For decades, the "field" has been treated as a character-building barrier in geosciences—a place for the rugged and the able-bodied. But what happens when we view the outdoors as a classroom rather than an obstacle? In S2EP16, Jeff Zurek welcomes Brett Gilley, a Professor of Teaching at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a master of field pedagogy.

They dive into the results of a groundbreaking accessible field trip held right here in Vancouver. From the shores of Stanley Park to the volcanic peaks of Whistler, we discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the "Mammoth Cave" inspiration. You'll hear the transformative story of a visually impaired student who traded her seeing-eye dog for a rock scramble and a professor with a progressive disability who finally got off the bus to argue geology again.

Whether it's using Silly Putty to feel 3D models or running "Mission Control" from a dorm room, this episode proves that diversity is the lifeblood of discovery. Plus, we find out why Brett has an IMDB page and why he thinks "gravity sucks."

Chapters

• (00:00) Intro: Rethinking the Degree
• (01:50) Fieldwork as a Rite of Passage
• (03:20) Guest: The "Rate My Prof" Legend
• (06:10) Why High Schools Skip Geology
• (09:30) Funding and Enrollment at UBC
• (13:20) Why Geoscience is Unique for DEI
• (15:15) Designing the Vancouver Workshop
• (17:40) Inspiration: Mammoth Cave
• (21:00) Redefining "Disabled" in the Field
• (23:45) Data: Transforming the Experience
• (28:00) "Hold My Dog": Scrambling Blind
• (31:20) Multi-Sensory Exploration
• (35:30) Meta-Discussion: Validating Disability
• (39:00) Universal Design for Learning
• (42:20) Silly Putty and 3D Models
• (45:45) Post-COVID: Mission Control Learning
• (50:00) Geodude: The IMDB Mystery
• (53:30) Call-outs: Join the IAGD
• (55:00) The Punchline: Geologists vs. Engineers

Links & Resources

• The International Association for Geoscience Diversity
• Geodude Youtube
• Support: Pateron
• Socials: Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook

Whimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

What if Alien wasn't science fiction, but a documentary? 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek sits down with Dr. Rebecca Millena (University of Rochester) to explore Strepsiptera, an enigmatic & bizarre insect order.

We untangle the "Strepsiptera Problem"—a century-long academic debate over where these creatures belong on the tree of life. From males with "raspberry" eyes to worm-like females that live inside their hosts, we cover the visceral reality of behavioral hijacking, traumatic insemination, & the genomic revolution. We also show the "sausage-making" of museum research.

Topics

Sexual Dimorphism: Why males & females look different.

The Strepsiptera Problem: How DNA solved a taxonomic mystery.

Matrophagy: "Bag of larvae" stage where young consume their mother.

Longevity Research: Link between parasitic infection & extreme host aging.

Museum Science: Vital role of "back-catalog" collections in modern genetics.

Chapters

0:00 Universal Obscure: Welcome to Strepsiptera

1:30 Xenomorphs in RL: Parasitoids vs. Parasites

3:50 "Strepsiptera Problem" in Academia

5:15 Dr. Rebecca Millena’s "Bug Kid" Origins

8:00 Twisted Wings & Raspberry Eyes: Anatomy 101

11:15 Dimorphism: Males vs. Worm-like Females

14:35 Sexual Hijacking: Pheromones & Ant-Crickets Hosts

17:40 Cephalothorax: Breathing & Living In a Host

20:30 Traumatic Insemination & Bag of Larvae

23:45 Matrophagy: When Young Consume the Mother

26:50 Taxonomy’s 150-Year Detective Story

30:50 Genetics vs Morphology: Fly-Beetle Debate

36:10 Genomic Revolutions: 2012 the Shift to Beetles

41:40 Cryptic Species: Hiding in Plain Sight

46:40 Parasites of Parasites: Wolbachia Connection

53:30 Fountain of Youth? Lifespan Extension in Wasps

59:45 Museum Research: "Sausage-Making" of Science

1:05:00 Millipedes & the Science Joke

Links

Papers: Strepsiptera systematics: past, present, and future

Web: WhimsicalWavelengths.com

Support: Pateron

Socials: Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook

Whimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

Detecting volcanic eruptions on Earth is detective work; doing it on the Red Planet is a feat of cosmic proportions. 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek welcomes Dr. Allison Graettinger (UMKC) to discuss the hunt for "Maars"—violent, steam-driven volcanoes—on Mars.

We explore the sociology of becoming a scientist, from muddy kid to volcano expert, & how these unassuming circular lakes are actually clues to subsurface water & ice. Discover the Marvelous Database, the physics of thermal inertia, & why a rubber duck named "Ducky" is the most famous attendee at international science conferences.

Topics Covered

• Phreatomagmatism: Breaking down the explosive interaction between magma and groundwater.
• The Marvelous Database: A global catalog of 430+ Earth Maars used as a training set for planetary discovery.
• Career Paths: Why New Zealand and Nicaragua were the "Permissive Environments" Dr. Graettinger needed to grow.
• Geologic Hazards: The moving threat zones of distributed volcanic fields.
• Experiments: Pouring molten lava onto "sand popsicles" to simulate Martian ice interactions.
• Planetary Detectives: Using crater shapes (even "Mickey Mouse" ones) to map hidden Martian water.

Chapters

(00:00) Maars on Mars: A Tongue Twister

(02:10) Phreatomagmatic Diatremes Defined

(03:45) Guest: Dr. Allison Graettinger

(05:15) Sociology: Permission to Study Lava

(06:40) Field Work: Dust, Ash, and Gas

(08:30) Why Study Maars? Hazards and Risks

(10:45) Scaling Eruptions: VEI vs. St. Helens

(12:35) Distributed Volcanic Fields Explained

(17:15) Physics of Magma-Water Interaction

(21:50) The Marvelous Database Project

(26:50) Remote Sensing: Thermal Inertia

(30:10) Mars vs. Earth: Gravity and Shape

(34:40) Searching for Craters on Mars

(36:40) "Goofing" with Lava and Ice Popsicles

(41:10) Methane, Permafrost, and CO2 Ice

(43:55) Mapping Water for Future Missions

(48:25) Ducky: The Scientist’s Companion

(51:00) The Science Joke

Links & Resources

• Support: Pateron
• Socials: Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook

Whimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).