Flora has produced science media for 20 years across many formats. She got her start right here at Science Friday, working her way up from intern to fill-in host, and resident videographer. From there, she worked as a video producer for The New York Times, co-creating an Emmy-nominated film series that dramatized scientific discoveries using… paper puppets. She also was nominated for an Emmy for her writing on Bill Nye’s Netflix show “Bill Nye Saves the World.” She has created and launched a number of podcasts in various roles, including hosting Gimlet’s beloved “Every Little Thing,” which connected listeners to experts who could answer their burning questions. The show ran for five years and published over 200 episodes. In her previous role as Hypothesis Fund Managing Editor, she told the stories of world-class scientists pursuing bold new ideas in a new storytelling initiative, The Leap.
Making science accessible, relatable, and human has been a focus of Flora’s career. Some of her inspiration comes from her own experience in science: Long, long ago, she worked at a NATO oceanographic lab in Italy. For the lab’s research expeditions, she lived on a ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.
You can find her @flichtman on social media platforms.
What Do We Know About SSRI Antidepressant Withdrawal?
Without robust long-term data, physicians and patients continue debating the severity and significance of SSRI withdrawal symptoms.
Asha de Vos’ Journey From Deck Hand To Marine Science Leader
Growing up, Asha de Vos didn’t know of any Sri Lankans studying marine mammals. So she became the first.
Can Better Equipment Eliminate Concussions In Sports?
Head injuries are considered a normal risk of high-impact sports like football. Better helmets and guidelines aim to make athletes safer.
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Why Painters Are Obsessed With The Duck Stamp Art Contest
Duck stamps help fund wetland conservation across the country. The art that adorns them is chosen through a beloved (and intense) competition.
Is Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Connected To Autism?
We dig into the details of the science of Tylenol and autism with a researcher who led one of the largest studies on the topic.
How Illinois Volunteers Brought Back The Kankakee Mallow
To save the rare flower from disappearing, a group of volunteers simulated rolling wildfires on a tiny island near Chicago.
The Humble Microbe Could Help Us Understand Life Itself
Unlocking the basic science of microbes, especially those that live in extreme environments, could help us find life elsewhere in the universe.
Raising A New Generation Of Bat Conservationists In West Africa
Bats are understudied in West Africa. An ecologist couple is building a network of bat conservationists to boost research and conservation.
A Trailblazing Geneticist Reflects On Her Life And Work
Dr. Mary-Claire King was the first to link a gene to hereditary cancer risk with the identification of BRCA1. She was just getting started.
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Teamwork Between Species Is The Key To Life Itself
“The Call of the Honeyguide” traces the mutualisms found throughout nature, from hunting pairs to the microbes all around us.