In this episode, we talk with Eric Klingenberg, Materials Science Lead, at the Mars Advanced Research Institute, the research arm of Mars, Inc. Eric discusses how the development of new packaging for Mars products involves thinking beyond recyclability. He and his colleagues at Mars explore a variety of materials and technologies that present opportunities for making use of waste materials while also reducing the amount that ends up in landfills. Learn more about how Eric assembles interdisciplinary experts to help him learn more about composting and plastics deconstruction — including soil ch ..read more

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Anastasia Yanchilina, a Research Scientist and “Rock Enchantress” at Impossible Sensing. Anastasia’s work is rooted in applying what we know about the past to what we can learn about the future. Combining her studies in paleoclimatology, paleoceanography, and climate policy with her expertise in geochemistry and geology, she analyzes data coming back from the 2020 Mars Perseverance Mission. Learn about her findings, including whether or not we’ll ever grow crops on the Red Planet.   __________     Dr. Anastasia Yanchilina, Research Scientist at ..read more

Ep. 10 | Solving Climate Change on Earth: Sensing Technologies, Ocean Exploration, and Scientific Collaboration   In this episode we talk with Pablo Sobron, Founder/Sensing Wizard at Impossible Sensing, and Research Scientist at the SETI Institute. Pablo discusses new sensing technologies that will map the ocean floor, and other harsh environments where these technologies can be applied to inform innovative climate change solutions. Listen to how his team of thinkers, engineers, and scientists create, apply, and interpret research and development to help address climate change on Earth.&n ..read more

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Farshid Guilak, who was recently elected into the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to regenerative medicine and mechanobiology. Dr. Guilak is both the Mildred B. Simon Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and co-director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. Throughout his career, Dr. Guilak has pursued interdisciplinary collaborations that create just enough chaos, and maybe a little art in the process. __________   Dr. Farshid Guilak, Mildred B. Simon Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and co-directo ..read more

The second episode of the Talk Polymath podcast discusses the concept behind “Pharmacy on Demand” and how a distributed medicine manufacturing network could help create a safe and reliable supply of medicines for communities worldwide. Our guests for this episode are Tyler McQuade, Ph.D., Chief Innovation Officer, On Demand Pharmaceuticals; and Mickey McManus, Senior Advisor and Executive Coach at BCG, and Research Fellow Emeritus at Autodesk. Tyler McQuade, Ph.D., is a former Program Manager and Deputy Director at the Defense Sciences Office at DARPA. Dr. McQuade also served as the Chief Tec ..read more

In this episode, we talk with Peter Bergman and Sara Nadel of Learning Collider (https://www.learningcollider.org/), a research lab on a mission to accelerate socio-behavioral research to identify technology interventions that fight inequality. The lab partners with large-scale technology companies and organizations to access the high-dimensional data they collect, then use these massive data sets to assess discrimination and biases that impact hiring, loan decisions, and educational opportunities. They can then build, test, and rapidly scale applications of machine learning and AI that promot ..read more

In this episode, we talk with Jamie Arbib, who with Tony Seba co-founded RethinkX, an independent think tank dedicated to analyzing and forecasting technology-driven disruption. RethinkX recently released a report on climate change mitigation. It questions conventional forecasting, which they believe underestimates complex system dynamics and the impact of technological disruption. During the conversation, Arbib discusses how a convergence of technologies will catalyze the "fastest, deepest, most consequential technological disruption in history" and how it could lead to the mitigation of one ..read more