Tech Nation: October - December 2004
Click on book title to order from Amazon. Proceeds from book sales benefit public radio.
Show Originating on
December 28, 2004
(program 04-T19-00052)
First Interview: Richard Dawkins
Charles Simonyi Professor of Public Understanding of Science, Oxford University
Author, The Ancestor's Tale ... A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with scientist and Oxford professor RICHARD DAWKINS. Best known as the author of "The Selfish Gene" and "A Devil's Chaplain," they'll talk about his latest: The Ancestor's Tale.
BioTech Nation Segment: Roger Pedersen
Director, The Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge University
In the BioTech Nation segment, DR. ROGER PEDERSEN, a noted American stem cell researcher who moved to Britain to pursue stem cell research. He discusses the state of stem cell research in the US, and the impact of California's Proposition 71.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
December 21, 2004
(program 04-T19-00051)
First Interview: Owen Gingerich
Research Professor of Astronomy and the History of Science, Harvard University
Author, The Book Nobody Read ... Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with OWEN GINGERICH, a research professor of astronomy and of the history of science at Harvard University. He's spent 30 years on a quest, travelling worldwide to locate the 16th century editions of the work of Nicolaus Copernicus - And why? To see if the scientists of the day actually read it.
Second Interview: Dawn Prince-Hughes
Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Western Washington University
Author, Gorillas Among Us ... My Journey through Autism
Moira also speaks with DR. DAWN PRINCE-HUGHES. She'll tell us about the emotional life of gorillas, and how they helped her in her challenge with autism.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
December 14, 2004
(program 04-T19-00050)
First Interview: Spencer Wells
Genetic Anthropologist, Filmmaker, Scientist
Author, "The Journey of Man ... a Genetic Odyssey"
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with DR. SPENCER WELLS, who directly traced the line of human genes back to the first homo sapiens - some 15, 000 years ago. It turns out - we're all related ...
Second Interview: John Nathan
Takashima Professor of Japanese Cultural Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara
Author, Japan Unbound ... A Volatile Nation's Quest for Pride and Purpose
Moira also speaks with JOHN NATHAN, the Takashima Professor of Japanese Cultural Studies at UC, Santa barnara. They'll discuss how Japan - while still the world's second largest economy - has been irreversibly changed by the economic woes of the last decade.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
December 7, 2004
(program 04-T19-00049)
First Interview: Jim Rygiel
Academy Award-winning Special Effects Supervisor
"The Lord of the Rings"
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with JIM RYGIEL, the special effects supervisor for "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. They'll look at the technology of Hobbits, and they'll also talk about how the technology of digital effects has changed over its six years of production.
Second Interview: William Gibson
Author, Pattern Recognition
Moira also speaks with WILLIAM GIBSON. Listeners know him best through his novels, including his first Neuromancer, where he coined the word "cyberspace."
Return to top.
Show Originating on
November 30, 2004
(program 04-T19-00048)
First Interview: Leander Kahney
Wired News columnist
Author, The Cult of Mac
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with cyber-journalist LEANDER KAHNEY, who writes the Wired News column: Cult of Mac. They'll talk about everything Apple - and just how devoted their followers are ...
Second Interview: William Vollmann
Philosopher
Author, Rising Up and Rising Down - Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means
Moira also speaks with WILLIAM VOLLMANN, the author of no less than seven works, all on the subject of violence. They'll discuss his moral calculus.
BioTech Nation Segment: Professor Evgenie Severin
Chair, Biochemistry Department Moscow Medical Academy
In the BioTech Nation segment, PROFESSOR EVGENIE SEVERIN, who heads the Biochemistry Department at the Moscow Medical Academy will talk about how science has evolved in Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
November 23, 2004
(program 04-T19-00047)
First Interview: Seth Mnookin
Newsweek Journalist
Author, Hard News: The Scandals at The New York Times and Their Meaning for American Media
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with journalist Seth Mnookin. They'll talk about how journalists who want to cheat — can. Whether in big media or on the Internet, what new rules are they following? How can a journalist give the appearance of being on the scene? And who can tell the difference?
BioTech Nation: Peter Nolan
Executive Director, Oxford Biomedica
And in the BioTech Nation segment, Moira will speak with from Oxford Biomedica. They'll talk about the new gene-based therapeutics which offer new hope for cancer and Parkinson's.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
November 16, 2004
(program 04-T19-00046)
First Interview: James Delgado
Co-Host, National Geographic's Television Series The Sea Hunters
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with James Delgado, the co-host of National Geographic television series The Sea Hunters. He's a maritime archaeologist and Executive Director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum, and he'll take us from diving the Battleship Arizona to the Titanic to the sunken fleet of Kubla Khan.
