Streaming Science

University of Florida – Department of Agricultural Education and Communication student Bella Weisheimer sits down with UF master’s student Maggie Murphy to explore the power of science communication through the lens of field research in Nebraska’s Sandhills. In this episode, you'll hear how Maggie’s work on the NSF PurSUiT Grant bridges the gap between scientific discovery and public understanding—capturing everything from field photography to compelling storytelling about microscopic life, including nematodes. Produced and edited using Adobe Audition, this episode sheds light on how translating complex science into accessible narratives helps bring hidden ecosystems to life for broader audiences. Join us as we uncover how communication plays a vital role in making the unseen world visible—and why it matters for both science and society.

In this episode of Streaming Science’s Microscopic Marvels series, we explore the intersection of science, storytelling, and tiny organisms with digital media producers Ethan Freese and Dakota Altman hosted by University of Florida - Agricultural Education and Communication student Zack Sopko. As part of the Platte Basin Timelapse Project, these Nebraska-based storytellers use photography and video to showcase the beauty of ecosystems and support scientific communication. We hear about their creative journeys, the power of time-lapse imagery, and the importance of connecting people to nature through compelling media. From Nebraska’s Sandhills to NSF-funded research, this episode celebrates curiosity, collaboration, and the microscopic wonders shaping our world.

In this episode, University of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication student Andy Franklin interviewed Instructional Assistant Professor Dr. Shane White. White teaches communication courses and is also an independent documentarian. Throughout the interview, Franklin asks White about his experiences working on an NSF funded nematology multimedia project in the Nebraska Sandhills and what it means to be a science communicator.

On this episode of Microscopic Marvels, University of Florida - Department of Agricultural Education and Communication graduate student Emma Poole talks with Jaclyn Wilson, a fifth-generation Nebraska native and cattle rancher, about conservation, the importance of advocacy and collaboration, and all the creatures you can’t see with just your eyes. The NSF PurSUiT grant research on nematodes is happening in part on Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch. Jaclyn gives insight on why research like this is so important to her.

In this episode of Microscopic Marvels, you will hear from Melody Benjamin, a cattle rancher from Nebraska. From wrangling livestock to wrangling researchers, Melody details her experiences of managing one of the most fascinating ecosystems in the world: the Nebraska Sandhills. She shares her background in land management, her community involvement in local agricultural initiatives, and how she ended up hosting scientists on her land. Stay tuned to learn more about how ranchers are some of the best conservationists around. This episode was hosted and produced by University of Florida School of Natural Resources and Environment graduate student Patricia Escobar-Torres and Department of Agricultural Education and Communication graduate student Emma Poole.

In the final installment of Season 1, we welcome Mark McDonald. A leader in healthcare, his experience spans volunteer EMT work in a rural community, providing critical care as a flight nurse, engaging in international work through Global Response Medicine, and currently serving as the Executive Director of Villa Therese Catholic Clinic, New Mexico's only free health clinic. Listen in as we learn how his experiences have shaped his philosophy and servant-minded approach to leadership. 

Read more about the organizations Mark highlights:

 Global Response Medicine 

Villa Therese Catholic Clinic

A conversation University of Florida student Charles Overdevest and Dr. Dorota Porazinska an associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. We spoke about her path to becoming a professor, the structure of academic science, and her work on an NSF PurSUiT grant funded study about nematodes in the Nebraska Sandhills. Listen in to this episode and interview of other members of the PurSUiT team by other students in our Microscopic Marvels series.

University of Florida - Department of Agricultural Education and Communication student Elizabeth Lamm sits down with Dr. Thomas Powers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to explore the fascinating, hidden world of nematodes in Nebraska's Sandhills. Through this conversation, you will discover how these microscopic organisms influence soil health, biodiversity, and the future of land management in one of America's most fragile and unique ecosystems. Produced and edited using Adobe Audition, this episode dives into Dr. Powers’ pioneering research and explains why understanding the smallest life forms is critical to protecting the most significant landscapes. Join us as we explore how life below the surface influences the land above, and why the Nebraska Sandhills are significant.