The Vandal Theory: Recent Episodes
University of Idaho
The Vandal Theory podcast asks, “What gets University of Idaho researchers’ brains buzzing...besides coffee?” These award-winning stories will showcase researchers exploring and solving real-world problems. With interviews and quick updates on all things Vandal, discover the world of U of I research with host Leigh Cooper.
How do archives help preserve history? Meet Dulce Kersting-Lark (go.uidaho.edu/4vFdXFm), head of Special Collections and Archives (go.uidaho.edu/4wYBHFJ) at University of Idaho Library (go.uidaho.edu/4wZbdUA). In this episode, she discusses how archives preserve Idaho's history and why understanding the past can help us better understand our communities today. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters (0:00) Why does history matter? (01:01) Meet Dulce Kirsting-Lark (1:48) Inside Special Collections and Archives (03:54) Who can use the archives? (05:06) Why archivists love America250 (06:56) What history can teach us today
How does University of Idaho Extension bring research to communities across Idaho? Meet Barbara Petty (go.uidaho.edu/4fiU4h8), associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4vxAG6a) and director of University of Idaho Extension (go.uidaho.edu/4yoGkdA). In this episode, she explores how Extension has connected research with Idaho communities for more than a century and why its mission remains just as important today. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters (0):00) What is Extension? (01:12) Meet Barbara Petty (02:15) How Extension began in the US (03:34) Idaho Extension early days (04:45) What Extension looks like today (06:24) Helping Idaho communities solve problems (08:27) Real-world impacts across Idaho (11:28) Why Extension matters
How has University of Idaho shaped military service for more than 130 years? Meet Ross Warren, a career consultant at University of Idaho, historian and former head of the university’s Army ROTC program. In this episode, he explores how military instruction has been woven into U of I’s land-grant mission since the beginning and how generations of Vandals have served the nation from the Spanish-American War to today. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).
How did the land-grant mission shape University of Idaho? As the United States marks its 250th anniversary through the America250 commemoration, University of Idaho is exploring its own place in the American story. In this episode, Mario Pile, student ombuds, retention specialist in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4oXnBl9) and a member of U of I’s America250 committee, discusses the Morrill Act, the land-grant mission and the founding of University of Idaho. The conversation explores how higher education expanded beyond the nation's elite, the university's earliest years and the enduring value of educational opportunity. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters (00:00) What is America 250? (01:29) Getting to know Mario Pile (01:50) What is a land-grant university? (02:38) The early years of University of Idaho (03:53) Expanding access to higher education (05:59) What U of I brought to the state of Idaho (08:20) Final thoughts
Have you ever struggled to decipher a scientific paper? Meet Erin James (go.uidaho.edu/4vr4F13), a professor of English in U of I’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4ccBDL0). She's also the director of the university’s sustainability certificate and co-director of the Confluence Lab (go.uidaho.edu/4mvIvX5). In this episode, she explores how storytelling shapes the way we understand the environment and why interdisciplinary collaboration — across science, humanities and beyond — is key to tackling complex sustainability challenges. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Seaside At Dusk” by Michael Dowdle (go.uidaho.edu/4muynhx) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Have you ever struggled to decipher a scientific paper? (02:40) Getting to know Erin James (03:24) The science of stories (08:46) The Confluence Lab and interdisciplinary research (14:30) Narrative science (20:04) Sustainability certificate (27:24) Final thoughts
What is the difference between tendons and ligaments? Meet Nathan Schiele (go.uidaho.edu/4bXeg80), associate professor of chemical and biological engineering (go.uidaho.edu/4tz9MKB) at University of Idaho — and a researcher engineering the future of tendon repair. Schiele is applying his engineering mindset to the construction of a human tendon. He describes how his lab and team of students are investigating what gives tendons their strength, how to grow tendon-like tissue from mouse stem cells and how to image tendons. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Power in You” by Matthew Cropper (go.uidaho.edu/3QsA4zS) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) What’s the difference between tendons and ligaments? (3:01) Getting to know Nathan Schiele (5:22) Tendons don’t heal well (9:45) Ingredients of a strong tendon (14:39) Building mouse tendon-like structures (18:47) Imaging a tendon (22:49) Undergraduate research (24:28) Final thoughts
Question: How much do you think about the Constitution in your day-to-day life? What does the Constitution actually do — and how does a document written more than 200 years ago still guide modern life? In this episode, University of Idaho law (go.uidaho.edu/4bKmRec) professor Richard Seamon (go.uidaho.edu/4sLjYQo) breaks down the basics of constitutional law, from individual rights to how judges interpret the document. Along the way, he explains how the courts handle everything from free speech to new technology — and why understanding the system matters more than ever. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Power in You” by Matthew Cropper (go.uidaho.edu/4bW8zWz) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) How much do you think about the Constitution? (02:49) What is constitutional law? (04:42) Five interpretive approaches (13:03) What happens when the Constitution is silent on an issue? (16:03) Applying the Constitution to new technology (18:40) Why amendments are so difficult (21:35) Why trust in the system matters (24:43) Common misconceptions about free speech (26:00) A reason for optimism (27:40) Final thoughts
How much are you spending on groceries? Meet Brett Wilder (go.uidaho.edu/4tdRA9s), an assistant professor and area Extension educator in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (go.uidaho.edu/4rTG6qo). Agriculture shapes Idaho’s economy in profound ways — but behind the headlines about record revenues is a much more complicated financial picture. Wilder explains the forces driving today’s agricultural economy and why the industry is experiencing what he calls a “tale of two economies.” Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “You Have Got To” by Craig Poole (go.uidaho.edu/4t8dESy) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) How much are you spending on groceries? (2:20) Getting to know Brett Wilder (3:11) Ag economic impact in Idaho (9:59) Beef economics in Idaho (14:48) Grains economics in Idaho (20:01) Potato economics in Idaho (22:46) Impact of tariffs on agriculture (25:50) Final thoughts
Have you ever painted outside? Aaron Cordell Johnson (go.uidaho.edu/4uE79sl) is an associate professor of art and design in U of I’s College of Art and Architecture (go.uidaho.edu/4lCerc1). In this episode, he explains what plein air painting is, why artists choose to paint directly from the landscape and why stepping outside with an easel — instead of painting from a photo — can change the way a place is experienced and captured on canvas. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Bright Morning Story” by Brendan Warren Burns (go.uidaho.edu/4uA7kEW) via Amphibious Zoo. H3: Chapters (0:00) Have you painted outside? (04:10) Getting to know Aaron Cordell Johnson and plein air painting (08:04) Why choose paint plein air over other methods? (11:44) What to look for (15:51) Plein air at U of I (17:22) How to get started (X:XX) Final thoughts (Cohosts start)
How many suggestions or examples do you give ChatGPT when you are asking for help? Meet William Tai (go.uidaho.edu/4llzboe), the coordinator of the Doceo Center (go.uidaho.edu/4blXyOb) in University of Idaho’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Artificial intelligence is already in our classrooms. Tai joins us to discuss how teachers can take advantage of AI for lesson planning and what ethical issues might arise with classroom AI use. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Melontronica” by Matthew Cropper (go.uidaho.edu/4bhMSQp) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) How much instruction do you give ChatGPT? (3:08) Getting to know William Tai (4:21) How is generative AI used in education? (7:35) What are AI hallucinations? (9:12) What is machine bias in AI? (11:42) What are prompt injection attacks? (14:20) How teachers can improve their prompts (20:14) Can AI be a study aid? (25:57) Final thoughts
Question: What is your favorite migratory animal fact? Simona Picardi (go.uidaho.edu/3N8gkjL) is an assistant professor of wildlife ecology and management in U of I’s College of Natural Resources (go.uidaho.edu/4b2AYK8). She studies how animals move across landscapes and what secrets their movements reveal. In this episode, she explains how tracking technology and data analysis help uncover patterns in wildlife behavior and how this research can guide strategies to protect habitats and wildlife populations. View Picardi’s POP Talk: go.uidaho.edu/4ud0TaN Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Ice Birds” by Jon Fitzgerald (go.uidaho.edu/4ldgJhE) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) What is your favorite migratory animal fact? (03:42) Getting to know Simona Picardi (04:08) Using GPS data to track animals (09:52) Urban wood storks (12:18) Potential impact of changing migration patterns (14:09) Birds eating junk food (15:40) Broader conservation implications (17:00) Other movement ecology research (19:29) Final thoughts
For the gardeners out there, how do you deter pests? Meet Marty Ytreberg (go.uidaho.edu/3OLz49b), a professor in the physics department (go.uidaho.edu/40tUYjR) at University of Idaho and the director of the Institute for Modeling, Collaboration and Innovation (go.uidaho.edu/4rBxDZw). Alongside a large team of interdisciplinary scientists, Ytreberg is designing new fungicides to protect Idaho potatoes and, eventually, other crops. He delves into the steps his team uses to find a fungus’s weak spot and what makes a successful fungicide. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Cousins at Play” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/4tR7DuZ) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) How do you deter garden pests? (2:56) Getting to know Marty Ytreberg (3:47) How did you start developing fungicides? (6:39) How do fungicides attack? (9:48) Steps to making a fungicide (13:48) Challenges of developing a fungicide (19:54) Can this go beyond fungi and potatoes? (23:18) Final thoughts
A new season of The Vandal Theory returns Monday, March 2, with bold questions and unexpected connections. From decoding what animal migration reveals about life on the move to taking a closer look at the U.S. Constitution, Season 11 dives into the forces that shape our world. You’ll also hear how scientists build fungicides from the ground up to protect Idaho’s signature potatoes — and why beef prices rise and fall with the market. New episodes drop weekly, so follow along wherever you get your podcasts and join us for another season of curiosity-driven discovery at University of Idaho.
