TEDxLSU
  • Home
  • The Scoop
  • Idea Library
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
  • GET CONNECTED
    • Join the list
    • Partner
    • Volunteer
    • Suggest an idea
  • About
    • TEDx
    • The Team
    • The Experience

Ideas worth spreading

LSU Professor and Researcher Juan Martinez Battles Disease-Causing Bacteria With Science

2/13/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Juan Martinez standing in a lab behind two microscopes
​LSU professor, researcher and TEDxLSU 2019 speaker Juan Martinez cares about bacteria. More specifically, he is laying the scientific groundwork to tackle the persistent problem of bacteria that cause diseases that are unable to be treated with traditional medications.

As part of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Juan’s lab is focused on finding alternatives to antibiotics to combat certain classes of disease-causing bacteria.

Born and raised in Chicago’s predominantly Mexican immigrant neighborhood La Villita, Juan’s fascination with the inner workings of things drew him to the field of science. Juan earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent four years as a post-doctoral research scholar at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France.

Juan’s work has covered a wide range of biomedical research, including an investigation of tick-borne diseases funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. His lab’s work is expanding the arsenal to combat some of the most difficult infections plaguing humans and other animals.

We recently chatted with Juan ahead of his TEDxLSU talk on March 23 to discuss his work, his life and what it’s like being a transplant hockey fan in southern Louisiana. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

How did you end up at LSU?
I was a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago from 2005-2012. During this time, my good friend and now colleague, Dr. Kevin Macaluso, (who is also a professor in Pathobiological Sciences) invited me to give a talk at LSU. Honestly, aside from knowing that LSU had great football and baseball teams, I didn’t really know much about the school let alone other schools in the SEC.

I went back to Chicago very much impressed with the department and with the support from the School of Veterinary Medicine. I very much felt that I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and I saw a lot of potential in how the department and the school could grow in terms of research. I was at a point where I needed to make a career move and when a faculty position became open in PBS I was encouraged by Dr. Macaluso and also Dr. Gus Kousoulas (Professor in PBS and also Associate Vice President for Research & Economic Development at LSU) to apply. I came back and interviewed for the position — and the rest, as they say, is history. I am very happy that I chose to move down south. As I tell my Yankee friends, I don’t think that I ever want to move north of I-12.

What attracted you to your field?
I’ve always been attracted to how things work and behave. Ever since I was in elementary school, I’ve been fascinated by understanding the mechanisms of things — the how and why, if you will.

I had the opportunity to participate in an NIH Summer Apprenticeship program the summer prior to my first semester freshman year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This research experience had a lasting impression on me and got me hooked on biomedical research. I knew that this was my calling.

That curiosity on how things work evolved into a question of how microbes that are invisible to the eye can cause such devastating outcomes in humans and animals. That basic research in a lab — results obtained from a culture dish — can often translate, after a lot of work, to therapies that are used in mammals to combat disease. This makes the work of my research team very fulfilling.

I understand you’re a huge hockey fan. How do you manage your fandom in a place that doesn’t give much attention to the sport?
You would be surprised about how many hockey fans are roaming around Baton Rouge. I’ve met several Chicago transplants that are also diehard Blackhawks fans here and depending on my mood, I’ll catch a game at Pluckers on Bluebonnet or Walk-On’s near campus. I’ll admit, I did get some strange looks when I asked that a TV be changed to hockey, but as long as I’m not changing a Saints or LSU Tigers game, I’m usually OK.

How long did you live in France? What do you miss most about that experience?
I lived in Paris as a post-doctoral research fellow from 2001-2005. These years were formative not only for me as a scientist, but also as a person. I made some friendships that are lifelong and I know that my knowing them made me a better person.

I miss them dearly and interestingly enough, the majority of my really close friends in Paris also came from other parts of the world including, Spain, Uruguay, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Portugal.

Of course I miss the food. There is an outdoor market across the street from the Corvisart Metro line in Paris, down the hill from where I used to live in the 13th arrondissement (La Butte aux Cailles neighborhood) that I used to frequent especially on weekends. I miss the artisan bread, pastries, cheese and charcuterie (oh, la, la c’est trop bon le jambon de bayonne!).

