Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather and climate expert as well as the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Marshall received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. from Florida State University, becoming the first African American to receive a doctorate from the university’s Department of Meteorology. He joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he served first as a research meteorologist and later as the Deputy Project Scientist for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission. Today—in addition to directing the University of Georgia’s Atmospheric Sciences program—Marshall hosts the podcast, Weather Geeks, and is a regular contributor to Forbes Magazine.

Marshall joins us today to discuss the intersection of academia, science, and society. He discusses the three biases that hinder people from understanding science and explains how those biases can impact society’s decisions. He reveals what “zombie theories” are and how we can slay them. He also highlights the value of expanding personal and social experience and underscores how we can improve the way science is communicated to people.

“Use the lens of common sense to convey science—to make them understand that weather and climate impact their daily lives, the groceries they buy, and what diseases their kids are exposed to.” - Dr. Marshall Shepherd

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

●     Marshall’s background growing up in a small town in Georgia

●     Getting bitten by the weather bug and Marshall’s road to meteorology

●     Why we need to teach children not to downplay their intelligence to fit in

●     How math is like a muscle you can strengthen with practice

●     The Tropical Rainfall Mapping mission and Marshall’s stint at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

●     His transition to the University of Georgia

●     The intersection of academia, science, and society

●     Communicating climate change to everyday people

●     The currency of life and society versus the currency of academia

●     The three biases in understanding science and how they impact society

●     How society’s attitudes toward science can impact the next generation of scientists

●     The increasing job demand in STEM

●     Race relations and the importance of expanding your social and personal experience

●     What the “climate zombies” are and how to slay them

Resources Mentioned:

●     3 Kinds of Bias that Shape Your Worldview | J. Marshall Shepherd | TEDxUGA

Our Favorite Quotes:

●     “We all need to have an increased social and personal radius of experience. The more people, experience, travel, and exposure we can have in our circle, the more it creates a level of understanding that can get us where we want to be in society.” - Dr. Marshall Shepherd

●     “Climate change is the crisis of our time, and we have to act. We need an Apollo-level, Panama Canal-level, Manhattan Project-level response to climate change now.” - Dr. Marshall Shepherd

Connect with Dr. Marshall Shepherd:

●     Marshall Shepherd Website

●     Podcast: Weather Geeks

●     Book: The Race Awakening of 2020: A 6-Step Guide for Moving Forward

●     Book: 40 Days 40 Nights: Daily Tales (And Lessons) from a Suburban Home During the Coronavirus “Quarantine”

●     Marshall Shepherd on LinkedIn

●     Marshall Shepherd on Facebook

●     Marshall Shepherd on Instagram

●     Marshall Shepherd on Twitter

●     Marshall Shepherd on YouTube

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

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