Big Ideas TXST

Dale Blasingame, an assistant professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the era of deep fakes.   Deep fakes refer to the use of artificial intelligence applications to create convincing, lifelike audio and video reproductions of individuals, often celebrities. Crucially, the deep fakes can behave in ways without the approval or consent of the individual being faked and can be misused for fake product endorsements, political gain or even pornography. The technology behind deep fakes is advancing so rapidly that even experts are finding it increasing difficult to tell the difference between fakes and reality.  Blasingame received the 2017 Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching and the 2023 Presidential Excellence Award for Service at TXST. He is a part of the Digital Media Innovation faculty, and he teaches courses that introduce students to different aspects of how technology is changing journalism, media and marketing. Before joining TXST, Blasingame was a television news producer. He spent nine years at WOAI-TV in San Antonio, where he won two Lone Star Emmy awards and was nominated for a third. Before that, he was a news anchor and sports reporter for KTSA-AM in San Antonio. Blasingame is a member of the Online News Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.FURTHER READING:What to know about the rise of AI deepfakesCalifornia Bans Political ‘Deepfakes' during Election SeasonAI is fuelling a deepfake porn crisis in South Korea. What's behind it – and how can it be fixed?

Texas State University's Joe Aebersold, team leader for Advanced Imaging and Visualization of Astromaterials (AIVA) at NASA's Johnson Space Center, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss his work imaging samples of the asteroid Bennu returned to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission.   After the mission team recovered the sample return cannister from its landing site in the Utah desert, Aebersold acquired the imagery in his role as a grant specialist with TXST's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs' (ORSP) Johnson Space Center Engineering & Technical Support (JETS) program. He and his colleague Erika Blumenfeld are charged with documenting the samples with high-resolution photography and 3D models before the materials—which range in size from large pebbles to dust—are distributed to eager researchers. Aebersold graduated from TXST in 2016 with a geographic information science degree. His journey to NASA began with a 2015 internship working on NASA's astronaut photography cataloging program through ORSP-JETS. That internship led to another in the summer of 2016 to work with Jacobs Engineering's Image Science Analysis Group. There he learned to operate a structured light scanner to make 3D models. In 2017 Jacobs hired him to a full-time position, paving the way to his current role with NASA. FURTHER READING:TXST alum shares views of rare NASA asteroid samples with the world OSIRIS-REx images Astromaterials 3-D General NASA image database

Texas State University's Jenna Walker , director of Watershed Services with The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and predict the water quality along Texas' 367 miles of coastline.   A 2022 study found that 55 out of 61 beaches tested along the Texas Gulf coast exceeded safe levels of fecal bacteria on at least one testing day. Enter The Meadows Center. Using its existing network of citizen scientists in the volunteer Texas Stream Team program, the center is regularly collecting water samples from locations along the coast and using innovative AI technology to analyze the data and predict bacteria levels and trends. Ultimately this is expected to make real-time information available to the public.   Walker oversees several multi-year, grant-funded research initiatives, including the Texas General Land Office-sponsored Clean Coast Texas initiative, a Texas Hill Country groundwater/surface water interaction research series, the Cypress Creek Watershed Protection Plan, and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality-sponsored Texas Stream Team – an award-winning, statewide community science program designed to educate and empower the public to support watershed protection efforts and foster community-based partnerships.FURTHER READING:  Texas Stream TeamHow dirty are Texas beaches? Researchers are using AI to better track bacterial levels. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment 

Texas State University's Bob Fischer, an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the ethics of insect sentience.  The debate over animal sentience has persisted for centuries. Broadly speaking, it's generally accepted that mammals, reptiles, birds and fish have degrees of sentience—that is, they are conscious and can feel both pleasure and pain. But what about insects? Fischer explains that mounting evidence indicates that at least some insects exhibit behavior attributable to pleasure and pain responses. If so, then what are the ethical implications for the billions of interactions between humans and insects every day?   Fischer earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2011. He is a senior research manager for Rethink Priorities and the director of the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals.  

Texas State University's Karl Stephan, a professor in the Ingram School of Engineering, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss his research into the mysterious phenomenon of ball lightning.    A poorly understood natural phenomenon, ball lightning has been reported throughout history. Ranging in size from a pea to a basketball, the glowing orbs can appear in various colors, either transparent or translucent. Ball lightning has been reported at ground level and by airplanes. The spheres can last for many seconds, unlike the brief flash of traditional lightning, and can hover, rise, fall or move against the wind in unpredictable ways. No satisfactory hypothesis has described the cause of ball lightning and researchers have yet to successfully recreate it under laboratory conditions.  Stephan joined the TXST faculty in 2000 after an extended period teaching at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He earned his master of engineering degree from Cornell University in 1977 and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983. FURTHER READING:Ball Lightning Eyewitness ReportTexas State Researcher Sheds Light on Ball LightningWhat is ball lightning, a reality or myth? Modeling the Neuruppin Ball Lightning IncidentHave You Seen Ball Lightning? Scientists Want to Know About It  

Texas State University's Christopher Johnson, a clinical professor in the Department of Sociology, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss understanding Alzheimer's disease as a type of time travel.   Johnson developed the “Time Travel” model to better explain the variable memory loss of people suffering from Alzheimer's. Those afflicted by Alzheimer's experience cognitive, emotional, social, physical and functional regression. The “Time Travel” model uses aspects of Piaget's theory of adult development in reverse, suggesting a non-linear regression but rather connecting loops spiraling downward to depict the fluctuating regression as more recent memories are lost and the individual descends deeper into the past. The insight this model provides will hopefully increase the understanding of gerontologists and caregivers and provide new ways to develop strategies to enhance future caregiving techniques. Johnson served as director of gerontology for the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Louisiana for 27 years. While there, he developed an award-winning master's in gerontology online course, which earned the distinction of being designated one of the top academic programs in the state. Johnson retired from ULM and traveled to Scotland to teach for a year and a half in the University of Stirling's dementia studies program before joining TXST to help develop the nation's first master of science degree program in dementia and aging studies.FURTHER READING:Texas Standard: Why The US, And Texas, Need To Catch Up When It Comes To Dementia CareMemory WhispererAlzheimer's Speaks 

Texas State University's Richard Robichaux, a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss his career path, teaching acting for television and movies and his upcoming projects.   A native of East Texas, Robichaux George Pappas on David E. Kelley's “Big Shot” with John Stamos and Yvette Nicole Brown on Disney+. Later this year he will appear in the feature films “The Long Game,” which won the audience award at SXSW, as well as “Hit Man,” a new film with Glen Powell. Other film credits include “Ocean's 8” with an all-star cast and “Where'd You Go Bernadette?” with Cate Blanchett. Robichaux has worked on five films with award-winning director Richard Linklater, including “Boyhood,” which was nominated for six Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. His theatre credits include the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., Yale Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and great theatres in New York, California and everywhere in between. Last fall he directed “The Thin Place” at the Zach Theatre in Austin. As a speaker and educator Robichauz is a passionate advocate for arts education. He has been a guest artist and teacher at many of the top programs in the country including Yale University, Juilliard, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California San Diego where he was the Arthur and Molli Wagner Endowed Chair in Acting. During his tenure at UCSD it was ranked the No. 3 program in the world by the Hollywood Reporter. He has delivered keynote addresses and conducted masterclasses for students and teachers at dozens of conferences, festivals and schools. He is also a judge for the College Television Awards presented by the Emmys. He is a member of the Television Academy, SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. FURTHER READING:Lone Star roots bring Richard Robichaux to Texas State theatre facultyRichardRobichaux.com