Question: How much do you know about where the fish you eat come from? Brian Small (go.uidaho.edu/4oLfkzy) is the director of the University of Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute (go.uidaho.edu/49wNXVx) and a professor of fish physiology in the College of Natural Resources (go.uidaho.edu/4hZSZMq). In this episode, he explains how research on fish nutrition, alternative fish diets and sturgeon caviar supports both the aquaculture industry and conservation efforts. He also shares what it’s like to raise millions of fish in Idaho’s spring-fed waters. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Seaside at Dusk” by Michael Dowdle (go.uidaho.edu/4r1nt4L) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Where do the fish you eat come from? (3:38) Getting to know Brian Small (4:11) Inside the Aquaculture Research Institute (7:30) Life as a fish at the hatchery (11:35) Inside the science shaping Idaho’s sustainable aquaculture (17:01) Sturgeon, caviar and conservation (21:08) Why aquaculture matters in Idaho (23:28) Final thoughts
Question: Did you ever learn about investing in school? Meet Duff Bergquist (go.uidaho.edu/47Ud6rE), Barker Capital Management and Trading Program (go.uidaho.edu/3JGcSLs) director and senior instructor of finance. The Barker program along with its sister club, teach students about investing using real money. The students work with industry partners and alumni to learn about wealth management, risk management and financial analyses. Bergquist walks us through what research means for the Barker students, what life is like for participants and how the Girls Who Invest Program opens new opportunities for women in finance. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Apricot Twist” by Gregory Joseph Carrozza (go.uidaho.edu/43aRLYv) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Did you learn about investing in school? (2:55) Getting to know Duff Bergquist (7:12) What does research look like in Barker? (14:04) How are PNW businesses involved? (15:37) What do competitions in investing look like? (17:52) What is Barker like for the students? (20:52) What is Girls Who Invest? (24:20) Final thoughts
Question: What’s your favorite example of evolution? Christine Parent (go.uidaho.edu/3WOPJtz) is a professor in the College of Science (go.uidaho.edu/4oJww8r) who studies the evolutionary biology of snails. In this episode, she shares how she earned the nickname “Snail Hunter,” what it’s like tracking these tiny creatures across the rugged landscapes of the Galápagos and what they can teach us about how life evolves. She’ll even drop a few fun snail facts that might just change the way you think about them. Learn more about the snail hunters — and watch a short film about their adventures — at go.uidaho.edu/snailhunters. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Lemonade and Lollipops” (go.uidaho.edu/49o1E8Y) by Matthew Trent Cropper via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: What is your favorite horror movie? Meet Russ Meeuf (go.uidaho.edu/4nj1jI2), professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Media (go.uidaho.edu/48I6Wfb) at University of Idaho — and a scholar who knows monsters better than most. What makes a monster truly terrifying? What do these creatures reveal about our deepest fears, our society and ourselves? And why do monsters evolve as our cultural anxieties change? Russ will guide us through the haunted corridors of horror cinema, showing how monsters are more than just nightmares — they’re mirrors. So, grab your flashlight, lock the doors and tune to our Halloween episode...if you dare. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Dark Undercurrent” by Harold Schenk (go.uidaho.edu/3LoVlI8) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Favorite horror movie?(3:50) Getting to know Russ Meeuf (5:40) What makes a good movie monster? (7:51) Two sides to every monster (12:49) What does a director or writer bring to a monster? (17:19) What do monsters reveal about ourselves? (20:06) Do monsters evolve over time? (25:08) Final thoughts
Question: Do you have a favorite myth? Rochelle Smith (go.uidaho.edu/3WaYWMi) is the humanities librarian for the U of I Library (go.uidaho.edu/48ru5Cx). In this episode, she discusses the surprising ways gods, goddesses and other beings across cultures are connected to crafting and making. She also shares why these stories still matter today and what they reveal about human creativity and imagination. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Daybreak Musing” (https://go.uidaho.edu/3LdpH0b) by Christian Richard Lloyd via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Do you have a favorite kind of myth? (4:50) Getting to know Rochelle Smith (5:55) Gods and their hobbies (7:45) What myths say about humanity (18:37) Smith’s favorite myths (21:20) Myths more people should know about (24:13) Engage with the past (27:23) Final thoughts
Meet Tyler Bland (go.uidaho.edu/3Vt7q0W), clinical assistant professor in the School of Health and Medical Professions (go.uidaho.edu/4nJgRFM). Medical students struggle to learn and retain the fire hose of information they need to become doctors. Bland explains how he is using ingenuity, imagination and AI to create Pokémon-esque monsters and medically-themed movies to help his students learn. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Reach” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/46LpVUE) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Have you used mnemnic devices (2:36) Getting to know Tyler Bland (3:43) Medical education challenges (7:42) Introducing Medimon (13:01) Medimon video games (15:45) Case studies become AI movies with Hollywood stars (17:45) Shattered Slippers with Selena Gomez (21:48) Malaria through Alien (25:28) Are the students learning better? (28:34) Final thoughts
Question: Have you ever repaired clothing? Chelsey Byrd Lewallen (go.uidaho.edu/4gZXuWQ) is a senior instructor in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (https://go.uidaho.edu/3KrkCRR) at U of I and a sewist who’s rethinking the way we wear, care for and keep our clothes. In this episode, she discusses her new book, “Clothing Alterations and Repairs: Maintaining a Sustainable Wardrobe” (go.uidaho.edu/4o7syGp) and shares how small choices — like repairing instead of replacing and buying better garments from the get-go — can make a big impact on our closets, our wallets and the planet. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Bicycles And Backpacks” by Michael Dowdle (go.uidaho.edu/4o8Qx8d) via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (0:00) Have you ever repaired clothing? (2:55) Getting to know Chelsey Byrd Lewallen (3:55) On writing a book (5:55) Clothing manufacturing 101 (12:44) Building a sustainable wardrobe (17:44) Clothing repair basics (20:26) Building a sustainable mindset (24:32) Pick one small change (26:18) Final thoughts
Do you know where your water comes from? Meet Liz Bageant (go.uidaho.edu/46eWQ3X), economist with James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research (go.uidaho.edu/4pvdeEZ). Liz is going to discuss how Idaho’s growing population, its aging infrastructure and regulations affect the future of drinking and waste water (go.uidaho.edu/4mlmnNt) in the Gem state and the jobs that this industry supports. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Rhythm and Light” by Alin Oprea (go.uidaho.edu/46eXsXj) via Amphibious Zoo. H3: Chapters (0:00) Where does your water come from? (3:47) Getting to know Liz Bageant (4:23) What are Idaho’s water needs? (6:16) How does our water system work? (9:36) How does population affect water needs? (12:22) How does aging infrastructure and regulation affect our water? (14:46) Message to Idaho (18:06) Financing water (21:15) The people bringing us water (25:03) Final thoughts
A new season of "The Vandal Theory" kicks off Monday, Sept. 29, with a lineup as curious and wide-ranging as ever. From teaching medical students through Pokémon, to exploring the future of Idaho’s water systems, to rethinking what it means to dress sustainably, season 10 is packed with discoveries. You’ll also hear unexpected twists in world mythology — plus a Halloween episode that brings monsters to life. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).
Alistair Smith (go.uidaho.edu/4mbiISI) is a professor and department chair in University of Idaho’s Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/419qiFi). He’s working with power companies across the globe to identify which types of vegetation are most likely to ignite — and what can be done to stop wildfires before they start. At U of I’s combustion lab, his team tests how vegetation burns under different conditions, helping utilities make informed decisions about the fuels growing beneath their power lines. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters (00:00) Introduction (01:00) Identifying flammable vegetation (01:45) Combustion lab (02:32) Helping power companies prevent fires (05:18) Why do power companies care now? (06:38) Why do we care? (07:48) Immediate impacts
Feng Li (go.uidaho.edu/3UdtdZK) is the Micron Endowed Professor of Microelectronics at University of Idaho and director of the Next Generation Microelectronics Research Center (go.uidaho.edu/44MLoKG). He’s helping shape the future of semiconductors — not just through research, but by training the next generation of skilled workers Idaho’s tech industry needs. Li studies high-temperature devices that can withstand the extreme heat of space missions, geothermal systems and supersonic flight, while giving students hands-on experience in microchip fabrication and clean room technology. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters(00:00) Introduction(01:28) High-temperature electronics(02:25) Implications of high-temp tech(03:35) Working with Micron(05:36) Building a high-demand workforce
Dev Shrestha (go.uidaho.edu/3Gnw3s3) is a University of Idaho engineering (go.uidaho.edu/44k6BNk) professor exploring the future of farming, starting with the soil beneath our feet. He’s developing affordable soil sensors and studying the power of biochar to help farmers conserve moisture, increase yields and build a more resilient, sustainable future for Idaho agriculture. In this episode, he shares how improving soil health on the Palouse could transform the way we grow food. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters(00:00) Introduction(00:52) What is biochar?(03:34) Making a sustainable solution more affordable(06:25) Innovative soil sensors(08:10) Building a biochar industry
Kendra Kaiser (go.uidaho.edu/3GtiU0n) is the director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (go.uidaho.edu/3I8jscN). In the first episode of a special summer season of “The Vandal Theory,” she shares how the institute is identifying and filling critical water research gaps across Idaho. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:46) What is IWRRI? (02:15) Identifying water needs (03:50) Community outreach (05:26) Importance of water research
Question: When you were growing up, did your parents ever let you do anything without their supervision that many parents today would be alarmed by? David Pimentel (go.uidaho.edu/448DQDo) is a professor in University of Idaho’s College of Law (go.uidaho.edu/3E4HZh8). His work explores the intersections of law, history and culture, and in the final episode of this season of “The Vandal Theory,” he discusses lessons from his work in international justice reform, the balance between risk and autonomy in parenting and the power of music in changing the world. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Bad Bourbon” (go.uidaho.edu/3YbdPj0) by Michael J. Dowdle, via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:53) Kids these days (02:46) Getting to know David (03:45) Truth vs. justice (11:26) Free-range parenting (19:26) Societal attitudes and the Blues (24:12) Stay humble (26:22) More than one way to do things
Question: What is your favorite African animal? Meet Ryan Long (go.uidaho.edu/4l9hrvI), an associate professor of wildlife sciences in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/44dwZIK) at University of Idaho. In Disney’s “The Lion King,” all the regional animals show up to honor Simba’s birth. Now that’s obviously fictitious, but lots of large animals do live alongside each other in Africa. Long is working to understand how that works and how those animals interact with humans. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Time stamps (0:00) Introduction (1:01) What is your favorite African animal? (1:52) Meet Ryan Long (2:53) Why large mammals? (3:41) Why Africa? (4:24) Gorongosa National Park history (6:24) Spiral-horned antelope (14:55) Tuskless elephants (20:55) Crop-raiding elephants (26:51) Curiosity and observation Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Find The Good” by Zach Sundwall (go.uidaho.edu/4jcr1fw) via Amphibious Zoo Music.
Question: What drives people to the polls? Markie McBrayer (go.uidaho.edu/43rzyqw) is an assistant professor of political science in the Department of Politics and Philosophy (go.uidaho.edu/423Gc3F) at University of Idaho. Her research focuses on American politics and policy with a focus on political institutions, representation and social inequality. Today she’s discussing takeaways from the recent presidential election, polarization and what to do if you’re overwhelmed by the news. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Apprentice” (go.uidaho.edu/4hRKKjR) by Darwin Music, via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:56) On politics (02:55) Getting to know Markie (03:44) 2024 election takeaways (09:40) Did Kamala lose because she’s a woman? (12:52) Women’s impact on policy (16:29) The need for better data (19:12) What to do about polarization (23:38) Subscribe to a newspaper and pet a dog (27:57) Conclusion
Question: Do you use ChatGPT or another AI program? Meet Barrie Robison (go.uidaho.edu/3E34kvn), a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4kwcihb) and director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/43TLX6C) at University of Idaho. Artificial intelligence seems to be infiltrating all aspects of our lives. Robison will discuss the ways U of I is supporting its researchers, including a story of translating old educational texts, and how he hopes his team can improve how the university is run. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Time stamps (0:00) Introduction (1:02) Have you used AI? (2:07) Meet Barrie Robison (4:34) What is AI? (7:49) What assumptions do people make about AI? (9:17) Translating a German cello book (13:42) AI for research administration (19:07) Finding a professor (23:36) Making the arts searchable (26:53) U of I on the AI frontier Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Andromeda Spiral” by Matthew Robert Mateau and Jeremy Robert Chatelain (go.uidaho.edu/42eqUdI) via Amphibious Zoo music.
Question: Have you ever had a problem you just lived with because you assumed it couldn’t be fixed? John Crepeau (go.uidaho.edu/41ufl0H) is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (go.uidaho.edu/4iSt4oS) at University of Idaho who has had a hand in making all sorts of things, from a nuclear-powered Mars hopper to reimagined medical equipment. In this episode, he talks about his experiments and the role he’s playing in the future of sustainable jet fuel. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Fun and Games” (https://go.uidaho.edu/41TxhBS) by Darwin Music, via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters(00:00) Introduction(03:51) Getting to know John(07:27) Mars hopper(10:55) Medical devices(15:55) Stefan problem(17:35) Sustainable jet fuel(23:00) Joys of academia(24:25) Conclusion
Question: Have you ever butchered animals, such as while hunting or at a farm or ranch? Meet Phil Bass (go.uidaho.edu/3XubJdD), associate professor of meat science in the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4kpnzjc) at University of Idaho. Whether as hamburger, filet mignon, ribeye or T-bone, beef is a staple on many American dinner tables. Listen as Bass discusses the growing size of cattle, the creation of dry-aged beef and the impact of the meat industry on the economy. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Drive ’Em” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/4hgikzn) via soundstripe. (0:00) Introduction(1:18) Have you butchered an animal?(1:37 Introduce Phil Bass(3:35) Why beef?(4:15) What is meat science?(7:36) Cows have gotten bigger(12:28) Dry aged beef(17:37) Meat economics(22:45) Why go into meat science?
