Ologies with Alie Ward

Functional Morphology (ANATOMY) Encore with Joy Reidenberg

Mar 5, 2024

01:12:51

Snipd AI

Dr. Joy Reidenberg shares her passion for animal anatomy, from dissecting fish to studying unique adaptations with potential benefits for human health. Hear about whale dissections, the intersection of art and science, and finding fulfillment in a career that feels like play.

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Quick takeaways

Dr. Reidenberg's passion for anatomy began with inspecting roadkill and collecting nature items, sparking her interest in comparative anatomy.

Her research on whales reveals insights into their unique adaptations, like large voice boxes enabling loud sounds and potential medical innovations for human health.

Studying animals' anatomical connections to humans can lead to advancements in technology, such as biomimetic designs inspired by nature for human engineering.

Deep dives

Discovering Functional Morphology through Childhood Curiosity

From a young age, Dr. Joy Reidenberg's curiosity about animals led her to inspect roadkill and collect various nature items, sparking her interest in anatomy. She initially considered a career as a veterinarian but discovered her passion for anatomy during a comparative anatomy course. Her interest in underwater animal sound production led her to study whales, investigating their unique structures and adaptations that could benefit human health.

Introduction

3min

Exploring Childhood Fascination with Animal Anatomy

19min

Exploring Career Paths in Veterinary Science and Anatomy Research

10min

Exploring Animal Adaptations for Human Health Benefits

9min

Whale Intestine Dissection and Professionalism

6min

Whale Dissection Adventures

16min

Exploring the Intersection of Art, Science, and Outreach

12min

Embracing Work as Play and Finding Fulfillment

3min

Ever poked at roadkill? Watched videos of whales exploding? Drooled over a curio cabinet full of claws & bones? Peered into a jar with a pickled toad? Then this one is for you. Whether you’ve heard it before or are new to this classic ep, you’re sure to be delighted by this Ologist’s storytelling. Arguably the world's most famous comparative anatomist (and pretty-much-also functional morphologist) Dr. Joy Reidenberg pulls up a chair at Mt. Sinai Hospital to talk about her fascinating backstory, exploding whales, taxidermied chipmunks, dead toadfish, animal's weird anatomy and its function and how it might help human health. She is absolutely amazing and you will become obsessed with her work.

Dr. Joy Reidenberg on X & Facebook

Browse her publications on ResearchGate

More episode sources & links

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Evolutionary Biology (DARWINISM), Veterinary Biology (CRITTER FIXING), Nassology (TAXIDERMY), Road Ecology (ROAD KILL), Acoustic Ecology (NATURE RECORDINGS), Procyonology (RACCOONS), Lemurology (LEMURS), Delphinology (DOLPHINS), Ichthyology (FISHES), Mammalogy (MAMMALS), Ornithology (BIRDS)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Steven Ray Morris