Core Ideas - A Paleolimnology Podcast

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Paleolimnology is the science (and art) of reconstructing the past environments of fresh water systems. Join Adam Jeziorski and Josh Thienpont as they wade through the wide variety of topics covered by this interdisciplinary field. Whether you are already an expert at collecting sediment cores and microscope identifications, or you simply have an interest in environmental issues such as acid rain, eutrophication, and climate change, this podcast will help make the natural records that surround us as clear as mud.

Adam Jeziorski and Josh Thienpont


    • Mar 5, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 60 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Core Ideas - A Paleolimnology Podcast

    Ep. 60: The Anthropocene Remains Undefined

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 44:32


    ‘Odd Couplets' concludes by revisiting a previously discussed topic with some new information. The International Union on Geological Sciences' Submission on Quaternary Stratigraphy has decided to NOT establish a new epoch, and the ‘Anthropocene' remains undefined. This decision intersects paleolimnology, philosophy, policy and a lot of other things.

    Ep. 59: Paleonucularology

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 40:54


    The next ‘Odd Couplet' focuses on the intersection of lake sediments and radioactivity. Radioisotopes in lake sediments are used extensively to establish chronologies, but are there other applications that examine these isotopes directly?

    radioisotopes
    Ep. 58: PalA.I.eolimnology

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 52:01


    We continue our examination of the linkage of some less explored "Odd Couplets" associated with paleolimnology with one that is constantly in the news...AI!

    Ep. 57: Paleotempestology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 50:25


    Our second ‘Odd Couplet' looks arc continues with an examination of the records storms can leave behind in lake sediments.

    Ep. 56: Paleopaleoarchaeology

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 41:14


    We begin a new arc on unconventional applications/connections/linkages in paleolimnology, called "Odd Couplets." In the first episode we explore the connections between paleolimnology and archaeology.

    Ep. 55: Contenuous Funding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2024 48:48


    The ‘Money, Money, Money' arc wraps up with a look at the research funding invaluable to paleolimnology, but not funded by the university-industrial complex. Or is it?

    Ep. 54: Elite Institutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 46:08


    Our ‘Money, Money, Money' arc continues with another examination of research finances, this time from the university's point of view.

    Ep. 53: Fat Cat Professors

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 55:56


    Our ‘Money, Money, Money' arc continues with an examination of research finances from the professor's perspective. Where do the funds necessary to buy all the cool stuff used to conduct research actually come from?

    Ep. 52: Starving Students

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 50:39


    Our ‘Money, Money, Money' arc begins in earnest with a look at research finances (and the lack thereof) from the graduate student perspective.

    Ep. 51: Money Money Money - An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 28:51


    We begin a new arc that is a little bit different, exploring the somewhat hidden world of the money behind science (paleolimnology included). In episode 51 we preview the arc's major topics related to graduate student funding, research funding for faculty / lab groups, and several bigger picture topics.

    Ep. 50: Northern PEARLeo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 40:32


    We wrap up the core reading lists arc with a few papers that set John Smol (and colleagues and students) on his way to being awarded a lifetime achievement award by the International Paleolimnology Symposium at their meeting last year.

    Ep. 49: Oxygen Reconstructions are Hard!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 48:13


    In our penultimate Core Reading List, we explore the methods for reconstructing oxygen from lake sediments. We include papers that consider the "who cares" of oxygen reconstructions, and focus in on the use of chironomids as indicators.

    Ep. 48: Commentaries on Calcium Concentrations in Cottage Country Lakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 59:18


    We are back, continuing our Core Reading Lists arc, with a discussion tracing the topic of calcium decline, and where you might start learning about this in the literature.

    Ep. 47: Playing Chicken with Permafrost Papers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 47:47


    We're back with our second Core Reading List. We discuss Josh's two favourite topics; permafrost and paleolimnology!

    Ep. 46: Reading Up on Dating

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 39:26


    We're back, and starting a new arc. We're building reading lists of (our selection) of important papers on topics of interest to paleolimnologists. We start with a list to help you read up on dating.

    Ep. 45: Year Two(ish)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 34:44


    We're back for a short recap of year two (or so). We also preview the next arc, on key reading lists.