Question: Have you ever gone hiking and got a tick? Janet Rachlow (https://go.uidaho.edu/43lwo7B) is a professor of wildlife ecology in the College of Natural Resources (https://go.uidaho.edu/3QOqHr7) at University of Idaho. She has studied mammals both large and small, and in this episode, she discusses two on opposite ends of the size spectrum. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Good Vibes Everywhere” (uidaho.edu/4h50RKs ) by Darwin Music, via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters(00:00) Introduction(3:30) Getting to know Janet(4:00) Pygmy rabbit survival techniques(14:46) Moose's tick troubles(25:10) Implications for conservation(26:48) Conclusion
Question: Growing up, did you ever ride horses?Meet Rebecca Scofield (go.uidaho.edu/414paCk), chair of the University of Idaho’s Department of History (go.uidaho.edu/418fGpC) specializing in American history. Bicycles, horses, mechanical bulls and dragons — Scofield brings new insights to the visuals of women riding astride beasts and machines throughout history and how that informs our current economy.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.Music“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).“Riding Out” by Magnum Opus Music Library (go.uidaho.edu/4kh15ku) via Amphibious Zoo.(0:00) Introduction(1:32) Do you ride?(2:14) Introduce Rebecca Scofield(3:29) What intrigues you?(5:36) Suffragettes(10:10) Horse girls(13:41) Mechanical bull riding(16:24) Dragon riders(24:04) Why is women’s history important?(26:37) Culture is important
Question: Can you tell us about your first huckleberry hunt? Steve Cook (go.uidaho.edu/3O6hc5u) is the head of the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology (go.uidaho.edu/3UKfCKj) at University of Idaho. He researches huckleberries and today he’s going to discuss why they’re so hard to domesticate and what he and his team are doing to solve that problem. If we’re lucky, he might give us some huckleberry hunting tips as well. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I stories Professor brings mindfulness home (go.uidaho.edu/3AEVaDE) A career of thrills (go.uidaho.edu/4hNLQ0X) Girls who invest (go.uidaho.edu/3Z2BGCj) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Happy Go Chillin’” (go.uidaho.edu/40JbnCj) by Matthew Trent Cropper via Amphibious Zoo. Chapters(00:00) Introduction(4:06) Getting to know Steve(5:38) Taming huckleberries(14:13) Pest control(19:05) Huckleberry hunting tips(21:00) Huckleberry species(21:55) Best huckleberry foods(22:35) Huckleberry frustrations(24:32) Conclusion
Question: How far ahead do you plan into the future?Meet Andrew Kliskey (go.uidaho.edu/3NZPbMT), U of I’s President’s Professor of Community and Landscape Resilience and director of the Center for Resilient Communities (go.uidaho.edu/4fiXxLq). He’s going to chat with us about how he and his research team are working with communities to meet their energy and water needs for the future.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I StoriesDesign-build and landscape architecture students finish Healing Garden (go.uidaho.edu/4fnulmD)Architecture alum redefines roller coaster designs (go.uidaho.edu/48HZ8bf)CAA senior prepares to leave U of I enlightened (go.uidaho.edu/4fA41p6)Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, , not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).“Daybreak Musing” by VIV1010 (go.uidaho.edu/3ChVpFb) via soundstripe.
Question: Is there someone in your life, past or present, who you associate with their clothes — like if they changed their outfit you would be confused about who they were? Sonya Meyer (go.uidaho.edu/3YMfyfp) is a professor in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/48uxHS4) and curator of U of I’s Leila Old Historic Costume Collection (go.uidaho.edu/4f8fUma), which reflects the clothing across lower-, middle- and upper-class society in Idaho from around 1850 to the present. Today she will talk about what’s in the collection, how to preserve clothing and give us some examples of what TV shows and movies get right and wrong with their costumes. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Educating educators (go.uidaho.edu/3C7txUe) Immersive medical training (go.uidaho.edu/3YOdrIb) Sustainable sensation (go.uidaho.edu/3C5HiD0) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Power in You” by Micah Dahl Anderson (go.uidaho.edu/3C81YdD) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: As a mother, how stressful is it making sure your baby has a healthy diet? Meet Bethaney Fehrenkamp (go.uidaho.edu/48fYIZv), a reproductive immunologist and a clinical assistant professor of immunology with Idaho WWAMI (go.uidaho.edu/3BXhLvx), the state’s medical school. Fehrenkamp is passionate about understanding the complex interactions between maternal and infant health, which she will discuss today. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I stories A shortage of anatomists (go.uidaho.edu/3YyYnxD) Studying medicine with a human perspective (go.uidaho.edu/3YlW2VJ) Striking out injuries (go.uidaho.edu/4eRydMo) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Facts in Motion” by VIV1002 (go.uidaho.edu/48nBm4m) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: You probably know some of the stereotypes about people who live in trailer parks. Do you think those stereotypes live up to the reality? Leontina Hormel (go.uidaho.edu/4eMfylf) is a professor of sociology in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice (go.uidaho.edu/3A1ZhcJ) at University of Idaho. She researches environmental sociology, gender and class inequalities, and community action research. Today she will discuss the plight of a local mobile home park and the lessons learned there that could be used to make meaningful change in the future. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories IMPACTing Idaho (go.uidaho.edu/3YasWZd) Sustainable sensation (go.uidaho.edu/40cmSC7) The show must go on (go.uidaho.edu/4dKQnhy) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “The Facts About Facts” by Micah Dahl Anderson (go.uidaho.edu/3NB8n37) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: Have you ever counted the rings of a tree? Meet Grant Harley (go.uidaho.edu/4dKshU0), an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4dLMUPV) at University of Idaho who has dedicated his lab to answering questions using tree rings. He is joining us to discuss climate change, crime fighting, volcanic eruptions and lost forests. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I stories First gen student earns top scholarship (go.uidaho.edu/4dOZNIJ) Geology on Mars and in Minecraft (go.uidaho.edu/3BSMXMg) Researchers model vulnerable energy and water nexus (go.uidaho.edu/3NlMPr9) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Bouncing Ideas” by VIV1010 (go.uidaho.edu/4h59GFo) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: What do you think are some of the reasons why an author would prefer to use a pen name over their real one? Zachary Turpin (go.uidaho.edu/4gQLFSk) is an associate professor in the Department of English (go.uidaho.edu/3XTA9wL) at University of Idaho who researches 19th-century periodical culture, archival research methods, digital humanities and textual recovery. He has worked to uncover unaccounted-for periodical works by American authors, including Walt Whitman, Emma Lazarus, Mark Twain, Anne Sexton, Cormac McCarthy and more. On today’s episode, he discusses uncovering lost works of literature. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Finding direction (go.uidaho.edu/3XOIIZI) Engineering wildfire prevention (go.uidaho.edu/47Pf5vI) Home court advantage (go.uidaho.edu/4ete27d) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Detective Obvious” by Daniel Davis (go.uidaho.edu/3ZNAPWQ) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: Have you ever tried baking or brewing with yeast? Meet Paul Rowley (go.uidaho.edu/3zxrdVG), an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/47KBAlq) at University of Idaho. Yeast are the basis of our breads and brews, but Rowley looks deeper into the secret lives of yeasts and how they interact with viruses and other fungi. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Vandal track athlete digs into medical studies (go.uidaho.edu/4gDiSjX) Internship studying giraffes directs biology undergrad’s future (go.uidaho.edu/3N3I2KQ) First gen student earns top scholarship (go.uidaho.edu/3zIieAT) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Slipstream” by DM154 (go.uidaho.edu/3ZGN9bn) via soundstripe.
Season 8 of “The Vandal Theory” will feature stories about the surprising and fascinating properties of yeast, uncovering lost works of literature, huckleberries and why it’s so hard to domesticate them, and using tree rings to solve crimes and find fake works of art. All that and more is coming your way starting Monday, Sept. 30. See you then! Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).
Question: What is the construction industry doing, or what might it do in the future, to make buildings more climate friendly? Mike Maughan (go.uidaho.edu/3JxTiNT) is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (go.uidaho.edu/3UvMKpc) at University of Idaho. His research focuses on materials development, advanced manufacturing, design and the intersection among them. Today he will discuss a project called PrinTimber (go.uidaho.edu/3wfcRHF), which he hopes will change the future of construction. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Breaking Through Bars to Education (go.uidaho.edu/4de1twE) Research Is Catalyst for Top Grad Schools (go.uidaho.edu/3vXDdOx) Sustainable Science Innovations (go.uidaho.edu/3w7Jffk) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Lasso the Moon” by Matthew Robert Mateus (go.uidaho.edu/3Qe3wqz) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: Did you ever nerd out about geology as a kid? Meet Erika Rader (go.uidaho.edu/3Q4YVqz), an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/448B2Ej) at University of Idaho. We’re going to discuss how scientists are studying the geology of Mars, how astronauts will need to navigate when they get to the moon and even how to go on a geology field trip online. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Sustainable Science Innovations (go.uidaho.edu/3vSC2Qm) Addressing the Mammoth in the Room (go.uidaho.edu/4d0A0yk) Researchers Model Vulnerable Energy and Water Nexus (go.uidaho.edu/3Jqf9qk) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). “Through the Asteroid Belt” by Timber Music Supply (go.uidaho.edu/3JmDuxs) via Amphibious Zoo.
Episode 7.6: Education Inequalities and Student Mental Health Question: What types of things do you imagine are harder for first-generation students to navigate while attending college, versus their peers whose parents also attended? Meet Krista Soria (go.uidaho.edu/4aMFjzn), an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership and Counseling (go.uidaho.edu/3J9QIxh) at University of Idaho. Her research focuses on the conditions that help students to learn, thrive and grow and how colleges and universities can create campus climates that support students from diverse backgrounds. Today she will discuss inequalities in higher education, the lasting effects of COVID-19 on students’ mental health and what faculty members can do to help. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Gold, Bold and Cold (go.uidaho.edu/3PTpgb9) St. Maries to Space (go.uidaho.edu/4cOX1nx) A Road Once Traveled (go.uidaho.edu/4cM6Dzz) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “Discovery Never Ends” by Brendan Warren Burns (go.uidaho.edu/4cPPYer) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: Can you name types of diversity that could influence a team’s working dynamic?Meet Yun Chung (go.uidaho.edu/3vEnbc5), professor of management and human resources (go.uidaho.edu/4cM2pI4) at University of Idaho. Chung is going to walk us through several studies about diversity in the workplace including how diversity on a company board affects the company’s success and some nuances behind different types of diversity in the workplace.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I StoriesWhy Wouldn’t You Help People If You Can? (go.uidaho.edu/49iEyNm)Football Player Nominated to Join National Community Service Team (go.uidaho.edu/3TDgtLe)Developing New Building Technology to Reduce Errors (go.uidaho.edu/4cMd0mG)Music“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“The Facts About Facts” by Micah Dahl Anderson (go.uidaho.edu/43JXMdI) via Amphibious Zoo Music.
Question: How do you feel about running? Meet Sharon Stoll (go.uidaho.edu/3vzwCJP), the director of the Center for ETHICS (go.uidaho.edu/4cwwVFQ) at University of Idaho and a leading authority in competitive moral education intervention techniques for college-aged students in America. She has been a consultant with many well-known organizations, including the U.S. military. Today she is going to discuss moral development in athletes and whether it’s possible to learn to love running. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Carrying Hope (go.uidaho.edu/4cwxhMG) Something for All Vandals (go.uidaho.edu/3VGDbVz) Copters, Darts and DNA (go.uidaho.edu/3PJy9DP) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “I'm Good, You're Good” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/3VFJR6c) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: Today we are talking about soil, so I want you to imagine digging a hole. How do you think the soil might change as you dig farther and farther down? Meet Michael Strickland (go.uidaho.edu/3VuJr2r) and Zachary Kayler (go.uidaho.edu/4aub5Bf), associate professors in the Department of Soil and Water Systems (go.uidaho.edu/3PAgcYu) at University of Idaho. They are leading a national contingency of scientists in building what amounts to huge terrariums at U of I: all to study a world that scientists still don’t understand — the deep soils under our feet. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Stepping Lightly in the Sage (go.uidaho.edu/3PyG9Yy) U of I Grads Making a Splash (go.uidaho.edu/3Tsw94c) Fields of Change (go.uidaho.edu/43qX4lv) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3TLajds) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3VvMrf9). “Wanderlust” by Cody Martin (go.uidaho.edu/4a6Hais) via soundstripe.
