On Thursday, February 6, an exciting science outreach adventure began at the University of Cauca. Professor Alfonso Enrique Ramírez Sanabria, a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry, along with the Communications team of our institution, premiered The Chemistry of Decisions, a fascinating science podcast that delves into the mysteries of the brain and the chemical processes that influence every choice we make.

Have you ever wondered why making a decision can be so difficult? What makes you choose one plan over another? Or even why you chose that person as your romantic partner? The good news is that we have answers to these and many other questions—but not just any answers. This is a true exercise in science communication. Sounds interesting, right? Well, for some time now, Professor Alfonso Enrique Ramírez Sanabria, together with the Communications team of our Alma Mater, has been working on a podcast project designed to share with curious minds all the details of the chemical processes our bodies undergo when making decisions. Decision-making is an everyday, second-by-second process in our existence, even if we are not fully aware of it… A simply fascinating universe!

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The initial idea was inspired by Professor Alfonso’s reading of the books Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst and its sequel, Determined, by Robert Sapolsky. "After reading those books, I began to wonder about the processes that truly occur in our bodies. Then, while writing a book on the bonds and attractions between atoms and molecules, I became curious: What really happens inside our bodies? Is it a reaction or a chemical attraction?" he explained with great enthusiasm. This curiosity led him to the idea of sharing what he had learned and transmitting that knowledge to others.

With this vision in mind, the professor reached out to a group of dreamers passionate about science outreach. He gained support from the Communications department and María Alejandra Medina, coordinator of the Unicauca Estéreo radio station, who emphasized, "As a university radio station, we are deeply committed to fostering high-quality public discourse and providing our audience with knowledge from various fields. This is also the goal of the programs in our schedule—it is our most important mission. Since we recognize the challenge of connecting specialized knowledge with a broader audience, we explored a more engaging format that, through audiovisual elements, captivates the interest of listeners."

Thus, it fills us with excitement to present, through the podcast format, the research of one of our professors. Alongside the Communications team, he has worked with dedication to turn this knowledge into a captivating experience. To listen to the first episode, click here or find us on our digital channels (where the experience is enriched with an entertaining video to accompany your audio journey). And since this is just the first episode of the season, here’s an exclusive preview: In celebration of Valentine's Day, the second episode will explore the fascinating topic of romantic relationships. Listen in and share your thoughts with us through our institution’s communication channels!

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Finally, we extend a warm invitation to professors, students, research groups, and the entire Unicaucana community, as well as anyone interested in science outreach, to consider us as allies in bringing their ideas to life. Together, we can fulfill our mission of transforming lives and making dreams come true through higher education. Let’s create knowledge and share it with the world!

Let science amaze you—we promise your mind will never be the same! So now you know: whenever you have questions, don’t lose track of #TheChemistryOfDecisions.

We invite you to enjoy this and other content from Unicauca Estéreo on Spotify and Facebook.

Written by: Communications Management Center