Curious Conversations, a Research Podcast
"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life.
Produced and hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, episodes feature university researchers sharing their expertise, motivations, the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.
If you know of an expert (or are that expert) who’d make for a great conversation, email Travis today.
Latest Episode
Dustin Read joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the public perception of affordable housing, especially related to non-profit and for-profit providers. Read explained how building public support is a critical piece of affordable housing projects and his research on the various aspects that might influence that, including profit status and development size. He also shared his insights as to the impact such developments have on neighboring properties and communities.
(music)
Travis
Affordable housing seems to be one of those things most people want. In fact, can't remember ever meeting a person who told me they wanted unaffordable housing. But like countless other topics, just because people agree on what they want doesn't mean they agree necessarily on how to go about achieving it. So I was really excited when I learned that Virginia Tech's Dustin Reed has done some research into how people think and feel about different affordable housing options specifically in terms of whether or not those houses come from for-profit or non-profit providers. And Dustin was kind enough to join me to explain his research and answer some other questions that I have just about housing in general. Dustin is the head of the Blackwood Department of Real Estate in the Pamlin College of Business at Virginia Tech. His teaching and research interests include property and asset management, well as affordable housing, land use policy, and real estate development.
Dustin and I chatted a little about the current state of affordable housing in the United States, what some of the challenges are there, and what some of the perceptions are. He also broke down to me what some of the differences and more likely similarities are between non-profit and for-profit providers in that sector, and the importance of accurately communicating that to the general public, as well as what some of the benefits of having affordable housing can be to neighboring properties. So unless you are that lone person who does in fact want unaffordable housing, think this podcast will have a lot that interests you. I'm Travis Williams and this is Virginia Tech's Curious Conversations.
(music)
Travis
I know you've done a lot of research when it comes to for-profit housing and non-profit housing and how that fits into this whole picture of affordable housing that we have in the United States. So I'm curious, maybe right off the bat, what is the current state of affordable housing?
Dustin
Sure, well in the United States, like many other countries, the development management ownership of affordable housing has largely been outsourced to the private sector. So a combination of non-profit and for-profit companies deliver the vast majority of the affordable running. rental housing stock in the US.
Travis
What's actually considered affordable housing?
Dustin
Look, what are what's the markers that say like this is what affordable housing actually is? Sure. By conventional measures, we consider housing affordable if the occupants aren't spending more than about 30 % of their gross income on housing related costs. So once you get above that threshold, housing people are starting to become considered housing burdened. And do we know much affordable housing folks have right now? Is there a general shortage of it? Are we great there? How are we doing there? Yeah, the figures, as you would expect, vary from market to market with less affordable housing available in high-cost markets and more in low-cost markets. But the big story is across the entire country, there's an affordable housing crisis. There is far too few subsidized units available to satisfy the demand that exists for them.
Travis
Okay. And so your work is looking, I guess, at how for-profit and non-profit housing or housing companies fit into this equation, kind of from the big picture. So I'm curious, besides the obvious, this company is making a profit. This company is on paper not making a profit or they're supposed to not be making a profit. What are some of the other differences between how maybe a for-profit or a non-profit company, when it comes to managing properties or owning properties, works?
Dustin
Yeah, so maybe I'll take a step back just a second so I can answer your question that, as I mentioned earlier, in the United States, the private sector is the predominant provider of affordable housing and affordable rental housing. For-profits and nonprofits both participate in that industry and both play really important roles and for the most part do a very good job of meeting the needs of their residents and the stakeholders they work with. So my research, most of the things I do, focuses on thinking about how do we help affordable housing providers, be them in the for-profit sector or the nonprofit sector? How do we help them do their work better? How do we make them more responsive to the residents they serve? How do we make them better equipped to advance their financial and social missions? How do we make them more impactful for the communities in which their housing is located? So I do spend a lot of time doing what we call best practices studies, really trying to advise affordable housing companies on how they can approach their work to most effectively advance their goals. So part of that work is taking into consideration that maybe affordable housing providers that are for profit versus those that are nonprofit, maybe they have different motives that influence the way they approach their work. And how can we think about those motives and think about how they might actually influence the type of affordable housing that plays out on the ground and how that housing is managed.
