34 min listen
Ep 85. Theory vs reality, and dancing in the middle with Alva Curtsdotter
FromIn Situ Science
ratings:
Length:
57 minutes
Released:
Sep 29, 2019
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
SPECIAL GUEST: Alva Curtsdotter (UNE)
Support In Situ Science on Patreon
Some scientists go out in to the field, collect data and conduct experiments to test their hypotheses. Other scientists conduct their experiments inside a computer. Alva Curtsdotter is a theoretical ecologist that studies the behaviour of animal populations across natural landscapes, but instead of spending her time surveying and measuring real world populations she runs computer simulations to see how animal populations may respond in the future to things like climate change and environmental disturbance.
In this interview we discuss how empirical and theoretical approaches to science are both necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the world around us, but to make that work we need scientists who are able to understand both so that empirical and theoretical scientists can communicate effectively. As always we discover that everything in science can be likened to some kind of pop culture reference and, when pressed for relevance, sports references can always do the trick.
Find out more at www.insituscience.com
Follow us on Twitter @insituscience
Follow us on Instagram
Like us on Facebook
Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Support In Situ Science on Patreon
Some scientists go out in to the field, collect data and conduct experiments to test their hypotheses. Other scientists conduct their experiments inside a computer. Alva Curtsdotter is a theoretical ecologist that studies the behaviour of animal populations across natural landscapes, but instead of spending her time surveying and measuring real world populations she runs computer simulations to see how animal populations may respond in the future to things like climate change and environmental disturbance.
In this interview we discuss how empirical and theoretical approaches to science are both necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the world around us, but to make that work we need scientists who are able to understand both so that empirical and theoretical scientists can communicate effectively. As always we discover that everything in science can be likened to some kind of pop culture reference and, when pressed for relevance, sports references can always do the trick.
Find out more at www.insituscience.com
Follow us on Twitter @insituscience
Follow us on Instagram
Like us on Facebook
Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Released:
Sep 29, 2019
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (69)
Ep 1. Great tits, ivory towers, and masquerade with Hannah Rowland: SPECIAL GUEST: HANNAH ROWLAND (Cambridge) Welcome to the first episode of in situ Science! James O'Hanlon chats with behavioural ecologist Hannah Rowland about everything from twitching to podcasting. Music: www.bensound.com by In Situ Science