Best Biotechnology Focus Podcasts (2024)

1
Existential Hope: Hannu Rajaniemi 52:55

1h ago52:55

52:55

Speaker Hannu Rajaniemi is a Finnish American author of science fiction and fantasy, who writes in both English and Finnish. He lives in Oakland, California, and was a founding director of a commercial research organisation ThinkTank Maths. Episode Perhaps most famously known for his 2010 release, The Quantum Thief, Rajaniemi is settled firmly in b…

1
Allison Duettmann | On Existential Hope & Existential Risk | Xhope Worldbuilding Course 9:55

7d ago9:55

9:55

Speaker Allison Duettmann is the president and CEO of Foresight Institute. She founded Existentialhope.com, co-edited Superintelligence: Coordination & Strategy, co-authored Gaming the Future, and co-initiated The Longevity Prize. She advises companies and projects, such as Cosmica, and The Roots of Progress Fellowship, and is on the Executive Comm…

1
Jeff Sebo | Investigating Digital Minds 55:34

14d ago55:34

55:34

Jeff Sebo is an American philosopher. He is a clinical associate professor of environmental studies, director of the animal studies MA program, and affiliated professor of bioethics, medical ethics, and philosophy at New York University. Summary In this episode, Jeff discusses the consciousness, sentience, agency, and moral and legal status of non-…

1
Jules Hedges | Compositional Game Theory – Towards Incentives Modelling at Scale 51:07

21d ago51:07

51:07

Jules Hedges is a mathematician and computer scientist who was a pioneer of the recently developed field of applied category theory. He is a co-founder of the Institute for Categorical Cybernetics (https://cybercat.institute), a nonprofit organization for research and open-source software development, and 20squares (https://20squares.xyz/), a start…

1
Existential Hope Special: David Pearce | A future without suffering 1:02:34

29d ago1:02:34

1:02:34

This month, we talk to David Pearce, a thought leader who is always pushing the boundaries of human potential. Pearce, a philosopher and bioethicist, is best known for his advocacy of transhumanism – the movement that seeks to enhance human capabilities through technology. We'll explore his ideas on overcoming aging, achieving radical life extensio…

1
Sumner Norman | Neurotech for Mental Health 52:14

1M ago52:14

52:14

Sumner Norman is a pioneering figure at the nexus of neuroscience, engineering, and impact-driven entrepreneurship. His research in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is forging new paths in neurotechnology to transform the lives of those with neurological injuries or diseases. Sumner is the co-founder and CEO of Forest Neurotech, a non-profit “focus…

1
Trent McConaghy | A Solarpunk Vision from AI, Web3 & BCI 28:25

1M ago28:25

28:25

Trent McConaghy is the Founder and CTO of Ocean Protocol and BigchainDB, specializing in AI and blockchain technology to democratize data and AI. His work includes advancing decentralized data solutions and ensuring equitable access to AI technologies. McConaghy also contributes to the IPDB Foundation and advises the Estonian E-residency program Ke…

1
Vision Weekend France: Biotech Panel 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

t Panellists: Alex Fedintsev, Leon Peshkin, Yuri Deigin, and Aleksandra Singer. Recorded at Vision Weekend France 2023. Key Highlights They discussed the field's growth in public acceptance and funding over the past five years – they noted that, whilst reprogramming and longevity research are advancing, overall outcomes in the field haven't been as…

1
Vision Weekend France: Energy and Space Panel 39:23

2M ago39:23

39:23

Panellists: Andre Losekrug, Michael Gibson, Anders Sandberg, and Robin Hanson. Recorded at Vision Weekend France 2023. Energy Key Highlights: Excitement about energy advancements, specifically in the field of fusion. This could lead to an increased focus on policy changes to address climate change and the building of reactors. The growing entrepren…

1
Existential Hope: Danielle Strachman | Education, Agency, and the Ability to Experiment 49:55

2M ago49:55

49:55

Danielle Strachman is a cofounder and general partner of 1517. She has worked with young entrepreneurs for about a decade. In 2010, during the founding of the Thiel Fellowship, Danielle joined to lead the design and operations. She's worked with some of the most prestigious founders, such as Vitalik Buterin and Ritesh Agarwal. Previous to her work …