Texas State University's Shelly Wernette, Ph.D., a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her discovery of 10 new species of extinct trilobites in Thailand and what those discoveries reveal about ancient world geography. Trilobites are extinct sea creatures that rolled up like some types of armadillos or rolly pollies and breathed through their legs. Fossils of the creatures were trapped in sandstone between layers of petrified ash, created by volcanic eruptions that settled on the sea floor and formed a green layer called a tuff. Unlike some other kinds of rocks or sediment, tuffs contain crystals of zircon — a mineral that formed during eruptions and are, as the name of the rock layer containing them suggests, tough. Zircon is chemically stable as well as heat and weather resistant. It is hard as steel and persists when minerals in other kinds of rocks erode. Inside these resilient zircon crystals, individual atoms of uranium gradually decay and transform into atoms of lead. Radio isotope techniques enable researchers like Wernette to determine when the zircon crystals formed and thus put a date range to the volcanic eruption that laid down the tuff formation.  Wernette studies stratigraphy and invertebrate paleontology with special attention to the lower Paleozoic of Gondwana and trilobites. She is interested in how the physical earth affects biodiversity, relying heavily on paleogeography and geochronology to frame this investigation. She earned her doctorate in geological sciences from the University of California Riverside, and her bachelor's and master's, both in geology, from the University of Oklahoma. FURTHER READING:Trilobites of Thailand's Cambrian–Ordovician Tarutao Group and their geological settingTrilobites rise from the ashes to reveal ancient map

Texas State University's Keisuke Ikehata, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Ingram School of Engineering, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss an innovative pilot program to convert wastewater into purified drinking water.  Texas' rapid population growth combined with ongoing drought conditions has led to water shortages across the state. In the face of this challenge, Ikehata sees an opportunity for the public to embrace the idea of using treated wastewater for daily needs, a process referred to as potable water reuse. Ikehata and his students have partnered with the San Marcos Wastewater Treatment Plant on an advanced water purification system that turns more than 5 million gallons of wastewater into clean, environmentally safe water on a daily basis. An expert in advanced water and wastewater treatment and sustainable water resources management, including water reuse, desalination and stormwater management, Ikehata earned his doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. In July 2019, he joined TXST as one of four founding members of the civil engineering program. Prior to joining TXST, Ikehata worked for more than eight years as a technical specialist/R&D manager at a water resources engineering firm in Orange County, Calif. and eight years in academia in California, Alberta and Kansas. FURTHER READING:TXST researchers implement innovative wastewater treatment strategiesUSBR grant funds research into contaminant detection for water reclamation systemsDiatom research could prove an innovative key to improving efficiency of desalination  

Texas State University alumnus Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly Conservation & Research, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the fascinating insects known as fireflies and the threats and pressures that threaten their existence.A recognized firefly researcher and Texas-certified master naturalist, Pfeiffer founded the nonprofit Firefly Conservation & Research in 2009. “It was maybe 2008 when I noticed the fireflies in South Texas were disappearing,” Pfeiffer said. “There weren't as many as I remembered when I was a kid. And then I heard a report on firefly decline on NPR Radio that confirmed it.”Pfeiffer was uniquely suited to tackle this problem. He is a 6th generation Texan who grew up exploring the hills of the Texas Hill Country and brush country of South Texas where he developed a deep understanding of the state's unique ecology. Pfeiffer is also a beekeeper and certified-naturalist with Texas Parks & Wildlife. He attended Texas State University in San Marcos where he earned a bachelor of science degree in biology. He combined that with a background in marketing, web development and SEO to build a website and foundation that would help him and others take action. FURTHER READING:Shedding Light on FirefliesNight Sky Tourist  The Flight of the Texas Fireflies

Texas State University's David Coleman, director of The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the legacy of Edward Curtis and his photography collection, “The North American Indian.”In 1906 Curtis received a grant from financier J.P. Morgan to record, through photography and the written word, all Native American tribes who retained some degree of their “primitive” lifestyle. Native Americans were almost wholly confined to reservations by this time, and they were subjected to federal programs that forced their assimilation to Western ways. Curtis felt passionately that their cultures should be chronicled before they disappeared altogether.The North American Indian is one of the most ambitious photographic projects ever undertaken. Published from 1907 to 1930, it documents more than 100 peoples' languages, stories and songs, along with extensive illustration by Curtis' photography. Yet his work has also come under scrutiny, revealing that in some cases he used the same clothing or accessories for multiple tribes and he retouched many of his negatives to remove Western items like suspenders, parasols and more. Curtis is regarded by some as a notorious “faker,” and he is criticized for romanticizing Native Americans at a time when their forced assimilation into Western culture denied their rights and dignity.Coleman came to Texas State in 2011 from the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as the chief curator for photography. He earned his doctorate in art history from the University of Texas in 2005 and has worked at the Ransom Center since 1996.FURTHER READING:Edward Curtis: Treasures of The North American IndianEdward Curtis 

Texas State University's Jake Waddingham, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs trying to reenter the traditional workforce.  Americans launched new entrepreneurial ventures during the COVID pandemic at accelerated rates and those trends have continued through 2023. If any of these entrepreneurs decide to reenter the traditional workforce in the future, however, they may be in for an unwelcome surprise: a study coauthored by Waddingham showed that former business owners were less likely to get interviews compared with applicants with only traditional experience. This was true regardless of whether they had sold or closed their businesses. And the longer they were out of the traditional workforce, the worse their chances of success were. The surprising results were revealed in a survey of more than 700 hiring professionals as well as seven former entrepreneurs who successfully made the transition back into the workforce. Waddingham received his MBA from Iowa State University and his Ph.D. in management from Auburn University. He has published in top management journals including the Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Small Business Management, and Business Horizons. Prior to joining academia, Waddingham worked as an associate editor of a daily newspaper in Creston, Iowa. He primarily covered breaking news, local politics, agriculture and sports.  FURTHER READING:Entrepreneurs, beware: Owning your own business can make it harder to get hired later  

Texas State University's David Bailiff, special assistant to new head coach G.J. Kinne, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss his return to San Marcos and Bobcat football.  Bailiff returned to Texas State earlier this year after 18 years as a head coach in college football and nearly 40 years in coaching overall. He has won two conference championships as a Bobcat–one as a player in 1980 and another as a head coach in 2005–and was twice named conference coach of the year during his time as the head coach at Rice University in 2008 and 2013. Bailiff led the Bobcat football team as head coach 2004-2006, guiding the team to a Southland Conference co-championship and appearance in the Division I-AA semifinals in 2005. He was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year that season and finished third in voting for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented annually to the top coach in Division I-AA/FCS. Bailiff is a former student-athlete at Texas State (then-Southwest Texas State), lettering for the Bobcats from 1977 to 1980. He helped the Bobcats have winning records in all four seasons, culminating with the Lone Star Conference championship in his senior season and helping set up the program to win back-to-back Division II national championships in 1981 and 1982 under the late Jim Wacker.Big Ideas TXST is part of the TXST Podcast Network. 

