Superheroes of Science Purdue College of Science

Dr. Doug Schmitt is the Professor and Stephen and Karen Brand Endowed Chair of Unconventional Energy at Purdue University. Dr. Schmitt provides insight on growing energy consumption, the increased demand for products made with fewer (or no) greenhouse gas emissions, and challenges associated with the realities surrounding unconventional energy product development.

 Dr. Tommy Sors, Assistant Director of the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI4D), explains the role that STEM professionals in all fields play in sequencing genes to understand the instructions for life found in every cell. This field of study is known as genomics, but within this field, there are many other “-omics.” How about the field of study involving RNA copied from DNA made within the cell? Transcriptomics. The field of instructions on how to make proteins? Proteomics. The study of proteins metabolizing within the cell? Metabolomics. Each of these fields creates a flood of information that requires computational science to help scientists better understand the data.

Green roofs are utilized to create habitat, promote health and well-being, reduce stormwater runoff, protect buildings, and conserve energy! John Aleck from LiveRoof joins us to discuss the installation process for green roofs and explain how green roofs are evolving to become more sustainable.

Wastewater has become a commodity and it's being used in many different ways around the globe! Most wastewater infrastructure throughout the United States is nearing the end of its life and communities are looking at rebuilding systems that have been in place for decades. Leisha Pica is with Jacobs Engineering where she serves as both a Global Technology Leader for Wastewater Technology, and a licensed professional civil engineer. Pica works on many projects that seek to transform aging wastewater treatment plants into new, useful, innovative, and cost effective facilities of the future! 

Studies have shown that when students are connected with their peers, the process of learning new things becomes easier. Collaborative opportunities within a classroom tend to help students learn better than when the classroom emphasis is based on a competition model. Curtis Kelly, Professor at Kansai University in Japan, is passionate about using research and trends in brain science to help his students unlock their potential as learners.

Ken Ridgway tells us that in order to understand how the world works, we have to be able to study sedimentary rocks, and looking at an active area now helps us see what might have happened in the past. He sets up camp in active earthquake areas of Alaska and intensively researches the sedimentary rocks to discover clues to the past and make connections to today’s world. Ken Ridgway is a researcher and Professor of Geology and Geophysics in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University.