95. Fear, Facts and Frustration: Christina Agapakis on Why Scientists Need to Speak Up

Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

Christina Agapakis from Ginkgo Bioworks joins the conversation to explore the power of storytelling in science. She goes into the challenges scientists face when communicating their work to the public and the role effective messaging plays in shaping perceptions, especially around complex topics like GMOs and synthetic biology. Christina shares her journey and insights from her time at Ginkgo, and thoughts on how biotech can drive solutions for climate change and the future. Tune in to hear how science and communication intersect in shaping the biotech world.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off: The Craziest Week in Biotech Events!
• 00:00:55 - West End Labs BBQ: Meat, Science, and Networking
• 00:02:47 - Power Moves at H.C. Wainwright Investment Conference
• 00:04:22 - STEM for All: Life Science Cares Event
• 00:05:20 - GenSpace Turns 10: A Birthday Party Like No Other
• 00:07:39 - Red Hook Vibes: Biotech Meets Brooklyn’s Sunset
• 00:08:24 - Science Communication Struggles: Why It's Hard to Explain What We Do
• 00:10:21 - Meet Christina Agapakis: The Master of Science Storytelling
• 00:12:00 - Christina's Journey: From UCLA to Ginkgo Bioworks
• 00:15:39 - The Power of Storytelling in Science: How to Make Complex Ideas Accessible
• 00:19:25 - Effective Strategies for Biotech Communication
• 00:24:10 - Communicating Science Beyond Data: Building Trust and Understanding
• 00:33:08 - GMO Perception: Why Story Matters More Than Science
• 36:45 - Selling GMOs: The Public’s Relationship with Genetically Modified Products
• 00:00:37:41 - Containment & Deployment: Keeping GMOs Safe While Scaling Up
• 00:39:09 - Climate Change & GMOs: Can Bioengineering Save the World?
• 00:41:55 - Ginkgo's Evolution & The Rise of Grow Magazine
• 00:43:40 - The Future of Synthetic Biology: Where Are We Headed?
• 00:44:57 - AI & Biology: How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Game
• 00:46:40 - DIY Bio & Bio Art: The Unexpected Evolution of Biohacking
• 00:49:51 - Climate Change Solutions: The Biotech Fixes We Need
• 00:56:19 - Overproduction & Circular Economy: Solving Fast Fashion’s Environmental Impact
• 00:59:06 - Marketing in Biotech: Why It's Not Just About Science
• 01:03:28 - Final Reflections: A Call to Action for Biotech Innovators

Topics Covered: biotech, bioengineering, precision fermentation, epigenetics, optogenetics, light, biosolutions, cellular control, photomolecular biology

Episode Links:

• Oscillator.bio
• Ginkgo Bioworks
• Synbiophobia phobia paper by Claire Marris
• Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Anxiety by Britt Wray
• Biology Under The Influence by Richard Lewontin
• West End Labs
• Yasmeen Pattie at Easter Egg Management
• H.C. Wainwright
• LifeScience Cares
• Anthony Johnson Biotech entrepreneur and pitmaster
• Biotech Without Borders with Ellen Jorgensen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media