Dr. Ginger Campbell's Blog and Podcasts

Brain Science Podcast #59: Guy Caldwell, PhD on C. elegans

docartemis — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:46:28 +0000

Episode 59 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Dr. Guy Caldwell who is a molecular biologist at the University of Alabama. Since moving to Alabama ten years ago he has done groundbreaking work in applying the green florescent protein techniques developed by his mentor, Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie to the study of dopamine neurons in the tiny worm C. elegans. In this interview Dr. Campbell and Dr. Caldwell discuss the growing role of molecular biology as a tool in neuroscience. Dr. Caldwell explains why he thinks there is a good chance that a cure for Parkinson’s Disease will be found within the next 10 years.

This interview also contains practical information for students interested in pursuing a career in science.

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Announcements:

Dr. Campbell is the guest speaker at the July 18 meeting of Skeptics in the Pub in Atlanta, Georgia: http://ow.ly/fh2y
Dr. Campbell was interviewed on Episode 96 of Brains Matter.
Transcripts are now available for all past episodes of the Brain Science Podcast at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/.
Please join our new Brain Science Podcast Fan Pageon Facebook.
Donations of $25 or more qualify you for the new monthly book give away.

Learn more at http://brainsciencepodcast.com or send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac.com.

Schedule Announcement for Books and Ideas Podcast

docartemis — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:49:24 +0000

I have just posted a brief announcement in the feed for my Books and Ideas podcast. I have decided to take a break for the rest of the summer.

This will allow me to catch up on some professional activities (re-certifying my ACLS and ATLS) and perhaps get some other new projects off the ground. I have several great guests lined up and intend to post the next new episode at the end of September, 2009.

docartemis — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:00:33 +0000

Episode 58 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with philosopher Alva Noë, whose book Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness argues persuasively that our Minds are MORE than just our brains. He says that “the brain is necessary but not sufficient” to create the mind. Read more…

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Books and Ideas Podcast #29: Dr. Robert Martensen Returns

docartemis — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:00:15 +0000

In Episode 29 of Books and Ideas Robert Martensen, MD returns to talk about his book A Life Worth Living: A Doctor’s Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era. Last month we talked about Dr. Martensen’s career as both an emergency physician and as an historian. This month we concentrate on the issues facing patients with life threatening illnesses, including making decisions about end of life care. Dr. Martensen and I agree that the American emphasis on high tech care tends to ignore the needs of people in these situations. We discuss the importance of better communication between physicians and patients as well as the need for fundamental changes in our system.

Listen to Episode 29 of Books and Ideas

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This episode includes a short promo for Nina Kimberly the Merciless by Christiana Ellis. You can learn more about Christiana’s work at http://ninakimberly.com.

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com or join the Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com

Brain Science Podcast #57: Chris Frith, PhD

docartemis — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:14:03 +0000

Episode 57 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with neuropsychologist Dr. Chris Frith, author of Making up the Mind: How the Brain Creates Our Mental World. Our brain processes information about the world outside us (via our senses) in the same way that it processes information from within our bodies and from our own mental world. In this interview Dr. Frith and I explore the implications from recent discoveries about how our brain generates our mental world.

Listen to Episode 57

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For detailed show notes and links go to http://brainsciencepodcast.com.

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac.com or join the Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com.

Books and Ideas #28: Interview with Robert Martensen, MD

docartemis — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:09:29 +0000

Books and Ideas #28 is an interview with Robert Martensen, MD, author of A Life Worth Living: A Doctor’s Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era. Dr. Martensen worked for 25 years as an emergency physician, but about mid-way through his career he went to graduate school and earned a PhD in history, while continuing to work in the ER at night and on weekends. He is now the Director of the NIH Office of History.

This interview is actually the first of two parts. In this first part we talked about Dr. Martensen’s career and we also reflected briefly on the history of emergency medicine in the United States. Dr. Martensen also explained the purpose fo the NIH Office of History and described its current and upcoming projects. When Dr. Martensen returns (hopefully next month) we will discuss his book A Life Worth Living: A Doctor’s Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era.

Listen to Dr. Martensen’s Interview

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Brain Science Podcast #56: Interview with Eve Marder, PhD

docartemis — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:23:25 +0000

Episode 56 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with neuroscientist, Eve Marder, PhD. Dr. Marder has spent 35 years studying the somatogastric ganglion of the lobster. In this interview we talk about how she got into neuroscience during its early days, her recent tenure as president of the Society for Neuroscience, and how some of her key discoveries have implications for studying more complex nervous systems.

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Episode Transcript (coming soon)

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Books and Ideas Podcast #27: Jennifer Michael Hecht

docartemis — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:15:23 +0000

Episode 27 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson and The Happiness Myth. As a poet and historian Hecht brings a unique perspective to her examination of the role of science in modern society. She also shares how writing Doubt changed her attitude toward religion.

I have wanted to interview Jennifer for several years so I was very grateful that my recent appearance on Point of Inquiry led to this conversation. Hecht earned her PhD in the History of Science and while Doubt was an examination of the history of belief (and non-belief), she said that The Happiness Myth shares key ideas from the history of science. Hecht argues convincingly that the arrogance of modern science can not be justified, because history shows how much science, despite its best efforts, is always influenced by the cultural fads of its time. She feels that this knowledge could free us from unnecessary guilt, but that it should also motivate us to question our priorities (such as placing so much emphasis on long life instead of the quality of life).

You won’t want to miss this thought-provoking conversation.

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Brain Science Podcast #55: Patricia Churchland

docartemis — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:08:40 +0000

Episode 55 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with highly respected philosopher Patricia Churchland. Churchland is the author of Neurophilosophy and Brain. She is currently on the faculty of the University of California at San Diego and she was a featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in 2008.

In this interview we talked about neurophilosophy, which is an approach to philosophy of mind that gives high priority to incorporating the empiric findings of neuroscience. We also talk about the evolving relationship between philosophy and neuroscience. Churchland shares her enthusiasm for how the discoveries of neuroscience are changing the way we see ourselves as human beings. We also talked a little about the issues of reductionism that I first brought up in Episode 53.

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Books and Ideas #26: “Grave Expectations”

docartemis — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:12:28 +0000

Episode 26 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Sue Bailey and Carmen Flowers, the authors of Grave Expectations: Planning the End Like There’s No Tomorrow. This book helps readers to plan for their funeral or memorial service. While this might seem like a strange idea Flowers and and Bailey explain that this can actually be a wonderful gift to leave for one’s family and loved ones.

In this interview Bailey and Flowers share the personal experiences that led them to write this unusual book and they explain why they wrote it in an overtly humorous style. This interview will help listeners see death and funeral planning in a new way.

Listen Now

Episode Transcript (Download PDF)

Carmen Flowers and Sue Bailey

http://graveexpectations.net/

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