Best Nature Publishing Group Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 75: Understanding the Way forward for the Grevy’s Zebra with Dr. David Kimiti and Damaris Lekiluai 45:50

9h ago45:50

45:50

The Grevy’s Zebra is the largest extant species of equid in the world. Unfortunately, the species is listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. With less than 2,000 wild individuals found in pockets of Kenya and Ethiopia, the Grevy’s Zebra is the most threatened of the three zebra species. In the 20th Century, hunting for their skins was the prim…

1
How studying octopus nurseries can shape the future of our oceans 31:12

1h ago31:12

31:12

Watching documentaries about the Titanic inspired deep-sea microbiologist Beth Orcutt to study life at the bottom of the ocean - a world of ‘towering chimneys, weird shrimp and octopus nurseries’ that she has visited 35 times. But Orcutt says there is so much we still don't know about the deep sea, which is a problem for the sustainable development…

1
Episode 74: Understanding Coral Reefs with Dr Francoise Cavada-Blanco, Co-Chair, IUCN Coral Specalist Group 25:34

14h ago25:34

25:34

Coraf Reefs around the world are under severe threat. It is estimated that around 10% of the global coral reefs are dead while about 60% are under severe threat due to anthropogenic pressure. Climate change remains the primary threat to coral reefs around the world, with increasing sea temperatures catalyzing coral bleaching, which results in the d…

1
How we slashed our lab’s carbon footprint 24:09

1d ago24:09

24:09

Analytical chemist Jane Kilcoyne was working in her biotoxin monitoring lab one day in 2018 when she noticed a bin overflowing with plastic waste. The observation prompted her to join forces with like-minded colleagues and develop a package of measures aimed at reducing their lab’s carbon footprint. Their efforts include reducing energy consumption…

1
Episode 73: Understanding Nature Finance with Darren Mckenzie from Global Canopy 23:42

6d ago23:42

23:42

Nature forms the foundation of the world’s economy. Nature-based solutions focused on climate mitigation contribute about USD 170 billion worth of ecosystem services to the global economy. However, the dependencies of the nature of the global economy and the related risks and opportunities to the economy have not received much attention from corpor…

1
Episode 72: Exploring the Role of Remote Sensing in Forest Conservation with Professor Ed Mitchard, Co-Founder at Space Intelligence 21:06

14d ago21:06

21:06

In a previous episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, we briefly touched upon the role of artificial intelligence and biacoustic monitoring in wildlife conservation. On a similar note, in this episode, I interview Professor Ed Mitchard, to discuss the role of remote sensing in forest conservation Through the use of satellites, remote Sensing allows …

1
August/Senior Investigator: Conversation with Tina Cheng 12:45

14d ago12:45

12:45

This episode features a conversation with Senior Investigator Tina Cheng, who has held several leadership positions over her career, including her current roles as Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati, and Director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation. Her clinical work and research work have had a long and lasting impact…

1
Episode 71: Tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis with Nature-Based Solutions with Seth Thomas, University of Oxford 23:42

21d ago23:42

23:42

Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed a technological revolution to tackle the climate crisis. However, more recently, there has been a growing consensus about the role of nature and nature-based solutions in tackling, not only the Three Planetary Crisis but also various pressing societal issues, such as poverty. The goals of nature-ba…

1
Genome-wide association studies of coffee intake in UK/US participants of European ancestry uncover cohort-specific genetic associations 9:39

23d ago9:39

9:39

Researchers are interested in understanding the biology of why some people are more likely to overconsume substances. Some substances are difficult to study—people might not admit to illegal substance abuse or to how much alcohol they drink. But Americans are more likely to accurately recall and share how much coffee they drink—which is related to …

1
Episode 70: Understanding Penguin Conservation with Dee Boersma, Co-Chair, IUCN Penguin Specalist Group 20:01

28d ago20:01

20:01

The Penguin is amongst the most unique taxa of birds in the world. These flightless, aquatic birds are highly adept swimmers, having adapted to spending half their lives underwater. Penguins, with the aid of flippers and their streamlined bodies are known to swim over 20 kilometres an hour in seas while hunting for prey. There are currently between…

1
What's hot in stem cells and regenerative biology? 13:23

30d ago13:23

13:23

Listen to July's Pediapod episode: What's hot in stem cells and regenerative biology? with Atul Malhotra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Episode 69: Preventing The Insect Crisis with Paul Hetherington, Buglife 29:55

1M ago29:55

29:55

‘If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.’ Sir David Attenborough. From pollination and seed dispersal to pest control and nutrient cycling, insects and other invertebrates provide human…

1
Episode 68: Protecting Africa’s Biodiversity with Kaddu Sebuyna, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation 51:40

