Alexa Lim was a senior producer for the Science Friday radio production team, which means you could find her on the phone researching stories throughout the week and at a heightened level of anxiety every Friday between 2-4 p.m. E.T. A few of her favorite interviews have involved orchestrating a live physics game show, sound-checking with the International Space Station, and learning how to ask where the bathroom is in Dothraki.
After brief stints in an oncology lab and in the exotic world of science textbook publishing, she found her way into public radio through an internship at StoryCorps. Before joining Science Friday, she produced Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio and for the JazzStories podcast, where she discovered that the jazz harp is an underrated instrument.
Alexa grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in biology. She can confirm that there is no basement in the Alamo.
16:38
‘Lab Girl’: The Pursuit of Sanctuary, and Science, Inside the Lab
In the memoir “Lab Girl,” geobiologist Hope Jahren unlocks the secrets of plants and the personal discoveries behind the pursuit of science.
11:54
Canvassing Conversations, Animal Organ Transplants, and a Stumble in Providing Internet Access
Changing attitudes through canvassing and the Angolan “Wikipedia Zero” project.
8:06
Climate and the Collapse of Ancient Civilizations
How did climate change affect the boom-and-bust cycles of of ancient Southwest civilizations in the United States?
17:17
Sorting Out Social Media Feeds
Why did Instagram’s announcement of a new way of filtering its photos set off a public outcry?
07:54
Spot the Spoof Science Study
How good are you at picking out an authentic research study from a spoof?
11:51
Universal ‘Not Face,’ Alien Laser Defense, and Traffic Control for Robot Cars
A look at the universal “not face,” and what the future might be like with no stop lights.
12:15
Reservoir Rules, Killer Prairie Dogs, and Wine Weather
Rethinking the rules of running reservoirs, and will climate change help wine makers?
34:05
From Clipper Chip to Smartphones: Unlocking the Encryption Debate
In the ‘90s, the Clipper Chip was the big government encryption case. Two Science Friday guests involved in that early debate rejoin us to weigh in on the Apple argument.
12:00
DARPA ‘Improv’ Challenge, a Tiny T-Rex, and Plastic Homes for Sea Life
DARPA turns to the crowd to find “off-the-shelf” threats, and a look at how floating plastic waste can provide a home for sea life.
26:19
Teaching Climate Change Science in the Classroom
A panel of education experts discuss challenges and approaches to teaching climate change science in the classroom.