Podcasts about uiuc

In this College Deep Dive Sarah Wigley (Clinical Professor of Voice) and Lara Brooks (Clinical Assistant Professor of Voice) at UIUC and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy Discuss:  The in's and out's of UIUC's unique program and BMA degree  What type of student UIUC's program might be right for  Exploring what campus life might look like  Diving deeper into the audition process and what UIUC is looking for If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you're interested in working with MTCA for help with your individualized preparation for your College Audition journey, please check us out at mtca.com, or on Instagram or Facebook.  Follow Us!  Instagram: @mappingthecollegeaudition YouTube: @MTCA (Musical Theater College Auditions)  TikTok: @mtcollegeauditions  Charlie Murphy:@charmur7  About MTCA:  Musical Theater College Auditions (MTCA) is the leader in coaching acting and musical theater students through the college audition process and beyond with superlative results. MTCA has assembled a roster of expert artist-educators who can guide students artistically, organizationally, strategically, and psychologically through the competitive college audition process. MTCA provides the tools, resources, and expertise along with a vast and strong support system. They train the unique individual, empowering the artist to bring their true, authentic self to their work. MTCA believes that by helping students reveal their potential it allows each school to connect with those who are truly right for their programs, which in turn guides each student toward their best college fit.  About Charlie Murphy:  Charlie is a proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's BFA program. As an Actor he has performed with theaters such as: NY Public Theatre's “Shakespeare in the Park”, The Pearl Theatre Company, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Kinetic Theatre Company, and the Shakespeare Theatre of DC. With MTCA [Musical Theater College Auditions -- mtca.com], he has been helping prospective theatre students through the college process for over 15 years. As a Teacher and Director, he is able to do a few of his favorite things in life: help students to find their authentic selves as artists, and then help them find their best fit for their collegiate journey. Through this podcast, he hopes to continue that work as well as help demystify this intricate process. This episode was produced adn edited by Kelly Prendergast and Socials by Jordan Rice. Episode theme music is created by Will Reynolds with Additional Vocals from Elizabeth Stanley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do with the regret of being right too early?Aakrit Vaish started Haptik in 2013: an AI chatbot company nine years before ChatGPT. By 2016 he knew the market wasn't ready. He kept going anyway. In 2019 he sold to Reliance Jio. In November 2022, he watched the world finally catch up to the thesis he'd carried for a decade and for a few weeks, sat with the sentence: "This should have been me."Today he's co-founder of Activate, an AI-native VC firm running with two partners, one employee and seven agents, and an advisor on the India AI Mission. In this episode, Avnish Bajaj sits down with a founder who has rejected him more than once, and asks the questions most founders quietly carry:1. How do you know whether you're early, late, or correctly timed?2. Why do you keep going when the rational move is to stop?3. When the world eventually proves you right, what do you do with the grief?4. In AI today, what does it actually mean to be in the 99th percentile — globally, not locally?5. How does a high-agency founder stay ahead when the tools keep rewriting the job?6. What Aakrit lands on: market timing matters, but identity matters more. 7. Mission over everything else. And the only advice he gives, seven times a day, to anyone who'll listen: have agency. Build. Don't wait.Chapters00:00 Why Did You Let ChatGPT Happen?02:30 Welcome to Unstarted — Introducing Aakrit Vaish04:00 Growing Up in Juhu — Normal Mumbai Business Family06:30 UIUC, PayPal Mafia & Moving to Silicon Valley09:00 Why He Came Back to India at 2711:00 What Was Haptic? India's First AI Chatbot Company14:00 The Alexa Moment That Started It All (London 2012)18:00 How Founders Can Know If They Are Too Early or Too Late23:00 2016 — He Knew It Was Too Early. He Kept Going Anyway27:30 Fear of Failure vs Fear of Not Trying Hard Enough31:00 The Pull vs Push Test — The Clearest PMF Signal35:00 Why He Sold Haptic to Reliance38:30 ChatGPT Launched. His First Reaction Was Personal43:00 "Should That Have Been Me?" — The Honest Answer47:00 From Reliance to India AI Mission to Activate VC51:00 How to Know Which Problem Is Worth Solving With AI55:30 99th Percentile or Nothing — The New Bar for AI Founders59:00 Why AI in India Is the Most Ignored Opportunity1:03:00 Anthropic vs OpenAI — Two Different Strategies Explained1:07:00 Voice AI, FinTech & How GDP Will Actually Grow1:11:00  The K-Shift — GDP Growth at the Cost of InequalityFollow Z47Website - https://www.z47.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/z47.vc/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/z47-vc/

Most organizations deploying AI today cannot answer a deceptively simple question. Which model is actually running in their environment?It is not a hypothetical concern. Model substitution, supply chain compromise, adversarial fine-tuning, and jurisdictional compliance gaps are all live risk vectors — and the industry has largely been relying on contractual guarantees from AI vendors rather than technical controls to address them.That gap is exactly what Project VAIL was built to close.In this episode I sat down with Manish Shah, Co-founder and CEO of Project VAIL (Verifiable Artificial Intelligence Layer). Manish is a repeat founder with 20+ years of company building experience, including as co-founder of LiveRamp, and he is now bringing that background to one of the most consequential unsolved problems in AI security, provably knowing and verifying which model is executing in your environment at runtime.VAIL's approach combines two core technologies. Behavioral fingerprinting creates a unique, verifiable identity for AI models based on how they actually behave during inference, without relying on access to model weights or architecture. ZkTorch, developed in collaboration with researchers at UIUC, brings zero-knowledge proofs to large generative AI models for the first time at practical scale, enabling cryptographic verification of model computations without exposing sensitive model internals.We covered a lot of ground in this conversation, including:Why behavioral fingerprinting is a fundamentally different and more resilient approach to model identification How model identity becomes a critical security primitive as agentic AI deployments expand Detecting prohibited and derivative models, including open-source models derived from Chinese-origin foundations like DeepSeek and Qwen Where frameworks like NIST AI RMF and the EU AI Act fall short on model verification requirements How verified model fingerprints fit into zero-trust architectures for AI systems and agentic workflows What standardization for verifiable AI needs to look like and which bodies should be driving itModel verification is not a niche research problem. It is becoming a foundational requirement for AI governance, compliance, and security in regulated industries and high-stakes deployments alike. This episode gives you both the technical grounding and the strategic context to understand why.

