Stony Brook University’s College of Arts and Sciences has launched a new podcast titled “The Difference You Make: The Ideas That Matter.” The series is hosted by Dean David Wrobel and features conversations with faculty members about their research, scholarship, and mentorship. According to the university, the podcast aims to highlight how academic ideas contribute to new knowledge and understanding, both in the physical world and in society.
“I’m excited to launch ‘The Difference You Make: The Ideas That Matter’ podcast after months of planning and preparation, and couldn’t be happier with the guidance, support and contributions my team has received along the way,” said Wrobel. “The conversations have been excellent, and I cannot wait to share them with our community. It’s another wonderful opportunity to celebrate the intellectual life of the College.”
The first episode, released on September 17, featured Barry Barish, a Nobel Laureate in Physics and President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics at Stony Brook. Barish discussed his career path driven by curiosity, his work on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), which led to a Nobel Prize in 2017 for detecting gravitational waves, as well as mentorship he received from another Nobel Laureate during his undergraduate studies. He also spoke about his research on sub-atomic particles and receiving honors such as the National Medal of Science. Barish continues to teach and mentor students at Stony Brook.
The second episode was released on September 24 with Alfredo Fontanini, professor and chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. Fontanini talked about his research into taste perception—a field he entered partly by coincidence—and its relationship with emotions. He described how studying taste was almost destined for him due to his personal interest in food flavors. Fontanini also addressed how taste interacts with olfaction (the sense of smell) in shaping experiences.
Listeners can access episodes weekly on Wednesdays via Spotify or through the College of Arts and Sciences’ YouTube channel.