Science Wise

DESCRIPTION: 

Wrapping up Season 2, Drs. Rori Rohlfs and Emilia Huerta-Sanchez return with a special twist: this episode is driven by your questions—and answered by the inspiring scientists we’ve featured all season.

This finale isn’t just a look back—it’s a conversation shaped by curiosity. With insights from guests like Dr. Joann Trejo, Dr. Lisa White, Dr. Maria Orive, and more, Rori and Emilia dive into what it takes to thrive in science. They go beyond the lab, from missed opportunities and navigating stereotypes to building resilience and finding unexpected breakthroughs.

A big thank-you to the Science-Wise community for listening, questioning, and growing with us this season! Please let us know what you thought of seasons one and two in the reviews, we’d love to know. 

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:31 Highlighting Our Esteemed Guest

02:35 Listener Questions: Biggest Failures

05:59 Facing Stereotypes in Science

14:49 Support from Science Mentors

17:20 Dealing with Toxic Work Environments

24:00 Unexpected Career Flukes

27:56 Wrapping Up Season Two

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Sound Engineering, Keagan Stromberg. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. The hosts of Science Wise are Emilia Huerta-Sanchez and Rori Rohlfs. This is a Diferente Creative production.

Emilia and Rori sit in-studio with Dr. Anne Stone to discuss how scientists can succeed without having all the answers. They share three big takeaways—from handling disagreements in research, to choosing the right path for your work, and why coding skills still matter. It’s helpful advice for scientists at any stage of their career.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:39 – Lesson 1: Resolving disagreement by citing authoritative sources

02:21 – Lesson 2: Balancing interest, opportunity, and strategy in research choices

03:44 – Lesson 3: Why every scientist should learn to code — even if you won’t master it

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. The hosts of Science Wise are Emilia Huerta-Sanchez and Rori Rohlfs. This is a Diferente Creative Production.

DESCRIPTION:

Dr. Anne Stone joins Emilia and Rori for an in-person conversation, sharing her journey into the world of ancient DNA and human evolution. Dr. Anne, a Regents Professor at Arizona State University, shares how her childhood curiosity led to a career studying ancient DNA and human evolution. Dr. Stone reflects on her early life, time studying in Germany, and education at Penn State. She talks about her research on ancient diseases like tuberculosis, her work in forensic genetics, and the challenges she faced along the way.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

02:10 – Early life and family

05:57 – Academic path and early interests

09:40 – Grad school and first research projects

17:05 – Starting her career

18:18 – Research ideas and teamwork

19:40 – Challenges with ancient DNA

20:21 – Becoming a professor

23:08 – Studying tuberculosis

29:14 – Forensic genetics work

33:20 – Final thoughts and future plans

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Sound Engineering, Keagan Stromberg. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. The hosts of Science Wise are Emilia Huerta-Sanchez and Rori Rohlfs. This is a Diferente Creative production.

Rori and Emilia discuss key lessons from their conversation with Dr. Dawn Wright, an accomplished oceanographer known for her remarkable achievements and approachable demeanor. They delve into the importance of being open to new experiences, seeking regular feedback from advisors, and staying flexible with one's career path. They also reflect on Dr. Wright's bold decisions, such as leaving tenure, and her enthusiasm for sharing science with the world.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:31 Lesson 1: Embrace New Experiences

01:45 Family Influence and Inspiration

02:42 Personal Reflections and Support

04:02 Lesson 2: Seek Regular Feedback

05:46 Dr. Wright’s Vision and Flexibility

07:08 Lesson 3: Keep your eye on your vision, and be flexible about your specific next steps

08:23 Bold Career Moves

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. A Diferente Creative Production. Special thanks to Dr. Dawn Wright.