Texas State University's Elizabeth Buckley, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the Texas State film program. The Department of Theatre and Dance has long maintained an unofficial film program, with technical courses teaching knowledge and skills applicable to film and television production. That track of study has been elevated following the opening of Live Oak Hall in 2022—which boasts a working sound stage and other state-of-the-art capabilities—and the addition of a BFA Major in Theatre with a Film Production Concentration. The $200 million Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program passed by the Texas Legislature earlier in 2023 is expected to further increase the demand for Texas State program graduates.   A native Texan, Buckley is an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie award-winning producer and writer with more than 25 years of experience in film, television, new media and animation. Her work in scripted broadcast television work has been seen in 32 countries. In 2019, she produced the HBO's Comedy Special Entre Nos, employing nine paid Texas State film student interns. Independent features include the Netflix feature film, Hoovey, and the indie film Edge of the World as well as the Showtime broadcast Dog Days of the West, a feature film extension of the award-winning series Wishbone Buckley produced for PBS. Buckley has BFA in broadcast-film arts from Southern Methodist University and studied in the dramatic writing graduate program at Texas State. She teaches film producing as well as the business of film, a legacy course created by Tom Copeland, who founded the film concentration program at Texas State. Further reading: Live Oak Hall groundbreaking ushers in new film sound stage, TV studioBachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Film Production

Texas State University's Colleen Myles, an associate professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her research into the social interplay between craft breweries and the communities they reside in.The contemporary craft brewery boom is having a broader impact on U.S. culture than simply providing an array of beverages to consume. Those small, independent craft breweries are increasingly active participants in their communities' environmental and social sphere. These breweries often take up and champion local causes, becoming powerful agents of advocacy for sustainability initiatives, wildlife conservation, public spaces, defending the rights of marginalized populations, fighting hunger, homelessness and a host of other causes. Almost half of craft breweries engage in some form of social advocacy, bringing to bear on local issues the innovation and independence for which these businesses are known.  Myles is a rural geographer and political ecologist with specialties in land and environmental management; (ex)urbanization; (rural) sustainability and tourism; wine, beer and cider geographies (aka fermented landscapes); and agriculture, inclusive of urban, peri-urban and “local.” She holds a level 1 certificate in wine from the Wine Spirit Education Trust, a specialist of Texas wines certification from the Texas Wine School and is a certified specialist of wine by the Society for Wine Educators. She completed her Ph.D. in geography and her master's in community development both at the University of California-Davis. She earned her bachelor's with a double major of liberal studies and political science at Sonoma State University.  Further reading:Fermented LandscapesCraft breweries are fermenting change, addressing local ills while serving local ales

Texas State University's Ali Forbes, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her research into the cultural impact of video games—NBA2K, in particular.   NBA 2K debuted in 1999 and since then has become an enduring franchise. The game simulates professional basketball and attracts millions of players around the globe. Along the way, NBA 2K has developed its own culture—as a multiuser domain game, players can create their own characters and socialize with other players—but has also become part of the larger, real-world culture of the National Basketball League. Forbes is particularly interested in the interactions players of different ethnicities have within the game environment, as well as those of women and girls. Her research is the basis for a book she is currently writing.   Forbes completed her Ph.D. at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is from Canada, where her family still lives. Forbes' professional background is in live broadcast production for radio, television and online and she teaches classes in studio production, live sports production, advanced issues and ethics in sports journalism.   Further reading:Playing for a level court in esports Understanding the Culture of NBA2K

Texas State University's Emma Parsley, sustainability coordinator in the Office of Sustainability at Texas State University, join the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the university's recent STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. It is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Texas State has a longstanding commitment to environmental conservation, exemplified by the university's stewardship of the headwaters of the San Marcos River, the national award-winning Bobcat Blend composting program, Masters in Sustainability Studies and active co-curricular environmental groups. This commitment was formalized in 2018 with the creation of the Office of Sustainability. Parsley earned her bachelor of science and technology degree in environmental/environmental health engineering and her master's in sustainability studies, both from Texas State. Further reading: Texas State's STARS report Sustainability Culture Assessment Texas State earns STARS Silver rating for sustainability achievements

Texas State University's Alyson Collins, an assistant professor, and Stephen Ciullo, an associate professor, both in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas State University, join the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss their program to improve writing instruction for students with disabilities. A survey of fourth-grade general and special education teachers indicated fewer than 20% of them felt adequately prepared to teach writing to students with and at risk for disabilities. Through that, Collins and Ciullo identified a need to provide special and general educators professional development in writing to help them be more prepared to address the needs of students with disabilities. Their program, “Turning the TIDE: Building Teacher Capacity to Accelerate Text-Based Writing Performance of Students With and At Risk for Disabilities,” will provide the necessary professional development for these teachers to collaboratively deliver intensive intervention in text-based writing to students with and at risk for disabilities. Collins has nine years of teaching experience in Texas public schools and an extensive background in implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS). Her research focuses on effective intervention and assessment for students with learning disabilities, specifically in the areas of reading and writing. Ciullo's research focuses on two topics. First, he studies the extent to which classroom writing instruction provided to students with disabilities aligns with research evidence, and how observed instruction relates to students' writing performance. Second, he is interested in interventions that enhance teachers' effectiveness in the area of writing and content-area knowledge. Further reading: Research To Accelerate Pandemic Recovery in Special Education: Grantee Spotlight Blog Series Featuring Dr. Alyson Collins Turning the TIDE: Building Teacher Capacity to Accelerate Text-Based Writing Performance of Students With and At Risk for Disabilities

Texas State University's Miranda Wait, deputy director of Spring Lake education for The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss various projects and programs that can be found at Spring Lake. One of the oldest sites in North America continuously inhabited by humans, Spring Lake is an environmentally sensitive natural space. Through much of the 20th century it was the site of Aquarena, one of the most popular theme parks in Texas. Today it is home to The Meadows Center, which inspires research, innovation and leadership that ensures clean, abundant water for the environment and all humanity. One popular legacy of Aquarena are the glass bottom boats, which offer a stunning view of flora and fauna that abound in the crystal-clear depths of Spring Lake. An ongoing program is refurbishing these vintage boats with fiberglass hulls to improve their long-term durability and the recent construction of a floating dock ensures the safety of the boats during flooding events. Other initiatives on tap for the coming year include guided snorkeling and kayak tours. Wait's educational background is in biology with an emphasis in wildlife ecology. She has a passion for getting kids and adults outdoors and excited about nature. Currently, she is working on bringing a research component to The Meadows Center's educational programming. Wait recently joined the Texas Informal Science Educators Association for a three-year term. Further reading: The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment Meadows Center constructing new glass-bottom boat dock at Spring Lake Meadows Center and San Marcos Chamber hold ribbon cutting for restored glass-bottom boat #1963 Meadows Center reintroduces snorkel, kayak tours at Spring Lake