Databricks Roundtable episode: Operationalizing AI Agents: From Experimentation to Production. Join the Community: https://go.mlops.community/YTJoinInGet the newsletter: https://go.mlops.community/YTNewsletterMLOps GPU Guide: https://go.mlops.community/gpuguideBig shout-out to Databricks for the collaboration!// AbstractThis panel discusses the real-world challenges of deploying AI agents at scale. The conversation explores technical and operational barriers that slow production adoption, including reliability, cost, governance, and security.The panelists also examine how LLMOps, AIOps, and AgentOps differ from traditional MLOps, and why new approaches are required for generative and agent-based systems. Finally, experts define success criteria for GenAI frameworks, with a focus on robust evaluation, observability, and continuous monitoring across development and staging environments.// BioSamraj MoorjaniSamraj is a software engineer working on the Agent Quality team. Previously, Samraj worked at Meta on ads/product classification research and AppLovin on MLOps. Samraj graduated with a BS+MS in Computer Science from UIUC, advised by Professor Hari Sundaram, where he worked on controllable natural language generation to produce appealing, interpretable science to combat the spread of misinformation. He also worked with Professor Wen-mei Hwu on accelerating LLM inference through extreme sparsification.Apurva MisraApurva is an AI Consultant at Sentick, focusing on assisting startups with their AI strategy and building solutions. She leverages her extensive experience in machine learning and a Master's degree from the University of Waterloo, where her research bridged driving and machine learning, to offer valuable insights. Apurva's keen interest in the startup world fuels her passion for helping emerging companies incorporate AI effectively. In her free time, she is learning Spanish, and she also enjoys exploring hidden gem eateries, always eager to hear about new favourite spots!Ben EpsteinBen was the machine learning lead for Splice Machine, leading the development of their MLOps platform and Feature Store. He is now the Co-founder and CTO at GrottoAI, focused on supercharging multifamily teams and reducing vacancy loss with AI-powered guidance for leasing and renewals. Ben also works as an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis, teaching concepts in cloud computing and big data analytics.Hosted by Adam Becker// Related LinksWebsite: https://www.databricks.com/https://mlflow.org/~~~~~~~~ ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ~~~~~~~Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://go.mlops.community/TYExploreJoin our Slack community [https://go.mlops.community/slack]Follow us on X/Twitter [@mlopscommunity](https://x.com/mlopscommunity) or [LinkedIn](https://go.mlops.community/linkedin)] Sign up for the next meetup: [https://go.mlops.community/register]MLOps Swag/Merch: [https://shop.mlops.community/]Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: /dpbrinkmConnect with Samraj on LinkedIn: /samrajmoorjani/Connect with Apurva on LinkedIn: /apurva-misra/Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: /ben-epstein/Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: /adamissimo/Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction[02:30] AI Agents in Operations[04:36] AI Strategy Consulting[05:30] Agent Quality Focus[06:17] AI Agent Expectations[11:44] AI Use Cases Evolution[15:25] Agent Expectations Adjustment[17:41] Agent Quality Monitoring[23:22] Trust in GenAI Systems[33:33] Data Prep vs Product Thinking[40:27] Quality Systems Distinction[44:54] Q & A[1:00:57] Wrap up

In this talk, Yaron Brook challenges the morality of self-sacrifice, redefines what “selfishness” really means, and argues for a life built on reason, purpose, and personal happiness.When Yaron came to campus, we also sat down for a full conversation—watch it here: ⁠https://youtu.be/_SMJ76Hbu3s⁠Bringing Yaron Brook to campus was much harder than it should have been. What I thought would be a fun and intellectually stimulating event turned into a long battle with the university bureaucracy. Somehow, we still pulled it off. Read the full story here:Recorded November 7th, 2023.EPISODE LINKS:Yaron Brook's Website: ⁠https://yaronbrookshow.com/⁠Yaron Brook's YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@YaronBrook⁠Yaron Brook's Books: ⁠https://amzn.to/4bPjGBG⁠The Fountainhead: ⁠https://amzn.to/3NdfiTP⁠Atlas Shrugged: ⁠https://amzn.to/4dkyYzC⁠OUTLINE:0:00 – Introduction 1:05 - Talk 40:05 – Transition to Q&A40:14 – Question: Why do people join tribes instead of thinking for themselves?45:38 – Question: If selfishness is rational, how do you explain dictators like Putin or other corrupt billionaires who act in self-interest but harm others?48:41 – Question: If you want to solve problems and help people, is it better to become an entrepreneur or go into politics?54:55 – Question: If entrepreneurs are motivated by self-interest, how do you explain companies that create harmful products or addictive technologies?1:02:34 – Question: How do you live by a philosophy of self-interest when most of society believes in self-sacrifice and labels you selfish?1:04:51 – Question: Did you do an interview with Reason about capitalism, and how do you compare political power with corporate power?1:10:04 – Question: In Ayn Rand's philosophy, what obligations do we have toward family and friends?1:15:12 – Question: Is capitalism just a rat race focused on material wealth, or is there something deeper to it?1:19:22 – Question: What if someone genuinely feels happy exploiting others—doesn't that contradict your idea of rational selfishness?1:21:55 – Question: Doesn't capitalism encourage short-term thinking and require government to support long-term research?1:33:03 – Question: If companies eventually dominate markets, shouldn't governments break up monopolies to preserve competition?1:40:26 – Question: In a capitalist system where opportunities are unequal, how do we make sure talented young people from poor backgrounds can still innovate?1:45:26 – Question: Is capitalism a double-edged sword when companies knowingly design addictive products like social media?1:51:45 – Closing RemarksConsider Supporting UsIf you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project. Support us here: ⁠https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/⁠What is the UIUC Talkshow?Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas.

