Inspiration Dissemination

Understanding the Vole Picture

KBVR-FM — Fri, 08 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Many wildlife populations experience change over time. For some, this can be defined as “boom” and “bust” periods – cycles of change where population numbers rise and fall. Understanding these can be a major challenge for scientists and wildlife managers, particularly for species who have not historically been monitored. One such species, the gray-tailed vole, is being studied by PhD student Austin Nash and his collaborators here at Oregon State University. This episode reviews some of the ecology of this super cool endemic (only found in the Willamette Valley) vole, and Austin's journey to grad school.

A pear a day keeps the doctor…wishing for pear varieties with better rooting abilities

KBVR-FM — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Imagine you are in the produce section of the grocery store picking out your fruit for the week, and you remember the apple marketing slogan “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Once you make your way over to the apples, you are almost guaranteed to find a variety that fits your preference for taste and texture. These varieties are only made possible because of grafting techniques, a method for combining and reproducing desirable traits in fruit trees. Pear cultivation uses similar techniques, but producing desirable traits such as dwarfing, that apples so readily display remains a challenge in pear cultivation. This is why the selection of pear varieties is so dwarfed (pun intended) compared to that of apples. This week on the show we are joined by Claire Pierce, a 2nd year master’s student in the Department of Horticulture. Claire is co-advised by Kelsey Galimba (OSU) and Jessica Waite (USDA-ARS), and conducts her research at the Hood River Research Station. The long-term goal of Claire’s research is to diversify the available rootstocks used in the pear industry and improve yield for agricultural pear cultivation. The first step is to find compatible rootstocks (the base of the plant) and scions (the top of the plant) that exhibit dwarfing characteristics, something that is limited in the current pear industry. The next step is developing root structure phenotype characterization methods; a classically tricky task to accomplish due to the roots being hidden underground and all that. Tune into KBVR 88.7 FM at 7:00 pm PST on April 12th to hear Claire talk about how she is overcoming these challenges and gaining valuable experience along the way. Claire’s story is one filled with moments of being in the right place at the right time and leaning into making connections. If you want to see more pictures of Claire’s work and follow her through her field season this year, check out the Galimba Pear and Cherry Research Lab Instagram account @galimbalabosu.

From Space to the Sea: Oceanography Across Multiple Spatiotemporal Scales

KBVR-FM — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Satellite imagery has transformed how scientists study the ocean, particularly true today with the recent launch of a new NASA satellite. However, understanding more of the oceans through satellite imagery requires data validation obtained at sea. In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Alexander Bailess shares how he combines remote sensing with field-based oceanography to ground-truth satellite data and better understand marine ecosystems across multiple spatiotemporal scales. Alexander sails aboard research vessels to collect ocean data while satellites pass overhead, while also tracking the harmful phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia, some species of which produce the neurotoxin domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning. Listen in to hear about Alexander’s research both above and below the ocean, and the path that led him to grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Scat, and wolves, and worms, oh my!

KBVR-FM — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Alaskan wolf populations can have varied diets, likely shaped by the landscape and prey availability. But how can we study these mobile, remote animals and what is the extent of knowledge gained? In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Zach Muniz explains how wolf scat can reveal not only what wolves are eating, but also the parasites they may be exposed to. Using materials from the Levi Lab, collaborators, and public databases, Zach is developing methods to study helminth parasites in the digestive tracts of Alaskan wolves. Listen to hear more about Zach’s research, the value of noninvasive wildlife science, and his journey to and through grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Emilee Lance.

When the Party’s Over: The Effects of Megafire on Oregon’s Forest Ecosystems

KBVR-FM — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:18:00 +0000

As the occurrence and intensity of wildfires in Oregon annually increase, there is an urgent need to understand how these events impact community ecology in affected areas. This episode of Inspiration Dissemination, we talk to Noelle Foster, an M.Sc. Student in the department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences about her work studying bird communities in the Oregon Cascades using remote listening devices.

Entering Tsunami Hazard Zone

KBVR-FM — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Everyone living on the U.S. west coast has likely heard of "The Big One". This earthquake is commonly said to be "due any day now" and will likely have devastating consequences for coastal communities. Thankfully, researchers like this week's guest, Amina Meselhe, focus on understanding the potential extent of consequences from extreme events like The Big One and explore potential strategies for improving safety or community resilience.

Farewell Interview: Esteban Hernandez

KBVR-FM — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0000

A farewell interview for one of the hosts here at I.D. Esteban Hernandez. Esteban will be finishing up his degree soon and off to New Mexico to start his post-doc. Listen to his final thoughts and some more advice for one last time. Good luck E!

Mimicking the body to help mother earth

KBVR-FM — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Climate change driven by global warming is a highly debated topic in today’s world. However, what we can be sure of is that certain gases cause changes to our environment and are often referred to as “greenhouse gases”. A large scientific effort has been made to capture these gases and turn it into things with less environment impact. One particular way is by creating molecules that mimic our bodies natural mechanisms. This is called biomimetic science and is the topic of our guest’s research, Bella Mc Coll Bella is a third-year PhD student researching under Dr. Addison Desnoyer, in the Department of Chemistry here at OSU. Bella is an Oregon native and comes to us from Beaverton. Outside of the lab Bella has many interests particularly those involving the fiber arts. These interests have allowed her to come up with research ideas that uses her scientific mind to help answer questions for her creative mind.

Oregon’s Next Top Model: Bull Kelp!

KBVR-FM — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:23:00 +0000

Kelp are an important foundation species in Oregon, however are experiencing multiple stressors that may directly influence their biomass, including rising ocean termperatures and being preyed upon by sea urchins. Furthermore, Oregon is in talks of reintroducing sea otters back into the environment - what does this mean for kelp? In this episode, Andrés explains how he is assessing the interplay between kelp and sea urchins through simulation modeling with the goal of better informing agencies. Hailing all the way from Ecuador, listen in to hear the inspirational journey that led him to grad school in Oregon. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Hannah Stuwe.

Getting a Sense of the World Around You

KBVR-FM — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:40:12 +0000

An Expert on Experts!

KBVR-FM — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:10:01 +0000

How do you identify “an expert”? The answer to this question is more complex than you might think. Most of us might think of people with multiple degrees or extensive experience in a specific field as experts. However, as our guest this week is discovering, experts can be people with passion, people with connections or people with specific job titles. Recognizing the enacted and relationally valued characteristics of an expert is essential to creating systems where experts that reflect a community’s ideas and values are the ones making the decisions. One example is the community of people around and connected to the Puget Sound watershed region and the jurisdiction of the Puget Sound Partnership: an area spanning 12 counties and 28 recognized Tribal Nations. Large restoration efforts are underway to restore Puget Sound and prime the ecosystem for climate adaptation. These efforts hinge on not just access to climate adaptation knowledge, but who is recognized to apply such knowledge and the social structures to shape its uptake. Our guest this week is Krista Harrington, a 4th year PhD Candidate in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences. Krista utilizes political ecology and science, technology, and society theory in environmental natural resource management. During her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and time spent working in wildlife conversation, she kept asking herself “who are we going to for expertise?”. This question ultimately shaped the path of her PhD work and is how she is contributing to restoring Puget Sound. Hosted by Emilee Lance and Esteban Hernandez

Giants of Aotearoa: Predator-prey dynamics of blue whales in South Taranaki Bight, New Zealand

KBVR-FM — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are the largest animals that have ever existed on Earth. Despite this, they feed exclusively on krill (Nyctiphanes australis) which are typically no larger than 2 cm. Thus, they must consume massive amounts of these tiny organisms to support the large energy requirements of their life history processes. Researchers are interested in understanding how predator-prey dynamics between blue whales and krill may shift with changing ocean conditions. Nicole Principe is a 2nd year PhD student in the Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab at the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute, led by Dr. Leigh Torres. Her PhD work is part of the SAPPHIRE (Synthesis of Acoustics, Physiology, Prey, and Habitat in A Rapidly Changing Environment) Project and will focus on blue whales in the South Taranaki Bight in Aotearoa (New Zealand). This interdisciplinary work involves using oceanographic data, active acoustics for prey, drone imagery (i.e., photogrammetry), and hormone analysis to investigate the availability of krill and blue whale health and population resilience to climate change.

Under the Bodhi Tree: Stories and Science

KBVR-FM — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Join us for a chat with Jazlee Crowley, a 4th year PhD student in Integrative Biology who takes us on a deep dive into the complex interactions of the bodhi tree. Jazlee's research takes us to Hawaii, but as we soon learn, relationships with the bodhi tree are prominent in many countries and cultures. As Jazlee investigates the role of the bodhi tree in Hawaii as an "invasive", it becomes apparent that her research sits at an intersection of science, philosophy, spirituality and culture. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Emilee Lance.

The Eelgrass is Greener on the Other Side

KBVR-FM — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:50:00 +0000

Oregon’s many winding rivers meet the Pacific Ocean in gorgeous estuaries scattered along the coastline. These estuaries are critical habitat for salmon, water birds, Dungeness crab, and oysters, and are deeply connected to the local economies of coastal communities. These estuaries are also the primary habitat of eelgrass — a fully aquatic flowering plant. We may overlook eelgrass as the creepy thing under the waves that brushes against your foot while wading through the water, but it is actually incredibly important to coastal ecosystems. It protects against erosion, absorbs pollutants, provides breeding grounds for many fish and invertebrate species, and can act as carbon sinks. Unfortunately, eelgrass is disappearing because of dredging, development, and sea level rise. The good news is that researchers are actively investigating how to best restore eelgrass habitat. Olivia Boisen, a fifth year PhD student in the department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, is one of these researchers. As part of her research in the lab of Scott Heppell, Olivia is investigating several estuary sites along the Oregon coast where restoration practices are being implemented. Through this work she is able to determine the effectiveness of certain restoration practices on eelgrass recovery, and subsequently how various fisheries species respond.

Nature and the Fire Inside

KBVR-FM — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 17:09:00 +0000

Exploring the human-wildlife landscape of eastern Oregon

KBVR-FM — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:00:00 +0000

What happens when the rich agricultural landscape meets the rugged and wild natural ecosystems of eastern Oregon? Join us as we sit down with Lara Mengak, a 4th year PhD student who is exploring this question. Her dissertation work is trying to understand what social and ecological threats impact ranchers in Oregon. What kinds of conflicts exist between natural predators, such as wolves, and livestock? What are the best ways to mitigate these conflicts? How do we manage landscapes to support wildlife conservation and agriculture? How do these things vary as a function of climate change or drought? Listen is as Lara tells us about her winding and inspiring journey that led her to the intersection of conservation science and agriculture. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

A Burning Passion (All My Homies Hate Cheat Grass)

KBVR-FM — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 21:58:31 +0000

Spines & Seaweed: Exploring the Complicated Relationships Between Urchins and Kelp

KBVR-FM — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:49:29 +0000

Sea urchins may have a spiny reputation, but they are vital members influencing kelp ecosystems. Join us as Delaney Chabot, a third-year Master Student in Integrative Biology, discusses their importance and also how they act as a connecting link between subtidal and intertidal zones. Delaney is a passionate educator and the visionary behind the 'kelp horn' - listen in to hear more! Hosted by Matt Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Nanoplastics: From Farm to Table

KBVR-FM — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:13:17 +0000

Join us as we zoom into the "nano world" with Kelso Arthur, a third-year PhD student in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University. In this episode we discuss nano and microplastic use in agricultural pesticides, what impacts they could have on environmental health, and how indicator species can help us assess their effects. Kelso shares their journey on how their roots in Kentucky helped pave their pathway into graduate school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Esteban 'E' Hernandez.

Mom Genes Look Good on Everyone

KBVR-FM — Tue, 27 May 2025 17:28:14 +0000

Mammals encompass some of the most interesting animals on the planet. We can see how bats have mastered the sky with wings like birds or how dolphins have adapted streamlined bodies for life in the ocean just like fish. The ability to evolve similar characteristics to overcome common problems found in the environment is called convergent evolution and opens our eyes to the fundamentals of how life has changed to face the challenges of our planet. One such trait that is the product of convergent evolution is echolocation, which is the subject of research for our guest on the show this week Serena Frazee.

Progress: A Natural Product of Science

KBVR-FM — Tue, 27 May 2025 17:25:59 +0000

SHIME on: Simulated Guts, Prebiotics, and Passion

KBVR-FM — Tue, 27 May 2025 17:23:42 +0000

If you walk into any grocery store today and find yourself in the beverage aisle, you’ll be able to find all sorts of “prebiotic” sodas touting ingredients like inulin that claim to improve gut health. Many of us are familiar with probiotics and the gut benefits of fermented or cultured foods that contain beneficial bacteria, but prebiotics are a little different. Prebiotics are typically nondigestible fiber compounds that pass undigested through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and function as a food source for your gut’s microorganisms.

However, it is unclear what the effects of prebiotics are on the human gut microbiome, and more specifically, how diet influences these effects. This is exactly what Emilee Lance, second year PhD student in the department of microbiology, is aiming to understand. Under the guidance of PIs Ryan Mueller and Tom Sharpton, Emilee is working on understanding how the gut microbiome is affected by prebiotics like inulin, and the impact that diet can have on prebiotic efficacy. Using a gut simulator called a SHIME (The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem) she is able to totally control the initial microbial environment, diet, and mimic specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract such as the stomach, small intestine and different colon regions.

No Rest for the Massless

KBVR-FM — Tue, 27 May 2025 17:21:00 +0000

Sometimes the smallest things in the universe can answer some of the largest questions. That seems to be the case with neutrinos. But what exactly are these fundamental particles, that also happen to be the most abundant in the universe, and why are they of importance? Listen in to hear Noah shed light on all things neutrinos, including undereground research facilities! Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Tracking Sharks in the Pacific Northwest

KBVR-FM — Sat, 10 May 2025 23:22:23 +0000

Join us as we dive into the world of apex predators with shark researcher Jessica Schulte, a PhD candidate studying the foraging behavior and movement of broadnose sevengill sharks in the Pacific Northwest. This episode is packed with mystery, fun shark facts, unexpected diet discoveries, crazy field stories, and inspiring ventures that lead to a career working with sharks! Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Protein Power!

KBVR-FM — Sat, 03 May 2025 23:59:48 +0000

For most of the time that biochemists have been studying proteins they have preached the widely adopted dogma that structure equals function. Proteins are macromolecules made of chains of amino acids, and as they are produced they fold into intricate and specific shapes. These shapes or ‘structures’ are critical to the tasks that they perform, like producing energy for the cell, carrying molecular cargo from one end of the cell to the other, or letting ions across the cell membrane. However, over 30% of the protein humans produce has no specific structure. These are called intrinsically disordered proteins, and only in the last 15 years have they been brought into the spotlight of biochemistry and biophysics research (Structural Disorder in Eukaryotes).
Hannah Stuwe is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Biophysics, and her research revolves around disordered proteins, particularly a protein from SARS-CoV-2 called the nucleocapsid protein. In her work she uses state-of-the-art techniques specifically suited for studying disordered proteins to understand how the flexibility of this protein changes throughout the viral replication cycle.

PFAS? Seems a little zebrafishy to me

KBVR-FM — Sat, 03 May 2025 23:51:29 +0000

Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals that are known for their ability to contaminate our environment and be resistant to breaking down. However, there’s still a lot to learn about their potential for toxicity. One way scientists can better understand PFAS toxicity is by using the embryonic zebrafish models. These tiny fish have a genome that is around 70% similar to humans. This makes the zebrafish a powerful tool in understanding how some chemicals may express toxicity in humans. Eli Cowan is a second-year PhD student in the lab of Robyn Tanguay, which is a part of the Environmental and Molecular Toxicology lab here at OSU. His research focuses on using the zebrafish model to understand how PFAS exposure may lead to adverse effects in development. With this data and using his in-dept knowledge of biology, Eli then can help answer questions about how PFAS may be toxic to people. Eli was raised in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he first encountered zebrafish toxicology in a locally-based lab. Eli has always been a natural born scientist, and that curiosity has led him all the way across the country pushing the bounds of science.

