The Academic Minute

Immortality has been a quest of humanity for a long time; are we getting closer? Patrick van Esch, associate professor of marketing at Coastal Carolina University, determines one way we might be cracking the code. Dr. Patrick van Esch is an accomplished academic, researcher, and thought leader specializing in digital marketing, consumer behavior, and the […] This is a public episode. If you...

Are you having a midlife crisis? Matthew Redmond, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Lille, explores how humans have dealt with this throughout history. Matthew Redmond is a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Lille. His research explores how the existential condition of being shapes literary form. He has published in […] This is a public episode. If you wo...

Fire can prepare soil for new growth, but also leave beyond trauma for those afflicted. Grace Moore, associate professor of English at the University of Otago, considers the literary context. Grace Moore is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Otago. Her research spans Victorian studies, Australian studies, and the Environmental Humanities.  Grace […] This is a public episo...

Learning doesn’t stop once you’re in the workplace. Jo Mackiewicz, professor of rhetoric and professional communication at Iowa State University, explains why. Jo Mackiewicz is a professor of rhetoric and professional communication at Iowa State University. She studies the communication of pedagogical and workplace interactions. She’s written several books and numerous articles, published in Techn...

Can artificial intelligence help us as we age? John Beverley, Co-Director of the National Center for Ontological Research and assistant professor at the University at Buffalo, examines. Dr. Beverley’s work is at the intersection of ontology engineering, formal logic, and ethics. Alongside his affiliations, Dr. Beverley is the co-lead developer for the Basic Formal Ontology […] This is...

Much of a teacher’s work happens after class ends. Samantha Keppler, NBD Bancorp assistant professor of technology and operations at the University of Michigan, examines if AI can help. Samantha Keppler is the NBD Bancorp Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Her expertise is in education operations, […] This is a p...

Godzilla is exciting on the big screen, but what’s the real meaning of the character? Amanda Kennell, assistant professor of East Asian languages and cultures at the University of Notre Dame, looks into the backstory. Amanda Kennell, Ph. D. researches Japanese media to help us understand the modern media environment, including in particular new technologies and […] This is a public episode....

Do product reviews matter? Ann Kronrod, associate professor of marketing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, reads up to find out. Ann Kronrod is an Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She earned her Ph. D. in Marketing and Cognitive Science of Language from Tel Aviv University, and later completed her education […] This is a public epi...

Chaos theory has changed how we think about certain ideas in physics. Erik Van Aken, instructor of philosophy and religious studies at Rocky Mountain College, explains why. Erik Van Aken is Instructor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Rocky Mountain College. His research focuses on the metaphysics of causality, scientific methodology, and debates on objectivity. Chaos […] This is a publ...

On University of Rochester Week: Fantasy football is more than just fun for people with money on the line, but can your brain keep you from winning? Renee Miller, professor of brain and cognitive sciences and director of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, delves into cognitive biases. Renee Miller directs the undergraduate Neuroscience program at the […] This is a public episode. If you...

On University of Rochester Week: Can computers take over and put an end to animal testing? James McGrath, William R. Kenan, Jr. professor of biomedical engineering, examines this question Since 2001, James McGrath has been on the Biomedical Engineering faculty at the University of Rochester and served the department for over 10 years as the […] This is a public episode. If you would like to...

On University of Rochester Week: Human intelligence and artificial intelligence learn differently, but can that change? Chris Kanan, associate professor of computer science at the Hajim School of Engineering and Computer Science, looks at the possibilities. Christopher Kanan’s main research focus is deep learning, with an emphasis on lifelong (continual) machine learning, bias-robust artificial in...

On University of Rochester Week: We’re still making new discoveries about how life formed on our planet. John Tarduno, the William R. Kenan, Jr. professor of geophysics in the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, details a new finding. John Tarduno’s research centers on the origin of the geodynamo, its history and relationship with habitability. […] This is a public episode....

On University of Rochester Week: Is democracy under threat in today’s political climate? James Druckman, the Martin Brewer Anderson professor of political science, explores this. James Druckman is a professor of political science at the University of Rochester and has published approximately 200 articles and book chapters in political science, communication, economics, science, and psychology [&#8...

Can an oppressed people who gain independence, end up becoming the oppressor of others? Hafsa Kanjwal, associate professor of South Asian History at Lafayette College, examines this in a hotly contested area of the world. Hafsa Kanjwal is an associate professor of South Asian History at Lafayette College. As a historian of modern Kashmir, she […] This is a public episode. If you would like t...

A danger is lurking under the permafrost in the Arctic. Magdalene Isabel Smith, PhD student in Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California Dornsife, examines what lies beneath. Magdalene Isabel Smith is a PhD student in Earth Sciences. She is interested in geochemistry and hydrology and is currently studying permafrost in Alaska, looking specifically […] This is a public episode....

Not everyone gets along with their family members, and literature is no exception. Jeanette Tran, associate professor of English at Drake University, explores one play that may give some answers. Jeanette Tran is a scholar of early modern English Literature. She has published on major early modern dramatists—Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Fletcher—and more recently on the […] This is a public epi...

Stores and restaurants are targeting children with ads for unhealthy foods. Leia Minaker, associate professor in the school of planning at the University of Waterloo, says know what to look for when shopping with your children. Dr. Leia Minaker is an Associate Professor in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo, Canada.  Her […] This is a public episode. If you would like to di...

Motherhood was a big topic in the news this year. Anya Jabour, Regent’s professor of history at the University of Montana in Missoula, examines this. Anya Jabour is Regents Professor of History at the University of Montana, where she teaches US women’s history, the history of American families and children, and the history of gender […] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...

What is behind the disappearance of the Whip-poor-wills? Jared Del Rosso, associate professor and chair of sociology and criminology at the University of Denver, examines this loss and the meanings behind it. Jared Del Rosso is a cultural sociologist in the Department of Sociology & Criminology at the University of Denver. He is currently writing […] This is a public episode. If you woul...

On this Uncommon Courses segment: Critical thinking can be taught in many ways. Sally Harris, teaching professor of English at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, leans into storytelling to make the pitch. Sally C. Harris is a Teaching Professor in the English Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Harris teaches workplace writing, technical […] This is a public episod...

Are we closer to answering some of the Big Questions in life? Gunnar Babcock, lecturer in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, explores this through science. Gunnar Babcock (he/him) received a PhD in philosophy from the University at Albany, SUNY and he has taught courses in applied ethics, philosophy of biology, […] This is a public episode. If you would like...

Plastics can stay around for ages after being discarded. Han Xiao, director of SynthX Center and associate professor within the department of chemistry at Rice University, discusses a possible solution. Han Xiao serves as the Director of the SynthX Center and holds the position of Associate Professor within the Department of Chemistry, Biosciences, and Bioengineering […] This is a public epi...

The U.S. Supreme Court’s writing style has become more conversational recently, but does it matter? Jill Barton, professor and director of legal writing at the University of Miami School of Law, explores the changes. Jill Barton is the author of three books on legal writing. Her latest, The Supreme Guide to Writing (Oxford University Press […] This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

Deepfakes are seemingly getting better by the day, so how do we detect what is real and what is fake? Yu Chen, electrical and computer engineering professor at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science at Binghamton University, takes a look. Yu Chen is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at […] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this w...