On Topic with IU

Dr. Adam Roth is part of a research team studying cognitive function, decline and the personal, face-to-face networks people enjoy. There remain many uncertainties to explore in this growing area of research, but Roth says the data suggests greater diversity of our social networks serve us well as we age. Listen to this conversation to get more insights from the department of sociology research fellow and member of the Indiana University Network Science Institute. Read his study here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19485565.2022.2052711?needAccess=true More on Dr. Roth: https://www.adamroth.org/

IU social psychology doctoral student Tessa Benson-Greenwald joins us to discuss new research examining the perception of motives of scientists. She talks about her team's new study, the risk we face when public trust in science ebbs, how the general public perceives the work of scientists, and also Young Frankenstein. You can find her latest study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01461672211064456

The challenges for patients and care providers are different in rural areas, compared to their urban counterparts. We're discussing that here with Dr. Christopher Owens, a recent graduate of the School of Public Health at Indiana University - Bloomington. Owens is now an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, where he works studying rural HIV prevention and care, rural LGBTQ+ health, and the sexual healthcare practices of rural healthcare providers. Today the topic is his latest collaborative research, The Lived Experiences of Rural HIV Social Workers. Owens co-authors on this qualitative research are Eva Voorheis, Harold D. Green, Debby Herbenick and Brian Dodge from the School of Public Health at Indiana University, Jessica N. Lester, from the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, School of Education at IU, and Randolph D. Hubach from Purdue University. You can read the study here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2021.1981817?scroll=top&needAccess=true Find more about Dr. Owens' work: https://sexualhealth.indiana.edu/news-events/_news/chris%20owens%20dissertation.html And more, from the IU School of Public Health: https://publichealth.indiana.edu/

Millions of Americans are at risk of having their utilities disconnected, says Dr. Sanya Carley, a professor and scholar at Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Her latest research, Energy insecurity and the urgent need for utility disconnection protections finds that 24 percent of low-income survey respondents are energy insecure. She joins us to talk about those impacted, possible solutions, and much more. You can read the study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421521005280# More on Carley: https://oneill.indiana.edu/faculty-research/directory/profiles/faculty/full-time/carley-sanya.html Find more from Carley and the O'Neill School's work in energy equity at the Energy Justice Lab: https://energyjustice.indiana.edu

Researchers at Indiana University's School of Social Work are using machine learning to study thousands of cases of adults -- using anonymized data from the Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment -- to help those coping with mental health issues, identify intersections mental health illness and suicidal ideation and develop a suicidal prevention/recovery model within the mental health system. Drs. Betty Walton and Saahoon Hong join us to talk about their innovative approach. Dr. Walton's bio: https://socialwork.iu.edu/FacultyAndStaff/profile.php?id=Walton_Betty_beawalto Dr. Hong's bio: https://socialwork.iu.edu/faculty-staff/profile/hong_saahoon/ You can find more about their work here: https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/26724/Hong2021Examining-the-intersection.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y

Professor Laura Littlepage from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs joins us to discuss a recently completed study, Homelessness in Greene County, Indiana. We talk about the unique issues that are brought about by people experiencing homelessness in rural areas, from a lack of services, the difficulties involved with helping those in need in a geographically broad area, simply coming to understand the extent of the population impacted, and much more. You can read the paper here. https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/26798/Greene%20County%20Homelessness%20Report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y For more on the Rural Center of Engagement, visit here: https://rural.indiana.edu/

Dr. Jerome Dumortier, an economist and associate professor in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI joins us to talk about National Clean Energy Week, the growing clean energy sector, his research in bioenergy, land use, carbon emissions policies and much, much more. Dr. Dumortier's biography: https://oneill.iupui.edu/contact/people-directory/dumortier-jerome.html More on National Clean Energy Week: https://nationalcleanenergyweek.org

Women's Equality Day, marks the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, which guarantees all American women the right to vote is marked this month. As we celebrate the 101 anniversary of its certification, we talked with Deborah Widiss, a professor and associate dean for research in the Maurer School of Law, about the issues we face today. Professor Widiss' bio: https://www.law.indiana.edu/about/people/bio.php?name=widiss-deborah Professor Widiss has written several essays and op-eds regarding parental paid leave for single parents, which we touched on in this podcast. You can find two of them here: "Parental leave laws don't do enough for single moms – but there's a way to fix that" https://theconversation.com/parental-leave-laws-dont-do-enough-for-single-moms-but-theres-a-way-to-fix-that-137360 "Parental leave laws are failing single parents" https://theconversation.com/parental-leave-laws-are-failing-single-parents-129668

The long-standing eviction moratorium has ended, and millions of Americans, including thousands of Hoosiers, are now at risk of finding themselves in court, or being removed from their homes. We talked with Kelley School of Business economist about it for this quick hit. There are resources available. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has a portal for you, here: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/ In addition to the state funding, some county and city governments are also able to provide aide. The Indianapolis Star recently wrote a terrific piece explaining your rights, and the process many are now undertaking. Read that here: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2021/06/17/indianapolis-rent-assistance-indiana-renter-rights-landlord-eviction-laws/7627831002/

Dr. Micah Pollak, an economist at IU Northwest and director of the Center for Economic Education & Research is the coauthor of a study titled "The effect of in-person primary and secondary school instruction on county-level SARS-CoV-2 spread in Indiana." He and his colleagues, including two physicians, a biostatistician, a medical student and an education scholar, examined the 2020-2021 school year using data from across Indiana to ascertain the risk in-person teaching has had on local communities. We talked with Dr. Pollak about this study, how they conducted their research and what it might mean for next school year. You can find the study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33846706/

Prices are going up on a lot of products, but that's proof of a growing economy, says Kelley School of Business economist Kyle Anderson. We talk about the housing market, difficulties in getting things like microchips, fluctuating prices in lumber, the evolving labor force and much, much more. Overall, Dr. Anderson is optimistic about where the Indiana and national economies are heading.

Accidental drug deaths had been on the rise, and then the pandemic hit. IUPUI clinical psychologist Dr. Melissa Cyders joins us to discuss the challenges of the year and some of the early findings related to substance use disorder during the pandemic. There is help available to you, and others. Here's more from the Substance Abuse and Metal Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/recovery And here is a Google Doc that can help you find and join online support meetings: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10A2Nd6194FLadIn3XtysqOmWLzLTGYxVcFCYxpf7HIw/htmlview Cyders referenced this work in our talk: https://theconversation.com/people-with-substance-use-disorders-face-greater-challenges-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-137476 The Indiana State Department of Health's Drug Overdose Dashboard: https://www.in.gov/isdh/27393.htm NY Times: Overdose Deaths Have Surged During the Pandemic, C.D.C. Data Shows https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/health/overdose-deaths-fentanyl-opiods-coronaviurs-pandemic.html?referringSource=articleShare NewsNation: After record ‘deaths of despair’ in 2019, early pandemic data is grim https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/after-record-deaths-of-despair-in-2019-early-pandemic-data-is-grim/ Cyders also discussed the IU Grand Challenge: https://science.iupui.edu/psychology/research/long-term-recovery.html More from Dr. Cyders: https://science.iupui.edu/people-directory/people/cyders-melissa.html

Some students have gone back to school this year. Others are meeting in a hybrid style, but still more are running entirely virtual classes this spring. All schools in Indiana, however, are expected to be open for in-person classes come this fall. We talked with Indiana University Northwest's Dr. Vernon Smith, a professor of education, and a longtime educator himself, about the difficulties of this school year and what this year's challenges might mean for next year.

We spoke with Dr. Jerry Wilde, a professor of educational psychology and dean of the School of Education at Indiana University - East, about the challenges of the last year for parents and children of all ages. While we're still in the early days of understanding individual impacts, he says, there are some lessons to be learned and measures we can all take going forward. Here is the opinion piece we mentioned: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/local-opinions/montgomery-schools-are-failing-minority-students/2021/01/14/4e6c7306-550c-11eb-a08b-f1381ef3d207_story.html Also, there's new Dutch research that suggests some people are thriving: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/03/some-people-are-thriving-in-the-pandemic-research-shows/

University and college admissions officials across the country have been scrambling this past year in telling their story and helping prospective students during these most unusual days. We talked with Sacha Thieme, the executive director of Admissions at Indiana University - Bloomington to find out what the process has been like over the last year, and what new, incoming students can look forward to next year.

As Indiana opens up vaccine access eligibility, and prepares to remove its mask and safety mandates, there remain concerns about getting the vaccine to those most in need and most at risk. We asked Shandy Dearth, from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI about the measures Indiana in undertaking.

We talked with Shandy Dearth, from the Fairbanks School of Public Health and asked what we should do, and what we should not do, before receiving our vaccine shots.

Hoosiers 40+ are now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. We asked Shandy Dearth from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI whether it's worth brand shopping between one vaccine or another. Also, she talks about supply and what the experts really mean when they talk about efficacy.

Everyone wants to know, when are we getting back to normal? We asked that question of Shandy Dearth, from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI in Indianapolis.

Reported Covid cases and hospitalizations are currently declining in Indiana, and vaccination rates are up. (As of March 31st, 2021, Hoosiers 16+ are eligible to register for vaccinations.) In this On Topic with IU quick hit Shandy Dearth, from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI in Indianapolis, talks about how the Johnson & Johnson vaccine helped speed up vaccinations, and discussed how we study the success of all of the vaccines that are on the market.

