Episode 16 - Janusz Bujnicki: Structural modeling, RNA modifications, and advising policy-makers on science

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In the sixteenth episode, Janusz Bujnicki tells me about his early switch to bioinformatics, a stroke of serendipity that defined his future career, and how he later managed to reincorporate both biophysics and experimental biology into his research agenda. We talk about the current state of the field of RNA structural prediction, and how we need to bring together physics and data to tackle the ever more complex biological questions that show up on the horizon. Then, we switch gears to discuss the fascinating world of science advisors for policy-making, or to what extent our scientific knowledge can be employed to shape long-term policies, including the blurry borders between science, philosophy and politics. I think it's a laudable aspiration for many of us to understand how we can have a tangible impact on the real world while keeping our humility in check.