Big Ideas TXST

Dr. Sarah Fritts, Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano and Dr. Sara Weaver discusses the threat white-nose syndrome poses for native bats in Texas and the damaging environmental and ecological consequences that could unfold if the disease continues to spread unchecked.

Further reading:

Texas Parks & Wildlife taps Texas State team to research white-nose syndrome in bats

Eugene Lee, Artist in Residence in the Department of Theatre and Dance and director of the Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration at Texas State, discusses why the annual workshop remains an important outlet for marginalized voices in its 18th year. Lee also discusses his career, his evolution as a performer and mentor, and how the BLPC can contribute to healing the unrest and strife afflicting U.S. society today.

Eugene Lee, Artist in Residence in the Department of Theatre and Dance and director of the Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration at Texas State, discusses why the annual workshop remains an important outlet for marginalized voices in its 18th year. Lee also discusses his career, his evolution as a performer and mentor, and how the BLPC can contribute to healing the unrest and strife afflicting U.S. society today.

Dr. Melinda Villagran, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and director of the Translational Health Research Initiative at Texas State, discusses the fascinating results of a research study she conducted with Movability to survey the impact of daily work commuting in the Austin area. The research overlapped with teleworking initiatives implemented by many employers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and yielded fascinating—and in some instances, unexpected—findings.

Dr. Melinda Villagran, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and director of the Translational Health Research Initiative at Texas State, discusses the fascinating results of a research study she conducted with Movability to survey the impact of daily work commuting in the Austin area. The research overlapped with teleworking initiatives implemented by many employers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and yielded fascinating—and in some instances, unexpected—findings.

Dr. Shannon Weigum, an associate professor in the Department of Biology and head of the Weigum Research Group at Texas State University, sits down with BIG IDEAS to talk about the recently-established Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, discussing the environment and mindset necessary to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Dr. Jennifer Devine, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, and Dr. Nate Currit, associate professor and director of the Texas Center for Geographic Information Science, discusses the staggering environmental destruction and human suffering being wrought in Central America by narcotics traffickers clearcutting huge swaths of rainforest to establish cattle ranches to launder drug money.

Dr. Jennifer Devine, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, and Dr. Nate Currit, associate professor and director of the Texas Center for Geographic Information Science, discusses the staggering environmental destruction and human suffering being wrought in Central America by narcotics traffickers clearcutting huge swaths of rainforest to establish cattle ranches to launder drug money.

In the second installment of a two-part interview, Dr. Rodney Rohde, a professor in the College of Health Professions and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, discusses how the understanding of the novel coronavirus has changed since it first came to global attention in January, the urgency of widespread testing and the importance of ensuring proper medical supplies and equipment are readily available to medical providers.

For realtime updates on the coronavirus and other topics, follow Dr. Rohde on his various social media platforms.

Twitter: @RodneyRohde / @TXST_CLS /@TXST_THR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010172941875 and https://www.facebook.com/txstate.cls/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyerohde/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/31389292/ [CLS Program]

Personal website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/

In the first installment of a two-part interview, Dr. Rodney Rohde, a professor in the College of Health Professions and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, discusses the novel coronavirus causing the global COVID-19 pandemic, stripping away some of the mystery from a disease that has led to the cancellation of SXSW, suspension of the NBA season and school closures across the country.

For realtime updates on the coronavirus and other topics, follow Dr. Rohde on his various social media platforms.

Twitter: @RodneyRohde / @TXST_CLS /@TXST_THR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010172941875 and https://www.facebook.com/txstate.cls/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyerohde/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/31389292/admin/ [CLS Program]

Personal website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/