On Beyond the Page #24, I’m joined by scientist, educator, human-rights advocate, and author Zafra Lerman to discuss her memoir, Human Rights and Peace: A Personal Odyssey, and an extraordinary life spent using science to help people.

Zafra explains why she believes science can succeed where other forms of diplomacy sometimes fail. Science provides an international language that can cross political, cultural, and religious divisions, and that philosophy became the foundation of her work bringing scientists from across the Middle East together through the Malta Conferences.

We also talk about her dangerous human rights work in the Soviet Union, secretly meeting dissidents and helping persecuted scientists; her experiences as a woman in science; and the decision to leave traditional research behind to devote herself to human rights, education, and peace.

Despite everything she has witnessed, Zafra remains hopeful. She has watched people who are supposed to be enemies become collaborators and friends and believes those relationships show what’s possible when we focus on what connects us rather than what divides us.

🎙️ Listen to Beyond the Page #24 | Science, Human Rights & Building Bridges for Peace with Zafra Lerman for the full conversation.

Find Zafra: https://zafralerman.com/