Gross and slimy: How salmon shark barf can teach us about their foraging ecology

KBVR-FM — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 21:51:58 +0000

If someone asked you to describe a shark, I imagine most folks would report a ten-foot long body, rows and rows of razor sharp teeth, and the ruthless nature of a (literal) cold-blooded killer. If you asked Master’s student Reilly Boyt to describe a shark, she would likely describe a salmon shark. Reilly is our guest on the show this week and she studies the diet and habitat use of salmon sharks using multi-chemical tracers (e.g. eDNA metabarcoding and fatty acid analysis) across size classes and sex. Reilly is also the founder and CEO of Disabilities Within Ocean Sciences (DWOS), an organization dedicated to “building a network and resource hub for disabled marine scientists at every career stage.” She has done prolific advocacy work that focuses on promoting inclusivity and equitable access within the field of marine science. Hosted by Taylor Azizeh & Lisa Hildebrand.

Carbon Dioxide Capture

KBVR-FM — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 03:39:00 +0000

As global temperatures rise, ocean levels and extreme weather occurrences rise with it. One of the leading causes of global warming are greenhouse gases like CO2. Emily Hiatt's research is tryign to develop a cheap, robust way to capture CO2. This topic is hot; even hotter than the rising global temps.

Diving into Underwater Robots

KBVR-FM — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:35:04 +0000

What's cooler than land robots? Underwater robots (ice cold!), which Akshaya Agrawal's PhD research in the Robotics Department focuses on. Her research is indeed cool; developing and testing motion-planning algorithms designed to help teams of robots coordinate movement and perform tasks underwater. But have you ever wondered what's involved in getting robots to operate underwater? And how exactly does one get to work with underwater robots? Listen in to find the answers to those budding questions, as well as Akshaya's journey from India to the U.S, ...or just to hear cool stuff about cool robots!

The fourth of the Five Goliaths: Mercury poisoning

KBVR-FM — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 01:58:14 +0000

If you’re not a fan of ‘The Office’ then that title probably made no sense to you. But, if you are, then you’ll know that Michael Scott famously said that mercury poisoning is one of the five Goliaths that America faces (though we never actually find out what the fifth one is…). Regardless, on this week's episode you’ll be able to learn all about this Goliath as our guest, the newly minted Dr. Cailin Sinclair, discusses his doctorate and post-doc work investigating mercury cycling in freshwater systems. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand.

Take a Deep Breath: Tracing the Carbon in our Air back to the Source

KBVR-FM — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 02:58:59 +0000

The details are in the DNA

KBVR-FM — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:23:18 +0000

Emily Dziedzic, a PhD student in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Sciences, is a molecular ecologist who focuses on bioinformatics, which means that she uses computer-based methods to analyze genetic data. Her work spans a wide variety of taxa, from freshwater fish to scarlet macaws, from bats to Humboldt marten, and has implications for improving ecological monitoring for management as well as assisting in the fight against wildlife disease. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Mireia Roig-Paul.

How do you like them NAPLs?

KBVR-FM — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:15:53 +0000

This week on ID we are interviewing Mireia Roig-Paul, a second year PhD student in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, to learn all about pollutants and the potential threats they pose to our environment and our health. She studies in the laboratories of both Jennifer Fields and Serhan Mermer, and her research focuses on the intersection of so-called “forever chemicals” PFAS and non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL), how they move through soil, and how they interact with each other.

For the union makes us strong

KBVR-FM — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 22:04:13 +0000

In the wake of the ongoing graduate employee strike at Oregon State University, Hannah and Mireia sit down to talk with the president and VP for Communications of the Coalition of Graduate Employees (the labor union that represents graduate employees at OSU). Austin Bosgraf and Erika Stewart explain the string of events that lead to this strike, what is at stake for vulnerable grads, and where we go from here.

Straying from the stream: investigating the impacts of spring Chinook salmon hatchery fish on wild, origin fish

KBVR-FM — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 02:43:57 +0000

Dams, climate change, habitat loss, predation, anglers. Wild salmon must contend with all of these challenges during some point in their lifetimes. But an additional challenge may be having a negative impact on wild salmon that we don’t yet quite understand: hatchery salmon. Investigating the impacts of hatchery salmon on wild salmon is no easy feat, and it’s not made easier when you’re trying to do it in possibly one of the most remote and wild places in Oregon…But that’s exactly what our guest this week is doing! Emily Treadway is a first year Master’s student advised by Dr. Seth White in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at OSU. On top of being a graduate student, Emily is also an employee at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife working within the East Region Fish Research Office. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand.

Is Climate Change Making Gray Whales Picky Eaters?

KBVR-FM — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 02:37:24 +0000

Taylor Azizeh, a first-year Ph.D. student at OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, joins Matt to discuss how climate change might be driving gray whales to shift their feeding habits along the Pacific Northwest coast. Taylor's research explores the phenomenon of 'prey switching,' where these benthic specialists switch from seafloor to water-column feeding. By combining stable isotope analysis, GPS tracking, and drone photogrammetry, Taylor aims to understand how gray whales adapt to changing prey availability in a warming ocean. Listen in to hear about her journey from Costa Rica to London to OSU, her passion for these majestic animals, and the big-picture questions she seeks to answer. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan.

Fear.exe: How horror video games hijack more than just your computer

KBVR-FM — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:32:57 +0000

Erika Stewart, a second year MA student in the School of Literature, Writing and Film, joins Matt to chat about how horror represents itself in video games. Erika's research focuses on an emerging subgenre of games which she coins 'Malewaric' games. These games are capable of hijacking your computer, inducing a deep sense of fear of which Erika contributes to the hypothesis that computers have become an extension of our body. Listen in for a further exploration of horror video games, how Erika's passion for gaming influenced for graduate pathway, and the importance of the grad student union! Hosted by Matthew Vaughan.

From hooves to helicopters: the study of foot-and-mouth disease virus in African buffalo

KBVR-FM — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 19:37:03 +0000

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus is one of the most infectious viral diseases in the world. FMD virus affects all cloven-hooved animals and there have been outbreaks all over the world except for in North America. While FMD virus doesn’t necessarily cause fatality in animals, it causes severe milk production losses and can leave affected individuals severely weakened and debilitated. This is particularly problematic for people who keep livestock as it can affect their livelihoods and economic welfare. Join us this week as we talk with Cambrey Knapp, a 2nd year PhD student in Comparative Health Science who is studying wildlife-livestock interactions related to FMD virus around Kruger National Park in South Africa. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand.

Sustainability and Decolonization of Doulas in the Healthcare Workforce

KBVR-FM — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:09:29 +0000

Katie Minich is a first year Masters student in Applied Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts, with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. Katie is coupling her 8 years of birth work experience with research on the sustainability and decolonization of doulas in the healthcare workforce. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Lisa Hildebrand.

Molecular Nutrition in Infants

KBVR-FM — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:06:31 +0000

We chat with Jillien Zukaitis, a first year PhD student in Nutrition, College of Health. Her lab, fondly referred to as the ‘Milk Lab’, studies at all things milk. With a clinical background as a dietitian, Jillien now couples her practical experience with translatable research. Partnering with OHSU, Jillien assesses the composition, nutritional value, and potential health benefits of human milk on the development of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Hosted by Matt Vaughan and Joseph Valencia

Translating Language and Transferring Knowledge

KBVR-FM — Thu, 09 May 2024 17:17:44 +0000

What can be learned from anthropologists studying other anthropologists? Danu Yang is a second year master’s student and anthropologist in the Applied Anthropology Graduate Program. Her main subject of study is a collaborative project dedicated to translating anthropological research between Chinese and Portuguese. Danlu is conducting an ethnographic study of the people involved in this translation project. She is herself highly multilingual, speaking Chinese, English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Danlu is also interested in what motivates anthropologists to study rural China and what is gained when local knowledge is able to be expressed without English as an intermediary. Hosted by Selene Ross and Joseph Valencia.

Wind Farms and Fisheries

KBVR-FM — Wed, 08 May 2024 17:25:02 +0000

30 by 30. No, not the critically acclaimed ESPN documentary series — the phrase refers to the Biden Administration’s goal for the US to produce 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power generation by 2030. To support this target, large scale construction projects are planned off the coast of Oregon and the rest of the West Coast. Here to tell us about the potential effects of this planned construction on marine life is our guest this week, Margaret Campbell. She uses theoretical and historical modeling approaches to forecast the impact of wind farm infrastructure on fisheries. Numerous environmental, tribal, and commercial groups have an interest in wind farm placement and Margaret hopes that her research will help these stakeholders respond to a changing coastline. Hosted by Joseph Valencia and Hannah Stuwe.

Training the trainers who train the trainers of little humans

KBVR-FM — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 04:19:30 +0000

Do you feel dizzy after reading that title? Me too, after writing it, but this week on the show we did indeed speak to a trainer of the trainers who train trainers of little humans! Meet Maya Johnson, a 3rd year PhD student in the School of Human Development and Family Sciences. For her research, Maya studies early childhood education policy and the childcare system within Oregon, with a pretty applied policy focus. Alongside doing her research, in her capacity as a graduate research assistant at OSU, some of what Maya does is to write trainings and coaching systems for individuals who train early childhood educators (hence the trainer of trainers who train trainers). Tune in to our episode with Maya where we cover a whole range of topics related to early childhood education, such as the HeadStart program, the childcare crises, why we don’t know a whole lot about the education stats of children under the age of 6 in Oregon, and what Maya is doing to hopefully change that problem! Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand

Sniffing for science

KBVR-FM — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 23:16:19 +0000

Kayla Fratt is a PhD student in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation sciences, whose research uses scat samples collected from apex predators to better understand their biology and ecology. As if being a graduate student isn't already enough of a full-time job, Kayla has another one; she is one of the founders and trainers of K9 Conservationists, an organization that unites highly trained conservation detection dog teams with researchers to collect scientific data.For her graduate research, Kayla is working with her canine colleagues, Barley & Niffler, to understand island biogeography effects on diet and movement for sea wolves in southeast Alaska and basic natural history of pumas in El Salvador. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Jenna Fryer

Hypoxic plankton

KBVR-FM — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 20:46:34 +0000

Elena Conser is a third year PhD student in the Plankton Ecology Lab within the Department of Integrative Biology. She really, really, loves plankton – marine organisms that are unable to swim against the current and are thus, at the whim and mercy of their environment. To study plankton, Elena employs a cutting-edge technology imaging system to view plankton in their natural environment, something that has not previously been possible in her field. (Disclaimer: this episode was recorded with a backup system so the audio quality is somewhat below the usual). Hosted by Matt Vaughan and Joseph Valencia.

Humpbacks in Mexico

KBVR-FM — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:53:26 +0000

Charlene Perez Santos is a first year Master student working within the Marine Mammal Institute. Her research focuses on tracking humpback whale movement via satellite tags and comparing them with sea vessel routes in Bahia de Banderas in relation to habitat use and exposure to human impacts. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Hannah Stuwe.

A surprise trip to the coldest continent on Earth!

KBVR-FM — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:50:52 +0000

Rachel Kaplan is a 4th year PhD student who studies both ends of marine food chains: the prey (krill) and the predator (baleen whales). Rachel conducts research in Oregon and along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. As a last-minute, life-saver of the show, this episode is a little different from our usual shows as we take a trip with Rachel to Antarctica and learn about what it means to be a researcher in one of the most remote places on our planet. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand.

The Fiction in Poverty

KBVR-FM — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 20:31:24 +0000

Elliot Icarus Laurence is a first year Master of Fine Arts student who draws on his own experience of growing up in poverty and continued financial precarity as a source of inspiration for writing fiction. Elliot says he is most inspired by people who “make it work,” such as single parents managing to make rent from paycheck to paycheck and overworked social services providers. Hosted by Joseph Valencia and Selene Ross.

Artificial, Intelligent–Safe?

KBVR-FM — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 20:25:46 +0000

Jose Aguilar is not here to help robots take over the world. In fact, the first year PhD student studying artificial intelligence says he’s actually working on the opposite–to ensure that AI systems are safe, and raise alarm when they’re not. Hosted by Jenna Fryer and Selene Ross

Sim Like a Fish

KBVR-FM — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:49:25 +0000

Today's guest is Lauren Diaz, a fourth year PhD student in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences. Lauren focuses on the population dynamics of freshwater organisms. We speak with Lauren about how she came to love stream ecosystems and her research on modeling the behavior of rainbow trout populations in California's Central Valley. Hosted by Joseph Valencia and Lisa Hildebrand.

Exploding Cheeses and Microbes at Work

KBVR-FM — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:37:40 +0000

For those of us who consume dairy products, we often don’t give much thought to the trials and tribulations that had to be faced to get that product on the grocery shelves. It’s probably a fair assumption to say that most of us have never considered that cheese could explode, but that is the center of Madeleine Enriquez’s graduate research. Join us this week as we learn about this phenomenon and Maddie is doing to solve it! Hosted by Jenna Fryer and Hannah Stuwe.

Writing for Discovery

KBVR-FM — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:48:02 +0000

Join our conversation with Natalie Van Gelder, a first year graduate student writing creative nonfiction in OSU's MFA program. Natalie's work contributes to the emerging fields of medical humanities and narrative medicine, and she's passionate about bringing writing as a tool for discovery to those who many not be familiar with the practice. Hosted by Matt Vaughan and Selene Ross.

My new neighbor might be a ghost (shrimp)

KBVR-FM — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 19:44:34 +0000

This episode features Matt Vaughan, a third year PhD student in Integrative Biology working with Prof. Sarah Henkel in the Benthic Ecology Lab. Matt originally hails from Melbourne, Australia and recently joined the ID team as a host. Join us to learn about the fascinating ghost shrimp, their impact on marine systems, and how “disturbance and change" drives Matthew's research! Hosted by Jenna Fryer and Joseph Valencia.

The Memoir of El

KBVR-FM — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 19:39:06 +0000

Join us this week as we talk with Ellison Rose, a first year MFA student of creative non-fiction about what a memoir is and how they are writing theirs. Our conversation touches on what rurality means, what it feels like coming back to graduate school after an 8-year gap since college, as well as features a stunning writing sample read by El. If you're interested in learning more about the conversation surrounding rural cultural wealth, you can read the article El references here: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JME-06-2022-0076/full/html?skipTracking=true. Additionally, El stumbled upon this article through a blog that they read which they also recommend reading if interested: https://www.ednc.org/perspective-recognizing-my-rural-community-wealth-and-place-in-academia/. Hosted by Hannah Stuwe and Lisa Hildebrand.

Taking Inspiration from Life: Short stories on why we believe what we believe

KBVR-FM — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:39:25 +0000

This week's guest is Selene Ross, an MFA student specializing in literary fiction through short stories. We go in depth on how Selene seeks creative inspiration from people and places and the makings of a captivating story. Our conversation touches on her interests in women, belief, and the environmental symbolism of her home state of California. Hosted by Jenna Fryer and Joseph Valencia.

Forever Chemicals: How can we better detect PFAS?

KBVR-FM — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:33:29 +0000

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. This is why you may have heard these substances called “forever chemicals.” However, the toxicity of these substances are not fully understood. Join us on this episode with E Hernandez to discuss these ubiquitous substances and his work to better be able to detect these harmful chemicals. Hosted by Hannah Stuwe and Jenna Fryer.

The Lost Loggers: The Erasure and Exclusion of the Black Logging Community of Maxville, Oregon

KBVR-FM — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 18:48:15 +0000

In the small town of Maxville in eastern Oregon there's a story that often goes overlooked. Like many Oregon towns, Maxville was a timber town, but unique to Maxville is the community of Black loggers that lived and worked there after the Great Migration of the 1920s. Lonni Ivey is a logger’s daughter. While in her MA program in History, she learned about the community of Black loggers in Maxville and immediately knew she had to learn more. Lonni devoted her research to discovering more about Maxville and giving this story the attention it deserves, leading to her capstone project “More Than a Footnote: Erasure, Exclusion, and the Remarkable Presence of the Black Logging Community of Maxville, Oregon, 1923-33.” Lonni was inspired by Gwendolyn Trice, the founder and executive director of the Maxville Heritage Ideology Center and herself the descendant of one of the Maxville Loggers.