When you get vaccinated there are still some rules to follow. Shandy Dearth, who teaches epidemiology at the Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI in Indianapolis walks us through it.

There are new CDC guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated for Covid-19. In this interview excerpt we discussed the hight points with Shandy Dearth, of the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI.

Covid cases and hospitalizations are down and vaccination numbers are starting to climb. IUPUI's Shandy Dearth, from the Fairbanks School of Public Health, talks about the optimism of the season, new advice from the CDC and about all of the vaccine options now on the market.

Nationally, student loan debt reached $1.6 trillion last year. That works out to somewhere between $200 and $300 for alumni paying off their personal student loans, but the economic downturn has a lot of people in a pinch. The U.S. Department of Education says about 20 percent of borrowers are in default, and a recent Pew study found most were concerned about how they'd make their next payment. To counter the national problem, the Biden administration extended the student loan grace period until September 2021. We talked with Phil Schuman, who is the executive director of Financial Wellness and Education at Indiana University -- Bloomington, to see what this means for alumni, students and potential borrowers. For more, visit https://moneysmarts.iu.edu

Dr. Greg Siering is the director for the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at Indiana University - Bloomington and he joins us to talk about emerging best practices in teaching remote and hybrid classes, building community with students in a virtual setting and the services that CITL provides to faculty.

Our economic recovery will likely be gradual, and spikes in coronavirus cases could directly impact those improvements going forward. That's part of the new economic forecast from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business scholars. Their new report suggests we still may experience some difficulties in the workforce, despite continued, if slower, improvements into 2021. Dr. Kyle Anderson, of the Kelley School of Business, said he feels optimistic about Indiana's position compared to many other states in that recovery. Listen to our conversation to find out why.

Planning the traditional holiday trip to see family? Give this a listen. We talked with Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI's Shandy Dearth about what might be safe, and what might dangerous, for our loved ones.

Polls close in Indiana at 6 p.m. eastern, on Tuesday. And if you're in line by then you will get to vote. Just stay in line, says Dr. Matthew Baggetta, a professor in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. In this quick hit he talks about voting, poll watchers and how it's very possible that we won't know all of the winners and losers on election night.

Indiana University's Covid-19 testing labs are now online at Bloomington and the IUPUI campuses. Dr. Aaron Carroll, of the IU Medical School and director of Surveillance and Mitigation at IU, says it's another step toward the university's ultimate plan of ubiquitous testing.

Dr. Matthew Baggetta from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs describes election day for us. Polls in Indiana close at 6 p.m. on November, 3rd, so get there before then, and stay in line, he says. The lines might seem longer because of social distancing, he says, but stay in line. He also talks about what voters will need to bring to the polls with them on Election Day.

What are the rules for mail-in balloting in Indiana? Dr. Matthew Baggetta, from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University -- Bloomington, talks about the mail-in ballot process, and absentee-in-person early voting. MAIL IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS: A federal appeals court has now reinstated Indiana's Election Day deadline to receive the mail-in ballots. Your absentee ballots must once again be received by noon on NOVEMBER 3rd to be counted. ABSENTEE IN-PERSON VOTING (or early voting): Tuesday, October 6th through Monday, November 2nd. ELECTION DAY, Tuesday, November 3rd.

Dr. Matthew Baggetta, from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University -- Bloomington, talks about the mail-in ballot process, and Indiana's acceptable reasons for voting by mail. MAIL IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS: A federal appeals court has now reinstated Indiana's Election Day deadline to receive the mail-in ballots. Your absentee ballots must once again be received by noon on NOVEMBER 3rd to be counted. ABSENTEE IN-PERSON VOTING (or early voting): Tuesday, October 6th through Monday, November 2nd. ELECTION DAY, Tuesday, November 3rd. ABSENTEE IN-PERSON VOTING (or early voting): Tuesday, October 6th through Monday, November 2nd. ELECTION DAY, Tuesday, November 3rd.

We asked political science scholar, Dr. Gerald Wright, about the importance of the upcoming vice presidential debate, and the town hall format debate that's scheduled to be next in the presidential debate series.

Listen to this, and then make sure you're registered to vote. Dr. Matthew Baggetta, from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University -- Bloomington, talks about the voting calendar ahead of us, the mail-in ballot process, poll watchers and much, much more. DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, Monday, October 5th. MAIL IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS: A federal appeals court has now reinstated Indiana's Election Day deadline to receive the mail-in ballots. Your absentee ballots must once again be received by noon on NOVEMBER 3rd to be counted. ABSENTEE IN-PERSON VOTING (or early voting): Tuesday, October 6th through Monday, November 2nd. ELECTION DAY, Tuesday, November 3rd.

