Episode 34: The Importance of the Humanities, Tech Politics, and Equity in Science ft. Cassidy Sugimoto

The Received Wisdom

Jack and Shobita discuss the decline in humanities majors as the number of computer and data science majors rise, and why this is will have very bad consequences. Then they chat about emerging efforts to regulate both in vitro gametogenesis (creation of eggs and sperm using pluripotent stem cells) and generative AI. Finally, they talk to Cassidy Sugimoto, Professor and Tom and Marie Patton School Chair in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, about her new book, Equity for Women in Science: Dismantling Systemic Barriers to Advancement.

- Nick Anderson (2023). "College is remade as tech majors surge and humanities dwindle." The Washington Post. May 20.

- Center for Genetics and Society (2023). "Whether or How to Use Artificial Gametes." April 12.

- Cassidy Sugimoto (2023). Equity for Women in Science: Dismantling Systemic Barriers to Advancement. Harvard University Press.

- Cassidy Sugimoto (2022). "Narrow hiring practices at US universities revealed." Nature. September 29.

- Cassidy Sugimoto (2021). "Scientific success by numbers." Nature. May 3.

- Cassidy Sugimoto (2019). "Rethinking impact factors: Better ways to judge a journal." Nature. May 28.

- Hoppe, Travis A. et al. (2019). “Topic choice contributes to the lower rate of NIH awards to African-American/black scientists.” Science Advances. 5: eaaw7238.

Transcript and discussion questions available at thereceivedwisdom.org.