#08 Laura Spinney on the 1918 Flu Pandemic, the Origins of Language, and the Complexity of Identity

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Shaping Science

The New York Academy of Sciences

9 episodes

2 weeks ago

Welcome to the "Shaping Science" podcast where we talk with experts from science, academia, industry, and beyond to explore the latest in research, education and innovation for the public good. Episodes are released on a bi-monthly basis. Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of the Tata Group.

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#08 Laura Spinney on the 1918 Flu Pandemic, the Origins of Language, and the Complexity of Identity

Shaping Science

48 minutes 44 seconds

3 weeks ago

#08 Laura Spinney on the 1918 Flu Pandemic, the Origins of Language, and the Complexity of Identity

Laura Spinney joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss how the “Spanish” flu got its name, why societies change over time, and the role of genetics and DNA in understanding language origins in Eastern Europe. Laura Spinney is a science journalist and author whose work explores how science, society, and culture intersect. She is best known for her international bestseller Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World’ which redefined how we understand pandemics and their social aftermath. A fluent writer in both English and French, Spinney contributes to The Economist, The Guardian, Nature, and National Geographic. Her latest book ‘Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global traces how one language left the steppes of Ukraine and went on to become the dominant language family on Earth.

Shaping Science is made possible with the generous supportof Tata Sons. For more info, visit:nyas.org/ideas-insights/podcasts/

00:00 Intro
03:46 Collective Memory and the 1918 Flu Pandemic
09:20 Why Was it Called the “Spanish” Flu?
13:42 Using Linguistics, Archeology, and Genetics to Explore the Origins of Language
17:14 Language and its Relationship to Politics
25:15 The Role of Genetics and DNA in Understanding Language Origins in Eastern Europe
35:52 Adaptability: How Societies Change Socially and Economically Over Time
40:43 A Global Tableau: Explaining the Complexity of Identity
44:00 How to Make History Resonate with Younger Audiences