Travis
Okay, so. What are some of the differences, I guess, when it comes to for-profit and non-profit affordable housing? Like, I'm not sure if the businesses or sectors, I'm not sure exactly even what the right term is for that.
Dustin
you're right. When an organization doesn't have a profit motive, there's a question as to whether we should call them businesses or not. So a lot of times that will fall to the term non-profit affordable, or excuse me, affordable housing providers or affordable housing organizations. But the obvious one that jumps out is people have a perception that if you're a for-profit entity, that you're going to be heavily motivated by your financial interests and potentially to the detriment of the social goals that affordable housing providers are typically thought to advance. So that really becomes the tension that, affordable housing providers with this profit motive, are they going to go about their business in fundamentally different ways than those that don't have a profit motive? And what we find in a lot of our research that focuses on this topic, that there are some differences in the way these types of organizations operate, but they're still both beholden to kind of a diverse group of stakeholders that compel them to think about their social impact as well as their financial impact. So because of the institutional pressures that affordable housing organizations face, as well as legal pressures, their activities tend to coalesce in a lot of ways even though one type of organization has a profit motive and the other doesn't. Okay, so maybe more similar than different. Yeah, perhaps. A lot of research would take us down that path that the day-to-day operating procedures start to look quite similar across both types of organizations. that's fascinating to know. Well, I know some of the most recent research that you have done deals with public perception, though, of these two entities or organizations, providers, as the term that I think we kind of decided on earlier.
Travis
When you looked at how public perception of these two providers is, what did you find from your research there?
Dustin
Yeah, it's pretty interesting that, as I mentioned, in many ways, for-profits and non-profits that participate in affordable housing provision, they approach their work in many similar ways. But members of the public don't necessarily see that right, because they don't really know what's behind the curtain. They don't know how an affordable housing company is going about its day-to-day activities. So what we did, we did a large internet survey where we asked thousands of US members of the US population, a diverse representative sample. We basically asked them a series of questions about affordable housing. And part of those questions, we presented them with what we call experiments where different groups of respondents to the survey were presented with different scenarios that described affordable housing providers. And the scenarios were exactly the same, except for in one group, the party involved in the provision of affordable housing was described as a non-profit, and the other, they were described as a for-profit. And then we basically asked the survey respondents their perceptions of that organization and the work they do. And what we found is, even though the...the experimental setup was exactly the same for both groups, save for how the affordable housing provider was described. The groups that were presented with the nonprofit scenario had much more favorable attitudes about the work that organization was doing. So simply including the one word nonprofit into the experiment sends a very different signal to the market about how an organization is going to go about its work. And that's important because affordable housing providers, often need to garner public support for their work to get it through regulatory entitlement processes, to gain subsidies, to gain community acceptance. So our research kind of takes you down this path that if you're a for-profit, you really need to downplay that aspect of your work because it has a negative connotation with the general public. Whereas if you're a for-profit, or excuse me, a nonprofit, you really want to play up that nonprofit status because it tends to resonate with members of the public in positive ways.
Travis
Did your research reveal any specifics as to why people felt one way or the other about nonprofits or for-profit providers?
Dustin
No, it's interesting. We can't get to the why, but all we can get to is just observing the difference, right? That small signals about profit status have large implications for how people view affordable housing providers in their work.
Travis
Hey, what is, do you know the breakdown of for-profit versus non-profit affordable housing providers in the country right now, roughly?
Dustin
Yeah, you know what, I don't. And again, it varies market to market, but actually a majority of the affordable housing that's being produced today is being, I shouldn't say the majority, but the large, some of the largest affordable housing providers in the country are actually for-profit entities.
Travis
That's fascinating. Well, one of the things that I was looking at in your, in the paper that I think you shared, one of the things I noticed was that there was a little bit of a rural-urban divide in some of the data. It might have been a very small section, but I was curious maybe if you could talk a little bit about what you all found there.
Dustin
Yeah, you we did. We included variables or measures of the survey respondents' place of residence, whether they lived in an urban area, a rural area, or a suburban area. And we do find in some instances it does actually affect their perceptions about affordable housing.
