Month: July 2014
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Peter Jaskiewicz, Concordia University – Family Businesses
Tightly held companies and corporations are often controlled by a small group of family members. As such, when it is time for a change in leadership (due to a retirement, for example), many times the role is filled via an internal promotion. Peter Jaskiewicz, an associate professor at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business,…
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Veronica Davidov featured on The Best of Our Knowledge
As always, host Bob Barrett selects an Academic Minute to air during The Best of Our Knowledge. Each week this program examines some of the issues unique to college campuses, looks at the latest research, and invites commentary from experts and administrators from all levels of education. For this week‘s edition, Bob has selected Veronica…
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Jason Moser, MSU – The Psychology of Optimism
Some people are inherently pessimistic. Others tend to focus on the positive and maintain a sunny optimism. Jason Moser, a Michigan State University psychologist, is digging into the science of this aspect of human nature. Jason Moser is an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University where he runs the Clinical Psychophysiology Lab. He…
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Liz Cirulli, Duke Medicine – Contagious Yawns
Yawns are something of a physiological mystery. Elizabeth Cirulli, an assistant professor of medicine at Duke University, is attempting to unravel the confusion surrounding yawns. Liz Cirulli is an assistant professor at Duke University’s Center for Human Genome Variation. She earned her doctorate in 2010, graduating from Duke University’s Program in Genetics and Genomics. Liz…
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Sam Maglio, University of Toronto Scarborough – The Effect of Names
Names, specifically how names sound, have great influence over their perception. Sam Maglio, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Toronto Scarborough, is studying this concept to better understand how/why we perceive things as we do. Sam Maglio is an Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Department of Management at the University of Toronto…
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Carlos Varela, RPI – Improved Auto-Pilot Technology
“We have computers that can beat the best human Jeopardy! players, and yet we rely on these relatively weak autopilot systems to safeguard hundreds of people on each flight. Why don’t we add more intelligence to autopilot systems?” Carlos Varela, an associate professor of computer science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute, asked this question in a…
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Welcome to WRUC and WGSU
The Academic Minute is pleased to welcome two new stations into the family: WGSU 89.3 – The Voice of the Valley WGSU broadcasts from Geneseo, New York from the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo. WRUC 89.7 – The First Station in the Nation WRUC is headquartered in Schenectady, New York…
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Keith Robinson, UT Austin – Parental Involvement in Early Education
Eager parents looking to lend a helping hand in their children’s education might take a hard look at their methodologies. Keith Robinson, an assistant professor of sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, set out to examine the educational benefits that occur when parents directly assist their children in the learning process. Keith Robinson…
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Paul Selden, University of Kansas – Studying Spider Fossils
Many people are scared of spiders. But, Paul Selden, professor of invertebrate paleontology at the University of Kansas, has a different opinion of our multi-legged arachnid friends. Through a survey of spider fossils, Dr. Selden is helping piece together ancient ecosystems to better understand the world at present. Paul Selden is a Distinguished Professor in…
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Brian Wansink, Cornell University – Early Athleticism
Playing a high school sport is a great start to a long, healthy life. Brian Wansink, professor of marketing at Cornell University, conducted an experiment surveying the health and general wellness of over 700 veterans of World War II. Brian Wansink is the John Dyson Professor of Consumer Behavior at Cornell University, where he directs…