Rita Colwell episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 6, 2026 · 45 MIN

Rita Colwell

from Scientess · host Karen Levy

Rita Colwell is a pioneering environmental microbiologist recognized for her study of how global infectious diseases spread through water sources. Her research has profoundly changed our understanding of diseases like cholera. She also uncovered critical links between climate, environmental change, and the spread of waterborne diseases. Beyond the lab, Rita has broken major glass ceilings: she served as the first female director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, was the 2010 recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize, and won the U.S. National Medal of Science in 2006. Her memoir, A Lab of One’s Own, chronicles her career. Fun fact- a mountain in Antarctica, the Colwell Massif, is named after her!Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 6, 2026

Embed this episode

Rita Colwell is a pioneering environmental microbiologist recognized for her study of how global infectious diseases spread through water sources. Her research has profoundly changed our understanding of diseases like cholera. She also uncovered critical links between climate, environmental change, and the spread of waterborne diseases. Beyond the lab, Rita has broken major glass ceilings: she served as the first female director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, was the 2010 recipient ...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

Rita Colwell

0:00 45:23

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Scientess?

This episode is 45 minutes long.

When was this Scientess episode published?

This episode was published on April 6, 2026.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Scientess episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!