Bees Get Degrees

KBVR-FM — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 18:40:20 +0000

This episode is an exit interview of sorts for Dr. Grace Deitzler, who you may know as one of our hosts the past few years. Grace recently graduate with a PhD in Microbiology and is moving on from ID and Oregon State. We chat about her dissertation research into the effects of probiotics on the honeybee microbiome, the "double hit hypothesis", and science communication. Congrats Grace! Hosted by Joseph Valencia and Hannah Stuwe.

Poopy predators: Assessing carnivore diet and population dynamics via non-invasive genetics

KBVR-FM — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:42:00 +0000

Getting to the bottom of what top predators in an ecosystem are eating is critical to understand how they may be influencing dynamics in the entire system and food web. But how do you figure out what a predator is eating if it’s hard to catch and collar or watch continuously? Easy, you use their poop! Our guest this week, Ellen Dymit, does exactly this with wolves in Alaska and a whole host of carnivores in Central America. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Matt Vaughan.

Fighting for your French Fries

KBVR-FM — Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This week our guest is Alexander Butcher, a second year MS and soon-to-be PhD student in the Department of Crop and Soil Science. We speak with Alexander about protecting potato crops in Oregon and elsewhere from a hungry pest -- the Colorado potato beetle. Alexander works with a class of chemicals called elicitors which act to stimulate plants' natural defenses as an alternative to conventional pesticides. We trace his journey from the world of classical French cooking to grad school, his passion for insects and sustainable food, and more!

Digging Deep: What on earth is there to learn from dirt?

KBVR-FM — Sun, 21 May 2023 02:00:00 +0000

There’s a big difference between human time and Earth–or soil–time. It’s what makes climate impacts so difficult to imagine, and climate solutions so challenging to fully realize. Take it from someone who knows: our guest this week has spent the last decade studying the very idea of “permanence.” Join us this week as we delve a bit into the world beneath our feel and chat with recent graduate, and long-time Inspiration Dissemination host, Adrian Gallo! Hosted by: Jenna Fryer

ChatGPT and Me

KBVR-FM — Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We have a little bit of a different format this week. Joseph Valencia and Lisa Hildebrand host an informal discussion on a timely topic -- artificial intelligence! We cover our personal experiences using ChatGPT for research and for fun, how chatbots work, and the uncertainties surrounding future deployment of AI.

Cheese and disease: how bacteria survive long term

KBVR-FM — Sun, 07 May 2023 00:23:00 +0000

This week we have Andrea Domen, a MS student in Food Science and Technology co-advised by Dr. Joy Waite-Cusic and Dr. Jovana Kovacevic, joining us to discuss her research investigating some mischievous pathogenic microbes. Much like an unwelcome dinner guest, food-bourne pathogens can stick around for far longer than you think. Andrea seeks to uncover the mechanisms that allow for Listeria monocytogenes, a ubiquitous pathogen found in dirt that loves cheese (who doesn’t?), to persist in dairy processing facilities. Hosted by Jenna Fryer and Bryan Lynn

The noxious nucleocapsid

KBVR-FM — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

“Structure informs function” says Hannah Stuwe, a second year PhD student in Biochemistry and Biophysics (BB), summing up the big picture of her discipline. Hannah works in the lab of Prof. Elisar Barbar, using biophysical techniques to study essential proteins encoded by the SARS-Cov2 virus. Tune in to learn more about this fascinating, and very relevant work! Hosted by Joseph Valencia and Jenna Fryer

The opposite of a pest: Bees, wasps and other beneficial bugs

KBVR-FM — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0000

Scott Mitchell is a 4th year PhD student in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences advised by Dr. Sandy DeBano. His overarching research goal is to understand how different land management practices may impact beneficial invertebrate communities in a variety of managed landscapes. Yes, you read that right: beneficial invertebrates. Because while many invertebrates have a bad rep, they’re actually unsung heroes of the world. They pollinate plants, aerate soil, eat actual pest invertebrates and are prey for many other species. To learn more about native bees and other nonpollinating species, check out the episode! Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Grace Deitzler.

Nobody wants to eat bitter cheese

KBVR-FM — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There are many adjectives used to describe the taste of different kinds of cheese: mild, tangy, buttery, nutty, sharp, smoky. Our preferences between these different characteristics will then drive what cheese we look for in stores and buy. But I would wager that most people (or dare I say anyone?) are rarely looking for a bitter cheese. Paige Benson is a first year Master’s student advised by Dr. David Dallas in the Food Science Department. For her research, Paige is trying to understand how starter cultures affect the bitterness in aged gouda and cheddar cheeses. Want to learn more? tune into this “gouda” conversation about cheese!

Diving into the Unknown: Exploring the Role of Viruses in Coral Reef Health

KBVR-FM — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0000

When you think of a coral reef, what do you picture? Perhaps you imagine colorful branching structures jutting out of rock and the sea floor, with flourishing communities of fish swimming about. Or if you’ve been paying attention to news about global warming for the past decade or two, maybe you picture desolate expanses of bleached corals, their bone-like structures eerily reminiscent of a mass graveyard. What you might not picture is a zoomed-in view of the coral ecosystem: the multitude of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algae that occupy the intricate crevices of every coral. Our guest this week is Emily Schmeltzer, a fifth year PhD candidate in the Microbiology department. Emily studies the metagenomes of the coral holobiont and shares her story with us. Hosted by Grace Deitzler and trainee Gabriel Sunday Ayayia.

"Grouper Groupie": Studying Climate Change and the Nassau Grouper

KBVR-FM — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Janelle Layton is a second-year master's student continuing on for a PhD in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences. Janelle studies grouper fish, traveling to a large spawning site in the Cayman Islands to collect larvae of the Nassau grouper. In the lab, she investigates the relationship between heat-shock proteins and larvae survival for clues as to the adaptability of this species to warming waters. We speak about her journey to OSU and her experiences as a Black woman in marine science. Hosted by Grace Deitzler and Joseph Valencia.

Finicky Fish: Investigating the impact of dams on the John Day White Sturgeon

KBVR-FM — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This week we have a Fisheries and Wildlife Master’s student and ODFW employee, Gabriella Brill, joining us to discuss her research investigating the impact of dams on the movement and reproduction habits of the White Sturgeon here in Oregon. Despite being able to lay millions of eggs at a time, the White Sturgeon will only do so if the conditions are right. This fish Goldilocks’ its way through the river systems, looking for a river bed that’s just right. If it doesn’t like what it sees, the fish can just choose not to lay the eggs and will wait for another year. Tune in to learn more about these finicky fish! Hosted by Bryan Lynn and Jenna Fryer

Robotic agents and coordination

KBVR-FM — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Everardo Gonzalez joins the show this week to talk about his research on multi-agent robotic systems, or swarms. Swarms of robots can be used to accomplish tasks that it would be difficult for one robot to complete alone, but swarming robots also come with other challenges: directing individual members of the swarm, and how to assess which members accomplished the swarm so that future feedback can incorporate more information. This episode is hosted by Bryan Lynn and Grace Deitzler.

No Longer a Torrent of Salamanders

KBVR-FM — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 19:25:00 +0000

We are pleased to introduce our upcoming guest, Christopher Cousins, a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, advised by Prof. Tiffany Garcia. Cousins is researching torrent salamanders, a family of small amphibians endemic to the Pacific Northwest. Tune in to hear more about his journey, what it is like to explore the Mt. St. Helens eruption zone, and what motivates him to work with this threatened species!

Cell Repair for Muscular Dystrophy

KBVR-FM — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 20:20:00 +0000

Dr. Andrew Carpenter is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Joe Baio and joins us to talk about using lasers to study protein-lipid interactions. Andrew’s research seeks a better understanding of a protein called dysferlin, which plays a critical role in repairing muscle cells. Muscles undergo constant strain as they expand and contract, leading to tears in the sarcolemmas — thin membranes that surround muscle fibers. Dysferlin is responsible for recruiting vesicles to the site of these tears for a process called vesicle fusion to take place. Check out the episode for more about how laser technology is powering the discovery of dysferlin's underlying mechanisms, and to hear about how a postdoc is different from a PhD. This episode is hosted by Joseph Valencia and Grace Deitzler.

A Gut Feeling: Examining Whale Ecology Using Number-Two Genetics

KBVR-FM — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Charles Nye is a masters (soon to be PhD) student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. Stationed at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OR. Charles studies the dietary habits of whales and the impact of their surrounding environment through their fecal matter. How does one study the poop of whales? And why should we care? Find out on this episode of Inspiration Dissemination! Hosted by Bryan Lynn and Jenna Fryer

What to do with all the whey?

KBVR-FM — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

What to do with all the whey? Whey, a byproduct of cheesemaking, is a nutritious liquid filled with proteins and sugars - and for every pound of cheese made, there are 9 pounds of excess whey produced. Some of this whey can be used for making protein powder, and some can be fed to livestock, but there is a massive amount leftover that cannot be easily discarded due to its high acidity. Food Science master's student Alyssa Thibodeau joins us to discuss her idea for a whey-based fermented drink similar to kombucha, which she affectionately terms "cowbucha". Check out the episode to learn more about the science behind whey fermentation and Alyssa's experience as a single parent in graduate school! Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Grace Deitzler.

Krypton-ice: what the noble gases tell us about the ancient climate

KBVR-FM — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Olivia Williams is a 3rd year PhD student in Geology, advised by Christo Buizert. She uses ice core samples to study polar summer temperatures from thousands of years ago. We speak with Olivia about her novel methods for extracting noble gases from ice cores, finding scientific inspiration from her grandfather, and more. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Joseph Valencia.

LGBTQ+ health disparities and the impact of stress

KBVR-FM — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 18:40:46 +0000

Kalina Fahey is a 5th year PhD candidate in the School of Psychological Science working with her advisors Drs. Anita Cservenka and Sarah Dermody. Her research broadly investigates LGBTQ+ health disparities and how stress impacts health in LGBTQ+ groups. She is also interested in understanding ways in which spiritual and/or religious identities can influence stress, and thereby, health.

Lean, Mean, Bioinformatics Machine

KBVR-FM — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Nima Azbijari is a second year PhD student in Computer Science, advised by Dr. Maude David. Nima is using machine learning to better understand relationships and patterns in biology. How does a machine learn biology? Check out the episode to find out how Nima is discovering previously unknown relationships between genes and the gut microbiome in different diseases and in general.

Environment and male turtles

KBVR-FM — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Where are all of the male sea turtles? It turns out that sea turtles do not have sex chromosomes and their sex is instead entirely determined by the temperature of eggs during incubation. As the planet continues to warm, this is creating a severe imbalance of female hatchling turtles. We chat with Vic about how mathematical models can help to forecast how the green sea turtle population will adapt (or not) to climate change through their reproductive behaviors.

Smoky Beer (Halloween Episode)

KBVR-FM — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Join us for spooktacular Halloween episode all about creepy beer! You heard that right, beer can be creepy. This week we discuss a phenomenon known as hop creep that plagues beer brewers as it gives hoppy beers such as IPAs the taste of move theatre popcorn butter...Delicious when you're at the movies! Not so delicious when you're expecting a mouthful of fresh, crisp, citrusy IPA beer. MS student Cade Jobe is on the job trying to figure out how to solve hop creep issues! Find out all about in this episode! Hosted by Jenna Fryer and Lisa Hildebrand

Stressed out corals

KBVR-FM — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Did you know that corals can get stressed out? When they do, their microbial community can change and diversify. For some coral species, this diversification helps them survive a stressful event; for others, not so much. 4th year PhD candidate Alex Vompe is trying to figure out why and you can learn why in this episode! Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Bryan Lynn.

What ice sheets can teach us about ancient ocean shorelines

KBVR-FM — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 22:00:00 +0000

PhD candidate Schmitty Thompson uses very modern methods to study very ancient things. As a geologist, they use computer models to fill in gaps of the geologic record in order to determine the relationship between massive ice sheets and ancient ocean levels. Their work lies at the intersection of physics, geology, computer science, and history.

Warming waters, waning nutrition: energy and the oceanic food web

KBVR-FM — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The majority of the omega 3 fatty acids in our diet get their start in a tiny, unassuming organism: the phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are the primary producers of the oceanic food web, converting sunlight into energy. But what happens when warming oceans change the dynamics of energy availability? We chat about this and more with MS student in Marine Resource Management Becky Smoak.

Violence and Hyper Masculinity in Film

KBVR-FM — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Andrew Herrera is an MA candidate in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film. His thesis is focusing on the portrayal of violence, masculinity, and gender as a performance in three films by Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, best known for his film Drive starring Ryan Gosling. The films explore and portray masculinity in slightly different ways, but all with violence at the core.

Environmental Justice: what it is, and what to do about it

KBVR-FM — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Environmental justice is mostly about how environmental hazards are causing [in]justice, especially for disadvantaged communities. We open up this discussion with some history of the term, provide some local and global examples, and provide suggestions for what to do with this knowledge. Make sure to check out the blog, there are lots of additional reading and listening resources there! Hosted by Adrian Gallo.

From A(lgorithms) to Z(O-1 proteins): A Computer Scientist’s Journey into the Lab

KBVR-FM — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Improvements in DNA sequencing technology have allowed scientists to dig deeper than ever before into the intricacies of the microbes that inhabit our gut, also called the gut microbiome. Massive amounts of data – on the scale of pentabytes – have been accumulated as labs and institutes across the globe sequence the gut microbiome in an effort to learn more about its inhabitants and how they contribute to human health. But now that we have all of this data (and more accumulating all the time), the challenge becomes making sense of it.Our guest this week, Christine Tataru, is a fifth year PhD student in Maude David's lab tackling this data problem.

Our Energy System in Transition: Pushing The Grid Towards Zero Emissions

Inspiration Dissemination — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 00:02:21 +0000

Our climate in the next thirty years will not look the same as today, and that’s exactly why our energy systems will soon look completely different. Energy systems are the big umbrella of how and where we create electricity, how we transport that electricity, and how we use electricity. We’re discussing the past and the future of our energy environment with Emily Richardson, a Masters of Engineering student in the Energy Systems Program. In the interview we learn about how our current energy infrastructure works, why it's pretty darn old, and what needs to change (quickly) for our upcoming future where renewables contribute significantly more to the grid and more distributed power generation systems (like home solar panels) really complicate the picture. But there are solutions, many of them! But we need to build and retrofit carefully to accomodate these upcoming shifts in our energy future.

The non-Ghostbusing Venkman: a virus that "eats" marine bacteria

Inspiration Dissemination — Mon, 23 May 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Have you ever considered that a virus that eats bacteria could potentially have an effect on global carbon cycling? No? Me neither. Yet, our guest this week, Dr. Holger Buchholz, a postdoctoral researcher at OSU, taught me just that! Holger, who works with Drs. Kimberly Halsey and Stephen Giovannoni in OSU’s Department of Microbiology, is trying to understand how a bacteriophage (a bacteria-eating virus), called Venkman, impacts the metabolism of marine bacterial strains in a clade called OM43.

Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Miriam F. Lipton

Check out the ID Blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/05/20/the-non-ghostbusting-venkman-a-virus-that-eats-marine-bacteria/

Spaghetti and Networks: Oodles of Nodes

Inspiration Dissemination — Wed, 18 May 2022 18:05:57 +0000

Clinical and experimental trials for new medication can generate complex data, and it's important to identify which pieces of data are actually relevant. But this becomes difficult when the datasets include millions of genes, metabolites, or other biological factors. PhD candidate Nolan Newman is a computational biologist and uses networks to parse through these datasets and identify which interactions and relationships are important. Put simply - Nolan makes meaning out of chaos. In this episode we dive deep into what systems biology is, why networks are like spaghetti, and how a hearing loss incident prompted Nolan to pursue a career in science.

