A photographer and a writer, both who grew up in military families, are collaborating to examine the growth industry of homeland security in the United States for an upcoming book.

Danny Goodwin, a photographer and an associate professor of art, and Edward Schwarzschild, an associate professor of English, have conducted dozens of interviews with current and former DHS and intelligence personnel over the course of two years.

The book, tentatively titled Job Security, will feature interviews edited by Schwarzschild as well as portraits and other photographic works by Goodwin.

We've all probably read recently of wildfires blistering through what are often called the "lungs of the earth." Reports stating that the Amazon Rainforest has experienced more than 27,000 fires this month alone have provoked an international outcry from world leaders, environmental activists and celebrities.

On this episode, two climatologists help us make sense of the problem, and what can be done about it.

Guests: Mathias Vuille, a professor of atmospheric and environmental sciences, and Andrei Lapenas, a professor of geography and planning.

This interview was recorded in front of the show's first live audience in studio.

More than eight-in-ten U.S. adults believe that political discourse has become more negative and less respectful, according to a survey conducted earlier this year by the Pew Research Center.

On this episode, Brett Levy of the School of Education shares how educators might play a larger role in reducing political polarization among their students.

Wonhyung Lee is an assistant professor in the School of Social Welfare. Her research looks at the role of business improvement districts among U.S. cities (including Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Albany, N.Y.) in addressing social issues. On this episode, Lee shares how BIDs might take a more compassionate, collaborative approach to solving urban problems.

For the second part of our series speaking with entrepreneurs, we brought Anthony Lombardo, the president and founder of expex, to the show. The Latham-based startup helps small and mid-sized businesses with their bookkeeping through an automated cash management application.

Also joining Lombardo is Bob Manasier, UAlbany's entrepreneur-in-residence as well as a serial entrepreneur and brand builder. The two share their personal pathways to success (and what challenges they had to overcome to get there), entrepreneurial resources available in Upstate New York and programs coming to the UAlbany Innovation Center and Innovate 518 this fall.

For our first of a two-part series speaking with entrepreneurs, we brought Shawn Allan of Lithoz America to the show. Lithoz America, an Innovate 518-certified startup based in Troy, N.Y., provides technology for the 3D printing of high-performance and bioresorbable ceramics.

Richard Perez, a senior research associate at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), and his colleagues have developed a blueprint for achieving 100 percent clean energy in the United States.

His cost-effective solution bridges the gap between the production of renewables, such as solar and wind, and customer demand.

On this episode, Perez describes how oversizing renewable assets and energy curtailment, paired with changes in utility regulation, can helps states reach their ambitious clean energy goals.

Jeff Freedman, a research associate at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), is working in collaboration with researchers and meteorologists to create the Wind Extremes Forecast System (WEFS).

By combining numerical weather prediction (NWP) modeling with machine learning techniques to produce forecasts, the system will seek to minimize power outage impacts for millions of New Yorkers.

Freedman shares on this episode of the UAlbany News Podcast how WEFS will help utility companies and emergency managers mobilize resources more efficiently, reduce restoration time and improve the long-term resiliency of the state’s power distribution system.

For our second episode looking at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, we're speaking with Jim Malatras, the president of SUNY's Rockefeller Institute of Government. The institute is a public policy think tank based in downtown Albany, N.Y. and collaborates with UAlbany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.

On the first of a two-part series, two political scientists from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy offer insight on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal and discuss the degree to which the resolution could transcend political ideology and bridge coalitions.

Returning to the show is Brian Greenhill, an associate professor who researches international relations, human rights and international organization. He spoke on the UAlbany News Podcast last season on the approaches policymakers take when addressing the risks of climate change.

Joining Greenhill is Jennifer Dodge, an associate professor of public administration and policy at UAlbany. Her research focuses on environmental policy conflicts, with special attention to the role of policy advocacy efforts by nonprofit organizations.