• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Sidebar
IU

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

Menu

ScIUConversations in Science at Indiana University

  • Home
  • Home
  • About ScIU
  • Write with Us!
  • Contact ScIU
  • The Writers and Editors of ScIU
  • ScIU in the Classroom
  • Annual Science Communication Symposium
  • Search

Tag: methods

The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative: A brief look

Posted January 1, 2019 by Alexandra Moussa-Tooks

Image depicting the RDoC framework including 5 current domains of research which can be analyzed across neural and behaviorally based units of analysis. An arrow spanning the graphic indicates the importance on neurodevelopment, from conception, across all levels of research. Moreover, a green sphere encompassing the units of analysis represents the importance of environmental factors in our understanding and measurement of these constructs.

Even for non-researchers, it is important to be informed about the various initiatives that change the way we do science and, ultimately, the way scientists choose to spend government dollars. In the wake of the 10-year anniversary of RDoC’s inception [1], I would like to unpack this commonly misunderstood acronym that is popping up in… Read more »

Obstacles to the Stars

Posted October 9, 2018 by Jennifer Sieben

Starry sky above a dome of an observatory. A bright clouds of stars and dust stretches across the sky on a diagonal.

Taking astronomical images can be a very rewarding process—in part because of the gorgeous images you take, but also in part because of all the obstacles that can prevent you from observing the skies. We can protect our telescopes in buildings during the day to keep them clean and dry, but when night comes and… Read more »

Blood, sweat and fingerprints: the science behind crime scene investigation

Posted September 11, 2018 by Lana Ruck

Fingerprint in blue and green pigment on a white background.

We’ve all seen it on a TV crime series – fingerprints taken from a crime scene are put into a computer, instantaneously matched to a person of interest, and “Voila!” The crime is solved. As with many aspects of TV crime drama, however, fingerprint analysis is more complicated in real life. The reason? According to… Read more »

Feeling stressed? Researchers at IU are studying how stress reshapes the brain

Posted June 19, 2018 by ScIU Editorial Team

An illustration of the brain surrounded by a pattern of multicolored squares

This post is from ScIU’s archives. It was originally published by Rachel Skipper in January 2017, and has been lightly edited to reflect current events. This post is also part 1 of a two part series. Check out part 2 here! Imagine it’s 9:45 am. You have a meeting across town in 15 minutes and you… Read more »

Inching toward a cure for PTSD

Posted April 3, 2018 by Rachel Skipper

A black and white photo of a woman covering her face with her hands

Dr. Yvonne Lai is well known for her work at IU’s Gill Center for Biomolecular Science. However, she and her collaborators are also making waves in the business world with the growth of their startup company Anagin Inc., a promising pharmaceutical venture located in Indianapolis. Dr. Lai’s research focuses on novel drug therapies for post-traumatic stress… Read more »

Groundhog Day 2018: Probability in perspective

Posted January 30, 2018 by Lana Ruck

Cartoon depicting reporters with a news van, cameras, and microphones all surrounding Punxsutawney Phil. Text on image says “Can spring be far behind? Groundhog day -- February 2nd.”

This Friday will be the 132nd official Groundhog Day in the United States. Celebrated in Canada, Germany, and the U.S., the holiday derives from a long-standing German-Dutch tradition, which we’ve been officially recording since 1886. The basic idea: if a groundhog emerges from his hole and sees his shadow, winter will last for six more… Read more »

GPS: Not just for finding the closest pizza place

Posted January 16, 2018 by Anna Jessee

A screenshot of a GPS navigation app on a mobile device. The screenshot shows a map of the IU Bloomington campus.

How exactly does your “Maps” app know exactly where you are, any time of day? The “little blue dot” on your phone tells you where you are as the result of billions of dollars invested in the Global Positioning System (GPS), a network of 27 satellites currently orbiting the Earth. Each satellite sends microwaves constantly,… Read more »

When human eyes are needed

Posted January 9, 2018 by Jennifer Sieben

Bright blue beams of light shoot from the center of the image. A dark band of dust is perpendicular to the beam and obscures the center of the image. A translucent blue glow divides the image from top left to bottom right.

In a world that looks more and more like a science fiction novel, it can be tempting to assume that a computer program or code can do all your tedious work for you. Algorithms suggest videos you might like to to watch on YouTube, plan your road trips to visit friends, and can even frost… Read more »

Business as usual? On scientific progress in the public sphere.

Posted December 26, 2017 by Lana Ruck

Black-and-white portrait of Thomas Kuhn.

If you’ve ever taken a basic science class, you‘ve probably heard of the scientific method. Maybe you’ve even designed, conducted, and reflected upon your own experiment–inside or outside of the classroom. One thing you may be unfamiliar with, however, is how the millions of experiments done by scientists, students, and citizens get added together into… Read more »

Seeking canine companions: A study on human decision making

Posted November 14, 2017 by Rachel Skipper

A small white and black dog stands behind a fence, looking at the camera. Sam is shown, out of focus, in the background.

On most weekends, you can find Indiana University graduate student Sam Cohen at Bloomington Animal Care and Control, a local animal shelter where she has volunteered for two years as a pet adoption counselor. She gets to know the dogs, talks with visitors, and helps them identify which dogs they might want to adopt. But,… Read more »

  • « Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next »

Additional Content

Search ScIU

Categories

Tag cloud

#Education #scicomm animal behavior anthropology archaeology astronomy astrophysics Biology biotechnology Black History Month brain cannabinoids cannabis Chemistry climate change conservation coronavirus COVID–19 Diversity in Science diversity in STEM Ecology environment evolution geology history and philosophy of science infectious disease Interdisciplinary Interview Mental Health methods microbiology neuroscience outreach physics Plants primates psychology Research science communication science education Science Outreach science policy Statistics STEM women in STEM

Subscribe

Receive a weekly email with our new content! We will not share or use your information for any other purposes, and you may opt out at any time.

Please, insert a valid email.

Thank you, your email will be added to the mailing list once you click on the link in the confirmation email.

Spam protection has stopped this request. Please contact site owner for help.

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Current Contributors

  • Log in
  • SPLAT
  • ScIU Guides

Indiana University

Copyright © 2022 The Trustees of Indiana University | Privacy Notice | Accessibility Help

  • Home
  • About ScIU
  • Write with Us!
  • Contact ScIU
  • The Writers and Editors of ScIU
  • ScIU in the Classroom
  • Annual Science Communication Symposium
College of Arts + Sciences

Are you a graduate student at IUB? Would you like to write for ScIU? Email sciucomm@iu.edu


Subscribe

Subscribe By Email

Get every new post delivered right to your inbox.

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 

Loading Comments...