Dr. Aaron Carroll is a professor of pediatrics, and a dean in the Indiana University Medical School. Carroll has been leading Indiana University's arrival and surveillance testing and health communications efforts for the fall 2020 semester. In this Quick Hit, we're talking about flu shots

Kyle Anderson, an economist at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business at Indianapolis, talks about the cycle that an economic downturn can create for those pushed out of the workforce. He talks about growth sectors of the economy and personal and business advice.

Before Election Day the American public will have four opportunities to hear the top of the Republican and Democrat tickets meet in debates. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled for three debates. Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris will meet in one vice presidential event. We talked with Dr. Gerald Wright, a professor in the Indiana University political science department, about the upcoming debates, how they might be different, and what homestretch campaigning during coronavirus-public health conditions might look like.

Indiana has mail-in voting, but it comes with a specific set of requirements. Dr. Matthew Bagetta, a professor in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs details the process in this quick hit.

After an abrupt end to organized sports in the early spring we endured several months without some of our favorite pastimes. Amidst everything else, it was one more sad loss of normalcy. But then, suddenly in September, we found a different kind of historic moment, a very exciting bit of history in a sports context. We talked with Dr. Lauren Smith, a professor of sports media in The Media School at Indiana University-Bloomington about sports, fandom and the sporting world bringing more attention to social justice issues.

Dr. Kirsten Grønbjerg, of the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs joins us to talk about an important sector of the economy. Grønbjerg is the director of the Indiana Nonprofits Project, which has just released an important study on the health of that part of the economy. She says not-for-profits have been hit by a triple whammy and talks about the biggest needs not-for-profits are facing right now.

Students are back. And things look familiar, but they are a bit different. We talked with Dr. Kathy Adams Riester, the Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Executive Associate Dean of Students for the Division of Student Affairs, about what student services and campus life will look and feel like this fall.

Dr. Todd Saxton is an expert on business strategy and entrepreneurialism. We talked with the Kelley School of Business professor about what small businesses are doing to stay afloat and innovate in this struggling economy.

This is a must listen episode. Dr. Aaron Carroll is a professor of pediatrics, and a dean in the Indiana University Medical School. He's also the vice chair for health policy and outcomes research and director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research. Carroll has been leading Indiana University's arrival and surveillance testing and health communications efforts for the fall 2020 semester. He's talking to us about sending children back to school, and all of the work the Indiana University campuses are doing to help keep their communities safe.

Kyle Anderson, an economist at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, joins us to discuss the state's economic condition as we make our way through August. He talks about the prospects for recovery, sectors hardest hit, evictions, personal advice and more.

Dr. David Brenneman joins the program to talk about the upcoming re-opening of Indiana University's famed Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, how the museum industry is fairing in the economic crunch and what you might expect to see the next time you visit your favorite galleries.

The coronavirus is changing a summer, and the upcoming fall season, of political campaigns. Traditional big rallies aren't taking place, large events that often feature campaigns or get out the vote drives are postponed or canceled, door-to-door electioneering may be impacted as well. Dr. Matthew Baggetta of the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs joins us to talk about local election strategies, messaging and what's to come as we look ahead in the campaign calendar.

Often times, when the economy struggles not-for-profits hit rough patches of their own. We talked with Dr. Jamie Levine Daniel, a professor in the O’Neill School of Public And Environmental Affairs at IUPUI to see how not-for-profits are doing right now. She tells us how some agencies are trying innovative approaches, the resources available to them and more.

When campuses went virtual in the spring it was a scramble for students and faculty. Dr. Ben Motz, director of the eLearning Research and Practice Lab at Indiana University's Pervasive Technology Institute began studying that transition. He discusses some of the findings of that work here for those preparing for another unique semester this fall. “Mega-Study of COVID-19 Impact in Higher Education” involves multiple campuses and faculty and students. In our conversation he is sharing some of the early findings, including the four key recommendations for instructors based on the mixed-methods research. It is important, Motz notes, that faculty remain aware of the potential burdens students may face while designing their fall courses.

Dr. Robert Kunzman is a professor of curriculum studies and philosophy of education at Indiana University. He is also the managing director for the International Center for Home Education Research. We talked about what it takes to homeschool, the rules and regulations that may be in place, how parents can decide if it is right for them and their children, homeschooling co-ops and more. More from ICHER here: http://www.icher.org

Epidemiologists track diseases, and so we are checking back in with IUPUI's Shandy Dearth, who talks about what scientists have learned recently, how reopenings are going, the data she looks at, and a lot more. And, hey parents, we also talk kids and masks.

Dr. Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, is a professor of radiology, pediatrics, medical education, philosophy, liberal arts, philanthropy, and medical humanities and health studies at Indiana University. He joined us to examine some of the similarities and differences between a pandemic a century ago, compared to what we're living through today.