Rethinking scientific careers in a changing world

In the final episode of the ISC podcast series, produced with the support of the China Association for Science and Technology, science journalist Izzie Clarke speaks with Professor Yongguan Zhu (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice-President for Membership of the ISC) and Dr Charah Watson (Scientific Research Council, Jamaica) about how scientists can collaborate across disciplines, sectors, and borders.The conversation explores what “science without boundaries” truly means - from citizen science and Indigenous knowledge to the role of mentorship, communication, and persistence in building global scientific communities. Both guests share personal insights on how to create opportunities, overcome obstacles, and foster inclusive and interdisciplinary research for a sustainable future.

In the this episode, science journalist Izzie Clarke speaks with Lori Foster, President of the International Association of Applied Psychology, and Yensi Flores Bueso, Co-Chair of the Global Young Academy, about the mental health and well-being of early- and mid-career researchers. The discussion explores how structural pressures – from precarious contracts and hyper-competition to cultural expectations of constant productivity – affect motivation, collaboration, and mental resilience across the research ecosystem. Both guests highlight that protecting researchers’ well-being is not only a moral duty but essential for the sustainability and creativity of science itself.

In the fourth episode of the ISC podcast series Scientific careers in a changing world, science journalist Izzie Clarke speaks with Professor Rashid Sumaila, Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the University of British Columbia, and Dr Mia Strand, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Nelson Mandela University. Together, they explore how transdisciplinary research is shaping the future of ocean science and why collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and communities is essential to address pressing global challenges.The discussion highlights the leadership role of early- and mid-career researchers in pushing boundaries, fostering equitable approaches, and integrating diverse forms of knowledge.

The International Science Council and its Member, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), in partnership with Nature, have launched a new six-part podcast series exploring the evolving landscape of research careers. Across the series, early- and mid-career researchers will be in conversation with senior scientists, sharing experiences of growth, collaboration, and resilience in the face of rapid change. In this third episode, Mercè Crosas, Director of Computational Social Science and Humanities at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and Mohammad Hosseini, Assistant Professor of Ethics at Northwestern University, discuss how AI and digitalization are transforming scientific careers and the research process - from framing research questions to analysing data and publishing results. 

What does it take to turn science into action on the global stage? In this second episode, science journalist Izzie Clarke speaks with two leading voices in science diplomacy: Professor Zakri Hamid, former Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and María Estelí Jarquín, ISC Governing Board member and international relations manager at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Together, they reflect on their career paths and share candid insights on how researchers can build meaningful careers in science policy, diplomacy, and advisory roles. From advising prime ministers to navigating international negotiations, they offer candid reflections and practical advice on the skills, mindset, and opportunities that matter most.

This opening episode explores how today’s rapidly changing scientific landscape impacts early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). Professor Robbert Dijkgraaf and Dr Baojing Gu discuss career uncertainty, access to resources, international collaboration, and balancing personal responsibilities, while sharing real examples of the support available. The conversation highlights why addressing these barriers is vital for the future of science and society.

In this last episode, we invite Cory Doctorow, a science fiction author, activist, and journalist from Canada. He is the author of many books, most recently The Lost Cause, a solarpunk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate emergency. Our conversation touches on digital rights management, social justice and sustainability in the digital world.

Qiufan Chen is an award-winning Chinese speculative fiction writer, author of Waste Tide and co-author of AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future. He is also a research scholar at Yale University and a fellow of Berggruen Institute. Our main discussion centres around artificial intelligence, how we can harness the power of this technology while avoiding the dangers it poses.

This fourth episode invites Fernanda Trías, an award-winning writer from Uruguay and an instructor of creative writing in Colombia. She has published a short story collection and four novels, including the English-translated book Pink Slime. We ask her whether horror can bring about change, and why there is the need to integrate the arts and sciences.

In this third episode, we invite Vandana Singh, a science fiction writer hailing from India, to speak about her views on the science and fiction intersection. She is also a transdisciplinary scholar of climate change and a professor of physics and environment. We discuss the limits of data, the power of narrative, and whether our conception of time could help us think about responsibility in science.