The Vandal Theory

Alistair Smith (go.uidaho.edu/4mbiISI) is a professor and department chair in University of Idaho’s Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/419qiFi). He’s working with power companies across the globe to identify which types of vegetation are most likely to ignite — and what can be done to stop wildfires before they start. At U of I’s combustion lab, his team tests how vegetation b...

Feng Li (go.uidaho.edu/3UdtdZK) is the Micron Endowed Professor of Microelectronics at University of Idaho and director of the Next Generation Microelectronics Research Center (go.uidaho.edu/44MLoKG). He’s helping shape the future of semiconductors — not just through research, but by training the next generation of skilled workers Idaho’s tech industry needs. Li studies high-temperature devices th...

Dev Shrestha (go.uidaho.edu/3Gnw3s3) is a University of Idaho engineering (go.uidaho.edu/44k6BNk) professor exploring the future of farming, starting with the soil beneath our feet. He’s developing affordable soil sensors and studying the power of biochar to help farmers conserve moisture, increase yields and build a more resilient, sustainable future for Idaho agriculture. In this episode, he sha...

Kendra Kaiser (go.uidaho.edu/3GtiU0n) is the director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (go.uidaho.edu/3I8jscN). In the first episode of a special summer season of “The Vandal Theory,” she shares how the institute is identifying and filling critical water research gaps across Idaho. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Ida...

Question: When you were growing up, did your parents ever let you do anything without their supervision that many parents today would be alarmed by? David Pimentel (go.uidaho.edu/448DQDo) is a professor in University of Idaho’s College of Law (go.uidaho.edu/3E4HZh8). His work explores the intersections of law, history and culture, and in the final episode of this season of “The Vandal Theory,” he...

Question: What is your favorite African animal? Meet Ryan Long (go.uidaho.edu/4l9hrvI), an associate professor of wildlife sciences in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/44dwZIK) at University of Idaho. In Disney’s “The Lion King,” all the regional animals show up to honor Simba’s birth. Now that’s obviously fictitious, but lots of large animals do live alongside each othe...

Question: What drives people to the polls? Markie McBrayer (go.uidaho.edu/43rzyqw) is an assistant professor of political science in the Department of Politics and Philosophy (go.uidaho.edu/423Gc3F) at University of Idaho. Her research focuses on American politics and policy with a focus on political institutions, representation and social inequality. Today she’s discussing takeaways from the rece...

Question: Do you use ChatGPT or another AI program? Meet Barrie Robison (go.uidaho.edu/3E34kvn), a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4kwcihb) and director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/43TLX6C) at University of Idaho. Artificial intelligence seems to be infiltrating all aspects of our lives. Robison will discuss the ways U of I...

Question: Have you ever had a problem you just lived with because you assumed it couldn’t be fixed? John Crepeau (go.uidaho.edu/41ufl0H) is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (go.uidaho.edu/4iSt4oS) at University of Idaho who has had a hand in making all sorts of things, from a nuclear-powered Mars hopper to reimagined medical equipment. In this episode, he talks about his exp...

Question: Have you ever butchered animals, such as while hunting or at a farm or ranch? Meet Phil Bass (go.uidaho.edu/3XubJdD), associate professor of meat science in the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4kpnzjc) at University of Idaho. Whether as hamburger, filet mignon, ribeye or T-bone, beef is a staple on many American dinner tables. Listen as Bass discusses th...

Question: Have you ever gone hiking and got a tick? Janet Rachlow (https://go.uidaho.edu/43lwo7B) is a professor of wildlife ecology in the College of Natural Resources (https://go.uidaho.edu/3QOqHr7) at University of Idaho. She has studied mammals both large and small, and in this episode, she discusses two on opposite ends of the size spectrum. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. E...

Question: Growing up, did you ever ride horses? Meet Rebecca Scofield (go.uidaho.edu/414paCk), chair of the University of Idaho’s Department of History (go.uidaho.edu/418fGpC) specializing in American history. Bicycles, horses, mechanical bulls and dragons — Scofield brings new insights to the visuals of women riding astride beasts and machines throughout history and how that informs our current e...

