'Often when I walk through a city or a forest, I look around and wonder how everything works,' says Lieneke van Dijk, science editor at Radboud University and creator of the podcast. 'Why do the leaves on the trees change color? And why does the sun make us happy? ' Questions that have come up in high school, but whose answers got lost people’s heads. Thus, Radboud Science Snacks was born. 'For the answers I can of course turn to our scientists. With this podcast, you can refresh your knowledge within 5 to 10 minutes.'
Mini-lectures
In mini-lectures, scientists explain a small part of their field in no more than 10 minutes. Together with colleague Wies Bakker, Van Dijk made a selection of some sympathetic experts in different scientific fields. Bakker: "I always wanted to know exactly how AI works. We know the term, it is all around us, but what is it? In her episode, AI researcher Lotte van Elteren explains how it affects our lives and what the risks are.'
Van Dijk dove into neutron stars, Article 1 and fungi, among other topics. 'Ecologist Rosa Boone can talk fascinatingly about fungi and how important they are to us. She also talks about the electronic nose she is developing that can detect fungi in the soil.'
'Our university is filled to the brim with knowledge and we are always looking for new ways to communicate that knowledge,' say Bakker and Van Dijk. 'With Radboud Science Snacks, we hope to satisfy the snack craving - another episode, by the way - for knowledge.'
The first three episodes of Radboud Science Snacks - about fungi, populism and AI - are now available via Spotify or your favorite podcast app. A new episode will follow every two weeks.