2M ago51:40

51:40

Africa’s wilderness has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world. Despite its exploding population and rapidly growing economies, the continent has often been the flagbearer of conservation globally. This ranges from the conservation of elephants and rhinos in southern Africa to the creation of Kavango Zambezi, the second-lar…

1
Meet the retired scientists who collaborate with younger colleagues 19:18

2M ago19:18

19:18

In the sixth and final episode of The Last few miles: planning for the late stage career in science, Julie Gould unpicks some of the generational tensions that can arise in academia when a colleague approaches retirement. Inger Mewburn, who leads research and development training at the Australian National University in Canberra, tells her: “There’…

1
Episode 67: Utilizing Biodiversity Credits and Academia for Conservation with Dr. Tim Coles, Founder, Operation Wallacea 0:47

2M ago0:47

0:47

In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I interview Dr. Tim Coles. Across his decorated conservation career, Tim has established two highly successful, self-sustaining conservation enterprises. These are Operation Wallacea and rePLANET. Operation Wallacea is a network of academics from European and North American universities, who design and…

1
A dumpster full of mercury and other things to avoid: lab closures made simple 23:02

2M ago23:02

23:02

In the fifth episode of this six-part podcast series about the late career stage, physicist María Teresa Dova outlines how she is preparing colleagues years in advance to ensure a smooth handover of her lab at the University of La Plata, in Argentina. But in the United States, when the principal investigator leaves it is likely the lab itself will …

1
Episode 66: Fostering Effective Conservation Partnerships for Africa’s Biodiversity with Fred Nelson, CEO at Maliasili 42:18

2M ago42:18

42:18

Collaboration is essential for conservation. The complexity of conservation challenges is often multifold and requires the involvement and cooperation of multiple stakeholders. Additionally, the sharing of resources, particularly funding, and technical expertise from a variety of sectors, immensely contribute to the success of conservation initiati…

1
June/Senior Investigator: Conversation with Richard Jackson 14:07

2M ago14:07

14:07

This month features a conversation with Senior Investigator, Professor Richard Jackson, who’s had an extensive career in Public Health. Now Professor Emeritus at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, Richard has served in many leadership positions including nine years as Director of the CDC's National Ce…

1
Pension planning and psychosocial support: how institutions can help academics at the late career stage 23:05

2M ago23:05

23:05

The list of things to organize as retirement from academia approaches can feel daunting. In the fourth episode of The last few miles, a six-part podcast series about the late career stage in science, researchers talk about health, housing and financial planning. Carol Shoshkes Reiss, an immunologist at New York University, explains how her institut…

1
Episode 65: Safeguarding Central Africa’s Crocodiles and Pangolins with Matthew Shirley 46:38

2M ago46:38

46:38

Meet the Pangolin. The world’s most trafficked mammal. Pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters due to the protective keratin scales covering their skins. Unfortunately, these protective keratin scales are leading to the pangolin’s downfall. Keratin is in high demand in China and Vietnam (the usual suspects) for traditional Chinese Medicine and …

1
“Who am I if not a scientist?” How to find identity and purpose in retirement 19:29

3M ago19:29

19:29

Because many scientists see their career as a calling, when retirement arrives it can bring with it feelings of insecurity and worry about what this means for them. Microbiologist Roberto Kolter, emeritus professor at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, is keen to show others that retirement is a joyous time and a chance to broaden one’s scienti…

1
Episode 64: Conserving Amazon’s River Dolphins with Suzanne Smith 20:04

3M ago20:04

20:04

The Amazon River Dolphin, known locally as the “Boto”, is the largest species of river dolphin in the world. The species is also the most widespread river dolphin, covering six different countries in South America. Unfortunately, the Amazon River Dolphin is classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. Commercial fishing remains the primary thre…

1
Choose your own adventure: navigating retirement after an academic career 20:12

3M ago20:12

20:12

The idea that retirement marks the end of employment and the beginning of a life of leisure is one that many academics feel is outdated. Roger Baldwin, a retired researcher of higher education at Michigan State University in East Lansing and chair of the US Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE), a membership organizati…

1
Episode 63: Protecting the World’s Cranes with Dr. Rich Beilfuss, President, International Crane Foundation 45:52

3M ago45:52

45:52

Globally, there are 15 species of cranes spread across all continents baring South America and Antarctica. With eight species, East Asia has the highest crane diversity. A few species of crane, such as the Siberian and Demosille crane, are known to migrate thousands of kilometers to avoid the harsh winter months of Siberia. Across their range, cran…

1
Episode 62: Protecting South America’s Jaguars from the Illegal Wildlife Trade with Melissa Arias, Jaguar and Priority Landscape Coordinator, WWF 23:32

