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LISTEN: NPR’s Richard Harris Discusses His Career, New Book

 
NPR science correspondent Richard Harris, with Illinois Public Media CEO Moss Bresnahan and Brian Moline at Silvercreek on Thursday October 19.

NPR science correspondent Richard Harris (center), with Illinois Public Media CEO Moss Bresnahan (right) and Brian Moline at Silvercreek on Thursday October 19. Illinois Public Media

Richard Harris has been a science reporter for NPR since 1986, covering stories on all seven continents.

Some of his career highlights include his reporting on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, and on the SARS epidemic in Beijing.

NPR science correspondent Richard Harris.

Photo Credit: Doby Photography/NPR

In 2014, Harris moved from covering the environment to biomedical research. His reporting on that subject led him to question some of the scientific research in that field.

After filing some stories for NPR on that topic, he realized he had more to say on the subject, which led him to write the book, "Rigor Mortis: How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions."

Harris spoke with Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline, and took questions from WILL donors on his career and new book Thursday night at Silvercreek Restaurant in Urbana.