Iris of a human eye, overlaid words say "driven to discover.".

Driven to Discover is a podcast that explores innovative University at Buffalo research through candid conversations with the researchers about their inspirations and goals.

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  • Patricia Logan-Greene talks to host Vicky Santos about preventing gun violence

    Patricia Logan-Greene.

    Episode 11: Preventing Gun Violence with Patricia Logan-Greene

    18:31 Run Time | February 27, 2024

    When social work researcher Patricia Logan-Greene sought out introductory readings for her students on the topic of gun violence, she was shocked to find there weren’t any. Every day, social workers are in the homes of those most at risk of gun violence. Who better to prevent it? Now Logan-Greene, an associate professor at the University at Buffalo and an expert on violence and victimization, is co-leading a national initiative to put social workers front and center in the effort to make people safe in a country rife with firearms. In this episode, host Vicky Santos talks to Logan-Greene about the scourge of gun violence in America (mass shootings are a tiny fraction of the problem), the immeasurable impact it is having on our collective mental health, and why social workers are uniquely positioned to help stop it without restricting anyone’s Second Amendment rights.

Coming on March 26: Danielle Meyer on nutrition and cancer

Danielle Meyer.

Nutrition and Cancer with Danielle Meyer

Food has become an increasingly fraught subject in America. Is gluten bad for you? Dairy? Should everyone be organic, or vegan, or both? Meanwhile, an increasing number of Americans under 50 are being diagnosed with cancer, particularly colon cancer. Is our diet part of the problem? To answer that question and more, host Dave Hill talks to public health researcher Danielle Meyer, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition.

PREVIOUS EPISODES

  • Mark Frank on Detecting Deception
    1/30/24
    Working as a bouncer during college, Mark Frank found he could learn a lot about people by observing their gestures and expressions. Today the communications professor is a globally recognized expert on nonverbal communication who advises the FBI and the CIA. In this episode, Frank explains how he’s able to get the truth out of even the most practiced liars.
  • Jinjun Xiong on AI for Social Good
    11/28/23
    He was a young computer scientist at IBM when the company’s Watson computer beat its human rivals on “Jeopardy!”. Today, as the director of UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Jinjun Xiong is focused on how AI can help humans, not defeat them. In this episode, he discusses all the ways AI can make our lives better, and why we shouldn’t be so afraid of it.
  • R. Lorraine Collins on Cannabis Legalization
    10/31/23
    In middle school, R. Lorraine Collins was fascinated by the fact that some people could control their cravings while others couldn’t. Today the public health researcher is a renowned expert in addictive behaviors, with a focus on cannabis. In this episode, she weighs in on the country’s grand experiment with cannabis legalization, looking particularly at the rollout in New York State.
  • Samantha Barbas on Free Speech and the Supreme Court
    9/26/23
    While other children played house, Samantha Barbas played journalist. Today, she is a leading authority on the intersection of media, culture and the law. In this episode, she discusses the subject of her latest book: New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 case that transformed free speech in America and that could now be in danger of reversal by a very different Supreme Court.
  • Arin Bhattacharjee on Opioid-Free Pain relief
    8/29/23
    As a kid, Arin Bhattacharjee imagined scoring the winning goal in the World Cup. Now, as a neurobiologist, he’s imagining new ways to treat pain. In this episode, Bhattacharjee tells host Ellen Golbaum about his development of a novel treatment that could not only alleviate suffering and hasten surgical recovery, but also curtail addiction.
  • LaGarrett King on Teaching Black History
    5/30/23
    Black history wasn't part of the curriculum when LaGarrett King was a boy. Now he's on a mission to change that. In this episode, King tells host Vicky Santos why Black history is essential learning for all students, and how his center is helping teachers to get it right.
  • Diana Aga on Forever Chemicals
    4/25/23
    After seeing the river she swam in as a child turn black with pollution, Diana Aga became determined to help clean up the planet. In this episode, the renowned environmental chemist talks to host Cory Nealon about PFAS, or forever chemicals: what they are, why they're so dangerous, and what she's doing to take the "forever" out of them.
  • Nicholas Rajkovich on Climate Resiliency
    3/28/23
    As a kid, Nick Rajkovich built a wastewater plant in his parents' basement. Today, as an expert in climate resiliency, he his still using design and building to help others. In this episode of Driven to Discover, Rajkovich tells host David Hill how we can (and must) adapt our built environment to withstand an increasingly hostile climate.
  • Stephanie Poindexter on The Slow Loris
    2/28/23
    As a child, Stephanie Poindexter loved watching the apes at the zoo. Now she's an expert in the slow loris, a noctural primate that inhabits Southeast Asia. In this episode of Driven to Discover, Poindexter tells host Vicky Santos what it's like to track down this shy creature in a Thai jungle in the middle of the night, and why she does it.
  • John Crassidis on Space Junk
    1/30/23
    His first Halloween costume was an astronaut. Today he is a world-renowned expert in space junk. In this episode of Driven to Discover, aerospace engineer John Crassidis talks to host Cory Nealon about what space junk is, the threat it poses to the future of space travel, and how he and his students are working to solve the problem.

Meet your hosts

Thomas Dinki.

Tom Dinki, News Content Manager
Tom, a UB alumnus, joined University Communications in 2023 from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Prior to working at UB, he was a journalist for over six years at a small daily newspaper in New York’s Southern Tier, and later, at Buffalo’s NPR station.

Ellen Goldbaum.

Ellen Goldbaum, News Content Manager
Ellen has been with UB since 1990 and has covered the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences since 2011. Before coming to UB, she lived in New York City (her hometown) where she worked for several magazines, including Mademoiselle.

David Hill.

David Hill, Director of News Content
Following a nearly 10-year career in community newspapers, Dave joined University Communications in 2011. His UB résumé includes writing for the alumni magazine, editing school newsletters and, since 2015, serving on the media relations team.

Cory Nealon.

Cory Nealon, Director of News Content
Cory joined University Communications in 2012 after writing for newspapers in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in business administration, both from UB.

VIcky Santos.

Vicky Santos, News Content Manager
Vicky began her career as a reporter in the Adirondacks. She then spent 17 years in Alabama as the director of news and media services at Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts before moving back north in 2021 to join University Communications.

Laura Silverman.

Laura Silverman, Director of Content Strategy
Prior to joining University Communications in 2013, Laura worked as a managing editor in New York City for magazines including Vibe and Maxim, and then as group managing editor for Condé Nast India in Mumbai, where she launched Vogue India and GQ India.