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Regina G. Barber

Regina G. Barber is a co-host of Short Wave, NPR's science podcast.

Barber completed her PhD in physics at Washington State University with a focus in astrophysics, studying globular cluster systems. Before working at NPR, she taught physics and astronomy at Western Washington University where she was also WWU's first STEM Inclusion and Outreach Specialist. In this role, Barber organized programs to recruit and retain underrepresented faculty and students in STEM fields. During that time, she hosted and was the Executive Producer of the podcast Spark Science, featuring interviews with STEM professionals. For seven seasons, she mentored a student production team in science communication and storytelling.

Barber spent her academic career combining racial and gender equity, science and pop culture into one career. In 2019, she won WWU's Womxn of Color Empowerment Faculty Award. She is also an alumna of the SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science) Leadership Institute and a former Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellow.

Coming from academia, she loves the fast-paced, team-focused environment at Short Wave. She also loves TV, cartoons, robots and fandoms. [Copyright 2025 NPR]