Hosted by: Bryan & Grace

Check out the ID blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/05/15/spaghetti-networks-oodles-of-nodes/

AI that benefits humans and humanity

Inspiration Dissemination — Tue, 17 May 2022 18:54:42 +0000

"AI that benefits humans and humanities" is the theme of this week's episode...and the 'lofty life goal' of our guest. Anna Nickelson is a PhD candidate in the Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute here at OSU. Her work focuses on how robots and AI can be used to assist humans, particularly the elderly and those with minor cognitive impairments.

Hosts: Grace Deitzler & Lisa Hildebrand

Check out the ID Blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/05/07/ai-that-benefits-humans-and-humanity%EF%BF%BC/

Horror in Fiction

Inspiration Dissemination — Mon, 09 May 2022 19:18:54 +0000

In 2021 Jordan Peele remade the 1992 cult horror classic, Candyman. The 2021 remake received critical success and despite being delayed several times due to the covid-19 pandemic, was a box office success as well. In both the 1992 and 2021 versions, the eponymous main character is a black man. But in the remake, the character deviates from the usual narrative trope of being a menacing black man to a man with complex emotions and feelings. For most viewers, these changes make for a good story, but likely are not things that they dwell on, and certainly are forgettable by the time they have left the theater. But for our guest this week, literature MA student Marisa Williams in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film, these differences are what gives them inspiration and are what inform their research.

Hosted by Miriam F. Lipton and Adrian Gallo.

Check out the ID Blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/04/29/horror-in-fiction/

The rigamarole of RNA, ribosomes, and machine learning

Adrian & Lisa — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 01:20:30 +0000

Basic biology and computer science is probably not an intuitive pairing to think of, when we think of pairs of scientific disciplines. Not as intuitive as say biology and chemistry (often referred to as biochem). However, for Joseph Valencia, a third year PhD student at OSU, the bridge between these two disciplines is a view of life at the molecular scale as a computational process in which cells store, transmit, and interpret the information necessary for survival. Join us on this week's episode as we explore how machine learning can be used to try and reveal how ribosomes make critical decisions in our bodies.

Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Adrian Gallo.

Check out the ID blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/04/14/the-rigamarole-of-rna-ribosomes-and-machine-learning/

Red, Red, (smoky) Wine

Lisa & Miriam — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:36:58 +0000

Did you know humans have the ability to “taste” through smelling? Well we do, and it is through a process called retronasal olfaction. This fancy sounding term is just some of the ways that food scientists, such as our guest speaker this week, recent M.S. graduate and soon to be Ph.D. student, Jenna Fryer studies how flavors, or tastes through smell, are understood and what impact external factors have on them. Specifically, Fryer looks at the ways fires affect the flavors of wine, a particularly timely area of research due to the recent wave of devastating wildfires in Oregon. Hosted by Miriam F. Lipton and Lisa Hildebrand.

Check out the ID blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/04/22/red-red-smoky-wine/

Special Episode: OSU alum raises $400k for trans advocacy groups

Adrian and Grace — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:35:08 +0000

The number of anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States has skyrocketed from 41 in 2018 to over 200 in the first four months of 2022 alone. Rue Dickey, a 2019 OSU graduate and transgender person, recently used the indie game platform itch.io to fundraise over $400k for trans advocacy groups in Texas, a state currently affected by severe transphobic legislation. We chat with Rue about their fundraiser, tabletop games, and the importance of making sure trans youth are supported.

Check out the ID blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/04/24/in-the-face-of-national-anti-trans-legislation-local-game-developer-and-osu-graduate-raises-over-400k-for-trans-advocacy-groups/

I, Roboethicist

Bryan & Grace — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

What happens when robots face an ethical conundrum? When something that should be true about their world isn't - or vice versa? We talk logic, coding, self-driving cars, and pizza-stealing cats on this week's episode of ID with Colin Shea-Blymyer, a PhD student in OSU's new Artificial Intelligence program. Learn what it takes to be a "roboethicist" and what the future of coding ethics for robots looks like.

Check out the ID Blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/04/15/i-roboethicist/

Special Episode: 10 Years of Inspiration Dissemination

Adrian, Bryan, Grace — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 18:25:31 +0000

What were you doing 10 years ago? While some of our current hosts were getting ready to go to grad school, baking cakes, and finishing up high school, in 2012, Inspiration Dissemination was just getting started. In this special anniversary episode, we hear from founders Joey, Zhian, and Matt about how the show began, some of their favorite memories, and advice for the future. We also hear reflections from other past hosts on their experience with ID. Here's to another 10 years of telling stories with science communication!

Check out the ID blog here: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/

Microbial and Biochemical Community Dynamics

Miriam & Grace — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 23:00:16 +0000

What happens when microbes decomposing organic matter suck all of the oxygen out of a zone in the ocean? Sarah Wolf, a PhD candidate in Microbiology, chats with us about microbial and biochemical dynamics in low oxygen zones, as well as her journey through starting what would become an immensely popular STEM education Instagram account.

Check out the ID blog at: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/03/13/microbial-and-biochemical-community-dynamics-in-low-oxygen-oregon-waters/

Imaging nuclear fallout with a camera and a scintillating crystal

Lisa Hildebrand and Bryan Lynn | Inspiration Dissemination — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 23:39:32 +0000

Fallout material from a nuclear detonation is obviously a bad and scary thing. But how are these materials identified, imaged, and quantified? Well, our guest this week, Dr. Ari Foley, built a system that includes a camera and a crystal to do just that. Tune in to figure out exactly how!

Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Bryan Lynn

Check out the ID blog at: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/03/08/imaging-nuclear-fallout-with-a-camera-and-a-scintillating-crystal/

Trusting Your Gut: Lessons in molecular neuroscience and mental health

Grace Deitzler & Miriam Lipton — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 02:00:00 +0000

The bacteria in your gut can talk to your brain.No, really.It might sound like science fiction, but you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘gut-brain axis’ used in recent years to describe this phenomenon. What we call the “gut” actually refers to the small and large intestines, where a collection of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome reside. In addition to the microbes that inhabit it, your gut contains around 500 million neurons, which connect to your brain through bidirectional nerves – the biggest of which is the vagus nerve. Bacteria might be able to interact with specialized sensory cells within the gut lining and trigger neuronal firing from the gut to the brain. Our guest this week is Caroline Hernández, a PhD student in the Maude David Lab in the Department of Microbiology, and she is studying exactly this phenomenon.

Hosted by Grace Deitzler & Miriam Lipton

Check out the ID Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/02/26/trusting-your-gut-lessons-in-molecular-neuroscience-and-mental-health/

How to Help Rusty Plants

Grace Deitzler and Lisa Hildebrand — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:00:00 +0000

Plants can get rusty. No joke! There is a fungal pathogen called rust which can cover the leaves of plants. Fortunately, it seems like plants have a natural ally that helps it fend off rust – yeast! Tune in to hear about PhD student Maria-Jose Romero-Jimenez's research on the PNW native plant black cottonwood, the rust that attacks it, and the mysterious yeast helping black cottonwood protect itself.

Hosted by Grace Deitzler and Lisa Hildebrand.

Check out the ID Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/02/26/how-to-help-rusty-plants/

Home Economics as a Science

KBVR-FM — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 21:11:23 +0000

Women were excluded from science for a long time. Their solution? Make a subject, that men had no interest in being involved in, scientific! Enter: Home Economics. Never considered Home Ec as a scientific subject? Well, our guest this week, Kathleen McHugh, is here to convince you otherwise by explaining her research on Ava Milam.

Hosted by Miriam Lipton and Lisa Hildebrand

Check out the ID blog!: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/02/12/home-economics-as-a-science/

Mighty (a)morphin’ Power Metals

Adrian Gallo and Bryan Lynn — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 23:06:24 +0000

If the super-villain Magneto ever discovered these new metals he would probably drool. Metallic glass, or amorphous metals, have 2-3x the strength of steel, are incredibly elastic, have very high corrosion and wear resistance and have a mirror-like surface finish. Our guest, PhD Candidate Jaskaran Saini in the College of Engineering, collected two world records in the last two years helping make the largest metallic glasses ever here at Oregon State University. These glasses were first made in the 1960’s as a lab curiosity, but they used precious earth elements that made production too costly. Jaskaran developed his record-breaking metals without these rare elements. We talked about a range of topics including how these metals can be used everywhere from the gears on the Mars Curiosity rover to the back’s of iPhones, how he felt when he broke the world record(s), and we discovered he produced music in his spare time! You can listen to his song, Sephora by JSKRN on SoundCloud, at the end of this episode.

Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Bryan Lynn.

Check out the ID blog!: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/02/02/mighty-amorphin-power-metals/

Nuclear: the history, present, and future of the solution to the energy crisis

KBVR-FM — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:15:24 +0000

Nuclear energy has a bit of a sordid history which has led to a persistent, albeit fading in recent years, negative reputation. Like it or not, it represents the largest source of carbon-free energy (about 20% of all US energy production) and generates as much as energy as wind, solar, and hydroelectricity combined. Our guest this week is Dusty Mangus who takes us through some of the history of nuclear energy, modern advancements, and why his work on the metal alloys for liquid sodium reactors could establish another era of safety and efficiency in nuclear power.
Guest: Dusty W. Magnus
Hosts: Adrian & Grace

ID blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/01/30/nuclear-the-history-present-and-future-of-the-solution-to-the-energy-crisis/

Water Woes of the West

Adrian & Bryan — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:44:35 +0000

What happens when there is too much water promised to too many people? Whether you're a farmer, rancher, or part of a Tribal community, it's no exaggeration that your lives depend on the dwindling water resources in the Klamath River Basin. We speak to a visiting scholar and PhD Candidate Hannah Whitley about the complicated history of the area, the overlapping water use and land rights issues, and how communities are beginning to problem solve. While this research is specific to governance practices in the Klamath River Basin, it also serves as a test case that other communities can learn from because water issues in the west are just beginning.
Visiting Scholar - Penn State University
Guest: Hannah Whitley
Hosts: Adrian & Bryan

ID blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/01/23/water-woes-of-the-west/

COVID Conundrums

Adrian, Bryan, Lisa, Grace — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 03:24:44 +0000

Due to COVID-19 travel issues, we could not record in the booth this week. Instead, we have a rundown of our new co-hosts we've brought onto the team recently, our upcoming guests for the quarter, and advertising our SciComm event in Spring quarter. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled show next week! Safe travels all!

ID Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/01/14/covid-conundrums/

Mini-Molecules and Mighty Ideas

KBVR-FM — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +0000

This week we have on the show Dr. Bo Wu – he recently graduated from Oregon State University with a Ph.D. from the Electrical Engineering department where he developed new sensors to monitor three different neurotransmitters that are correlated with our stress, mood, and happiness. Even though so much of our bodily functions rely on these neurotransmitters (cortisol, serotonin, dopamine), there are no current commercial or rapid techniques to monitor these tiny molecules. Since the majority of innovations in University settings never gets beyond the walls of the Ivory Tower, Bo wanted to design sensors with functionality and scalability in mind. Those basic principles are why Bo was attracted to joining the lab of Dr. Larry Cheng; instead of innovations sitting on university shelves their innovations must be designed to bring to market. Using nano-fabrications technology, Bo developed sensors that are about the size of a thumbnail to provide rapid and accurate measures of different neurotransmitters to be used outside the hospital setting. The promise of having these mini-molecules be measured as a point of care diagnostic (i.e. measured by the patient) is an exciting advancement in the medical field. This innovation is not the only one coming from Bo; with the help of a colleague, they designed a product for researchers to easily reformat academic research papers for submission to other journals. If you didn’t know, submitting manuscripts to different journals takes an immense amount of time because of the formatting changes required. But these are tedious and can take a week or longer that can be used for crucial research experiments. While this service was originally designed for Engineering publications, the COVID-19 pandemic showed them there was a greater and more immediate need. With so many people losing their jobs, they re-designed the software to help people create and re-imagine their resumes for job applications. Their website, WiseDoc.net is now geared toward helping job seekers build stronger resumes, but Bo and his team expects to return to the original idea of re-formatting papers for academic publications but will expand to those beyond just Engineering journals. Thanks to Oregon State’s Advantage Accelerator Program, Bo and his co-founder were able to refine their product and acquire seed money to get the website off the ground, which now employs a small international team to maintain and improve its services. If you have questions for Bo about starting your own business, being an international student, or the Advantage Accelerator program, you can contact him by email wubo@oregonstate.edu

Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Lisa Hildebrand.

Two Ways of Killing Bacteria

Adrian Gallo and Lisa Hildebrand — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Science strives to be apolitical, but that was not possible for bacteriophage research during the Cold War era. Bacteriophages are viruses that attack very specific bacteria; antibiotics also attack bacteria but they are not targeted and can kill both the good and bad bacteria. The Cold War saw the initial phases of Soviets researching bacteriophages while the Americans and their allies levied heavy investments into all things antibiotics. During World War II, antibiotics were widely used and bacterial resistance was becoming more apparent. Because the US and its allies focused on antibiotics, they failed to recognize this natural antibacterial resistance, something that could be ameliorated by bacteriophages. Miriam Lipton is a PhD Candidate in the History of Science program examining the history of this era, as well as the actual scientific papers on bacteriophages and questions why the West has still not embraced this potential solution to bacterial resistance. We had a wide ranging discussion on the 1920-1960’s era history, the science available at the time, and Miriam’s travels to Russia and her personal experience with antibiotics.

Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Lisa Hildebrand

Guest: Miriam Lipton

Inspiration Dissemination Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2021/11/22/two-ways-of-killing-bacteria/

Healthcare, but in paper form

Adrian Gallo and Lisa Hildebrand — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 07:23:33 +0000

Have you ever thought of how a pregnancy test works? You probably know you can get a pregnancy test at a hospital to be 100% sure, but that test requires lab work, people power, time, and money (cough cost of healthcare cough) to get that answer. Instead, you can pee on a small piece of plastic and get an answer within minutes! But under the hood of the at-home pregnancy test is a lot of physics and chemistry happening in an automated fashion. First, the sample (urine) needs to be pulled, by capillary action, to be exposed to a few different reactions in a specific order to find a specific molecule indicative of being pregnant and it shows up as an easy to read color. Imagine if this rapid point of care diagnostic tool could be available for other uses.

Lael Wentland is a PhD Candidate in the Bio-engineering department who’s researching paper-based microfluidic diagnostic tools for rare diseases. While these little devices are not made of regular binder paper, they are made of a porous membrane that pulls up the sample in a predictable way - hence the ‘fluidics’ part of her work. The ‘micro’ in microfluidics is because she’s focused on samples where there are only a couple drops available. Lael’s first device she’s manufacturing is to help people with a rare metabolic disorder (phenylketonuria - where people cannot break down phenylalanine, an essential amino acid) that can be exacerbated or ameliorated by the food they eat. There are tests available to monitor the body’s concentration of phenylalanine, but they take days to get results! Since us humans can’t wait days in between meals, there is a need for these individuals to monitor their own phenylalanine levels because too little of this amino acid will prevent the body from performing basic functions but a build up of this amino acid and you may go into seizures. Lael successfully made a new device that is rapid, accurate, disposable, and is shelf stable for at least two weeks. Why only two weeks? Well in the middle of her long-term testing COVID-19 shut everything down; getting blood samples from patients to run her tests was no longer a viable option to continue shelf-life tests. Instead, she pivoted to yet another rare disease, but expects to return to her initial research before she finishes her PhD. In the future, Lael expects to move into industry so she can continue her proof-of-concept work from the academic setting, can be scaled up and mass produced so it is more accessible to a wider range of people.

Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Lisa Hildebrand
Inspiration Dissemination Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2021/11/14/healthcare-but-in-paper-form/

Hearing is believing: characterizing ocean soundscapes and assessing noise impacts on whales

Inspiration Dissemination — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0000

“I always loved science class and science questions, and I went to science camps – but as a kid I didn’t really put it together that being a scientist was a career or something other than sitting at a microscope in a lab coat,”. Our guest this week, Dr. Samara Haver, has come a long way from not realizing the myriad of careers in science when she was a child. She now works as a marine acoustician, researching underwater soundscapes and ocean noise to understand the repercussions for marine ecosystems and animals, such as humpback and blue whales. Samara’s PhD research revolved around analyzing the recordings from the 12 hydrophones to explore several questions regarding differences in U.S. soundscapes, including baleen whale presence which she was able to identify by their unique vocalizations.
Guest: Samara Haver
Host: Lisa Hildebrand
Inspiration Dissemination: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2021/11/06/hearing-is-believing-characterizing-ocean-soundscapes-and-assessing-noise-impacts-on-whales/

Fighting for Freedom in Oregon

Adrian & Lisa — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Jason J. Dorsette is a Black man with a family full of civil rights activists and leaders with a rich history in the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). As he described, “I was a country boy from the Jim Crow South and went to Oregon.” The NAACP of his upbringing did not exist here in Corvallis; literally, there was no collegiate branch in the Pacific Northwest when he arrived in 2014. Feeling like he didn’t belong, he helped to start the Oregon State University-NAACP branch in February of 2015 and continues to be involved in a variety of ways on campus and in the community. We briefly discussed his PhD research - Race Spaced Theory - that provides a geographical lens on Critical Race Theory*.. Because Jason is such a busy person, we had to keep the interview brief, but we hope to have him on the show again. As a reminder, the Corvallis-Albany NAACP branch is hosting the Freedom Fund as a fundraising event on November 6th at the Student Experience Center on Oregon State University’s campus. See our blog for links to the events, ideas, and theories discussed in this episode. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Adrian Gallo.

The Promise and Peril of New Plants on Oregon's Sand Dunes

KBVR-FM — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In a rapid fire interview, Rebecca Mostow connects her research on dunegrasses along the coastline of the Pacific Northwest and Dune, the new film adapted from a SciFi book series. The book series envisions a planet with constantly shifting sand dunes, an idea that the books’ author originally had when he visited Oregon’s sand dunes in Florence in the 1950’s. During this time period, federal and local agencies were planting a variety of plant species to keep the sand dunes stable making the lives of coastal communities less … sandy. It worked, and some would consider it a real-life example of terraforming. This concept is exemplified by a character in the Dune series named Pardot Kynes, a plant ecologist helping locals adapt to their sandy environment through their knowledge of plants as a sand dune stabilizer. In real life, there have been trade-offs between more stable sand dunes, helpful for local communities and limiting coastal erosion, but at the detriment of two currently threatened birds who depend on sand dunes that are constantly shifting in the winds. We discuss Rebecca’s findings of a new hybridized beach grass as part of her PhD, a community science project mapping more of these dunegrasses, and its implications for how to manage ecosystems and communities moving forward.

Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Adrian Gallo.

Inspiration Dissemination Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2021/10/25/the-promise-and-peril-of-new-plants-on-oregons-sand-dunes/

The Science Continues

KBVR-FM — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000

It’s been nearly 20 months since we’ve been back in the radio booth. Science has not stopped, but we as a team needed a break. Some of us on the Inspiration Dissemination team have graduated, some spent weeks at sea following whales, while others pivoted to research COVID-19 itself. It has been a wild ride, but we’re happy to be back doing regular shows again, even happier to have the opportunity to continue podcasting and learning from our fellow graduate students. Want to be on the show? Fill out our form on the website and we’ll get you scheduled.
Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Lisa Hildebrande
Inspiration Dissemination Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2021/10/19/the-science-continues/

Aimee Hisey Hidden Knowledge: Jewish medical practitioners, secret business partnerships, and seventeenth-century Latin America

Orange Media Network — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode, science historian Aimee Hisey talks with Inspiration Dissemination hosts Daniel Watkins and Adrian Gallo about her research on the lives of Jewish surgeons living in the 1600s Latin America. In the viceroyalties (similar to what we in the US think of as colonies), Jewish medical practitioners found ways to get around royal mandates forbidding Jews from attending medical school. Aimee's work investigates how medical knowledge exchange circumvented political oppression. She discusses the difficulties in finding out information that was kept secret, piecing together information from the Spanish Inquisition, ship logs, and diaries to understand the lives of people 400 years ago. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Cedric Hagen Libraries of possibilities: Algorithimic identification of possible fossil chronologies

Orange Media Network — Mon, 18 May 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Cedric Hagen is a PhD candidate in the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences who uses numerical algorithms to puzzle out the timeline of 500 million year old fossils from around the world. In this episode, Daniel chats with Cedric about his work, about the Cambrian era, and about how algorithms from totally different areas of study can be helpful for earth science. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Megan Condisine Rethinking oyster reef restoration and coastal community resilience: The use of biomimicry and outreach to offset the growing risk of invasive species

Orange Media Network — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Megan is a first-year Marine Resource Management Masters student who is working on a project to map the distribution of an invasive mud worm (Polydora websteri) that infects native shellfish such as the commercially grown Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and wild populations of Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida). Working with ODFW, Megan visits shellfish farms located in estuaries along the Oregon coast and picks up oysters which are inspected for worms. If found, samples are then sent to a lab in Washington for genetic analysis to confirm infestation. Megan says that farmers may not even know their oysters are infected and she hopes to expand her work beyond just ecological sampling to outreach and mitigating an emergent problem. Megan’s passion for education goes far beyond aquaculture. In this episode, learn more about Megan’s research and outreach goals beyond her graduate work including oyster restoration at Yaquina Head. Hosted by Daniel Watkins and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Joaquin Rodriguez Special Series Covid-19: Finding Clarity and Calm During a Global Pandemic

Orange Media Network — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Amidst the challenges of a global pandemic, the Inspiration Dissemination podcast will strive to be an avenue of human connection and inspiration during a more isolated time. This week, we sit down with Joaquin Rodriquez for the first podcast of a special series covering the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on the research and lives of our OSU community. Joaquin is a student from Lima, Peru and studies viruses as an undergraduate researcher in the Barbar lab at OSU. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Grad Inspire 2020

Orange Media Network — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Trigger warning: some topics discussed include homelessness and brief mention of abuse. Grad Inspire is a special event months in the making, where six Oregon State University graduate students share their personal stories of failure, perseverance, and triumph through life. This episode was originally recorded on March 2nd 2020 in the Memorial Union Ballroom hosted by the Graduate School with donations from Block 15 making the event a huge success. Every Inspiration Dissemination host helped mentor presenters for this event. Presenter order: Ashley Ellenson, Winston Kennedy, Meredith Jacobson, Shauna Otto, Samuel Burns, and Barbara Spiecker. We are deeply grateful to the presenters who were incredibly brave to showcase their stories for all of use to learn from. We hope you join us next year! Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Winni Wang A Blade of Seagrass is a Powerful Thing

Orange Media Network — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Even though seagrasses occupy less than 0.2 percent of the world’s oceans, they account for more than 10 percent of all carbon trapped in the sea. In a world and time where we are producing more carbon than we should be and can manage, making sure that seagrasses are healthy and abundant is extremely pertinent. Winni Wang is one such seagrass scientist working to understand the biology of seagrasses and what threatens them. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Claire Couch Finding a place in policy: where do the scientists fit in?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Somewhere, in a local government meeting, an idea is proposed, a policy brief is written, some voting occurs, paperwork is pushed around, money is allocated, and a new highway is built. In the same region, some bighorn sheep are off trekking in search of their favorite grasses to eat. They come upon a road they can’t cross that wasn’t there before. The sheep stay put and eat the same old grass they were already eating. When policymakers decided to build this road, it’s unclear whether they considered the consequences of this type of habitat fragmentation on the tiny ecosystems of bacteria that live inside of each bighorn sheep. More importantly, whether they knew their decision might lead to unforeseen consequences for bighorn population health. We take for granted how intertwined policy and science really are. Claire Couch is a 5th year PhD candidate in the department of Integrative Biology, studying wildlife disease ecology, but she’s also the president of a new Science and Policy Club at Oregon State University. Claire wants to help scientists make their work relevant, but she hasn’t been doing it all alone. There are currently a few other club officers, and as Claire writes her dissertation, she’s looking to pass on club leadership. In the future, she hopes to see the club become more engaged with the non-OSU community members around us, host bigger events in collaboration with other groups on campus, and start up a mentoring program in which club members would be mentored by policy professionals. Listen now to learn more about this policy club and Claire’s research. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Linus Stoltz Working with Dungeness crab fishermen to get a ‘sense’ of low-oxygen conditions off the Oregon coast

Orange Media Network — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Linus Stoltz is a graduate student in the Marine Resource Management Master’s Program. Only in his second term, Linus is already diving in to a project that means a lot to Oregon coastal communities. More and more instances of crab fishermen pulling up their gear full of dead crabs prompted them to reach out to scientists for help. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists and researchers at Oregon State University have been working together since 2002 to try and find answers. While we are beginning to understand the bigger picture of the oceanographic conditions that result in hypoxia, Linus explains that we don’t have any models that predict this ‘wave’ on a finer scale. He describes the ocean as patchy, where conditions just a thousand yards away from where a fisherman may have set his or her pots may be completely different. The ultimate goal of his research is to be able to predict these conditions and inform management decisions such as seasonal and/or spatial closures. For Linus, this project represents one of just about any marine science topic he’s excited to be involved in. In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, you’ll learn more about Linus’s journey from SCUBA diving in a cold lake in Ohio as a ten-year old to working as an underwater technician monitoring artificial reefs off the coast of North Carolina to researching hypoxia on the Oregon Coast. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Nick Bira Not all robots are hard and made of metal...

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Robots don’t all look like R2-D2. In fact, some robots aren’t hard or made of metal at all. Some are soft and pliable, and they’re the kind that Nick Bira, 3rd year PhD student in the Department of Robotics, is working on. A soft robot can mold into the shape that you need it to. Soft robots are also being used in the medical field. After all, you don’t want some hard, klanky thing poking around inside of you and possibly causing damage. Nick is also embedding iron particles, which are magnetically soft, into silicone rubber, which is a soft elastic material, to make a material that is soft and hyper elastic and when brought close to an ordinary magnet, will stick to it. However, this is only step 1. Nick is interested in creating magnetic fields within the robot rather than it only working if there is a big, hard magnet nearby. One core goal of soft robotics is to have them function on their own without needing some hard object nearby to ‘support’ it. Tune in to learn how he plans to achieve this! Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Kayla Delventhal. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Alexandra Szarabajko Fitness for Life: Sport psychology and the motivations behind healthy lifestyles

Orange Media Network — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0000

For graduate teaching assistant Alex Szarabajko, being part of the team teaching the 3,000-plus students who take Lifetime Fitness for Health (HHS 231) every term is not just a job. “It’s the last time students are able to learn about physical activity, nutrition and mental health before adulthood, ” says Alex. That course also tied for 1st place from undergraduate voting of all classes at OSU. Alex started work on her doctorate in Kinesiology at Oregon State University in 2018 after completing master’s degrees in General Psychology and in Exercise and Sport Science at Eastern Kentucky University. As a researcher in the field of sport psychology, Alex works to understand the reasons that people pursue their fitness goals and engage in healthy behavior. Alex's outro music is reproduced by Rachel Vick with her permission: Rachel Vick - Heart Logic. Hosted by Daniel Watkins and Adrian Gallo. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Sofiya Yusova Swimming with Salmon(ids)

Orange Media Network — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Sofiya Yusova is a microbiology graduate student focusing on the impact of climate change on C. shasta, a parasite that infects salmonids in the Pacific Northwest. We talk with Sofiya about the lifecycle of C. shasta, and how knowledge of the lifecycle can give state and tribal organizations tools to help ensure the survival of salmon as they travel from alpine rivers to the Pacific ocean. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Winston Kennedy Work Your Body, Work Your Brain

Orange Media Network — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest is Winston Kennedy, a 3rd year PhD student in the Kinesiology program and Adaptive Physical Activity option, has been a practicing Physical Therapist since 2015. Over time, he noticed his patients with mobility limitations were trying to perform their rehabilitation exercises at home but they received inadequate support or guidance from other medical personnel because the gym or their personal home was not conducive to these physical exercises. Winston also noticed that physical mobility limitations can also impact someone’s mental health, and as a PT his patients would have greater success if both the physical and mental hurdles were considered. It’s these barriers to successful rehabilitation programs that Winston is examining in his research project with the aim of making physical therapy more inclusive to any patient who could benefit. Winston is also a Grad Inspire keynote on March 3rd, be sure to mark your calendars! Hosted by Kayla Delventhal and Adrian Gallo. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Amine Gaizi Robots! A Story of Engineering and Biology

Orange Media Network — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Amine Gaizi is a masters student working on a degree in Electronics and Embedded systems. As an exchange student from France, Amine is studying in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering within the College of Engineering here at OSU. In this episode, we talk about about Amine’s journey to OSU, including his work with robots in Germany, how the French school system is organized, and about the excitement of being an international student experience. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Nathan Justus Robots! A Story of Engineering and Biology

Orange Media Network — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Nathan Justus studies the robotics of biological motion. He is part of a team that is using robotics as a creative tool to tackle an issue relevant to the grape industry - that more than 700 black widow spiders end up in consumer's grapes every year. For his Master’s project Nathan worked on developing a new method of measuring the frequency of the web vibrations when two black widows speak to eachother. This information will then be used to develop a method of getting spiders to evacuate their webs without the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. In this episode, we also discuss Nathan's future research on autonomous underwater robots and his past work experience for NASA's Johnson Space Center. This episode is hosted by Kayla Delventhal and Lillian Padgitt-Cobb. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Meredith Jacobson Cultures of collaboration in forest management

Orange Media Network — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Meredith Jacobson is a Master’s student in the Forest, Ecosystems and Society Department of OSU’s College of Forestry who studies collaborative partnerships in forest management. She describes her thesis work here at Oregon State as a qualitative case study on the concept of “Anchor Forests”, an idea developed by the Intertribal Timber Council that would involve creating large regions of forest management and stewardship, collaborating across ownership boundaries. Her data collection has included interviewing those involved in developing the Anchor Forest concept, analyzing published documents and reports, and looking at online media coverage of Tribal forest policies and laws that could enable the cross-boundary work needed to make Anchor Forests happen. Through her analysis, she wants to understand what is unique about this concept and what barriers need to be overcome to realize its potential. Meredith says that one of the most interesting things she’s learned so far is that among the ten people she’s talked to, there has not been one unified perspective on what makes the Anchor Forest idea unique and what hope it holds for the future. Perhaps this is why the concept itself is so difficult to define. However, one common theme emerging from land managers across the West: that shifting leadership and power to Tribes could be a critical part of the solution to increasingly urgent challenges like wildfire affecting forests on a landscape scale. Listen to learn more about her research and how she is navigating her own identity as a non-Native researcher partnering with Tribal communities. Hosted by Daniel Watkins and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Alan Harrington Putting years and years of established theory to the test

Orange Media Network — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 02:00:00 +0000

A lot of the concepts that scientists use to justify why things are the way they are, are devised solely based on theory. Some theoretical concepts have been established for so long that they are simply accepted without being scrutinized very often. The umbrella species concept is one such example as it is a theoretical approach to doing conservation and although in theory it is thought to be an effective strategy for conserving ecosystems, it is actually very rarely empirically tested. Enter Alan Harrington, who is going to test its validity empirically. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Bryan Lynn Finding the Tipping Point

Orange Media Network — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 02:00:00 +0000

What do we know about cooperation? Can we quantify the tipping point? This week’s guest, Bryan Lynn, a second-year PhD student co-advised by Dr. Patrick De Leenheer in the Department of Integrative Biology and Martin Schuster in Microbiology studies the evolution of cooperation. To do this, Bryan scales his work way down to microorganism level. Evolutionary theory has been largely based on the Darwinian premise of the survival of the fittest, but Bryan’s research is challenging this – not cooperating makes you more fit as an individual, but is that best for the group as a whole? Using the bacteria Psuedomonas aeruginosa as a model organism, Bryan is able to manipulate the behavior of the bacteria and study what happens in a chemostat system – a device which allows the bacteria to grow continuously with a constant input of a food source and output of the mixed solution - making it an excellent metaphor for life. For example, Bryan mutates some of the bacteria to be so-called “cheaters,” as they do not make an enzyme and thus do not expend energy but reap all the benefits as the non-cheater bacteria. Using mathematical models, Bryan is able to simulate different conditions and put a number to the tipping point where the community is no longer able to persist in a steady state. Listen to learn more about Bryan’s math biology research, non-traditional journey to graduate school, and LGBT+ activism. Hosted by Lauri Lutes and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Allison Swartz You don’t look your age: pruning young forests to mimic old-growth forest

