LSU Experimental

Happy World Penguin Day! Penguins almost exclusively live in the Southern Hemisphere, most notably in Antarctica. So how do those cute, tuxedo wearing birds survive and what is it like to study penguins in the coldest place on Earth? We’re featuring an April 2017 LSU Science Cafe talk by Dr. Mike Polito, Assistant Professor Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, where he shared all things penguin - from what they eat to how they respond to environmental stresses. We then sat down with Dr. Polito to learn more about his research in the southern continent and why science collaborations so important for his work.

Are you wondering how to get into medical school? What better than to hear from someone who was just accepted into an MD-MPH program! We are featuring LSU students at different stages in their medical career, from getting accepted to entering rotations. We begin with Cindy Nguyen, recent graduate with Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences and Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. Cindy shares her insights from early academic struggles, identifying the right career path, prepping for the MCAT, medical school interviews, and general tips on making it into med school.

How do you discover ancient Maya artifacts buried underwater? And what do you do with the artifacts once you discover them? Heather McKillop, Thomas & Lillian Landrum Alumni Professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology, presented her research on ancient Mayan civilizations during LSU’s Science Cafe in September 2017. We later sat down with Dr. McKillop, where she shared how her team has been able to study submerged Mayan villages, excavate artifacts and preserve those artifacts through 3D printing so we can better understand the livelihood of the Maya.

Learn more about what is happening with Dr. McKillop on Twitter @underwatermaya or by heading over to underwatermaya.com to catch the latest adventures in science from the DIVA lab!

Floodplains. The term conjures up images of iconic Louisiana swamps- cypress trees, alligators, and areas inundated with water. But what a floodplain really is, is a wetland ecosystem which periodically experiences pulses of floodwaters, bringing nutrients and sediment to the land. While these cyclic events can be beneficial to wetland communities, continuous flooding may be deleterious to the native species. Whitney Kroschel, Ph.D. candidate in the School of Renewable Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture takes us on an ecological journey through the floodplains to give us a perspective of how flooding is influencing Louisiana cypress swamps and the inhabitants within.

Connect with Whitney about her research on Twitter (@WhitneyKroschel) or Instagram (@whitneykroschel).

Plankton provide the single largest source of oxygen and carbon sequestration on this planet all while nourishing the largest mammal on Earth, the blue whale. With the rise in temperature and acidity in the ocean an urgent question emerges; how will the environmental changes affect the plankton’s ability to maintain these global processes and provide the foundation of the world’s food web? Join us in our conversation with Dr. Malinda Sutor, from the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences in the College of Coast & Environment, as we cover a range of topics including the challenges of quantifying zooplankton to her research into this puzzling question to the importance of quantifying these organisms from a national defense perspective.

When you look in the mirror, do you see a star? Of course you do! Your body is composed of the elements of stars. We met with Dr. Catherine Deibel, Assistant Professor of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, to learn about her research in experimental nuclear astrophysics and explain how we are all made from the ashes of stars.

How do scientists learn how to teach? With science of course! Maria F. G. Wallace, 2017 PhD graduate of the School of Education in the College of Human Sciences & Education at Louisiana State University and current Assistant Professor of Education at Millsaps College, discusses her research on education of science teachers, both as undergraduates and as early career professionals, to highlight how science education involves a community process of shared experience and investigation among students and instructors.

In 2016, the Gulf of Mexico churned out one of the most active hurricane seasons on record. Devastation from powerful winds and life-threatening flooding left many homeless and distressed. We joined Carol Friedland, an Assistant Professor in the Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management in the College of Engineering at LSU's Science Cafe in August 2017, where she shared with us strategies for protecting homes against natural disaster effects, how to use flood maps, and what you should know about building codes.

What connects frontal polymerizations, amphiumas, and pocket protectors? They are all aspects of Dr. John Pojman’s research! John A. Pojman, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and President and CEO of Pojman Polymer Products, LLC., joins us in the School of Library and Information Sciences recording lab to share his journey through research, invention, and collaborations as well as advice to those starting their science careers. We discuss zero-gravity experiments, the development of 3P QuickCure Clay, and how the high density of amphiuma salamanders here in Southern Louisiana may help scientists understand the toxic chytrid fungus!

How do the largest mountains on Earth drive one of the greatest climatic events witnessed by humans? Peter Clift, the Charles T. McCord Endowed Professor and Dr. Henry V. Howe Distinguished Professorship recipient in the LSU Department of Geology and Geophysics, shares how he uses sediment samples from oceans, rivers, and land to link the development of the Himalayas to the intensity of the Asian monsoon and even connections to the rise and fall of civilizations within the region.