How A Love For Science Is Fostering World Peace

How A Love For Science Is Fostering World Peace

Author: Don Murphy April 16, 2025 Duration: 45:07

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On this episode we speak with Dr. Zafra Lerman about how a love for science is fostering world peace.

Zafra Lerman is an American chemist, educator, and humanitarian. She is the President of the Malta Conferences Foundation, which aims to promote peace by bringing together scientists from otherwise hostile countries to discuss science and foster international scientific and technical collaboration. 

From 1986 to 2010, she chaired the American Chemical Society's Subcommittee on Scientific Freedom and Human Rights. She has been successful in preventing executions, releasing prisoners of conscience from jail and bringing dissidents to freedom. 

She is the recipient of many awards for education and science diplomacy, including the 1999 Presidential Award from U.S. President Clinton, the 2005 Nyholm Prize for Education from the Royal Society of Chemistry (England), the 2015 Science Diplomacy Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the 2016 Andrei Sakharov Award for human rights from the American Physical Society (APS), the 2016 United Nations NOVUS Award for the 16th Sustainable Development Goal: Peace and Justice, and the 2017 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Award.

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Don Murphy hosts Nature and Science Podcast, a series built on conversations with people for whom curiosity is a way of life. Rather than presenting dry lectures, each episode unfolds as a personal narrative, tracing the unique path that led a guest to their particular corner of the natural or scientific world. You might hear a theoretical physicist describe the moment a complex equation first felt beautiful, or a park ranger recount the specific, quiet morning that solidified their commitment to a wilderness area. The discussions are grounded in the human experience behind the disciplines, whether it's a conservation biologist explaining the emotional weight of tracking a species' recovery or an amateur astronomer sharing how mapping the stars became a lifelong solace. This approach makes the vast subjects of nature and science feel accessible and intimately connected to daily life. By focusing on these individual journeys, the podcast reveals how passion and profession intertwine, offering listeners not just information, but inspiration. It’s for anyone who has ever looked at a forest or a formula and wondered about the stories hidden within. Tune in to find a sense of connection through the shared wonder of exploration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 80

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