As a young man, Perkins developed cost justifications for huge infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank and other aid organizations. Recognizing the harm wrought by his work, Perkins suffered a crisis of conscious, leaving his lucrative position and eventually telling all in his international bestseller, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. … Read more »

Habitat destruction, desertification, biodiversity loss—these signatures of planetary abuse mark our decline into a dystopian future of degraded landscapes. According to ecologist and filmmaker John D. Liu, it doesn’t have to be that way! … Read more »

The concept of the “American Dream” has been a key part of the cultural conversation in the U.S. since at least World War II—the white collar job, the house with a picket fence, keeping up with the Joneses—all have come to signify the attainment of success in America. But what of those who leave the United States in order to attain that dream? … Read more »

Miles O’Brien is a veteran journalist who focuses on science, technology and aerospace—and is an accomplished pilot and aviation enthusiast. His award-winning journalism has earned him six Emmys, a Peabody and a DuPont for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina. … Read more »

Award-winning science journalist Erik Vance explores the power of the brain to heal our bodies and color our lived experience in Suggestible You: The Curious Science of Your Brain’s Ability to Deceive, Transform, and Heal. Throughout, he sheds light on the surprising ways that our expectations and beliefs can influence our bodily responses to pain, disease, and everyday events. … Read more »

Not everyone caught up in the turmoil at the U.S.-Mexico border is an innocent victim. Author and journalist David Lida comes to the aid of undocumented immigrants accused of capital crimes, working with the legal defense team as a “mitigation specialist.” … Read more »

Evolutionary biologist Rob Dunn investigates microbes and their hosts in the places where we live. Our homes may be one of the most novel habitats on the planet, with diverse ecological niches—showerheads and toilets, doormats and pillows, freezers and stovetops, cats and dogs, cleaning products and bathtub rings—plus all manner of manmade materials and imported foodstuffs. We share our homes with hundreds of thousands of species, a large proportion of which are unnamed and previously unknown to science. … Read more »

Pamela Ronald, distinguished professor of Plant Pathology and Genetics at the University of California at Davis, knows that meeting the challenge of producing enough food to feed our growing population will take every trick in the book. Prof. Ronald investigates how food plants respond to environmental stresses, and develops strategies employing genetic techniques to help plants thrive. … Read more »

Award-winning investigative science journalist, Maryn McKenna, has taken a deep dive into the antibiotic crisis, and her findings are as chilling as they are illuminating. Her 2017 bestseller, Big Chicken: The Incredible Story of How Antibiotics Created Modern Agriculture and Changed the Way the World Eats, traces chicken’s meteoric rise from scarce treat to ubiquitous global commodity, and reveals the astounding role antibiotics have played in industrial farming. … Read more »

Hedrick Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter and editor and Emmy award-winning producer/correspondent, takes on some of the most vexing political issues of our times: economic inequality, dark money, voter rights, campaign financing and more. … Read more »