This week we will recap the NHRL February event with members of University of Illinois's iRobotics team! We'll talk about their experience with 30lb entries quack., FSH, and Killswitch and other famous entries from the team like Undertaker and Goose!  To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams where it will be shared to all of the audio apps the following week! Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PlayerFM, and all the other podcast places. Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

From Steel Mills to Quantum Scale-Up: Inside Illinois's Bold Bet on the Future of ComputingWhat does it take to build the world's largest dedicated quantum technology park — on the site of a former steel mill? Harley Johnson is leading that effort, and the answer involves equal parts materials science, economic development, and a 30-year bet on quantum that's finally paying off.Why This Episode MattersIf you're following the quantum computing industry's path from lab prototypes to commercial-scale systems, this episode maps the terrain. Harley Johnson — a computational materials scientist turned CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) — explains how Illinois assembled a unique combination of federal research funding, state economic investment, national labs, and top-tier universities into a 128-acre technology park designed to solve the quantum industry's hardest problem: scaling up.Whether you're a researcher, a founder, a policymaker, or someone trying to understand where quantum jobs and applications are actually headed, this conversation lays out how one state is building the infrastructure — physical, institutional, and human — to make large-scale quantum computing real.What You'll LearnHow a 1994 bet on quantum mechanics in a mechanical engineering lab led to directing the largest dedicated quantum tech park in the worldWhy Illinois chose a "beyond silicon" strategy for the CHIPS and Science Act — and how landing 4 of the first 10 federal quantum centers positioned the state for what came nextHow IQMP's public-private governance model works: a university-governed LLC partnering with private developers, accountable to the public while incentivizing industryWhy the park deliberately hosts a diverse portfolio of hardware modalities — including PsiQuantum, IBM, Inflection, Dirac, and Pascal — and how that mirrors venture portfolio thinkingHow IQMP's algorithm center connects quantum hardware companies with Fortune 500 end users in finance, insurance, energy, logistics, and pharmaWhat the DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative means for tenant selection and validationWhy roughly two-thirds of future quantum industry jobs may require a bachelor's degree or less — and what that means for workforce development on a former industrial siteHow the Duality Accelerator, Chicago Quantum Exchange, and Polsky Center create a pipeline from early-stage startups to scale-up tenantsWhy the convergence of physics, engineering, and computer science — all housed in one college at UIUC — is accelerating quantum's transition from science to engineeringResources & LinksGuest LinksHarley Johnson — Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering and Materials Science Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP)Organizations & ProgramsChicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) — regional hub coordinating quantum research, workforce studies, and industry engagement Duality Accelerator — quantum startup accelerator run through the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of ChicagoDARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative — federal program validating progress toward useful quantum computing NSF MRSEC at UIUC — Materials Research Science and Engineering Center focused on electronic and quantum materials Policy & FundingCHIPS and Science Act — federal legislation driving investment in semiconductor and quantum technology manufacturing in the US Companies MentionedPsiQuantum — photonic quantum computing company scaling up at IQMPIBM — anchor tenant at IQMP with longstanding partnership with UIUCKey Quotes & Insights"Help me pick a problem, a topic that is not big now, but would be big in 10 years." — Harley Johnson, on the question he asked his advisor in 1994 that launched his career in quantum materials"When I heard my friends who are experimental physicists say, 'We know how to do it, now it's just an engineering problem,' I said great — now you've thrown down the gauntlet. Let the engineers at it.""Something like two-thirds of the jobs that this industry will eventually create will require a bachelor's degree or less." — On workforce projections from Chicago Quantum Exchange research"Our neighbors and community members are learning about quantum and thinking about how my grandson gets a job in quantum. Because my family, until now, we're steelworkers." — On the community impact of building a quantum park on a former US Steel site"We're seeing a convergence of the great productive academic minds from computer science, engineering, and physics working now on the same problems. I'm not sure we saw that even five years ago."Related EpisodesAlejandra Y. Castillo — Quantum as a Regional Economic Development Engine — Castillo, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, discusses how quantum technologies fit into federal and state economic strategy through the CHIPS and Science Act, EDA Tech Hubs, and inclusive workforce development. Essential context for understanding the policy and economic framework that IQMP operates within.Martin Laforest — Building Quebec's Quantum Ecosystem — Laforest, partner at Quantacet and advisor to Canada's National Quantum Strategy, traces how Quebec built one of the world's strongest quantum ecosystems through decades of strategic investment — starting with a bet on condensed matter physics in the 1970s. A compelling parallel to the Illinois story and a window into how this pattern is playing out globally.Nadya Mason — Quantum Leadership — Mason, the dean of the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at University of Chicago, is a major force on the academic side of the Illinois quantum ecosystem, and has strong views on what's needed in terms of inclusion and education. Calls to ActionIf you're working on quantum scale-up challenges or building a quantum startup approaching the growth stage, explore what IQMP and the Illinois quantum ecosystem offer — from cryogenic facilities to algorithm partnerships to connections with Fortune 500 end users.Subscribe to the NQE Podcast to follow the people and institutions building the infrastructure for quantum computing's next chapter.Share this episode with anyone in economic development, science policy, or workforce planning who wants a concrete example of how quantum investment translate...

We're on-site at the Abilities Expo in Schaumburg meeting Samantha, a freshly graduated 18-year-old heading to UIC who speaks with clarity about independence, dignity, and the everyday design of an accessible life. This isn't inspiration theater. It's practical courage: how to choose a major, compare campuses, and advocate for accommodations while keeping joy and curiosity in the driver's seat.Samantha walks us through life with a rare distal SMA, explaining her mobility in simple, honest terms and the mindset shifts that help her move from can't to how. She opens up about navigating high school among mostly able-bodied peers, finding friends who lead with respect, and attending MDA camp where perspective deepened into gratitude. We talk candidly about ramps and elevators, yes, but also about the less visible layers of access: seating layouts, syllabus flexibility, communication with professors, and the social cues that make classrooms feel human. Her plan to start at UIC and possibly transfer to UIUC illuminates the real calculus many students with disabilities face—community versus proximity, services versus cost, growth versus comfort.Family runs through this conversation like steel cable. A sister who turns visibility into pride, a mom who scouts tools and options, and a veteran dad whose philosophy is simple and strong: you can do hard things, differently.Samantha's message is one to carry: you're not alone, it might be harder, and you are more than what meets the eye.Press play for a grounded, hopeful take on college accessibility, disability advocacy, and resilience you can use. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs proof that independence has many paths—and all of them start with your voice.