So in some instances, you might find suburban residents more skeptical about the social benefits of affordable housing, whereas rural residents may have more favorable attitudes. And you can start to tease out how the demographic profiles of individuals influence the way they conceptualize affordable housing and those that build it and deliver it to the market. So the reason that's important is because if you're building a marketing campaign, right, if you're trying to build support for the work affordable housing providers do, you have to know how different members of the public with different characteristics, how they actually think about affordable housing and affordable housing providers. So hopefully you can tailor your marketing message or the information you're conveying to the public in ways that resonate with groups that you're speaking to.
Travis
Yeah. And I guess there was also a size component to how large the affordable housing unit might be. What impact did that have on people's responses?
Dustin
Yeah, there's a big body of literature that suggests that people's attitudes about affordable housing tend to become less favorable as the size and scale of that affordable housing increases. So there's kind of this negative perceptions about housing density and the densification of affordable housing near lower density neighborhoods. In our research, we don't really find a strong density effect, but there is a body of work out there that suggests you might want to downplay the scale of affordable housing because the bigger it gets, the more negative perceptions tend to become.
Travis
I'm curious when it comes to public perception, how you think for-profit, non-profit affordable housing providers being able to, I don't want to use the word leverage because sometimes that sounds bad, but maybe benefit from public perception better. How could that maybe help the overall housing market?
Dustin
Yeah, well, absolutely. So the whole impetus for this research is kind of grounded in the idea that oftentimes affordable housing providers face scrutiny and opposition from members of the public that have negative perceptions about affordable housing. So we know that affordable housing is valuable. We know that it has positive societal impacts, but we also know that many times when affordable housing development is proposed or put forth for construction in a given neighborhood, people in that area rise up in opposition to it because they fear it might change the composition of their neighborhood or have negative effects on their property values or have other negative ripple effects once that housing is delivered to the market. So a big part of affordable housing providers work is thinking through ways to garner public support for what they want to do. So our research is really trying to provide them with those tools so they can speak to the public in ways that elicit positive responses as best they can.
Travis
Do we know if affordable housing units, do they do some of the negative things that people are afraid of or is that just like, like un-garnered fears?
Dustin
Yeah. So, you know, I don't want to speak for the entire body of research because I don't know every paper that's been written on the topic and you can assuredly find studies that show different kinds of effects of affordable housing in different market environments. But a lot of research that has come out in the last decade or two, is actually showing the opposite effect that affordable housing development often has no effect on surrounding property values or may even actually have a positive effect because it often comes in and replaces things that have a greater blighting influence than affordable housing might have. So for example, you might have an undeveloped lot or a rundown housing complex that needs to be redeveloped or some blighting commercial use that actually is getting replaced by a new residential structure that's quite nice. So the integration of affordable housing development into a neighborhood can actually generate a lot of positive economic and social effects as opposed to negative ones.
Travis
that's really fascinating. Well, what do you hope that people do with your research moving forward?
Dustin
Yes, hopefully it's just part of another arrow in the quiver of affordable housing providers that can help them build support for the work they do. you know, working in this space, I interact with a whole lot of people in this industry that are very savvy business people, but also very socially conscious that have very good intentions about the work they go about on a day-to-day basis. So hopefully we can help them do their work better and increase the supply of affordable housing in cities and regions that really need it.
Travis
I'm curious when you work with some of those folks, what do they tell you are some of their greatest challenges to tackling this problem that we have?
Dustin
Yeah, and one of the big ones is public opposition, right? How do we build support for affordable housing and an affordable housing agenda because oftentimes there isn't that support out amongst the general public.
Travis
Well, that's awesome. Now you can say, here, here's, I fixed it, I've solved it.
Dustin
Yeah, it's not a panacea, but again, if it helps a little bit to allow affordable housing providers to frame the work they do in a more positive way, we certainly want to help them do that.
(music)
Travis
And thanks to Dustin for talking to us about his research related to affordable housing and the perceptions that people have about who provides them. If you or someone you know would make for a great curious conversation, email me at traviskw at vt.edu. I'm Travis Williams and this has been Virginia Tech's Curious Conversations.