Orange Media Network — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Allison Swartz, a PhD student in the Forest Ecosystems and Society program in the College of Forestry at Oregon State, is in the midst of a multi-year study on forest stream ecosystems. “My work focuses on canopy structure—how the forest age and structure influences life in streams,” says Allison. “People are always shocked at how many organisms live in such a small section of stream. So much life in there, but you don’t realize it when you’re walking nearby on the trail.” Part of Allison’s project involves cutting gaps in the forest canopy over streams to mimic the kind of openings that appear in old growth forest. Listen to hear about the characteristics of old growth and regenerating forests, and to hear some pro tips about how to recognize forest age and find salamanders in streams! Hosted by Daniel Watkins and Lisa Hildebrand. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Sam Harry Tsunami Surfing and the Giant Snot

Orange Media Network — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 02:00:00 +0000

When tsunamis occur they cause significant damage to coastal infrastructure and the surrounding natural environment. Sam Harry’s research in Civil Engineering is filled with bizarre scientific instruments and massive contraptions in an effort to bring large natural events into the laboratory setting. “There’s only a couple like it in the world, so it’s pretty unique”. Unique may be an understatement when describing what may be the largest centrifuge in North America. And what about lazers in a wave lab? Hosted by Kayla Delventhal and Heather Forsythe Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Karla Jarecke Over sixty years digging and we’re still finding new ‘dirt’ on HJ Andrews

Orange Media Network — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 02:00:00 +0000

One kilometer. Or roughly ten football fields. That’s the extent of the area over which Karla Jarecke can feasibly navigate her way through the trailless HJ Andrews Experimental forest to collect the data she needs in a typical day of field work. Experimental watersheds like the HJ Andrews forest (link here) were established initially to understand how clear-cutting influenced forest drainage. This was during the time when timber-take was increasing and we still had little understanding on its ecosystem effects. Karla’s work is also forward-thinking, but less on the lines of what will happen to drainage when trees are removed and more focused on understanding the availability of water for trees to use now and in the future. She wants to know what influence topography has on plant water availability in mountainous landscapes. Karla explains that there have been long-standing assumptions surrounding elevation gradients and their control on water availability in a forest system. This understanding has led to modeling tools currently used to extrapolate soil moisture across a landscape. But so far, her data show huge variability on surprisingly small scales that cannot be explained by gradient alone. This indicates that there are other controls on the spatial availability of soil moisture in such mountainous terrain. This information builds on the incredible sixty-year data set that has been collected on soil moisture within HJ Andrews, but with a new perspective. Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Sweta Ravisankar Monkeying around in the lab to find a good egg

Orange Media Network — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 02:00:00 +0000

In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is a procedure in which a woman’s mature eggs are removed via surgery, combined with sperm in a petri dish in a lab, and then the fertilized egg is placed in the uterus to continue growing into an embryo. Unfortunately, IVF is not covered by all insurance companies and is successful less than 50 percent of the time. Consequently, undergoing IVF can be a significant burden financially, physically, and emotionally for those who seek out this procedure. So what makes a “good” fertilizable egg? In this week’s special episode, we’re joined by Sweta Ravisankar, a 5th year PhD candidate in the Cell and Developmental Biology program at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University), who is trying to answer this question in hopes that being able to screen for the “more likely to succeed” eggs, will lower the economic, financial, and physical hurtles of IVF. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Lauri Lutes. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Martin Pearce Giving Therapy-resistant Cancer Cells a Taste of their Own Medicine

Orange Media Network — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 02:00:00 +0000

The use of chemotherapy to fight various forms of cancer in the human body has been a successful method for decades, but what happens when it fails? This question strikes a personal note for Martin Pearce, a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Siva Kolluri’s Cancer Biology lab group at Oregon State University researching new strategies that target the cancer cells that continue to grow after treatment with chemotherapeutic agents. In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, we talk to Martin about his work screening tens of thousands of compounds to find one capable of binding to proteins that are typically expressed in cancer-resistant cells and transform them from proteins that protect the cancer cell into those that kill it. Beyond discovery, through the work of his Ph.D. Martin has also realized other critical steps in the long process of developing effective cancer treatments that occur outside of the lab, such as patent protection. The dedication to ‘translational research’ or science that is specifically designed to be applied in improving health outcomes is what drew Martin to work with Dr. Kolluri in the and continues to inspire his plans for the future. Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Chelsea Behymer. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Jenna Curtis What ties the Panama Canal, squeaky swing sets, and the Smithsonian together? Birds of course

Orange Media Network — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered why you see birds in some places and not in others? Or why you see a certain species in one place and not in a different one? Birds have wings enabling them to fly so surely we should see them everywhere and anywhere because their destination options are technically limitless. However, this isn’t actually the case. Different bird species are in fact limited to where they can and or want to go and so the question of why do we see certain birds in certain areas is a real research question that Jenna Curtis has been trying to get to the bottom of for her PhD research. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Heather Forsythe Proteins run the show (except when they unfold and cause cataracts)

Orange Media Network — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Your eye lenses host one of the highest concentration of crystallin protein in your entire body and Heather Forsythe, a 4th year PhD candidate working with Dr. Elisar Barbar in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, uses incredibly detailed spectroscopic techniques to identify what happens to this protein as we age and why cataracts may develop later in life. Heather's specialty is Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, or NMR, of disordered proteins, and her work on crystallin is just one piece of her PhD. We also discussed her humble beginnings in Arkansas, her push towards medical school that was transformed on a Portuguese rooftop, and her ongoing efforts to lead her department through a climate change and culture working group. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand and Adrian Gallo. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Grace Deitzler The bacteria living inside us and what they have to say about autism

Orange Media Network — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Grace Deitzler is a second year PhD student in microbiology working on the gut-microbiome and its relation to autism spectrum disorder. When the gut communicates with the brain, we call this, the “gut-brain axis”. Grace’s work narrows in on the gut-brain axis and more specifically, how one bacterial species in particular impacts autism spectrum disorder. We talk about the gut microbiome, mice, bees, ScienceTwitter, and interplay between the fine arts and sciences. Hosted by Heather Forsythe. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Katherine Lasdin Are Microplastics the New Fish Food?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 02:00:00 +0000

What happens to plastics when we put them in the recycling container? Some may go to be reused, but due to the ubiquity of plastics in our consumer and food products they are making their way into the ocean as fragments and as they break down further they are also taken up by fish. As plastics degrade they shrink into smaller and smaller pieces, but they don't magically disappear. Our guest is Katherine Lasdin, a MS student in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, who studies the abundances of microplastics in black rockfish off the Oregon coast. Her work focuses on figuring out if plastics are eaten or absorbed by fish and whether being near protected Marine Reserves has an impact on the quantity of plastics in fish. Be sure to listen to learn more about how plastics are impacting ocean ecosystems, and what you can do to help. Hosted by Adrian Gallo and Daniel Watkins. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Betsy Emery Forest Ecosystems and Society

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 02:00:00 +0000

This week we have a special episode where the script is flipped. One of our hosts will be interviewed by a graduate student as part of her research into people’s perceptions of nature. Adrian Gallo, a regular host, is interviewed by Betsy Emery in the same format she will conduct her MS research. Betsy is a MS student in the Forest Ecosystems and Society Department within the College of Forestry where she conducts qualitative research that is interview based to elucidate how individuals have constructed the concepts of what nature is, and is not, by asking a unique series of questions. This interview was truly organic and ranged from what is Wilderness, the importance of soundscapes, to how Adrian feels about using genetically modified trees to battle climate change. This episode was guest hosted by Betsy Emery with our normal host Adrian Gallo sitting in the passenger's seat. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Shauna Otto Micro Structures and Macro Support

Orange Media Network — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest is Shauna Otto, a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the lab of Dr. Colin Johnson who broads focuses on protein research. Shauna studies dysferlin, a subgroup of the ferlin protein, which helps mend membrane tears in muscle cells. Mutations in the dysferlin gene lead to Muscular Dystrophy II. Through her work, Shauna has characterized portions or "domains" of the large dysferlin protein via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). We also discuss her road to graduate school and how some mental health hurdles shaped her research experiences. We especially focus on how supportive university institutions (Counseling and Psychological Services CAPS, as well as Disability Access Service DAS at Oregon State University) and a supportive lab group can help in academic and personal success. Hosted by Kristen Finch and Adrian Gallo Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Vaclav Kuna If a Fault Moves at the Bottom of the Ocean, Can Anyone Hear It?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 27 May 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Vaclav Kuna, a doctoral candidate in seismology in the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences working with Dr. John Nabelek, is studying the Blanco Transform fault - how it slips and how it moves, and whether its motion is seismic (involving an earthquake) or aseismic (slow movement without an earthquake). A collection of movements is called a seismic swarm. Through his research, Vaclav hopes to decipher what occurs in a swarm, and discover if there is a pattern in the fault’s motions. Hosted by Maggie Exton and Heather Forsythe. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Hankyu Kim A Bird’s Eye View: Hindsight and Foresight from Long Term Bird Surveys

Orange Media Network — Mon, 20 May 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Hankyu Kim PhD student in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, is using long term ecological data from HJ Andrews Experimental Forest to study the Hermit Warbler and other bird species. Hankyu is interested in how and why bird communities are changing over time. With 11 years of bird observations and extensive temperature data, he is attempting to estimate how population of birds persist in the forests. Hosted by Kristen Finch and Lauri Lutes. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

AJ Fillo This Time, It Actually is Rocket Science: Computational Tools for Modeling Combustion

Orange Media Network — Mon, 13 May 2019 02:00:00 +0000

A.J. Fillo is in the final year of his PhD in Mechanical Engineering working to better understand how the microscopic motion of molecules impacts the type of combustion that we use in jet engines. In addtion to his research, A.J. is passionate about outreach, and magic. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Adrian Gallo. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Hoda Tahami Improving Hurricane Prediction Models Using GPS Data

Orange Media Network — Mon, 06 May 2019 02:00:00 +0000

This week’s guest, Hoda Tahami, is a third year PhD student in Dr. Jihye Park’s geomatics research group in the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering. Using geomatics - the science of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering spatially referenced information – Hoda is working to improve weather models for hurricane prediction. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Ward Shalash Repair, Don’t Replace: Developing a New Treatment for Lower Back Pain

Orange Media Network — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Ward Shalash, a first-year PhD student studying bioengineering with Dr. Morgan Giers, is working to find a better way to treat back-pain-causing deteriorated intervertebral disks using STEM cells and MRI. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Daniel Watkins Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Jackie Delie Environmental Planning in an Age of Human-animal Interactions

Orange Media Network — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Jackie Delie is a 2nd year Masters student in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department who is examining how humans interact with black bears in Oregon. Her work is using the human ecology mapping technique, where researchers look at both the spatial land management factors and how social factors overlay on those same areas to better make management decisions. Jackie is pioneering this research in Oregon with black bears but hopes to continue her work internationally. She studied in Switzerland, worked in Australia, Papua New Guiana, and Kenya among other exotic locations. She hopes to use her Masters work to inform decision making in other countries that don’t have as strong a presence of non-profits or public land management agencies as the USA. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Delia S Shelton Zebrafish Sentinels: Studying the Effects of Cadmium on Biology and Behavior

Orange Media Network — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Delia Shelton, a National Science Foundation post-doctoral fellow in the Dept. of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, uses zebrafish to investigate how cadmium exposure in an individual affects the behavior of the group. How does a zebrafish become a leader, how do sick zebrafish influence group behavior, and what are the traits of individuals occupying different social roles? These specific questions are born from larger inquiries about what factors lead to individual animals wielding inordinately large influence on a group’s social dynamic. Can we engineer groups that are resilient to anthropogenic influences on the environment and climate change? Hosted by: Lillian Padgitt-Cobb and Kristen Finch. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Charles Camacho Magnet Blocks, Connect the Dots, and the World of Modern Mathematics

Orange Media Network — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Charles Camacho, a sixth-year PhD student in the Department of Mathematics at Oregon State University, spends a lot of time thinking about shapes. He works in a branch of mathematics called topology and describes his research as such: ’I study the symmetries of abstract mathematical surfaces made from gluing triangles together.’ Hosted by Maggie Exton and Daniel Watkins Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Jason Sarkozi-Forfinski Being the Multilingual, Racialized ’Other’ in an English Dominated Linguistic Landscape

Orange Media Network — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Jason Sarkozi-Forfinski, a PhD student in Anthropology, wants to gain insight into the linguistic landscape students at Oregon State University are exposed to and their actions and feelings about about it, especially for students from non-English speaking countries. Hosted by Kristen Finch and Marcus Weinman Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Chelsea Behymer & Brian Erickson The Hidden Side of Graduate School: Finding Your Place Within Your Discipline

Orange Media Network — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 02:00:00 +0000

In this special segment: Graduate student researchers Brian Erickson and Chelsea Behymer talk about their transition from natural sciences to social sciences and the process of finding their place within their disciplines. Hosted by Kristen Finch. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Pipiet Larasatie & Taylor Barnett Who Runs the World? Exploring Gender Diversity in the Forest Sector

Orange Media Network — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 02:00:00 +0000

In this special segment, we interview third year PhD student, Pipiet Larasatie, and her undergraduate mentee, Taylor Barnett about how mentorship can foster gender diversity in the male-dominated forest sector. Listen while Pipiet and Taylor discuss their research findings alongside popular women’s empowerment anthems. Across respondants, Pipiet founds that to be successful in the male-dominated work setting, young females need a support on multiple levels e.g. good bosses/leaders, mentors, and networks. The interviewees also voiced that education is important when finding a niche in the workplace and for making young females more competitive in the job market. Hosted by: Kristen Finch Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

GRADx 2019

Orange Media Network — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 02:00:00 +0000

GRADx 2019 is co-sponsored by the Graduate School at Oregon State University and the radio talk show Inspiration Dissemination. Planning for the event tonight began in October when speakers were selected. Over the last four months, our featured speakers met with co-hosts from Inspiration Dissemination building their stories, while behind the scenes a group of folks from the graduate school organized the event in this amazing space. And WOW how their hard work has paid off! This year we introduce another set of phenomenal graduate students. GRADx features graduate students across academic colleges and departments, they hail from different parts of the country and abroad, but they have this in common: they move about their day as students, researchers, instructors, mentors, friends, and community members. Tonight they present you their story. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Samuel Burns 3D Modeling Rock Shape: Archeological Research of the Earliest North Americans

Orange Media Network — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 02:00:00 +0000

When did humans first arrive in North America and by what route did they get here? Trying to help answer these questions is Samuel Burns, a first-year master’s student in the Department of Anthropology who is interested in some of the oldest North American tools found. Thanks to computational advances, Samuel is able to create 3D models of stone artifacts from photographs to answer questions about the shape and function of stone tools. Sam tells us more about his research and how someone without a high school degree ended up here at OSU pursuing his second master’s degree. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Lauri Lutes. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Ashlee Mikkelsen Feather Collections and Stressed-out Owls

Orange Media Network — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Ashlee Mikkelsen assesses the health of Northern Spotted Owls by measuring the relative abundance of a stress hormone, corticosterone, in their feathers. By measuring the concentration of corticosterone, it is possible to assess how stressed-out the owls are, and to begin to unravel what factors are involved in their decline. Ashlee describes the field work and data analysis that comprise her work towards a Master’s degree. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Dawn Barlow Saving the Blue Whales of the South Taranaki Bight

Orange Media Network — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week, Dawn Barlow, a first-year PhD student in Fisheries and Wildlife, speaks with us about a newly discovered population of blue whales living off the coasts of New Zealand. Unfortunately, their year-round home is near a highly industrialized area where shipping and oil and gas drilling occurs. Can a management plan be drawn to balance industry with conservation? It depends on where the whales spend their time, and that depends on krill distributions and oceanographic conditions. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Tatiana Dolgushina Exploring Immigrant Identity Through Poetry

