In the second episode of the LoRE podcast, we interviewed Professor Michal Kučera, a micropalaeontologist specialist in planktonic foraminifera.

In this podcast, we explore Michal's journey from the Czech Republic, where he grew up, to Sweden, where he completed his PhD; then to the USA, where he undertook postdoctoral research; to England, where he became a lecturer, and Germany, where he became a professor. Throughout his career, Michal has moved from studying the paleontology of foraminifera to their biology. This second podcast covers science, careers, leadership, and the evolution of Retaria research!

Listen to the podcast here!

To inaugurate the LoRE podcast series, we invited Dr Fabrice Not to talk about his journey as a scientist from his early interest in science to his PhD and later experience as a mentor.

Fabrice Not is a CNRS senior scientist at the Station Biologique de Roscoff in France. He studies plankton ecology through a mix of molecular and microscopy approaches, with a special interest in the complex web of interactions among planktonic organisms—especially symbioses. In his work, Fabrice explores the fundamental biological processes that underpin these relationships, aiming to understand how symbiosis shapes the functioning of ocean ecosystems.

Listen to the podcast here!