Texas State University's Farzan Irani, professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the stereotypes and myths about stuttering. Of particular interest to Irani is fluency development in bilingual children and the misconception that bilingual children are more likely to stutter than their monolingual counterparts. Irani has also done extensive longitudinal work on stuttering treatment outcomes. Irani oversees the Comprehensive Stuttering Therapy Program, an intensive clinical program designed for adolescents and adults who stutter that is based at Texas State's Round Rock Campus. The program, established in 2011, is offered by the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic every July. Irani received his bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology and audiology at the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mumbai India. He received his master's degree and earned his doctorate in communication sciences and disorders at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. He has experience working as a graduate student and clinician at Bowling Green State University's Intensive Clinic for Adolescents and Adults. He also gained experience in delivering therapeutic services to People Who Stutter via telepractice during his doctoral program. His research interests include psychosocial aspects of stuttering, multicultural aspects of stuttering and treatment effectiveness in stuttering. Further reading: Texas State professor sheds light on bilingual stuttering issues Intensive Stuttering Therapy with Telepractice Follow-Up: Longitudinal Outcomes Classifying Disfluencies in Preschool and School-Age Spanish-English Bilinguals Who Do Not Stutter: An Exploratory Study

Texas State University's Laure Brimbal, assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the research that shows children are judged more harshly for telling blunt truths than for lies. Research published in October by Brimbal suggests children who tell blunt truths such as “I don't want this present – it's ugly!” are judged more harshly by adults than those who bend the truth to be polite or protect others. Published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Moral Education, the research demonstrates the mixed messages that adults are giving children about lying versus telling the truth in different contexts. The study followed 267 adults from the Northeast U.S. being shown videos of children, aged 6 to 15, telling the truth or lying in various social situations. In some scenarios, the 24 different children lied to protect others. Findings showed that the adults judged the blunt truth-tellers more harshly than those who lied or told vague truths, but only when they told lies in order to be polite. When children lied to protect others, telling blunt truths or lies had less of an influence on how adults viewed the child. Prior to coming to Texas State, Brimbal was a postdoctoral research associate at Iowa State University. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology and law from the Graduate Center, CUNY in 2016. Her research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and the criminal justice system, specifically policing. Her focus is on interviewing and issues such as how to build rapport to overcome resistance and how to use evidence in an interview to improve lie-detection accuracy. She has also examined broader issues of decision-making in investigations, evaluating the effectiveness of training approaches and integrating research and practice. Further reading: Children who tell blunt truth, as opposed to lying, are being judged harsher by adults Inconvenient truth-tellers: Perceptions of children's blunt honesty

Texas State University's Stella Silva, assistant vice president for inclusive excellence-faculty and staff initiatives, and Victoria Black, associate dean of University College student services, join the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the university's recent designation as a Seal of Excelencia recipient. Texas State is one of only six institutions certified in 2022 for the seal by Excelencia in Education, the nation's premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education. Texas State joins an exclusive group of 30 colleges and universities nationally who are so recognized for demonstrating through data, evidence-based practices and leadership, how they are intentionally serving Latino students. The Seal of Excelencia framework was developed with colleges and universities over many years as a tool for institutional self-assessment. The seal certification is valid for three years and institutions committed to a journey of transformation to intentionally serve their Latino students may choose to apply. This marks the fourth year Excelencia has offered the Seal of Excelencia—a national certification process supporting institutional transformation to serve Latino, and all, students. Texas State has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2011. Currently, 40.5% of the student body identifies as Hispanic/Latino. In 2021, Hispanic Outlook magazine recognized Texas State as one of the Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics. Texas State was nationally ranked in seven categories, including 13th for total bachelor's degrees granted to Hispanics, 28th for total Hispanic enrollment among 4-year schools and 47th for total master´s degrees granted to Hispanics. Further reading: National spotlight on Texas State for Seal of Excelencia honor Excelencia in Education

Rodney Rohde, Texas State University System Regents Professor in the College of Health Professions and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox in the U.S. Rohde holds certifications as a specialist in virology, specialist in microbiology, and molecular biologist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. He spent a decade as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control Division prior to his academic career. His research interests are diverse but focus on adult education and public health microbiology, specifically with respect to rabies virology, oral rabies wildlife vaccination, antibiotic resistant bacteria and molecular diagnostics/biotechnology. He has published numerous articles and has received a variety of grant support for his research. Rohde is a member in the prestigiousAlpha Mu Tau Fraternity (AMTF) and was named a CLS Distinguished Author, along with his colleagues, in 2013. He received the 2007 ASCLS Scientific Research Award and again in 2014for his work with MRSA and rabies, respectively. Further Reading What is monkeypox? A microbiologist explains what's known about this smallpox cousin What do HIV and COVID-19 have to do with monkeypox? Monkeypox Arrives in the U.S.—Now What? Monkeypox: What We Do and Don't Know About Recent Outbreaks Louis Pasteur's scientific discoveries in the 19th century revolutionized medicine and continue to save the lives of millions today

Aimee Villarreal, an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her appointment by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names, a federal advisory group to help identify and recommend changes to derogatory terms still in use for places throughout the country. Villarreal was trained in anthropology at the University of California at Santa Cruz with specialization in Mexican American culture and history. As a Chicana with roots in New Mexico and Texas, she is descended from farmworkers, faith healers, educators and community workers whose collective spirit she brings to her teaching, scholarship and creative projects. She is committed to homeplace ethnography and applied projects in partnership with local stakeholders. Her interdisciplinary research explores social movements and other acts of rebeldía for social justice, equity and sustainable futures in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. She produced and served as lead researcher for an award-winning documentary animation about the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. Currently, she is working on Unsettled Refuge, a historical project involving researchers in Canada and the U.S. who are documenting Indigenous practices of sanctuary and humanitarianism in North America. Her forthcoming book Sanctuaryscapes in the New Mexico Borderlands tells time-traveling stories about how vulnerable people band together to create communities of protection and care. Further reading: 1680 Pueblo Revolt: Frontera! Villarreal named to federal Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names

Hank Hehmsoth, an associate professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss his work with Christopher Cross, music education and the fascinating discoveries he's made in jazz research. As a performing artist, Hehmsoth has played more than 10,000 international, national, state and regional area performances, from classical to jazz to pop/rock, as well as Broadway, concert tour music, nightclubs and symphony. He is a lifetime voting member for the Grammy Awards. Hehmsoth teaches composition and jazz piano. His students play piano, bass, sax, flute, guitar and have won awards and scholarships including Berklee College of Music and the Patti Strickel Harrison Scholarship. Composition students learn commercial arranging and contemporary techniques in jazz. His studio includes international students from Serbia, China, South Korea and South America. He is a MacDowell Norton Stevens fellow in composition, a National Endowment for the Arts fellow in jazz composition (1979), a Fulbright Senior Specialist in jazz studies, a National Endowment for the Arts project specialist and a research scholar for the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. Further reading: Hehmsoth YouTube channel Texas State's Hehmsoth uncovers audio trove of jazz history We Are the Music Makers Hehmsoth on Wordpress