Orange Media Network — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Tatiana Dolgushina is writing her history through poetry as a way to understand herself and the country she came from that no longer exists. Born in Soviet Russia, Tatiana and her family fled the country after it collapsed in 1991. Central to her work are ideas of identity formation and childhood displacement. Through writing, she is digging deeper into her experience as an immigrant growing up in multiple countries. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Jeana Moody Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones, and Words Might Unintentionally Enforce Gendered Behavior

Orange Media Network — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Jeana Moody is a second year Masters student in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies working with Professor Bradley Boovy. Her thesis research focuses on the use and impact of gendered words and phrases in the English language, such as "throw like a girl", "man up", and "don’t be a bitch." What are the implications of saying "man up" to someone who presents as a woman? As a man? Does the gender of the speaker play a role? Hosted by: Kristen Finch and Maggie Exton Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Lisa Hildebrand Kayaks and Computers: The Gray Whale Research Essentials

Orange Media Network — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Gray whales migrate northward up the Oregon Coast every year, but some of them hang out there all summer to feed. Lisa Hildebrand, a first year masters student in Wildlife Science, discusses how she evaluates their diets, how plastic might travel up the food chain, and how kayaking with whales can help get high school kids interested in science. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Scott Klasek. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Dan Breysse Treating the Cancer Treatment: An Investigation into a Chemotherapy Drug’s Toxic Product

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Doxorubicin is a common cancer therapy drug that destroys cancer cells, but in the process, creates a cardio-toxic byproduct, doxorubicinol. Dan Breysse is finishing up his master’s degree in Biochemistry and Biophyics, and during his time here has investigated the mechanism that results in this toxicity. Doxorubicinol is created with the help of an unknown enzyme or group of enzymes, and Dan has helped to confirm that one potential enzyme is involved. As this process becomes more clear, addtional drugs can be designed to prevent toxicity while keeping the anti-tumor properties of doxorubicin. Hosted by Heather Forsythe and Lillian Padgitt-Cobb. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Holly Horan Applying Medical Anthropology: A History of Stress in Puerto Rico and its Impacts on Birth Outcomes

Orange Media Network — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Over the course of the last six years, Holly Horan, a doctoral candidate in the Applied Anthropology program at Oregon State University, has developed and carried out a course of research culminating in the largest-ever study measuring perceived and biological maternal stress during and after pregnancy in Puerto Rico. By combining in-depth interviews with Puerto Rican mothers with quantitative analysis of perceived stress and the stress hormone cortisol during each stage of pregnancy, Holly has gained insights into both the perceived and the physiological components of maternal stress that have potential to impact birth outcomes (in particular, timing of birth). Hosted by Adrian Gallo & Daniel Watkins. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Daniel Watkins Testing Arctic Climate Models: How Much Detail Can We Capture?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Arctic sea ice is decreasing quickly as temperatures throughout the region continue to rise. Daniel Watkins, a PhD student in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, discusses how he analyzes climate model output and temperature and sea ice data from specific sites across the Arctic. This will allow him to assess how accurate Arctic climate models are at finer-scale resolutions, and shed light on what this means for Arctic communities that depend on sea ice and marine wildlife for their livelihoods. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Francisco Guerrero Bolano Science Journalism at CNN en Español: A Conversation About The 2018 AAAS Mass Media Fellowship

Orange Media Network — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 02:00:00 +0000

We are so pleased that Francisco Guerrero Bolano appeared on the show for a third time, this time to discuss his experience as a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at CNN en Español during summer 2018. He also recently defended his PhD dissertation and spoke with us about the experience of finishing up his grad school journey. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Katarina Lunde Finding Hope in Invaded Spaces

Orange Media Network — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Katarina studied plants and plant systematics at Oberlin College where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology and creative writing. With student loans to pay off and a desire to find a career that fit her unique abilities and interests, Katarina spent six years working in fine dining and exploring future career paths in Seattle, WA, volunteering with various non-profits. Through her restoration program internship with the Nature Consortium, she was finally able to hone-in on the field of plant ecology. Katarina is currently nearing the end of her master’s program and seeks to apply her newly learned skills in an urban conservation and restoration setting, where she can continue to ask questions and interact with her work in a tangible way. Hosted by Lillian Padget-Cobb & Lauri Lutes. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Claire Revekant Core Strategies for Conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse

Orange Media Network — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 02:00:00 +0000

The Greater Sage-Grouse is a near-threatened species that lives exclusively in Sagebrush habitats. Wyoming has designated large ’Core Areas’ for its protection, but populations are in declining in certain areas. Claire Revekant, a Master’s student in the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, suspects this could be related to human built structures within and outside of Core Areas that may attract predator avian and mammalian species. Tune in to hear her explain an interconnected story about predation and land use policy. Hosted by: Kristen Finch and Scott Klasek. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Claire Revekant Core Strategies for Conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse

Orange Media Network — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Anna Lorenz Finding Cancer with Sound: The Development of Nanoparticles to Deliver Light-to-Sound Converting Agents

Orange Media Network — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Wouldn’t it be nice if cancer could simply yell out to let us know where it is, and how much of it is there? Anna St. Lorenz, a 4th year PhD student in the College of Pharmacy, is working on just that. Based at Oregon Health Sciences & Sciences University, Anna develops nanoparticles to carry tumor-targetting agents. Shine a light on these agents, and the result? Sound. Anna talks about her journy to graduate school, her nanoparticle research, and her bioart. Hosted by: Heather Forsythe and Adrian Gallo Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Chris Branam & Sean Nealon Special Episode: How to Publicize Your Research with the OSU Press Office

Orange Media Network — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Want to know how to get your research ’out there’? Chris Branam of Oregon State University’s Extension and Experiment Communications and Sean Nealon of OSU News & Research Communications stopped by the studio to chat about how OSU press offices work with researchers (including grad students and post-docs!) to their work. Have some cool research to share? Get in touch with Chris (chris.branam&oregonstate.edu) and Sean (sean.nealon&oregonstate.edu). Hosted by: Lauri Lutes and Lillian Padgitt-Cobb Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Samm Newton Exploring The Disconnect Between Humans and The Ocean

Orange Media Network — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

How do we know what we know about the ocean? How do we assign value to the knowledge we are acquiring through science? How do we decide what scientific questions are valuable to prioritize and fund? As a Master’s candidate in the Environmental Arts and Humanities program, Samm Newton studies the relationship between advances in scientific technology and how we interact with and know our environment. Through a historical lens, she delves into asking how we have arrived at the knowledge we possess today. She considers how we might re-direct people’s attention to understand the importance of the ocean using art and interdisciplinary collaboration. Hosted by: Lauri Lutes and Lillian Padgitt-Cobb Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Lorelle Sherman The Sights and Sounds of Purple Martins

Orange Media Network — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Currently the Purple Martin is listed in the state of Oregon as a 'Sensitive-Critical Species' and our guest Lorelle Sherman, a 2nd year Masters student in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, is going to help us understand how humans have possibly altered their natural tree-nesting behavior of the Purple Martin population. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Seyyed Yahya Mousavi How to Not Come Unglued: A Wood Adhesive Story

Orange Media Network — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Yahya Mousavi is a fourth year PhD student in Dr. Kaichang Li’s labin the Department of Wood Science and Engineering in Oregon State University’s College of Forestry. Yahya uses polymer engineering to develop safer, more sustainable wood adhesives for composite wood products like plywood and particle board), namely ones that do not contain the toxic chemical formaldehyde. Through his research, Yahya has achieved these goals using a soy-based adhesive for composite wood products. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Ross Overacker Infection Interruption: Identifying Compounds that Disrupt HIV

Orange Media Network — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Yathartha Tuladhar, a PhD student studying Robotics in the College of Engineering, is focused on improving multi-robot coordination. He is investigating both how to effectively reward robots and how robot-to-robot communication can increase success. In this episode, we talk about machine learning and how multi-robot systems can be implemented in daily life for complicated tasks. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Yathartha Tuladhar Learning Without a Brain

Orange Media Network — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Lzz Johnk Challenging assumptions about wellness and illness through the lens of Mad Studies

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 02:00:00 +0000

As a 2nd year PhD student in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at OSU, Lzz Johnk seeks to answer questions posed by Mad Studies scholars. Their work involves examining the lived experiences and culture surrounding individuals identifying as mentally ill, neurodiverse, mentally disabled, and/or Mad. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Hannah Rolston Can Soil Bacteria Clean Up Our Toxic Messes?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Chemicals used in industrial processes still contaminate groundwater in thousands of sites across the US. Bioremediation uses naturally-occurring microbes to degrade these contaminants. Hannah Rolston, a fifth-year PhD student in Environmental Engineering and our guest tonight, discusses her efforts in using this process to remove a potential carcinogen called 1,4-dioxane. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Katy Nalven The Evolving View of Plastic Pollution

Orange Media Network — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this evening is Katy Nalven, a 2nd year Masters student in the Marine Resources Management program, who is using a community based social marketing approach to ask people not only IF they know about the problem of plastics in oceans, but also seeks to understand HOW people think about this problem and what could be individual hurdles to decreasing plastic usage. Using a survey based approach administered at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Katy plans to examine a few specific communities of interest to identify how the views around plastic usage from Aquarium visitors and local community members may differ and hopefully where they overlap. Listen in to find out why Katy hopscotched around the US living in Arkensas, Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, and finally here at Oregon State University. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Samantha Ross Mobility is Critical to Social and Cognitive Development in Children

Orange Media Network — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Learning to crawl and walk affords children opportunities to explore their world. As such, early childhood mobility is intertwined with other formative childhood milestones, such as motor skill development and learning to negotiate social encounters. Samantha Ross investigates how children with mobility disabilities can be supported to ensure they have equitable access to play, exploration and social encounters. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Marcus Weinman How Do Bone Cancer Cells Become Resistant to Chemotherapy?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Bone cancer is a devastating and difficult-to-treat disease in humans and dogs. As a Master’s student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Marcus Weinman studies how canine bone cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy. By studying the mechanism of resistance, it may become possible to identify new drug targets. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Akash Kannegulla Don’t Just Dream Big, Dream Bigger

Orange Media Network — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 02:00:00 +0000

This week’s guest Akash Kannegulla studies how light interacts with nanostructure metals for applications to advance display technology, as well as biosensing. Akash is a PhD candidate in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program with a focus in Materials and Devices in the Cheng Lab. He also has an award-winning start-up company, Wisedoc, which seeks to take the frustration out of formatting and re-formatting academic publications. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Paige E Mandelare The Mold That Keeps On Giving

Orange Media Network — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 02:00:00 +0000

All around us, plants, fungi, and bacteria are waging chemical warfare against one another to deter grazing or kill competitors. Us humans exploit many of these chemicals, called secondary metabolites, for medicinal use. Our guest this week, Paige Mandelare, shares her research on isolating a new class of secondary metabolites from a marine fungus that show promise in fighting several cancer cell lines. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Erin Abernathy Aquatic Invertebrates: Why You Should Give a Dam.

Orange Media Network — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week, Erin Abernethy PhD candidate from the department of Integrative Biology, is investigating the community structure (the number of species or individuals of each species) of freshwater aquatic invertebrates downstream of dams. These invertebrates have adapted to the native conditions of their river ecosystem, and major disturbances, such as a change in the flow of a river from a dam, can change the community of organisms downstream. If dams decrease the diversity of invertebrates downstream, then they may also decrease the diversity of ecosystem services offered by the invertebrate community. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Connor Yates How Many Robots Does It Take to Screw in a Lightbulb?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Connor Yates is a native Oregonian and a Robotics PhD student in the College of Engineering. He studies artificial intelligence and machine learning by giving robots a task to complete without instructions. Over thousands of iterations and learned group-behavior, robots can learn how to organically solve problems. Who knows, maybe they’ll learn how to put pants on both legs at a time. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Sarah Kelly When Paths Cross: The Intersection of Art, Science and Humanities on the Discovery Trail

Orange Media Network — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Sarah Kelly is a MA candidate in the Environmental Arts and Humanities program in the College of Liberal Arts at OSU. Sarah is working with other researchers to provide a more holistic educational experience for high school students by connecting them with the forest though art, imagination, critical thinking and reflection. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Sophie Wensman How Can Humans Help Oysters Adapt to Stresses from Ocean Acidification?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Sophie Wensman is a 2nd year PhD student examining the effects of ocean acidification on oyster health off the Oregon coast. Oysters are a multi-million dollar industry in Oregon and in 2007 there was a massive die-off in Netarts Bay that left growers scrambling to figure out the cause; Sophie sheds light on her ongoing research sites and ways to potentially keep the industry thriving. She is also an ocean chemist who is able to use naturally occurring Uranium in oceans and correlate that with the Uranium concentration in oyster shells to re-create past ocean conditions. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu

Susan Rowe Are Touch Tanks Touching Lives?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Susan Rowe is a PhD candidate with the Graduate School's interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences program studying free-choice learning - or learning that occurs in informal environments. Specifically, Susan's research seeks to better quantify and understand how interacting with live animal exhibits at zoos and aquariums impacts visitors thoughts on conservation. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Julia Grace Klinges Small Differences Have Big Consequences to Keep the Oceans Happy

Orange Media Network — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 02:00:00 +0000

Grace Klinges just finished a diving expedition off the Coast of Papua New Guinea where a natural CO2 seep acidifies the reef and changes the ecosystem so much that fish avoid the area. Less than 60meters away the ocean chemistry returns to normal conditions and there is an incredible amount of reef diversity shows by colorful corals. Using this relatively small area that mimics future ocean acidification scenarios, Grace is able to examine which organisms are the most robust to the rapidly changing ocean chemistry and hopefully find out how they interact and save our coral ecosystems. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Terrah Owens It’s a Bird Eat Bird World

Orange Media Network — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Terrah Owens from Animal and Rangeland Sciences studies threats to the western US native bird, Greater Sage Grouse. Specifically, Terrah compares Grouse populations in areas that have been burned by wildfire, areas where ravens have been removed, and areas of high fuel load from invasive annual grasses. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Nicole Hams Exploring a Protein’s Turf with TIRF

Orange Media Network — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Nicole Hams just finished her PhD in the College of Science through the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department studying the Otoferlin protein which is required for hearing which have been linked to hereditary deafness, affecting 360 million people globally. We also discussed what it means to be an underrepresented student in the STEM fields and how she was able to overcome those hurdles. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Evan Hilberg GROWing Healthy Kids and Communities

Orange Media Network — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Evan Hilberg from the College of Public Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Kinesiology, is investigating factors that influence physical activity of children in rural communities. Research focused on physical activity in children disproportionally centers around children in urban communities. Children in rural communities may have different limitations to physical activity. For example, rural children are more likely to take the bus to school instead of walking and commutes may take up to two hours each way. This leaves little time for physical activity outside of school hours. With his advisors, John Schuna and Kathy Gunter, Evan is analyzing data collected as part of the Generating Rural Options for Weight- Healthy Kids and Communities (GROW HKC) to better understand when children are active during the school day and factors that might limit their physical activity. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Ryan Lenz Secrets of the Black Cottonwood

Orange Media Network — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Using black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) a native tree to the western US, Ryan is working to reveal the genes responsible for making woody plants susceptible to fungal disease and those that give the fungus the ability to infect trees. The fungus of interest, Sphaerulina musiva, causes leaf spot and stem canker on cottonwood trees, the latter disease being more severe as it girdles the trees and causes the tops to break off. To learn how the tree and fungus interact, Ryan employs advanced molecular techniques like the CRISPR-Cas9 system to edit genes. To put it simply, he tries to find the important information in the plant and fungus by making changes in the genetic code and then seeing if it has a downstream effect. As a model system, the secrets of the black cottonwood would be unveiled, providing a blueprint of valuable information that could be applied to other woody trees. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Andy Hahn Tracing Goethe’s Influence on Botany and Plant Morphology

