Speaker Profile

Carl Zimmer

New York Times columnist & author of 14 books on science

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VIRTUAL SESSION ONLY

Carl Zimmer writes the Matter column for The New York Times, and has also frequently contributed to The Atlantic, National Geographic, Time, and Scientific American. He is the author of 14 books about science, including Life's Edge and She Has Her Mother's Laugh. He is a three-time winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Science Journalism Award, among a host of other awards and fellowships.

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Scheduled Appearances

CRISPR and the Future of Genetic Engineering

Crosscut Festival 2023
Wed May 3, 2023 | 2:00pm

Jennifer Doudna, co-founder of the CRISPR gene-editing tool that offers incredible opportunities to treat or cure diseases, develop crops resistant to pests and diseases, and livestock more efficient at producing meat and milk. There are also risks, including the concern that it could lead to a new class of "designer babies," among many ethical concerns. Where do we go from here?

WATCH SESSION

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Featuring: Jennifer Doudna, Carl Zimmer

Psychedelics and Our Mental Health

Crosscut Festival 2023
Sat May 6, 2023 | 11:30am

Psychedelics, like Ketamine, LSD and Psilocybin, have been shown to be effective in treating many mental health conditions. Ketamine was approved by the FDA, and it's likely that more psychedelics will be legalized in the coming years. While they may offer new hope for people who have not responded to traditional treatments, there are many concerns about safety and a lot of questions to ask.

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Sunil
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Featuring: Nathan Sackett, Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, Carl Zimmer

Featured Books

Ideas Festival supports local booksellers. Titles below can be purchased at Elliott Bay Book Company.

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About the Festival

The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival brings together journalists, newsmakers, and innovators from around the country to talk about the issues that are animating our cultural conversations. The festival includes live recordings of television and podcasts from The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Pushkin, NPR and PBS; as well as community meetups, meet-and-greets, food trucks, DJs, and more.

The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival will take place May 4, 2024, at the Amazon Meeting Center, 2031 Seventh Ave. Seattle, WA 98121.

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