This post is the first of a two-part series on a day in the life of a behavioral ecologist, which features the stories and research of members of Dr. Kim Rosvall’s laboratory in the Department of Biology. When most people imagine a scientist, they picture a person wearing a stark white lab coat and thick-rimmed… Read more »
Tag: Biology
On On the Origin of Species: An ode to scientist-writers
This post is from ScIU’s archives. It was originally published by Clara Boothby in December 2016 and has been lightly edited to reflect current events. Sometimes, when we read about science in textbooks or newspaper articles, it can be easy to slip into thinking that after the scientists make their discovery, the writing is someone… Read more »
Stellar psychology part I: Evolutionary psychology informs the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
Last December, bombshell reports were released detailing the Pentagon’s use of tax-payer funds to investigate claimed UFO sightings. With continued discoveries of habitable planets across the universe, the probability that life exists outside the Earth is rapidly rising. This may be why the former head of The Pentagon’s UFO program, Luis Elizondo, recently stated that… Read more »
Getting to the root of the global carbon cycle
This post is from ScIU’s archives. It was originally published by Adrienne Keller in March 2018 and has been lightly edited to reflect current events. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in our atmosphere continue to rise, and global warming has transitioned from a possible future phenomenon to a present environmental reality. Given this reality, scientists are… Read more »
The Microorganism Survival Toolkit: Dormancy
The author is ScIU guest writer Emmi Mueller, a graduate student in IU’s Department of Biology. What do the deepest parts of the ocean, the human intestine, and outer space have in common? All of these environments are able to harbor a diverse community of microorganisms. Microbes are involved in everything from nitrogen and carbon cycling to… Read more »
Graduate learning outside research: Science Fest
If you are a Bloomington (or a nearby city) resident, you probably have heard about Science Fest. Science Fest is an annual multi-department science outreach event managed by office of science outreach showcasing IU research rolled up as uber fun activities for kids and adults to enjoy. As a veteran volunteer who has participated in… Read more »
How cutting edge technology can help us understand animal migration
Scientists have long been interested in understanding animal migration, but gathering migration data proved difficult in the past. For example, the process of catching and recapturing migratory songbirds using mist nets is a laborious process. In the past, recovering songbirds produced data only about the breeding location and their migration destination, and rarely about the migration itself. Studying… Read more »
Employing wheat’s bacterial partners to fight a pathogen: An internship experience
This post is from the US Department of Agriculture’s blog. It was originally published on August 7, 2018, and has been lightly edited with a short introduction on internship experiences for graduate students. Internships in graduate school can be a fantastic experience. They can expose you to a completely new way to do science outside… Read more »
Not your typical summer school: An IU program engages high school students in the wonders of science
Being a teacher is one of the many hats that graduate students across the country wear during their career. As a graduate student who has taught several science courses, I know that keeping students engaged is always a challenge, particularly in required and introductory courses. While I have taught different levels of undergraduates, from freshman… Read more »
Fatherhood in the animal kingdom and its intricate relationship with aggression
On Father’s Day, hundreds of thousands of people across the United States will show appreciation for the love, encouragement, and support that their fathers have provided them throughout their lifetimes. Interestingly, numerous animals provide parental care to their offspring, from fish and birds to non-human primates and humans. Yet, there is substantial evidence that many… Read more »