Orange Media Network — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 02:00:00 +0000

As a History of Science PhD student in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion, Andy Hahn studies how botanists and plant morphologists in the 20th century were influenced by Goethe, a famed German writer and naturalist during the 19th century. Although historians and philosophers have studied Goethe extensively, his influence on subsequent generations of botanists and plant morphologists has not been fully explored. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Bjorn Kristensen Clean Meat, Clean Conscience

Orange Media Network — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Bjorn Kristensenfrom the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion, studies the ethics behind cultured meat or clean meat. While the cost of your next hamburger may not weigh too heavily on your pocket, the quantity resources required to produce one pound of beef may surprise you. One pound of meat is fed by nearly 7 pounds of grain, 53 gallons of water, 70 square acres of land, and 1,000 BTU of energy. Similar scientific advances in muscle tissue culture that have led to lab grown human organs are now being harnessed to grow animal muscle for human consumption. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Dylan Addison Safe Nuclear Power and Its Future in Our Energy Portfolio

Orange Media Network — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 02:00:00 +0000

By 2040, the world will also practically double electricity production from nuclear fission, and for good reason: nuclear power is a reliable source of carbon free energy. In the United States, for instance, about 60% of carbon free electricity is generated by nuclear power. Our guest, Dylan Addison, hopes to qualify the world’s first small modular nuclear reactor design. Dylan recently finished his Master’s Degree in Materials Science from OSU. His focus was high temperature crack propagation in a nickel superalloy that is slated for use in a Generation IV reactor. Dylan transitioned to work with NuScale Power here in Corvallis, where he’ll continue to study the safety of materials exposed to high temperatures and pressures. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Harrison Stierwalt Studying Skeletal Muscle Physiology to Better Understand Diseases Such as Type II Diabetes

Orange Media Network — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Harrison Stierwalt a PhD student in Kinesiology, studies the cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle physiology. Harrison and other members of the Translational Metabolism Research Laboratory, research the cause of skeletal muscle insulin resistance and how exercise acts against insulin resistance. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Ben Lewis Breaking The (Arctic) Ice

Orange Media Network — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week, CEOAS Masters student Ben Lewis investigates how interactions between the atmosphere and sea ice in the Beaufort Sea (north of Alaska in the Canadian Archipelago) impact the formation of fractures. Utilizing satellite imagery compiled by the Geographical Information Network of Alaska from 1993 to 2013, Ben has conducted a qualitative analysis to determine the location and time when these ice fractures occurred and what type of physical characteristics they possess. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Brent Warnake The Grape Depression: Powdery Mildew in Willamette Valley Vineyards

Orange Media Network — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Viticulture is the science, production, and study of grapes, and when growing grapes for wine both quantity and quality matter. One challenge facing farmers in the Willamette Valley is a plant pathogen: grape powdery mildew. This pathogen can live in a field year-round and emerges to infect grape leaves, flowers and fruits annually. Grape plants infected with powdery mildew suffer low berry yields and mildew may affect the taste of wine. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Behrooz Mahasseni To Code or Not to Code: The Way Forward for Machine Learning

Orange Media Network — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Behrooz Mahasseni recently finished his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science where his research focused on how computers interpret video recordings. If you haven’t heard of machine learning, then it’s just a matter of time. These techniques are already involved in highly complex board games, advertising optimization, and especially self-driving cars. It’s difficult to say how impactful machine learning will be to our everyday lives because the applications of this field are still being discovered. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Carolyn Gombert Characterizing Off-Channel Habitats in the Willamette River: Fish Need to Cool Off Too!

Orange Media Network — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:00:00 +0000

As a master’s student in the Water Resources Graduate Program at Oregon State University, Carolyn Gombert is working to understand where cold water habitat is located along the Willamette River. More importantly, she is seeking to understand the riverine and geomorphic processes responsible for creating the fishes’ version of our air conditioned ice cream parlors. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Tyler Schappe Unearthing the Unseen: Identifying Drivers of Fungal Diversity in Panamanian Rainforests

Orange Media Network — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week, Tyler Schappe, studies interactions among plants and fungi in the Neotropical forests of Panama. Tyler is broadly interested in what drives the maintenance and diversity of fungal communities, and how this, in turn, can affect tree communities. Overall, Tyler’s results, along with other research, show that soil fungal communities are an integral component of the plant-soil relationship since they are driven by, and can affect, both. Together, plants, soil, and fungi form a tightly connected three-way relationship, and wanting to understand one of them means having to study all three together. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Josh Petit Attitudes Toward Methods of Restoring American Chestnut Trees

Orange Media Network — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 02:00:00 +0000

The American chestnut was a widespread North American native tree that covered nearly 200,000 miles of Appalachian forest. In 1904, the American chestnut trees in the Bronx Zoo were dying from a then unknown disease, Chestnut Blight. In the next forty years, Chestnut Blight spread across the estimated 4 billion American chestnut trees. Now American Chestnut trees are seen only as giant stumps, juveniles never reaching maturity, and rarely, adult fruit-bearing trees. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Rebecca Maher Project CHOMPIN: Parrotfish, Nutrients, and the Coral Microbiome

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week, Becca Maher a PhD student in the Department of Microbiology, is interested in the effect of environmental stressors on the coral microbiome. Corals are in decline globally and with them are the high diversity of marine species that gain shelter and substrate from the coral reef. The information gained from Becca’s research may be informative for policy makers concerned with agricultural practices near marine areas and fishing regulations. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Juan Muglia Using Sediment Cores to Model Climate Conditions

Orange Media Network — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Juan has developed a climate model using data gathered from sediment cores, which are samples from the ocean floor that provide researchers with a glimpse into the elemental and organic composition of the ocean at different points in time. Scientists can acquire insight into the characteristics of the Earth’s past climate by analyzing the geologic record spanning thousands of years. Modeling the conditions of the last ice age, which occurred 20,000 years ago, allows researchers to better understand how the Earth responds to glacial and interglacial cycles, prompting the transition between cold and warm phases (we are currently in a warm interglacial period). Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Nicolette Canzoneri Seeing Live Animal Exhibits Can Be a Powerful Experience, But Do They Change Our Behaviors?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Working under the advisership of Dr. Shawn Rowe in OSU’s College of Education, Nicolette Canzoneri is passionately pursing a Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences with research centered around the idea of free-choice learning – or, the education that happens outside of a formal school environment. The menagerie of animals that zoos and aquariums have historically been known for has transitioned in recent years to conservation efforts. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Emily McLemore Willed Women: Studying Medieval Literature at OSU

Orange Media Network — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Once at Oregon State, Emily McLemore met with Professor Tara Williams, who recommended that she read the Second Nun’s Tale, one of the lesser-known Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Emily began to consider how women, gender, and sexuality studies might be a lens through which to read this tale. Along with another Canterbury Tale, the Knight’s Tale, she formed an argument around how the women in these texts employ their bodies and their sexuality to confront and subvert patriarchal power structures. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Zoe Alley Do You Trust Others, As Much As They Trust You?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Zoe Alley, a 1st year PhD student, is specifically exploring how the first impression of someone’s face can be a predictor, or possibly a driver, of their future life-outcomes. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Dustin Gannon Heliconia: Plants with Personality

Orange Media Network — Mon, 22 May 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Although hummingbirds universally love nectar, they have diverged into a few distinct functional groups that are characterized by behavior: traplining hummingbirds repeatedly and circuitously visit flowers, often traveling long distances, while territorial hummingbirds are aggressively possessive of flowers in a home range. It turns out that Heliconia tortuosa is picky about which of these groups contributes to its pollination, and preferentially accepts pollen from traplining hummingbirds, specifically those featuring a long, curved bill. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Andrew Popchock Motor Proteins–and People–Can Change Directionality

Orange Media Network — Mon, 15 May 2017 02:00:00 +0000

The motor protein that Andrew studies could be important in helping researchers understand cancer growth. This could have implications for drug treatment therapy, potentially guiding the creation of motor protein-based molecular devices for more controlled drug delivery in cancer treatments. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Richard Deyhler Bone Marrow Transplants Save Lives, But Can it Keep Our Bones Strong?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 08 May 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Richard Deyhle, a Masters student studying Radiation Health Physics, believes we may have found a way to treat these cancers while also increasing our bone strength to previous levels of functionality. This work is in the proof-of-concept phase so it’s still early in the framework of medical application to the public but there is little doubt this can provide miraculous benefits to cancer patients providing them a higher quality of life. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Patrick Bennett Keeping Oregon Forests Green: What Swiss Needle Cast Disease is Teaching Us About Forestry

Orange Media Network — Mon, 01 May 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Unfortunately there is sleeping giant that is gaining momentum, slowly turning Oregon’s forests from green to yellow with an eventual needle fall of the iconic state tree. This color change is from a microscopic fungus that all Douglas-fir trees have around the world, but for some reason it’s only harming the trees along the Oregon coast range. Our guest, a 4th year PhD student Patrick Bennett, is peeling away the layers of complexity to reveal why Oregon’s green forests are dwindling. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Kelsey Kean Elucidating Protein Structure with Crystals

Orange Media Network — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Proteins are the workhorse molecules of the cell, contributing to diverse processes such as eyesight, food breakdown, and disabling of pathogens. PhD candidate Kelsey Kean uses a technique known as protein x-ray crystallography to study the relationship between protein structure and function. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Antonio Gomez Beetle-Seq: Inferring the Phylogeny of Clivinini

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Antonio is also particularly interested in the morphological diversity and evolution of clivinine beetle sperm. Antonio wants to know: What is the evolutionary history of clivinine beetles? What is the pattern of morphological diversity of sperm in clivinine beetles, and how are sperm traits evolving? The objective is to collect beetles, study their form, sequence their DNA, and understand their diversification. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Sarah Alto Curiously Following Zebrafish

Orange Media Network — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week is using young zebrafish to investigate how environmental factors affect their behavior, and whether behavioral changes can be attributed to specific brain activity. The more we know about zebrafish, the more clues we may have into our own neurobiology. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Lauri Lutes Searching for Viruses that Make Plants Sick

Orange Media Network — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 02:00:00 +0000

When plants get sick, they can’t be treated or cured in the same way as people who receive medicine for an illness. Plants require specialized care by scientists who are uniquely equipped to study and treat their diseases. As a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Jay Pscheidt in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Lauri Lutes is a plant doctor looking for viruses that infect sweet cherry trees in Oregon. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Victoria Drexel History Repeated...but More Interesting

Orange Media Network — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 02:00:00 +0000

The art of long form magazine articles, or any writing for that matter, involves much more intricacy than many readers realize. The research process must be done properly to effectively utilize the available sources of information. The result is history retold without the boring textbook dialogue, a change we can all appreciate. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Vesna Stone No Strings Attached

Orange Media Network — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Many are faced with the impossible hurdle of not having enough food to eat. To put it in perspective, 20% of Oregonians are participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, as of 2015.Vesna saw this problem not through scientific journals or reading the newspaper, but through her own eyes and ears. While working at the DHS, she kept hearing the frustration from students trying to get the assistance they desperately need. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Madison Rodman A Very Hungry Caterpillar, a Very Tenacious Scientist

Orange Media Network — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Madison defended her Master’s thesis this winter, through which she studied the risk of a biocontrol agent, the cinnabar moth, on a native plant, Senecio triangularis, or arrow-leaf groundsel. These biocontrol caterpillars, will chomp the European tansy ragwort, an invasive weed, to the ground and look pretty cute doing it, but in some parts of Oregon they have recently switched to feeding on the native arrow-leaf groundsel. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Zolton Bair Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds

Orange Media Network — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 02:00:00 +0000

As one of the few tree species that grow at high elevations, whitebark pine acts as an ecosystem foundation species, making it possible for other plants, fungi, and animals to utilize higher elevation environments. Since the 1900s, white pine blister rust has dramatically reduced populations of whitebark pine and other 5-needle pines of North America. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Joe Donovan An Examination of Pop Culture Icons

Orange Media Network — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Celebrities are the center of modern pop culture in the U.S. and around the world. We look to these people for clues about what to wear, what music to listen to, where to spend our money, and even what to believe. What is it that captivates us about these characters and what is it like to live a life in the spotlight? Joe Donovan, a student in the creative writing program here at Oregon State University, is interested in the inflated influence of pop culture icons on society. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Katherine Dziedzic Corals Need Someone in Their Corner

Orange Media Network — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Corals face global existential threats from ocean warming and acidification, but some of them are able to withstand these stressors while others perish. Katherine Dziedzic, a PhD student in Integrative Biology, dives into their genomes to understand why this is, and how these findings could be put to use for in public policy and conservation efforts. To hear more from Katherine on her research and graduate school experience at OSU, be sure to check out our GradX episode from February 22, 2018. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Vance Almquist Dirt: It’s under all of us!

Orange Media Network — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 02:00:00 +0000

You might take soil for granted, but it feeds our civilization and provides a foundation for our cities. Vance Almquist, a PhD student from Crops and Soil Science, explains how soils develop and how we can read their layers to make sense of flooding cycles and prevent future natural disasters. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Thomas Stokely Horse Farms to Tree Farms: Studying the Relationship Between Land Management and Biodiversity

Orange Media Network — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 02:00:00 +0000

What controls biodiversity in forests used for logging? To answer this question, Thomas Stokely, a PhD student in Forest Ecosystems and Society, has constructed dozens of exclosures in Oregon Coast Range research forests to examine the effects of deer and elk grazing, which has implications for sustainable forest management. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Felipe Campos-Cerda Birds to Bacteria and Kickstarting Research Boundaries

Orange Media Network — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Cells in our microbiome that inhabit our bodies may outnumber our own cells, and they play roles in health and disease. Felipe Campos-Cerda, a PhD student in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Oregon, talks about his research on tropical bird microbiomes, which may affect host health in a way similar to humans. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Aimee Massey Mosquito Soup in The Brazilian Rainforest

Orange Media Network — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Aimee Massey, a PhD student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, discusses her biodiversity research in Brazilian rainforests, where she captures biting flies and studies the DNA they obtain from the organisms they bite to examine patterns of biodiversity across forested and deforested areas. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Matt Slattery A Big Punch at the Smallest Scale

Orange Media Network — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 02:00:00 +0000

We apply pesticides to crops in inefficient ways that are sometimes hazardous to farm workers. Matt Slattery, a PhD student in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, explains his research efforts on using nanoparticles that slowly release pesticides to be more effective on longer-term timescales. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Masoud Ghodrat Abadi Safety is No Accident

Orange Media Network — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 02:00:00 +0000

How do you design a safer city for cyclists? Masoud Ghodrat Abadi investigates the dangers and perceptions cyclists experience on urban roads from the safety of OSU's cycling and driving simulation lab. To hear more from Masoud on his research and unique experiences in graduate school at OSU, be sure to check out our GradX episode from February 22, 2018. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Jenessa Duncombe Heat and Oxygen Exchanges Between the Ocean and Atmosphere

Orange Media Network — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 02:00:00 +0000

The movement of different water masses at the surface of the ocean affects heat and oxygen exchanges between the ocean and atmosphere. Jenessa Duncombe, a Masters student in Physical Oceanography, uses modeling and analytical techniques to better understand how surface ocean circulation is accounted for in global climate change models to improve their accuracy. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Paul Snyder Is There Hope for Amphibians Facing Widespread Diseases?

Orange Media Network — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Amphibian populations have been declining globally since the 1980s. Paul Snyder, a PhD student in Integrative Biology, has found that the number of amphibian species affects the spread of a virus that infects them. This fits into the developing field of ecoimmunology: how host's immune systems change in respond to their environment. Please find us on social media! Twitter: twitter.com/kbvrID facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationDissemination/ Blog: blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/ Radio Station: www.orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm Host University: oregonstate.edu This show was founded in 2012 by Joey Hulbert and Zhian Kamvar. It has been made possible by all the current and former hosts of the show, Orange Media Network, the KBVR-FM students and staff, and of course the amazing graduate students at Oregon State University.

Andres Lazaro Lopez Religion and Spirituality in the Workplace

Orange Media Network — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 02:00:00 +0000