EpicEarth Podcast

This week, we interview Ph.D. Geoscience Education Research Candidate, Greg Shafer. If you're wondering what the workforce and job perspective for geoscience career paths look like, then you'll want to listen to this episode.  His work is pioneering the way for research and influencing how private and public sector agencies are advertising, offering, and recruiting young professionals into the workforce. Discover why Greg is like a compass, guiding and calibrating students through the minefield, which is life after undergrad. And hear his wild field story about an encounter with a cottonmouth snake. It will leave you on the edge of your seat. We also put Greg through the wringer of "Would you rather....".  You don't want to miss his educated and well-thought-out answers!

Join us as we interview one of the most laid back graduate students you'll ever meet, Maggie Holahan.  She may be studying a "stressed" volcano that has to blow off a lot of steam, but Maggie uses her knowledge of the outdoors and her research with infrasound to understand eruption patterns of Steamboat Geyser - currently the World's most active tallest geyser tucked away in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. Learn why Maggie's research is analogous to a heart-rate monitor and what research looks like when you work with National Parks. We probably don't have to tell you this, but things are about to get steamy....

- recorded October 2022

If you'd like to learn more about applying for Federal and State jobs, reach out to Maggie - who has a LOT of experience working with these agencies, or visit the USGS, NFS, or NPS websites, or www.USAjobs.gov.

Meet Angela Seibert, a down to Earth BSU Master's student, working in the Boise Center Aerospace Lab (BCAL). She's a quiet scientist but with a big heart!  Angela does it all, from rollerblading to snowsports, to painting to fighting the good fight in environmental justice. She does all of this while using LiDAR to make 3D models of peatlands and measure vegetation structure.  The Earth is warming up, but Angela is keeping it cool - join us as we hear all about her striking field story where she and her field partner had to save some equipment from a lightning storm rolling in, and her awesome work on the BSU Community Garden.

-recorded October 2022

This episode really brings something special to the STEM stories. For the first time in Epic Earth history, we interview not just one amazing STEM go-getter, but THREE! And they are some of Boise State's finest and most well-respected! Meet:

Eric Jankowski: an associate professor in the Micron School of Materials Science and engineering where he uses computing to understand organic materials for solar power and aerospace applications.

Krishna Pakala: an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering where he uses engineering education research as an engine to identify evidence-based approaches that best enhance student experiences.

AND

Anne Hamby: an assistant professor of Marketing in the college of business and economics where she studies the ways that consumers understand and are influenced by narratives.

Alongside being three amazing teachers, these three EPIC stars are giving a voice to science through "The Story Collider" project - a non-profit storytelling organization that focuses on the personal connection we all have with science. Eric, who is also The Story Collider board president, says "Everyone has a science story to tell", and as part of the mission, this organization allows "people from all walks of life - from scientists and doctors to journalists and comedians to artists, firefighters, and bartenders" - to artfully tell their story through trainings and public productions.

Join us as we learn more about their stories and the awesome method of communicating science through story-telling. We couldn't WAIT to post this podcast!

What's your narrative? What story would you tell?

If you'd like more information about The Story Collider Project, please feel free to reach out to Eric, Krishna, or Anne, or visit the website, at: https://www.storycollider.org

Meet Danielle Marquette - a kick butt Geoscience Masters student at Boise State sharing her wealth of knowledge with grade school kids. We have always been taught not to play with fire, but that's exactly what Danielle does in order to teach local students about climate change and wildfires in Idaho. Join us as we delve into this FIREY tale of Epic proportions and "hot" topics (it's the end of the semester...our puns are going up in flames). We hope the knowledge and insight Danielle brings to this episode spreads like a wildfire... 

-recorded April 2022

We can probably all relate to the saying "With Great Powder, Comes Great Responsibilty". At least, that's what our Epic star for this episode thinks! Meet Brent Wilder - a PhD Geoscience student at Boise State working with the SnowEx Project. His research combines all sorts of cool remote sensing tools to examine the impact of wildfires and climate change on snowpack distributions here in Idaho. Join us as we learn about his COOL science and just how important snowpack is to our watersheds. We also have a new segment, where we put Brent's creativity to the test - with his autotune geomorph song. We wouldn't be surprised if this is the next big chart topper!

If you'd like to hear the real version of Brent's favorite research-related song, please visit: ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsXKv1yfNFk

-Recorded April 2022

Let's face it...it was only a matter of time before we interviewed Jerry Mock, Geophysics Masters student at BSU, who is doing some awesome work with drones and lahar (volcanic mudflow) drainages! Join us as Jerry explains how being a non-traditional student has its perks and how he ended up on a project that works exclusively with remote controlled aerial vehicles. We also learn some of the clever names he has given his artillery of drones, including his favorite, "Vincent van Drone". This might be the one episode you don't mind us droning on and on about research...

-recorded March 2022

Say hello to Lauren Lynam - a fun loving graduate of Chapman University, who double majored in Environmental Science & Policy and Economics, and also is certified in Applied Statistical Analysis. She not only has an impressive undergraduate degree, but has also been published in the journal Water - discussing the projections of California's droughts through the year 2100. Join us as we learn how Lauren was influenced by philosophy and how shifting into an environmental consciousness is almost like thinking like many of the great philosophers. Her comments on our more "serious" questions will leave you feeling like the world is in good hands. She's just the type of person we need fighting the good fight for the STEM fields....the ninja protecting us from our Environmental nemeses.

-recorded March 2022

On this episode of EpicEarth, we interview BSU PhD Geoscience student, Mac Beers. Mac studies hydrology and water resources in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed close to Boise to understand water resources in the Western US that can help facilitate balancing the needs of humans with those of the natural systems we live with. Join us as we find out why his work is analogous to a medical doctor examining a patient, and just how close Mac has come to seeing a mountain lion while doing field work! Mac's knowledgeable answers and fun approaches to his "serious" questions will captivate! We're opening the floodgates on this fascinating science and deep dive into why Mac's research is essential for life on this Epic Earth...

-recorded February 2022

Meet Lisa Hecht, an inspirational woman in the STEM field, who is influencing the environment in a big way. Join us as we talk to Lisa about her background in engineering, her work as a life coach, and her ambition and motivation to reduce her carbon footprint by two-thirds! Lisa explains to us how small changes can have a big impact, and how easy it can be to reduce your carbon footprint in half - and save big bucks while doing so! Lisa is living proof that "every little bit helps." She also has participated in various State and National organizations like Citizen's Climate Lobby and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and is a founding member of the Idaho CleanTech Alliance (link below) and the Idaho Business for the Outdoors. With her impressive background and carbon reduction initiatives, Lisa will definitely inspire you to "Be the [climate] change you want to see in the world!"....

Want to calculate your carbon footprint? Head to the Cool Climate project, and click on "tools": https://coolclimate.org/

Want to learn more on how to reduce your carbon footprint? Check out this book by UCS: https://islandpress.org/books/cooler-smarter

Other initiatives you might be interested in: Idaho CleanTech Alliance: https://www.cleantechalliance.org/idaho-chapter/

Idaho Power - Energy Efficient Programs: https://www.idahopower.com/energy-environment/energy/clean-today-cleaner-tomorrow/

-recorded January 2022