UC Santa Barbara (Audio)

We all know how good a dog's sense of smell is, from sniffing out explosives to all sorts of contraband and even disease in humans. Tommy Dickey, emeritus professor from UC Santa Barbara, and service dog expert Heather Junquiera explain why and how dogs are being trained for COVID-19 screening. [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 36937]

Colin Gunckel and Mirasol Enríquez discuss the impact and importance of the 1983 epic film El Norte, directed by Gregory Nava. In conversation with moderator Ross Melnick, Gunckel and Enríquez reflect on the production and reception of the film in the context of Chicanx filmmaking in the 80s. El Norte tells the story of a Guatemalan brother and sister who flee persecution and journey north along the length of Mexico, with a dream of finding a new home in the United States. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37066]

Director Sanjay Rawal and editor Alexander Meillier discuss their new documentary Gather, which explores the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, all while battling the trauma of centuries colonial genocide. In conversation with Greg Johnson, Rawal and Meillier discuss the process of making the film, addressing in particular the complicated ethics of documentary representation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37065]

This discussion considers the contemporary politics of wireless communication, with special attention paid to the cultural and governmental imaginaries that accrue to emerging wireless infrastructures like 5G. In conversation with Tyler Morgenstern, Marisa Duarte, Shannon Mattern and Rahul Mukherjee explore how wireless ICTs shape historical and current understandings of uncertainty, conspiracy, and development. Together, panelists considered how dreams of untrammeled, high-speed connectivity tend to obscure or crowd out alternative imaginaries of relation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36885]

The challenges of the past year have shaped the way we think about and watch television. Moderated by Patrice Petro, this conversation explores how television continues to mediate urgent debates over questions of community, racial justice, and protest. In addition, panelists consider how the pressures of the current moment—viral pandemic, social unrest, and political upheaval—are reshaping our understanding of news, sports, and celebrity culture. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36828]

Trent Atkinson and Brandon Stansell discuss their new film Three Chords and a Lie, which explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in country music. In a conversation with Tyler Morgenstern, Stansell and Atkinson discuss the process of making the documentary and the challenges it presented, as well as larger issues of representation and diversity in the country music industry. Three Chords and a Lie follows Stansell as he returns to his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, ten years after coming out as gay to his family. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36815]

Mahnoosh Alizadeh is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UC Santa Barbara. Alizadeh’s research is focused on designing scalable control and data analytic frameworks and market mechanisms for enabling sustainability and resiliency in societal infrastructure systems. Series: "Institute for Energy Efficiency" [Science] [Show ID: 36796]

Chandra Krintz is a professor of Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. SmartFarm is a research project that investigates the design and implementation of an open source, hybrid cloud approach to agriculture analytics for enabling sustainable farming practices. Series: "Institute for Energy Efficiency" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 36803]

A Normal Girl director Aubree Bernier-Clarke, activist/producer Pidgeon Pagonis, and Ponyboi director River Gallo discuss their experiences creating these innovative portraits of contemporary intersex life. In conversation with moderator Xiuhe Zhang, Bernier-Clarke, Pagonis, and Gallo address the challenges that intersex media makers, performers, and writers face in telling their stories, but also highlight how documentary and fiction filmmaking can help to shift popular (mis)conceptions about intersex people and their communities. Ponyboi tells the story of a young intersex sex worker struggling to navigate the terrain's of intimacy and identity, while A Normal Girl focuses on the work of activist Pidgeon Pagonis, who advocates for intersex peoples’ rights to medical non-conformity and bodily self-determination. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36821]

Debra Perrone is an Assistant Professor of UCSB’s Environmental Studies Program. Deb integrates research methods from engineering, physical science, and law to inform water sustainability and policy. Series: "Institute for Energy Efficiency" [Science] [Show ID: 36804]