Dale Blasingame, an assistant professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss National Parks, State Parks and incorporating these outdoor treasures into higher education. A founder of the Study-in-America program at Texas State, each semester Blasingame oversees a class of students who travel to public parks across the U.S. to hone their journalism skills and learn to tell stories with substance and relevance. Students benefit from the experience of studying beyond the traditional classroom setting, much like studying abroad. Blasingame is an avid hiker and traveler. In 2014, he visited all 95 state parks in Texas in one year. He's now almost halfway through his mission to visit all 400+ national park properties. Dale's dog, Lucy, joins him on trips and loves to hike and climb rocks. Blasingame and Lucy were included on Texas Highways Magazine's list of Extraordinary Texans for 2016, and his stories have been featured on TV, radio, digital and in magazines. He's been able to marry his passions of technology and our parks by creating a course called Mobile Storytelling in the Park, in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife, where students produce social video content at state parks. In 2017, Blasingame received a grant to develop the School of Journalism and Mass Communication's first Study in America course, where he took students to do similar work in national parks. The program is now in its third year. Blasingame is a member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, National Park Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association and The Trail Foundation. He's also a licensed commercial drone pilot. Before joining the Texas State faculty, Blasingame was a television news producer. He spent nine years at WOAI-TV in San Antonio, where he won two Lone Star Emmy awards and was nominated for a third. Before that, he was a news anchor and sports reporter for KTSA-AM in San Antonio. Blasingame is a member of the Online News Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Further reading: Study-in-America: Journalism Students report from state, national parks as they create content for digital and social media outlets Digital Media Innovation Dale Blasingame on Instagram Lucy And Her Leash

Kate Spradley, a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her work along the South Texas border with Operation I.D. Beginning in 2013, the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State began a service-learning project ‒ Operation Identification (OpID) led and directed by Spradley. Operation ID was founded to facilitate the identification and repatriation of unidentified human remains found along or in close proximity to the South Texas border through community outreach, scientific analysis and collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations. The process of identification of migrant remains in Texas, as in every other border state requires collaboration. FACTS faculty and staff work closely with the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, South Texas Center for Human Rights, Colibrí Center for Human Rights, in addition to foreign consulates, the USCBP Missing Migrant Project, the National Missing and Unidentifeid Persons System (NamUS) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as some of the cases represent individuals under the age of 18. Working together with undergraduate and graduate students, Spradley's team serves the families of the missing and law enforcement agencies within Texas that have limited resources to pursue identification efforts. Operation Identification facilitates exhumation, processing, analysis, storage, and identification efforts of migrant deaths from South Texas. Spradley received her master's from the University of Arkansas in 2000 and her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in 2006. She is a biological anthropologist with specific research interests in human biological variation, forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology and quantitative methods. Further reading: The Guardian: ‘Treated like trash': the project trying to identify the bodies of migrants Texas Public Radio: The Dead In The Desert: Unknown Burials And Operation I.D. New York Times: Can Skeletons Have a Racial Identity? Esquire: Inside the Four-Year Forensic Search to Give One Migrant Family an Answer

Seoyoun Kim, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Texas State University joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the surprising health benefits of volunteering. Kim's research indicates that that health benefits derived from volunteer work are greater for lower-income volunteers than for wealthier ones. In the U.S., approximately 29 million older adults volunteer through an organization annually, contributing 3 billion hours of service to the community at large. Kim analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative U.S. study funded by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration that surveys approximately 20,000 older adults every two years and accounts for income. Using this data, her research team created a quasi-experimental study using statistical analyses to adjust for the fact that wealthier older adults were more likely to volunteer, among other factors, thereby reducing bias in their results. Findings showed that in the full sample, volunteering enhanced self-reported health and reduced depressive symptoms for older adults in general. Significantly, those in the lowest wealth quintile experienced more gains in self-reported health from volunteering compared to their wealthy counterparts. Volunteering was associated with fewer depressive symptoms regardless of wealth status. Kim earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from Michigan State University and her in Ph.D. in sociology gerontology Purdue University. Her research interests include aging and the life course, physical and mental health and quantitative methods. Further reading: Volunteering provides greater health benefits to low-income volunteers than more wealthy counterparts Volunteering as an Equalizer: A Quasi-Experimental Study Using Propensity Score Analysis

Andrew Ojede, an associate professor in the Department of Finance and Economics at Texas State University joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the impact that international sanctions are having in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. When Russian forces crossed the border into Ukraine on February 24, the international response was swift. The United States, European Union and other nations around the world imposed strict and far-reaching economic sanctions on Russia that far exceeded previous sanction efforts. From targeting Russian banking interests, oligarchs and Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, the unprecedented financial pressures are having a crippling effect on the Russian economy… but also spilling over to affect those countries imposing the sanctions as well. Ojede is the co-founder of the Africa Policy & Analytics Group. He earned his B.A. in economics from Makerere University, Uganda, his master's in economics from the University of North Texas and his Ph.D. in economics from Kansas State University. His research interests include international economics, macro economics, regional economic growth and international development. Further reading: Analysis of rouble currency crisis

Andrea Banzatti, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Texas State University joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the observatory time he has been awarded on NASA's recently-launched James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST is NASA's flagship infrared telescope designed to study exoplanets and distant galaxies. The telescope was successfully launched Dec. 25, 2021, and is now at its permanent home at the L2 Lagrangian point, where it will observe the deepest reaches of the cosmos. Banzatti will use 19 hours of observation time during the telescope's first cycle of observations in the summer of 2022 for the research program, "The infrared water spectrum as a tracer of pebble delivery to rocky planets." Banzatti earned his Ph.D. at ETH Zurich, Switzerland in 2013, after earning both his master's and bachelor's degrees in physics from the University of Milan, Italy. Banzatti's research interests include the observations of protoplanetary disks and exoplanet formation across the wavelength spectrum (ultra-violet, optical, near- and mid-infrared, and radio), and across disk evolutionary stages (primordial, transition and debris disks). Much of his research focuses on monitoring biologically-relevant gas chemistry, such as water and organic molecules, in planet-forming regions. Further reading: Exoplanet Formation Research at Texas State Texas State physicist to use James Webb Space Telescope to study water delivery to exoplanets

Elizabeth K. Eger, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss presenteeism—the pressure to work while sick—and the negative impacts this has on both the individual and business. Presenteeism, or sickness presence, is the act of showing up for work without (really) being productive. The individual is there because they have a project to finish or a boss or co-workers who depend on them. Another reason people engage in presenteeism is that they don't have paid sick leave and COVID has greatly complicated the situation with the increase in remote working. Eger obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Colorado Boulder where she also received graduate certificates in citical theory and in women and gender studies. Eger teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in organizational communication, qualitative methods, gender and communication, and work, identity and difference. Her research examines how we understand ourselves in relationship to work, how communication of difference impacts our organizational, health, and life experiences, and how collectives create organizational identities. Her ongoing research explores difference-based organizing, including long-term ethnographies of a transgender outreach center and a computing camp for girls of color. For five years before joining Texas State, Dr. Eger worked as a researcher for the National Center of Women and Information Technology to advance the meaningful participation of women and underrepresented people in IT careers and education. Further reading: Why Americans Can't Call in Sick https://www.damemagazine.com/2022/01/26/why-americans-cant-call-in-sick/ Communication Studies professor looks at how presenteeism affects workers and work places news.txstate.edu/research-and-innovation/2021/how-presenteeism-affects-workers-and-work-places.html #mydisabledlifeisworthy on Twitter: twitter.com/search?q=%23mydisabledlifeisworthy&src=typed_query

Josh Daspit, an associate professor of religious studies in the Department of Philosophy at Texas State University, and Daniel Roy join the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the Sustainable Cultivation and Advancement of Local Enterprises for Underserved Populations (SCALEUP) program. SCALEUP is a new initiative at Texas State designed to research the factors restraining minority-owned business growth and develop remedies. Daspit's research interest is in entrepreneurship and he focuses on issues related to family businesses, innovation and social dynamics. He has more than 40 articles published in outlets such as California Management Review, Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Family Business Review, Human Resource Management Review, Journal of Business Research and Journal of Knowledge Management. Daspit currently serves as an Associate Editor for Family Business Review and for Journal of Family Business Strategy. He also serves as the Social Media Editor of Family Business Review and is on the editorial review boards of Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Journal of Family Business Management and other journals. Roy is a graduate of St. Mary's University in San Antonio where he received a BBA in Corporate Financial Management. After a brief stint in corporate banking, he returned to Texas and embarked on 25-year entrepreneurial journey starting three successful companies each deeply committed to the core values of integrity, caring and excellence. Roy was part of a national effort to develop a certification credentialing program that provides foundational employability skills to help people land jobs and get promoted in retail stores and beyond. To date, more than 50,000 jobseekers have been trained nationally. He has also served on the State Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Business, as chairman of the board for the Greater San Marcos Chamber of Commerce and numerous community and non-profit boards. Further reading: Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship project descriptions

Joseph Laycock, an associate professor of religious studies in the Department of Philosophy at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss religious freedom, new religious movements and the fascinating, pan-cultural phenomenon of exorcism. Laycock teaches courses on world religions, religion in America and the intersection of religion and popular culture. He is the author of several books including The Penguin Book of Exorcisms, Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk About Religion, Dangerous Games: What the Moral Panic Over Role-Playing Games Says About Play, Religion, and Imagined Worlds and The Seer of Bayside: Veronica Lueken and the Struggle to Define Catholicism. Laycock has been interviewed for several documentaries as well as Geraldo at Large, The Colbert Report, Coast to Coast AM, Mysteries Decoded, NPR, The Texas Standard, The Jenny McCarthy Show and Armchair Experts with Dax Shepard. Further reading: Joseph P. Laycock website Joseph Laycock on Twitter Religious studies professor explores exorcisms in new book from Penguin Classics ‘Speak of the Devil' by Philosophy professor Joseph Laycock looks at The Satanic Temple and religion in America How the Satanic Temple is using ‘abortion rituals' to claim religious liberty against the Texas' ‘heartbeat bill'

Kim Rossmo, holder of the University Chair in Criminology and Director of the Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss geographic profiling and the surprisingly wide range of applications for that discipline in various fields of study. Rossmo has researched and published in the areas of environmental criminology, the geography of crime and criminal investigations. He was formerly the director of research for the Police Foundation in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he was the detective inspector in charge of the Vancouver Police Department's Geographic Profiling Section, which provided investigative support for the international law enforcement community. Rossmo is a member of the Police Investigative Operations Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and was a commissioner and chair for the Austin Public Safety Commission for 10 years. He is an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University, sits on the editorial board for Homicide Studies and is a full fellow of the International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship. Rossmo has completed projects studying the geospatial structure of terrorist cells, geographic profiling applications in counter-insurgency and patterns of illegal border crossings. He is currently the principal investigator for two National Institute of Justice research grants, one on offender decision-making and the other on the systemic causes of wrongful convictions. He has published books on geographic profiling and criminal investigative failures and a crime atlas for Texas. Rossmo has been awarded the Governor General of Canada Police Exemplary Service Medal. Further reading: Jack the Ripper: A wrongful conviction based on flawed DNA analysis TXST helps Killeen Police Dept fight crime by identifying crime hotspots Geographic profiler uses Nazi Berlin to model terrorist activities Research indicates sharks are nature's serial predators NIJ grant to fund study of wrongful convictions, investigative failures

Kaitlin Hopkins, head of the Musical Theatre Program at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss building a ground-breaking musical theatre program from the ground up and then navigating the program through the COVID pandemic. Hopkins is an award-winning actress, director, producer and educator who has worked in theater, film and television for more than 30 years. In 2009 she revived the BFA Musical Theatre program at Texas State, which is now ranked in the top 10 musical theatre programs in the nation. She is also the proud co-founder of EETA, Educators for Equity in Theatre Arts. In addition, she is the co-founder of Living Mental Wellness, which is a holistic evidence-based company that offers educational programs to enhance mental wellness for performing artists through an integrated scientific life skills model. Her TEDx Talk on the importance of mental wellness education for students, along with her research and curriculum-based mental wellness training program for performing artists at Texas State has garnered international attention. As an educator, she received the 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching from Texas State and was recognized by Broadway Dreams Foundation as an innovative voice in education, and one of the 6 top women educators in the performing arts. In 2012, in collaboration with the ProJazz Institute Hopkins created and launched the first musical theater-training program in Chile. In addition, she serves as an external examiner for the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy in Dubai and on the artistic advisory board for North Texas Performing Arts. Hopkins teaches master classes all over the country and consults for multiple individuals and arts organizations. As a director, writer and producer her production of The World According to Snoopy made its world premiere at Texas State and had regional premiers at Theatre Under The Stars and Theatre Aspen. Other producing credits include producing radio plays and musicals for The Plays the Thing Series (LA Theatre Works) and The Pet Shop (Animal Planet Network) hosted by comedian Andy Kindler. Her directing credits at State University include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, RENT, Anything Goes, Urinetown, Hair, All Shook Up, Oklahoma!, The Wild Party, A Little Princess (world premiere) and Bat Boy-The Musical. Her productions at Texas State have been recognized with numerous awards by the Austin Critics' Table Awards. Further reading: www.kaitlinhopkins.net Living Mental Wellness www.LivingMentalWellness.com