1
Vision Weekend France: Intelligent Cooperation Panel 39:52

2M ago39:52

39:52

Panellists: Divya Siddarth, Jonathan Prasserat-Palmbach, Lewis Hammond, Primavera De Filippi, Stuart Armstrong, and Trent Mcconaghy. Recorded at Vision Weekend France 2023. Key Highlights Panellists discussed the potential development of intelligent cooperation between humans and AI, focusing on secure collaboration and cryptography methods. Concer…

1
The Art and Science of Cider Making - A Discussion with Dr. Greg Peck 41:51

3M ago41:51

41:51

Embark on an intoxicating voyage through the storied groves of apple history and the intricate science of cider with Dr. Greg Peck from Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science. Prepare your palate for a revelation as we uncover why cider apples bear little resemblance to their grocery store relatives, and how a symphony of tannins, sugars, an…

1
Vision Weekend France: Neuotech Panel 40:55

3M ago40:55

40:55

Panellists: Anders Sandberg, Bradley Love, Robin Hanson, Brett Kagan Recorded at Vision Weekend France 2023. Key Highlights The panel explored how brain emulation is increasingly becoming a viable possibility with technological advancements. They discussed the availability of tools that help understand the neurochemistry and biology of cells, which…

1
Vision Weekend France: Molecular Machines Panel 35:29

3M ago35:29

35:29

Panellists: Alexis Courbet, Erik Benson, Stephane Redon, Dean Thomas. Recorded at Vision Weekend France. Key Highlights The panel discusses molecular nanotechnology and the potential for compact machines to replace industrial facilities. They discuss advances in the field, which include protein design, protein folding, and dynamic structures that r…

1
Existential Hope: Gus Docker | Beyond Survival 47:11

3M ago47:11

47:11

Gus Docker hosts The Future of Life Institute podcast, which features conversations with prominent researchers, policy experts, philosophers, and influential thinkers of all kinds. Gus studied philosophy and computer science at the University of Copenhagen and is active in Effective Altruism Denmark. Despite the ongoing threat of existential risks …

1
Cultivating Futures: A Discussion with New Podcast Co-Host Curt Rom 15:21

3M ago15:21

15:21

We usher in a new era of the Plants People Science podcast with Curt Rom of the University of Arkansas joining Sam Humphrey as a Co-Host for Season 2. Rom's wealth of knowledge, from his roots as an undergraduate research assistant to his career in teaching and research, is set to invigorate our discussions with fresh insights. This episode introdu…

1
Dr. Scott Hubbard | Exploring Mars: Following the Water 1:00:18

4M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Dr. Scott Hubbard has been a leader in space exploration for almost 50 years. His career includes a National Lab, a start-up venture, NASA, and Stanford. At NASA, Dr. Hubbard is best known as Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, the first Mars Program Director (aka the "Mars Czar"), and the founder of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. Key Highligh…

1
Mark Hamalainen | A Coherent, Executable Plan to Achieve Unlimited Healthy Lifespan 51:02

4M ago51:02

51:02

Mark Hamalainen is cofounder of the Longevity Biotech Fellowship. His career has progressed from manual bench work in academia, to lab automation at Synthego, to longevity movement building - always seeking better methods and higher leverage ways to accelerate progress. He shares an actionable roadmap for an unlimited healthy lifespan, divided into…

1
Existential Hope Podcast: Jason Crawford | Progress: An Ever-Evolving Journey 49:51

4M ago49:51

49:51

Jason Crawford is the founder of The Roots of Progress, where he writes and speaks about the history of technology and the philosophy of progress. Previously, he spent 18 years as a software engineer, engineering manager, and startup founder. Session Summary: Jason envisages a future marked by dynamic, continuous progress, encapsulated in the conce…

