Stuart Firestein is Professor of Neuroscience and former Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University. His laboratory is one of the world's leading laboratories on the neuroscience of our sense of smell. He has published over 100 scientific papers in prestigious journals including Nature, Science, PNAS, Cell and Neuron, and regularly consults for fragrance and flavor industries. Beyond laboratory research, Firestein engages in science communication and policy. He holds fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Guggenheim Foundation, receiving support from multiple institutions. He authored two popular science books: "Ignorance, how it drives science" (based on a Columbia class now replicated at PSL Universities in Paris) and "Failure, Why Science is so Successful" (2016). His TED talk on ignorance has exceeded 3 million views. Both books have been translated into 12+ languages and adopted in university and high school curricula. Firestein lectures internationally to diverse audiences -- educators, students, business leaders, and faith communities -- appearing on NPR and BBC programs. His essays appear in LA Times, NY Times, Wired, Quanta, and Nautilus Magazine (advisory board member). In 2022, he joined the Fractal Faculty of the Santa Fe Institute.
- Ignorance: How It Drives Science (2012) Book
- Failure: Why Science Is So Successful (2015) Book
Roundtable Appearances
