In this episode of SciLux, we visit the world of evolutionary biology with Dr. Kalina Kapralova from the University of Iceland. Dr. Kapralova studies Arctic charr in the unique environment of Iceland's lakes and together we explore the intricacies of evolutionary biology, discussing adaptive divergence, parallel evolution, and the process of speciation. Dr. Kapralova also sheds light on the impact of climate change on salmonid species and the potential for adaptation in the face of rapidly changing environments. A fully charged episode!

USEFUL LINKS

University of Iceland - https://www.hi.is/en

Dr. Kapralova's work - https://scholar.google.is/citations?user=I_PzR8UAAAAJ&hl=en

A short documentary about the arctic charr mating behaviour in Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland by Edite Fiskoviča et al.- https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xW3VS73PJSw

On this episode of SciLux, we sit down with Dr. Alexandros Gerakis, a Senior Research and Technology Associate at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and an Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M University. Dr. Gerakis shares his fascinating journey from studying optical lattices during his PhD at University College London to his current work pioneering laser diagnostics for neutral gas flows and plasma research.

We explore various applications of lasers, including their use in diagnostics and the manipulation of matter. We also discuss the potential of plasma in fields like nanofabrication and fusion energy.

USEFUL LINKS

Alexandros Gerakis's Publications - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=dmHz_DEAAAAJ&hl=en

LIST - https://www.list.lu/

Texas A&M University, Department of Aerospace Engineering
https://engineering.tamu.edu/aerospace/index.html

Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
https://www.pppl.gov/

Dr. Evil about laser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voSpOrimkMY

A Beautiful Mind (Film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268978/

CERN
https://home.cern/

It was refreshing to chat to Dr. Carlos Vega, Research Engineer at the Luxembourg Institute of Health and a teacher at the University of Luxembourg. Carlos, who recently distinguished himself in the science.lu Science Writing competition, is a very good communicator. In this episode we explore the practical challenges of data collection, processing, and visualisation, highlighting the pitfalls and ethical considerations that accompany the use of data in scientific research.

Carlos uses vivid analogies, such as the omelette analogy from his award-winning article, to illustrate complex concepts in a relatable manner. The conversation also touches on the role of inductive reasoning and the potential for errors in data interpretation.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of data science, ethics, and technology.