Natalia Pasternak - founder and President of Brazil's "A Question of Science Institute"

Recorded at CSICON 2019. Dr. Natalia Pasternak earned a bachelor degree in Biology from Institute of Biosciences of the University of São Paulo and a PhD and two postdoctoral fellowships in Microbiology, in the field of Bacterial Genetics at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences.   She is a founding partner and president of “A Question of Science” Institute, the first Brazilian nonprofit for the promotion of skepticism and rational thinking, and publisher of the magazine Question of Science. Natalia Pasternak is co-author of the book "Neuro-Mythbusters, Vol II" and author of the book Everyday Science. She is also the founder of the initiative "Scientists Explain", which offers lectures, classes, and workshops for schools, universities, museums and research institutes; and she ran the Brazilian chapter of the international science communication festival Pint of Science from 2016-19.

In this conversation we discuss so called alternative medicine in Brazil; Dr.s and Homeopathy (WHAT!?); irrational use of public funds to pay for ineffective treatments; the limits of regulatory agencies; Quack cancer cure folly in Brazil; the success of the Brazilian genetically edited Brown bean; the importance of good science communication; and more. This episode may also be viewed here. [email protected]