Nature Podcast

REBROADCAST: Politics of the life scientific

Nov 2, 2024

Shobita Parthasarathy, a researcher in science and policy, and Mayana Zatz, a geneticist from São Paulo, delve into the intricate dance between politics and scientific research. They discuss how political decisions directly impact funding for research, revealing alarming threats to science in Brazil. The conversation also covers the chilling effects of policies like the Dickey Amendment on gun violence studies. Together, they highlight systemic inequities within the scientific community, stressing the importance of diverse perspectives in fostering objective inquiry.

24:42

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Episode guests

Mayana Zatz

Shobita Parthasarathy

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Political influences critically shape the direction and funding of scientific research, often compelling scientists to alter their inquiries to secure grants.

Systemic inequities in funding opportunities exacerbate discrimination against marginalized researchers, impacting representation and the integrity of research outcomes.

Deep dives

The Interplay of Science and Politics

Politics significantly influences scientific research, affecting funding priorities and the questions scientists can pursue. Researchers often find themselves navigating a landscape where political interests dictate the availability of grants and sponsorships, which can profoundly impact their work. In Brazil, for instance, a proposed bill seeking to reduce research funding from Sao Paulo State threatens to disrupt ongoing projects and discourage young scientists from continuing their research careers. This scenario illustrates how political decisions can harm the integrity of scientific inquiry and shape the future of research directly.

Intro

2min

The Politics of Science Funding

11min

The Impact of the Dickey Amendment on Gun Violence Research

5min

The Intersection of Science and Political Agendas

2min

Inequities in Scientific Leadership

4min

Understanding Systemic Influences in Scientific Decision-Making

2min

This series was originally broadcast in 2020.

Science and politics are not easy bedfellows - "Stick to the science" is a three part series which aims to find out why.

In this episode we're asking how politics shapes the life of a working scientist. Be it through funding agendas, cultural lobbies or personal bias, there's a myriad of ways in which politics can shape the game; influencing the direction and quality of research, But what does this mean for the objective ideals of science?

This episode was produced by Nick Petrić Howe, with editing from Noah Baker and Benjamin Thompson. it featured contributions from many people, including: Mayana Zatz, Shobita Parthasarathy, Michael Erard, Peg AtKisson, Susannah Gal, Allen Rostron, Mark Rosenberg, and Alice Bell.

Further Reading

Brazil’s budget cuts threaten more than 80,000 science scholarships

Move to reallocate funds from scientific institutions in São Paulo

Backlash to “Shrimps on a treadmill”

Explanation of the Dickey Amendment

After over 20 years the CDC can now fund gun violence research

Spirometer use “race-correction” software

Black researchers less likely to get funding from the National Institutes of Health in the US

Black researchers may get less funding from the National Institutes of Health due to topic choice

Black researchers fill fewer academic roles in the UK

Clinical trials use mostly white participants

The Received Wisdom Podcast, with Shobita Parthasarathy