Question: Do you think the dead have power over the living, either literally or figuratively? Meet Kate Kolpan (go.uidaho.edu/3TBacBh), an assistant professor in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice (go.uidaho.edu/3TA3uv8) at University of Idaho. Kolpan is a bioarchaeologist and forensic anthropologist whose research focuses on migration, violence, warfare and the politics related to the exhumation, identification and commemoration of human remains in both the past and present. She will discuss the politics of human remains and how forensics in real life differs from how it’s depicted on TV. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories Meeting Educators Where They Are (go.uidaho.edu/3Ve5ASz) Using Mathematics to Tackle Infections (go.uidaho.edu/48U9p2F) Copters, Darts and DNA (go.uidaho.edu/4auJCiT) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “Redwood Chill” by Matthew Trent Cropper (go.uidaho.edu/3PihPcY) via Amphibious Zoo.
Question: What does your favorite sports team jersey mean to you?Meet Bill Smith (go.uidaho.edu/3wPE1oz), a clinical professor and director of the Martin Institute (go.uidaho.edu/3ValAF9) at University of Idaho. When athletes playing at the international level walk onto pitches, courts and fields, the politics of their countries tag along. Listen as Smith explains how cultural identity and politics are woven into soccer jerseys.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I StoriesU of I Senior Identifies Reasons for Issue Polarization (go.uidaho.edu/48UgwYK)Summer Internship in D.C. Became an Integral Part of Education (go.uidaho.edu/48PyiML)Professor, Students Help Police Investigators Dig Up Evidence (go.uidaho.edu/48R22sA)Music“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Colombian’s in Zimbabwe” by Anthony Catacoli (go.uidaho.edu/43cD3id) via soundstripe.
Question: Why do agricultural teachers stay in, or leave, their profession??Meet Kattlyn Wolf (https://go.uidaho.edu/3n4iTX6), interim head of the Department of Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications (https://go.uidaho.edu/41JDqj0) at University of Idaho. Wolf researches what motivates agricultural educators to keep teaching or leave the field. By and large, she and other researchers found that agricultural teachers like the work, are invested in their fields and care about their students. So, why do they go?Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I Agriculture StoriesAgricultural Education Students Teach Over Spring Break (https://go.uidaho.edu/3HgELpa)Passion for Animal Science (https://go.uidaho.edu/3Nh0lO7)Partners in Sustainability (https://go.uidaho.edu/3NbU46p)Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Last Resort” by Avocado Junkie (https://go.uidaho.edu/423TyLZ) via soundstripe.
Question: When it comes to complex social issues like gun violence, health care or in this case, the missing and murdered Indigenous population, how do we even begin tackling these problems?Meet Omi Hodwitz (go.uidaho.edu/3mULvlz), an associate professor in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice (go.uidaho.edu/3oBoe8C) at University of Idaho. Hodwitz and her students are compiling the most comprehensive database to date of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirits in Canada and the United States. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I CLASS StoriesFlorian Justwan — How Our Brains Wrestle With Politics (go.uidaho.edu/40zkP7I)Junior Wants to Show Idaho’s Latinx Population Anything Is Possible (go.uidaho.edu/3KZHMuV)Childhood Experiences Led to Bex Riehm’s U of I Journey to Become a Cop (go.uidaho.edu/3mNW3mJ)Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Open Doors” by Anchor (bit.ly/3H72yaV) via soundstripe.
Question: What would you send to space?Meet Matthew Bernards (https://go.uidaho.edu/3ZS7I0Z), an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (https://go.uidaho.edu/41j7P6P) at University of Idaho and the director of the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium. He sends things to space to track how germs spread. And he explains how the search far and wide for answers that could make medicine more effective and make space travel work better. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.More U of I Engineering StoriesSuper Smart Vineyards (https://go.uidaho.edu/3MwVNCI)Launching with NASA (https://go.uidaho.edu/3MsnvRf)Student Improves Robotic Devices to Advance Treatment for Survivors of Stroke (https://go.uidaho.edu/43os5pu)Music“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Still Young” (https://go.uidaho.edu/3MtW3CH) by Desert Dive via soundstripe.
Question: Nationally, where do you think Idaho ranks in the amount of water used for irrigation?Meet Karen Humes (bit.ly/3melehO), a professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (bit.ly/3UdU33k) at University of Idaho. Idaho uses water for irrigation and to make energy. Idaho also uses energy to pump irrigation water. Humes models this convoluted water, energy and irrigation nexus and studies how to delicately balance water and energy use going forward.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I Earth and Spatial Science StoriesVandal Theory 5.3 Tim Bartholomaus — Shifting Glaciers (bit.ly/3Kk3jhC)Geology Student Travels to Iceland to Study Martian Climate (bit.ly/3Kk3n0Q)Geology Students Learn Hands-On From Hecla Mining Company Professionals (bit.ly/3nJbZGG)Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Just Around the Corner” by Shimmer (bit.ly/3UcVj6N) via soundstripe.
Meet Helen Brown (http://bit.ly/3LVBSx7 ), a clinical associate professor in the Department of Movement Sciences (http://bit.ly/3TRb6YS) at University of Idaho, and Erich Seamon (http://bit.ly/3FQOt0z), a research scientist in the Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation (http://bit.ly/3JPAg5n). They’ve teamed up to track and publish data about health trends in Idaho. Before their project, this information was only available at a public health district level spanning several counties. But modeling work by these researchers is allowing Idahoans dig deeper into the health of their communities, by providing that data on a county-by-county basis. It turns out, when you zoom in, the story becomes much more nuanced.Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Question: What makes an outdoor experience satisfactory?Everyone has opinions about how Idaho’s natural resources should be used. Wallen teams with Idaho Fish and Game to figure out what those opinions are.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More CNR StoriesU of I and IDFG Partner to Improve Idaho’s Wildlife Management (bit.ly/403PhYf)U of I’s Bat Girls Use Echolocation to Gather Info on Idaho Bat Species (bit.ly/42rr3su)Vandal Researchers See Parallel Between Winter Tick Numbers and Moose Mortality (bit.ly/3JXee20)Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Places in Dreams” by Alsever Lake (bit.ly/3Z81qKp) via soundstripe.
Question: How do you conserve energy in your home? Meet Damon Woods ( http://bit.ly/3mZRs0j), interim director of the Integrated Design Lab ( http://bit.ly/3ZKGev7) and a research professor at University of Idaho. Woods has helped state officials drill down which energy regulations — among hundreds on the books — protect Idahoans from wasting energy and money in their homes, businesses and elsewhere. He’ll break down the tedious work he and other researchers did to discover how these rules help. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Stories A Partnership Toward Sustainable Insulation ( http://bit.ly/3JKMe1b) Building Resilient and Efficient Communities ( http://bit.ly/3To6yc7) Thinking Small ( http://bit.ly/3Tphma4) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “2 Days At A Time” ( http://bit.ly/3lhKnrm) by Sam Barsh via soundstripe.
Question: What barriers stop people from getting help when it comes to mental health issues? Meet Adolfo Carmona, a second-year medical student at Idaho WWAMI (bit.ly/41y7yOk). Between his first and second year of medical school, Adolfo worked in Jerome, which has a large Latino population. He discusses the barriers to help many Latinos face when experiencing mental health challenges and how he is attempting to help the community overcome those barriers. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More Idaho WWAMI StoriesPassing Knowledge Down the Line (bit.ly/3SB8sWc)Talking About Teenage Suicide (bit.ly/3IBOrdH)Idaho WWAMI Leader Receives Honorary Degree (bit.ly/3IVkwgX) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Dark Cloud” by Ian Kelosky (bit.ly/41Hcm4i) via soundstripe.
What role does creativity play in our lives?Meet Jason Dykstra (https://bit.ly/3Goymbl), a member of the band The Plagiarists and visiting faculty and director of University of Idaho’s Housing Clinic. The Boise law professor studies why creativity is important — in life, and in law. As shown by a creativity test designed for the Apollo space program, people begin life as creative geniuses, only to see their creative roots shrink over time. But, as Dykstra and other researchers find, people can relearn creativity and make space to flex those muscles throughout their day-to-day lives.Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.More U of I ResearchU of I Boise Law Clinic Prevents Homelessness in Tight Housing Market (https://bit.ly/3G3vu2e)The Long Path to Law (https://bit.ly/3Gq6xj8)U of I Alumnus Luis Cortes Romero Finds Success as a Lawyer, and It’s Personal (https://bit.ly/3GoGUz3)Music“Young Republicans” (bit.ly/3f271AU) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“La Femme Nakita” by The Plagiarists (https://bit.ly/3VsSk95).
Question: When you imagine a farmer, what picture do you have in your head? Meet Colette DePhelps (bit.ly/3WzzXAA), an area extension educator specializing in community food systems for University of Idaho. As part of the Idaho Woman in Ag (bit.ly/3FJxbBN) project, DePhelps is interviewing and surveying Idaho’s female farmers — who earn $1 for every $2.50 earned by male counterparts — and identifying the support they need. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Agricultural and Life Sciences StoriesUndergrad Research Project Focuses on Nitrous Oxide Emissions (bit.ly/3I9lrvt) Dairy Waste Research (bit.ly/3v4shu7) Global Food Security (bit.ly/3v4UP6T) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “The Family Farm” by Heartland Nights (bit.ly/3jjxNGS) via soundstripe.
What changes people’s minds about politics?Meet Florian Justwan (https://bit.ly/3YpXHsm), a professor of political science at University of Idaho, who studies political psychology. Drawing on years of research into how people process political information, Justwan shows we often rely on our identities and social networks to interpret new political data. People may not weigh new facts as heavily as expected and Justwan offers advice on how to check our information blind spots.Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.More U of I ResearchPolitical Partisanship, Party Loyalty Shape Beliefs of 2016 Election Interference, U of I Study Shows (https://bit.ly/3BFWKm1)U of I Junior Wants to Show Idaho’s Latinx Population Anything Is Possible (https://bit.ly/3Wj2Pgb)Vandal Theory 4.2: Bert Baumgaertner — Vaccine Hesitancy (https://bit.ly/3YsiOdx)Music“Young Republicans” (https://bit.ly/3f271AU) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (https://bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “Glasgow” (https://bit.ly/3W39QBZ) by Falls
Question: Just how much is Idaho growing?Meet Jaap Vos (https://bit.ly/3WdJYTU), a professor of planning and natural resources at University of Idaho, where he also serves as interim head of the Natural Resources and Society department. Vos used novel data on driver’s license registrations and turnovers to create a fuller picture of Idaho’s unprecedented rates of population change. More than one in every four Idahoans are new to the state, Vos’s analysis found. “We’re not in the middle of nowhere anymore,” he said.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I Sociology ResearchIdaho’s Demographics Changing at Unprecedented Rates, U of I Analysis Finds (https://bit.ly/3FogCva)CNR Students Use McCall Field Campus to Forge Futures and Friendships (https://bit.ly/3uLT26K)Associate Degrees in Natural Resources Offered for First Time This Fall (https://bit.ly/3FpDYjM)Music“Young Republicans” (https://bit.ly/3f271AU) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (https://bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“The Optimist” (https://bit.ly/3Y9gMPs) by EILOH
Question: What kind of tools come to mind when you think about wildlife conservation?Meet Lisette Waits (bit.ly/3GvWMQM), a distinguished professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences (bit.ly/3GucDPQ) at University of Idaho. Whether she is tracking an endangered population of pygmy rabbits, watching wolves spread across the West, or trying to identify a tent-smashing bear, Waits uses genetics to conserve wildlife.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I Fish and Wildlife SciencesConservation Scholars Build Network and Field Research Skills (bit.ly/3UTxVuE)Wildlife Biology Student Finds Career While Wrangling Rabbits (bit.ly/3EQPQMO)Professor Says Tuskless Elephants Arose from Poaching, Civil War (bit.ly/3EPhFVH)Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).“Still Young” by Desert Dive (bit.ly/3XlSa5F) via soundstripe.
