Imagine you are in the produce section of the grocery store picking out your fruit for the week, and you remember the apple marketing slogan “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Once you make your way over to the apples, you are almost guaranteed to find a variety that fits your preference for taste and texture. These varieties are only made possible because of grafting techniques, a method for combining and reproducing desirable traits in fruit trees. Pear cultivation uses similar techniques, but producing desirable traits such as dwarfing, that apples so readily display remains a challenge in pear cultivation. This is why the selection of pear varieties is so dwarfed (pun intended) compared to that of apples. This week on the show we are joined by Claire Pierce, a 2nd year master’s student in the Department of Horticulture. Claire is co-advised by Kelsey Galimba (OSU) and Jessica Waite (USDA-ARS), and conducts her research at the Hood River Research Station. The long-term goal of Claire’s research is to diversify the available rootstocks used in the pear industry and improve yield for agricultural pear cultivation. The first step is to find compatible rootstocks (the base of the plant) and scions (the top of the plant) that exhibit dwarfing characteristics, something that is limited in the current pear industry. The next step is developing root structure phenotype characterization methods; a classically tricky task to accomplish due to the roots being hidden underground and all that. Tune into KBVR 88.7 FM at 7:00 pm PST on April 12th to hear Claire talk about how she is overcoming these challenges and gaining valuable experience along the way. Claire’s story is one filled with moments of being in the right place at the right time and leaning into making connections. If you want to see more pictures of Claire’s work and follow her through her field season this year, check out the Galimba Pear and Cherry Research Lab Instagram account @galimbalabosu.

Satellite imagery has transformed how scientists study the ocean, particularly true today with the recent launch of a new NASA satellite. However, understanding more of the oceans through satellite imagery requires data validation obtained at sea. In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Alexander Bailess shares how he combines remote sensing with field-based oceanography to ground-truth satellite data and better understand marine ecosystems across multiple spatiotemporal scales. Alexander sails aboard research vessels to collect ocean data while satellites pass overhead, while also tracking the harmful phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia, some species of which produce the neurotoxin domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning. Listen in to hear about Alexander’s research both above and below the ocean, and the path that led him to grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Alaskan wolf populations can have varied diets, likely shaped by the landscape and prey availability. But how can we study these mobile, remote animals and what is the extent of knowledge gained? In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Zach Muniz explains how wolf scat can reveal not only what wolves are eating, but also the parasites they may be exposed to. Using materials from the Levi Lab, collaborators, and public databases, Zach is developing methods to study helminth parasites in the digestive tracts of Alaskan wolves. Listen to hear more about Zach’s research, the value of noninvasive wildlife science, and his journey to and through grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Emilee Lance.