{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F26facb02-85c2-4d7d-b164-69aa7a5a3556","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"What Nature Can Teach Us with John Dabiri","description":"\u00a0John Dabiri is a MacArthur Fellow and Centennial Chair Professor at the California Institute of Technology. John\u2019s research focuses on unsteady fluid mechanics and flow physics, with particular emphasis on topics relevant to biology, energy, and the environment. While serving as a Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering at Caltech from 2005 to 2015, John was also the Director of the Center for Bioinspired Wind Energy, Chair of the Faculty, and Dean of Students. From 2015 to 2019, he served as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and received his Master of Science in Aeronautics from Caltech, where he also earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering with a minor in Aeronautics. In addition to his work at Caltech, John serves on President Biden's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, among other advisory boards.\u00a0Today, you\u2019ll hear John and I explore what nature can teach us about engineering systems, heart health, and optimizing wind farms. He describes his life growing up in Toledo, how a summer internship introduced him to the world of jellyfish, and how studying jellyfish quickly morphed into the focus of his life\u2019s work. He recounts stories from his stint as a technical consultant for Nope (2022) and shares his thoughts on the sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, and its portrayal of academic life at Caltech. You\u2019ll also gain insight into solving the diversity problem in physics and engineering and why tapping the curiosity of young minds can inspire more students to pursue STEM.\u00a0\u201cCuriosity is a unique lens by which we can explore the world around us, and the outcomes from that would be the technologies that could revolutionize climate, space, and medicine.\u201d - John Dabiri\u00a0This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:\u00a0\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John\u2019s background and family history\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How John\u2019s parents navigated their identity and race in America\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carrying forward Nigerian traditions\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John\u2019s high school experience and why he chose Mechanical Engineering for his college path\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How he transitioned from an undergraduate degree in Mechanical engineering to a doctoral in Bioengineering with a minor in Aerodynamics\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How John wound up studying jellyfish after pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Why mentors play an important role in a PhD student\u2019s life\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What jellyfish can teach us about submarines, heart health, and wind farms\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What it\u2019s like to receive the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship award\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Why Dr. Jellyfish can\u2019t swim\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Big Bang Theory\u2019s portrayal of academic life at Caltech\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Working with Jordan Peele for the 2022 movie, Nope\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Solving the diversity problem in physics and engineering\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How we can inspire more young people to join STEM\u00a0Our Favorite Quotes:\u00a0\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe application of tech is a nice motivation, but we can tap into the curiosity of a five-year-old to draw them into science, even if there\u2019s no immediate application.\u201d - John Dabiri\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI fell in love with taking the same mindset I used in taking apart video games and cars into understanding how biological systems work\u2014how these very simple bags of water in a jellyfish can swim through the ocean.\u201d - John Dabiri\u00a0Connect with John Dabiri:\u00a0\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dabiri Lab (https://dabirilab.com/)\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/1dfd0129-13dd-4580-97c9-75e77f559ffc/1472142-1680641322.jpg"}