On a mission to expand access to STEM knowledge, AUI’s Kelsey Underwood sits down with experts to discuss their latest breakthroughs in science and technology and their impact on astronomy, energy, education and beyond.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Ben Kolendar, World Trade Center Utah, and Matt Schaub, AUI, reflect on the United States’ history with critical minerals and propose solutions to better secure their supply chain.
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World Trade Center Utah
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Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Bert Hawkins, assistant director of the Central Development Laboratory at the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), and Jeff Pixton, technology transfer manager at the NSF NRAO, explain the basics of technology transfer and the benefits for science and beyond.
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Join Our Online Community
The Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Will Armentrout, U.S. airman and astronomer, returns to explain planetary defense and discuss the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Observatory’s ngRADAR project.
Links
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website
Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website
Related Episodes
Capturing Cosmic Data With Radar
Connect With AUI
LinkedIn
Instagram
Please note: the Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Kat Troche and Sarah Treadwell are back for a bonus episode to share their experiences from place-based education programs operated by AUI and its partners. Both science outreach professionals participated in the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program (ACEAP) and Sarah took part in the Mission Patagonia program as well.
AUI's Place-Based Learning Programs
Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program
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Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Amateur Astronomers Association
Blue Marble Institute of Science
Connect With Kat
Connect With Sarah
Connect With AUI
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Patrick Taylor, radar division head at the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Observatory, explains how advancements in radar technology are enhancing scientists' understanding of the Universe and influencing the future of space exploration.
Links
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website
Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website
Connect With AUI
LinkedIn
Instagram
Please note: The Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Will Armentrout, astronomer and U.S. airman, explains the history and basics of radio astronomy.
Links
Tycho Crater image
Will's website
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website
NRAO Radio Astronomy 101
Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website
GBO YouTube
Connect With AUI
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
Please note: the Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Science outreach professionals Space Case Sarah (Sarah Treadwell) and Kuiper Kat (Kat Troche) share tips on how to use social media to reach and connect with audiences and advice for those interested in starting their own outreach efforts.
Learn More
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Amateur Astronomers Association
Blue Marble Institute of Science
Connect With Kat
Connect With Sarah
Connect With AUI
References
American time use survey — 2023 results . (2023, June 27). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved May 28, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/atus.pdf.
Duarte, F. (2025, April 24). Alarming average screen time statistics (2025). Exploding Topics. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/screen-time-stats
Watson, A. (2024, November 13). Average reading time per day U.S. by age 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/412454/average-daily-time-reading-us-by-age/#:~:text=The%20average%20daily%20time%20spent%20reading%20by,than%20nine%20minutes%20per%20day%20on%20average.
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
From COVID-19 vaccines to the first image of a black hole, user facilities have made significant scientific breakthroughs possible over the past 70+ years. How do scientists access user facilities to conduct complex scientific research? Allison Costa, associate scientist at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory, breaks down the process.
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References
"UMR releases annual NIH Economic Impact Report: 2025 update". United For Medical Research. (2025, March 11). https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/statements/umr-releases-annual-nih-economic-impact-report-2025-update/
Wednesday Mar 26, 2025
Wednesday Mar 26, 2025
Adam Reed, senior advisor at AUI, and Tom Campbell, cofounder and growth director of LEAP Manufacturing, discuss the challenges the Unites States currently faces with sourcing critical minerals necessary to manufacture batteries used to power items for defense, transportation and everyday tasks. Key players in BEACONS, Reed and Campbell explain how the battery technology initiative can combat these challenges and bolster the country’s authority in critical minerals.
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Join Our Community
References
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Fiscal Year 2023 Energy and Fuel Budget Justification Report. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/ero/oe/docs/reports/2023/FY23-Energy-and-Fuel-Budget-Justification-Report.pdf
Rimer, S. (2017, November 7). Loaded research question: Do male and female soldiers carry their equipment differently? Boston University. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2017/how-soldiers-carry-weight/#:~:text=In%20a%20combat%20mission%2C%20that,every%20soldier%2C%20regardless%20of%20sex
U.S. Government Accountability Office. U.S. - China relations. GAO. (n.d.). https://www.gao.gov/u.s.-china-relations#:~:text=In%20recent%20years%2C%20tensions%20between,challenges%20to%20the%20U.S.%20military
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
On a mission to expand access to STEM knowledge, AUI’s Kelsey Underwood sits down with experts to discuss their latest breakthroughs in science and technology and their impact on astronomy, energy, education and beyond.
SAVE THE DATE: First episode premiers March 26!