ISGP's "The Forum"

HOT TOPIC: Sugar substitutes. Sugar substitutes are popular for many reasons, but rumors about their impacts on health are rampant. Do sweeteners improve dental health and reduce diabetes risk? Do they cause cancer? Or are they just a neutral component of your favorite diet soda? Featuring: Erik Millstone, University of Sussex Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. Furthermore, a member of the co-host team is currently employed by the U.S. Department of State, but the views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. For more information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org.

HOT TOPIC: Pre- and probiotics. What are prebiotics and probiotics, and how do they interact with the gut microbiome? Plus, you might be surprised to learn how probiotic supplements are regulated. Featuring: Mindy Haar, New York Institute of Technology Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. Furthermore, a member of the co-host team is currently employed by the U.S. Department of State, but the views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. For more information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org.

HOT TOPIC: Space exploration. Discover some of the greatest remaining challenges associated with space exploration, as well as the technologies being developed to overcome them. Plus, can international agreements ensure that off-planet exporation occurs responsibly? Featuring: Lynn Rothschild, NASA Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. Furthermore, a member of the co-host team is currently employed by the U.S. Department of State, but the views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. For more information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org.

HOT TOPIC: Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are a set of targets for the world to meet by the year 2030. Learn how science and technology can help us accomplish them. Featuring: Darin Detwiler, Northeastern University Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. Furthermore, a member of the co-host team is currently employed by the U.S. Department of State, but the views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. For more information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org.

HOT TOPIC: Plastic pollution. Plastic pollution in waterways harms marine life and could even affect human health. Learn how a combination of individual and collective actions can help make a dent in this growing global challenge. Featuring: Kera Abraham Panni, Monterey Bay Aquarium Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. Furthermore, a member of the co-host team is currently employed by the U.S. Department of State, but the views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. For more information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org.

HOT TOPIC: 3D printing. 3D printing is a technology that could transform the manufacturing industry, making supply chains more environmentally and economically sound. Learn how 3D printing works, the societal opportunities and challenges it provides, and how policy makers could play a role in guiding its use. Featuring: Joe DeSimone, Carbon Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. Furthermore, a member of the co-host team is currently employed by the U.S. Department of State, but the views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. For more information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org.

HOT TOPIC: Academic scientists. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of academic scientists all over the world! Would it surprise you to discover that only a fraction of their time is spent at a laboratory bench? Featuring: Li Li, Harvard Medical School Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. For information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org, and to learn more about the ISGP, check out www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Antimicrobial resistance (within “public health”). Why is antibiotic resistance occurring so quickly, and is there anything we can do to stop it? Featuring: A Position Paper by Eili Klein (Johns Hopkins University) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs; within “food safety”). GMOs - Are they the solution to widespread food insecurity in the face of rapid population growth? Featuring: A Position Paper by Jennifer Thomson (University of Cape Town) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Science storytelling (within “science communication”). Is storytelling the best way to translate scientific information to nonscientific audiences? Featuring: A Position Paper by Liz Neeley (Story Collider) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Coastal adaptation (within “sea level rise and severe storms”). New Jersey is home to one of the many coastlines already feeling the impact of climate change in the form of storm surge and coastal flooding. For how long can we simply rebuild following severe storms? Featuring: A Position Paper by Tom Knutson (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Xenobiology (within “synthetic biology”). Xenobiology involves making new organisms with an altered genetic code, by using XNA instead of DNA, for instance. Could this be the tool we've been looking for to help us safely use synthetic biology in the real world? Featuring: A Position Paper by Markus Schmidt (Biofaction KG) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Colorado River Basin (within “climate change”). The Colorado River Basin region has made efforts in water management that could be applicable to other parts of the world facing a water-insecure future. Featuring: A Position Paper by Sharon Megdal (University of Arizona) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Vaccines (within “infectious disease”). In recent years, the Western world has witnessed an "anti-vaccine movement," despite the efficacy of vaccines in preventing disease transmission. What caused this phenomenon, and what can be done to stop it? Featuring: A Position Paper by David Markovitz (University of Michigan) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

PAPER TOPIC: Double burden (within “nutrition”). The term "double burden" refers to populations that are both overweight and undernourished, a phenomenon that is increasing in frequency and often associated with poverty. The co-hosts outline food policies that could help address the double burden, such as calorie-labeling on menus and subsidizing healthy foods in the marketplace. Featuring: A Position Paper by Mindy Kurzer (University of Minnesota) Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. This episode has been re-released in celebration of The Forum’s four-year anniversary. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts reflect the views expressed by conference participants. ISGP conferences follow a unique debate-and-caucus format. Distinguished scientists write 3-page policy position papers, then engage in 90 minutes of intensive debate with invited subject matter experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders collectively known as “the debaters.” Following the debates, participants engage in small, moderated caucus sessions to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps. All conference participants then reconvene for a plenary session to compare the outcomes from each caucus group. For more information, please visit www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

HOT TOPIC: Diet trends. Diets like keto, paleo, alkaline, intermittent fasting, and carb cycling are all the rage, but how much do you know about the effects they have on human and environmental health? Featuring: Gary Frost, Imperial College London; Debbie Fetter, University of California Davis; Mirthe Eckl, Mirthe Functional Medicine Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. For information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org, and to learn more about the ISGP, check out www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

HOT TOPIC: Rainforests. Rainforests are intertwined with everyone's lives, whether via the materials they produce or their role in regulating climate. Learn what constitutes a healthy rainforest, the challenges they face, and how fires fit into the picture. Featuring: Daniel Nepstad, Earth Innovation Institute; Angelica Almeyda Zambrano, University of Florida; Robin Chazdon, University of the Sunshine Coast Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. For information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org, and to learn more about the ISGP, check out www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

HOT TOPIC: Screen time. The ubiquity of screens has caused an increase in discretionary sedentary behavior, which has negative health impacts. But screens have benefits, too. How can we maximize the benefits of screen time while minimizing the drawbacks, and how does physical activity fit into the picture? Featuring: Bill Kohl, UTHealth School of Public Health Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. For information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org, and to learn more about the ISGP, check out www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

HOT TOPIC: Coral reef conservation. Learn about the laundry list of challenges currently facing corals and coral reefs, as well as why (and how) we might want to conserve and protect them. Featuring: John McManus, University of Miami Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. For information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org, and to learn more about the ISGP, check out www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.

HOT TOPIC: Invisible diseases. The co-hosts shine a spotlight on the "invisible diseases" anxiety and depression by discussing neurological, psychoanalytical, and cognitive approaches to understanding how they manifest. Plus, learn how access challenges are hindering treatment of these common afflictions. Featuring: Ted Bradshaw, University of Nottingham Socialize with science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @ISGPforum. Disclaimer: The ISGP is a nonprofit organization that does not lobby for any position except rational thinking. Podcasts within the "Hot Topics Series" (Episodes 75+) reflect the views expressed by featured guests. For information on The Forum, please visit www.ISGPforum.org, and to learn more about the ISGP, check out www.scienceforglobalpolicy.org.