Question: What makes up a glacier? Meet Tim Bartholomaus (bit.ly/3fKY1Rc), an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (bit.ly/3NJ7NzI) at University of Idaho. Glaciers are more than just an ice cube slowly sliding through the landscape. Bartholomaus is exploring why a glacier’s speed varies, how well glaciologists can predict glacier and icesheet melt, and the balls of moss — adorably called glacier mice — that live on glaciers. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Geology Research Geology Student Travels to Iceland to Study Martian Climate (bit.ly/3hn31M2) Geology Students Learn Hands-On from Hecla Mining Company Professionals (bit.ly/3E8VMk0) Vandal Explorer Series: Glacier Surge in Alaska (bit.ly/3fR91wa) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “If I Die” by Moments (bit.ly/3UvkKPG) via soundstripe.
Question: What makes someone believe in climate change?Meet Dilshani Sarathchandra (https://bit.ly/3zJNJr0) and Kristin Haltinner (https://bit.ly/3NCZd5n), sociology professors in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice (https://bit.ly/3T7VcHx) at University of Idaho. They delve deep into people’s beliefs about climate change, recounting lessons learned over hundreds of interviews for their upcoming book “Inside the World of Climate Change Skeptics,” set to publish in spring 2023. The research team uncovers the nuanced identities of climate skeptics — many of whom worry about environmental degradation — to shape social understanding around one of the most pressing issues of our time.Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.More U of I Sociology ResearchUsing Data to Shape the Criminal Justice System (https://bit.ly/3t0akfi)U of I Professors to Release Findings on Climate Change Skepticism (https://bit.ly/3sVzNXr)Recidivism of Terrorists — Vandal Theory 3.5 (https://bit.ly/3FLXI35)Music“Young Republicans” (https://bit.ly/3DXRfkd) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified. (https://bit.ly/3FNcPcI)“Great Beyond” (https://bit.ly/3U52UDn) by Reveille via soundstripe.
Question: Would you consider wildland firefighters athletes, and if so, what type of athlete would they be most like? Meet Heidi Holubetz (bit.ly/3W4UNbl), a master’s student in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (bit.ly/3f87n9m) at the University of Idaho. Wildland firefighters are considered tactical athletes who can burn 6,000 calories a day and require a solid nutrition plan. Holubetz and her fellow researchers are working to improve firefighter nutrition through education and collaborations with vendors who provide meals to firefighters. Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. More U of I Research and Activities Around Wildfire Fueling the Firefighters: U of I Proposes Changes to USFS Wildland Firefighter Food Contract (bit.ly/3N7o1SM) New Science Tracks Microbes in Smoke: New Science Explores Microbes in Wildfire Smoke and the Ecological Impact of Dispersal (bit.ly/3gHhcv4) Rising to the Occasion: Students Lead Fire Mitigation at UIEF and Beyond (bit.ly/3gJMq57) Music “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “Reveille” by Wild Soul (bit.ly/3VZWx5N) via soundstripe.
“We took these sampling approaches from the lab and then we scaled it up to sampling in the field. And evolved from the ground-based sampling so that we could actually access higher-intensity fires. The types of fires that you wouldn’t want to stand your graduate student anywhere near. So, we developed a system that was lightweight enough that we could put it on a UAS, or a drone, an unmanned aircraft system. Now we sample using drones, and we fly the drones into the smoke columns and measure at different distances from the combustion zone to see how things change as the smoke ages and as we travel away from the combustion source. And at different heights above the combustion zone to see how high up these organisms go.”
Meet Leda Kobziar (bit.ly/2OdzCpD), an associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Society (bit.ly/39zu0xk) at the University of Idaho. In recent years, many people living in the western U.S. have coughed through numerous unpleasant summer days during wildfire season. Leda has discovered that, in addition to the particulate matter making us cough, wildfire smoke actually contains living microbes (bit.ly/3mJs8Hw), something scientists have never known. For more, watch this video about Leda’s work (bit.ly/2QSH0HK).
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: If you’ve found yourself enjoying “The Vandal Theory” podcasts, I think you’ll like listening to a new podcast from the University of Idaho’s Project ECHO program. Project ECHO is an educational resource empowering healthcare professionals in Idaho’s remote and underserved communities to treat complex chronic diseases with specialist-level expertise. I’ll let Project ECHO’s Sam Steffen introduce their new podcast “Something for the Pain,” (uidaho.edu/echo-podcast) which focuses on opioid and substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery in rural Idaho.
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“We Are One” by Scott Holmes Music (bit.ly/3rJXleJ) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3m9WQcG).
“A lot of the early studies that were done on the bacteria that are found in the vagina, they did sort of a biased sampling. They tended to study women who were white and not women of color, for example. And so, we did a study funded by the National Institutes of Health in which we collected samples from 400 different women, and they were from four different ethnic groups; there were Black women, Hispanic women, Asian women and white women. And we wanted to see how much variation was there in the kinds of bacteria that you find within each one of those demographic groups but also between those groups. And what we found was that there were five different kinds of communities that we could identify. That right there debunked a long-held idea that most women had pretty much the same kinds of bacteria and that they didn’t change over time. And it didn’t matter what your ethnicity was. And it turns out that all those things aren’t true.”
Meet Larry Forney (bit.ly/3mfZuxx), a university distinguished professor in the Department of Biological Sciences (bit.ly/3uf2Y6a) at the University of Idaho. There are still many unanswered questions about female reproductive health, including understanding the community of microbes that live in the vagina. Through Larry’s work, scientists are even starting to question whether what they consider a “healthy vaginal microbiome” can be easily defined.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: Two students, Nick Pancheri and Peik Lund-Andersen, have received Goldwater Scholarship awards for the 2021-22 academic year from the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Nick researches tendon tissue engineering, and Peik investigates the susceptibility of animal species to COVID-19. Read more (bit.ly/3g7V0Iw).
Senior Madison Thurston worked with the Moscow-based nonprofit TerraGraphics International Foundation on a geospatial analysis of a 2010 lead poisoning event in Nigeria. The study demonstrated that neighborhood size, variation in lead levels and the location of lead waste impact a child’s exposure, which can result in lead poisonings. Read more (bit.ly/3mdwO8g).
Beer brewing uses the hops flower while the remaining plant is often mulched into compost. But what if the hops waste could be used for something else? Agricultural and Life Sciences student Maggie Zee has already figured out how to process the hops’ leftovers into paper and is working on making it into a textile. Read more (bit.ly/3mbqKxa).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Amber Glow” by Scott Holmes Music (bit.ly/3udiOyf) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2PpJehz).
“Texas has gone further than a lot of other states in deregulating their power system. So, if you look at Idaho Power or Avista, or a lot of the utilities in the Northwest, they own the generation, the transmission and the distribution lines that do the last little way to get to the customers. In Texas, the generators are mostly owned by third parties. Basically, they don’t have this obligation to make sure that power gets to the customers. So, the people who actually own the distribution lines and do the last part of getting the power to the end users, they have that obligation to serve, but because they don’t own the generation, they can’t guarantee that the supply is going to be available.”
Meet Brian Johnson (bit.ly/3mdY1aV), a university distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (bit.ly/3cHgPML) at the University of Idaho. In February, a snowstorm hit Texas, and its power grid failed, leaving people without heat and electricity. Brian has worked with the energy sector for his whole career and understands the ins-and-outs of the issues that took down the Texas power grid.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: Ashly Anderson, an animal science graduate student, is working with U of I faculty to look at how poor air quality due to wildfires impacts the health of dairy cattle and their milk production. It is the first step in providing livestock producers with recommendations and advice to keep their cattle healthy during wildfire season. Read more (bit.ly/3sJ9F06).
Junior Mandy Scheffler and her classmates partnered with a Washington, D.C.-based dance organization called Dance Exchange. The team highlighted the ways food sources are taken for granted by connecting dance movements to the beauty of the local fields where the food is grown. Read more (bit.ly/2OhLaIu).
A U of I-led study found that breastfeeding women with COVID-19 do not pass along the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their milk but do transfer milk-borne antibodies that are able to neutralize the virus. Read more (bit.ly/3wsaUTR).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“B-3” by BoxCat Games (bit.ly/31OQIxj) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3msO0Hk).
“While on paper the number of licensed payday lenders dropped to zero, also on paper, the number of licensed pawnbrokers increased. The number of licensed small loan lenders increased. And surprisingly, the number of second mortgage lenders increased as well. So, this was maybe some cursory evidence that payday lenders were not extracting themselves from the market but maybe finding different avenues to actually continue operation either as a payday loan or in a similar industry like pawn broking.”
Meet Stefanie Ramirez (bit.ly/2QXODgi), an assistant professor in the Department of Economics (bit.ly/3drv4Ez ) at the University of Idaho. Payday loan companies offer people quick cash with extremely high interest rates. Some states have enacted various regulations of these businesses in an attempt to protect the clients. Stefanie’s investigations look into how these types of businesses are coping with the new laws.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: With support of the Legislature, Gov. Brad Little has signed a bill providing the $3 million needed to start the renovation and expansion of U of I’s agricultural research station near Parma. These funds, along with $3 million from industry partners and $1 million from U of I, will expand the research capacity to further address the needs of Idaho’s farmers and the modern facility will help attract more world-class faculty. Read more (bit.ly/3dp4oV7).
Fire scientist Luigi Boschetti and his colleagues have developed a web portal that provides county-level fire activity statistics across numerous years. It is the first global fire data portal developed for policy support, so the researchers expect the datasets to be used in national fire assessments and to support wildfire management and risk reduction. Read more (bit.ly/2OcvXIv).
As a student in the Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program, Meagan Boll uses a wheelchair, has limited motion in her arms and performs fine motor skills with a bionic glove. College of Engineering students developed an assistive CPR device for Meagan, with application across a spectrum of users with limited arm strength or other disabilities. Read more (bit.ly/2OdZHVr).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Rolling” by BoxCat Games (bit.ly/39ym3IT) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3cK20Jv).
“Bacteria are pretty interesting creatures, if you will. They will store inside their cell food that they consume in a polymer form, not unlike, in a way, how we store excess food as fat. If we recover the dead bacterial cells and refine this polymer, it’s a plastic. It’s a plastic very similar to polypropylene or polyethylene. In order for this process to work well, we need a lot of that particular food, a lot of organic carbon. And circling back to dairy manure, there is a lot of concentrated organic material present in dairy manure.”
Meet Erik Coats (bit.ly/3l1tmx3), a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (bit.ly/3cj8CNd) at the University of Idaho. As you can imagine, industrial and municipal wastewater contains more than just water. And it turns out all that “extra stuff” might have untapped potential. Erik hopes to use his knowledge of chemistry and engineering to extract nutrients and even plastics from our wastewater, providing extra cash for industry and municipalities and cleaning our water at the same time.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: Working on an Icelandic volcano, geologist Erika Rader and colleagues used analytical instrumentation similar to those available on Mars rovers to characterize what geological features are most likely linked to high microbial abundance and diversity. They suggested a sampling strategy for looking for hints of microbes on Mars. Read more (bit.ly/2OHNp7S). WWAMI faculty were awarded a $99,000 National Institutes of Health grant to explore the underlying causes of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. The study will help improve understanding of the interaction between diet, the gut’s microbiome and the host. Read more (bit.ly/30rooA6). In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, children from one Idaho school district are getting plenty of fresh air and teacher time. Beginning in September 2020, 100 K-5 students from the McCall-Donnelly School District learned science at the McCall Outdoor Science School. Read more (bit.ly/3t3kHgr).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Travel” by Cambo (bit.ly/3v7cd9P) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2OxRnzH).