About Read
Read is head of the Blackwood Department of Real Estate in the Pamplin College of Business. His research interests include property and asset management, as well as housing affordability, land use policy, and real estate development.
Past Episodes
-
General Item
Public Perception of Affordable Housing with Dustin ReedDustin Read discusses public perceptions of affordable housing, the role of profit status, and how development size impacts community support.
Date: Mar 10, 2025 -
General Item
Unpacking the Complexities of Packaging with Laszlo HorvathLaszlo Horvath discusses packaging design complexities, including affordability, sustainability, and the impact of tariffs and supply chain disruptions.
Date: Mar 03, 2025 -
General Item
Engineering Safer Airspace with Ella AtkinsElla Atkins joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of air travel safety. She explained the differences between Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and the challenges posed by having two sets of rules in the same airspace. Atkins also discussed the recent incidents involving aircraft collisions and the technological advancements that could enhance safety, which include updating methods of data sharing and the use of automated systems.
Date: Feb 24, 2025 -
General Item
Cancer-Fighting Bubbles with Eli VlaisavljevichEli Vlaisavljevich joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about histotripsy, a novel ultrasound therapy for cancer treatment. He explained the mechanics of how histotripsy works, its clinical applications, and the body's immune response to tumor liquefaction. Vlaisavljevisch also shared insights related to the development of histotripsy devices, patient experiences, and future directions in cancer treatment.
Date: Feb 17, 2025 -
General Item
Examining the ‘5 Love Languages’ with Louis HickmanLouis Hickman joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the concept of the ‘The 5 Love Languages’, its origins, and its impact on relationship satisfaction. He shared his thoughts on the appeal of simple solutions to complex relationships, findings from his recent research on the love languages, and the importance of personality traits in relationships. Hickman also emphasized the need for self-care and adaptability in maintaining healthy relationships over time.
Date: Feb 10, 2025 -
General Item
The Behavior and Prevention of Wildfires with Adam CoatesAdam Coates joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the contributing factors of the recent wildfires in California, particularly related to their intensity and spread. He explained some of the science behind fire behavior, the role of landscape, and the challenges posed by urban areas to fire management. He also shared his insights related to preventative measures communities can take, including the use of prescribed burning.
Date: Feb 03, 2025 -
General Item
Computer Security in the New Year with Matthew HicksMatthew Hicks joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to discuss how computer users can be more secure heading into 2025. He shared insights about the evolving landscape of computer security, particularly related to artificial intelligence (AI) and generative technologies, and the implications of these technologies on personal security, including the rise of sophisticated phishing attacks. He also provided guidance on some commonly overlooked aspects of computer security.
Date: Jan 27, 2025
-
General Item
Internet of Things Safety and Gift Giving Tips with Christine JulienChristine Julien joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the Internet of Things (IOT), exploring its definition, potential vulnerabilities, and the implications of using smart devices, especially for children. Julien stressed the importance of security and privacy when using IOT devices, particularly during the gift-giving season and shared insights on navigating these complexities with an aim of balancing the enjoyment and security.
Date: Dec 09, 2024 -
General Item
Neurodiversity and the holidays with Lavinia Uscatescu and Hunter TufarelliLavinia Uscatescu and Hunter Tufarelli joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the importance of understanding and accommodating neurodivergent individuals in various environments, particularly social gatherings during the holiday season. The pair shared the impact environmental factors can have on neurodivergent individuals, as well as the significance of predictability and communication in social settings. As a person with autism, Tufarelli also shared her first-hand experiences and the importance of embracing self-care.
Date: Dec 02, 2024 -
General Item
AI and Better Classroom Discussions with Yan ChenYan Chen joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the use of artificial intelligence to enhance teaching and peer instruction in classrooms. Chen believes one potential use for AI, specifically large language models, is to monitor and analyze peer interactions in real-time. He shared the platform he and colleagues have created to do this, called VizPI, which aims to provide instructors with insights and recommendations to create a more engaging and personalized learning environment for students.
Date: Nov 25, 2024 -
General Item
Forest Health and Natural Disasters with Carrie FearerCarrie Fearer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about forest health in the wake of natural disasters. She explained how storms and disturbances affect forest ecosystems, the importance of human interaction in promoting healthy forests, and the opportunities for restoration following catastrophic events. She also emphasized the significance of native species and the role of decomposition in maintaining forest health.