Ever dreamed of owning your own business? In this episode of Making Cents of Money, UIUC professor Mark Smith discusses Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). Join us as we learn about the benefits of buying a business instead of starting it from scratch. Show Notes: Professor Smith's Instructor Profile: https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/profile/mark-smith U of I's Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition class: https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/news/2023/06/12/entrepreneurship-through-acquisition-gies-grad-puts-coursework-into-action Deibel, W. (2018). Buy then build. LionCrest Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-5445-0113-0. ISBN: 978-1-5445-0113-0 Ruback, R., & Yudkoff, R. (2017). HBR guide to buying a small business. Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN: 978-1-63369-250-3. Warrillow, J. (2010). Built to sell: Creating a business that can thrive without you. Penguin Group. ISBN: 978-1591845829. Recommended Podcasts: • Built to Sell with John Warrillow: https://builttosell.com/podcast/ • Let's Buy a Business with Ryan Condie: https://ryancondie.libsyn.com/

This season, the plan is to expand the content of the podcast and feature more students, organizations, faculty, and staff.I figured the perfect start would be to focus on UIUC's Undergraduate Psychology Journal, "Psych Bites."We spoke with Jess Chen and Hannah Lamb about the creation, evolution, and focus of this exciting new project.Listen to how you can consume and/or get involved!*Spoiler Alert* Following on Instagram is the best first step. :)https://www.instagram.com/psychbites.uiuc/

Doug Rokke earned his B.S. in Physics at Western Illinois University followed by his M.S. and Ph.D. in physics and technology education at the University of Illinois. His military career has spanned 4 decades to include combat duty during the Vietnam War and Gulf War 1. Doug served as a member of the 3rd U.S. Army Medical Command's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) teaching, medical response, and special operations team, the 3rd U.S. Army captured equipment project team, and with the 3rd U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Assessment team during Gulf War 1(Operation Desert Storm). He was the U.S. Army's Depleted Uranium Project director from 1994 - 1995. He developed the congressionally mandated education and training materials and wrote U.S. Army Regulation 700-48, the U.S. Army PAM 700-48, and the U.S. Army's common task for DU incidents. Doug has taught nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, hazardous materials, and emergency medicine for over 20 years to both civilian and military personnel. Dr. Rokke was one of the original authors of the 1982 EDRAT (Emergency Disaster Response Assistance Team) proposal which formed the foundation for today's National Guard CSD teams and the Illinois CERT Teams. In preparation for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he wrote and taught the original Chemical / Biological Counter-terrorism Course for civilian emergency responders that is now the federal 120 city and Department of Justice course then served on the emergency response team located at Bermingham, Alabama . Dr. Rokke serves or has served as an advisor with the U.S. Centers of Disease Control; U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. National Academy of Sciences; U.S. Institute of Medicine; U.S Senate; U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Federal Aviation Administration; U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. General Accounting Office; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; British Royal Society; British House of Lords and House of Commons; United Nations; U.S. President William J. Clinton's Presidential Special Oversight Board; and local, state, and federal law enforcement, fire, and medical agencies. He has been an advisor and on-screen expert for numerous television documentaries on effects of nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare and depleted uranium with CBS; ABC; NBC, CNN, History Channel; A & E; PBS; Discovery channel, BBC; CBC; Gary Null & Associates; the Power Hour; and German, French, Japanese, Australian, Italian, Spanish, and Greek television networks. Dr. Rokke has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental science, environmental engineering, nuclear physics, and emergency management and was a staff physicist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 19 years (retired from UIUC). He has also taught elementary school, middle school, and high school. Doug is included in "Who's Who in America" and was recently nominated for "Who's Who in the World" and is included in "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" because his continued efforts and recognition as a national and international expert and educator. Major Rokke has been subjected to ongoing retaliation from Department of Defense officials who do not want information regarding actual adverse health and environmental effects of uranium weapons and their mandatory but ignored requirements to provide medical care to all casualties and to clean up all environmental contamination. - http://www.beyondtreason.com/ and http://www.grassrootspeace.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media. 

In this episode, Madeline chats with Fr. Alexander Millar, a priest of the Diocese of Peoria who was (at the time of recording) one of the chaplains of St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is currently studying for a licentiate in sacred theology at Boston College with a specialization in medical ethics. During their conversation, they discuss his family's unique faith situation growing up, how he ended up at UIUC for undergrad, his saint friends, different liturgical rites and the history of their standardization, receiving people as they are, a look into diocesan administration and the beatification process, Illinois martyrs, and so much more.During the course of their conversation, they make many references which you can explore. Some of these references include episodes 1 and 29 of this podcast Fr. Kartje, Fr. Steven, the Liturgy Guys podcast, and Fide et Ratio.Feel free to like, subscribe, and share the episode! Follow us on Instagram! @sbltfpodcastDon't forget to go out there, and be a light to this world!

Dr. David Ruzic is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering at UIUC , founder of Starfire Industries-- a company born at the Research Park-- and Director of the new Illinois Plasma Institute.He has spent his career not just pushing the boundaries of plasma physics, but making science unforgettable. He has lit up classrooms—often literally—with his engaging teaching style and explosive demos. He has taken research from the lab to the patent office and helped shape technologies for fusion reactors and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. He's earned countless accolades in his field and has an active youtube channel called IllinoisEnergyProf with nearly 10 million views. Simply put—if you think science can't be exciting, you haven't met David Ruzic. Dr. Ruzic's YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@illinoisenergyprof6878VISIT http://researchpark.illinois.edu/podcast/ for our entire catalog of episodes.

This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Augustus Wood, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois' Labor Education Program, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his book, "Class Warfare in Black Atlanta."   Syd Hyer, Vice President and Executive Board member of the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association, discussed the ongoing efforts to unionize the bike patrol at Park City Mountain.

In this episode, Anna Rose welcomes back Daniel Kang professor at UIUC and founding technical advisor at VAIL, for an update on ZKML and how the space has evolved since early 2023. Daniel covers the 2023-2024 cohort of ZKML tools including zkCNN, zkLLM, EZKL, and his original ZKML project, while introducing his new project ZKTorch, which offers a flexible hybrid of specialized and general-purpose approaches. The discussion explores practical applications like verified FaceID, proof of prompt, and proof of training, along with the technical challenges of adding ZK proofs to machine learning models. Daniel shares insights on the performance trade-offs between specialized cryptographic systems and generic circuits, and how ZKTorch aims to offer both flexibility and speed for proving ML inference. Related links: ZKTorch: Open-Sourcing the First Universal ZKML Compiler for Real-World AI ZKTorch: Compiling ML Inference to Zero-Knowledge Proofs via Parallel Proof  ZK Torch GitHub Accumulation by Bing-Jyue Chen, Lilia Tang, Daniel Kang Episode 369: Ligero for Memory-Efficient ZK with Muthu Episode 356: ZK Benchmarks with Conner Swann Episode 364: AI and ZK Auditing with David Wong Episode 265: Where ZK and ML intersect with Yi Sun and Daniel Kang Bonus Episode: zkpod.ai & Attested Audio Experiment with Daniel Kang ZK13: ZKTorch: Efficiently Compiling ML Models to Zero-Knowledge Proof Protocols - Daniel Kang AI Agent Benchmarks are Broken VAIL zkCNN: Zero Knowledge Proofs for...

محمدامین صادقی یکی از دانشمندان برجسته در مؤسسه تحقیقات محاسباتی قطر (QCRI) ـ زیرمجموعه دانشگاه حمد بن خلیفه ـ است که از سال ۲۰۲۰ به‌عنوان پژوهشگر ارشد در آنجا فعالیت می‌کند. او دکترای خود را در رشته یادگیری ماشین از دانشگاه ایلینوی در اربانا-شمپین (UIUC) در سال ۲۰۱۵ دریافت کرده است.تخصص دکتر صادقی حوزه‌هایی مانند یادگیری ماشین، بینایی ماشین و پردازش زبان طبیعی را در بر می‌گیرد، و سابقه‌ی درخشانی در راه‌اندازی استارتاپ‌های موفق مبتنی بر هوش مصنوعی دارد. همچنین در شرکت‌های بزرگی مثل گوگل و آمازون نیز مسئولیت‌های کلیدی بر عهده داشته است.از جمله پروژه‌های تحقیقاتی او در QCRI می‌توان به طراحی بهینه‌سازهای نوآورانه برای شبکه‌های عصبی، مانند WhiteGrad، اشاره کرد. همچنین او در حوزه یادگیری خودنظارتی در بازنمایی‌های بصری، و کاربردهای متنوع هوش مصنوعی در تحلیل تصویر و سیستم‌های پیشنهاددهنده، مشارکت‌های علمی ارزشمندی داشته است.00:00:00 شروع معرفی پادکست و مهمان 00:01:37 تجربه زندگی در قطر: آرامش، امنیت و مزایای خاص 00:03:59 سیر تحول کامپیوتر: از MS-DOS تا هیجان هوش مصنوعی 00:11:19 از المپیاد کامپیوتر تا دکترا 00:27:39 هوش مصنوعی در گذر زمان (ماشین لرنینگ) 00:48:08 محرک‌های اصلی پیشرفت AI 01:05:08 فناوری و چالش‌های اجتماعی: تضاد منافع و تکامل تمدن 01:14:00 سونامی AI: آینده‌ای مبهم و لزوم بازتعریف اعتماد 01:32:00 ارزش‌های پایدار در عصر AI 01:51:20 آیا ایران باید مدل زبان ملی خود را توسعه دهد؟Mohammad Amin Sadeghi is a prominent scientist at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad bin Khalifa University, where he has been a staff scientist since 2020. He completed his PhD in Machine Learning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2015. His expertise spans machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, and he has a track record of creating successful AI-based startups and holding positions at tech giants like Google and Amazon. His research at QCRI includes developing innovative neural network optimizers like "WhiteGrad" for deep learning, as well as contributions to self-supervised visual representation learning and various applications of AI in areas like image analysis and recommendation systems.Sponsorحامی این قسمت، لیموهاسته. یه سرویس قابل‌اعتماد برای هاست، سرور و دامنه که خیلی از استارتاپ‌ها و کسب‌وکارهای آنلاین ایرانی ازش استفاده می‌کنن.

Zoe sat down with Lily Beckert at Music Mukbang LIVE! on 4/17/25 at Gallery Art Bar in Urbana, IL to chat about her music experience while at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, her favorite things about local music scenes, and how she goes about writing music.Social Channels:Music Mukbang - @musicmukbangLily Beckert- @lilybeckertmusicAudio Edited by Uma TehThank you to Gallery Art Bar for hosting this event!

Zoe sat down with The Bowling shirts at Music Mukbang LIVE! on 4/17/25 at Gallery Art Bar in Urbana, IL. They talked about how the band got its name, what their recording process is like, and their favorite parts about performing live.Audio edited by Uma TehThank you to Gallery Art Bar for hosting this event!Social Media:Music Mukbang-@musicmukbangThe Bowling Shirts- @thebowlingshirts

Cara Bognar is the Founder of Top Tier Lessons, a sports technology platform that connects collegiate student athletes with parents looking for sports lessons for their children.  She's an athlete herself, as a former team captain for Illini Swimming & Diving, and graduated from UIUC with dual degrees in Bioengineering and Innovation Leadership and Engineering Entrepreneurship (ILEE).Cara's LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/carabognar/Top Tier Lessons- https://www.toptierlessons.com/VISIT http://researchpark.illinois.edu/podcast/ for our entire catalog of episodes.

"Hands Off" protests in Champaign, Stolen SNAP benefits, Charlie Kirk comes to UIUC, Cherry blossoms bloom at Japan House and Champaign Central HS softball team plays. Hosted by Nick RoachoStories by Faith Routhley, Emily Huffman, Sean Farnsley, Peter Hanson, and Maeve KeeleyMusic by Boxout

In this episode, Nick Perloff-Giles sits down with Lewis Lehe, Assistant Professor in the Transportation Systems group of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at UIUC, to discuss congestion pricing's consequences, two months later. Has the toll worked in reducing congestion downtown? How might we measure that? And beyond simply reducing congestion, are there other benefits to this policy? This conversation explores answers to those questions, and probes further about the purpose of ambitious policies like this one.

The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads sustainability efforts on campus, supports climate action, and creates opportunities for student involvement. Learn about upcoming initiatives and how iSEE will shape a greener future at UIUC and beyond. Whether you are passionate about the environment or just curious, tune in to hear more from board members and how to get involved.Resources:iSEE - Illinois Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

Japan House to add a new location, Art Sitkowski promoted to coach position at UIUC, and new IL law will allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees.Hosted by Kaitlyn DevittStories by Zayna Quraishi, Dylan Strackman, and Amelia BensonMusic by Boxout

Whether you are a dog lover or not, this episode with Olive and her handlers shares the special impact service animals have on the lives of others. Our guests share about the organization (4Paws), the journey of the pets they work with, the training to prepare them to assist someone in need, and the bonds that are made along the way. Resources:UIUC 4Paws: HomeInstagram: 4 Paws at UIUC (@4pawsuiuc) • Instagram photos and videosEmail: uiuc4paws@gmail.com4Paws For Ability: 4 Paws for Ability: Home - 4 Paws for Ability

