Scientists, Society, and Responsibilities

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This chapter explores the historical actions of scientists under oppressive regimes, particularly during the Nazi era, and draws connections to current social issues like climate change. It highlights the pressures faced by today's scientists, including those related to publishing and conflicts of interest within pharmaceutical research, while advocating for a healthier academic environment. The discussion also addresses societal attitudes towards parenthood and declining fertility rates, emphasizing the importance of understanding these trends as social choices rather than mere technological advancements.

Philip Ball is an award-winning science writer who has penned over 30 books on a dizzying variety of subjects. Holding degrees in chemistry from Oxford and physics from the University of Bristol, Ball's multidisciplinary background underpins his versatility. As a former editor at Nature for two decades and a regular contributor to a range of publications and broadcast outlets, Ball's work exemplifies the rare combination of scientific depth and accessibility, cementing his reputation as a premier science communicator.

Tyler and Philip discuss how well scientists have stood up to power historically, the problematic pressures scientists feel within academia today, artificial wombs and the fertility crisis, the price of invisibility, the terrifying nature of outer space and Gothic cathedrals, the role Christianity played in the Scientific Revolution, what current myths may stick around forever, whether cells can be thought of as doing computation, the limitations of The Selfish Gene, whether the free energy principle can be usefully applied, the problem of microplastics gathering in testicles and other places, progress in science, his favorite science fiction, how to follow in his footsteps, and more.

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Recorded May 22nd, 2024.

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