Dr. Alexander Wait looks at a forest. More specifically, he looks at the forest floor. He looks at leaves, flowers, and acorns to figure out how healthy a forest is. Wait then uses this research to learn how engineered nanomaterials affect plants and the animals that eat them. Wait talks about his research in his Mind's Eye piece. Read the rest of the … [Read more...] about Read the leaves: How plants respond to the world
Something seemingly random could turn into something meaningful with the help of Dr. Xingping Sun. With his research in mathematics and artificial intelligence, he's looking for ways to combine his two loves. Sun, professor of mathematics, was recently featured in Mind's Eye. His research focuses on creating something with a lasting impact: Curing diseases, … [Read more...] about Keeping up with machines: Artificial intelligence in math
Rotenone is a compound banned in the United States. It could be the key to unlocking the cure to Parkinson's disease. Dr. Matthew Siebert, assistant professor of chemistry, is on a quest to use nature's chemicals to cure diseases like cancer. Learn more in Siebert's Mind's Eye piece. … [Read more...] about Nature’s way of making chemicals
What do the Ozarks have in common with Yellowstone National Park? Some would say they both hold great meaning. Dr. Judith Meyer, geography program coordinator in the department of geography, geology and planning, studies the meaning of a place. Meyer says knowing the sense of a place is how one makes big decisions on how the land is used. Learn more about … [Read more...] about A place for meaning
Dr. Melida Gutierrez was recently featured in Mind's Eye about her water exploration in two areas she calls home: southwest Missouri and Chihuahua, Mexico. An excerpt: “That’s part of being a scientist — that you see an interconnection — things that you might think are very separate,” she said. “All of a sudden you find that one causes the other one or they’re … [Read more...] about Keeping your water safe