#2: Science History & Philosophy, and Research in Museum Collections – with Gabriella Ferreira

11th March 2018 by Dennis Eckmeier

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:21 — 37.7MB)

“people should learn scientific knowledge to be able to discuss important topics and use science for good”

Our guest is Gabriella Ferreira, a masters student in Science Philosophy. She talks about her studies of Science Philosophy, and volunteer work at the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência. She worked on a collection of animals. The same in which Luís Ceríaco found a previously undescribed species. Gabriella showcases the importance of historical collections for current research efforts. Work done in natural history museums can be applied to conservation purposes, and to study the evolution of species.

She further talks about the history of science. Some of the questions posed by ancient natural philosophers are still studied, today, using modern science. We also talked a bit about modern bio-ethical problems.

background

Gabriella spend her childhood in Paris, before she moved to the countryside in Portugal. The change in environment got her interested in gardening, farming and nature. After receiving a bachelors in biology she began her masters studies in 2017, in Lisbon.

notes

We mention the quote ‘If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics.’ – it goes back to Dr. Richard Feynman, a famous physicist and physics educator.

about Dennis Eckmeier

Dennis founded Science for Progress. He received a PhD in neuroscience in 2010 in Germany. Until 2018 he worked as a postdoc in the USA, and Portugal. In 2017 he co-organized the March for Science in Lisbon, Portugal. Dennis is currently a freelancer.