In this episode of Liz Career Coaching, I sit down with Lynette Correa-Velez, M.Ed., a Critical Career Coach, DEIAJ advocate, and Founder & CEO of Pagame Project—an AI-powered career development platform dedicated to closing the women's wage gap.Lynette shares how her mother's legacy inspired her to create Pagame Project and Rita AI, a groundbreaking AI career coach designed to empower women at every stage of their careers. We dive into:✅ The biggest barriers to pay equity and how to overcome them✅ How AI and human intelligence can work together to support career growth✅ The importance of mentorship, networking, and risk-taking in career success✅ How you can get involved in Pagame Project's missionLynette's Bio:Lynette Correa-Velez, M.Ed. is the Founder/CEO of “Pagame Project” which is an AI/H.I.-powered, CareerDevTech social enterprise platform seeking to close the women's wage gap in the U.S. & globally. She is a trained #CriticalCareerCoach with over 20 years of professional experience in co-empowering individuals from all industries with a DEIAJ-centered lens. Lynette has received 18 awards and honors for her tremendous support and advocacy for all such as being 2024 “Latinas in Watch in the U.S.” by ALPFA National. She is a member of the Equal Pay Chicago Committee at Women Employed and an inaugural Associate Board of Director at Chicago Innovation. She has doctoral training in DEI in Education with a focus in HRD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and an alum of UIUC with her M.Ed. in e-Learning for Workplace Learning & Training & HRD. Connect with Lynette:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lcorreavelez/Join the mailing list at www.PagameProject.comEpisode Resources:Career and Family, Claudia GoldinLatinas in TechConnect with me!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizherrera1/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lizcareercoaching/Website:  https://www.lizcareercoaching.net/Email: lizcareercoaching@gmail.com40 Best Career Coach Podcasts100 Best Coaching PodcastsMusic: https://www.purple-planet.comSound from Zapsplat.comArtwork: Joseph Valenzuela DesignSupport the show

Luke and Thad Bergschneider are from Central Illinois where Luke is a University of Illinois Soil Scientist and Researcher and Thad is the current National FFA President. The future of agriculture is in good hands! These bright, articulate, knowledgeable men are critical thinkers, who are exploring how they can be an asset to agriculture. Growing up on their family farm, these two have grown not just crops and livestock, but also a passion for the future of agriculture. Luke, a crop scientist and researcher at the University of Illinois, is dedicated to studying soil health, water quality, and nutrient cycles—bridging the gap between science and real-world farming. Meanwhile, Thad has taken a bold step into national leadership, serving as the National FFA President, advocating for agricultural education and inspiring the next generation of changemakers. From hands-on experience in the field to cutting-edge research and nationwide advocacy, these brothers are shaping the future of agriculture in their own unique ways. Luke and Thad Bergschneider, two of seven siblings, grew up immersed in agriculture on their family farm in Central Illinois. There they gained firsthand experience raising corn, soybeans, and cattle, along with forays into pigs, turkeys, and sheep. After high school Luke studied agronomy at Western Illinois University and then attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a MS in Crop Sciences. He now works with the UIUC Soils Lab supporting multiple on-farm research projects studying water quality and nutrient cycles while continuing to contribute part-time to the family farm. Thad, after joining Luke at UIUC for a semester, is now taking a gap year to serve as the National FFA President. In this role, he is dedicating his time to advocating for agriculture, promoting agricultural education, and supporting the next generation of leaders who will change the world. Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we'll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to kim@asn.farm we'd love to hear from you.

J.B. Pritzker signs disability wage bill into law, Urbana early voting opens, and housing issues facing UIUC classes.Hosted by Amelia BensonStories by Zayna Quraishi, Emily Huffman and Michael SweeneyMusic by Boxout

The University tacks another year in a row of record high applications--a sign of a coming over-enrollment.Starting in the fall, any Illinois high school graduate can transfer to UIUC from any college in the country given they achieved good enough grades and credit hours, possibly adding to the impending strain.and University researchers discovered the ability to extract vital ingredients for sustainable fuel from an ultra-common plastic.Hosted by Amelia BensonStories by Zayna Quraishi, Emily Huffman and Michael SweeneyBackground reading:UI receives record number of 1st-year applicants by Aiden Miller-HisgenMusic by Outbox

Illinois lawmakers propose legalizing sex work, Illinois Secretary of State proposes digital IDs, and UIUC students begin testifying in Palestinian protest trial.Hosted by Zayna QuraishiStories by Kaitlyn Devitt, Amelia Benson, and Giuliana MeansMusic by Outbox

Champaign County improves first-responder procedures, Illinois passes name change bill, and UIUC basketball player wins Big 10 Freshman of the week. Hosted by Kaitlyn DevittStories by Kaitlyn Devitt, Giuliana Means, and Michael SweeneyMusic by Outbox

In this episode, Madeline chats again with Bob Smith, a blind computer programmer. During their conversation, they discuss the connection between coding and mechanical things, his degree in sociology from UIUC, community college, how he got into college, how he became blind, the accommodations that allow him to do his job, his love of COBOL, the story of him almost drowning, things that have inspired his faith, and so much more!During the course of their conversation, they make many references which you can explore. Some of these references include the following movies: Song of Bernadette, Francis of Assisi, and The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.Feel free to like, subscribe, and share the episode! Follow us on Instagram! @sbltfpodcastDon't forget to go out there, and be a light to this world!

UIUC's Main Library celebrated its 100th anniversary with the unveiling of a time capsule of the same age.Illinois Men's Basketball signed four-star and 89th overall recruit Brandon Lee on Tuesday.and a federal judge overturned Illinois' assault weapons ban.

Today, we're sharing a special episode from our friends at the chart-topping a16z Podcast. In this conversation, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive deep into the REAL story behind the creation of Netscape—the web browser co-created by Marc that revolutionized the internet and changed the world. As Ben notes at the top, until today, this story has never been fully told either in its entirety or accurately. The two discuss Marc's early life and how it shaped his journey into technology, the pivotal moments at the University of Illinois that led to the development of Mosaic (a renegade browser that Marc developed as an undergrad), and the fierce competition and legal battles that ensued as Netscape rose to prominence. Ben and Marc also reflect on the lessons learned that still resonate in today's tech landscape (especially with AI). Listen to more episodes of The a16z Podcast here: https://link.chtbl.com/blpusvv- —

