As digital platforms become increasingly popular, the PIE Center launched a new podcast, Science by the Slice, to connect with diverse audiences and explore the science behind issues in public health, agriculture and natural resources.
The first series of Science by the Slice aired in January 2020 and highlighted innovative research about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Since January, ten series of the podcast have been shared and streamed by 1,860 podcast listeners.
Science by the Slice allows listeners to peek behind the scenes of academic research while learning about important topics affecting the agriculture and natural resources sectors. Each month, a new series focused on a topic in agriculture or natural resources is released. Each series consists of two episodes, each episode featuring a knowledgeable guest.
“It’s been really fun creating episodes for Science by the Slice and diving into a variety of topics with such tremendous guest experts,” said PIE Center education coordinator Phillip Stokes. “While I absolutely want our listeners to learn information about each topic we cover, I also hope that our approach makes people think about these subjects differently than how they may currently view them, enhancing their understanding of many complex issues in agriculture and natural resources.”
Guest speakers on the podcast discuss the science of complex challenges in society. Through analysis and storytelling, guests piece together the motivations that reveal the way people think about, form and act on opinions regarding these pivotal issues. Special guests have included scientists, industry experts, agricultural producers, university faculty and PIE Center staff.
“Being a guest on Science by the Slice, challenged and caused me to reflect on our business in ways that the day to day doesn’t always allow,” said PIE Center advisory board member and owner of Dasher Farm, Sarah Carte. “It also provided a comfortable platform to talk about the challenges and wins for the agriculture industry in an uncertain time in our lives, that I would not have had otherwise.”
Diverse guest speakers on the podcast have educated listeners on numerous topics including COVID-19, hemp production in Florida, hurricane preparedness, rural mental health and heat-related illnesses.
“I have enjoyed learning from all of our guests, but I found the discussion with Marshal Sewell on the topic of rural mental health the most inspiring,” said PIE Center communications specialist Michaela Kandzer. “Marshal shared his heart-wrenching experience with his father struggling with mental health and promoted messages of the importance of mental health resources in rural communities. This is an important topic that needs to be discussed.”
The podcast can be found on the PIE Center website, or be streamed on multiple platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.
“The PIE Center works to educate and engage the public on issues that relate to agriculture and natural resources,” Kandzer said, “and with our new podcast, Science by the Slice, we are trying to do just that.”
This story is featured in this year’s annual report.
