As Science Friday’s director and senior producer, Charles Bergquist channels the chaos of a live production studio into something sounding like a radio program. He coordinates in-studio activities each week from 1-4. And then collapses. He also produces pieces for the radio show. His favorite topics involve planetary sciences, chemistry, materials, and shiny things with blinking lights.
Charles has been at Science Friday longer than anyone on staff except Ira, and so serves as a repository of sometimes useful, sometimes useless knowledge about the program. He remembers the time an audience member decided to recite a love poem during a live remote broadcast, the time the whole staff went for ice cream at midnight in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the name of that guy Ira is trying to remember from a few years back who did something with space.
He hails from southeastern Pennsylvania and worked for a while as a demonstrator at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia’s science museum (favorite devices: Maillardet’s Automaton, the stream table, the Chladni plates). He has a degree in chemistry from the University of Delaware, home of the Fighting Blue Hens, and a master’s in journalism from New York University’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program. However, he attended the program prior to the addition of ‘Health’ to its name, which may explain his slight unease when covering medical topics.
Outside the walls of Science Friday, he enjoys backpacking, camping, cooking not-entirely-healthy things, reading escapist fiction, and trying to unravel his children’s complicated stories.
34:11
Looking At The Brain For Hidden War Wounds
Military doctors are starting to pay more attention to concussions and other traumatic brain injuries on the battlefield.
11:43
Tracking Nighttime Bird Migrations, by Sound
Researchers are trying to build a network of computerized sensors that identify birds based on the short chirps they make while in flight.
16:59
Eight (or More) Reasons to be Amazed by the Octopus
Octopus researchers help kick off our annual Cephalopod Week celebrations with a look at the octopus, from its genes to its outlook on life.
9:40
Melding Biology and Chemistry in a ‘Bionic Leaf’
A “bionic leaf” combines advanced catalysts with engineered bacteria to produce hydrocarbon fuels from light, water, and carbon dioxide.
11:50
Progress on a Universal Cancer Vaccine, an Inflatable Space Habitat, and Blocking Mobile Ads
A tool for recruiting the immune system to fight cancer, and a look at mobile ad-blocking software.
25:11
Back to the Future of Electronic Newspapers
Will people ever want to get their news on a computer? Science Friday dips into its archives for a look at the past—and future—of electronic newspapers.
12:03
Dog Longevity, Depression Treatments, and the Trouble With Wolves
An old drug’s new tricks could prolong your dog’s life, plus the controversy over wild wolves and their management.
11:54
Wireless 5G Data, Earth’s Magnetic Bubble, and a Sea Star Mystery
Engineers are competing to build faster wireless data speeds to accommodate streaming video and virtual reality.
16:54
To Answer Questions About Your World, You Took a Sample
The Science Club meets to review responses to its #TakeASample challenge.
12:04
Preparing for a Stellar Show
Dean Regas shares tips for viewing the upcoming transit of Mercury, and other sights in the spring skies.