Question: Can you tell us about your first huckleberry hunt? Steve Cook (go.uidaho.edu/3O6hc5u) is the head of the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology (go.uidaho.edu/3UKfCKj) at University of Idaho. He researches huckleberries and today he’s going to discuss why they’re so hard to domesticate and what he and his team are doing to solve that problem. If we’re lucky, he might gi...

Question: How far ahead do you plan into the future? Meet Andrew Kliskey (go.uidaho.edu/3NZPbMT), U of I’s President’s Professor of Community and Landscape Resilience and director of the Center for Resilient Communities (go.uidaho.edu/4fiXxLq). He’s going to chat with us about how he and his research team are working with communities to meet their energy and water needs for the future. Visit our w...

Question: Is there someone in your life, past or present, who you associate with their clothes — like if they changed their outfit you would be confused about who they were? Sonya Meyer (go.uidaho.edu/3YMfyfp) is a professor in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/48uxHS4) and curator of U of I’s Leila Old Historic Costume Collection (go.uidaho.edu/4f8fUma), w...

Question: As a mother, how stressful is it making sure your baby has a healthy diet?  Meet Bethaney Fehrenkamp (go.uidaho.edu/48fYIZv), a reproductive immunologist and a clinical assistant professor of immunology with Idaho WWAMI (go.uidaho.edu/3BXhLvx), the state’s medical school. Fehrenkamp is passionate about understanding the complex interactions between maternal and infant health, which she w...

Question: You probably know some of the stereotypes about people who live in trailer parks. Do you think those stereotypes live up to the reality? Leontina Hormel (go.uidaho.edu/4eMfylf) is a professor of sociology in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice (go.uidaho.edu/3A1ZhcJ) at University of Idaho. She researches environmental sociology, gender and class inequalities, and community ac...

Question: Have you ever counted the rings of a tree? Meet Grant Harley (go.uidaho.edu/4dKshU0), an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4dLMUPV) at University of Idaho who has dedicated his lab to answering questions using tree rings. He is joining us to discuss climate change, crime fighting, volcanic eruptions and lost forests. Visit our website go.u...

Question: What do you think are some of the reasons why an author would prefer to use a pen name over their real one? Zachary Turpin (go.uidaho.edu/4gQLFSk) is an associate professor in the Department of English (go.uidaho.edu/3XTA9wL) at University of Idaho who researches 19th-century periodical culture, archival research methods, digital humanities and textual recovery. He has worked to uncover...

Question: Have you ever tried baking or brewing with yeast? Meet Paul Rowley (go.uidaho.edu/3zxrdVG), an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/47KBAlq) at University of Idaho. Yeast are the basis of our breads and brews, but Rowley looks deeper into the secret lives of yeasts and how they interact with viruses and other fungi. Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/t...

Season 8 of “The Vandal Theory” will feature stories about the surprising and fascinating properties of yeast, uncovering lost works of literature, huckleberries and why it’s so hard to domesticate them, and using tree rings to solve crimes and find fake works of art. All that and more is coming your way starting Monday, Sept. 30. See you then! Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Ema...

Question: What is the construction industry doing, or what might it do in the future, to make buildings more climate friendly? Mike Maughan (go.uidaho.edu/3JxTiNT) is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (go.uidaho.edu/3UvMKpc) at University of Idaho. His research focuses on materials development, advanced manufacturing, design and the intersection among them. Today h...

Question: Did you ever nerd out about geology as a kid? Meet Erika Rader (go.uidaho.edu/3Q4YVqz), an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/448B2Ej) at University of Idaho. We’re going to discuss how scientists are studying the geology of Mars, how astronauts will need to navigate when they get to the moon and even how to go on a geology field trip onlin...

Episode 7.6: Education Inequalities and Student Mental Health Question: What types of things do you imagine are harder for first-generation students to navigate while attending college, versus their peers whose parents also attended? Meet Krista Soria (go.uidaho.edu/4aMFjzn), an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership and Counseling (go.uidaho.edu/3J9QIxh) at University of Idaho. Her r...

Question: Can you name types of diversity that could influence a team’s working dynamic? Meet Yun Chung (go.uidaho.edu/3vEnbc5), professor of management and human resources (go.uidaho.edu/4cM2pI4) at University of Idaho. Chung is going to walk us through several studies about diversity in the workplace including how diversity on a company board affects the company’s success and some nuances behind...