Science by the Slice

COVID-19 caused substantial interruptions to the U.S. food system, impacting both supply and demand. In this episode, agricultural economists Dr. Hikaru Peterson and Dr. Christa Court will discuss the current research they are conducting on COVID-19 and the impacts the pandemic has had on the U.S. food system. They will discuss the impacts on supply and demand, and how their research will prepare...

How did consumers’ behaviors change during COVID-19? Why did consumers experience empty shelves during COVID-19? COVID-19 has affected consumers and farmers alike. In this episode, we will hear from agricultural communication graduate student, Michaela Kandzer, as she discusses her research on Americans’ food purchasing habits during COVID-19. We’ll also hear from Sarah Carte from Dasher Farms, as...

Given that the 2018 Farm Bill authorized the production of hemp and removed hemp and hemp seeds from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) schedule of Controlled Substances, it’s likely Americans will see more products developed from the plant. Dr. Shelli Rampold discusses recent research she conducted on Floridians’ opinions of hemp and hemp products, which she explains is largely neutral r...

The use of hemp products is growing in America, and it may seem that there are more questions than clear answers about the plant and its properties. Dr. Zachary Brym navigates many of these questions as he conducts research in the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project. As an agroecologist, Dr. Brym researches the production of hemp, as well as its environmental impacts on the farm, in the surround...

Where do you get your information about COVID-19? Do you feel prepared? How concerned are you? What do you think about social distancing practices? Social scientists Dr. Lauri Baker and Dr. Shelli Rampold discuss how they have been tracking public opinion throughout the pandemic and answer these questions based on what US citizens are reporting. Are you an educator? The Science by the Slice podcas...

Why did the SARS-CoV-2 have all the right stuff to cause a global pandemic? Dr. Glenn Morris gives insight into this by providing background information on coronaviruses and describes times where other coronaviruses did not spread like the virus responsible for COVID-19. Dr. Morris also discusses COVID-19 impacts on agriculture and the outlook for the vaccine, as of the recorded date of December 1...

The scientific community sometimes operates in closed parameters without sharing new findings for fear of lost revenues or notoriety. Find out how the actions of one scientist, Dr. Ilaria Capua, paved the way for better transparency in science and created lasting impacts that may have even helped speed up vaccine development for COVID-19. In addition, Dr. Capua discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic...

Science by the Slice is a podcast from the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) that explores the science behind issues affecting our daily lives, encompassing public health, agriculture, and natural resources. Experts discuss the science of complex challenges in our society, then, through analysis and storytelling, piece together the motivations that reveal the way people think...