Y Life Science

Dr. Rick Jellen and student researcher, Ryan Brady, talk about their genetic research with oats and quinoa. Dr. Jellen's research was recently featured on the cover of "Nature" and is linked below. They also discuss Bishop Gérald Caussé's talk in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints October 2022 general conference about Earth's stewardship.

• The mosaic oat genome gives insights into a uniquely healthy cereal crop (Nature)
• Major breakthrough by BYU ‘orphaned crops lab’ published in ‘Nature’ (Deseret News)
• BYU researchers breed hybrid quinoa to combat global food insecurity (Deseret News)
• Our Earthly Stewardship

This episode was recording on October 4, 2022.
 

Austin and Katy talk with Bill Rudy and Patrick Smith-LaBombard about the BYU recycling program. Learn what product BYU accepts for recycling and where it goes after you put it in the bin. If you are interested working with Bill as part of the BYU recycling team, email [email protected].

This episode was recorded on September 30, 2022.

Dr. Tom Smith from the Plant and Wildlife Sciences department at BYU talks about his research with bears. He also gives advice about how to avoid bear interactions and what to do if you are ever faced with a bear in the wild. 

This episode was recorded on September 22, 2022.

BYU students, Olivia Burns, Chad Hyer, and Elias Johnson talk with host, Austen Lambert about the new Y talk initiative and how anyone and everyone can participate. To learn more go to sustainability.byu.edu or visit this link to track and submit your conversations. 

This episode was recorded on November 2, 2022

Dr. Steven Peck and Dr. Michael Whiting talk about the history of teaching evolution at Brigham Young University.

This episode was recorded on October 12, 2022.

Dr. Matt Arrington ([email protected]) and undergraduate student, Nathan Grooms, talk to us about urban agriculture and the benefits of using a hydroponic system.

You can read more about their research here:
https://lifesciences.byu.edu/moving-agriculture-upward-for-urban-residents

https://lifesciences.byu.edu/magazine/propagating-innovation-and-inspired-research

This episode was recorded on September 22, 2022.

After their amazing experience during spring term of 2022, Dr. Seth Bybee and four students, Eva Jasinski, Rachel Sutherland, Lily Gregson, and Cordon Wade discuss their study abroad in Vietnam. Students worked with either Dr. Bybee on team Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) or Dr. Gareth Powell on team beetle (Coleoptera). 

This episode was recorded on July 17, 2022.

Maliea Holden and Kate Scanlan talk with hosts, Austen Lambert and Katy Knight about how to create energy from waste (yes, they work with poop) using extremophiles, or organisms that live in extreme environments. Maliea and Kate work in Dr. Zach Aanderud's lab at Brigham Young University. In this episode they share some stories about field and lab work as well as why they enjoy this research and why they feel it is important.

This episode was recorded on June 8, 2022.

Teresa Gomez and Steve Schill talk about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the importance of mapping for conservation purposes. They tell us about various projects they've worked on and how using maps and GIS can assist in research going on all over the world. 

This episode was recorded on April 19, 2022.

This episode features Dr. Gareth Powell, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biology at Brigham Young University and Natalie Saxton, PhD student at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. They discuss their research, adventures doing field work, as well as the vast biodiversity of insects. 

This episode was recorded on February 15, 2022.

Dr. Richard Gill and graduate students, Stau Segi and Kalai Ellis describe their research projects in the south pacific, specifically in Samoa and Hawaii. They discuss the importance of the connection between the work they're doing and traditional ecological understanding. 

This episode was recorded on February 10, 2022.

Dr. Benjamin Abbott ([email protected]), assistant professor of ecosystem ecology at Brigham Young University, joins Samuel Bratsman ([email protected]), plant and wildlife sciences graduate student, to discuss the history, ecology, and future of Utah Lake.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

The following links were either mentioned in the episode or are resources available to find out more about Utah Lake:

utahlake.byu.edu
timpanogostribe.com
Utah Historical Quarterly
https://utahlake.org
https://utahvalleyvisioning.org/
conserveutahvalley.org
utah.gov

Utah Lake Photography Club Facebook Group
Instagram @utahlakephotoclub

The views and opinions expressed in this program are the personal views and opinions of the speakers acting in their private capacity, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Brigham Young University or any other entity.

In this episode we hear from Dr. Alison Whiting and Dr. Michael Whiting, both curators at the Bean Life Science Museum and faculty at Brigham Young University. They share how their love for science has taken them on adventures and influenced their kids.

Nature Article: Loss and recovery of wings in stick insects

This episode was recorded on December 13, 2021.

In this episode we interview Dr. Arden Pope, Mary Lou Fulton Professor of Economics at BYU. We discuss his research on air pollution. He also gives tips on ways to improve air pollution as a community and as an individual.

