#012 - Biosafety consulting on public policy with Ryan Ritterson

Gavriel is the Indoor Air Quality Lead (formerly Strategic Projects Lead) at 1Day Sooner

In this episode we discuss

• How Gavriel developed an interest in policy and the path she took
• How COVID challenge trials lead to 1Day Sooner focusing on indoor air quality
• The state of the indoor air quality field
• Interventions to improve indoor air quality: HVAC, filtration, sterilisation
• Ways to move the field forward
• How engineers can be involved in improving indoor air quality

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/gavriel

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/N8jaPxM4QGU

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:01:17) Gavriel

(00:02:06) Gavriel's journey

(00:15:57) Indoor air quality introduction

(00:28:45) Technological interventions

(00:41:02) UV technology

(00:46:46) Safe Air Research Alliance

(00:57:27) How engineering has helped her

(01:00:23) How engineers can contribute to indoor air quality

(01:05:10) Resources for learning more

(01:08:00) What do you wish you had invented?

(01:12:11) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
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Sarah is the founder of Compassion Creamery, an oat-based cream cheese startup.

In this episode we discuss

• Sarah’s journey from studying chemical engineering to founding Compassion Creamery
• The challenges she has faced in scaling up her operations
• The ways physical-based startups differ from software-based startups
• Sarah’s advice for other engineers interested in startups
• How engineers can contribute to alternative proteins and solving challenges in food systems change

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/sarah

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PatVUAn1_Z4

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:01:07) Sarah

(00:03:14) Sarah's journey

(00:13:53) Compassion creamery

(00:15:56) Solving hard problems

(00:27:16) Sarah's day to day

(00:31:47) Australian Alternative Protein landscape

(00:38:15) How engineers can contribute to alternative proteins

(00:43:30) Advice for other engineers  

(00:56:34) Valuable engineering skills

(01:00:47) "Should I start a startup?"

(01:06:11) Resource suggestions

(01:07:47) What do you wish you had invented?

(01:13:03) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Cameron is a research scholar at the Standford Center for International Security and Cooperation

In this episode we discuss

• How Cameron went from a PhD in materials engineering to researching global security issues
• A brief history of the role of academia in international and nuclear security
• Nuclear arms reduction 
• Nuclear waste management and hypersonic missiles
• The importance of dialogue between technologists in different nations to create effective international security policy
• How social dynamics shape discourse on existing and emerging technologies
• The ethical considerations and obligations of engineers, particularly in the weapons and defence space
• How engineers from all disciplines can contribute to the field

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/cameron

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/w-wInL6KcR8

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:29) Cameron

(00:02:28) Cameron's journey

(00:08:22) Academic landscape of nuclear and international policy

(00:18:50) Disposal of nuclear waste

(00:33:23) The social roles of technologists

(00:41:04) Social context of nuclear waste

(00:48:23) Hypersonic missiles

(01:00:11) How policymakers get information on weapons systems

(01:03:44) Impatial information from institutions

(01:11:14) Ethics of being an engineer

(01:21:44) How to enter policy as an engineer

(01:24:17) Best engineering disciplines for nuclear policy work

(01:27:35) Resources for learning more

(01:28:44) What do you wish you had invented

(01:30:38) Learn more about Cameron

(01:31:40) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Ryan is Executive Vice President of Research and a Partner at Gryphon Scientific

In this episode we discuss

• Ryan’s journey from studying engineering, to life-science research, and then into the policy implications of life-science research
• Working at a mission-driven company
• How Gryphon Scientific is improving the evidence base underpinning biosafety
• How engineers can contribute to improving biosafety
• How government contractors and consultants contribute to evidence based government policy
• How to get into the government policy space as an engineer
• AI, biosecurity, and the future landscape for reducing biorisks

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/ryan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NSh8BtXMXHw

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:06) Ryan's work

(00:03:28) Ryan's journey

(00:13:44) Job satisfaction

(00:17:32) Gryphon Scientific

(00:24:45) Work in biosafety and biosecurity

(00:35:37) Turning insight into employable work

(00:43:14) Role of government contractors in effective policy

(00:50:36) How technologists can contribute to policy

(00:55:52) How to enter the field

(00:58:58) Future technologies and AI

(01:03:46) Staying competitive in the age of AI

(01:09:36) Resource recommendations

(01:10:34) What do you wish you had invented

(01:16:01) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Sean is a co-founder of High Impact Engineers and the host of the Engineered for Impact podcast.

