Media Inquiries
I have experience speaking with the media for print, radio, and professional podcasts related to my work. I am especially interested in media engagement around the following topics:
Genome science in the Americas and the genetic, ecological, and health impacts of imperialism and colonization.
The science and implications of genetic ancestry testing technologies.
Ethical and decolonial approaches to paleo/genomics.
The impacts that queer and Indigenous knowledge and historically marginalized researchers have on science.
History of men, masculinity, violence, and white nationalism in North America.
Performing at Sexy Science Confessions, Global Indigenous Leadership in Genomics Conference, Vancouver B.C., 2024.
2019 Wenner-Gren Symposium in Sintra, Portugal
Contact Dr. Smith at rsmith86 [at] gmu [dot] edu or by using this form
Selected Media Coverage and Public Outreach
2021
Imbler, S. “Ancient-DNA Researchers Set Ethics Guidelines for Their Work.” New York Times.
Wade L. “A racist scientist built a collection of human skulls. Should we still study them?” Science Magazine.
Malacoff J. “The 4 best at-home DNA test kits for genetics, health, and ancestry, according to geneticists and genealogists.” Business Insider.
2020
Dzhanova Y. “The Biden administration will be hit with multiple crises from the get-go”. Business Insider.
Conversations in Anthropology Podcast: Rick Smith and Megan Warin on Epigenomics.
2019
Raff J. “What Did Denisovans Look Like? A New Epigenetics Approach May Give Us Some Clues”. Forbes Science.
Hill D. “Chronic Wasting Disease: An Indigenous Perspective”. Genome Alberta Podcast. (Coverage of SING-Canada 2019 Workshop)
Olson A. “Revamping science: Making room for more voices.” EurekAlert, Dartmouth College.
2018
Radke B. “Senator Warren takes the test.” National Public Radio, KUOW Seattle.
Levensen M. “Is Elizabeth Warren’s genetic test conclusive? It’s complicated.” Boston Globe.
Nagle R. “Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test hurts Native people.” Think Progress.
2016
Wade L. “The Wari’s grisly end – the fall of a South American empire.” Science Magazine.
2015
Jabr F. “The Secret, Stressful Stories of Fossils: A new field called paleoepigenetics is probing how evolution responds to sudden stress.” Nautilus Magazine.
Other print and radio coverage of my paleogenomic research: PNAS Blog, New Scientist, Science Daily, Genome Web, Archaeology Magazine, HuffPo Science, New Historian, University of Texas, United Press International, Phys.org, and Native America Calling.