In last week's episode, I shared my interview with Lisa Marker-Robbins, who has helped nearly 4,000 high school students and young adults gain the insight, experiences, and confidence they need to embark on their post-high school path. In that conversation, we discussed why strong GPAs and high test scores may not be enough for your student to gain admittance to their dream college. Today, Lisa was kind enough to let me share an episode of her College and Career Clarity Podcast. At many schools, like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, prospective students must apply to a specific major when applying to college during the high school senior year. Since this is not standard at all colleges, it can be a confusing hurdle for many high schoolers and their families – but it doesn't have to be. What does this mean for your teen? In this episode of the College and Career Clarity Podcast, Lisa Marker-Robbins speaks with Andy Borst, UIUC's Director of Undergraduate Admissions, you'll learn how college major-based admissions works and how to set your teen up to successfully navigate the process. Although it can sometimes seem like it, admissions officers aren't in the business of crushing your teen's dreams. In fact, they want to make things possible for as many students as they can, and that's where a college major-based admissions process can come into play. Each university can only accommodate a certain number of students in each program, so this type of application can help admissions staff focus on the students that are truly interested in the major and most likely to thrive. When it comes to schools that admit by major, you might be surprised to learn that certain majors at these schools might be restricted to your student applying only as a 12th grader. For instance, if your child wants to study Computer Science at UIUC, they can only be admitted as a freshman or a transfer from another school. This means it's crucial that your student does the work in high school to identify a college major that aligns to their wiring.  Andy warns not to try to take a shortcut into these highly competitive majors by applying for a different major in the hopes of transferring into your student's desired field later. Trying to game the system isn't wise. In these cases, your teen will be better off attending a different university where they have an assured start in their top choice major. Highlights  What is college admission by major What majors are among the most popular and therefore most competitive How do restricted majors eliminate options for many high school students When can your teen choose a second college major Question to ask colleges about admission by major Lisa has a complimentary video on “How to guide your teen to choose the right major, college, & career” that she created for parents (and students), and she's given me permission to invite my people! In this, she'll cover: How flipping the script on the college admissions process can help ensure an on-time (and on budget!) graduation and a career your teen will love. How to know *beyond any doubt* that your teen has chosen the right college, major, and career path, and hasn't based their decision on luck, picked the “safe” option, or inadvertently restricted their potential. How to ensure your teen's senior year choices don't trap them in an unsuitable major or close the door on an opportunity no amount of money or persuasion can open. Click here to watch Lisa's complimentary video, “How to guide your teen to choose the right major, college, & career,” here: flourishcoachingco.com/gps In a recent interview, the mom of a $111,000 scholarship winner said that college major and career clarity are ‘essential' for success with scholarships! That is why I am offering several special bonuses for families who sign up for Lisa's Launch Career Clarity Program. Those bonuses are: Access to my Personal Narrative mini-course: In this video-based course, you will learn about the Five Pillars and how they relate to a student's Personal Narrative - a key component for winning scholarships. You'll also get my lesson on answering the common scholarship essay prompt, “Why Do You Deserve To Win This Scholarship?” Two live 45-minute one-on-one Q&A sessions with me to discuss anything about scholarships. I've never before offered this type of one-on-one scholarship help outside of my premier services. Personalized one-on-one help with one Personal Narrative scholarship essay of your choice. This special offer is only available until Midnight Eastern Time on November 18, 2024. So, don't delay. Sign up for Launch Career Clarity today to enjoy these special scholarship bonuses! Click here to get started: flourishcoachingco.com/gps ------- This week's featured scholarships: Courage to Grow (Scroll to the bottom of the linked page for info on this scholarship) Gen and Kelly Tanabe (Scroll to the bottom of the linked page for info on this scholarship) MoolahSPOT (Scroll to the bottom of the linked page for info on this scholarship) College JumpStart (Scroll to the bottom of the linked page for info on this scholarship) MENSA (Scroll to the middle of the linked page for info on this scholarship) Student Scholarships.org (Scroll to the middle of the linked page for info on this scholarship) Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship (Scroll to the middle of the linked page for info on this scholarship)  

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Nancy Sottos, the Maybelle Leland Swanlund Endowed Chair and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign (UIUC), and Justine Paul, a former student at UIUC who now holds a position at DuPont, about their work with frontal polymerization. By mimicking patterns in biological materials such as shells, their research group took a multidisciplinary approach to control crystalline patterning, which ultimately enabled them to control mechanical properties of polymers. By applying heat, they made slight changes in the chemical reactions to achieve specific crystalline patterns. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature.

In this episode, Madeline chats with her friend Hannah Bernstein, a landscape architecture student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign During their conversation, they discuss the Pacific Northwest and Spain, UIUC's Newman Center, what landscape architecture is, how our expertise gets embedded in us, living at a residential Newman Center, American accents, her study abroad and research trip, Dominican cloister gardens, going beyond the surface level, the King of Itineraries, and so much more!-links: the not so big house, A Pattern LanguageDuring the course of their conversation, they make many references which you can explore. Some of these references include The Not So Big House by Susan Susanna and A Pattern Language by Christopher W. Alexander.Feel free to like, subscribe, and share the episode! Follow us on Instagram! @sbltfpodcastDon't forget to go out there, and be a light to this world!

In this episode, Madeline chats with her friend Briana Sobecks, a 2nd year chemical engineering PhD student at Stanford. During their conversation, they discuss her research, how her high school and family ignited her fascination with biology and engineering, undergrad in chemical engineering at UIUC, taking ownership of your faith, choir, grad school Catholic groups, philosophy, and so much more!Feel free to like, subscribe, and share the episode! Follow us on Instagram! @sbltfpodcastDon't forget to go out there, and be a light to this world!

Season 7 kicks off with an exciting guest who's name you may already know, Walter Mendenhall! Walter is a Chicago product, growing up in and around the city and taking his football talents to UIUC. It's what Walter has accomplished more recently, however that brings him to Bridging Chicago, and we're so happy he stopped by. This will be a two-part episode, and in part one, you can learn more about Walter's background and how he was able to balance being a student athlete. You'll also learn some of the life lessons he obtained from his time at U of I, as well as the big things to come in the future. Be sure to tune in next week for part two.

I officially checked off another "first" on the podcast guest list. Nikki is my first psychology alum who also works at UIUC! I met Nikki years back during my previous career, and it was a pleasure to cross her path again. We discussed her college days and figuring out where her career would lead. During the interview, she introduced me to the term "wandering student." I feel that is a WONDERFUL way to describe the experience of finding one's place in the world. That journey led her to a perfect fit of using that expertise and perspective while helping out current students at The Career Center. The Career Center is an amazing resource that both students and alumni can benefit from. I've wanted to learn more about it myself, so I'm glad this opportunity came up—after we talked about Candyland, four-day work weeks, and the benefits of spoons, of course.

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn more about how the University of Illinois officials and police have been responding to encampments on campus in support of Palestine this weekend.

In today's deep dive, we'll learn about a new project led by three professors at the University of Illinois that aims to inspire work between artists and scientists.