Emilia and Rori chat with Dr. Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist of Esri and former faculty at Oregon State University, about her incredible journey in marine geology. Dr. Wright shares her experiences growing up under the influence of an ambitious mother, her challenges and milestones in academia, and her groundbreaking research adventures. Her stories encapsulate her dive into the Challenger Deep, overcoming academic obstacles, and exemplary mentorship. Dr. Wright also discusses self-care and balancing personal and professional ambitions.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:26 Meet Dr. Dawn Wright: Marine Geologist Extraordinaire

01:52 Dr. Wright’s Early Life and Influences

05:19 Adventures in Hawai’i and Early Ocean Fascination

09:47 Transition to Maryland and Academic Pursuits

12:33 College Choices and Mentorship

14:29 Graduate Studies and Challenges

17:26 Entering the Field of Oceanography

18:42 Switching Advisors and Finding Mentors

21:50 Completing the Thesis Against the Odds

24:38 Becoming a Marine Technician

28:18 Exploring the Deep Sea

32:38 Reflections and Career Advice

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Sound Engineering, Keagan Stromberg. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. The hosts of Science Wise are Emilia Huerta-Sanchez and Rori Rohlfs. This is a Diferente Creative production.

Note: This episode includes discussions on sexual harassment.

Join Rori and Emilia as they discuss key insights from their interview with Dr. Pilar Ossorio. They focus on her strategies for dealing with harassment and her bold career change from molecular biology to bioethics. Pilar's proactive approach to harassment and her career shift offer key lessons. They also discuss her important work on race and ethnicity in scientific research, showing how these categories can vary depending on context.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:32 Confronting Harassment: Dr. Pilar Ossorio's Strategy

03:07 Lessons on Handling Harassment

04:12 Embracing Change in Career Paths

05:45 Dr. Ossorio's Work on Race and Ethnicity in Science

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. A Diferente Creative Production. Special thanks to Dr. Pilar Ossorio

Note: This episode includes discussions on sexual harassment.

Hosts Rori and Emilia talk with Dr. Pilar Ossorio, a University of Wisconsin Madison law professor, to dive into her unique journey through human genetics, law, and bioethics. Dr. Ossorio, also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, opens up about growing up in an academic and diverse family, overcoming misogyny and prejudice, and her shift from microbiology to law. She shares her work on major genetic projects like the 1000 Genomes Project, her advocacy against sexual harassment, and her contributions to bioethics.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:35 Introducing Dr. Pilar Ossorio

02:02 Pilar's Upbringing and Family Background

07:35 Academic Journey: From Rural Colorado to Stanford

11:59 Graduate School Challenges and Activism

24:59 Transition to Bioethics and Law

38:17 Current Projects and Future Focus

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Sound Engineering by Keagan Stromberg. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. A Diferente Creative Production. Special thanks to Dr. Pilar Ossorio

Emilia & Rori reflect on Dr. Wakimoto’s journey—from science fairs to academic service—discussing the impact of first authorship, challenges for first-gen students, and the importance of protecting students' time.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:38 Lessons on protecting the environment

01:35 The importance of first authorship

05:49 Reflecting on academic service

09:21 Discussing Dr. Wakimoto’s thoughts on retirement

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. The hosts of Science Wise are Emilia Huerta-Sanchez and Rori Rohlfs. This is a Diferente Creative production.

Rori and Emilia chat with Dr. Barbara Wakimoto, geneticist, and Professor Emerita at the University of Washington. Dr. Wakimoto shares her journey from growing up on an Arizona farm to becoming a leader in genetics, her family’s World War II internment experience, and her pioneering work on heterochromatin.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

02:03 Dr. Wakimoto's Early Life and Family Background

22:17 Diving into the Science

24:58 Building a Supportive Lab Environment

25:27 The Journey to Tenure

29:17 Balancing Service and Research

39:03 Reflections on Retirement

40:31 Revise and Resubmit: Career Reflections

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. The hosts of Science Wise are Emilia Huerta-Sanchez and Rori Rohlfs. This is a Diferente Creative production.

Listen in as the hosts explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen, a trailblazing gay two-spirit computational chemist, whose career spans from the post-Stonewall era of the 1970s to today. The hosts delve into Dr. Ondrechen’s innovative approaches to building connections in a challenging and often hostile environment. They also discuss the detrimental effects of poor leadership on both morale and progress, and the critical importance of resilience, self-belief, and finding alternative paths during difficult times. The episode highlights the power of community, meaningful connections, and knowledge sharing in overcoming adversity and achieving success.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:31 Surviving in an Adversarial Environment

01:00 The Impact of Leadership on Progress

03:11 Navigating Bad Leadership

05:27 Believing in Yourself Through Difficult Times

06:38 Conclusion and Gratitude

CREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. A Diferente Creative Production. Special thanks to Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen.