Superheroes of Science: Recent Episodes
Purdue College of Science
Superheroes of Science is on a mission to highlight current and exciting science and STEM content. Get your science directly from the experts!
Today we chatted with John Rajchert about the application of using far UVC technology to make indoor environments healthier. Rajchert is a native of Sydney Australia with an impressive background in electrical engineering. He has worked for years making buildings safe and efficient. Today he is a Co-founder and CEO of Lit Thinking and discusses what Far-UVC technology is and how it works.
We wanted to know a few things about Quantum materials. Who better to ask than Erica W. Carlson, Ph.D., a Professor of Physics at Purdue University. Prof. Carlson holds a BS in Physics from the California Institute of Technology (1994), as well as a Ph.D. in Physics from UCLA (2000). A theoretical physicist at the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, Prof. Carlson researches electronic phase transitions in quantum materials. In 2015, she was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society "for theoretical insights into the critical role of electron nematicity, disorder, and noise in novel phases of strongly correlated electron systems and predicting unique characteristics." Prof. Carlson has been on the faculty at Purdue University since 2003, where she was recently named a "150th Anniversary Professor" in recognition of teaching excellence. She is a founding member of Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC). Her latest work popularizing science can be found at youtube.com/@TheQuantumAge .
Briony Horgan, Associate Professor of Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, is working to determine whether we are alone in the Universe, or if life once existed on other planets such as Mars. She explains what the Perseverance Rover is doing on Mars, (like looking for ancient microbial life!), and talks about the samples and data that Perseverance is collecting. Briony also discusses a future NASA mission that will focus on returning samples to Earth (Mars Sample Return).
Dr. Lindsay Weinberg is a clinical assistant professor in the John Martinson Honors College at Purdue University, and the Director of the Tech Justice Lab. Her research and teaching are at the intersection of science and technology studies, media studies, and feminist studies, with an emphasis on the social and ethical impacts of digital technology.
From “writing code” without knowing code to training models, Professor Tianyi Zhang discusses how Machine Learning and A.I. models work and what they are. He is an Assistant Professor at Purdue University researching Human and Computer Interaction.
In an era of increasing cyber threats, Eugene H. Spafford forges our future in the area of cybersecurity. Dr. Spafford is a Professor of Computer Science in Purdue University’s College of Science. He explains ethical hacking, social engineering, and the role of cybersecurity professionals in our lives.
From how nuclear power works to safety in the industry, Dr. Hitesh Bindra explains nuclear energy. Hitesh is an Associate Professor at Purdue University’s School of Nuclear Engineering.
Raymond Yeh is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Sciences at Purdue University. His research is at the intersection of machine learning and computer vision. Specifically, his research focuses on developing algorithms to learn effective and explainable models ranging across several domains including audio, vision, language, and multi-agent systems.
Andres Bejarano began his career wanting to make video games. Today Andres is a computer scientist who is an Assistant Professor of Practice. He researches making natural looking A.I. images and teaches classes at Purdue University. Automated Algorithm Analysis serves as a powerful tool that enhances the efficiency of computer programs, benefiting humanity in multifaceted ways. At its core, it acts as a digital detective, scrutinizing the inner workings of software to determine how quickly tasks can be accomplished. This vital capability ensures that programs run swiftly and effectively, saving time and resources. The significance of Automated Algorithm Analysis is felt across numerous domains, from healthcare, where it accelerates diagnostic processes, to finance, where it streamlines complex transactions. It aids developers in crafting more efficient software and empowers educators to instill critical problem-solving skills in future computer scientists. Ultimately, this technology plays a pivotal role in our daily lives, making the digital world more responsive, intelligent, and beneficial for all.
We had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Matt Huber, the Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Future. Join us as we delve into the inner workings of this influential institute, exploring its crucial role in shaping a sustainable future. As we navigate the landscape of academia, our conversation takes an intriguing turn toward understanding the tenure process for professors. Dr. Huber sheds light on the intricate journey of how a professor attains tenure, unraveling the criteria, challenges, and significance of this milestone in an academic career.
Nicole Chavas (President + Chief Operating Officer) and Lucy Kopchak (Associate Engineer) join us to discuss green infrastructure and sustainable engineering. Due to climate change, cities are seeing an increase in stronger storms with heavier rainfalls. Traditional infrastructure (gray infrastructure) is not equipped to handle significant increases in stormwater, and new, innovative ways to manage stormwater are needed.
Greenprint Partners https://www.greenprintpartners.com/
Specializing in designing science laboratories, Marilee is a registered architect and Senior Laboratory Planner at HED, one of the oldest and largest architecture and engineering firms in the country.
Ever wonder where some A.I. programs their data? Farhan Shaikh (VP of Data and Digital Solutions at Jacobs) discusses Data Science. Jacobs is an international company working to make the world smarter, more connected, and more sustainable. Farhan explains what kind of data Jacobs and others collect and how that data is used. We discuss types of data being collected, why data is being collected, what a person would need to know if they go into data science.
Ben Taylor is a Project Manager at ACRES Land Trust in Northern Indiana. He joins us today to discuss the details of what a Land Trust is and his role in conservation and saving valuable lands for the future.
Dr. Rafael Lang from Purdue University Physics and Astronomy is an eternal optimist. As iny scienteest has to be. He is on a quest to discover Dark Matter. Dark matter is a mysterious and invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the total matter in the universe. Unlike ordinary matter, which includes everything we can see and detect with telescopes and other instruments, dark matter does not emit, absorb, or reflect light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation.
Disha Okhai researches ancient volcanoes to discover just what happened to better understand what might be happening on volcanoes today and the future.
This exciting crash course on tornado formation is led by Professor Dan Dawson, aka “Tornado Dan,” renowned research scientist from Purdue University Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and master of all things tornado-related. In this insightful episode, Dr. Dawson unravels misconceptions surrounding these natural wonders and provides a clear and concise look at the science that underpins them.
This exciting crash course on tornado formation is led by Professor Dan Dawson, aka “Tornado Dan,” renowned research scientist from Purdue University Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and master of all things tornado-related. In this insightful episode, Dr. Dawson unravels misconceptions surrounding these natural wonders and provides a clear and concise look at the science that underpins them.
Geochemist Marissa Tremblay recently returned from a field research excursion in Antarctica. She tells us about both the environment as well as the science that is looking to reveal the secrets of the rocks there.
rug Discovery is a very interdisciplinary field of research. Imrul Shahriar is a PhD student researching at Purdue. Imrul walks us through the process of drug discovery from the many fields of science involved to the proteins that they use to deliver the medicine to the correct cells. Imrul is actively working on stopping influenza.
Dr. Michael Sori (Purdue University Planetary Geophysics & Surface Processes) discusses bodies in our solar system that have ice, underground oceans, tides, and space exploration. We converse about various moons that have some of the basic ingredients for life.
In this informative episode, Brandon Pearson, the Director of NearSpace Education, explains the myriad uses of weather balloons and how they contribute to our understanding of the world around us. Join us on a journey of scientific exploration as we uncover the invaluable data these balloons provide. Once airborne, weather balloons become invaluable tools for gathering crucial data. They carry a variety of instruments and sensors that measure temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind speed at different altitudes. These measurements help us study atmospheric patterns, climate changes, and weather forecasting with greater accuracy.
Dr. Rafael Lang from Purdue University Physics and Astronomy explains to us that “ a particle solar eclipse is something you see, a total solar eclipse is something that you experience”. Through a discussion, we learn what to expect before, during, and after a total solar eclipse. Professor Lang explains why we have solar eclipses and the importance of them.
What was once considered background seismic white noise or ambient waves is now a valuable learning tool about the environment. Elita Li is investigating everything from traffic patterns to falling windmills by looking into these waves. Dr. Yunyue Elita Li is the Mary J. Elmore New Frontiers Associate Professor in Data Science in EAPS and (by courtesy) Mathematics at Purdue University.
In the past, only large, well-funded organizations could afford to build and launch satellites. But CubeSats are making it possible for anyone with a good idea and some basic engineering skills to put a satellite in space. Brandon Pearson is the Director of NearSpace Education sits with us to explain further CubeSats. CubeSats are small, cube-shaped satellites that are increasingly being used for a variety of space exploration missions. They are relatively inexpensive to build and launch, and they can be used to study the Earth's atmosphere, monitor the environment, and even test new technologies.
Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director for Clean Wisconsin, joined us to discuss some current initiatives related to solar energy and address several misconceptions about this alternative energy source. We also learned about agrivoltaics, where several crops can be farmed together while utilizing land space for solar farms.
Discover the wonders of Titan, the second-largest moon in our Solar System! Start your outer space journey and explore an alien world like no other. Titan is unique – its atmosphere, clouds, and vast oceans are made of methane instead of water.
Minimally invasive surgeries are ideal for reducing recovery time for patients. Biomedical engineers play an important role in figuring out the design requirements needed for developing useful devices for both physicians and other end users. Creasy Clauser, Research Manager for Cook Medical, describes the role of a Biomedical Engineer from identifying problems to developing prototypes that limit risk in the operating room and beyond.
From space weathering to lunar soils, Dr. Michelle Thompson, Purdue University EAPS, is actively furthering our knowledge about the universe. She not only knows about meteors and meteorites, she teaches professionals how to handle and research these interstellar objects. We caught up with her to learn about what these “Shooting Stars” are and where they come from.
Before x-rays were used for medical purposes, they were used for entertainment. X-rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and are utilized in a variety of radiography procedures that are currently taught to aspiring veterinary students. Liane Shaw, Diagnostic Imaging Senior Instructional Veterinary Nurse at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, describes the use of x-rays within these procedures and gives us a crash course in the history and properties of x-ray waves.
We all take medicine at some time or another, but what do we know about how these medicines are made? We asked Joe Topczewski, a chemist who has been part of both academia and industry, about pharmaceuticals: how they are made, how they become available, and how they are regulated. We learned that there is a lot of freely available information on federal government pages regarding most pharmaceuticals that are accessible to the general public.
We all take medicine at some time or another, but what do we know about how these medicines are made? We asked Joe Topczewski, a chemist who has been part of both academia and industry, about pharmaceuticals: how they are made, how they become available, and how they are regulated. We learned that there is a lot of freely available information on federal government pages regarding most pharmaceuticals that are accessible to the general public.
How is a research program chosen for funding by NASA? As various scientific field campaigns are implemented, some of the campaigns reach the scientific research community and program scientists like Ken Jucks, Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Programs selected through peer-review for funding by NASA focus on answering science questions that are important to society, and that include the development of a solid, scientific approach toward answering these questions. The role of a NASA Program Scientist is to discover appropriate field campaigns from the research community that are happening during a time when NASA can organize funding to support the campaigns.
NASA is divided into a number of different Mission Directorates. The DCOTSS Campaign was funded as part of the Science Directorate (earth science division) to provide an opportunity that might enhance the capability of scientists to better understand the current state of the Earth system and to enable continual improvement in the prediction of future changes.
The Sun is both a natural laboratory for plasma physics and the focus of the field of study known as Heliophysics. Heliophysics involves the physics of how the Sun actually works. Dr. Michael Kirk, P.I. of the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team, defines the state of matter known as plasma, and explains how studying the Sun helps us better understand satellites, radio signals, GPS signals, and many other technologies that affect our life every day. Solar eclipses, including the upcoming annular solar eclipse (October 2023) and total solar eclipse (April 2024), are also discussed.
NASA HEAT Homepage
https://science.nasa.gov/science-activation-team/nasa-heliophysics-education-activation-team
NASA Eclipses Home
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/home/
There are many variables that play a role in understanding the impacts of water as it relates to the development of different environments. Kayla Cotterman is an Environmental Scientist with the Lochmueller Group who studies the impact to wetlands for groups wanting to develop. Cotterman discusses variables such as water usage, storm water, runoff, and historic rain events. Factors such as these are taken into consideration when advising engineering firms about the construction of buildings, so that they will be able to withstand the environment in which they are being built.
When you look at a leaf, what color do you see? While a leaf may appear green, it is not necessarily producing green light. The leaf absorbs wavelengths of red light, and reflects the green light that we see. Professor Alexander Wei’s research group synthesizes molecules and nanomaterials, and studies how these materials interact with light. Wei discusses luminescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and where we can observe these light-related properties in our everyday life. Wei’s group is currently focused on designing and developing new materials that produce blue light. There is a current need for blue-light producing materials that can be used with an exciting new technology related to the next generation of flat panel television displays: Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs).
Special thanks for support from NSF grant CHE-2204206
Mike Hoffman is the former 16 First Alert Chief Meteorologist of 27 years. Recently retired, he had enough time to sit down with us and discuss chaos as it relates to the weather. Hoffman recalls his years at Purdue, learning about the delay between performing calculations for upcoming weather with a computer model and using the results of those calculations to actually make weather predictions. While computer models today are much better than they used to be, Hoffman comments on the importance of using experience and intuition to determine how correct a computer model might be.
Brad Garczynski, PhD Candidate in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, researches Martian rocks with the Perseverance Rover.
Brad and others are using the natural environment we have access to on Earth to make connections and gain a better understanding of observations being made at Jezero Crater on Mars.
Dr. Doug Schmitt is the Professor and Stephen and Karen Brand Endowed Chair of Unconventional Energy at Purdue University. Dr. Schmitt provides insight on growing energy consumption, the increased demand for products made with fewer (or no) greenhouse gas emissions, and challenges associated with the realities surrounding unconventional energy product development.
Dr. Tommy Sors, Assistant Director of the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI4D), explains the role that STEM professionals in all fields play in sequencing genes to understand the instructions for life found in every cell. This field of study is known as genomics, but within this field, there are many other “-omics.” How about the field of study involving RNA copied from DNA made within the cell? Transcriptomics. The field of instructions on how to make proteins? Proteomics. The study of proteins metabolizing within the cell? Metabolomics. Each of these fields creates a flood of information that requires computational science to help scientists better understand the data.
Green roofs are utilized to create habitat, promote health and well-being, reduce stormwater runoff, protect buildings, and conserve energy! John Aleck from LiveRoof joins us to discuss the installation process for green roofs and explain how green roofs are evolving to become more sustainable.
Wastewater has become a commodity and it's being used in many different ways around the globe! Most wastewater infrastructure throughout the United States is nearing the end of its life and communities are looking at rebuilding systems that have been in place for decades. Leisha Pica is with Jacobs Engineering where she serves as both a Global Technology Leader for Wastewater Technology, and a licensed professional civil engineer. Pica works on many projects that seek to transform aging wastewater treatment plants into new, useful, innovative, and cost effective facilities of the future!
Studies have shown that when students are connected with their peers, the process of learning new things becomes easier. Collaborative opportunities within a classroom tend to help students learn better than when the classroom emphasis is based on a competition model. Curtis Kelly, Professor at Kansai University in Japan, is passionate about using research and trends in brain science to help his students unlock their potential as learners.
Ken Ridgway tells us that in order to understand how the world works, we have to be able to study sedimentary rocks, and looking at an active area now helps us see what might have happened in the past. He sets up camp in active earthquake areas of Alaska and intensively researches the sedimentary rocks to discover clues to the past and make connections to today’s world. Ken Ridgway is a researcher and Professor of Geology and Geophysics in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University.
Do your favorite pastimes involve water? Boaters, anglers, water gardeners, even classroom aquariums carry the potential to spread invasive species. Greg Hitzroth is an Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Specialist with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Illinois Natural History Survey. Greg helps us to better understand the meaning behind invasive species, and provides many best practice guidelines for preventing the spread of invasive species while still enjoying the water.
Prevention campaigns: http://www.transportzero.org/
Promotes both Be A Hero – Transport Zero (boaters and anglers) and Be A Hero - Release Zero (aquariums, water gardens, classrooms, etc.)
Water garden, classroom and aquarium resources: http://takeaim.org/
Aquarium brochures:
http://takeaim.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Whats_In_Your_Aquarium_Animal_Brochure.pdf
http://takeaim.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Whats_In_Your_Aquarium_Plant_Wallet_Card.pdf
Water garden brochures: http://takeaim.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Whats_In_Your_Water_Garden_Animal_Brochure.pdf
http://takeaim.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Whats_In_Your_Water_Garden_Plant_Wallet_Card.pdf
How do we blend Indigenous knowledge with Western science in a respectful way, and ensure that members of Indigenous communities are included in the decision making, classroom teaching, and current policies at the University level? Traditionally, many underrepresented groups have been left out of the US educational system. Purdue University has been very proactive in reaching out to Native American students and their communities in order to build partnership, trust, and make positive connections. Dr. Ken Ridgway is a Professor of Geology and Geophysics in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. Dr. Ridgway’s research group meets with members of Native communities to find out what their needs are, asking questions like “What’s important for your community and how can we accomplish this in a respectful way?” When done in a mindful and respectful way, scientific research can help to preserve the culture of these communities. Dr. Ridgway explains that as Native American graduate students succeed and find careers at the University level, this is how we slowly change American Universities to better represent all of society.
Microplastics are small plastics that end up in our environment. But how do they get there and what kind of issues do they create? Sarah Zack is a Pollution Prevention Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois and with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program. Sarah joins up to discuss and explain what science currently understands about microplastics. We also discussed pharmaceuticals in the water and ways to reduce our impact on environmental issues.
Dr. Nowack returns to help us understand just how a logarithmic scale works. In today’s episode, we discussed the Richter Scale, Powers of Ten, and How Babies Count. Dr. Robert Nowack is a Professor of Geophysics in the Dept. of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University.
The start of a new year can be an exciting time for setting goals related to personal health and fitness. These goals may include starting, or possibly continuing, an exercise or fitness routine. Scott Lawrance, Clinical Professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology and Director of Athletic Training Education at Purdue University, cautions us to be wary of programs that promise everything and reminds us that building sustainable habits requires a long-term commitment. One of the biggest benefits to establishing a routine that works for you? Maintaining that routine requires much less effort than what was needed at the beginning!
Looking to make a change in your health? We found an expert and discussed nutrition, goals, diets, and advice for safely making changes to your daily routine that can lead to long-term positive habits. Adam Huffield is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength, and Conditioning Specialist, and a Senior Lecturer in the Departments of Nutrition Science and Health and Kinesiology at Purdue University.
Did you realize that the brain is like plastic and continues to change throughout your life? Dr. Ginger Campbell, Host of Brain Science podcast, joins us to discuss the 6 Things YOU Need to Know about YOUR Brain. Campbell takes us through a variety of interesting facts about the brain before discussing what we have learned through neuroscience. The interview closes with a discussion of some of the common misconceptions about the brain including the amount of brain-power we use and the left-brain /right brain.
Text ‘BrainScience’ to 55444 to receive a handout of brain facts from Dr. Campbell!
‘Tis the season for holiday treats! While it can be fun to indulge, it’s always a good idea to be mindful of our daily sugar intake. Can artificial sweeteners help us with our nutritional goals throughout the holiday season? Susie Swithers, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the College of Health and Human Sciences and Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University, gives an overview of different types of artificial sweeteners and discusses potential long term effects from using these sweeteners over regular sugar.
While hypoxia, or the reduced amount of oxygen available in a body of water, is a naturally occurring phenomenon, human impact can make hypoxia worse. Paris Collingsworth, Assistant Research Professor in the Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Great Lakes Ecosystems Specialist for the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, discusses his research with hypoxia in Lake Erie along with Great Lakes ecosystems and special properties of water that lead to the development of hypoxic conditions in Lake Erie during the summer months.
Did you ever wonder how scientists know what rocks are on Mars? Dr. Roger Wiens, PI of the SuperCam instrument on the Perseverance Rover that just landed this year on Mars, explains how it works. Roger also discusses meteorites on Earth from Mars, and the Wiens asteroid. That’s right he even has an asteroid named after him!
Dan Cziczo is not only a friend of the Science from the Experts show on Superheroes of Science, he is an atmospheric scientist whose publications have been cited in scientific journals over seven thousand times. Cziczo serves as the current Department Head, as well as Professor, of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. Cziczo explains the meaning behind the term “climate change” and provides a methodical history of climate change. Topics from this episode include trends in global temperatures, greenhouse gases, clouds, and a survey of historical climate data.
Link to the YouTube episode: https://youtu.be/lBcyo5OMHMk
Aerosols can be naturally existing or man-made, and both types of aerosols exist in our atmosphere. Alexander Laskin, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Purdue University, explains how aerosols are classified, where different types of aerosols can be found throughout the world and the goal of his research in atmospheric chemistry.
Did you know that a 6 digit passcode takes less than 1 day to crack, while a 10 digit passcode can take several years? Just do not use a phone number, as this can be guessed easily. Nick Egbert joins us from the Purdue University Department of Mathematics. Nick is a PhD candidate who is specializing in cryptography and number theory. He explains how simple and extremely complex codes work. Nick teaches us that everything from depositing a check using your phone, logins to any website, to reusing passwords, all use cryptography.
Professor Tim Donohue from University of Wisconsin-Madison joins us to discuss Bioenergy. Donohue explains the importance of thinking about bioenergy-based research solutions and emphasizes that biofuels are not a new concept. Donohue explains various products that come from a barrel of oil, and making fuels and chemicals from dedicated non-food energy crops.
Most all diseases include some kind of environmental component according to Dr. Sarah Evans, Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. If environmental factors are responsible for rapid disease rates, then we can work toward solutions that will be helpful in slowing these rates. Dr. Evans suggests actionable items we can do to reduce unnecessary exposure to dangerous chemicals including using our dollars to choose products that are phthalate-free, BPA-free, and fragrance-free, using more whole and fresh foods, and reducing household dust.
Deep learning was such an unpopular field of research in 2012 that there were only 3 labs in the world doing any research. Only in the last decade have we seen enormous progress in the fields of deep learning, machine learning (ML), and ultimately artificial intelligence (AI). Slater Victoroff, CTO and Founder of Indico Data, explains that AI is the automation of any process, with a computer, that would traditionally be completed by humans. Imagine the early elevators operated by humans. The first automated elevators would have been considered AI! Victoroff discusses all things AI and gives insight into why this field is progressing so quickly. The more progress we make towards AI, the more appreciation we gain for how incredible human cognition really is!
Link from the episode:
DALL-E
https://openai.com/blog/dall-e/
When a crime takes place, it seems natural that collecting DNA evidence would be a necessary part of the investigation. But what happens if there isn’t any DNA to collect, or DNA evidence is available but there isn’t a reference to use with the evidence? Melanie Beasley, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University, explains how the use of stable isotopes provides strong evidence to help members of law enforcement answer the question, “Who was this person?” Additionally, Beasley explains the field of biological anthropology which studies how humans interact with their environment.
Dr. Ryan Ickert, senior research scientist with the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, describes how radioactive isotopes are used to determine the age of rocks and minerals in a field of study known as geochronology. When scientists knowing the rates of decay of elements such as uranium, thorium, and potassium, they can use this information as a type of clock to determine the age of materials as far back as the beginning of our Solar System!
Dr. David A. Padgett is an Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory at Tennessee State University. Dr. Padgett discusses Sea Level Rise in North American Coastal Regions: Impacts upon Coastal Aquatic Ecosystems. Discussions included evidence of sea level rise, climate change, impacts on aquatic ecosystems, and the loss of critical wetlands ecosystems habitat.
Dr. Padgett’s shared presentation (Google Slides): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1j7mGUK3ykJatOL5RbxPadg5aqARM-Uph/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116014254223471186009&rtpof=true&sd=true
Dr. Ronnie Schumann, Associate professor in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science at the University of North Texas, tells us that there is “No such thing as a natural disaster”. In this interview we learn about disaster science, recovery from disasters and how to become fire-adapted.
The story of the Asian giant hornet, or murder hornet, starts with an email: “I found a bug...what is it”? Dr. Gwen Pearson runs the Human Insect Interaction Lab for Purdue Entomology and candidly discusses many common myths associated with the hornets. Dr. Pearson also explains a convincing argument for describing the insects as Halloween hornets instead of Murder hornets.
What do the guts of a volcano look like? According to Jonathan Delph, Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, it depends on the geoscientist you ask. Delph walks us through several illustrations showing the ways different geoscientific disciplines might view magmatic structure: Geochemistry (process-focused), Petrology (field-focused), and Seismology-focused. Additionally, Delph reveals a recent paradigm shift in scientific thinking about the underground composition of volcanoes.
Advancements in technology are creating infinite opportunities for improvements to cybersecurity. Jin Wei-Kocsis, Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Technology with Purdue Polytechnic Institute and Director of the Cyber-Physical-Social Systems Design Lab, explains both Deep Learning and Blockchain technologies and how these technologies intersect with cooperative and secure computing.
Data is all around us! What can we do to make this data meaningful and understandable without making it complicated and overwhelming? Vetria Byrd, Assistant Professor of Computer Graphics Technology with Purdue Polytechnic Institute and Director of the Byrd Data Visualization Lab joins us to discuss data visualization, building data visualization capacity, and the 4 V’s of big data.
Additional resources:
Choosing the right chart type: https://img.ctrlq.org/di/data-chart-type.png
Data Visualization Catalog: https://datavizcatalogue.com/
Power BI: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/
Google Charts: https://developers.google.com/chart
Tableau: https://www.tableau.com/
This website provides a list of different visualization tools along with their pros and cons.
https://www.toptal.com/designers/data-visualization/data-visualization-tools
Tillmann Kubis, the Katherine Ngai Pesic & Silvaco Research Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, explains how Quantum mechanics is “simply” wave mechanics. Kubis explains and provides examples of the presence of particle physics all around us. He also advises that considering the wave-particle duality, and being open to the hybrid nature of waves and particles, can help us better navigate events in everyday life.
Explore the science that goes into firework displays with Paul Smith, Director of Lecture Demonstrations for the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University. Smith describes the anatomy of firework shells, explains the chemicals used in making fireworks, and covers the requirements needed for getting licensed to build fireworks. Smith also gives a great explanation of the role that science has played in enhancing firework safety!
Do you know all the ways you can be hacked? Dr. Ida Ngambeki, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology and Executive Director of Purdue Cyber Education Network Training Resources (CENTR) at Purdue Polytechnic Institute, explains many different types of social engineering including vishing, shoulder surfing, and watering holes. Dr. N presents strategies we can use to protect ourselves, and provides examples of dialogue to help us navigate awkward social interactions with politeness while avoiding any compromises to our cyber hygiene.
https://haveibeenpwned.com/
https://protonmail.com/
While some invasive species like the Bradford pear tree can seem like a good thing, (trees ARE good for the environment!), they are considered invasive because they crowd out more favorable and sustainable native trees, shrubs, and understory plants that are better for the environment. Lindsey Purcell, Urban Forestry Specialist for the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University explains why invasive species outcompete native species so well. Purcell describes actions the general public can take to combat invasive species.
Resources mentioned:
Purdue Extension Education Store
https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/default.asp
International Society of Arboriculture: Trees Are Good
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Alternative Options for Invasive Landscape Plants
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-464-W.pdf
The Natural Heritage of Indiana, by Marion T. Jackson
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3457097-the-natural-heritage-of-indiana
Horticulture helps us improve the environment, strengthen community, use environmental solutions to solve real-world problems, and bring beauty to the world, all through growing plants! We can’t exist without the field of horticulture. As Brie explains, horticulture is relevant, necessary, and essential. In this episode, Brie discusses the different types of plant propagation and where each type is most appropriate - from nurseries to public gardens to home landscapes.
Brie the Plant Lady on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJjehwRXiIa25aV7kLHLZoQ
Brie Grows Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BrieGrows
Brie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brietheplantlady/
Growing a Greener World: https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/
4H online: https://4honline.com/
Emergent Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/471693102884875
International Plant Propagators’ Society: http://ipps.org/
Seed Your Future: https://www.seedyourfuture.org/
What is MRI? Is it an invasive procedure? How do the risks of getting an MRI compare to the risks involved with getting an X-ray? Deva Chan, Assistant Professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, joins us this week to explain MRI and how Chan’s research specifically uses MRI to study arthritis.
Proteins perform a lot of different jobs within our cells. As proteins either age or mutate, they can begin to cause problems for the cells. The ubiquitin system, (present only in eukaryotic organisms - animals and plants), works to tag proteins that go bad. Proteins tagged by the ubiquitin system send a signal to proteasomes which then shred the bad protein, hence the expression “kiss of death.” Normally, a cell infected by a pathogen, (bacterium or virus), will undergo a process known as xenophagy, where an infected cell will kill itself to avoid becoming infectious to other cells around it. At the same time, the process of xenophagy kills the pathogens causing the infection. Even though pathogens don’t have a ubiquitin system, they have adapted their ability to survive by producing proteins that hijack the ubiquitin system of eukaryotic cells. Sebastian Kenny, PhD candidate the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, explains the research he is doing to learn more about how pathogens are able to hijack the ubiquitin system.
Are there habitable planets outside of our solar system? Dr. Ravi Kopparapu, Planetary Scientist at NASA Goddard, explains that almost every star in our galaxy has a planet around it. This means there may be 100 billion planets in our Milky Way galaxy! Most of these planets range between the sizes of Earth and Neptune. Data available to exoplanet scientists is limited to what can be collected through remote observations with telescopes. Therefore, scientists tend to focus on terrestrial planets (similar to Earth), with suitable atmospheres (nitrogen and oxygen), that are able to maintain liquid water on the planet’s surface. A biological presence could interact and change the gas composition of the atmosphere, which could then be detected by remote telescopes and lead to potential discoveries of life.
What is medicinal chemistry? Delmis Hernandez, PhD candidate (focusing in organic chemistry) in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, describes the process of studying the skeletal structure of compounds in an effort to develop new medicines to fight cancer. Medicinal chemists identify the parts of a compound that are most effective as a medicine, but watch out for PAINS! These compounds can give false positive results that seem promising as a cancer drug when really the compounds might be toxic to both cancerous and healthy cells.
What might clouds on other planets, even planets outside our own solar system, look like? Alexandria Johnson, Assistant Professor of Practice and Research in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University discusses the process of analyzing a few pixels of light, detected by telescopes, in order to study cloud formation on exoplanets. With a focus on sub-Neptune planets that could reach temperatures near 500K in their upper atmosphere, scientists believe there are clouds formed both from potassium chloride and zinc sulfide. On planets described as Hot Jupiters, which are thousands of degrees Kelvin in their upper atmospheres, there could be titanium oxide clouds and it may even rain rubies!
Brian Bates, owner of Bear Creek Organic Farm, suggests thinking about organic farming in terms of an overall broad system that includes biodiversity, soil health, and water quality. Over the last five years, organic food has accounted for the fastest growing segment in the food industry. The biggest challenge in American organic agriculture? We don’t grow enough organic food in America to satisfy the demand.
EWG’s 2021 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce:
Dirty Dozen - https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
Clean Fifteen - https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php
Learn more about Bear Creek Organic Farm: https://bearcreekorganicfarm.com/
Dr. Monika Bleszynski, Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver, discusses some of the harmful impacts of road salt along with potential alternatives. There are many negative impacts of the bioaccumulation of salt in environments near roadways, including damage to plant life, physiological drought, and the buildup of salt in our water reservoirs. By studying organisms with evolutionary adaptations to produce their own antifreeze proteins, Bleszynski has worked toward the development of safer alternatives to road salt with less harmful environmental consequences.
Yadu Pokhrel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University. In this episode, Pokhrel explains different types of droughts: meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological; and that computer models help predict when and where droughts might occur. He also discusses how droughts might impact many people, even if there is not a water shortage in their area.
Lindsey Britt is a Product Formulator for Procter & Gamble where she creates (and patents!) beauty products. Currently, Britt is the lead formulator for natural products at Procter & Gamble. In this episode, she explains the chemistry behind product development at P&G and teaches us about the different types of sweat, along with how deodorants and antiperspirants work.
Dr. Avinash Bala, Research Associate at the University of Oregon and Founder of Perceptivo, noticed something about the way owls responded to unexpected stimuli. The owl’s pupil noticeably dilates each time it detects an unexpected sound. By studying this pupil dilation response, which is part of the Orienting Response, Bala and colleagues have discovered ways to apply this response toward the creation of a novel and non-invasive hearing test for infants
Rick Clark, 5th generation farmer from Williamsport, Indiana, is taking a systematic approach to regenerative farming. Improving soil health by supporting the microbial biome has allowed Rick to remove tillage and take away the need for applying lime, phosphorus, and potassium. He is working toward achieving a balance within the soil, which encourages his crops to thrive. Rick discusses the practice of “farming green,” or establishing a successful cover crop in the fall in order to build a successful cash crop the following season.
Honey bees will be foraging for food this spring and you can help! Anne Morningstar, Co-owner, Co-founder, Lead Beekeeper and Brand manager of Bear Creek Organic Farm, offers insight into the life cycle of honey bees, hive management, and helpful suggestions about small things each of us can do to help honey bees and all pollinators.
Learn more about Bear Creek Organic Farm: https://bearcreekorganicfarm.com/
Kathy Lamb Kozenski, the Executive Director of the Geography Educators Network of Indiana, explains that geography is more than just making a map; it is telling a story. We can use story maps to visually tell a story. Story maps use a geographic reference tied to some sort of data. Kathy explains Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the layers in today's mapping software. The video also walks people through how to make an ESRI Story Map.
NOTE: The audio podcast available on most Podcast players is the shortened version of this interview.
Kristen Mori, a Machine Learning Engineer with the Houston Astros, joins us for this episode. Kristen explains what machine learning is and how it’s used in major league baseball to track player stats.
Matthew DeVerna, Ph.D. student, from the Observatory on Social Media (OSoMe) at Indiana University discusses many aspects of “misinformation”. These include things like ‘fake news’, some types of memes, rumors or unverified information, the intent of a post, and disinformation. Below are some of the tools that the Observatory on Social Media at IU have created to help users sieve through information to better spot misinformation, and not (hopefully) propagate it. As a bonus, Matthew gives us a heads-up about a new dashboard that OSoMe is working on to visualize the relationship between COVID-19 vaccine adoption and online (mis)information in the United States.
Jill Newton, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at Purdue University joins us to discuss her career path that led her to become a professor at Purdue University. She also discusses some of the mathematical patterns in cultures that she has visited. Jill challenges a common perception of what mathematicians look like and presents a number of career possibilities in the math sciences.
Dr. Andrew Flachs, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University, has returned to discuss ways people impact the environment. Andrew shows us and explains areas that have been sustained farming for nearly thousands of years in South India. He then takes us to Southeastern Europe to discuss the labor and history that has gone into creating landscapes that we can see today. Finally, we discuss the historic activities that have created the landscape in the Midwestern United States. The interview finishes with implications of GMO
Dr. Andrew Flachs is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University. In this part one of a two-part interview, Andrew explains the four areas of anthropology. These four areas comprise the study of what it is to be human
Dimitrios Giannios, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University uses different wavelengths of light from the electromagnetic spectrum to study the universe. Dimitrios takes the time to explain the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength bands. We learn about how an astrophysicist uses these wave bands to study neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, and other things in the universe. The speed of light and the physical state of plasma were also both discussed.
Tiffany Lyle, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Anatomic Pathology at Purdue University, speaks about the importance of the blood-brain barrier and ways that this barrier can be damaged from diseases like cancer. Lyle’s lab focuses on finding new ways to address and treat metastatic tumors, particularly tumors in the brain, and improve drug therapy and quality of life for cancer patients.
Erica Carlson, theoretical physicist and 150th Anniversary Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University. Carlson discusses conductors, superconductors, and implications of research on superconductors toward solving the energy crisis. Carlson also describes how electrons can demonstrate states of matter.
Matthew Ward, Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, joins us this week to discuss his work with medical devices (neurostimulators) to understand how to communicate with the nervous system. By gaining a better understanding of how, where, and when to stimulate the nervous system, Ward believes that pain relief, inflammation regulation, and even regulation of the autoimmune system will be possible without the use of pharmaceuticals.
Catherine Searle, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, researches disease ecology. Searle discusses native and invasive species, pathogens, and two specific systems that her lab studies: amphibians and daphnia.
Chris Uyeda, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, researches catalysts and catalytic reactions that are useful to the development of new drug molecules. The Uyeda lab focuses on using abundant (and less expensive) elements for catalysis.
Dr. Seema Mattoo, Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences at Purdue, researches prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and Fic proteins. Mattoo explains proteins, HYPE, and folding of proteins. The Mattoo lab is collaborating with many science professionals, trying to find an early treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, discusses the moon. He discusses phases of the Moon and leads into some of the backgrounds in the various names of the different Moons that we see. These include the synodic month, sidereal month. Harvest Moon, Blue Moon, and the math behind them. We discover just how long “Once in a Blue Moon” really is. We learn about Supermoon, which is one that occurs near perigee. We finish up the interview seeing how to use coding to do things like calculating a Blue Moon.
Colin Gray is an Assistant Professor in the computer graphics technology department in Purdue Polytechnic Institute. He is the program lead for user the experience design program. In this episode, we learn about User Experience (UX) design and some of the ways that social media and web sites are actively manipulating people.
Dr. Ali Bramson, new professor (this semester!) of Planetary Science in Dept. of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. Ali has always been interested in space and did a variety of undergrad and grad projects. In this interview we discuss ice on Mars, what defines a planet, what types of planets are there, and the Earth’s tilt.
The flu and COVID-19 are both spread via respiratory droplets. While the science behind hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing is very effective at preventing both flu and COVID-19, these precautions must be consistent. It only takes one time of forgetting a mask or not washing hands to become exposed to a virus. At this point, we haven’t stopped cases of COVID-19. Therefore we should still expect to see cases of the flu (beginning this October).
Clinton Williams from the Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture discusses the processes of wastewater treatment and what happens after the water is treated. We discuss how treatment plants work, nitrates, parts per billion, measuring zero, purple pipes, groundwater recharge, and water testing.
Matt Kasson (Associate Professor) and Brian Lovett (postdoc) are both from West Virginia University and explain what mycology, entomology, and plant pathology are. They discuss the importance of fungi and how fungi work as decomposers and create things. They create chocolate, antibiotics, breads, beverages, and many other things that we use in our daily lives. We discuss symbiosis between organisms and many examples of fungi relationships. Then we learn about the zombie cicadas and how some fungi interact with insects and in some cases control their functions.
Description:
Dr. Emily Hall is a staff scientist and program manager at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. Hall explains her involvement with Mote, where she runs both the Ocean Acidification and Chemical and Physical Ecology programs. She discusses how oceans are able to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, therefore making them more acidic. Hall explains how scientists study and collect data about the oceans’ carbonate system. She also discusses what Red Tide is and how it can majorly impact both the food chain and human health. Hall explains that researching science questions generally leads to more questions. She shares that students need to reach out to others in order to discover more about careers they might be interested in exploring. She also tells us to explore other subjects in college to see what you might fall in love with. We discussed “Blue Holes” and Hall explains what they are and how they formed. Hall also explains what is involved with scientific diving and the process of becoming a technically certified underwater cave diver.
Don Robison seed administrator for the Office of Indiana State Chemist discusses seeds from China. The U.S. and other countries are getting unknown seed packets that vary in types. These seeds can be very dangerous to the U.S. agriculture and economy if planted. Don tells us that throwing them away is the same as planting them. He explains the 3 possible issues with these seeds. Don, tells Indiana residents to send the seed packets to the USDA APHIS (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sa-07/seeds-china).
Don discusses the impacts of various noxious weeds and invasive species. Indiana is in the top five states in corn, soybeans, popcorn, field-grown tomatoes, duck production, egg production, and chicken production. He discusses what it takes to become a certified seed analyst and the roles that a seed analyst might have. Discussions in the differences in hemp and marijuana, the history of hemp in the U.S., the uses and regulations of hemp.
Mohit Verma is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University. Verma’s group has been busy working on developing a better test for COVID-19 with the goals of both simplifying the current test and providing faster results to patients. Traditionally, when patients are tested for COVID-19, they provide a deep nasal swab sample which is then analyzed for the presence of the virus. Verma’s group is hoping to develop a simpler testing procedure for patients that would instead analyze a sample of their saliva. Verma anticipates the new test could be completed from either the doctor’s office or eventually from the patient’s home. Over the past several years, Verma’s group had been developing a procedure for a similar test used with animals to detect bacterial infections. Verma explains the difference between both DNA and RNA, and the processes of transcription and translation. He then discusses the process his group is using to distinguish themselves from other COVID-19 tests that have been developed.
Dan Dawson is an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. Dawson researches the dynamics of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. He analyzes output from different computer simulations to help better understand different aspects of both storm and tornado behavior. He also uses observational data collected in the field and has participated in a number of field programs to chase severe thunderstorms and tornadoes with instruments for collecting data from these storms. Two of the larger, multi-institutional field programs in which Dawson has participated include the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) and VORTEX Southeast (VORTEX-SE) programs. Dawson speaks about the three-dimensional structures of these storms that produce tornadoes and stresses that scientists need data both within and surrounding these storms, specifically wind flow patterns that surround severe thunderstorms, to best understand severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The best instruments that scientists can use for obtaining high resolution data over the entire storm system is a Doppler radar. Doppler radar can either be in a fixed site like the XTRRA radar at Purdue. In this case, scientists have to wait for the storms to come to them. Mobile radar is another option in which Doppler radar instruments are installed on trucks that drive near the storms to collect data. Multiple trucks carrying multiple radars, and travelling at different angles to a storm, can synchronize their scans in order to provide scientists with full two-dimensional and three-dimensional views of the winds associated with a storm. Dawson’s particular niche has been the use of in situ precipitation stations designed to collect data from inside a storm. These probes are unique because they include a disdrometer which is a device used to measure the raindrop sizes in a severe thunderstorm. Dawson is interested in understanding raindrop size distribution because it can potentially be used to predict whether a tornado might develop within a severe thunderstorm. Dawson also explains the science behind weather fronts (synoptic or national scale), which he defines as boundaries between air masses with different characteristics. He further explains the difference between synoptic fronts and gust fronts which occur on a more local scale. If you are a student who would like to study storms or meteorology, Dawson recommends setting yourself up for success by taking as many math, physics and computer programming classes as possible.
Links:
VORTEX2 https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/vortex2/
VORTEX-SE https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/vortexse/
The XTRRA radar: https://xtrra.eaps.purdue.edu/
Dan Cziczo, Professor of Atmospheric Science and head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. His group specializes in the study of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Aerosol particles act as the seeds on which water, clouds, and ice crystals form within the atmosphere. The presence of these particles in the atmosphere scatter sunlight and cause hazy atmospheric conditions. Aerosols also influence the outgoing radiation from Earth to space, thereby making them a complex player in the energy balance of the Earth. One of the instruments used by Cziczo is a single particle mass spectrometer. His group has deployed this instrument on various NASA research aircraft and several years ago they were able to collect data from a base in Florida that was scheduled to fly through a Saharan dust storm. From this mission, Cziczo’s group was able to collect and analyze the chemical fingerprints of dust particles within that storm. Cziczo explains that Saharan dust storms are very common and have happened frequently for thousands of years during the summer. They are part of the trade winds and occur when material gets picked up off the arid regions of the Sahara and moves from east to west, where it ends up over either the Caribbean or Amazon. Occasionally, these storms will make their way over the continental United States. The most recent dust storm (Summer 2020) was a larger than normal storm and one that Cziczo classifies as a 50 year event. Small bits of this recent storm made it as far north as Minnesota and Canada. Cziczo mentions that aerosol particles can circle the globe several times before finally settling and he provides links (below) for listeners to be able to look up satellite imagery of these particles. While air quality (hazy conditions, pollution, pathogen transport) can be negatively impacted by the particles transported during dust storm events, they can also have a positive impact such as providing fertilization for the Caribbean islands, coral reefs, and even the Amazon rainforest. Cziczo mentions that ultimately, these dust storms
are an important part of our global system.
Links:
NASA MODIS / Dust Storms https://earthdata.nasa.gov/earth-observation-data/near-real-time/hazards-and-disasters/dust-storms
NOAA https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/it%E2%80%99s-dusty-world-noaa-satellites-help-us-keep-track-it
NASA Earth Observatory on this dust storm : https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146913/a-dust-plume-to-remember
Buster Dunsmore is an Associate Professor of Computer Science who both researches and teaches software engineering at Purdue University. While computer programming can be accomplished by one person, software engineering requires a team of people. Software engineering is a current need for industries. There is not as much of a demand on individual programmers because software engineering teams can create a software package in a much shorter time, 2-3 months versus 1 year if only one person tried to create the same software package. Dunsmore relates the teamwork aspect of software engineering to putting together a big puzzle. Some of the best skills a person can bring into this field of study are good problem solving and communication skills. Dunsmore mentions a collaborative platform, GitHub (https://github.com/ ), which is a software repository used by many freshmen at Purdue that allows students to access and test each other's software. He also tells us not to worry if you are unable to take a coding class in high school. Not only does Purdue not require incoming freshmen to have taken a programming class in high school, but Purdue offers Introduction to Coding classes for students with no experience. Dunsmore was inspired to become a professor/teacher based on his own experiences as a student. When the opportunity came up, he volunteered to teach a freshman level course. He made a vow to himself that if he was ever in a position to teach a freshmen level computer science course, he would make improvements so future students could have a better experience than him.
Dr. Dunsmore's interest areas include software engineering, software architecture, agile methods, software metrics, Java, C++, C, JavaScript, cgi software, object-oriented design and programming, and information Systems. He has been a recipient of the awards Outstanding Teacher in the College of Science and Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate
Teacher Award for Purdue University. He was chosen as a Founding Fellow of the Purdue Teaching Academy. Dr. Dunsmore has extensive legal and industrial consulting experience. He has written several technical articles and is coauthor of two books.
Herman Sintim, Drug Discovery Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, has worked to develop a potential drug compound for treating an aggressive form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemia is one of several different types of blood cancers. While there are a number of different drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently on the market for treating leukemia, patients treated with these drugs often experience a relapse with cancer. Chemists have the ability to study proteins that “go rogue,” or initiate cancer within a cell, and develop molecules (drugs) that are able to bind to such proteins and stop the cancer process. Sintim’s potential drug has tested very well with an animal model, and the next step is to answer the question: “Will it work in humans?” KinaRx LLC, a startup company co-Founded by Sintim, was recently awarded a grant from the National Cancer Institute that will help answer this question. Sintim explains that when a potential drug makes it to “clinical trials,” this is the first time the drug is administered to patients and evaluated to see whether it works. A small human population is used in Phase 1 of clinical trials. If the drug produces results indicating that it is working, the use of that drug is expanded to larger groups of patients in Phases 2 and 3. Finally, statisticians look at the results from these phases to see whether the data that has been collected indicates that the drug actually works. All of this takes place before the FDA provides approval for the drug to be administered to a larger human population and can take up to 15 years or more. Sintim follows with a great explanation of how timelines for moving both drugs and vaccines to clinical trials can become drastically shorter depending on the interest level related to development. With one group working on developing one drug or vaccine, the timeline is significantly longer than if many groups are focusing their efforts on the development of that same drug or vaccine. Sintim advises students to always follow their passions. By pursuing something that you find interesting, you will likely put more energy into your pursuits and find that you will excel.
Gouri Prabhakar is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. While the majority of her time is spent teaching both graduate and undergraduate students, she also researches both physical and chemical processes of the atmosphere that lead to change in the concentrations of various air pollutants. Prabhakar's research involves a combination of both data analysis and experimental work. She has participated in many field campaigns where she has collected samples of air, using instruments on aircraft, and analyzed them for pollutants. One of the goals of Prabhakar’s research is to better understand the chemical pathways that pollutants undergo in the atmosphere. By understanding the processes that various pollutants depend on, scientists can better understand and predict what the concentrations of pollutants will be in the future. One application of this research is to study the influence of pollutants on both the physical and chemical properties of clouds. When pollutants are added to the atmosphere, the surface area from which clouds can form increases because there are many more particles present. An increase in surface area leads to the development of many smaller droplets of water which creates a brighter cloud. The types of pollutants can also lead to the development of acid rain from the clouds. Prabhakar has been involved with several campaigns where data was collected from the eastern Pacific Ocean. The coast of central California was chosen as a setting for these campaigns because of the busy ports in this location. Prabhakar explains that the persistent deck of clouds located in this region, known as stratocumulus clouds, provide the perfect meteorological and anthropogenic setting where scientists can study the influence of the emissions from ships on clouds. The stratocumulus clouds combined with the stable boundary air below them creates an ideal, natural lab setting. Prabhakar encourages interested students to email professors doing research in an area of science that they find interesting. She suggests that many times students may find there are ways they can get involved either with looking at data or with various opportunities for summer projects. It is also important for high school students to develop a solid foundation in science and mathematics to help prepare them for a career in science.
Patrick Taylor is a climate scientist at NASA Langley. He discusses the interactions of Earth’s systems (atmosphere, ocean, land, humans, etc.) in impacting climate. Patrick’s research focuses on the impact of clouds and how clouds influence the energy balance of our planet. We discuss how the Earth emits energy upward, which escapes at the top of the atmosphere. This is the primary way that the Earth is cooled. Clouds impact how energy flows around the planet. Clouds both reflect energy from sunlight and insulate energy being emitted from the Earth. Over the last 40 years, NASA has observed a tremendous amount of decline in arctic sea ice. This has been brought about by increased CO2 emissions and have led to warming temperatures in the arctic (temperatures in the arctic have warmed more than twice as fast as the rest of the globe). In the arctic, with more sea ice melting, it was thought that more of the ocean would be exposed. Scientists hypothesized that with more exposed ocean, more clouds should form due to an increase in atmospheric water vapor. With more clouds, more sunlight would be reflected back to space. Therefore, it was believed that an increase in clouds would slow down the rate of arctic sea ice loss. However, data from both CloudSat and CALIPSO indicate that this hypothesis is incorrect. Patrick explains that due to the interconnectedness of our planet, atmospheric circulation (wind) moves carbon dioxide emissions from high populated areas to the arctic which then impacts the rate that sea ice melts.
Briony Horgan, Professor of Planetary Science at Purdue University, joins us to discuss the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission. Perseverance will launch in July 2020 (link below) and is scheduled to land on Mars at the Jezero crater in February 2021. How does NASA decide where to send the next Rover? Horgan was part of a team of scientists that evaluated Jezero crater as one of the candidate landing sites. She used satellite data to help think about the science that Perseverance could conduct at Jezero crater. Horgan explains that some of the best science you will see occurs as candidate landing sites are evaluated by scientists. Every participating scientist is invested in defending their landing site and many have very strong opinions. Perseverance follows Spirit and Opportunity, which were previous rovers searching for evidence of water on ancient Mars. The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Mission followed up with the findings from Spirit and Opportunity by analyzing the chemistry of rocks at those ancient watery environments to determine whether that water could have supported life. Curiosity found evidence of a long-lived, habitable lake environment at Gale crater. Now that we know Mars had a habitable body of water, the Perseverance Rover Mission will be searching for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. Jezero crater was selected because it seems to be the best example for evidence of an ancient crater lake on Mars. Horgan explains the complicated process, (Mars Sample Return), of collecting samples retrieved by the Perseverance rover and sending those samples back to Earth. Another point that Horgan makes is that NASA is concerned with planetary protection. The idea of planetary protection involves the consideration that we should avoid returning samples from another planet that could be potentially harmful to Earth. Also, contaminating other planets with Earth life should be avoided in order to reduce complications related to the understanding of the evolution of extraterrestrial life. One of the consequences of planetary protection is that NASA will not send missions to places where there may be even a slight chance that life may be living today. NASA also will not send anything nuclear powered to places where subsurface ice exists. In the event of a crash, there is concern that a nuclear powered spacecraft could melt subsurface ice and create a refuge for Earth life that would contaminate the extraterrestrial environment. A future mission idea might involve sending a rover to the Mars polar caps to collect ice core samples so that climate change on Mars can be better studied. This would help us refine our climate and atmospheric models for Earth systems.
Link:
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/
Barbara Cohen is a Planetary Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Her interest lies in impact events across the Solar System. Barbara’s work includes laboratory geochronology (time and earth) to determine when rocks formed. Because she is not able to travel to places like the Moon and Mars, Barbara instead relies on robots that can travel to these places and perform investigations. She has participated in NASA missions that include Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and the current Perseverance mission. Rovers from each of these missions have collected samples and returned them to scientists back on Earth. Barbara is hopeful that the United States will eventually send a robot to the Moon to collect samples. Plans for travel to the Moon include a possible mission (hopefully in 2021) called Lunar Flashlight, where a very small satellite will shine a laser on some of the Moon’s darkest craters in an attempt to look for ice hidden at the Moon’s South Pole. Lunar Flashlight will also serve to collect information related to the record of bombardment in our Solar System. All of the comets and asteroids that have been hitting the Earth and the Moon leave traces of themselves behind that can be used as a time capsule. Barbara is also working on sending a mass spectrometer to the moon that will travel on a commercial lunar lander (hopefully in 2021). Barbara explains how mass spectrometry works. The mass spectrometer will look at molecules in the lunar exosphere and provide data that Barbara can use to do geochronology on the Moon. Barbara is also interested in improving imagery to allow people on Earth a better virtual reality experience for what it’s like on the surfaces of both the Moon and Mars.
David Thompson is a professor in the Purdue University Department of Chemistry with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His group uses organic chemistry, which makes and breaks bonds to create new compounds. They work to create compounds both for new pharmaceuticals and to help with better drug delivery. Thompson explains that the photos you see online of the COVID-19 virus are actually reconstructions of images taken using an electron microscope. The electron microscope helps us get precise enough images to do a better job of designing drugs in order to improve human health. The goal of imaging a virus, or any other submicroscopic object, is to create an atomically precise picture of that object. For example, knowing the exact shape of a virus allows us to better select a compound that can inhibit that virus from infecting a cell. Pharmaceutical companies specializing in drug discovery will have libraries of up to 4 million different compounds, with information related to the shape and size of each of them. Thompson explains compounds and enzymes. He also explains how students work through the design, build, test, and analyze process for testing hypotheses and answering research questions. It is important to work towards developing good questions that will give clear answers during the analysis of the research results. When designing experiments, it is also important to create both positive and negative controls. Both the positive and negative controls should be completed before the real test in order to avoid getting a false positive.
David Sanders, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, works on introducing genes, or nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), into cells with the hope of producing a therapeutic benefit to treat disease. Using the virus as a shell, David can manipulate different properties of a virus. One modification involves changing the proteins on the outside of the virus. The modified virus can then be used as a delivery vehicle for introducing genes into particular targeted cells. Different viruses target different types of cells: some viruses want to go into white blood cells, liver cells, brain cells, or cells in the respiratory tract. Gene therapies are probably best known for their use in treating genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. However, gene therapy can also be used to treat cancer and, of current interest, to generate an immune response against coronaviruses. Viruses have perfected the technique of bringing nucleic acids into cells. Instead of having viruses transmit their own nucleic acids, David modifies them to transfer preferred genes. David refers to these as “mix and match viruses” because they take certain traits from different viruses to make an ideal combination for delivering gene therapy. One safety modification used in his lab is to fix the viruses so that they can’t reproduce themselves. David’s group has worked on a virus that acts like a retrovirus on the inside. Retroviruses go backward from RNA to DNA, meaning the gene a retrovirus delivers becomes permanently incorporated into the target cell. The protein on the outside of the virus that David’s group studies was replaced with a protein found on the outside of the Ebola virus. This allowed his group to target cells found in the lung airway epithelium where it would be ideal to target gene delivery in order to cure cystic fibrosis.
Another interest of David’s involves the ethics surrounding the process of scientific publication and the peer review process. David comments on safeguards that can be used to help prevent bias within research science. It’s important for the scientists who first come up with an idea to be properly credited for their work.
Link to worksheet:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ypanmpf8jsepFQOKdwycT4cncryURg2epUN4_sazwE0/edit?usp=sharing
Angeline Lyon, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry in the Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences at Purdue University, researches enzymes needed to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Specifically, her group studies Phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes which help trigger the release of calcium from inside the cell. Calcium oscillations drive body functions like muscle contractions, nerve impulses, and control how efficiently the heart beats. If calcium levels aren’t maintained, it can result in conditions such as irregular heartbeat, cardiac hypertrophy (abnormal enlargement, or thickening, of the heart muscle), or in severe cases it can lead to heart failure. Angeline’s lab uses multiple techniques to determine how proteins behave. X-ray crystallography is one method which helps her obtain “atomic snapshots” of proteins. This allows her to see where the amino acids are located within the proteins and consequently determine how those proteins work. Angeline also states that her lab is beginning to use electron microscopy which involves labeling proteins from a cell with a green fluorescent protein in order to track the movements of the labeled proteins within the cell. Additionally, her lab uses polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to help with protein mutations. Angeline offers advice to both undergraduate and high school students looking to get connected with opportunities to work in research labs.
Purdue University Chemical Engineering graduate, Caroline Kostak, worked as a flight controller with United Space Alliance out of college. After that she worked to help make buildings green in Houston, TX. She was inspired from the movie Inconvenient Truth to work with green buildings. For Earth Day 2020, Caroline suggests that students can do an energy audit of their home and she encourages kids to get their parents involved. Caroline now works as a Spacesuit Systems Engineer, with a team, designing a new spacesuit that astronauts will wear on the next Moon mission. There are many variables to consider when working to design a new spacesuit. Caroline discusses some of these challenges that she, along with a team of approximately 250 people, is working on. Caroline explains that a person's ability to work with others is the key to success. She further discusses the materials that go into the design of the new Spacesuit, issues with Moondust, possible NASA spinoffs, various suits that the astronauts need, and the space station Lunar Gateway.
Jeff Lucas, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, researches and teaches animal communication. Animal communication is the study of the interaction of living organisms. An important aspect of understanding communication is understanding how sound travels in different environments. This leads us to the complexity of vocal cords and social systems. The more dimensions of a social system, the more complex the communication needs to be. Jeff tells us about the very complex vocal system of the Chickadee. They have 15-20 different ‘letters’ in their language which produces thousands of different Chickadee calls. Jeff further explains that the complexity of the vocal system is seasonal, mixed-species flocks, changes in hearing, differences in birds hearing systems, and seasonality.
Assistant Professor of Earth and Space Sciences at West Chester University, Christopher Roemmele, teaches Science Education Methods classes (Secondary, Middle Grades, and Elementary) and Introductory Geology. Christopher was a classroom teacher before becoming a university professor. He supervises student teachers, runs committees, prepares lessons, presents at conferences, and publishes his research. He encourages science teachers to not just provide vocabulary and have students write definitions but to reflect on how they are teaching science skills. He encourages teachers to think about “What’s Your Story” when writing your lesson plan. Think about the lesson as a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Think about where you want students to go by the end of the story. He says to not worry about time break down for each part of the lesson when creating the lesson plan. Christopher discusses using demos to help students make connections. He encourages us to think of the story as a “Bridge of understanding from the known to the unknown”.
Mike Reppert, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University, researches biophysics and spectroscopy with a focus on photosynthesis to better understand green plants, algae and cyanobacteria. Reppert’s group is interested in how sunlight interacts with chlorophyll pigments in photosynthetic proteins. Visible light includes the wavelengths of sunlight that plants and cyanobacteria use to produce chemical energy. By knowing how natural photosynthetic systems work, Reppert is hoping to learn how to design new systems that can be used to produce biofuels more efficiently. Reppert’s group is involved with molecular biophysics where physical principles are studied to understand how molecules interact with one another. Through studying molecular interactions at the biophysical level, Reppert is hoping to show improvement in light-harvesting from the photosynthetic organisms studied by his group. Reppert touches on the topic of ethics associated with bioengineering.
Mike Reppert’s group website:
https://mreppert.github.io/
ACS Project SEED: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/students/highschool/seed/apply.html
Jani Sparks, Stable Isotope Specialist at the Purdue University Stable Isotope Facility, discusses the process of analyzing samples for Professors at Purdue University. To begin, isotopes can be thought of as chemical tracers. Carbon-14 is not a stable isotope, which makes it useful for radiocarbon dating. However, the Stable Isotope Lab looks for differences between stable isotopes over time, such as the relationship between Carbon-12 and Carbon-13. A variety of isotopes exist and common light, stable isotopes are referred to as “CHONS” - carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Stable isotopes of these elements are the most common to be analyzed in the Purdue University Stable Isotope Facility. An Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer is the instrument used by Dr. Sparks to analyze gas samples. Applications of the Stable Isotope Lab include looking at food webs and determining trophic levels of different species. By analyzing bones or hair using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, Dr. Sparks can tell whether or not someone is a vegetarian. Archaeologists can analyze bones to determine where animals may have migrated from using various stable isotopes. Additionally, national labs like the FDA make use of stable isotopes to determine whether substances such as honey, lemon juice, and maple syrup are pure or adulterated. Dr. Sparks advises high school students to check out stable isotope facilities, either at Purdue or other large Universities, and recommends that interested students seek out a Stable Isotope courses.
Professor Birgit Kaufmann started her career path with an interest in Astrophysics, and now her research exists at the intersection of both math and physics. Birgit works on problems motivated by physics, and uses advanced mathematical techniques to develop solutions. Her research includes working with problems related to non-equilibrium dynamics. Additionally, she has collaborated with scientists from the departments of physics, chemistry, and chemical engineering to synthesize a gyroid structure that exists in nature on the wings of butterflies and beetles. One of Birgit’s current interests is in quantum computing where she is currently looking at problems that can be submitted to run on a quantum computer in Canada. Birgit describes the importance of publishing scientific work and attending conferences in order to let the scientific community know about current research efforts. She emphasizes the importance for students to utilize office hours and join discussion forums when they experience challenges in coursework and have questions.
Professor Andy Freed from the Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences talks about asteroid impacts and craters on the moon and the Earth. He uses finite element modeling for computer modeling to look at the formation and evolution of craters. Andy explains that there is still heat in the core of the Moon and it can take millions of years for planetary bodies to cool down. He applied his expertise in finite element modeling of rockets to geophysics and now to planetary science. Andy explains about stress transfers of earthquakes that cause sequences of earthquakes. Andy teaches two of the most demanded elective classes on campus. Geosciences in the Cinema looks at the science in popular movies. EAPS 105 Planets which trace the origin of all elements (and even our human bodies!) to supernovas and stardust.
Background photo from NASA.gov
Michelle Thompson, Assistant Professor of Planetary Sciences, looks at the building blocks of life in samples and dust from asteroids, comets, and meteorites. She tells us some clues to knowing if a rock is or is not a meteorite. Did you know that you can volunteer to go to Antarctica to search for meteorites for research? Michelle discusses what asteroids are and where they come from, the ‘new moon’ that the Earth has “friended”, and her career path which led to researching Planetary Science. Her recommendations to students include seeking out research opportunities and to “make them tell you no”. Several weeks ago, Michelle became one of the first 20 people in the world to examine and analyze a sample that was brought back from an Apollo mission.
Grey is a hydrologist who uses machine learning (advanced artificial intelligence) to get a better sense of where water is currently located on the Earth’s surface, and where it will be located in the future. Hydrologists monitor water around the world, create models to replicate the data they collect, and then use those models to make predictions about future events such as where flooding will occur. Grey has camped “in the middle of nowhere in Australia” where he tested soil moisture for the SMAP Cal/Val program. Grey recommends high school students learn how to write computer code and manage a GitHub repository (social media for computer programmers). A great beginning computer code for students to try is Python, and there are several online courses to help students get started. Grey also encourages students to maintain a strong foundation in mathematics.
Andy stops in to discuss what he has done with his degree in Geology thus far and how he plans on using it as a foundation into engineering. Andy has worked at Indiana Department of Transportation (InDoT), and Indiana Department of Environmental Management. He now has returned to Purdue to pursue a degree in Engineering. Andy explains the geology of the Kentland meteor impact site, what geologists working for the state do, and some of the factors that go to road building. We also discussed the impact of groundwater on roads, landfills, and other environmental structures.
