Kansas State University

Something to Chew On

Science EN ↓ 60 episodes

Our lives are frequently and significantly affected by food. Because we must eat to survive, many human cultures have developed with food at their very core. Through prosperous times and depression what we eat has influenced art, music, science, relationships, and more. In this fast-paced world, we often don't take the time to consider how food gets to our plates, the importance of what and how that food is produced and the aesthetics of food requirements and food enjoyment. Often, seemingly obscure or unrelated aspects of life circle their way back to food. The goal of this podcast is to expl...

Author

Kansas State University

Episodes

Improving Family Nutrition at Home and Abroad with Dr. Sandy Procter – Maternal and Child Nutrition 12.07.2019 1:11:46

Dr. Sandy Procter is an assistant professor and extension specialist focusing on maternal and child nutrition in the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health at Kansas State University. A registered dietitian and former coordinator of the Kansas SNAP-ED nutrition education program, she possesses a wealth of knowledge surrounding human nutrition that spans from pre-pregnancy all the way...

Cover Crops and Agricultural Fertilizers: The complexities of crop nutrient management with Dr. Nathan Nelson – Soil Fertility 25.06.2019 1:14:04

Dr. Nathan Nelson is a Professor of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management at Kansas State University. A native of Manhattan and an avid outdoorsman, he possesses a strong interest in developing agricultural systems that not only maximize productivity but protect environmental quality as well. Our discussion in this episode covers how and why farmers make the fertilizer decisions that they do and...

Making a Tastier Tomato with Dr. Harry Klee - Plant Breeding and Molecular Biology 11.06.2019 1:01:14

Dr. Harry Klee is a Professor in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida working to understand the chemical and genetic make-up of "flavor" in fruits and vegetables. After starting his career at Monsanto, in 1995 he accepted an endowed chair position tasked with developing better tomato varieties through traditional breeding techniques. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation covering pla...

Research in the Developing World with Dr. Jessie Vipham - Food Safety 27.05.2019 1:10:08

Dr. Jessie Vipham is a K-State alumna and food microbiologist currently serving as the faculty hire in global food systems and nutrition for the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification (SIIL). This was a fantastic, wide-ranging conversation that started with Jessie's graduate studies using direct-fed microbials in cattle systems and then moved...

Insect Innovations: Solutions for Africa and the World with Dr. Segenet Kelemu – Insect Physiology & Ecology 09.05.2019 45:34

Our guest today is Dr. Segenet Kelemu. A native of Ethiopia and alumna of K-State, Dr. Kelemu is, by training, a molecular plant pathologist. Following a postdoc at Cornell University, she worked fifteen years as a senior scientist with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) where she eventually became the leader of Crop and Agroecosystem Health Management. In 2007 she decided to...

Working on Water with Dr. Melanie Derby - Engineering 24.04.2019 47:53

Dr. Melanie Derby currently holds the Hal and Mary Siegele Professorship in Engineering where her research focuses mainly on thermal-fluids problems. She is part of the newly founded KSU R3 NRT team that is looking to leverage interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle some of the greatest challenges at the Food, Energy, and Water Nexus. In today's interview we cover engineering approaches to impro...

Tales of a Food Explorer with Dan Stone 08.04.2019 43:50

Dan Stone is a Washington D.C.-based writer with a passion for covering all topics related to environmental science, agriculture, and botany. Formerly a White House correspondent for Newsweek and editor of National Geographic, his work has also been featured in The Daily Beast, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Vice, and Literary Hub. Additionally, Dan serves as an adjunct faculty member at John...

Food Security and GMO Labeling with Dr. Jon Herington - Philosophy 07.03.2019 1:05:18

Dr. Jon Herington is a political philosopher of applied ethics focusing mainly on the concept of risk within the fields of science, health, and technology. In today's discussion we cover the definition of security and what it means to be food secure as well as why simply labeling food as containing genetically engineered ingredients may not actually be in the best interest of individual consumers....

Global Food Security and Crop Diseases with Dr. Marty Draper - Plant Pathology 15.01.2019 58:46

Plant pathology is the study of diseases in plants and importantly in those plants grown to feed the world. Dr. Martin Draper shares his thoughts on how these diseases affect food sustainability historically, now and in the future. For more information on the important work carried out in the area of plant pathology you can read more at: https://www.npdn.org/ . Or read more about Dr. Draper...

Introducing our Hosts and What Global Food Systems Are All About 15.01.2019 14:20

Welcome to 'Something to Chew On.' Here is a brief discussion between co-hosts Jay and Scott and Global Food Systems Coordinator Maureen to discuss the ideas behind and hopes for this podcast. Maureen Olewnik is coordinating the Global Food Systems Initiative at Kansas State University. She received her Ph. D. in Cereal Chemistry from K-State in 2003 while working for AIB International. Her wor...