1
Casey Handmer | Why Mars is Hard 49:18

4M ago49:18

49:18

Casey Handmer is the founder of Terraform Industries, a company dedicated to gigascale atmospheric hydrocarbon synthesis. His method of creating hydrocarbons promises to be a cheaper and cleaner alternative to traditional oil wells. Known for his work as an astrophysicist, innovator, and Mars aficionado, Casey is eager to guide us through the intri…

1
Matjaz Leonardis | Interpretability and Security of AI Models 9:28

5M ago9:28

9:28

Matjaž Leonardis, in collaboration with David Deutsch at the University of Oxford, is advancing the understanding of a theorem by Popper and Miller from 1983, offering new insights into Bayesian updating and its standard interpretations. His research interests span learning and creativity in both humans and machines. Beyond his academic pursuits, M…

1
Dr. Anders Sandberg | WBE History and Overview 25:52

5M ago25:52

25:52

Dr. Anders Sandberg is a Senior Research Fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, where he specializes in the management of low-probability, high-impact risks and future technology capabilities. With a Ph.D. in computational neuroscience from Stockholm University, his expertise spans computer science, neuroscience, and medic…

1
Kipply Chen | Fireside Chat on AI Alignment 12:31

5M ago12:31

12:31

Kipply Chen is part of the data team at Anthropic. Key Highlights The swift pace of alignment potentially outpacing AI advancements. Challenges of coordinating predictive and base model alignment across labs. Security and policy's critical role in AI safety. A likely surge in legal issues concerning training data misuse. The push for an open-source…

1
Existential Hope Podcast: Trent McConaghy | From Starships to Tokens: Pioneering Futures 51:30

5M ago51:30

51:30

Trent McConaghy is the founder of Ocean Protocol, a decentralized platform aimed at democratizing AI data sharing while maintaining privacy. With a career starting in AI research for national defence, McConaghy transitioned to entrepreneurship, where his first startup, ADA, was acquired by Synopsys in 2004. His work continued with Solido, an AI ven…

1
David Dalrymple | Rethinking Uploading Given 10-Year AI Timelines 8:24

6M ago8:24

8:24

David Dalrymple, with a background from MIT and Harvard, is known for his study on Caenorhabditis elegans' nervous system, featured in Nature Methods. At Oxford University, his work spans neuroinformatics, machine learning, and software engineering. He is also a co-inventor of Filecoin. Key Highlights A 10-year plan for brain uploading, dismissing …

1
Existential Hope Special: Six Hopeful Visions of the Future 10:18

6M ago10:18

10:18

Speaker Beatrice Erkers reads six Existential Hope Scenarios. Beatrice is the program manager of the Existential Hope program, and Chief of Operations at Foresight Institute. The positive scenarios were a collaborative output from our 2023 Existential Hope Day attendees. Session Summary This podcast has been created from our 2023 Existential Hope D…

1
Jan Leike | Superintelligent Alignment 9:57

6M ago9:57

9:57

Jan Leike is a Research Scientist at Google DeepMind and a leading voice in AI Alignment, with affiliations at the Future of Humanity Institute and the Machine Intelligence Research Institute. At OpenAI, he co-leads the Superalignment Team, contributing to AI advancements such as InstructGPT and ChatGPT. Holding a PhD from the Australian National U…

1
Existential Hope Podcast: Emilia Javorsky | The Future of AI, Bioengineering, and Human Empathy 55:12

6M ago55:12

55:12

Emilia Javorsky, MD, MPH, is the Director of the Futures Program at the Future of Life Institute. A physician-scientist and entrepreneur, she specializes in the development of medical technologies and is a mentor at Harvard's Wyss Institute. Recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 and a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, Javorsky is committed to…

1
Improving Solar Cells | Solutions Science Podcast with Robert Tirawat 25:34

6M ago25:34

25:34

Over a year, an average of 342 watts of power is emitted on every square meter of the earths surface. The ability to harness this energy is vital for our future source of renewable energy. There are many types of solar cells, one type is perovskite solar cells, which is an actively researched material that has the potential to be deposited onto mos…

