Science is a Story

Bird eats berry. Bird digests berry. Bird poops out seed. Will seed grow? In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with David Matlaga, professor of biology, about the science of plant ecology. Through stories of fieldwork in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Illinois, David explains how plant demographers painstakingly measure and track the forest understory plants that many of us hardly notice. With special appearances by gophers, a hurricane, and poison ivy.

Have you ever wondered how new medicines are developed? In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Geneive Henry, professor of chemistry, about the field of medicinal chemistry. By the end of the episode, you’ll understand how Covid drugs like Paxlovid work – and we’ll use fruit, toothpicks, and crazy glue as explanations to get you there. 

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Rolfe Peterson, associate professor of political science, about why some people are more interested in running for public office than others. Listen in for a deep dive into the effects of gendered personality traits on political ambition. Then go run for office. Professor Peterson dedicates this conversation to the memory of his late friend and coauthor Carl Palmer (1979-2025).

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Matt Persons, professor of biology, about spider communication. Spiders can send and receive information through their silk, and Matt’s lab decodes these hidden messages. Join us to learn about the “world wide web” of spider communication. You’ll never look at spiders the same way again. 

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Pavithra Vivekanand, professor of biology, about a novel approach to reduce inflammation and kill cancer cells using gold nanoparticles. Using ingredients found at the grocery store, Pavithra’s lab investigates whether gold nanoparticles synthesized with plant extracts can produce more effective anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer responses than traditional synthesis methods. Listen in for a special appearance by Susquehanna’s favorite tree, the ginkgo. 

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Stephen Robertson, assistant professor of psychology, about the impacts of food and drugs on impulsive behavior. Using rats as model organisms, Stephen’s lab investigates how a high-fat, high-sugar diet affects impulsivity by disrupting the brain’s dopamine reward system. This wide-ranging conversation explores addiction, decision-making, the distinction between liking and wanting, and features a delicious (to rats) concoction called “gloop.” 

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Siobhan Fathel, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences, about the fascinating world of beaver dam analogs. Known as nature’s engineers, beavers inspired these human-made structures that are helping to restore waterways leading into the Susquehanna River. Together, they explore why these dams are such an effective environmental solution and how they’re being studied right here on campus