Date: Nov 18, 2024 -
General Item
Subduction Zones, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis with Tina DuraTina Dura joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about subduction zones, particularly the Cascadia Subduction Zone, earthquakes and tsunamis. She explained the mechanics of earthquakes, and how the geological record and fossilized algae are helping researchers better understand past occurrences and predict future ones. Dura emphasized the importance of translating scientific research into actionable information for the public, especially regarding tsunami preparedness and community resilience.
Date: Nov 11, 2024 -
General Item
Turning old Plastic into Soap with Guoliang “Greg” LiuGuoliang “Greg” Liu joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about his journey in sustainability, focusing on the innovative process of converting plastic waste into soap. He shared insights on the challenges of controlling the chemical processes involved, the types of plastics used, and the potential for creating both liquid and solid soap products. He emphasized the importance of sustainability in the detergent industry and expressed hope for future commercialization of his work.
Date: Nov 04, 2024 -
General Item
Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship with James HarderJames Harder joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, specially highlighting the Department of Computer Science’s initiative, CS/root. Harder shared his belief that the entrepreneurship process can be learned and applied to various novel ideas and the ways the program hopes to teach and support it, as well as the role it will play in putting emerging technology in more people’s hands.
Date: Oct 28, 2024 -
General Item
AI and Emergency Management with Shalini MisraShalini Misra joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about how artificial intelligence (AI) might be used in the field of emergency management. She shared some of the different ways AI is currently being used and the concerns she’s heard from emergency managers. Misra also talks about the steps she believes will be necessary for the technology to reach its full potential in this field.
Date: Oct 21, 2024 -
General Item
Female Leaders of Nations and the US Presidency with Farida JalalzaiFarida Jalalzai joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the state of female leadership globally, with a focus on the United States. She shared how she believes the U.S. compares to other nations in terms of female political representation, the unique challenges women face in the U.S. political landscape, and the impact of gender roles on women's leadership opportunities. She also shared the insights she gained through her research of female leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: Oct 14, 2024 -
General Item
AI and Securing Water Systems with Feras BatarsehFeras Batarseh joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to discuss the intersection of water systems and technology, specifically focusing on aspects of artificial intelligence (AI). He shared the importance of using AI to predict and prevent water quality issues, such as high turbidity, and highlighted the need for water systems to become more intelligent and cyber-secure.
Date: Oct 07, 2024 -
General Item
Alcohol Use and Intimate Partner Violence with Meagan BremMeagan Brem joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to discuss the intersection of alcohol use and intimate partner violence, highlighting the importance of understanding the causal relationship between the two. She debunked common myths, identified current knowledge gaps, and shared insights from ongoing studies. She also described the unique challenge of understanding these topics as they relate to LGBTQ+ populations and shared possible interventions on both societal and individual levels.
Date: Sep 30, 2024 -
General Item
Brain Chemistry and Neuroeconomics with Read MontagueRead Montague joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the role of dopamine and serotonin in learning, motivation, memory, mood, and decision-making. He discussed his research on measuring dopamine and serotonin dynamics in the brain in real time using electrodes in epilepsy patients and explained the role neuroeconomics are playing in that research.
Date: Sep 23, 2024 -
General Item
The Future of Wireless Networks with Lingjia LiuLingjia Liu joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the future of wireless networks and wireless communications. He explained the evolution of cellular networks from 1G to 5G and the potential for 6G, as well as how open radio access networks (O-RAN) can help advance innovation in this space.
Date: Sep 16, 2024 -
General Item
The Mung Bean and Reducing Hunger in Senegal with Ozzie AbayeOzzie Abaye joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about her work using the mung bean to diversify the cropping system, empower farmers, and reduce hunger in Senegal, Africa. She explained why the mung bean is a good fit for that region, the process by which she began to share it with farmers, and the collaborations she’s utilized to expand it across the country. She also shared what some of the challenges were in developing recipes across cultural lines.