“Immigrants are not only working in important sectors of the economy, but they’re also generating tax revenue. Immigrants paid about $221 million in state and local taxes in Idaho in 2018. So, I think the state owes something to this population that’s really doing so much for it. And my clinic is, of course, not even going to come close to meeting the need for immigrant legal services in the state of Idaho, because we have a small number of students and the students are learning. But the hope is that the students who graduate from my clinic are going to go out and be lawyers and some of them at least might be immigration lawyers in the state who are serving this really, really important population.”
Meet Geoffrey Heeren (bit.ly/3rBcWhi), an associate professor of law (uidaho.edu/law) at the University of Idaho and director of the Immigration Litigation and Appellate Clinic (bit.ly/3rxsd2B). Going from books to the courtroom is a big step, and when U of I law students accept an immigration case as part of the law clinic, they become responsible for their client’s future. Each case offers unique challenges for the students and provides their clients opportunities for legal representation and advice.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: U of I water researchers mapped and analyzed climate change research in the Columbia River Basin headwaters. They suggest future international collaborations should focus on adaptation or mitigation to co-produce actionable science and effective responses to climate change. Read more (bit.ly/3ceWahC).
In a recent article, philosophy’s Casey Johnson discusses mansplaining. In one type of mansplaining, the man incorrectly incorporates a woman’s gender into his perception of what the woman says. For example, the mansplainer may perceive her as asking, rather than telling, hence preventing her from sharing her knowledge. Read more (bit.ly/2OfURqN).
A student team earned $10,000 for its first-place win during the 2020 Hacking for Homebuilding competition. The team worked with construction professionals to develop a steel frame that sits between the wall studs and floor joists of a structure and allows for easy utility access through a collapsible or detachable baseboard. Read more (bit.ly/3rBdHa8).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Disguises” by Ketsa (bit.ly/3t2qnau) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3v8VJhn).
Episode 4.2: Bert Baumgaertner — Vaccine Hesitancy
“Moderates seem to be the most sensitive to changes in risk. So that’s to say, when risk is really low, the moderates behave similarly to conservatives in that not as many of them are willing to get vaccinated compared to democrats. But as you dial up the risk so that the risk is really, really high, then liberals and democrats are much more willing to get vaccinated than republicans and so are the moderates. So, the moderates sort of swing the most. They seem to be most sensitive to information about the risk of the disease.”
Meet Bert Baumgaertner (bit.ly/30utQCl), an associate professor in the Department of Politics and Philosophy (bit.ly/3rJLwGp) at the University of Idaho. For months, the United States and the rest of the world have been tracking the development and now distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. But not everyone is planning on getting the vaccine. Before the pandemic, Bert was studying why some people get vaccines, why they don’t and what might change a person’s mind.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: The University of Idaho Confluence Lab, along with University of Oregon and Whitman College, was awarded a roughly $4.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to address racial and climate justice issues. Read more (bit.ly/3emBAP9).
University of Idaho scientists in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are exploring why some Idaho moose populations are declining. So far, they found that adult survival is high and are now looking at calf survival, disease and parasites. Read more (bit.ly/3vcpr5s).
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded more than $2 million to three projects that partner with College of Engineering faculty. The money will be used to help advance understanding of new nuclear technologies and make them safer to operate. Read more (bit.ly/30s856d).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Les Portes Du Futur” by Bill Vortex (bit.ly/3rBSgpy) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2MZNmUa).
“You know…really the whole point of ECHO is to improve access for rural and underserved patients, and this is a way to do that. And, like I said earlier, it’s that ripple effect of it’s not just the patient whose case we review in the ECHO session, but it’s all the other patients who will receive better care as a result of what their provider learned in ECHO.”
Meet Lachelle Smith (bit.ly/3rJz6hL), the director for ECHO Idaho (bit.ly/38lwYon). When you live in a small town, it’s hard to get specialized medical treatment. Medical specialists are often too far away and too expensive. But, through ECHO Idaho, the state’s healthcare work force is learning to address their patient’s individual needs by reviewing real case studies within an online community. ECHO Idaho helps the state’s health care workers keep abreast of the latest medical research and public health trends — knowledge they pass to their patients.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: NASA selected a College of Engineering team to build an experiment that will take place on the International Space Station. The team will research how microgravity impacts the efficacy of polymers known to resist bacteria on Earth. Read more (bit.ly/3cbNIj2).
Wildlife scientists Ryan Long and Savannah Rogers found grizzly bears take cool baths to help prevent overheating. Because the body temperature of mammals rises during lactation, female grizzly bears may take baths to facilitate milk production and ensure offspring survival. Read more (bit.ly/38qPv2N).
The Idaho Beef Council announced a $250,000 gift to the University of Idaho. The endowment will provide scholarships to graduate students studying beef safety, nutrition and product development. Read more (bit.ly/30oKxPM).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Instrumental #2 Revisited” by Gillicuddy (bit.ly/3rzpGVL) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/30rNmiZ).
“It was so deeply appealing to people to be able to consider themselves a cowboy that they often didn’t care who was necessarily excluded on the other side. Even when they themselves had faced that exclusion previously, they were able to take that mythology, reshape it, yes, but still redeploy it as a way to say we belong but maybe other people don’t.”
Meet Rebecca Scofield (bit.ly/2IBAx00), an assistant professor in the Department of History (bit.ly/3lqHLm1) at the University of Idaho. You don’t get more Western, masculine and American than a cowboy, right? That’s even more true for a cowboy who can ride a bucking bronco or an enraged steer at a rodeo. Rebecca wanted to delve into the idea of the cowboy from the point of view of people who may not, at first glance, fit into the archetype.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: Fish and Wildlife Sciences doctoral candidate Matthew Dunkle, along with researchers from the Yakama and Umatilla tribes, explored the spawning migrations of Pacific lampreys. The fish move nutrients from oceans to freshwater streams in non-random patterns. Read more (bit.ly/3lsd0wW).
Adam Jones, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, was awarded a $1 million National Science Foundation grant to study sexual selection and sexual conflict in pipefish and seahorses. He wants to understand the relationship between sexual selection and genetics. Read more (bit.ly/3poDOAv).
U of I researchers conducted a survey of inland Pacific Northwest farmers. They found that there was no relationship between documented changes in temperature and precipitation and the perceptions farmers have of those changes or the farmers’ intentions to alter their operations. Read more (bit.ly/3eS5TeR).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Remember Love” by Lobo Loco (bit.ly/36xlD36) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3lsJQxB).
“From my honeypot research I’ve found that any new computer that connects to the internet, having never run any sort of service before, you’re discovered within an hour. Usually [after] about 30 minutes people start to connect to you with that tool that we call a ping. If you’re a high value target like the honeypots I’ve put up for infrastructure, within a day or two we start getting connection attempts, real scans trying to log into the system. People trying to log in every few minutes with different passwords just to see what happens.”
Meet, Michael Haney (bit.ly/2UjorLz), an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science (bit.ly/38zrKGJ) at the University of Idaho. Computer hackers are always developing new tricks, and businesses hire professional cybersecurity experts to protect their important data. But there are not enough experts to go around. Idaho has now gone all in to educate the next wave of cybersecurity experts, and Michael is leading the charge.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: Not to be stymied by COVID-19, the Vandal Marching Band packed away their woodwinds and brass instruments, which can spread aerosols, and embraced percussion. The entire band learned how to drum, an instrument that allows all members to participate while staying masked. Read more (bit.ly/2UmxbR1).
Glacier moss balls, which are nicknamed “glacier mice,” are globs of dirt and moss found on glaciers. Glaciologist Tim Bartholomaus and wildlife scientist Sophie Gilbert found the mice move roughly 2.5 centimeters a day in a herd-like fashion, but their movement doesn’t coincide with prevailing winds, downslope or sun angle. Read more (n.pr/3njxMiJ).
Researchers partnered with the City of Moscow to improve wastewater testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and develop an early warning system for detecting increases of cases in the community. They also used this technique to look for pockets of COVID-19 cases on the University of Idaho Moscow campus. Read more (bit.ly/3prnwXs).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Mission” by BoxCat Games (bit.ly/3ndlkRA) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3npUBBD).
“We do clearly have lakes where they haven’t had blooms and then recently, I’d say within the last 10 years, as part of the regular monitoring programs that occur, people have seen an increase or an occurrence of these blooms. Example in Idaho is Twin Lakes. Last year was the first time it had a toxic bloom in its history. So, people are naturally upset about that and very concerned in terms of what the future may hold.”
Meet, Frank Wilhelm (bit.ly/3l75Vlg), a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences (bit.ly/3n6r3ZD) at the University of Idaho and associate director of the Center for Research on Invasive Species. For Frank, research is about solving real-world problems. Frank has worked across the Northwest to preserve water quality for recreation, farming, drinking and general lake health. He’s specialized in studying algae that can cause lakes to become toxic for humans, animals and plants.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: The new Visiting Tribal Scholars Program at the University of Idaho will connect Native American students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with Indigenous scientific methodology that provides mentorship for student success. Read more (bit.ly/3l1ytfX).
Erika Rader and Renee Love in the Department of Geography and Geological Sciences moved their Summer 2020 field course online during the COVID-19 pandemic. They used online tools like Minecraft, a video game focused on exploration and construction, to teach students how to read a map, move about the landscape safely and interpret rock formations. Read more (bit.ly/3k64mTl).
U of I researchers David Ausband and Lisette Waits examined the effect of hunting on the genetic diversity of wolf populations. They found that hunting — because it creates opportunities for wolves to immigrate into nearby groups and breed — could make groups in subpopulations more related over time. Read more (bit.ly/38gInqw).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Ghost Byzantine” by Blue Dot Sessions (bit.ly/35afF8Z) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/32jT1cn).
“Currently, we don’t know anything about violent incarcerated political communities. We don’t know anything about their recidivism rates. There are currently no studies or databases that — to the best of my knowledge — exists in the western world that will give us some direction as to what recidivism looks like among this unique community of offenders.”
Meet, Omi Hodwitz (bit.ly/2I2Ym0N), an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (bit.ly/3n1sGYl) at the University of Idaho. In the United States, if a person becomes incarcerated, it is likely that, once released, they will commit more crimes and return to prison. But what about terrorists? Are they equally likely to be unable to break the cycle of incarceration? Using a database, Omi is tracking terrorists after they serve time.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: In December, an eight-student team from the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium in the College of Engineering will be in Chile recording gravity waves produced by the complete solar eclipse. Gravity waves are atmospheric disturbances that can influence weather. The team practiced measuring waves all summer by launching weather balloons weekly. Read more (bit.ly/2JCl8Ne).
The University of Idaho has secured a National Institutes of Health grant of nearly $11 million to support continued modeling for biomedical research at U of I’s Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation. Read more (bit.ly/3eH5WtK).
A Meridian scientist and entrepreneur will work with Shelley and Mark McGuire in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to perfect a simple home test to help breastfeeding mothers avoid allergic reactions by their infants. Read more (bit.ly/2GJTHjv).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Impact Moderato” by Kevin MacLeod (bit.ly/2GBMguP) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3l9QeJW).
“When I’m in a fatigue state, I might not be in that physical readiness to handle that misstep, right? And so, often times, we think that the injury comes with your foot hitting the ground and it’s the result of how your body responds to that foot that’s hitting the ground that my group anticipates is the reason, right? So, it’s not necessarily the level, the impact, it’s how my body responds to that impact. That’s more important. And in a fresh state I can respond with that physical readiness. In a fatigue state, whether it be anatomical or physiological or whether it’s mental, I can’t respond to that.”
