Research Matters

Cornell University

5.0 (1)
EDUCATION

The Research Matters podcast features candid conversations with Cornell University researchers who are tackling some of society’s most urgent challenges and finding solutions that make a difference. Hear from experts who are not just studying the world, but changing it, turning data into discoveries, and ideas into impact. Produced by Cornell University Relations. Read more at news.cornell.edu.

5D AGO

Arthur Wheaton on the future of cars, travel and work - Research Matters S2E4

In this insightful episode of Research Matters, Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, dives into the future of cars, travel and work – from tariffs and EV transitions to autonomous vehicles and union impacts. Packed with practical advice, eye-opening analysis and a glimpse into emerging trends in transportation and labor, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating car buying decisions, industry shifts, or the role of technology in our jobs and journeys. Watch here.

30 min
JAN 27

Dr. Glenn E. Simmons Jr. on how fats and inflammation can fuel cancer - Research Matters S2E3

In this episode of Research Matters, Dr. Glenn E. Simmons Jr., a Cornell biomedical scientist and assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, takes us inside his lab to reveal how fats and inflammation can fuel cancer – and why some communities face worse outcomes than others. Plus, he offers practical health tips, a peek at what’s next for his team, and a book recommendation to keep curious minds busy. Watch here.

23 min
JAN 27

Jessica Salerno on what we get wrong with 911 calls - Research Matters S2E2

On this episode of Research Matters: Can the way you sound on a 911 call make you a suspect? Cornell psychologist Jessica Salerno, associate professor in the College of Human Ecology and associate member of the Cornell Law School faculty, reveals her lab’s eye-opening research showing that callers who don’t sound “emotional enough” – whether they’re calm, hesitant or just processing trauma – can be judged suspicious, putting them at risk of unfair treatment. Tune in to learn why your tone shouldn’t determine your credibility and what we all can do to rethink how we judge people in crisis. Watch here.

28 min
JAN 27

David Rand on how AI shapes our choices - Research Matters S2E1

In this eye-opening episode of Research Matters, David Rand, professor in the Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences, reveals how AI actually sways what we think – even how we vote. Packed with insight, practical takeaways, and a peek into the future of AI in our daily lives, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how technology shapes our choices. Watch here.

27 min
07/30/2025

From earth to easel: Kirsten Kurtz paints with soil

Kirsten Kurtz, assistant director of the Cornell Soil Health Lab, discusses her practice of painting with soil, the need for creativity in science and why “the skin of the earth” is more than just dirt.

41 min
05/27/2025

Chloé Arson goes deep into the potential of geothermal heat

Chloé Arson, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in Cornell Engineering, discusses her interest in rock mechanics and geothermal heat, addresses common misunderstandings about the technology and recounts the unexpected, zigzagging journey that led to her becoming a literal rock star.

38 min
03/12/2025

Ariel Ortiz-Bobea on the need for increasing public investment in agricultural R&D

Climate change and flagging investment in research and development has U.S. agriculture facing its first productivity slowdown in decades. Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, associate professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, explains what is needed to reverse course: a level of public R&D spending growth that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. since the years following World War I and World War II. Read more: Large-scale investment in research needed to maintain U.S. agriculture

25 min
12/02/2024

Itai Cohen on building microrobots, collaborating across disciplines and taming fear

Academia can be a very siloed place, but Itai Cohen, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, has managed to work on an incredibly eclectic range of projects, from studying the neuroscience behind insect flight, to making origami-like solar materials that wrap buildings, to creating tiny diffractive microrobots that can probe the microscopic world. He reflects on where his diverse interests and collaborations have led him, and the role that fear played in the evolution of his scientific trajectory. Read about the tiniest walking robot and its micro-measurements.

39 min

The Research Matters podcast features candid conversations with Cornell University researchers who are tackling some of society’s most urgent challenges and finding solutions that make a difference. Hear from experts who are not just studying the world, but changing it, turning data into discoveries, and ideas into impact. Produced by Cornell University Relations. Read more at news.cornell.edu.

Creator

Cornell University
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

20
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Research Matters
Show Website

Research Matters