Month: October 2014
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Megan Ferry, Union College – Foreign Language Learning
We’ve previously examined how the multilingual nature of today’s classroom is shaping language learning. In today’s Academic Minute, Dr. Megan Ferry, associate professor of Chinese at Union College, examines the scope of learning a foreign language today. Dr. Megan M. Ferry is an Associate Professor of Chinese and Asian Studies at Union College in Schenectady,…
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Tamara Bogdanovic, Georgia Tech – Tidal Disruption
We’re learning more and more about black holes every day. Tamara Bogdanovic, a professor of physics at Georgia Tech, are using advanced supercomputers to make predictions about the behavior of black holes. Dr. Tamara Bogdanovic is an Assistant Professor at the Georgia Tech School of Physics and a member of the Center for Relativistic Astrophysics.…
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Doug Smith, UC San Diego – Molecular Motors
In today’s Academic Minute, a physicist at The University of California San Diego discusses the role of his field in the study of genetics and DNA. Doug Smith, an associate professor of physics in UC San Diego’s Department of Physics, discusses the operational mechanics of DNA molecules. Dr. Doug Smith is a physicist who studies…
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Anna Leahy, Chapman University – Scientific Poetry
Poetry and science are areas of academia you’d assume have little to no overlap. But, Anna Leahy, an English professor at Chapman University, thinks otherwise. Anna Leahy‘s poetry collection Constituents of Matter won the Wick Poetry Prize and was published by Kent State University Press in 2007. Her chapbook Turns about a Point is available…
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Neal Hall, UT Austin – Fly Inspired Hearing
The way flies perceive sound is helping engineers improve on microphone technology. Dr. Neal Hall, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, discusses the buzz surrounding his latest word. Dr. Neal A. Hall received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Cockrell School…
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Edward LeBrun 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 (#1256), Bob has selected…
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Paul Smethurst, University of Hong Kong – Cultural History of the Bicycle
The bicycle is so much more than two tires, brakes & handlebars. Dr. Paul Smethurst, an English professor at the University of Hong Kong, profiles the bicycle and the cultural significance embedded within. Dr. Paul Smethurst is associate professor in the School of English at the University of Hong Kong, where he teaches travel writing,…
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Valorie Titus, APU – Eastern Tiger Salamander
In short, the eastern tiger salamander is in danger. However, Dr. Valorie Titus, a professor of environmental science at American Public University, is studying these little amphibians and working to conserve their species. Dr. Valorie Titus currently teaches wildlife, conservation, and ecology courses in the Environmental Science program within the American Public University School of…
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Michele Coscia, Harvard University – The Importance of Memetics
Before there was KnowYourMeme.com – the definitive encyclopedia of internet tropes, the concept of memes needed to be defined. Michele Coscia, a post-doc at Harvard University, discusses the importance of understanding memetics. Dr. Michele Coscia is a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for International Development, Harvard University in Cambridge. He mainly works on mining complex…
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Diane Beauchemin, Queen’s University – Hair Sample Forensic Advances
Criminals better start wearing hairnets! Dr. Diane Beauchemin, a chemist at Queen’s University in Canada, is furthering forensic hair identification techniques. Diane Beauchemin studied at l’Université de Montréal where she obtained a B.Sc. in 1980, followed by a Ph.D. in 1984 under the supervision of Joseph Hubert. She then became a Research Associate in the…