In today's deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with Dr. Ollie Watts Davis about those being honored at The University of Illinois Black Chorus's annual Mom's Day concert. 

In today's deep dive, we’ll more about a team of University of Illinois journalists who recently traveled to Sierra Leone to report on the issue of period poverty.

In this week's episode, both of our storytellers give us behind the scenes glimpses into why they do what they do.Part 1: While constantly staring at Mercury's craters for NASA's MESSENGER mission, a picture of the Galapagos Islands captures Paul Byrne's attention.Part 2: While serving in the navy to get his engineering degree, David Estrada is struck by the level of poverty he witnesses on the tiny island of East Timor.Paul Byrne received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC on NASA's MESSENGER mission, the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. He later joined the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and then moved to North Carolina State University as an assistant and then associate professor. He became Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis in 2021. His research focuses on comparative planetology—comparing and contrasting the surfaces and interiors of planetary bodies, including Earth, to understand planetary phenomena generally. His research projects span the Solar System from Mercury to Pluto and, increasingly, to the study of extrasolar planets. He uses remotely sensed data, numerical and physical models, and fieldwork on Earth to understand why planets look the way they do. David Estrada is originally from Nampa, Idaho. From 1998 to 2004 he served in the United States Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician/ Cryptologic Technician – Technical. David achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class in 2003 before receiving an honorable discharge and returning to Idaho to pursue his undergraduate education at Boise State University (BSU) where he was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from BSU in May of 2007, he began graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under the direction of Professor Eric Pop. David received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from UIUC in 2009, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering at UIUC in 2013. David then joined Prof. Rashid Bashir's Laboratory of Integrated Bio Medical Micro/Nanotechnology Applications as a Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher before moving to the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Boise State University. David is the recipient of the NSF and NDSEG Graduate Fellowships. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Gregory Stillman, John Bardeen, and SHPE Innovator of the Year awards. His research interests are in the areas of emergent semiconductor nanomaterials and bionanotechnology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, both of our storytellers give us behind the scenes glimpses into why they do what they do. Part 1: While constantly staring at Mercury's craters for NASA's MESSENGER mission, a picture of the Galapagos Islands captures Paul Byrne's attention. Part 2: While serving in the navy to get his engineering degree, David Estrada is struck by the level of poverty he witnesses on the tiny island of East Timor. Paul Byrne received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC on NASA's MESSENGER mission, the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. He later joined the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and then moved to North Carolina State University as an assistant and then associate professor. He became Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis in 2021. His research focuses on comparative planetology—comparing and contrasting the surfaces and interiors of planetary bodies, including Earth, to understand planetary phenomena generally. His research projects span the Solar System from Mercury to Pluto and, increasingly, to the study of extrasolar planets. He uses remotely sensed data, numerical and physical models, and fieldwork on Earth to understand why planets look the way they do. David Estrada is originally from Nampa, Idaho. From 1998 to 2004 he served in the United States Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician/ Cryptologic Technician – Technical. David achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class in 2003 before receiving an honorable discharge and returning to Idaho to pursue his undergraduate education at Boise State University (BSU) where he was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from BSU in May of 2007, he began graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under the direction of Professor Eric Pop. David received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from UIUC in 2009, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering at UIUC in 2013. David then joined Prof. Rashid Bashir's Laboratory of Integrated Bio Medical Micro/Nanotechnology Applications as a Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher before moving to the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Boise State University. David is the recipient of the NSF and NDSEG Graduate Fellowships. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Gregory Stillman, John Bardeen, and SHPE Innovator of the Year awards. His research interests are in the areas of emergent semiconductor nanomaterials and bionanotechnology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with manga artist Kofi Bazzell Smith about his latest and final exhibit at the Krannert Art Museum.

Barry Benson, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, is the senior fundraiser and responsible for managing frontline advancement efforts for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Serving on the Chancellor's Executive Leadership Council, Vice Chancellor Benson, who also holds a Senior Vice President title at the University of Illinois Foundation, leads a team of approximately 275 advancement professionals both centrally and within over 20 colleges/units.Benson is an experienced advancement professional who relocated with his wife and three daughters (two of whom attend UIUC while the youngest is a senior in high school) to Urbana-Champaign from the University of Arizona in March 2017. In Tucson, AZ, he served for nearly a decade in escalating capacities culminating in the role of Senior Vice President for Development where he was responsible for successfully achieving a $1.5 billion campaign goal two years ahead of schedule and while overseeing all central campaign activities, marketing and communications, planned giving and regional development for the University of Arizona Foundation. Benson also has extensive experience leading successful college-based advancement programs in business and engineering. Vice Chancellor Benson is active in the advancement industry participating in various leadership capacities and speaking engagements. In addition to his higher education experience, Benson also is an active civil servant having served on various nonprofit community boards.A finance graduate and former collegiate baseball letterman from the University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO), Benson also holds a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University (Ft. Collins, CO) and is a former Certified Financial Planner practitioner who values spending time with family and friends while also enjoying the outdoors golfing, skiing, and doing yardwork (yes, it's true).

Terrence Shannon Jr. and his attorneys are filing a temporary restraining order against the University of Illinois. If granted, TSJ would be immediately eligible to return to the court. Mike Carpenter reacts to the bombshell news by looking at it from many different perspectives: TSJ and his lawyers, Josh Whitman and the athletic department, and Illinois fans that may find themselves conflicted at his possible return.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Lembeck, discusses his role as the Co-Chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Integration & Outreach Committee (UAPIOC). The UAPIOC's mission is to improve aerospace safety by enhancing scientific knowledge of, and mitigating barriers to the study of, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). [www.aiaauap.org](http://www.aiaaupa.org)   Michael F. Lembeck (B.S. '80, M.S. '81, Ph.D., '91 UIUC) is a Clinical Associate Professor in Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Lembeck has led or worked on multiple government and commercial spaceflight programs, including JPL's Galileo Jupiter Orbiter, Space Industries, Inc.'s Wake Shield Facility, Orbital Sciences' OrbView/Warfighter commercial remote sensing programs, and the Northrop/Boeing CEV and Boeing commercial crew programs. As the Requirements Division Director for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Dr. Lembeck participated in the formulation of President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration and managed the original development of requirements for the Constellation/Orion program. Dr. Lembeck is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA and the Director of the Laboratory for Advanced Space Systems at Illinois (LASSI). Ryan Graves: AIAA UAP: https://www.aiaauap.org Twitter: @uncertainvector Connect with Us: Website: http://www.mergedpodcast.com Merged Point: https://www.mergedpoint.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.