Jason Moser, MSU – The Psychology of Optimism
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Fred Jourdan, Curtin University – Mass Extinctions
Looking back through geologic time is possible when you know what to look for. Fred Jourdan, associate professor of applied geology at Curtin University in Australia, is studying mass extinction through the lens of ancient volcanic eruptions. Dr. Fred Jourdan…
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Daniel Müllensiefen 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…