PDXPLORES

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Carmen Rodriguez, a Ph. D. student in the biology department, discusses the Annual Killifish--a remarkable organism with the ability to survive long periods without oxygen or water--and how the unusual biology of this fish could unlock treatments for macular degeneration.  Follow PSU research on Twitter: @psu_research and Instagram: @portlandstateresearch

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Professor Jola Ajibade discusses research examining how cascading social and environmental hazards might impact communities in the Portland metro region and what policymakers and community members can do to mitigate the risks and promote a more just, livable, and sustainable urban future. Follow PSU research on Twitter: @psu_research and Instagram: @portlandstateresea...

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Emily Ford, a professor in the Millar Library at Portland State University, discusses the lived experiences of peer review, a small but landmark part of scholarly communications. Ford argues that proprietary publishing has influenced many of the processes in the scholarly publishing ecosystem, resulting in a need to reapply the values of human inquiry to scholarly com...

Fifty years ago, the City of Portland developed a plan for the downtown corridor with a radical vision of what a central city could be. The downtown we know today is the result of that plan. In this episode of PDXPLORES, Professor Emeritus Ethan Seltzer discusses the 1972 downtown plan and how Portland State evolved into an urban-serving university alongside the downtown corridor.  Follow PSU rese...

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Harold McNaron and August White discuss how a collaboration with the  American Association of Colleges and Universities will provide new information on how students experience community-based learning at PSU.  The data provided by the project will support the University's efforts to improve racial and social justice through community and service-based learning op...

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Senior Fellow of PSU's Center for Public Service, Stephanie Frank Singer, discusses a community-based civics education program that addresses the need for citizens from diverse identity groups to participate in election monitoring, an activity that holds the electoral process accountable, ensures the integrity of the electoral system and builds public trust in de...

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Professor Elise Granek discusses the coastal zone- transition zones between land, sea, and atmosphere. These ecosystems provide vital ecological, cultural, and commercial benefits. Around the world, they are home to a vast number of species, support critical industries, and sustain the cultural heritage of the people who have called them home. As with all ecosystems,...

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Jordan Hallmark (MA, History, '22) discusses the cultural construction of racial identity in late-18th century Saint-Domingue (Haiti). Inspired in part by a historiographic shift known as the “Global Turn,” the last two decades have given rise to a wealth of new studies on the history of Haiti. While these studies have varied in their chronological scope, the col...

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Garrett Palmer (History, '22) discusses the 1934 Portland Waterfront Strike. The strike has largely been portrayed as "static", where striking workers clashed with the establishment at the hiring halls and the docks of Portland. While that is correct, it is a bit simplistic; we can glean more from the event by considering how urban space, the relationsh...

Lone Fir Cemetery, located in inner Southeast Portland, Oregon, was established in 1855 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Block 14 within the cemetery was a segregated section reserved for Chinese immigrants in the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In this episode of PDXPLORES, Charlie Huxley (History, '22) discusses how their research illustrates how com...

During the pandemic, many of the region's frontline workers were, and continue to be, members of immigrant communities. Assistant Professor Pronoy Rai has partnered with members of these communities and community-serving non-profit organizations to gain a better understanding of the immigrant experience of the pandemic and pandemic recovery. A human geographer, Professor Rai's research a...

Single-photon camera sensors have the potential to revolutionize digital camera technology.  These sensors can capture individual photons at high speeds, circumventing some of the limitations of current digital camera technologies. One challenge, however, is the sheer amount of data generated by the sensor, which is a hindrance to their widespread adoption. With the support of the National Science...

Involving BIPOC experiences and perspectives in multi-stakeholder processes is like making Jazz. In this episode, Associate Professor Marisa Zapata, director of the Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative at PSU discusses how convening a process is like composing jazz music in which stakeholders listen closely to one another and add individual contributions that enhance the whole. Follow...

What are the factors that influence commercial real estate pricing? Assistant Professor of Finance and Real Estate, Julia Freybote’s research considers various factors including emerging data streams, investor behaviors, and risk factors such as climate change to investigate asset pricing in the commercial real estate market. Follow PSU research on Twitter: @psu_research and Instagram: @portlandst...

Green roofs provide a variety of benefits including increasing stormwater retention, lowering cooling costs and mitigating the urban heat island effect. However, the ecosystem services provided by green roofs vary by vegetation choice and environmental conditions. Assistant Professor Samantha Hartzell is an ecohydrologist whose research focuses on developing technologies to improve green roof desi...

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. So, too, are wildfire smoke events. Smoke from wildfires poses serious health risks. That is why the Environmental Protection Agency recommends individuals remain indoors during smoke events. Associate Professor, Elliott Gall studies indoor air quality in order to better understand how to improve building designs to promote health. In this episo...

Professor Kris Henning's research focuses on helping criminal justice agencies improve decision-making through data analysis and the implementation of evidence-based practices. In this episode of PDXPLORES, Henning discusses efforts to help law enforcement agencies improve the systems and practices used to report crimes via online portals.  Follow PSU research on Twitter: @psu_research and In...

Jungmin Kwon is an associate professor of film and digital culture. Kwon studies film and digital media through a lens of queer and feminist perspectives, focusing on how non-normative identities challenge and disrupt existing hierarchies in Korean culture. Follow PSU research on Twitter: @psu_research and Instagram: @portlandstateresearch

Ericka Kimball is an associate professor at the School of Social Work at Portland State University. Kimball's research focuses on domestic violence and healthcare domains to understand and develop alternatives to current practices.  This work is informed by a "wicked problems" framework that addresses the complexity of interactions between systems at the intersection of domestic vio...

Professor Eva Thanheiser's research lies at the intersections of mathematics education, social justice, and critical theory. In her work, she collaborates with teachers, students, parents, and community members to develop and implement anti-bias mathematics education that allows students to connect mathematics to their worlds. In this episode of PDXPLORES, Thanheiser discusses this work and i...