The Vandal Theory

Have you ever seen a prescribed fire?

Fire is a natural part of Idaho’s landscapes, but decades of fire suppression have changed forests and grasslands. Prescribed fire can help restore landscape health and reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfires, yet using it safely takes training, planning and cooperation. Today, we’re talking with Heather Heward (go.uidaho.edu/4yTlSRc), a research assistant professor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4e7AQeQ). We’ll explore the challenges Idaho landowners face, potential policy changes and how better training can support the people who manage wildland fire.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

“Crystal Morning” by Alexander Salter (go.uidaho.edu/3UqgkiU) via Amphibious Zoo.  

Chapters

(0:00) Shortened question?

(2:46) Getting to know Heather Heward

(4:35) What is a prescribed fire?

(8:17) Prescribed fire on Idaho private lands

(14:28) Future of private prescribed fire in Idaho

(20:39) Prescribed fire on Idaho public lands

(24:13) Wildland fire professional education

(26:54) Final thoughts

Have you ever felt the effects of wildfire smoke?

What happens when dairy cows breathe wildfire smoke? Amy Skibiel (go.uidaho.edu/4BiQPk9) , an associate professor in University of Idaho’s Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4z7QkrM), studies how smoke and heat affect dairy cows and their calves. Hear what her team has learned about milk production, animal health and effects that linger after the air clears.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

“Open Prairie” by Clive Jay Romney (go.uidaho.edu/3U8Fa6O) via Amphibious Zoo.

Chapters

(0:00) How does wildfire smoke affect dairy cows?

(2:55) Getting to know Amy Skibiel

(8:36) Studying unpredictable wildfire smoke

(14:20) Effects on milk production and animal health

(18:12) What can dairy producers do?

(21:48) Protection and long-term recovery

(23:57) Preparing for future wildfire seasons

(26:28) Final thoughts

How did you get to school as a kid?

Every morning, school buses stop traffic and parents circle the school drop-off line. And there are engineering experts who specialize in moving people and products safely, efficiently, reliably and sustainably along our roadways — including during the morning and afternoon chaos of school drop-off. Today, we’re taking a closer look at how we get from place to place with Kevin Chang (og.uidaho.edu/4s3eCQZ), a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (go.uidaho.edu/4ypLLHY) and director of the National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (go.uidaho.edu/4B4CWFY) at University of Idaho. We’ll even take a look at whether Idaho bicyclists can roll through stop signs.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

“Common Good” by Josh Bell (go.uidaho.edu/4i6R0q6) via Amphibious Zoo.  

Chapters

(0:00) How did you get to school as a kid?

(2:37) Getting to know Kevin Chang

(7:48) School transportation: School buses

(12:16) School transportation: Drone research

(15:09) Bicycle laws and safety

(20:01) Engineering education and AI

(25:13) Final thoughts

How has AI helped you solve a problem?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how people work, learn and conduct research. At University of Idaho, researchers can use AI and advanced computing resources while keeping greater control over their data, costs and infrastructure. Today, we’re talking with Luke Sheneman (go.uidaho.edu/47dTn5g), director of research computing and data services in U of I’s Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4yxig7Y), about the tools behind projects ranging from the Deep Soil Ecotron to wildlife research — and what becomes possible when researchers have powerful computing resources at their fingertips.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

“Melontronica” by Matthew Cropper (go.uidaho.edu/4hCdXSZ) via Amphibious Zoo.

Chapters

(0:00) How has AI helped you solve a problem?

(3:22) Getting to know Luke Sheneman

(5:17) What do we mean by artificial intelligence?

(6:43) What makes U of I’s AI approach unique?

(10:31) Expanding research with the Lemhi supercomputer

(12:54) Supporting research across disciplines

(15:04) Streamlining research administration with AI

(17:02) Studying wildlife with Wild Marker

(19:54) Weighing AI’s limitations and benefits

(25:02) What should listeners take away?

(25:59) Final thoughts

Do you play any instruments?

From the military rat-a-tat-tat of a single snare drum to the 30- or 40-piece drum kits played by some rock drummers, the drum kit has come a long way. While the individual pieces of the kit trace their origins around the globe, the classic drum kit got its start right here in America. Today, we’re looking at the history of this American instrument with University Distinguished Professor Dan Bukvich (go.uidaho.edu/4jkuig6) Dan has been teaching, composing, performing and conducting at University of Idaho since 1976. As a professor of percussion and theory, he’s spent nearly five decades at the Lionel Hampton School of Music (go.uidaho.edu/4hklUKX) — and he knows a thing or two about drums. Today we’ll dive into the story of the American drum kit, and Dan is bringing his drum set and sticks to the conversation.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters

(0:00) Do you play any instruments?

(3:20) Getting to know Dan Bukvich

(4:20) Snare and base

(10:25) Cymbals

(13:42) Tom-tom drums

(15:28) Wire brushes and jazz beats

(20:00) Standout drummers: Krupa, Hampton

(23:23) Advice for young drummers

(26:22) Final thoughts

A new season of “The Vandal Theory” returns Tuesday, Oct. 6, with more stories about science and research at University of Idaho. Season 12 explores how researchers are putting artificial intelligence to work and what wildfire smoke means for dairy cows. You’ll also hear the history of the drum set, complete with a personal concert, and take a closer look at transportation, from how people safely get to school to bicycle laws everyone should know. New episodes drop weekly, so follow “The Vandal Theory” on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

How do archives help preserve history?

Meet Dulce Kersting-Lark (go.uidaho.edu/4vFdXFm), head of Special Collections and Archives (go.uidaho.edu/4wYBHFJ) at University of Idaho Library (go.uidaho.edu/4wZbdUA). In this episode, she discusses how archives preserve Idaho's history and why understanding the past can help us better understand our communities today.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters

(0:00) Why does history matter?

(01:01) Meet Dulce Kirsting-Lark

(1:48) Inside Special Collections and Archives

(03:54) Who can use the archives?

(05:06) Why archivists love America250

(06:56) What history can teach us today

How does University of Idaho Extension bring research to communities across Idaho?

Meet Barbara Petty (go.uidaho.edu/4fiU4h8), associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4vxAG6a) and director of University of Idaho Extension (go.uidaho.edu/4yoGkdA). In this episode, she explores how Extension has connected research with Idaho communities for more than a century and why its mission remains just as important today.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters

(0):00) What is Extension?

(01:12) Meet Barbara Petty

(02:15) How Extension began in the US

(03:34) Idaho Extension early days

(04:45) What Extension looks like today

(06:24) Helping Idaho communities solve problems

(08:27) Real-world impacts across Idaho

(11:28) Why Extension matters

How has University of Idaho shaped military service for more than 130 years?

Meet Ross Warren, a career consultant at University of Idaho, historian and former head of the university’s Army ROTC program. In this episode, he explores how military instruction has been woven into U of I’s land-grant mission since the beginning and how generations of Vandals have served the nation from the Spanish-American War to today.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).

How did the land-grant mission shape University of Idaho?

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary through the America250 commemoration, University of Idaho is exploring its own place in the American story. In this episode, Mario Pile, student ombuds, retention specialist in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4oXnBl9) and a member of U of I’s America250 committee, discusses the Morrill Act, the land-grant mission and the founding of University of Idaho. The conversation explores how higher education expanded beyond the nation's elite, the university's earliest years and the enduring value of educational opportunity.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters

(00:00) What is America 250?

(01:29) Getting to know Mario Pile

(01:50) What is a land-grant university?

(02:38) The early years of University of Idaho

(03:53) Expanding access to higher education

(05:59) What U of I brought to the state of Idaho

(08:20) Final thoughts