a renowned plant pathologist who is also known for being outspoken about genetic engineering gave one of the keynote addresses. As one of the few people from a plant biology background in the room, what happened afterwards surprised me. Dr. Ronald’s talk focused on the... Continue Reading →

My mom sent me an article claiming artificial sweeteners cause cancer. I unpacked the science behind that claim.

The Conversation is a non-profit organization that helps academics write news articles. Writing about your research for The Conversation is a no-brainer. It’s relatively easy to do, helps non-scientists appreciate your research, and brings your publications to the attention of other scientists.

The AAAS Mass Media Fellowship places scientists in newsrooms for 10 weeks. Every grad student/postdoc should consider applying.

Media coverage of your publications will increase readership among scientists and enlighten non-scientists about the value of the work you do. Only a minority of publications catch the attention of the press, but there are steps you an take to put your work in the spotlight. 

We’ve been hearing a lot about declining bee populations. As scientists, we’re concerned about our pollinator friends. So we interviewed 8 entomologists, bee-keepers, and other pollinator experts to cut through the buzz about bees.

This video provides a simple explanation of how GMOs are made and puts them into the context of natural genetic variations.

Gluten-free diets are all the rage. I mean, if your yogurt label says ‘gluten-free’ then gluten must be bad right? But wait, what about those recent headlines claiming there’s arsenic in gluten-free foods? Is it safe to eat literally anything?