Global Burden of Disease Report
Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health
Air Quality Guidelines from the World Health Organization
Press release for the Air Quality Guidelines from WHO
Human Health and Economic Costs of Air Pollution in Utah: An Expert Assessment

This episode was recorded on September 22, 2021.

Dr. Michael Whiting is the new director at the BYU Life Science Museum. Join Dr. Whiting and the new associate director, Dr. Steve Leavitt,  as they talk about a new vision for the museum and how students at Brigham Young University have a unique opportunity to participate in designing exhibits and communicating science.

This episode was recorded on September 30, 2021.

Dr. Hal Black ([email protected]) and Dr. Janene Auger ([email protected]) talk about their experiences and research with Black Bears.

• Poem, “Barter” by Sara Teasdale
• Emma X3 All-terrain Wheelchair

This episode was recorded on July 7, 2021.

Listen to Merrill Webb and Josh Day talk about why they love to watch and chase birds. They will also give tips on how to get started and some great resources to identify birds and keep lists of what you see. Some of these resources are linked below:

• Cornell lab of Ornithology
• American Birding Association
• American Bird Conservancy
• eBird (Cornell)
• Traditional field guides
  • Peterson
  • Sibley
  • National Geographic
• Mobile app field guides
  • Meriln
  • iBird
  • Audubon
• Utahbirds.org
• Utah County Birders

This episode was recorded on June 18, 2021.

Ben Abbott (Plant & Wildlife Sciences department) and Bremen Leak (Associate Director, Sustainability & Continuity) join undergraduate student, Austen Lambert, to talk about sustainability on many different levels. They discuss the history of sustainability at BYU and the doctrinal foundations that support these principles. The following links provide resources which were mentioned in this episode:

• Environmental Science and Sustainability major
• Two great commandments - Love God and love neighbor
• BYU AIMS
• Other Side of Heaven
• What Is Your Mission?, John Groeberg devotional - May 1, 1979
• BYU Clubs and organizations and local environmental groups (Resources from Plant & Wildlife Sciences)
• Children of Heavenly Father, M. Russell Ballard devotional - March 3, 2020
• Environmental Stewardship and Conservation (Gospel Topics, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
• Student Sustainability Initiative Instagram

This episode was recorded on April 21, 2021.

Dr. Byron Adams and undergraduate student, Jinna Brim describe for listeners their experience in the Antarctica. The talk about their research and why this location is such a great place to collect and study Nematodes.

For more information check out these links below:
Surviving Earth's Extremes: How Antarctic Animals Freeze and Reanimate (YouTube)
"Ghost creature" of Antarctica has survived 30 ice ages (YouTube)
A Thing of Beauty: Antarctic Worm (YouTube)
BYU professor makes big impact through small Antarctic insects (Daily Universe)
Byron Adam's Lab Webpage

This episode was recorded on March 16, 2021.

In this episode Josh and Katy visit with Jamie Jensen and Seth Bybee about their research in teaching evolution in a religious setting. Visit their website for more resources about how to reconcile science and faith at recoevo.byu.edu and listen to Jamie's BYU devotional talk (November 3, 2020) here.

This episode was recorded on March 23, 2021.

What is a lichen?

Find out what lichens are and why two scientists from BYU have devoted their entire careers to studying these fascinating biological systems. Dr. Larry St. Clair and Dr. Steve Leavitt share why they love lichens, some fun stories about working in the field, as well as how lichens serve as bio-monitoring systems for air quality. You can also check out the following links to learn more.

This episode was recorded on January 19, 2021.

BYU Lichen Tour
Common Rocky Mountain Lichens
Follow the BYU Lichen Lab on Instagram @lichens_irl

Dr. Tara Bishop and Dr. Sam St. Clair are the guests for this episode of "Y Life Science."  Both Sam and Tara are desert ecologists and share amazing stories and insights about their research and why we should care and protect these specialized ecological systems. Specifically, Tara shares about her research with the Dwarf Bear Poppy and Red Brome in southern Utah.

This episode was recorded on January 6, 2021.

Marta Adair and Brittany Nuttall talk with Josh and Katy about their experiences working at the Bean Museum in the education department. They also talk about the museum's mission statement, "We inspire wonder and reverence for our living planet."

This episode was recorded on January 6, 2021.

Join Katy Knight and Josh Day as they talk with Dr. Chantel Sloan and Dr. Duke Rogers about the current pandemic. In this second part of this two-part episode, discussions focus on where we go from here. What does the future look like with this pandemic?

This episode was recorded on November 6, 2020.

In this episode the following resources were referenced:

• John Campbell (YouTube channel)
• World Health Organizations
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Dr. Angela Dunn
• Emerging Infectious Diseases
• John Hopkins Coronavirus website

Join Katy Knight and Josh Day as they talk with Dr. Chantel Sloan and Dr. Duke Rogers about the current pandemic. In this part of this two-part episode, discussions focus on where we are currently and how we got here. 

This episode was recorded on November 6, 2020.