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Why Research Matters?

Why Research Matters?

Varunika Goyal 9 Episodes Aug 13, 2026

Why Research Matters? is a public-facing channel that asks research questions relevant to the public and explores how scientists work to answer them. It invites scientists and researchers whose work has clear public relevance to discuss their research. The podcast aims to improve health, inform policy, advance technology, or address societal challenges.

Episodes

The Hidden Research Behind the Phone GPS | Cécile Deprez
The Hidden Research Behind the Phone GPS | Cécile Deprez Aug 13, 2026 01:12:01 Every day we trust the blue dot in the navigation apps on our phones, but do we know how the blue navigation dot tells us where to go?🎙️ Every episode of Why Research Matters is recorded using Riverside. If you're looking for an easy way to record high-quality remote interviews or podcasts, you can learn more here (We may earn a commission if you sign up through this link, at no additional cost to
Kinemo: Helping People with Disabilities Use Phones & Laptops | Dr. Nordine Sebkhi
Kinemo: Helping People with Disabilities Use Phones & Laptops | Dr. Nordine Sebkhi Jul 29, 2026 01:07:44 What if a tiny movement from your shoulder, cheek, foot, or muscle could help you control a phone, computer, or wheelchair?In this episode of Why Research Matters, Dr. Varunika Goyal speaks with Dr. Nordine Sebkhi, President and CEO of Kinemo and the builder of the Kinemo 1 product, about wearable motion-sensing technology designed for people who cannot use their hands due to paralysis, spinal cor
The Embryo Development Science You Were Never Taught| Dr. Özge Özgüç
The Embryo Development Science You Were Never Taught| Dr. Özge Özgüç Jul 11, 2026 01:10:51 How does a single cell become an embryo? Developmental biologist Dr. Özge Özgüç explains why early life is not controlled by genes alone. Cells also use physical forces to divide, move, fold, attach, and organize into an embryo. This clip explores the hidden mechanics behind development, microscopy, stem cell models, IVF research, and why biology is also physics.
A Fatal Nerve Disease and the Quest for Treatment | Dr. João Pereira
A Fatal Nerve Disease and the Quest for Treatment | Dr. João Pereira Jun 24, 2026 00:59:41 What does it take to study a fatal motor neuron disease with no cure?In this episode of Why Research Matters, Varunika Goyal speaks with Dr. João Pereira, a neuroscientist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, about ALS, neurodegeneration, and the race to change the future of this devastating disease.Dr. Pereira explains why ALS is so difficult to diagnose and treat, how patient-derived stem
The AI Shift: How Leaders Can Avoid Falling Behind? | Dr. Steven Miller
The AI Shift: How Leaders Can Avoid Falling Behind? | Dr. Steven Miller Jun 18, 2026 01:21:42 What makes some research organizations produce meaningful, high-impact work while others struggle, even with talent and resources?In this episode of Why Research Matters, Varunika Goyal speaks with Professor Steven Miller, Professor Emeritus of Information Systems at Singapore Management University and founding dean of SMU’s School of Computing and Information Systems. Drawing on his experience ac
Why Sensor Research Matters: Smart Devices & Privacy | Dr. Jun Han
Why Sensor Research Matters: Smart Devices & Privacy | Dr. Jun Han Jun 8, 2026 01:07:20 Can your phone, laptop, smartwatch, or robot vacuum reveal more about you than you realize?In this episode of Why Research Matters, Dr. Varunika Goyal speaks with Dr. Jun Han, Associate Professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and head of the Sensing Intelligence and Cyber-Physical Security Lab. His research explores how everyday sensors can capture hidden signals, recon
Why Computational Biology Matters? Infectious Diseases & Vaccine Strategies| Neha Bansal
Why Computational Biology Matters? Infectious Diseases & Vaccine Strategies| Neha Bansal May 28, 2026 00:56:00 Can mathematics, computational biology, and AI help us predict how infectious diseases spread?In this episode of Why Research Matters, Varunika Goyal speaks with Neha Bansal, a computational biology researcher at Cardiff University, about how mathematical models help scientists understand infectious diseases like malaria, COVID-19, Ebola, and HIV.Neha explains how compartment models, agent-based m
How Do We Measure Climate Impact? (It’s More Complex Than You Think)| Mr. Abhimanyu Rathi| RenewCred
How Do We Measure Climate Impact? (It’s More Complex Than You Think)| Mr. Abhimanyu Rathi| RenewCred May 11, 2026 00:56:24 The conversation delves into the measurement of climate change impact, the journey of a chemical engineer into climate impact, the policy and funding aspects of climate change projects, the verification and methodologies for carbon credits, challenges and improvements in carbon credit methodologies, and the role of companies in carbon credit offsetting. The conversation covers the decarbonization
Why Effective Communication in STEM Matters | Dr. Yulia Akisheva
Why Effective Communication in STEM Matters | Dr. Yulia Akisheva Mar 30, 2026 01:19:35 What if the problem isn’t your research… but how it’s communicated?In this episode of Why Research Matters, I sit down with Yulia Akisheva to explore a gap most scientists feel but rarely talk about: the distance between doing great science and making it understood.From fear of sounding “not smart enough” to the reality that people remember only a tiny fraction of what we say, this conversation di
ANIMAL CAREGIVERS-The unsung HEROES of research | Venus Moore
ANIMAL CAREGIVERS-The unsung HEROES of research | Venus Moore Feb 6, 2026 00:36:08 We talk a lot about research breakthroughs—but rarely about the people who make research possible long before any data is collected.In this episode of Why Research Matters, I’m joined by Venus Moore, an animal care professional whose work sits at the ethical and emotional core of biomedical research.She spends her days caring for research animals, noticing what others might miss, and carrying resp

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