3M ago23:32

23:32

After tigers and lions, the jaguar is the third largest species of wild felid and the only species of the Panthera genus (big cats) to be found in Americas. The current range of jaguars extends from southern USA, across Mexico and Central America to the Amazonian rainforest. In Central and South America, jaguars inhabit tropical rainforests, decidu…

1
The last few miles: how to prepare for the late-career stage in science 10:56

3M ago10:56

10:56

What are the signs that you’re transitioning from the middle to the late stage of a career in science? Is this transition something you can plan in advance, and if so, what does this look like? Working backwards from your planned retirement date can help you to re-evaluate your priorities and predict the challenges the next few years might bring. B…

1
C-reactive protein moderates associations between racial discrimination and ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation during attention to threat in Black American women 9:56

3M ago9:56

9:56

Scientists have been amassing an increasing amount of evidence about the impact of racial discrimination and racial trauma, including how it can have an impact on brain regions involved with threat vigilance and emotional regulation. At the same time, there’s evidence that increased engagement in those areas has been linked to increased risk of men…

1
Collection on neonatal encephalopathy and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy 14:21

3M ago14:21

14:21

In this episode, listen to our editorial apprentice, Dr. Eric Peeples describe the scope and importance of our collection on neonatal encephalopathy and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Visit the collection here: Neonatal Encephalopathy and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (nature.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Episode 61: Creating Landscapes of Lions with Alayne Oriol Cotterill, CEO at Lion Landscapes 40:10

3M ago40:10

40:10

Listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List, The African Lion is one of the most threatened species in the world. The population of this regal carnivore has dropped drastically from over 200,000 individuals a century ago to approximately 24,000 today. Almost half of this population is found outside protected areas, often in human-dominated landscap…

1
Counting the cost of fashion’s carbon footprint 22:42

3M ago22:42

22:42

In many parts of the world these days garments are bought purely as fashion items, and discarded after just a few months or years. But as the global population grows and personal wealth levels increase, solutions are urgently needed to process increasing volumes of textile waste as consumption rises. This waste includes synthetic fibres, which do n…

1
Episode 60: Conserving the Lesser Florican and Great Indian Bustard with Sujit Narwade, Assistant Director, Bombay Natural History Society 13:53

3M ago13:53

13:53

Once upon a time, the Great Indian Bustard was close to becoming India’s National Bird. However, the species is now considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, with less than 100 individuals remaining in the wild. The species is predominantly found in Rajasthan, though sightings do occur across the Deccan Plateau. Collisions with windmil…

1
Why female students at an inner London school are seeing scientists in a different light 17:46

4M ago17:46

17:46

Draw a Scientist is a test developed in 1983 to explore children’s perspectives of scientists and how stereotypical views can emerge at an early age, influenced both by popular culture and how STEM subjects are taught in schools. In April, 50 images from Nature’s weekly Where I Work section, a photo essay which depicts an individual researcher at w…

1
Using live transport data to deliver sustainable cities 16:53

4M ago16:53

16:53

Lynette Cheah’s research group collaborates with psychologists, computer scientists and urban designers to develop smarter and more sustainable ways of city transportation. “We can’t have sustainable cities without transforming the way people move and how goods are moved around,” says Cheah, an engineering systems researcher who is based at the Uni…

1
Episode 59: The Future of Orangutan Conservation, Michelle Desilets, Executive Director, Orangutan Land Trust 25:26

4M ago25:26

25:26

One of the most charismatic species of the rainforests of south-east Asia is the orangutan. The orangutan is the only wild species of Great Ape found in Asia, with the remaining three, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos, found in Africa. Until 1996, the orangutan was considered one individual species. However, since then the species has been divide…

1
How artificial intelligence is helping to identify global inequalities 27:10

4M ago27:10

27:10

Francisco Ferreira’s first exposure to inequality of opportunity was during his daily ride to school in São Paulo, Brazil, and seeing children his age selling chewing gum on the streets. Ferreira, a former World Bank economist who now researches inequality at the London School of Economics, speculates on the wasted human talent caused by such hards…

1
Episode 58: Creating a Future for Clouded Leopards with Chrishen Gomez, DPhil Student, WildCRU, University of Oxford 23:58

4M ago23:58

23:58

One of Asia’s most elusive predators is the Clouded Leopard. Until 2006, the term clouded leopard referred to one ubiquitous species found across the Eastern Himalayas, mainland Southeast Asia, and the islands of Borneo and Sumatara. However, extensive genetic analysis of various populations revealed two sister species of clouded leopard. The first…

1
Infrastructure projects need to demonstrate a return on investment 21:23

4M ago21:23

21:23

Power networks are humankind’s biggest engineering achievement to date, says Sinan Küfeoğlu. But ageing infrastructure in advanced industrialised economies, coupled with the fact that around one billion people in the world lack continuous power access, particularly in Global South countries, could threaten the delivery of Sustainable Development Go…

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