1
Mark Miller | Paperclips and Pyramids: Misdiagnosing AI Risks 49:09

6M ago49:09

49:09

Mark S. Miller is the Chief Scientist at Agoric. He is a pioneer of agoric (market-based secure distributed) computing and smart contracts, the main designer of the E and Dr. SES distributed persistent object-capability programming languages, inventor of Miller Columns, an architect of the Xanadu hypertext publishing system, a representative of the…

1
Dr. Thomas Macrina | AI for Whole Brain Circuit Mapping 56:07

7M ago56:07

56:07

Dr. Thomas Macrina, CEO of Zetta AI and possessing a rich background in deploying deep learning to map neural circuits via 3D electron microscopy datasets, explores the rapid advancements in AI-analyzed neuroimaging, offering insights into the accelerated recovery of synaptic-level neural circuits. Key Highlights Substantial progress has been reali…

1
Robert Zubrin | The Mars Society 1:01:15

7M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

Robert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer, author, and advocate for human exploration of Mars. He and his colleague at Martin Marietta, David Baker, were the driving force behind Mars Direct, a proposal in a 1990 research paper intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission. Summary Zubrin recaps his e…

1
Small Scale Eastern Strawberry Production - A Discussion with Dr. Jayesh Samtani 48:39

7M ago48:39

48:39

In the second part of our two-part series on strawberries, and the final episode of Season 1, Sam talks with Dr. Jayesh Samtani, an Associate Professor and Small Fruit Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech. As an extension specialist, he does a lot of work connecting with growers and other extension agents, in Virginia and numerous other states. He…

1
Solving The Waste Plastic Problem Solutions Science with Dr. Kristoffer Kortsen 37:26

7M ago37:26

37:26

The waste plastic problem is not a stranger to anyone. Plastics are required for many of our daily activities, and it is not foreseeable to live without them. As such, it is important we find ways to prevent waste plastic from building up in our environment. I spoke with Dr. Kristoffer Kortsen about his work into this area, focusing on the differen…

1
Existential Hope Podcast: Joe Carlsmith | Infite Ethics and the Sublime Utopia 49:28

7M ago49:28

49:28

Joe Carlsmith is a writer, researcher, and philosopher. He works as a senior research analyst at Open Philanthropy, focusing on existential risk from advanced artificial intelligence. He also writes independently about various topics in philosophy and futurism and has a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oxford. Much of his work is abou…

1
Soft Robots For Safe Human Interactions | Solutions Science with Dr. Daniel Bruder 35:04

7M ago35:04

35:04

The robots that most easily come to mind are production line robots, they will move where they are told to move, regardless of any obstructions on the way. This means that these rigid robots must be kept separate from humans over safety concerns. That is where soft robotics come in to play, completely safe robots that do not have the physical capab…

1
Sumner Norman | What To Expect From The Next Generation Of Brain-Computer Interfaces 54:23

7M ago54:23

54:23

Sumner is a research scientist with a decade of experience designing brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and neuroprosthetics for people with neurological injury or disease. His research has leveraged existing BCI techniques to awaken new pathways in the brain, restoring movement to people with paralysis. Summary Brain computer interfaces have been get…

1
Stuart Russel | Human Compatible AI 1:12:30

8M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Stuart Jonathan Russell is a British computer scientist known for his contributions to artificial intelligence. He is a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley and was from 2008 to 2011 an adjunct professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He holds the Smith-Zadeh Chair in Engin…

1
Engineering Microboes to Produce Plastics and Biomolecule Production Lines! | Solutions Science with Dr. Elias Englund 39:41

8M ago39:41

39:41

The sun radiates an imense amount of energy onto the surface of the earth, scientists and engineers dream of using this energy to build materials and chemical products by engineering algae. In this episode I spoke with Dr. Elias Englund about his work in the area of metabolic engineering to produce valuable products in microorganisms and we also to…

1
Creating Living Materials That Respond To The Environment | Solutions Science with Dr. Debika Datta 35:53

8M ago35:53

35:53

The field of material science is a complex and interdisciplinary field, with most engineering processes relying on specific materials, it is important that specific bespoke materials are made to suit each application. An emerging field in the area of material science is that of living materials, a type of material that houses living biological orga…

