Katie Hafner

In this enlightening discussion, Katie Hafner, host of The Lost Women of Science podcast, sheds light on Frances Oldham Kelsey's heroic stand against thalidomide in the 1960s. The brutal impact of this drug on innocent lives is explored, along with the remarkable perseverance Kelsey showed in resisting industry pressure. Hafner emphasizes the critical importance of drug safety regulation and the lessons learned from Kelsey’s steadfast dedication to public health. This captivating story resonates with today’s ongoing debates about pharmaceutical ethics.

Katie Hafner, journalist and co-creator of Lost Women of Science, recounts the life of Katharine Burr Blodgett, a pioneering physicist-chemist. She describes months of archival sleuthing and why Blodgett’s molecule-thin coatings led to nonreflective glass. The conversation touches on early nanotechnology, barriers women faced in science, and a surprising archival discovery.

The Matilda Effect was coined in 1993 and explains the phenomenon of women’s historical contributions to science getting forgotten over time. These women are not only left out of history books, but also subjected to men taking credit for their work. Daily Show writer Nicole Conlan and host of the podcast Lost Women of Science, Katie Hafner, join Roy Wood Jr. to uncover why women and girls get overlooked in the sciences and how this can be improved through representation and exposure. Original Air Date: March 21, 2023 Beyond the Scenes is a podcast from The Daily Show. Listen to new episodes every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts, or watch at YouTube.com/TheDaily Show  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices