Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 2:47
#AuthorInterview | Where We Meet the World: The Story of the Senses by biologist Ashley Ward
Ward looks at not only the five major senses vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch, but also a host of other senses such as balance and interception, the sense of the body's internal state. Drawing on new research, he explores how our senses interact with and regulate each other. And he uncovers what we can learn from how other animals and even bacteria encounter the world
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:49
Ashley, I would love to start by talking a bit about your journey into writing. As a biologist, I am so fascinated by how you have learned to communicate this thing that you research so deeply and understand on a level that many of us don't. But you allow us into that world and allow us to learn through your writing. Did you always imagine that you would become a writer, not just in an academic setting, but writing popular science books?
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 1:29
What have you learned between your first book and this forthcoming book that will be out soon, and do you have any pieces of advice for them that you either wish you knew earlier on or that was given to you at some point and it still resonates with you? Anything would be so wonderful for our community to hear and learn from
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:36
One of my obsessions outside of Snails is failure. I write a lot about failure and like to think about it in relation to all kinds of cultural and creative processes. I'm curious how you think about failure either in your own journey as an academic and scientist and author, how it has at all shaped your experience and your trajectory, and also if there's anything that comes to mind from your research about failure in the natural world and what we can learn from it
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:45
Lastly, one of my very favorite questions to ask anyone is about their obsessions and their passions. I'm curious now that this book, your second book, is going to be out in the world soon. If you have already moved on to another book, or if you're going to be channeling your passion into any other kinds of projects or work right now, it could be in relation to your work as an author and scientist, but it also could be something else entirely