Date: Sep 10, 2024 -
General Item
Curbing the Threat of Invasive Species with Jacob BarneyJacob Barney joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about invasive species, their impact on native species, and the challenges of managing them. He explained the history and terminology of invasive species, their economic and ecological consequences, and the interdisciplinary approach to addressing the problem. Barney also highlighted practical steps individuals can take to prevent their spread.
Date: Sep 02, 2024 -
General Item
Making Motorcycle Riding Safer Around the Globe with Richard HanowskiRichard Hanowski joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about harnessing research to help make motorcycle riding safer in low- and middle-income countries. He shared the difference in riding culture in those areas as opposed to the United States and explained how his team is utilizing some of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s pioneering technology to help increase rider safety.
Date: Aug 27, 2024 -
General Item
The Evolution of Political Polling with Karen HultKaren Hult joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the history and evolution of polling, methods used in modern polling, and how politicians and the average person can interpret poll results. The conversation highlights the importance of probability sampling and inferential statistics in generating accurate poll results, as well as the need for critical thinking when consuming poll results.
Date: Aug 20, 2024 -
General Item
Navigating Back-to-School Emotions with Rosanna BreauxRosanna Breaux joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the challenges and emotions children may experience during the transition back to school. The discussion includes red flags to look for, as well as coping skills and support parents and caregivers can provide to help their children navigate the school year. The conversation touches on the impact of recent bans on students having individual smart devices in schools.
Date: Aug 05, 2024 -
General Item
Geologic Carbon Sequestration with Ryan PollyeaRyan Pollyea joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about geologic carbon sequestration, which is the process of permanently storing carbon dioxide (CO2) thousands of feet below the Earth’s surface. Pollyea explained what types of rock this is currently known to work with, the efforts he and his colleagues are taking to expand this to other geologic regions, and the potential impact that could have for the environment and economics.
Date: Jun 04, 2024 -
General Item
Veterans and Mass Incarceration with Jason HigginsJason Higgins joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the intersection of United States military veterans and mass incarceration and his book, “Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” He shared what led him to work at this intersection, some of the reasons he thinks it’s often overlooked, and factors he believes lead many veterans to being in prison. Having interviewed more than 60 veterans whose service ranged from the Vietnam War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Higgins also compares and contrasts their reported experiences and shares some of the efforts veterans are undertaking to support each other.
Date: May 28, 2024 -
General Item
Microplastics, the Ocean, and the Atmosphere with Hosein ForoutanHosein Foroutan joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about microplastics, the ocean, and the atmosphere. He explained what microplastics are and shared recent findings that indicate such waste is somehow making its way into the air around the world. He also described some of the research he’s doing to figure out how this is happening and shared his current theories.
Date: May 21, 2024 -
General Item
Real Estate Values and Elections with Sherwood ClementsSherwood Clements joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact real estate values have on the presidential election. He discussed some recent research he was a part of that explored the impact of the “homevoter,” what findings surprised him, and what he thinks the date tells us about the upcoming election.
Date: May 14, 2024 -
General Item
AI and the Hiring Process with Louis HickmanLouis Hickman joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during the hiring process. He shared the ways in which AI has long been a part of the process, the findings from his research on AI evaluating automated video interviews, and some tips on how job seekers can leverage the technology to improve their job hunt.
Date: May 06, 2024 -
General Item
Exploring the Human-Dog Relationship with Courtney SextonCourtney Sexton joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the unique relationship between humans and dogs. She shared the origins of the dog-human relationship, how the animals have adapted and become more attune to human needs, and their role in helping researchers learn more about human health.
Date: Apr 30, 2024 -
General Item
The Chemistry of Earth History with Ben GillBen Gill joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about piecing together Earth history through a combination of geology and chemistry. Gill explained how studying the cycles of different elements can tell a story and help us better understand the planet’s most pivotal moments, such as mass extinctions. He also shared how studying both the worth and best times of our planet can provide us valuable insights for the future.
Date: Apr 23, 2024 -
General Item
Circular Economies with Jennifer RussellJennifer Russell joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the concept of a circular economy. She explained that a circular economy is a shift away from the linear economy, which follows a take-make-dispose model, and instead focuses on reducing waste and reusing materials. Russell shared examples of tangible products and industries that can be, or already are, part of a circular economy.
