As the lead for engagement, Elaine creates innovative health projects that combine cutting-edge science with great storytelling. She has gotten people to rethink their relationship with their cellphones, recruited cyclists to collect more accurate air quality levels, measured people's cortisol levels during the 2016 presidential election, and helped thousands test their hearing for the first time. Elaine previously worked at WLRN-Miami Herald News, the NPR member station in Miami, where she was senior producer of news. At WLRN, she produced civic poetry contests and organized a town hall on the state legislative session. Before going into public radio, Elaine was a lawyer for several years for the City of New York, where she served as senior counsel in the Affirmative Litigation Division. Find her on Twitter @elainejchen.
Elaine Chen appears in the following:
Denial at the Trump Hotel
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Climate change skeptics are finding it harder to deny the Earth is warming. So what's their plan now?
Next for Biking and Breathing
Friday, July 07, 2017
Three health reporters and experts join us to discuss their findings on whether the pluses of biking to work are outweighed by the minus of breathing more polluted air.
Biking + Pollution = ?
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Scientists at Columbia University are trying to measure the "dose" of air pollution cyclists inhale when they bike on New York City streets. And they want YOU to help.
“Would you debate gravity?”: climate change in the classroom
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Has the teaching of climate change been an issue at your school? We asked you, and here's what we heard.
The Handshake Experiment
Wednesday, May 03, 2017
Neil deGrasse Tyson and microbiome science help answer this question: when we touch greatness, how much of it stays with us?
Funky Hand Jive
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Neil Degrasse Tyson and some new microbiome science help answer the question: when we touch greatness how much of it stays with us?
Flu-dunnit?
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
If you’ve ever worried about catching a cold from a co-worker who came into work when he (or she) should’ve taken a sick day, then this episode is for you.
The Crowd Made You Do It
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
After many people gathered in Washington for inauguration and the Women’s March, Only Human looks at what happens to us as individuals when we become part of a crowd.
Group Think at the Inauguration?
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
We surveyed a bunch of people to try to measure how political affiliations might influence how they see things.
Moms Share What They Wish They Had Known About Childbirth
Thursday, January 12, 2017
WNYC canvassed new mothers in New York City and collected insights that came maybe a little later than desired.
Measuring Election Anxiety With Saliva
Monday, November 07, 2016
Who is more stressed, Democrats or Republicans? WNYC's Only Human Podcast tries to find out.
What Your Saliva Says About Stress and How You'll Vote
Monday, November 07, 2016
How is your anxiety affecting decision-making and the election? The team at Only Human investigates.
Please Spit in This Tube: An Election Experiment
Friday, November 04, 2016
This election certainly feels stressful. But we wanted to find out what this election is actually doing to us — biologically. So we teamed up with scientists to run our own experiment.
Germaphobic or Germagenius?
Thursday, July 21, 2016
We go on an urban safari with a scientist to find out about the microbes around us.
This Is the Year You Stick to It
Tuesday, January 05, 2016
Why do we make bad decisions? Behavioral economist Dan Ariely talks about why so many New Year's resolutions fail — and partners with Only Human on an exciting project.
Listen Up! A Classroom Activity on Sound
Monday, December 07, 2015
How loud is too loud? Here are some fun ways to teach students about how sound works and what could be damaging from an education program on healthy hearing, Dangerous Decibels.
Listen Up! What to Make of Your Hearing Age
Thursday, December 03, 2015
For the vast majority of the Only Human audience, the Mimi hearing test, part of our Listen Up! engagement series, was the first time they had taken a hearing test as an adult.
Listen Up! The Big Turkey in the Sky
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
We're rounding out our Listen Up! project with a guide to navigating dialogue at the dinner table — just in time for Thanksgiving.
Listen Up! Day 5: Yes, And... !
Friday, November 20, 2015
Mastering the art of listening is also about mastering conversation. With help from the world of improv comedy, you'll learn how to take your listening skills to new heights.
Listen Up! When to Worry about Your Hearing
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Thousands of you took up our call to find out about your hearing. In the process, many of you raised good questions about hearing loss. Columbia's Dr. Larry Lustig addresses them.