    Ep. 44: Too Much of a Good Thing (Data)?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 46:58


    How much data is too much data? When are you finished counting, and how many cores are enough? In the last episode of the conceptual rabbit holes arc, we consider data in paleolimnology.

    Ep. 43: Why Do We Know So Little About Oceanography?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 45:54


    As we continue our conceptual rabbit holes arc we are going to explore a question we have had for quite a long time on the show: Why do we know so little about oceanography? The discussion inevitably turns to one around the different silos in science, and whether they are real, and if they really matter.

    Ep. 42: Questions of Scale

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 47:47


    In this episode, continuing the Conceptual Rabbit Holes arc, we consider the amazing range of scales present in nature, focusing on size, concentration and density, and time, and how paleolimnology is a powerful science for bridging these differences.

    Ep. 41: Invasion of the Exotic Aliens

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 45:05


    In episode 41, as we continue our conceptual rabbit hole, we explore invasive species (introduced, exotic, etc.) and the impact they can have on novel environments. We consider the role paleolimnology can play in studying the impact of these invaders.

    Ep. 40: The Next Best Thing Since Sliced Sediment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 46:02


    We continue our conceptual rabbit holes by exploring a range of other (non lake!) paleoenvironmental archives.

    Ep. 39: It's a Wiggly World

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2022 43:44


    We're starting a new arc, journeying down some conceptual rabbit holes. We start by considering how to (if you can) match the paleo and contemporary limnological records.

    Ep. 38: Mucking Out The Stable Isotopes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 48:56


    Took us a little while to get this released (though we recorded it some time ago). but in the last episode of the small picture arc we explore stable isotopes in paleolimnology.

    Ep. 37: Top Of The POPs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 58:18


    We're back, and this time we explore environmental tracers and contaminants used in lake sediments.

    Ep. 36: Just a Smidge of Midges

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 45:57


    We're back to the small picture, and in this episode we're exploring the midges used in paleolimnology: the Chironomidae and the Chaoboridae. Join us to learn a smidge about midges.

    Ep. 35: Welcome to Paleolimnology!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 48:44


    We're taking a short break from the small picture arc, to say welcome to all the new paleolimnology grad students out there. In the episode we share a few suggestions (from ourselves and some current students) of tips for new paleolimnologists.

    Ep. 34: The Cladoceran Matriarchy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2021 59:17


    We're back after our summer break to continue the Small Picture...this time with the Cladocera!

    Ep. 33: Diatoms - Half Empty or Half Full?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 51:56


    As we continue looking at the small picture we explore a great (greatest?) paleo-indicator: the diatoms!

    Ep. 32: Pollen Counts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 41:52


    As we move onto a new arc of episodes focusing on the small picture (a deeper dive on some important paleolimnological indicators) we'll begin by exploring why pollen counts!

    Ep. 31: The Unbleakness Of Climate Change

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 52:48


    We complete our current arc with the most topical of topics: climate change. We discuss why we should care, how paleo can contribute to this discussion, and if there is cause to be hopeful.

    Ep. 30: Acidification - Problem Solved?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 41:46


    Recently the 30th anniversary of a critical treaty on acid rain was celebrated, and in this episode we explore the legacy of acidification, whether the problem is truly "solved", and the role of paleolimnology in that discussion.

    Ep. 29: Sitting on a Gold Mine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 54:11


    We discuss resource extraction, with a few well-known Canadian examples, and how paleolimnology can play an important role in understanding ecosystem changes.

    Ep. 28: Cyanobacteria Blooms: A Hot Mess - with Dr. Liz Favot

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 60:10


    We are joined by a special guest host, Dr. Liz Favot from the Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association, to discuss an important and topical feature of lakes, Cyanobacteria blooms.

    Ep. 27: One Complete Varve

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 19:22


    One full varve has been deposited since we officially launched the show. So we thought it a good time to reflect on what we've accomplished so far and what we hope to do over the next year.

    Ep. 26: Illuminating Biovectors - with Matt Duda

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 56:23


    Today we discuss how paleolimnology can track biovectors with Matthew Duda. Matthew is a PhD candidate at Queen's University and his work studying the dynamics of the world's largest colony of Leach's Storm-petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) has led to multiple high profile publications and he is one of the recipients of this years Rob Peters Award from the Society of Canadian Limnologists.