Date: Apr 16, 2024 -
General Item
The History of Virginia Tech's Helmet Lab with Stefan DumaStefan Duma joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab and the impact it has had on sports-related head injuries. He shared how a military research conference led him to study helmets, as well as the critical role the lab’s relationships with the Virginia Tech football and sports medicine programs have played in advancing this pioneering research. Duma discussed the role of the helmet lab in helping to create a greater awareness about head injuries throughout all sports, and described the helmet shell add-on fans can witness during the football team’s spring game on April 13.
Date: Apr 09, 2024 -
General Item
The History of Food Waste with Anna ZeideAnna Zeide joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of food waste in America and its impact on society and the environment. She shared insights related to several historical turning points and stressed that addressing food waste requires rethinking and integrating food security and waste management systems.
Date: Apr 02, 2024 -
General Item
The Dog Aging Project with Audrey RupleAudrey Ruple joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the Dog Aging Project, the largest-known study of dog health which aims to understand the keys to healthy aging in dogs and the risks to their health. She explained what information they are collecting, what it means for dogs, and how it might also be used to better understand human health.
Date: Mar 26, 2024 -
General Item
All About Air Pollution with Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertzGabriel Isaacman-VanWertz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about air pollution and its misconceptions. He shared his insights related to how plant and human emissions interact and what that means for our shared environment, as well as how he got into this field of study and his hope for the future.
Date: Mar 19, 2024 -
General Item
Righting a Wrong Understanding of Newton's Law with Daniel HoekDaniel Hoek joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the recent discovery he made related to Newton's first law of motion. The law is typically translated as “a body at rest remains at rest, and a body in motion remains in motion, at constant speed and in a straight line, unless acted on by an external force." Hoek explains how he became intrigued by the law, the puzzles surrounding it, as well as the misconception that objects with no forces acting on them exist and how Newton's own account contradicts this.
Date: Mar 11, 2024 -
General Item
Measuring the Risks of Sinking Land with Manoochehr ShirzaeiManoochehr Shirzaei joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the importance of understanding and measuring sinking land, commonly called land subsidence. He shared insights about the use of satellite data in creating high resolution maps, how land subsidence fits into the overall picture of climate change, and how he hopes the information is used by localities.
Date: Mar 05, 2024 -
General Item
Emerging Technology and Tourism with Zheng "Phil" XiangZheng "Phil" Xiang joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the intersection of technology and tourism. He shares the significant technological shifts in the tourism industry over the past decade, including the influence of social media and artificial intelligence on trip research and the experience itself.
Date: Feb 27, 2024 -
General Item
AI and Education with Andrew KatzAndrew Katz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Katz shares his insight related to the applications of AI models, such as chat GPT, in analyzing student responses and providing feedback, as well as the challenges of AI in education and hope it can provide a more individualized education experience.
Date: Feb 20, 2024 -
General Item
Warm, Fuzzy Feelings and Relationships with Rose WescheRose Wesche joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the science behind the warm, fuzzy feelings that often accompany a new romance, the transition from infatuation to attachment, and how to maintain intimacy and passion in relationships. She also shared her research exploring the emotional outcomes of casual sexual relationships and provided advice for those in relationships.
Date: Feb 13, 2024 -
General Item
The Future of Wireless Networks with Luiz DaSilvaLuiz DaSilva joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the evolution of wireless networks, the importance of advancing the next generation of wireless, and the critical role the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is playing in that advancement.
Date: Feb 06, 2024 -
General Item
The Positive Impacts of Bird Feeding with Ashley DayerAshely Dayer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about her work at the intersection of birds and humans, including a new project that explores the positive impact bird feeding has on human well being and general tips for the hobby.
Date: Jan 30, 2024 -
General Item
Sticking to healthy changes with Samantha HardenSamantha Harden joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the science behind developing and keeping healthy habits.
Date: Jan 16, 2024
-
General Item
Screen Time and Young Children with Koeun ChoiKoeun Choi joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the impact of media on young children. She shared insights from her research on screen time and young children and introduced a project she’s working on that explores the use of artificial intelligence to help children learn to read.
