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The Reference Desk

The Reference Desk

Written by: UCR Library
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About this listen

The Reference Desk is a biweekly podcast from the UCR Library, hosted by Digital Scholarship Librarian Jing Han. Each episode features conversations with UCR faculty and student researchers about their research projects, how they use library tools and resources, and the readings that shape their thinking.UCR Library
Episodes
  • From Empire to the Page: Power and Literature
    Jan 23 2026

    In this episode of The Reference Desk, we speak with Dr. Padma Rangarajan, Associate Professor in the English Department at UC Riverside, about how studying nineteenth-century British literature helps us understand the lasting influence of colonial law, translation policy, and imperial culture on contemporary political concepts. We also discuss her current projects, how she approaches interdisciplinary research, and how students and scholars can make effective use of library resources.

    Show Notes

    • Empire: World History Podcast
    • The Norton Library Podcast
    • Hardcore History Series
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    23 mins
  • What Fungi Can Teach Us About Life
    Jan 9 2026

    What can fungi reveal about evolution, biodiversity, and life on Earth? In this episode, Dr. Jason Stajich, Professor of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at UC Riverside, discusses how genomics and computational tools are used to study fungal evolution. We also explore the role of library resources in enabling open, collaborative scientific research.


    Show Notes:

    Books:

    • Merlin Sheldrake. Entangled Life
    • Nick Money. Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines

    Amateur Mycology resources / societies:

    • SD Mycological Society
    • LA Mycological Society

    Classes:

    • Field Mycology, MCBL128
    • Introduction to Mycology. PLPA 134
    • Food Microbiology. MCBL 122


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    25 mins
  • Holiday Special with Librarians
    Dec 12 2025

    In this holiday special, we are having two guests from the UCR Library, Mary-Michelle Moore, our STEM Teaching Librarian and Michele Potter, our Collection Strategist for STEM. We discuss library resources and services, along with behind-the-scenes stories that showcase the people and processes that support them.

    Show Notes:

    • Hathitrust
    • Internet Archive
    • UCR Library Teaching and Learning Department
    • UCR Library Collections
    • libSTEMteam


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    25 mins
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