Month: October 2021

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November 9, 2021

Mark your calendars, the Center for Communication Science will be celebrating its 5th anniversary with the annual Communicating Science Week! Taking place between March 16th through the 22nd of 2022, the week will showcase the efforts of faculty and graduate students from across multiple disciplines to connect with communities and address “wicked” problems our world faces.

The Nutshell Games, the center’s 90-second graduate student research talk competition, offers graduate students the opportunity to show off their communication skills and present their research to a public audience. With an emphasis on communicating to non-scientists, the Nutshell Games is judged by a diverse panel of people from Virginia Tech, the surrounding Blacksburg community, and beyond.

Since the first Nutshell Games in 2017, many IGC Fellows have participated and claimed wins. IGC Alumnus Dr. Max Ragozzino claimed top prize in 2017 with, “Emerald Ash Borer, and How We’re Stopping it with the Chestbuster from Alien.” The next year, Brenen Wynd finished in first place with a presentation focused on mass extinctions, “Almost All My Friends Are Dead.” Tyler Weiglein’s participation was also featured in an article highlighting communication workshops held before the competition.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”58585″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”58599″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And let’s not forget our most recent 2020 Nutshell winners. Last year, IGC Fellows Amber Wendler, Sara Teemer Richards, Abby Lewis, and now IGC Alumnus Dr. Bennett Grooms swept the competition in a 4-way tie for first place. Fellows, hang onto your great 90-second talk ideas and look for a registration announcement in January![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”58577″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”58581″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”58580″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”58579″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Center for Communication Science is also asking for anyone (from within or outside of the VT community) who is involved in outreach, community engagement, research communication, or similar area to reach out. Please email center director Patty Raun at praun@vt.edu.

Coordinators of seminar and lecture series are also asked that you consider reserving the seminar slot during that week for a speaker, workshop, or event related to communicating science. Please email Patty Raun with your availability.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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October 26, 2021

The microbiome has emerged as a fundamental component of all life on earth. For example, microbial communities are key in maintaining the health of plant, wildlife, and human hosts as well as mediating major biogeochemical cycles in most ecosystems. Thus, the ability to study microbiomes is an essential tool across many disciplines of not just biology, but also a variety of other fields relevant to global change.

Recognizing the importance of the subject, a collective of Global Change Center (GCC) faculty affiliates began meeting in 2018 to explore research synergies and opportunities to build upon existing strengths across campus.  The group discovered that while the number of labs delving into microbiome-related research was increasing, they were quickly outpacing the availability of relevant student training on campus. As a result, many graduate students interested in microbiome research did not have the background to apply appropriate methods. “Students working with their own ‘big data’ benefit immensely if they know how to leverage computing resources on campus to process and analyze the huge volumes of information from next generation sequencing of microbes” said GCC affiliate David Haak.

In an effort to fill this training gap, members of the GCC Microbiome Working Group combined their research experience to develop a graduate course in the Spring of 2019 titled “Introduction to Microbial Community Analysis”.  Collaboratively taught by GCC affiliates David Haak and Brian Badgley from the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Lisa Belden and Frank Aylward from the College of Science, ​the class provided graduate students working in environmental, engineered, and host-associated microbial systems with an understanding of modern tools available for analyzing microbial components of ecosystems and microbial community data.

Students were encouraged to analyze their own data to provide a hands-on educational experience within the context of their own research. Badgley noted, “the most fun aspect of this course is working with students who initially might be intimidated by microbiome research because of their background. As part of that process the students are also learning from the diverse perspectives they each bring from different disciplines and enriching the course beyond what we alone can provide.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”35937″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”35846″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”33270″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”40199″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Demand for this course was evident as enrollment exceeded the initial cap. Students enrolled hailed from five different graduate programs and four different colleges, with IGC Fellows representing approximately 70% of the group. The demand for the course resulted in it being taught again this fall 2021 semester, again with a broad representation of disciplines.

Faculty working groups formed under the GCC have spanned an array of topics to include the microbiome, invasive species, microplastics, environmental justice, ecological restoration, and freshwater salinization.  Groups typically coalesce around a problem or thematic topic of shared interest.  Most groups start by meeting frequently to develop relationships and an understanding of collective expertise.  After identifying shared goals, working groups have moved-on to hold workshops and small conferences, develop manuscripts, submit grant proposals, teach courses, and pursue training grants.

Interested in starting a working group?  Contact William Hopkins hopkinsw@vt.edu

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