Science with Impact

Science with Impact
Podcast Description
🧪 Exploring science's Impact on society 🌎
Science with Impact is hosted by Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D., who is dedicated to connecting everyday life and stories to recent advancements in scientific research.
Known for engaging interviews with impactful scientists, Dr. Rosa speaks to researchers and STEM enthusiasts eager to explore how science shapes society. She founded the Cuvette Collective, a team of scientists and creatives, to help research scientists measure and communicate the broader impacts of their work.
Comment to nominate an impactful scientist to be interviewed on the podcast! sciencewithimpact.substack.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes including science education, equity in STEM, mentorship, and practical applications of scientific research. Episodes like 'Making Education Research Work for Real Classrooms' with Ryan Johnson focus on bridging the gap between research and practice in chemistry education, while '5 Qualities of Exceptional STEM Mentorship' discusses effective mentorship strategies in STEM, highlighting both educator and student perspectives.

🧪 Exploring science’s Impact on society 🌎
Science with Impact is hosted by Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D., who is dedicated to connecting everyday life and stories to recent advancements in scientific research.
Known for engaging interviews with impactful scientists, Dr. Rosa speaks to researchers and STEM enthusiasts eager to explore how science shapes society. She founded the Cuvette Collective, a team of scientists and creatives, to help research scientists measure and communicate the broader impacts of their work.
Comment to nominate an impactful scientist to be interviewed on the podcast!
How can scientists align discovery with societal needs—and why is listening just as critical as leading?
Today on the Science with Impact Podcast,Bradley D. Olsen, professor of chemical engineering at MIT, shares how researchers can thoughtfully navigate the intersection of science and societal impact. From his pioneering work in polymer chemistry and cheminformatics to international outreach and advancing digital education, Brad reflects on the importance of humility, collaboration, and open-mindedness in driving meaningful change.
🤔 Who is this for?
- Research scientists seeking to broaden the real-world impact of their work.
- Graduate students and postdocs exploring the scientist–engineer continuum
- Outreach professionals and program designers developing culturally sensitive initiatives
Brad’s journey shows why solving the right problem starts with listening—to society, funders, and diverse voices. He reflects on how science and engineering intersect, what international outreach taught him about humility, and how lifelong learning and embracing failure drive innovation. He also shares how data tools are advancing polymer chemistry and why early digital literacy empowers the next generation.
🔑 Key Takeaway: Scientific progress depends on more than discovery—it requires listening, collaboration, and empowering others to contribute.
⌚️ Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Problem Solving in Science
01:00 The Importance of Societal Impact in Research
01:40 Meet Brad Olson: Background and Collaborations
02:30 Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists
05:05 The Intersection of Science and Engineering
06:00 Challenges in Measuring Outreach Impact
10:48 International Outreach and Cultural Sensitivity
15:23 The Joy of Lifelong Learning
20:26 Advancing Polymer Chemistry Through Data Tools
24:16 The Paradigm Shift in Polymer Chemistry
24:45 Challenges in Chem Informatics
25:36 Understanding Polymer Mixtures
26:20 Capturing Molecular Diversity
27:04 Innovative Data Tools for Polymers
27:45 The Importance of Learning and Creativity
29:04 Developing a Stochastic Representation
31:00 Analogies in Scientific Discovery
34:04 Educational Challenges and Innovations
42:13 Balancing Science and Communication
45:24 Environmental Passion and Personal Reflections
48:46 Future of Scientists in Society
📣 GuestBradley D. Olsen, Ph.D. | Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Host:
Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D., is the founder of Science with Impact, where we partner with research organizations to translate STEM advancements into measurable societal benefits beyond academia.
🙌🏽 Want to collaborate?
If you know of a research organization seeking support in:
Measuring (program evaluation, statistics/data analysis, and reporting) or
Communicating (illustration/animation, data visualization, and presentations)
the impact of their STEM research, click here to connect them with Dr. Rosa.
❤️ Love the cause?
Our mission is to provide grants and supplemental awards to research scientists and organizations that have a broader societal impact.
To support this mission, we've established a nonprofit.
Click this link to donate to a specific initiative.
🙌🏽 Enjoying the content?
Here are 3 things you can do to help other research scientists see this content:
- Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and receive case studies, conversations, and resources for broadening the societal impacts of STEM research.
- Subscribeto or review our podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or Substack to help others interested in impactful science find us!
- Do you know someone who embodies the phrase ”impactful scientist?” If so, please click here to nominate a speaker.
Thank you for all you do to broaden the societal impacts of STEM research.
Sincerely,
The Team at Science with Impact

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.