Erika Nielson, director of the Common Experience at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the 2021-2022 Common Experience theme of "Compassion." Texas State presents an academic theme each year, providing numerous opportunities for everyone — students, faculty, staff and community members — to share in a Common Experience. The Common Experience theme for the 2021-2022 academic year is Compassion. It's an academic and real-world look at the self. The university community will focus on topics such as mindfulness, support, relief and genuine human kindness — for oneself, for others, and for everything around us. This Common Experience theme focuses on compassion as a concept that unites in commitment to affect change for the better beginning with the self and expanding throughout the campus, community, country and world. With profound implications for personal wellbeing and growth, dynamic potential for application and collaboration across disciplines, and promise of deeper connection between students, faculty, staff and administration, moving toward compassion can empower our university and its members to shape lasting personal and collective change for the better on the Texas State campuses and beyond. In addition to heading up the Common Experience, Nielson is the Common Reading coordinator, new student convocation chair and is a senior lecturer in University College. She received a B.A. in anthropology from Texas A&M University, an M.A. in reading education from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and a Ph.D. in developmental education, literacy specialization from Texas State. Nielson is also a yoga student of 24 years and a yoga teacher of 20 years. Her research focus includes educators and students in pre-kindergarten through higher education engaging in mindfulness, self-compassion and yoga practices, and their understanding and observations of those practices, as well as the literacy practices of adult learners. Further reading: Common Experience https://www.txstate.edu/commonexperience/ce-theme.html

Nick Dornak, director of watershed services with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the Clean Coast Texas Collaborative. The collaborative will provide coastal communities with technical assistance on best practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution and incorporate stormwater management techniques. As a primary component of the recently launched Clean Coast Texas initiative, the collaborative encompasses a dynamic team of scientists, educators, engineers and communication professionals, who will work with communities throughout the Texas Coastal Zone to address stormwater management and water quality concerns. Partners in the collaborative include the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services' Texas Community Watershed Partners, the Texas Sea Grant College Program and Doucet & Associates. Dornak has extensive experience with community-based planning, wildlife remediation work and public policy related to natural resources. His work is driven by his knowledge of the issues and his determination to find workable solutions. He is based in Driftwood. Further reading: Clean Coast Texas Meadows Center, General Land Office launch Clean Coast Texas Collaborative

Award-winning novelist Jennifer duBois, assistant professor in the Department of English at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her career, creative process and joys of teaching in the MFA program in creative writing at Texas State. duBois has written three acclaimed novels. Her debut, A Partial History of Lost Causes, was the winner of the California Book Award for First Fiction, the Northern California Book Award for Fiction, a Whiting Writers' Award, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Award and was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction. Her second book, Cartwheel, was the winner of the Housatonic Book Award fiction and was a finalist for the New York Public Library's Young Lions Award. Her most recent novel, The Spectators, earned recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation. duBois' writing has appeared in such publications as The New York Times, The Kenyon Review, The Missouri Review, Lapham's Quarterly, American Short Fiction and The Wall Street Journal. Further reading: Novel by Texas State Professor Jennifer duBois Reviewed in the New York Times Texas State English professor named NEA Creative Writing Fellow Texas State lecturer receives prestigious Whiting Writers Award Jennifer duBois website

Katherine Warnell and Jennifer Clegg, assistant professors in the Department of Psychology at Texas State University, join the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss their ongoing research into how children learn to lie. Lying is a complex behavior that requires sophisticated social cognition. The liar—in this case, children—have to think about how others are perceiving them, what they know, and whether the lie is successful or not. In their studies, Warnell and Clegg examine how children between 4- and 10 years old learn about different types of lies: Anti-social lying, as when a child tries to deny guilt after doing something wrong, and prosocial lying, or polite lies, which are often used to avoid hurting someone's feelings. Anti-social lies appear early in development, whereas prosocial lies are more difficult for younger children to grasp. On top of that, there are differences in lying across cultures, which adds further complications to the research. Further reading: Texas State psychology professors and students study how and why youngsters lie

Merritt Drewery, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss her innovative study into using black soldier fly larvae as an environmentally sustainable, high-protein feed source for cattle production. Drewery's research program focuses on the identification of novel feedstuffs to enhance livestock production. She is currently working on insects and insect products as feed for beef cattle. She is also dabbling in social sciences, assessing the impact of Covid-19 on different professional groups. A first-generation college graduate, Drewery credits her academic mentors with much of her professional success. As such, she is committed to helping students succeed in their academic and professional pursuits. She teaches animal science, leadership, research methods and grant development courses, but encourages any student to reach out to her for guidance and support. Further reading: Fly larvae studied as potentially novel livestock feed under USDA grant Ag program aims to increase underrepresented students in grad programs via USDA grant

Matthew McAllister, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the how intermittent fasting can contribute to weight loss and other surprising health benefits. As director of the Metabolic and Applied Physiology Laboratory (MAP Lab) at Texas State, McAllister works with human subjects with a focus on dietary and exercise interventions aimed at improving aspects of cardiometabolic health and performance. McAllister earned his B.S. in health and human performance and M.S. in health and sport sciences from the University of Memphis and his Ph.D. in nutrition from Mississippi State University. His research interests include the impact of nutraceuticals and dietary modification on markers of health and performance; the impact of dietary or exercise interventions on metabolic/oxidative stress induced by caloric dense feedings; and methods to mitigate physiological effects of stressors in high stress occupations, such as firefighters, law enforcement etc. Further reading: Intermittent fasting shown to provide broad range of health benefits in new Texas State study Research shows intermittent fasting provides health benefits

Emily K. Brunson, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the how vaccination hesitancy is complicating the effort to immunize the U.S. population against the COVID-19 pandemic. An applied anthropologist specializing in medical anthropology, Brunson received an M.P.H. in epidemiology and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her primary research focus is health care access and decision-making, and particularly how policies, social structures (including class and racial inequalities), social networks and personal experience combine to produce health outcomes for individuals. She is currently developing research plans and conducting policy outreach in relation to COVID-19 vaccination with colleagues from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and working on a study of COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, attitudes and behavior among college students. Further reading: CommuniVax aims to strengthen community role in COVID vaccination campaign New report warns of potential obstacles to effective COVID-19 vaccine delivery Vaccination research looks at where, how parents get their information

Steve Ison, founder and CEO of Rebecca Creek Distillery, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss how he made the leap from selling insurance to opening one of the first craft spirits distilleries in Texas. Ison, a 1993 political science graduate of Texas State University, founded the San Antonio-based distillery in 2009, making Rebecca Creek one of the first commercial distilleries opened in Texas since prohibition. Since then, Rebecca Creek has grown to become one of the larger craft spirits distilleries in the country, producing Rebecca Creek Whisky, Texas Ranger Whisky and Enchanted Rock Vodka. In spring 2020, with the COVID-19 rapidly spreading, the distillery switched over to full-time production of ethyl alcohol, which is the primary component in hand sanitizer. Ultimately, Ison and Rebecca Creek donated hundreds of gallons of sanitizer to Texas State and other public universities as well as San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston and Austin for use by those cities' first responders to help prevent them from contracting COVID-19. Further reading: Rebecca Creek Distillery shifts production from whiskey to hand sanitizer in fight against COVID-19

