Sciographies, a popular podcast and radio show, invites listeners to explore the lives, research, and motivations of some of Dalhousie’s most fascinating scientists returns for a brand-new season.
Launched as a pilot project in 2018 during Dalhousie’s 200th anniversary celebrations, Sciographies is now set to begin its sixth season. Presented by Dalhousie’s Faculty of Science in collaboration with CKDU campus radio (88.1 FM in Halifax), new episodes will air Thursdays at 4:30 PM starting on October 3, with all episodes also available on most podcast apps.
Episodes explore the ground-breaking research and personal journeys of scientists who are advancing research while also enhancing the well-being of Nova Scotians.
The show is hosted by Dr. David Barclay, an expert in underwater acoustics, who has brought listeners closer to the university's brightest minds for over 40 episodes. By the end of this season, Barclay will have interviewed 45 scientists, offering rare insights into their research and the personal journeys that fuel their work.
"This is a legacy project that I'm proud to be part of," says Dr. Barclay. "I get to sit down and have in-depth, candid conversations with some of Dal’s most brilliant people. It’s a privilege to hear their stories and learn about the research that’s shaping the future."
This season, listeners can expect even more compelling conversations, with two double-feature episodes diving into subjects like electric vehicles, solutions to climate change, shark conservation, access to mental health and learning about innovative programs like the Africentric Math Cohort.
Season Six Line-up:
October 3: Dr. Aaron MacNeil, a marine biologist shares his journey from a small town to becoming a global leader in shark conservation and fisheries management.
October 10: Dr. Saurabh Chitnis, a synthetic chemist who shares his journey from Libya, India, and Canada to pioneering research on exotic molecules and heavy-element catalysts.
October 17: Dr. Michael Metzger & Dr. Chongyin Yang are battery scientists, who discuss their journeys from Munich and Nanjing, and their innovative work in lithium-ion and material science research.
October 24: Dr. Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, a biogeochemist who explores the impacts of global change on terrestrial ecosystems and who is passionate about increasing diversity in earth and environmental sciences.
October 31: Dr. Alex Veinot, an organic chemist who shares his story of overcoming systemic barriers to becoming a Vanier scholar. He is also passionate about increasing Indigenous representation in the field of chemistry.
November 7: Dr. Shannon Johnson & Dr. Alissa Pencer, are clinical psychologists and co-clinic directors of Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health who are continuing to make mental healthcare accessible for Nova Scotians.
November 14: Karen Hudson (MES’02), principal of Auburn Drive High, shares the impact of the Africentric Math Cohort, a community-based program she developed for Nova Scotian youth in this special alumni episode.
Sciographies is produced by BNV Media and the Faculty of Science. To learn more about the show, please visit dal.ca/sciographies. Episodes air weekly on CKDU 88.1FM in Halifax on Thursdays at 4:30 PM.