1
Nathan Johnson, Space Court Foundation | Space Court Foundation’s Research Into Foundations and Evolution of Space Law 55:00

8M ago55:00

55:00

Nathan Johnson, a licensed attorney in Washington DC, is the author of the blog and podcast AstroEsq. With expertise in Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law, he has worked at the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the US House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Nathan has published articles on topics…

1
Steven Byrnes, Astera Institute | Challenges for Safe and Beneficial Brain Like AGI 59:55

8M ago59:55

59:55

Steven Byrnes Steven Byrnes is a Research Fellow at the Astera Institute, where he is doing research at the intersection of neuroscience and Artificial General Intelligence Safety. His public writing on this topic is listed here. Before working on AGI Safety, he was a physicist in academia and industry. He has a Physics PhD from UC Berkeley. Sessio…

1
Creating Stem Cells From Skin Cells | Solutions Science Podcast with Dr. Daniel Poppe 48:46

8M ago48:46

48:46

Most cells in the body have a very specific function, and cannot replace cells from other areas of the body. For example, a skin cell could not replace a neurone cell in the brain. Interestingly, the two cells will contain the exact same genetic information in the form of DNA, however, some genes will be switched on or off depending on the type of …

1
The Sweet and the Not-so-Sweet of the U.S. Strawberry Industry - A Discussion with Dr. Gerald Holmes 51:57

8M ago51:57

51:57

In the first part of this two-part series on strawberries, Sam and Lara interview Dr. Gerald Holmes, director of the Strawberry Center at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He discusses the challenges that growers face, the costs of producing and harvesting strawberries, the factors that influence the flavor of the berries,…

1
Existential Hope Podcast: Liv Boeree | Game Theory, Moloch & Our Hopeful Future 43:28

8M ago43:28

43:28

Liv Boeree is a British science communicator, television presenter and former professional poker player. She is a World Series of Poker and European Poker Tour champion, and is the only female player in history to win both a WSOP bracelet and an EPT event. In this episode, we explore the intellectual and ethical journey of Liv Boeree. A former prof…

1
Sonia Arrison, Longevity Mentorship | Career Counselling 56:48

9M ago56:48

56:48

Sonia is a longevity investor via her company 100+ Capital, a women’s investor group called Portfolia, and advises BioVerge here in Silicon Valley. She also spends time helping the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI). She is helping A4LI streamline the political processes for advancing longevity research and therapies. When Sonia first moved …

1
Lewis Hammond, Cooperative AI | Introduction to Cooperative AI 53:46

9M ago53:46

53:46

Lewis is based at the University of Oxford where he is a DPhil candidate in computer science and a DPhil affiliate at the Future of Humanity Institute. He is also the acting executive director of the Cooperative AI Foundation, an affiliate at the Centre for the Governance of AI, and a fellow at the Foresight Institute. His research concerns safety,…

1
Living DNA Sensors For Bacteria In The Environment | Solutions Science with Dr. Yu-Yu Cheng #15 17:58

9M ago17:58

17:58

Pathogenic bacteria often release their DNA into the environment that they colonise. This DNA is potentially a great method of detecting specific types of bacteria, before they become pathogenic, making treatment easier and more targeted. There are many such methods of sensing this bacterial DNA, one such method is to use biology itself to tell us …

1
Existential Hope Podcast: Daron Acemoglu | New Paths For Human-Technology Synergy 56:58

9M ago56:58

56:58

In this episode we welcome renowned academic and author, Daron Acemoglu, Institute professor and Economist at MIT. Drawing upon his rich experiences and his forthcoming book 'Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity,' Acemoglu navigates the complex landscape of technological progress. He sheds light on how techn…

1
Joseph Mascaro | The Evolution of Space Technology: From Spin-offs to Exaptation 1:02:51

9M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

Joseph Mascaro Joe Mascaro is a tropical ecologist and Director, Science Strategy & Programs at Planet, a public benefit corporation that operates the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. Joe works with scientists, universities and space agencies to utilize Planet’s unprecedented imaging resources to enhance primary research and education, im…

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