Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour

Audrey Dussutour is a Research Director at the National Center for Scientific Research (Toulouse, France), specializing in the adaptive behaviors of ants and slime molds. She has authored over 70 scientific papers and four award-winning science books. Dr. Dussutour has led two influential citizen sc...

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Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08166-w
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description Audrey Dussutour is a Research Director at the National Center for Scientific Research (Toulouse, France), specializing in the adaptive behaviors of ants and slime molds. She has authored over 70 scientific papers and four award-winning science books. Dr. Dussutour has led two influential citizen science projects: “Raise Your Blob”, engaging 350,000 students, and “Behind the Blob”, mobilizing 15,000 volunteers to study climate change impact on slime molds. Her science communication efforts have been recognized with the National Order of Merit and the first CNRS Medal for scientific outreach. In this Q&A, she discusses the fascinating world of social insects and slime molds, the challenges of pursuing basic research outside mainstream funding priorities, and the importance of science education.
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spelling doaj-art-9b76bda7c8574659a45ba46538eaa07f2025-08-20T03:10:32ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-05-01811310.1038/s42003-025-08166-wInspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey DussutourAudrey Dussutour is a Research Director at the National Center for Scientific Research (Toulouse, France), specializing in the adaptive behaviors of ants and slime molds. She has authored over 70 scientific papers and four award-winning science books. Dr. Dussutour has led two influential citizen science projects: “Raise Your Blob”, engaging 350,000 students, and “Behind the Blob”, mobilizing 15,000 volunteers to study climate change impact on slime molds. Her science communication efforts have been recognized with the National Order of Merit and the first CNRS Medal for scientific outreach. In this Q&A, she discusses the fascinating world of social insects and slime molds, the challenges of pursuing basic research outside mainstream funding priorities, and the importance of science education.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08166-w
spellingShingle Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour
Communications Biology
title Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour
title_full Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour
title_fullStr Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour
title_full_unstemmed Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour
title_short Inspiring scientific wonder, curiosity and critical thinking in young minds: an interview with Audrey Dussutour
title_sort inspiring scientific wonder curiosity and critical thinking in young minds an interview with audrey dussutour
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08166-w