The SciCom Interviews

  • May 25, 2008Cynthia Beall. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Beall

    Cynthia Beall, anthropologist

    A scientist-humanitarian offers wealth — in the form of woolly grazers — to remote Tibetan nomads who have adapted to life at extreme heights

  • May 25, 2008Jean-Angelo Beraldin. Photo courtesy of National Research Council of Canada

    Jean-Angelo Beraldin, optical engineer

    The award-winning optical engineer explains how lasers reveal secrets about famous art, why they're useful in aeronautics and entertainment, and what it's like to spend two nights with Mona Lisa

  • May 25, 2008Peter Brewer. Photo courtesy of MBARI

    Peter Brewer, ocean chemist

    The eminent ocean chemist discusses blobby carbon dioxide, squirreling gases on the seafloor, and the big, bitter problem coming our way

  • May 25, 2008Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J.. Photo courtesy of Vatican Observatory

    Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., astronomer

    A Vatican astronomer talks about doing science because he believes in God, and why religion needs science to protect it from literal creationism

  • May 25, 2008Dean Falk. Photo courtesy of Ray Stanyard

    Dean Falk, anthropologist

    A contender in anthropology's fiercest brawl muses about life with hobbits, the evolution of language, and being mistaken for a man

  • May 25, 2008Chris Funk. Photo courtesy of UC Santa Barbara

    Chris Funk, climatologist

    A geographer mulls whether better climate models will help African farmers avoid the dire consequences of climate change

  • May 25, 2008Patrick Kinney. Photo courtesy of Columbia University

    Patrick Kinney, epidemiologist

    Our respiratory health gets a double whammy from traffic pollution, says a New York City epidemiologist: If the diesel particles don't get you, climate change just might

  • May 25, 2008Olufunmilayo Olopade. Photo courtesy of MacArthur Foundation

    Olufunmilayo Olopade, oncologist

    The oncologist and "genius grant" winner discusses her work in Nigeria and Chicago, why growing economies in poor countries lead to more cases of cancer, and the future of breast cancer research

  • May 25, 2008Tom Sever. Photo courtesy of NASA

    Tom Sever, archaeologist

    NASA's only archaeologist explains why the Maya matter, how satellite images can find underground paths, and why he doesn't have time for Indiana Jones

  • May 25, 2008David Sloan Wilson. Photo courtesy of Binghamton University

    David Sloan Wilson, evolutionary biologist

    Evolution's biggest fan talks about his plan to make evolution popular, how religion benefits society, and his feud with Richard Dawkins