Wendy Zukerman

{{Short description|Australian-American podcaster and science journalist}}

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Wendy Zukerman is an Australian-American science journalist and podcaster. She is best known as the host of Science Vs, a program that dissects areas of scientific controversy and public confusion.

About

Zukerman was born in the United States but raised in Melbourne, Australia. She attended Monash University and received a biomedical science and law degree.{{Cite web|url=http://www.walkleys.com/storyology/speakers-2014/wendy-zukerman/|title=Wendy Zukerman|date=2014|website=The Walkley Foundation|language=en|access-date=2018-04-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/20/1077072837118.html|title=Drop in, don't drop out - Education - www.theage.com.au|date=23 February 2004|website=www.theage.com.au|publisher=The Age Company Ltd|access-date=2018-04-14}}

She has worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on the documentary television program, Catalyst, and the consumer affairs television program The Checkout.{{Cite news|url=http://australianaudioguide.com/makers/wendy-zukerman/|title=Wendy Zukerman|work=Australian Audio Guide|access-date=2018-04-14|language=en-US}} Additionally, she has written for many different publications including New Scientist magazine,{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/author/wendy-zukerman/|title = Wendy Zukerman|website=New Scientist |accessdate=17 February 2020}} Cosmos magazine,{{cite web | title=Wendy Zukerman | website=Cosmos Magazine | date=9 May 2016 | url=https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributors/wendy-zukerman | access-date=14 April 2018}} The Age, The Australian, and Saturday Paper.{{Cite web|url=https://www.techly.com.au/author/wendy-zukerman/|title=Wendy Zukerman, Author|website=Techly|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-14}}

In 2014 and 2015, she spoke at Storyology, an annual festival of journalism and media. In March 2018, she spoke at a SXSW, in a panel event called, "What Podcasts Ate for Dinner".{{Cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2018/speakers/9982|title=Events: Wendy Zukerman|date=2018|website=SXSW 2018 Schedule|language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}{{Cite news|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2018/events/PP75408|title=What Podcasts Eat for Dinner: How to Feed a Show|work=SXSW 2018 Schedule|access-date=2018-04-14|language=en-US}}

In 2021, Zukerman was amongst the first nominees of The Podcast Academy's new "Ambie" awards. She was one of seven nominees for the Best Host award.

{{Cite news|title=Podcast Academy Unveils 164 Nominees for Inaugural Ambies Awards (Full List)| last=Spangler|first=Todd |date= March 4, 2021 |access-date=May 11, 2021 | website=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/podcast-academy-unveils-ambies-awards-nominees-full-list-1234921775/#!

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''Science Vs''

Since October 2015, her podcast Science Vs has been produced by Gimlet Media, a Brooklyn-based digital media company.{{Cite news|url=https://theweekendedition.com.au/the-locals/wendy-zukerman/|title=Wendy Zukerman, Science Vs Interview|work=The Weekend Edition, What's on in Brisbane|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://podcastingpro.com/podcaster-profile-wendy-zukerman-science-vs/|title=Podcaster Profile: Wendy Zukerman of Science Vs - Podcasting Pro|date=2017-05-02|work=Podcasting Pro|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/a38188/wendy-zukerman-open-tabs/|title=Wendy Zukerman Goes Head to Head With Fracking, Gun Control, and...the G-Spot|date=2016-07-29|work=ELLE|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-US}} The show was previously produced and distributed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) as part of ABC Radio's First Run podcast program.{{Cite news|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/abc-to-lose-popular-science-vs-podcast-as-format-and-presenter-snapped-up-by-us-outfit-326425|title=ABC to lose popular Science Vs podcast as format and presenter snapped up by US outfit - Mumbrella|date=2015-10-26|work=Mumbrella|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-US}}{{cite web | title=Podcast pick of the week: 'Science Vs' | website=USA TODAY | date=20 September 2016 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/09/19/podcast-pick-week-science-vs/90715064/ | access-date=14 April 2018}} The podcast works on communicating science to non-scientists. The show takes a myth-busting approach, and topics on the show generally come from controversial topics or current events. Episode topics have included immigration, gun control, ghosts, climate change, acne, and antidepressants, among others.{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/gist/2017/03/wendy_zukerman_on_season_two_of_science_vs.html|title=Cold, Hard Facts With Wendy Zukerman|last=Pesca|first=Mike|date=2017-03-20|work=Slate|access-date=2018-04-14|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/opinion-11-best-science-podcasts-30476|title=Opinion: 11 Best Science Podcasts|date=29 December 2017|first=Matthew|last=Eckwahl|website=The Scientist|access-date=15 July 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/best-science-podcasts-will-make-you-smarter-2018-1#science-vs-11|title=15 of the best science podcasts that will make you smarter|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-04-14}} Zukerman has said that the idea for Science Vs came from news headlines about Gwyneth Paltrow wanting women to participate in a "health practice" of vaginal steaming, which she thought could combine science with humor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wheelercentre.com/notes/working-with-sound-wendy-zukerman|title=Working with Sound: Wendy Zukerman|date=2017-04-03|work=The Wheeler Centre|access-date=2018-04-14|publisher=Audiocraft}} Zukerman summarized her podcast's position against false equivalences, saying, "If there's a 95 percent consensus among scientists, you report the consensus."

References

External links

{{imdb name|5304598}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.gimletmedia.com/science-vs/all|title=Gimlet | Science Vs - All Episodes|website=gimletmedia.com|accessdate=2018-04-12}}
{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/148147451|title=People want facts - Wendy Zukerman at Storyology 2015 on Vimeo|website=vimeo.com|date=7 December 2015 |accessdate=2018-04-12}}
{{Twitter}}
{{TikTok}}

Category:21st-century American journalists

Category:21st-century Australian journalists

Category:21st-century Australian women journalists

Category:American emigrants to Australia

Category:American women podcasters

Category:Australian women podcasters

Category:Australian women scientists

Category:Jewish women scientists

Category:Journalists from Melbourne

Category:Living people

Category:Monash University alumni

Category:Mass media people from Melbourne