In this episode we discuss

• The value of networking for career change
• The motivations to network when planning career change
• Why you should, at the very least, be strongly thinking about chatting to people while exploring career change
• How networking fits into the broader career change process
• Why the framing of “networking campaigns” can help you achieve your career change goals
• How to set yourself up for success in your networking
• Actionable suggestions for networking and 1-1 meetings

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/networking

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XH7SD9R1rmo

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:01:23) What networking is for me

(00:06:14) Motivations for networking

(00:12:48) Networking and career change

(00:16:09) How to prepare for networking

(00:19:08) Actionable tips for networking

(00:33:19) Summary

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Emily is a Manager at Giving Green, helping to drive high-impact climate donations.

In this episode we discuss

• Emily’s journey from studying engineering, venture capital, consulting
• How giving green uses research and communication to drive high-impact climate donations
• The biggest mistakes people make when donating to climate change
• How individuals differ from corporations when it comes to effective climate giving
• Arguments why you shouldn’t worry about your personal carbon footprint
• Reconciling our identities as engineers against what work we enjoy doing and the impact we want to have
• Decarbonising heavy industry and deep-tech R&D
• Sean’s thoughts on doing a PhD and what he might have done differently to have more impact through his PhD 

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/emily
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8_SsitP6DsQ

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:01:55) Emily

(00:02:24) Emily's journey

(00:08:31) Emotional engagement for work

(00:10:03) Giving Green

(00:13:40) How to think about effective giving

(00:20:46) Common mistakes in climate giving

(00:25:53) Why you shouldn't worry about your carbon footprint

(00:32:15) Resolving our identities as engineers

(00:36:58) Sean's decision to not pursue academia

(00:40:52) Opportunities for impact in the climate space

(00:44:21) Industrial decarbonisation

(00:47:59) Flexibility in career planning and skill development

(00:50:10) Resources for effective climate giving

(00:55:06) What do you wish you had invented?

(00:55:45) Sean's thoughts on the value of doing a PhD

(01:02:48) Learn more about Emily and Giving Green

(01:04:42) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Vivian Belenky discusses the use of far-UVC technology to reduce the transmission of pathogens in indoor environments. The conversation covers the current state of the technology, safety considerations, and pathways to reducing its cost. Engineers interested in promoting the widespread adoption of far-UVC technology will find valuable insights in this episode.

In this episode we discuss

• How Vivian came to work on biosecurity and specifically indoor air quality
• A brief history of germicidal ultraviolet radiation and the current state of far-UVC technology
• What is required for far-UVC to be adopted in a broader context
• Potential pathways to reducing the cost of far-UVC
• Safety considerations for far-UVC
• How engineers can contribute to developing far-UVC technology
• How engineers can contribute to promoting wide-spread adoption of far-UVC technology

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/vivian

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hogSXD2zYC4

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:02:52) Vivian

(00:03:27) Why focus on hardware?

(00:07:01) Developing an interest in biosecurity

(00:12:26) What is far-UVC

(00:20:22) What are the bottlenecks

(00:25:01) Availability and cost of the tech

(00:32:51) How to work on far-UVC

(00:36:54) What is the cost floor of far-UVC?

(00:40:02) How to create a market for the tech

(00:44:56) How can engineers work on far-UVC

(00:53:19) Questions on safety considerations

(01:03:41) What is it like working in the field

(01:05:43) Other technologies to look out for

(01:08:58) What do you wish you had invented?

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Juan is a chemical engineer and the Research Manager at the Alliance to Feed Earth in Disasters (ALLFED).

