Central Speaks: A UCM Podcast

Dr. Dawn Pauling on Plague, Prairie Dogs and the Power of Curiosity


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On this episode of Central Speaks, we sit down with Dr. Dawn Pauling, associate instructor of biology at UCM, whose career has taken her from tracking wildlife in the wilds of Alaska to researching one of the most misunderstood diseases in history—the plague.

Dr. Pauling pulls back the curtain on her journey into wildlife disease research, busts a few plague myths and explains why hands-on, curiosity-driven learning is a major part of the UCM experience.

We talk about why engaging students in real-world inquiry matters, how UCM supports that mission, and what it means to prepare the next generation of scientists not just to learn science—but to do it.

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© 2025 University of Central Missouri. All rights reserved. Central Speaks is a production of the⁠⁠⁠⁠ UCM Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted by Alex Greenwood. Recorded at⁠⁠⁠⁠ KMOS PBS⁠⁠⁠⁠; engineered by Josh Tomlinson.

Music by⁠⁠⁠ https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

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Central Speaks: A UCM PodcastBy UCM Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications