The human side of clinical development and re-inspiring curiosity in science with Leah Elson

(00:01:06) Sportscasting in college.
(00:02:24) Adventures in pre-med.
(00:03:01) Leah’s early interest in surgery, but realising she could do more upstream.
(00:04:43) Research is playing the long game.
(00:05:44) Leah’s current work with peripheral nerve repair and its compassionate applications.
(00:08:43) Taking a more holistic view of patient outcomes.
(00:10:28) Allowing researchers to actually see the impact of their work.
(00:11:18) STEMM can be a social equaliser because you’re working towards the same goal of humanity.
(00:12:30) How Leah determines the direction of her research focus.
(00:14:59) The beauty of research rabbitholes. The best discoveries are accidental.
(00:15:51) The importance of maintaining connections and networks. You never know where you’ll find convergence across fields.
(00:18:15) Hyperspecialisation and the globaliser that was COVID.
(00:20:45) The future is in unpacking genetics.
(00:24:58) The science that divides advances us.
(00:26:01) The impact of market (and climate) forces and the reminder that humans are creative and resilient.
(00:29:27) ‘60 Seconds of Science’ and the importance of supporting the voices that inform.
(00:32:35) Science doesn’t have an alignment, it’s what we do with it.
(00:35:01) Science is fluid and has so much scope.
(00:36:43) Fake science and the narrative around it is evocative.
(00:38:13) Science fiction into science fact.
(00:39:05) Writing ‘There Are (No) Stupid Questions … in Science’.
(00:42:05) Making people excited about science again.
(00:45:39) The accessible nature of a book like this.
(00:47:10) Being selective about what community questions to answer.
(00:48:11) Randall Munroe (xkcd).
(00:49:35) Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?
(00:50:18) Powerlifting is complementary to Leah’s optimal workflow.
(00:51:35) Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?
(00:52:51) Michele’s favourite childhood book.
(00:54:10) ‘Where’s Waldo?’
(00:55:18) Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?
(00:58:54) Finding out more about Leah and their work.