Hector Saldaña, curator of the Texas Music Collection at Texas State University's Wittliff Collections, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast for a wide-ranging interview to discuss his more than 20 years working as a music journalist and how that prepared him for the dream job as music curator with The Wittliff, and the amazing materials that may be found in the collection. Saldaña's articles have covered a wide range of subjects, from hard-hitting investigative reporting along the Texas-Mexico border, to celebrity interviews with Yoko Ono, George Carlin and Beyoncé. In his career, Saldaña has been a regular contributor to the Austin-American Statesman, Texas Monthly, Country Weekly, MTV and KUT-FM. He has won national journalism awards, including the Best of the West's 2017 award for Arts and Entertainment Writing and awards for Features Specialty Writing Portfolio and General Feature from the Society for Features Journalism in 2016. The Texas Music Collection expands The Wittliff's mission to collect, preserve and share the cultural legacy of the region. The collection showcases the full range of Texas music, from classic and progressive country to Tejano, conjunto, folk, rock and roll, blues, hip-hop, zydeco, Western Swing and more. The Texas Music Collection curates a broad range of materials, from handwritten song lyrics and historical documents to audio and video recordings, artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, posters and interviews from music journalists and biographers. Further reading: Hector Saldaña named Texas Music Collection curator at The Wittliff Texas Music Collection at The Wittliff

Hector Saldaña, curator of the Texas Music Collection at Texas State University's Wittliff Collections, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast for a wide-ranging interview to discuss his more than 20 years working as a music journalist and how that prepared him for the dream job as music curator with The Wittliff, and the amazing materials that may be found in the collection. Saldaña's articles have covered a wide range of subjects, from hard-hitting investigative reporting along the Texas-Mexico border, to celebrity interviews with Yoko Ono, George Carlin and Beyoncé. In his career, Saldaña has been a regular contributor to the Austin-American Statesman, Texas Monthly, Country Weekly, MTV and KUT-FM. He has won national journalism awards, including the Best of the West's 2017 award for Arts and Entertainment Writing and awards for Features Specialty Writing Portfolio and General Feature from the Society for Features Journalism in 2016. The Texas Music Collection expands The Wittliff's mission to collect, preserve and share the cultural legacy of the region. The collection showcases the full range of Texas music, from classic and progressive country to Tejano, conjunto, folk, rock and roll, blues, hip-hop, zydeco, Western Swing and more. The Texas Music Collection curates a broad range of materials, from handwritten song lyrics and historical documents to audio and video recordings, artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, posters and interviews from music journalists and biographers. Further reading: Hector Saldaña named Texas Music Collection curator at The Wittliff Texas Music Collection at The Wittliff

Acclaimed poet Cyrus Cassells, a professor in the Department of English at Texas State and an instructor in the university's MFA in creative writing program, sits down with the Big Ideas TXST podcast for a wide-ranging interview examining his career, family and creative process. Keenly interested in history and world travel, Cassells talks about his hermitage time spent at a Catholic monastery and visit to a Hawaiian leper colony, and how those experiences impacted his writing. Cassells is the author of six books of poetry: The Mud Actor, Soul Make a Path through Shouting, Beautiful Signor, More Than Peace and Cypresses, The Crossed-Out Swastika, and The Gospel according to Wild Indigo, which was a finalist for the Helen C. Smith Award for the Best Book of Poetry from the Texas Institute of Letters and a nominee for the NAACP's Image Award for Outstanding Literature in Poetry. In 2019, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Among his other honors are a Lannan Literary Award, a William Carlos Williams Award, a Pushcart Prize, two NEA grants, and a Lambda Literary Award. Further reading: A man of his words (Hillviews Magazine, 2019) Department of English spotlight: Cyrus Cassells (Department of English spotlight, April 10, 2020)

Acclaimed poet Cyrus Cassells, a professor in the Department of English at Texas State and an instructor in the university's MFA in creative writing program, sits down with the Big Ideas TXST podcast for a wide-ranging interview examining his career, family and creative process. Keenly interested in history and world travel, Cassells talks about his hermitage time spent at a Catholic monastery and visit to a Hawaiian leper colony, and how those experiences impacted his writing. Cassells is the author of six books of poetry: The Mud Actor, Soul Make a Path through Shouting, Beautiful Signor, More Than Peace and Cypresses, The Crossed-Out Swastika, and The Gospel according to Wild Indigo, which was a finalist for the Helen C. Smith Award for the Best Book of Poetry from the Texas Institute of Letters and a nominee for the NAACP's Image Award for Outstanding Literature in Poetry. In 2019, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Among his other honors are a Lannan Literary Award, a William Carlos Williams Award, a Pushcart Prize, two NEA grants, and a Lambda Literary Award. Further reading: A man of his words (Hillviews Magazine, 2019) Department of English spotlight: Cyrus Cassells (Department of English spotlight, April 10, 2020)

In March of 2020, Dr. Rodney Rohde, a professor in the College of Health Professions and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, joined the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the emerging novel coronavirus and the health threat it posed. Now, more than eight months later, Dr. Rohde returns to the podcast to discuss how much the world medical community didn't know back then, how much more is known about the virus now, the staggering death toll in the U.S. and the prospects of navigating the looming third spike of the virus this winter. Dr. Rohde's previous Big Ideas TXST episodes may be listened to here and here. For realtime updates on the coronavirus and other topics, follow Dr. Rohde on his various social media platforms. Twitter: @RodneyRohde / @TXST_CLS /@TXST_THR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010172941875 and https://www.facebook.com/txstate.cls/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyerohde/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/31389292/admin/ [CLS Program] Personal website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/

In March of 2020, Dr. Rodney Rohde, a professor in the College of Health Professions and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, joined the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss the emerging novel coronavirus and the health threat it posed. Now, more than eight months later, Dr. Rohde returns to the podcast to discuss how much the world medical community didn't know back then, how much more is known about the virus now, the staggering death toll in the U.S. and the prospects of navigating the looming third spike of the virus this winter. Dr. Rohde's previous Big Ideas TXST episodes may be listened to here and here. For realtime updates on the coronavirus and other topics, follow Dr. Rohde on his various social media platforms. Twitter: @RodneyRohde / @TXST_CLS /@TXST_THR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010172941875 and https://www.facebook.com/txstate.cls/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyerohde/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/31389292/admin/ [CLS Program] Personal website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/

Dr. Sarah Fritts, Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano and Dr. Sara Weaver discusses the threat white-nose syndrome poses for native bats in Texas and the damaging environmental and ecological consequences that could unfold if the disease continues to spread unchecked. Further reading: Texas Parks & Wildlife taps Texas State team to research white-nose syndrome in bats Study shows ultrasonic deterrents significantly reduce wind turbine bat fatalities Texas State researchers lead test of pioneering Bat Deterrent System

Dr. Sarah Fritts, Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano and Dr. Sara Weaver discusses the threat white-nose syndrome poses for native bats in Texas and the damaging environmental and ecological consequences that could unfold if the disease continues to spread unchecked. Further reading: Texas Parks & Wildlife taps Texas State team to research white-nose syndrome in bats Study shows ultrasonic deterrents significantly reduce wind turbine bat fatalities Texas State researchers lead test of pioneering Bat Deterrent System