The Weather Guy, Michael Baldwin is an Associate professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. In this episode we discuss the first rule of forecasting, what weather models are, and how meteorologists use them to predict the weather. How the Earth is a system that includes many things such as sea ice, and sea surface temperature. Dr. Baldwin takes time to explain the normal ENSO water temperature patterns and the differences in El Nino and La Nina patterns. We also discussed careers in meteorology and data modeling
Betsy Parkinson is an Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Purdue University. The motto of the lab is “From Microbes to Medicines”. She is looking for new anticancer and antibiotic medicines in the soils by looking at Streptomyces bacteria. Betsy explains that bacteria defend themselves against other bacteria and fungus by creating antibiotics. We can use the antibiotics that bacteria produce to combat bacteria that can attack us. Betsy reminds us to not ask for antibiotics when we don’t need them, such as when you have a cold virus. She describes the differences between bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and presents photographs of bacteria grown in her lab.
Links:
Betsy’s Chemistry page:
https://www.chem.purdue.edu/people/profile/eparkins
Photos of her lab:
https://www.parkinsonlaboratory.com/pictures
Professor Nowack discusses sound waves, earthquake waves, a number of earthquakes, and the Richter Scale. The energy released in earthquakes is similar to sound waves, therefore we can listen to earthquakes. Current projects include stations set up near wind farms to collect seismic data related to the output of windmills. To see the full interview, go to our YouTube page and view the visuals that Professor Nowack discusses. https://youtu.be/RrDzDsT0qe8
Links Dr. Nowack discussed in the interview:
1) Station monitor
https://www.iris.edu/app/station_monitor/
2) Earthquake sounds
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake 7.1 in California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uaLixZE_Io
2011 Tohoku earthquake 9.2 in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cOan4FMWxs
3) USArray visualizations
https://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/epo/visualizations
4) IRIS visualizations
https://www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/search#type=1/language=1
5) online tone generator
http://onlinetonegenerator.com/
6) Shakemovie examples
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs7IPK6-UvyG1NzcvIPb1Bg/videos
Lynn Bryan is the Director of the CATALYST program and Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Department of Physics and Astronomy. Lynn suggests that teachers interested in participating in research projects should make contact with university education programs. Lynn’s research deals with students constructing knowledge and making understanding of science and spans K-12 grades.
Lynn shares what to expect at the 2020 Indiana STEM Education Conference. The team discusses strategies to get the most out of a professional development.
Resources mentioned in this interview:
The CATALYST Program
https://www.education.purdue.edu/catalyst/
Indiana Department of Education Releases STEM Strategic Plan
https://www.doe.in.gov/news/indiana-department-education-releases-stem-strategic-plan
2020 Indiana STEM Education Conference
www.purdue.edu/conferences/STEM2020
Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Computer Science at Purdue University, Gustavo Rodriguez-Rivera’s fields of interest include operating systems, programming languages, and computer networks. He is passionate about both neural networks and artificial intelligence and describes how the idea of artificial intelligence has evolved with time. Professor Rodriguez-Rivera started his path to computer science over 40 years ago with the Apple 2 computer when he learned to use BASIC. He received a degree in electrical engineering and then focused on the field of computer science in graduate school. His advice to high school students is to begin learning computer programming now! He suggests learning to write computer programs using Python. Gustavo states that a few of the best qualities of someone learning computer science include both patience and persistence. Gustavo suggests that neural networks and artificial intelligence are the next frontiers for the field of Computer Science.
Stephen Hoffmann is the Assistant Head of the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University and his role involves overseeing Graduate Admissions to the department. His Ph.D. studies were in environmental chemistry and technology. Through the interview, he explained trace metals and some methods of researching them. Stephen, being a scholar and a gentleman, took a passion for helping students after being inspired by a high school chemistry teacher. After coming to Purdue, he worked for Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Engineering Education, and finally the Department of Chemistry. He advises students to make clear goals on their college application statements and for those who get into college, to seek out faculty to find research and other opportunities in the areas in which they are interested.
Professor Robin Tanamachi studies severe storms using radar. In this episode, Robin discusses both the facts and fiction behind the movie Twister. She shares the career path that has led her to become a scientist studying convective storms and tornadoes. As a high school student, Robin took advantage of programs that allowed her to earn college credits. Professor Tanamachi lived in Japan for a few months researching typhoons during grad school. She recommends getting outside of your comfort zone to help yourself grow. A children's book about her field research, The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms, written by Mary Kay Carson, was released earlier this year (2019).
Purdue page: http://www.eaps.purdue.edu/people/faculty-pages/tanamachi.html
The XTRRA radar: https://xtrra.eaps.purdue.edu/
The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms, written by Mary Kay Carson: https://www.amazon.com/Tornado-Scientist-Scientists-Field/dp/0544965825
Chris Andronicos started his adventure into science at Los Alamos where he found his passion for geology. He studies the evolution of the solid earth, particularly the continental and oceanic crust, and underlying mantle lithosphere. He discusses the concepts of ‘melt’, the geology of both Oman and Greece, and what an outcrop is. Chris has been part of groups that have discovered new minerals including rare alloys of copper and aluminum that only form in meteorites. The tools of the trade for this field geologist are primarily a Brunton compass and a petrographic microscope. Chris can look at a rock through a microscope and tell all kinds of things about the rock. However, he can often tell you what a rock is just by touching it, (before even looking at it)! Chris and his wife are both first-generation college grads and their advice to students is to be persistent.
Lisa Welp researches both carbon and water cycles, and how plants respond to extra CO2 in the atmosphere. She addresses the important building blocks of life: CHONPS (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur). Lisa addresses the ocean’s role as a carbon sink (Henry’s law), removing CO2 from the atmosphere. As part of her research, Lisa’s group utilizes lasers to analyze isotope ratios in atmospheric samples. She has also been able to estimate the total amount of photosynthesis that occurs on the planet. She further explains that scientists can not prove things, they only support or disprove concepts.
http://www.eaps.purdue.edu/research/lwelp/
Brooke teaches math content to preservice teachers at Purdue. She discusses the teaching of math content in a way that is relevant to future elementary school teachers. Part of teaching math content is considering which questions need an answer and which questions are more important to focus on the process of solving. Brooke speaks about her career path as an educator. She discusses the social impact of a culture that allows people to claim to be bad at math, and how the reality is that anyone can learn math, regardless of their background.
http://www.math.purdue.edu/people/bio/bmax
Dan discusses his career path that includes working at NASA JPL, completing a postdoc at NOAA, and measuring atmospheric particles in Switzerland. Dan provides a great explanation of aerosols, the hole in the ozone layer, and CFCs. He explains the research on which his group is currently working, including air particles and clouds, present and past. We even learned about the snowfall on Mars!
Bill discuss how K-12 teachers can get help from universities and university faculty can get help with broader impacts. Bill also discusses the journey that led him to become the College of Science Director of K-12 Outreach. We finish up the discussion talking about the future of education.
Peter shares the journey of his professional career that led him to become a NASA specialist. Peter has been all over the world for NASA and shares some of his amazing experiences connecting with students from across the world. He is the first in his family to graduate from a university. Peter suggests that students not be afraid to ask questions and learn new things about topics that interest you.
Anne Lewis is a gal of many hats including National Geographic Fellow, GLOBE partner, Special Projects Director, South Dakota Discovery Center. She discusses her experiences that led her to these adventures and expresses her passion for field-based learning experiences. Anne explains how to be involved in NatGeo and how it helps with empowerment. She was a 2017 National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions Grosvenor Teacher Fellow and is a champion of the National Geographic Educator Certification program, serving as a trainer and both official and unofficial mentor. She shares her experiences with using iNaturalist and the playlist she created.
Anne’s TEDx talk on How to be an Explorer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk0S3ANQhco
Anne’s National Geographic page: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/anne-lewis
Anne’s iNaturalist playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu4NnykrrlExV-VZItUtQCc9OlopxLukK
Dr. Anthony (Tony) Murphy is director of The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program Implementation Office (GIO) and is internationally known for his work in STEM education. In this special episode of Superheroes of Science, Tony discusses the career path that led him to his position with The GLOBE Program. He provides insights related to science learning outside the ‘boxes’ of content and why a scientist would want to use GLOBE data in their classroom. As GLOBE prepares to celebrate their 25th anniversary (Earth Day 2020), Tony addresses his vision for The GLOBE Program in the next 25 years.
Professor of Science Education at SUNY Fredonia, Mike Jabot discusses the career path that led him to work with future science educators. Mike provides insight into how elementary teachers can collect science data and how programs like GLOBE can be helpful to teachers at all levels. Mike also discusses pedagogy aspects to consider when leading professional developments and cautions the overuse of technology in the classroom.
NASA Physical scientist, Jessica Taylor discusses both her role at NASA Langley and the career path that led her to become a NASA scientist. She touches on the importance of working in groups and offers suggestions for providing feedback to students. Jessica also explains what is important for students to know if they are interested in pursuing a career in science.
Saad Haq is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science. His work involves the development of models to demonstrate physical principles in the field of geoscience. Saad fell in love with geology during his undergraduate years.