In this episode we discuss

• Resilient foods — what are they and why might we need them?
• Single-cell proteins
• Short-term uses for resilient foods
• Government catastrophic risk preparedness
• Translating engineering research into policy communications
• Engineering technologies that ALLFED works on
• Challenges of running a volunteering program

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/juan
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g6ccCW1lr50

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:01:23) Juan's intro

(00:02:26) Juan's journey

(00:07:18) Resilient foods

(00:15:47) Technologies for creating resilient foods

(00:19:05) Single-cell proteins

(00:27:38) Short-term vs long-term uses of resilient foods

(00:30:28) Paper mills for sugar production

(00:36:44) Government preparedness

(00:44:11) Difference between English and Spanish speaking countries

(00:45:45) Gold standard for government preparedness

(00:46:32) Engineering work at ALLFED

(00:51:33) ALLFED's volunteering program

(00:59:27) Advice for engineers

(01:04:14) Hope for the future

(01:08:34) PhD research with ALLFED

(01:10:05) Resources to learn more

(01:11:47) What do you wish you had invented?

(01:13:30) Learn more about Juan

(01:14:14) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Lennart has a background in electrical engineering and is a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Governance of AI.

In this episode

• What is AI governance and where does it fit in with AI safety
• Lennart’s journey into AI governance
• US export controls on AI chips and recent developments in the AI landscape
• The AI production function
• AI compute chip supply chain
• AI policy and US concerns around China having access to cutting-edge AI technology
• Potential ways do AI governance through controlling or monitoring access to AI compute
• What types of engineers are needed in the field
• How people can enter the AI governances field

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/lennart

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yK5odT1jz-U

Timestamps

(00:00:07) Intro

(00:01:28) Lennart's intro

(00:02:02) Why do we care about AI safety

(00:03:22) Lennart's journey to working on AI governance

(00:09:59) Recent developments in AI

(00:14:11) AI production function

(00:16:41) AI supply chain and US restrictions

(00:20:07) Examples of compute as a governance mechanism

(00:26:12) Why the US is concerned about China's access to AI chips

(00:32:07) Promising ways to use compute for governance

(00:40:53) When will compute no long be viable for governance

(00:44:56) Mis-aligned financial incentives around AI chips

(00:48:04) Who is well-suited to work on AI governance

(00:56:38) How to test your fit for working in AI governance

(01:02:46) Choosing between AI governance vs AI technical work

(01:08:24) What do you wish you had invented?

(01:09:26) Finding Lennart online

(01:10:35) Outro

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate

Rachael is an Associate Professor at the University of Vermont in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, and Food Systems whose current research interests include cultivated meat.

In this episode

• Rachael's interdisciplinary journey to working on cultivated meats
• The control engineers have over the mechanical properties of cultivated meat
• The increasing importance of engineers in the cultivated meat industry
• The funding constraints for cellular agriculture and cultivated meat research
• The value of engineers understanding business concepts and taking career risks for greater impact
• Work-life balance in academia
• Rachael’s advice for people interested in entering academia
• How to test your fit for research and how to pitch research ideas to professors

Full show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/rachael

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e8qIjwH7_tc

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:35) Rachael's journey

(00:07:17) Role models

(00:09:27) Work life balance

(00:11:16) Multidisciplinary work

(00:13:44) Cultivated meat materials

(00:19:31) Engineering in cultivated meats

(00:26:22) Funding challenges

(00:33:07) Research community

(00:35:22) Values

(00:40:46) Business education/experience

(00:46:24) Scale up challenges

(00:51:41) Academic research

(00:55:44) Advice for becoming a researcher

(01:04:57) Pitching research ideas to professors

(01:10:28) Resources for people interested in the space

(01:12:18) What do you wish you had invented?

(01:15:31) Where to learn more about Rachael's research

Engineered for Impact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeredforimpact
Show notes: http://engineeredforimpact.show/

Brought to you by High Impact Engineers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-impact-engineers/
Newsletter: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/newsletter
Member Network: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/get-involved
Resource Portal: https://resources.highimpactengineers.org/
Donate: https://www.highimpactengineers.org/donate