Meet, Josh Bailey (bit.ly/3opfnmd), an assistant professor in the Department of Movement Sciences (bit.ly/3dYBnPJ) at the University of Idaho. Josh can’t seem to get away from runners. A runner himself, Josh now even studies this group of athletes. Specifically, he wants to understand how endurance runners manipulate the pattern of their gait during a long training run. He wants to help runners limit their chance of chronic injuries, especially when they become fatigued.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: Glaciologist Tim Bartholomaus and former U of I master’s student Tristan Amaral tested six methods to predict iceberg calving on 50 of Greenland’s glaciers that terminate in the sea. To reduce uncertainty in coastal flooding during the coming years, they identified the best way to include iceberg calving in simulations of future glacier and ice sheet loss. Read more (bit.ly/34sdwVI).
As part of a team at the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, U of I alumnus Ensheng Dong helped develop an interactive world map that shows the status of COVID-19 around the world. The map tracks the number of confirmed cases, deaths and recovered individuals for all affected countries in real time. Read more (bit.ly/2G6i7Uc).
A University of Idaho-led team will tackle a pair of viruses that cause major losses to the potato industry. U of I potato virus expert Alex Karasev will lead the project, which is funded by a $5.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Read more (bit.ly/35trsOg).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Driven to Success” by Scott Holmes (bit.ly/3dXDvY9) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/34rlEWq).
“I really think a lot of us don’t like to identify as say simply an artist or simply a scientist or whatever it is that maybe is the category that defines us best. I think we like to think about ourselves as more complicated people. And I think a lot of the environmental challenges we’re facing ask us to be more complicated people, right, and step outside of our disciples and try on different points of view.”
Meet Teresa Cavazos Cohn (bit.ly/2HBE5Pi), a research assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Society (bit.ly/31KuIDV) at the University of Idaho. For Teresa, it doesn’t get more important than helping people understand science, especially as we face challenges like a global pandemic and massive climate change-driven wildfires in the West. She likes pulling music, art and storytelling from the science communication toolshed to discuss issues like climate change and conservation.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: University of Idaho volcanologist Erika Rader investigated the growth of volcanic formations by manufacturing lava bombs, which are melted blobs of lava ejected from a volcano. The research could provide insights into modeling lava flows and ensuring human safety during eruptions. Read more (bit.ly/3jvXXAy).
Architecture Professor Bruce Haglund has been recognized with the 2020 American Solar Energy Society Leadership in Solar Architecture and Design Award. Haglund received the award for his leadership in the field and his influence on generations of design professionals. Read more (bit.ly/34sqUJg).
U of I geographer Grant Harley will use tree rings to reconstruct summer air temperature in the Eastern United States. With a National Science Foundation grant, the study will look back over the past 300 to 500 years of temperatures and help scientists understand trends across the Northern Hemisphere and predict future climates. Read more (bit.ly/3mrGyuu).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“The View from My Pod” written by Aaron Marsh (bit.ly/35zvsgv) and performed and produced by The Europa Protoharmonic Symphony Orchestra via soundstripe.
“When you are a part of a group that has been marginalized or you have only a small representation in a broader space, a lot of times you are not free to express yourself in the way in which you would around people that identify the same way you do.”
Meet Sydney Freeman Jr. (bit.ly/2H65Ejd), an associate professor in the Department of Leadership and Counseling (bit.ly/3dl3g4o) at the University of Idaho. An expert in higher education, Sydney has spent much of his career studying leadership in the university setting. He has also investigated the issues facing Black students, faculty and staff on college campuses. He’s focused on how universities can support these individuals and other minorities as well as the obstacles Black faculty face while growing their careers.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: A $1 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant will allow U of I researchers Greg Moller, Dan Strawn and Martin Baker to test their Clean Water Machine from Florida to Oregon. They will test new technologies that should remove specific nutrients from lakes and streams to help control harmful algae blooms. Read more (bit.ly/3jYYzj2).
University of Idaho researchers and partner institutions have received more than $700,000 from the National Science Foundation to develop a collective strategy for increasing the engagement, involvement and success of American Indian and Alaska Native students in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines and workforce. Read more (bit.ly/3nGREgV).
Psychology’s Clarissa Richardson found that extended periods of quarantine result in depression and fear of the coronavirus has had a negative psychological effect on people. In addition, people who reported high levels of quarantine also reported high levels of depression and, in some cases, PTSD symptoms. Read more (bit.ly/2GXtP3H).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Mission Ready” by Ketsa (bit.ly/33VU6It) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/314gAoS).
“Each milk sample that we looked at was full of a rich and diverse bacteri[um] And we now really believe that that milk — what we call microbiome or the microbes in milk, the bacteria in milk — are really setting up the baby’s intestinal track to have a healthy microbiome, which we now think is incredibly important for health. For long-term health and short-term health.”
Meet Shelley McGuire (bit.ly/3dm8Aod), a professor in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (bit.ly/3dncAER) at the University of Idaho. Breast milk contains all the nutrients, fats, proteins and other components a baby needs to grow. But it turns out we know very little about breast milk. Shelley has been studying human — and even cow — breast milk her entire career and has studied everything from the microbes living in milk to whether the virus that causes COVID-19 can be transferred from mother to child.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I Research: University of Idaho researchers are leading a nearly $6 million National Science Foundation cooperative agreement to use large and complex data sets to improve prediction and response measures for tick-borne diseases. Read more (bit.ly/3duPoob).
U of I virologist Paul Rowley is using mammalian cell cultures and a viral agent similar to the virus that causes COVID-19 to test whether the virus can use farm animals or North American bats as intermediate hosts to spread. Read more (bit.ly/3iUDuVP).
Professor Lisette Waits and former doctoral student Robert Lonsinger found that an increase in exotic and intrusive plants across the high desert region of the Great Basin increased coyote populations and decreased rabbit populations. Over several decades, this population shift led to a tenfold decline of kit foxes, which is a species of concern. Read more (bit.ly/311sRud).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Centaurus Waltz” by Florian Decros (bit.ly/2FqoCkl) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2SRwWNe).
Meet Lil Alessa (bit.ly/2SLSRFH), professor and co-director of the Center for Resilient Communities at the University of Idaho. We all know fake news exists, and you’ve probably noticed fake news about COVID-19 zooming by on your social media feeds. Lil and a group of academics are spending part of their time searching out disinformation on COVID-19 as it pops up. They then try and figure out whether there could be important consequences to the spread of that information. Lil and I chatted about the significance of disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: Our entrepreneurial team CatheterX has designed an innovative urinary catheter that should prevent infections, save lives and reduce hospital costs. Read more at bit.ly/2zq5zTZ.
The University of Idaho is working to identify a cure for coronaviruses, including COVID-19. The Department of Biological Sciences team expects to finish preliminary tests within a year. Read more at bit.ly/3crdaQw.
John Abatzoglou, from the Department of Geography, and colleagues looked at how snowmelt affects food production and how changes in snowmelt may threaten production in irrigated regions. Read more at bit.ly/36v8vuI.
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “The Stork” by Ketsa (bit.ly/2A99Lru) via freeusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3ceRqHG).
Meet Lorie Higgins (bit.ly/2YGMGqa), a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology and an Extension specialist at the University of Idaho. Many COVID-19 hot zones are located in large cities, but small towns and rural areas aren’t immune to the virus. Lorie, who’s an expert on rural communities, thinks there are likely benefits and challenges to living outside of big cities during the current pandemic. She thinks everything from the age of local populations to internet connectivity could impact how the pandemic impacts places like the Gem State. Lorie and I chatted virtually about how places like rural Idaho are dealing with COVID-19.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: Geographer Grant Harley and colleagues will be using tree rings to reconstruct summer air temperature in the Eastern United States, from North Carolina to maritime Eastern Canada. Read more at bit.ly/3dDuQbM.
Many climate change skeptics hold pro-environmental views. The researchers from U of I interviewed 33 Idahoan climate skeptics and found that many had concerns about pollution and deforestation and supported policies for clean air and water and alternative energy sources. Read more at bit.ly/2ztbM1g.
Ann Brown with Movement Sciences conducted a study on female collegiate dancers and their protein intake. The findings suggest protein supplementation for 12 weeks could be a simple way to improve the diets of female collegiate dancers without altering overall body weight. Read more at bit.ly/3fDDLfb.
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Multitudes” by Gillicuddy (bit.ly/2YJVKuI) via freeusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/35EdOI5).
Meet Jamie Derrick (bit.ly/3dwF7a1), an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Communications Studies at the University of Idaho. I think we can all agree that going through a pandemic is stressful. Whether it’s concern for the health of our loved ones, job and food security or balancing childcare and work, there is a lot to keep us up at night. Jamie knows about stress, what triggers it, how it manifests and how we can overcome it. She is also an expert in helping people deal with trauma and has a toolkit for handling stress. Jamie and I chatted about how it feels to go through a pandemic, and we practiced tools for de-stressing.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: The Rural Studies Program and U of I Extension have developed infographics for every county in Idaho to help manage the unknown around the threat of COVID-19. Read more at bit.ly/2yLENW1.
Researchers in the Mind and Movement Lab found that when older adults thought about posture as effortful, they had worse balance than when they stood in a relaxed way. In contrast, participants had the best balance when they thought about “lightening up” into length. Read more at bit.ly/2YQTQbC.
The College of Engineering’s Idaho Clean Snowmobile Team earned fourth place overall in the gasoline spark-ignited class at the 2020 Society of Automotive Engineers Clean Snowmobile Challenge. Read more at bit.ly/2zuYam2.
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Gamma Muscae” by Florian Decros (bit.ly/3dtbYfw) via freeusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2WCIyot).
Meet Tanya Miura (bit.ly/35FhIQR), an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Idaho. Unlike many of us, Tanya knew about coronaviruses before the current pandemic. She has studied this family of viruses throughout her entire career. Although no one is an expert on COVID-19 yet, Tanya has been following the outpouring of research on the virus, the spread of the pandemic and some of the misconceptions surrounding COVID-19. Tanya and I discuss the specifics of the virus itself.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: University of Idaho faculty are partnering with our sister institutions in the region to model intervention strategies across Idaho during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more at bit.ly/3bmZncz.
Leda Kobziar with Natural Resources and Society used flying drones and vacuumed air onto filters to capture microbes found in smoke. Her team found more diversity of bacteria and fungi in the smoky air than in non-smoky air. Read more at bit.ly/3cpLawD.
Tonia Dousay and Cassidy Hall from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction are partnering with Google to produce teachers who are ready to use technology in the classroom. Read more at bit.ly/2LkPeT2.
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Work Wonders” by Lobo Loco (bit.ly/3fn64OW) via freeusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3cpZAx7).
“I’m not sure everyone’s aware, but Idaho is known for potatoes… We grow over 322,000 acres of potatoes and produce over a third of the potatoes in the U.S.”
Meet Jenny Durrin (bit.ly/2OHI1PG), the director of the Seed Potato Germplasm Program at the University of Idaho. Whether we are talking about French fries from McDonald’s or the small purple potatoes you find at farmers markets, 90% of potatoes produced in Idaho can trace their lineage to Jenny’s lab. Picture the lab as a potato nursery. A really sterile potato nursery. In the lab, Jenny is the caretaker of more than 300 varieties of potatoes including new varieties of the tubers produced by researchers at U of I.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: College of Engineering students earned top placement in the National Academy of Engineering Global Grand Challenges Summit student competition. Read more (bit.ly/34IXLHF).
University of Idaho, Idaho Falls computer science graduate students took first place locally in the 2019 U.S. Department of Energy CyberForce Competition. Read more (bit.ly/35NhFRU).
A University of Idaho-led team of researchers found that experimental fences — including fences made from beehives — reduced the number of times elephants left Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park to raid nearby crops by 80-95%. Read more (bit.ly/2r6DyNk).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Coffee” by Cambo (bit.ly/2rQgRgw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2DCpXQn).
“You’ll hear it at large native gatherings and small native gatherings. Someone will say ‘all my relations.’ What they mean is not…grandma and grandpa. They do mean that, but, when they say ‘all my relations,’ they’re looking out across the entire existence of what we see. The trees. The rocks. The whole works. We have a connection to all that. We’re not separate from the natural system. We’re just part of it.”
