This reduces the amount of sunlight hitting the ground. If left in such a condition for too long without disturbance, important tree species cannot regenerate. Invasive or shade tolerant species creep in and animals leave the area, in search of better food. Or maybe the trees simply age, produce less fruit and continue to weaken. These scenarios drive the forestry field … [Read more...] about Seeing the forest and the trees
But as the availability of cultivable land diminishes and as climates change, our ability to grow enough food is becoming limited, too. This is the root of Dr. Laszlo Kovacs’ research. He’s a geneticist interested in the agricultural industry. “For most of history, we didn’t have to worry about food,” said Kovacs, biology professor at Missouri State University. “Now, with … [Read more...] about Root of the problem
Should you stop speaking Spanish at home, for example, to help them learn English more easily? Dr. Luciane Maimone, assistant professor of modern and classical languages, says no. “Being an immigrant myself, I can relate to the powerful connection between language, culture and one’s sense of self,” Maimone said. “Maintaining children’s home languages is key to their … [Read more...] about Celebrating multilingualism
Inside her office sit two grand pianos, with a desk pushed up against the corner. The sounds of students practicing drift through the walls. She prepares for performances in between lessons with students. A Juilliard-trained pianist, Choi Witte, assistant professor of piano at Missouri State University, blends her teaching with a passion for performance. She calls music a … [Read more...] about Passing notes: Sharing a universal message through performance
He believes that perspective ignores the attention to the sacred and spiritual on campuses. It also doesn’t account for the intersectionality of religious studies. It overlaps with many other disciplines – from social work to politics. The role of religion in higher education is a dynamic topic right now, he noted. But as a sociologist, he’s always been intrigued by how … [Read more...] about Finding faith in college
“Having friends, even one good one, can separate the well-adjusted child from the at-risk youth,” said Dr. Leslie Echols, assistant professor of psychology. When a child reaches adolescence, the brain develops more and starts sorting qualities differently. Youth begin to worry more about status, Echols notes. This brings about a greater likelihood of bullying behavior, and … [Read more...] about Building friendships and battling bullying
Qiu, associate dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and a geospatial sciences faculty member, asked a logical question: Why don’t people spread out more evenly? She imagined streets with less congestion. It felt like the perfect solution. But it’s never quite that simple, she learned. You have to consider infrastructure, landscape, natural resources and … [Read more...] about Connections: Data and real life
It’s not as simple as falling asleep and waking up in six months. Bats go into torpor, which is a physiological state, unlike sleeping, where almost everything is shut down. Bats live off their body fat during that time. Dr. Tom Tomasi, professor of biology, studies hibernating animals in torpor, especially bats. Some species of bats develop white nose syndrome. It sounds … [Read more...] about A tale of two bats: One lives, one dies
Livers, an assistant professor of elementary and mathematics education, studies how math classrooms fall into cycles of ineffective teaching. “Math classrooms still look like silent rows of students with worksheets,” Livers said. “We know that’s not effective.” Livers studies the barriers that prevent math classrooms from advancing. For instance, in a recent National … [Read more...] about Summing it up: Adding context to education
“There’s a myriad tax benefits that are automatically lost the moment someone selects married filing separately,” said Dr. Kerri Tassin, assistant professor of accounting. Individuals forgo the Earned Income Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit, among others, she noted. Inequities like this are of particular interest to … [Read more...] about At the intersection of law and taxes
Historian Dr. Djene Bajalan offers insights into the Middle East by exploring the region’s history. He focuses on issues related to nationalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An assistant professor of history at Missouri State University, Bajalan’s main research area is on the region’s Kurdish community. In particular, he studies how Kurdish political activism … [Read more...] about Examining the Kurdish question from a historical lens