BioTech Nation: Jon Kaplan
Head, Health & Life Sciences Practice, Accenture
And in the BioTech Nation segment, Moira will speak with Jon Kaplan, who leads the Health & Life Sciences practice at Accenture. They'll talk about new and innovative ways to collect medical information — right in your doctor's office.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
November 9, 2004
(program 04-T19-00045)
First Interview: Dr. Richard Walker
Former Chair, Geography Department
University of California, Berkeley
Author, The Conquest of Bread: 150 years in California Agribusiness
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with Dr. Richard Walker, the former Chair of the Geography Department at UC Berkeley. He'll take us through the 150-year history of agriculture in California — a history which reveals the ingenuity of man, the intervention of technology and an unparalleled agribusiness economy, unmatched in the world.
BioTech Nation: Dr. Iann Rance
Head, Scientific Affairs, Meristem Therapeutics
And in the BioTech Nation segment, Moira will speak with Dr. Iann Rance, of Meristem Therapeutics will tell us about splicing human genes into seeds, which can be planted, grown and later harvested for use in pharmaceuticals.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
November 2, 2004
(program 04-T19-00044)
First Interview: Jim Barry
Former Editor, Video Magazine
Product Expert, Consumer Electronics Association
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with Jim Barry, a consumer product expert from the Consumer Electronics Association. He'll verify what we all already know — there are more electronics in our lives now, then just a few years ago. He'll also tell us what's on the horizon.
Second Interview: Jim Lynch
Senior Program Manager for Computer Recycling and Reuse, CompuMentor
Moira will also speak with Jim Lynch, the Senior Program Manager for Computer Recycling and Reuse at CompuMentor. He'll tell us about a number of good reasons to extend the life of those computers we've already bought and no longer use.
BioTech Nation: Dr. Jorgen Thorball
Vice President, Novozymes
And in the BioTech Nation segment, Moira will speak with Dr. Jorgen Thorball, will tell us how enzymes are being used to do everything from wash our clothes to cure our allergies.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
October 26, 2004
(program 04-T19-00043)
First Interview: Rick Smolan
Former Life & Time Photographer
Editor, America 24/7
Upcoming Cats and Dogs 24/7
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with former Time and Life photographer, Rick Smolan. His successful book of everyone's photos, America 24/7, is now followed by new books from each state. Now, he's starting Cats and Dogs 24/7.
Second Interview: Max Frankel
Former Executive Editor, New York Times
Pulitzer Prize Winner
Author, High Noon in the Cold War: Kennedy, Krushchev, and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Moira will also speak with former New York Times Executive Editor Max Frankel. He covered Khrushchev in Moscow and the Kennedy Administration during the Cuban Missile Crisis. They'll talk out about the crucial technology of those 13 days in October, 1962 called "The Cuban Missile Crisis."
BioTech Nation: Domenico Alexakis
President, Swiss BioTech Association
And in the BioTech Nation segment, Moira will speak with Domenico Alexakis, the President of the Swiss BioTech Association, will tell us how tiny Switzerland plans to become a biotechnology powerhouse.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
October 19, 2004
(program 04-T19-00042)
First Interview: Christian Crumlish
Blogger and Author, The Power Of Many: How The Living Web Is Transforming Politics, Business, and Everyday Life
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with Christian Crumlish, one of those infamous pioneer bloggers who covered both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. He'll relate his experience as a "credentialed blogger," and we'll find out what our children and grandchildren know, that we may not, about the future of the Internet.
BioTech Nation: Carl Feldbaum
President, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
And in a special half-hour BioTech Nation edition, Moira will speak with Carl Feldbaum, the President of BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization. They'll talk about the world map of biotech, the efforts to address orphan diseases and what happened with the surprise of Dolly, the cloned sheep.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
October 12, 2004
(program 04-T19-00041)
First Interview: Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Director, New York City's Hayden Planetarium
Host, Nova Special Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the director of New York City's Hayden Planetarium, and the host of a new Nova series, Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution.
Second Interview: Meryn McKenna
Author, Beating Back the Devil: On the Front Lines with the Disease Detective of the Epidemic Intelligence Service
Moira will also speak with Meryn McKenna, the author of Beating Back the Devil, about her experience with the CDC investigating the Anthrax-laced letters sent to Congress.
BioTech Nation: Dr. Belinda Clarke
Science Liaison Manager at Norwich Research Park
And in the BioTech segment, Dr. Gunn will speak with Dr. Belinda Clarke, who tells us about the largest biotech cluster outside the U.S.
Return to top.
Show Originating on
October 5, 2004
(program 04-T19-00040)
First Interview: Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Professor, Harvard Business School
Author, Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin & End
On this week's Tech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with Harvard Business School's Dr. Rosabeth Moss Kanter. They'll talk about confidence: What it means and why it's so good to have, whether you're just an individual, you're an organization, or you're even a nation.
Second Interview: Alan Tennant
Author, On the Wing: To the End of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon
Moira will also speak with Alan Tennant about how he and the pilot of a tiny plane tracked Peregrine Falcons from Mexico and Belize up through the United States and into Canada. Just a note — the falcons don't care about international borders.
BioTech Nation: Dr. James Golden
Vice President for Research at IDC Life Science Insights on the technology of bio-defenses
And in the BioTech segment, Dr. Gunn will speak with Dr. James Golden from IDC Life Science Insights. We'll hear about the technology of Bio-Defense.
Return to top.