Meet Jon Waterhouse (bit.ly/2R144T1), a research scientist at the University of Idaho and a National Geographic Explorer. Jon has spent much of his time at National Geographic traveling with indigenous peoples from around the world, including the Amazon and Alaska. His goal is to provide a way for indigenous people to gather, record and communicate their place-based science with the wider world. At U of I, Jon will be continuing that work through a project called LINK, which combines virtual technology, modern environmental science and indigenous science.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: U of I will begin designing the nation’s largest research dairy, called the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE). A $1 million gift from the J.R. Simplot Co. brought the university commitment for the project to $10 million. Read more (bit.ly/35uuobO).
Department of Biological Sciences’ Larry Forney found that measuring the levels of acids and proteins in vaginal fluid may be a non-invasive, cost-effective way to assess the risk for preterm birth due to a short cervix. Read more (bit.ly/2KQWxlO).
Assistant Professor Dakota Roberson has earned a 2019-20 White House Fellowship and will spend a year working for the U.S. Department of Defense. His expertise in power systems and renewable energy integration led him to the national leadership and public service program. Read more (bit.ly/2XIZxWw).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Impact Andante” by Kevin MacLeod (bit.ly/2XN8QVa) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2DeR0B9).
“Our analysis starts with a database, essentially a model of the entire economy. You’re painting a numeric picture of the economy and what the drivers are.”
Meet Steve Peterson (bit.ly/2O2MFap), an associate clinical professor at the University of Idaho. Steve is an economist who lends his knowledge to regional businesses, non-profits and other organizations. He writes economic assessments for these groups, answering questions like, how much money does the Botanical Garden bring to Boise? Does the Moscow Farmers Market bring in enough money to justify putting in a public restroom? And how many jobs do the five Native American tribes of Idaho bring to the state?
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: NASA will fund a research proposal to evaluate countermeasures that prevent or ease the signs and symptoms associated with brain and vision problems, which result from space travel. Read more (bit.ly/2O3yl1i).
The College of Art and Architecture in Boise launched its third Virtual Technology Laboratory. The lab will partner with the Autism Cross-Reality Institute to develop educational, diagnostic and therapeutic tools to aid individuals with autism. Read more (bit.ly/2QBrvSv).
The University of Idaho was ranked sixth among nearly 300 higher education institutions on the Sustainable Campus Index, a grade published by the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Learn more (bit.ly/2qku5Sh).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Sun Tan Lines” by Florian Decors (bit.ly/2racnAP) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/33auZOF).
“Our students would…rationalize their risky behavior by comparing themselves to their peers who they say also take similar actions and have remained safe.”
Meet Dilshani Sarathchandra (bit.ly/2O7SLFw), an assistant professor at the University of Idaho. Dilshani is a sociologist who studies risk assessment. She focuses not on the calculations behind risk assessment, but how our human emotions and feelings influence what we consider risky behavior. And it turns out we’re really terrible at deciding what is risky behavior and where to put our trust. Dilshani has spent her career studying this odd dichotomy between real and perceived risky behavior, including a number of studies on people’s trust in science and cybersecurity risk among college students.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: U of I has identified and cloned a gene that can fend off a major fungal threat to wheat and barley. This genetic advance could lead to new wheat varieties with more dependable yields and reduce the need for pesticides. Learn more (bit.ly/34SoD7O).
David Ausband published a study on how wolves use the space around the sites where they rear their pups. The study suggests the closer the wolves are related to a litter of pups, the more time they will spend rearing the young. Read more (bit.ly/2Q7M4Wr).
The U of I wants to create a dynamic new meat science center and a $1 million gift took us one step closer. The new center will expand students’ educational opportunities in animal processing. Learn more (bit.ly/33E6MRM).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Terminalism” by Phylum Sinter (bit.ly/2p4s1wS) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2rs2M8y).
“The most recent economic data that I could find were for 2011, and both salmon and steelhead fisheries brought in around $90 million to the state…It’s not a trivial part of our economy.”
Meet Mike Quist (bit.ly/2MUHBnY), an associate professor at the University of Idaho. Mike spends his time at U of I fishing. OK, that’s a bit simplistic. He actually studies fish, including the best ways to manage our fisheries. Fisheries management can be complicated with the involvement of anglers, conservationists, landowners, tribes and all levels of government. For his part, Mike often evaluates and monitors fish populations. He’s recently focused on studying steelhead trout populations in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more (bit.ly/2BQVRrA).
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: The University of Idaho Advanced Biofuels Lab is partnering with the U.S. Air Force on a project to commercialize a biofuel that doesn’t freeze at high altitudes and has the potential to be carbon-negative. Read more (bit.ly/2Pq2QQc).
Postdoctoral Associate Jane Lucas published on Azteca alfari ant nests in trumpet trees. The study found that nursery chambers had fewer bacteria species than the rest of the nest. Learn more (bit.ly/2BR8V08).
U of I’s Richard Christensen was awarded a U.S. Department of Energy grant to support the installation of a NuScale reactor plant simulator. The simulator is a virtual nuclear power plant control room and will be housed at U of I Idaho Falls. Read more (bit.ly/32RHbEA).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Springish” by Gillicuddy (bit.ly/2NnjwoX) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Jsljbd).
“Someone reported that they were finding…single-use plastic bags in the Mariana Trench, which is one of the deepest places in the ocean, and it’s kind of remarkable just how far it’s traveled. And I’m a believer that this is a particular issue that we have social capital around, and we can actually see changes. That we can see behavioral changes.”
Meet Anastasia Telesetsky, (bit.ly/2Pufm15) a professor of law at the University of Idaho. Anastasia has focused much of her law career on international and environmental law including work on whaling, sustainable fisheries and climate change. Now, she is tackling a new oceanic plague, plastic pollution. Researchers (bit.ly/2qTUy9f) estimate 8 million metric tons (bit.ly/2Wv6mKR) of plastic enter the ocean every year; that’s roughly the weight of 90 aircraft carriers. To help solve the problem, Anastasia proposes an international ban on most single-use plastics.
Read more at The Conversation (bit.ly/31UL6ix).
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at www.uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: Katherine Himes and U of I’s James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research have initiated the Idaho Climate-Economy Impacts Assessment, a two-year project to evaluate the economic impact of climate change on Idaho. Read more (bit.ly/34jpo9J).
Doctoral student Andrew Maguire was awarded the Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology fellowship that will support Maguire’s Arctic research on trees. Learn more (bit.ly/2poBXSb).
Research at U of I often takes place beyond Idaho’s borders. Check out uidaho.edu/explorers2019 to watch five students who, during summer 2019, investigated everything from antelope diets in Mozambique to the logistics of building a boarding school in Togo.
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Assignment” by BoxCat Games (bit.ly/32VFbLg) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2PnTgx8).
“These pictures of enslaved people…they’re primarily well-dressed studio portraits. They don’t show enslaved people visible dissenting from their position. And so what I talk about is how we see in the 1840s and 1850s slave holders taking up what is a neutral visual technology and warping it and turning it toward particular political ends. I call this dynamic in particular a quiet habit of domination.”
Meet Matt Fox-Amato (bit.ly/32VtHHI), an assistant professor at the University of Idaho. In spring 2019, Matt published a book on the relationship between slavery and photography, a technological advancement that was developed and flourished in the two decades preceding the Civil War. His book draws on rare photographs from the middle of the 19th century, along with archival letters to investigate how photography affected how slavery and freedom were recorded, imagined and contested. The book is titled “Exposing Slavery: Photography, Human Bondage, and the Birth of Modern Visual Politics in America,” (bit.ly/2Wm4zHN).
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at www.uidaho.edu.
More U of I research: Assistant Professor Dakota Roberson was recognized as co-inventor on a patent that improves the ability to compensate against large electric power flow changes brought on by intermittent disturbances or even cyberattacks. Read more (bit.ly/34eQr61).
U of I researchers found people who are skeptical of health institutions and live farther away from a disease outbreak harbor less favorable vaccination views than those who are skeptical but live in closer proximity to an outbreak. Learn more (bit.ly/2Wm3EHl).
U of I’s Adrienne Marshall found that back-to-back low snow years may become six times more common across the Western United States over the latter half of this century. Read more about the study (bit.ly/2JqjFqf) and read Marshall’s story in The Conversation (bit.ly/2Jt3Cbf).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Headway” by Kai Engel (bit.ly/2WkpjQ9) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
Photo: Used on U of I promos: Alexander Gardner, Richmond, Virginia. “Group of Negroes (‘Freedmen’) by canal,” April 1865, collodion negative. Civil War Glass Negatives and Related Prints Collection, Civil War Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-cwpb-00468.
Osborn and Durbec, “Planter’s summer residence, no. 10,” c. 1860, stereograph. Civil War Collection, Stereograph Cards Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-stereo-1s03920.
“Contraband Foreground,” c. 1861-1865, stereograph, albumen print, 8 x 18cm. Civil War Photograph Collection, Stereograph Cards Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-stereo-1s02759.
“We really started thinking about, what do we want to explore on Titan? We want to explore these interesting organic grains…Of course, organic stuff is…what life is made of. It’s made of carbon-based molecules. And so when we’re looking at Titan we’re looking at the most exciting carbon chemistry anywhere but Earth.”
Meet Jason Barnes (bit.ly/2Wllnyx), who was recently promoted to professor at the University of Idaho. Jason is a founding member of an international team of scientists that has spent years designing a robotic quadcopter that can land on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. This drone-like rotorcraft, which is affectionately named Dragonfly, is intended to fly from sampling site to sampling site, studying the moon’s atmosphere and surface. In the long run, Dragonfly should help scientists answer questions about how life started on Earth.
Learn more about Project Dragonfly, uidaho.edu/dragonfly.
Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at ucm-itunes@uidaho.edu.
Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at www.uidaho.edu.
The Dragonfly project will be led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and is funded by NASA in the amount of up to $850 million. The project is 100 percent federally funded.
More U of I research: Doctoral student Maria Zubkova found that the amount of area burned across Africa declined by 18.5 percent between 2002 and 2016. This reduction was likely driven by an increase in plant-available moisture. Learn more (bit.ly/2WjsJ5P).
A group of current and retired faculty from the College of Art and Architecture contributed to the peer-reviewed online encyclopedia, Archipedia, which features the country's most architecturally significant structures. Read more (bit.ly/2pb0Occ).
U of I’s Tara Hudiburg was given the 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government. Learn more (bit.ly/2JtIbXU).
Music: “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb). “Out of the Skies, Under the Earth” by Chris Zabriskie (bit.ly/2Pr0AYQ) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
In this episode, I talk about a number of topics in which climate change intersects with society — topics that can often get overlooked in climate change discussions. I reached out to three U of I faculty including a geographer who specializes in community planning (Andrew Kliskey, professor), a lawyer who focuses on Native American law and water rights (Dylan Hedden-Nicely, associate professor), and an English professor who teaches climate change literature (Jennifer Ladino, associate professor). Read the script at uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Music by Steve Combs.
Since temperature and precipitation can influence the growth and health of plants and animals, it’s easy to think climate change may affect agriculture, ranching and commercial aquaculture, industries intrinsic to Idaho’s economy. I’ve called up three U of I faculty members with expertise in these fields: Jodi Johnson-Maynard, department head for Soil and Water Systems; Ron Hardy, director of the Aquaculture Research Institute; and John Hall, professor in animal veterinary science. Read the script at uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Music by Steve Combs.
In Season 1 of the Vandal Theory, I'm investigating how climate change is affecting Idaho, since the local effects of climate change vary from place to place. First, I'm exploring how climate change affects Idaho’s natural landscapes, everything from the sagebrush steppe in the south to the forests of the north. I ended up talking with four of U of I’s faculty members, all of whom are experts on climate change in Idaho: John Abatzoglou (associate professor of geography), Tim Link (professor of hydrology), Penny Morgan (professor of fire and forest ecology) and Ryan Long (assistant professor of wildlife sciences). Read the script at uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Music by Steve Combs.