    Ep. 25: Defining The Anthropocene

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2021 40:45


    Today on Topical Paleolimnology we discuss formally recognizing the Anthropocene ("Age of Humans")as a new geological age to the history of the Earth, and the role lake sediments may play in that formal designation.

    Ep. 24: Many Grains of Salt

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 47:34


    A new Arc on Topical Paleolimnology shifts our focus back to the present, and current environmental questions that are being addressed using sediment archives. We begin with road salt and the widespread impact the de-icing of roads is having on freshwater systems.

    Ep. 23: Core Ideas and Smol

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 46:25


    We conclude our History of Paleolimnology arc by talking to John Smol, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change at Queen's University, about his perspectives on the growth of paleolimnology over the past four decades, including his role as founding editor of the Journal of Paleolimnology, and former chair of the IPA.

    Ep. 22: A History of Paleolimnology - Part 4 Into the West

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 49:25


    The fourth episode in our History of Paleolimnology picks up after key questions in the acid rain debates had been definitively answered, with the discipline poised to address many other environmental issues, including climate change.

    Ep. 21: A History of Paleolimnology - Part 3 The Road to Mordor

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 52:29


    The third episode in our History of Paleolimnology examines how a relatively young discipline tackled one of the major environmental issues of the 1970s and 1980s - acid rain.

    Ep. 20: A History of Paleolimnology - Part 2 There and Back Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 52:06


    We continue our dive into the history of paleolimnology with part 2.

    Ep. 19: A History of Paleolimnology - Part 1 The Elder Days

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 44:44


    Getting back to our roots with a real focus on the history of paleolimnology.

    history elder days
    Ep. 18: Science in A Dangerous Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 49:29


    In the final episode of our Contagious Ideas Arc, we look at the impacts the global pandemic will have on paleolimnology, both in the short term and well into the future.

    Ep. 17: Memeing to the Choir

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 47:23


    As our Contagious Ideas Arc continues to go viral, we embrace the meta-narrative and delve into the (love-hate) relationships between social media and science.

    Ep. 16: Open Relationships

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 51:47


    This time we continue our exploration of Contagious Ideas within paleolimnology with a look at the Open Access movement and its mission to reduce/remove the barriers to scientific research.

    Ep. 15: Words on Paper

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2020 62:20


    With many people at home working on writing papers, some for the first time, this week we discuss the slightly peculiar process of scientific writing and review.

    Ep. 14: Ex-citation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 48:43


    In this episode of Core Ideas, we continue our exploration of the spread of Contagious Ideas by asking what qualifies as a historically significant paper? Despite all the problems associated with distilling nebulous concepts into a single metric, we do it anyway, and examine paleolimnology using citation counts.

    Ep. 13: No Plan(et)B

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2020 60:46


    On this episode, the first in Arc 3 on "Contagious Ideas", building on the last episode on (the lack of) paleolimnology in popular media, we discuss the history of environmental awareness and activism from a western view, and how this has changed over time.

    Ep. 12: Popular Paleolimnology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 57:27


    In episode 12 of the Core Ideas podcast we begin to explore paleolimnology, and the questions paleolimnology can address, in the popular media. We briefly consider how news and other media have covered environmental topics such as eutrophication, acidification, climate change, and other emerging stressors, like road salt application.

    Ep. 11: Joining the Illuminati - A Paleolimnology Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 54:12


    In this episode of Core Ideas, we continue Into the Weeds of paleolimnology by examining some of the not-so-secret societies and associations that count many paleolimnologists among their membership.

    Ep. 10: The Questions We Ask - with Prof. Jenny Korosi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2020 49:23


    In the 10th episode of the Core Ideas podcast we welcome a special guest for the first time. Jennifer Korosi is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at York University, where her research uses paleolimnological methods to answer a range of research questions related to environmental change across Canada. In this episode, continuing our arc going "Into the Weeds", we explore the way in which paleolimnologists frame their research questions, including establishing baseline conditions, cases where there may be poor or no analogous environments and "big picture" questions.

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