Date: Dec 11, 2023 -
General Item
The History of Holiday Foods with Anna ZeideAnna Zeide joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the history of foods traditionally connected to holidays occurring during the winter months, as well as the nature of developing personal traditions.
Date: Dec 04, 2023 -
General Item
The Chemistry of Better Batteries with Feng LinFeng Lin joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the chemistry behind creating better batteries for electric vehicles. He broke down some of the current challenges to mass producing an effective and affordable battery, and shared his thoughts on the potential for coal in helping overcome these hurdles.
Date: Nov 27, 2023 -
General Item
AI as a Personal Assistant with Ismini LourentzouIsmini Lourentzou joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about artificial intelligence and machine learning related to personal assistants, as well as her student team’s recent experience with the Alexa Prize TaskBot Challenge 2.
Date: Nov 20, 2023 -
General Item
The Power of International Collaborations with Roop MahajanRoop Mahajan joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the value of international collaborations to research and innovation, as well as how they’ve contributed to his work advancing the “wonder material” graphene.
Date: Nov 13, 2023 -
General Item
Driving around Heavy Trucks with Matt Camden and Scott TidwellMatt Camden and Scott Tidwell of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) joined “Curious Conversations” to talk about the institute’s Sharing the Road program, which has shared tips for driving around heavy trucks with more than 20,000 high school students since 2018. They discussed the research behind the program and shared practical safety tips for drivers of all ages.
Date: Nov 06, 2023 -
General Item
Autonomous Technology and Mining with Erik WestmanErik Westman joined Virginia Tech’s ‘Curious Conversations’ to share his insights on how machine learning and autonomous technologies are impacting the mining industry, as well as what Virginia Tech is doing to prepare students for the future of the industry.
Date: Oct 30, 2023 -
General Item
Agriculture Technology and Farmers with Maaz GardeziMaaz Gardezi joined Virginia Tech’s ‘Curious Conversations’ to talk about the importance of developing agriculture technology alongside and with the input of farmers. He shared details about a current interdisciplinary project he’s working on at the intersection of technology and agriculture, as well as his thoughts on the potential for advanced technology in this space.
Date: Oct 23, 2023 -
General Item
AI and Healthcare Workspaces with Sarah Henrickson ParkerSarah Henrickson Parker joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about how artificial intelligence and machine learning is currently being used in some healthcare spaces, and what the potential is for the future.
Date: Oct 16, 2023 -
General Item
AI and Online Threats with Bimal ViswanathBimal Viswanath joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about how the rise in artificial intelligence and large language models has changed the online threat landscape. He explained how this technology works and shared about a current project he’s involved with that aims to mitigate toxic language in chatbots.
Date: Oct 09, 2023 -
General Item
AI and the Workforce with Cayce MyersCayce Myers fields questions on artificial intelligence’s impact on the workforce, regulations, copyright law, and more.
Date: Oct 02, 2023 -
General Item
Special Edition: The GAP Report with Tom Thompson and Jessica AgnewEach year, Virginia Tech produces the Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Report, which provides a snapshot of the current state of agriculture and a projection of its future. Tom and Jessica, executive editor and managing editor, respectively, of the report, joined the podcast just prior to the 2023 release to explain what it is and how they hope it's used.
Date: Oct 01, 2023 -
General Item
The Metaverse, Digital Twins, and Green AI with Walid SaadWalid Saad joined Virginia Tech’s "Curious Conversations" to field questions about the metaverse, digital twins, and artificial intelligence’s potential impact on the environment.
Date: Sep 24, 2023 -
General Item
Semiconductors, Packaging, and more with Christina DimarinoChristina Dimarino joined the podcast to chat about semiconductors, the importance of packaging in onshoring their production, and what Virginia Tech is doing to excel workforce development in this field.
Date: Sep 15, 2023 -
General Item
Pilot: Electric Vehicles with Hesham RakhaIn this pilot episode, Hesham Rakha shares insights on what sustainable mobility means, the gas price at which electric vehicles becomes the more cost effective option, and some of his personal experiences with an electric car.
Date: Aug 14, 2023
Subscribe