The quality of ingredients is simply second to none — they’ve been doing this for centuries in some cases and they are good at what they do. I miss stopping off at a cafe, sitting outside, having a coffee and watching the world go by.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I love to play golf, as frustrating as it can be. There is nothing better than taking out some frustration on a little white ball and watching it go where you aimed — at least sometimes. I’ve gotten better over the years, which of course translates to a better enjoyment on the course. The fact that one can do this essentially all year long is also a bonus to living in Louisiana.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I absolutely love to entertain and cook for people. I lived by myself in Paris and decided that I really wanted to learn how to cook classic French food and desserts. I learned a lot regarding proper techniques and, importantly, how to make the sauces that make French food so delicious.

What is your superpower?
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a superpower, but I tend to pick up languages fairly quickly. I grew up speaking Spanish before I spoke English, but I picked up French as a total immersion experience in about 6-7 months. I understand Italian and Portuguese pretty well and can hold my own a little with Swedish. I think if you dropped me into some random country, I’d be able to survive and, given a little time, pick up the basics of a language.

To learn more about Juan or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience his talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Nalo Zidan Is Shining A Light On The Lived Experiences of Masculine-Identified Women and Non-Binary People

2/7/2019

 
​Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Nalo Zidan sitting in a leather chair in front of a wall of windows
​Nalo Zidan is a Queer Black artist, activist and writer highlighting the nuanced lived experiences of masculine-identified women and nonbinary people. The independent Black Masculinities Womanist scholar is the Founder and Creative Director of Blackgirlmasculine, a nonprofit organization and media space documenting the ideas, issues and artistic contributions of Queer, Black masculine-identified women and non-binary people.

Founded in 2016, the organization serves a global audience with a mission to expand and archive non-normative masculine identities. Born in Maryland and raised between New York and Washington D.C., Nalo moved to Baton Rouge in 2014 to experience life in the Deep South. She is completing a degree in Women, Gender and Sexuality studies at LSU, with plans to pursue a PhD.

Nalo is the acting president of Qroma at LSU, an organization for Queer students of color at the university. Nalo has dedicated her life to starting conversations that shift how we see the world and everyone in it, while helping Queer Black women feel seen, heard and healed along the way.

We recently chatted with Nalo, who is one of the speakers at TEDxLSU 2019 on March 23, to discuss her work and life. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

How did you end up at LSU?
I ended up in Baton Rouge as a wandering, nomadic spirit curious about life and love in the South.

What do you like most about the work you do?
My favorite aspect of my work/art is archiving and creating space for my existence and the experiences of other Queer Black women. This is important to me in a world that doesn’t already have a spotlight on the nuances that exist in my community’s lived experiences.

You’ve participated in a lot of academic conferences in the past few years. What are your most memorable experiences from those?
My most memorable experience was connecting with Alice Walker, Angela Davis and Cathy Cohen, three of my favorite Black Feminist authors. They embraced me, encouraging me to continue starting conversations that shift how we see the world, and everyone in it.

How is the field of women and gender studies changing or evolving?
In my opinion, the field of Women & Gender Studies is evolving to acknowledge more nuance. I don’t believe that anyone can study women without also acknowledging masculine, trans and non-binary women’s experiences. It’s a lot of work to introduce yourself time and time again, but I also thoroughly enjoy being one of the forces making them uncomfortable. We’ve been here, and we will no longer be silent.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I love meditation, reading, journaling, poetry and music. I try to catch an open mic to release some things whenever I get the time, my favorite form of artistic therapy. I also really love connecting with the QTPOC (Queer & Trans People of Color) community in art, love and joy.

Do you have any other hobbies?
Not many folks know that I can sing. But I love it. I love playing the piano and hooping at the gym every once in a while too. My favorite sport.

What is your superpower?
Great question. If I had to say so, I’d say my superpower is connecting with community and gathering people together. I have a unique, innate ability to connect with all kinds of people — emotionally, spiritually and personally. I am deeply empathic, and love connecting with tenderness in other humans. I used these gifts to create BGM as a Family first, rather than just a not-for-profit entity.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, and no one can tell me that I am not apart of Gryffindor forever.

Of all the 2019 TEDxLSU speakers, which are you most excited about seeing?
Ideas are powerful like poetry — a way for us to communicate our understandings of the world in our own language. I look forward to being inspired by each speaker in a different way. I’m so thankful to be among them.


To learn more about Nalo or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience their talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

How Evolutionary Biologist Emma Schachner Is Helping Explain The Rise Of The Dinosaurs

2/6/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Picture
Evolutionary biologist and paleontologist Emma Schachner’s research is investigating how the specialized dinosaur lung may have helped the ancient creatures take over the planet and thrive for millions of years in a low-oxygen environment.
​
An Assistant Professor at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, Schachner studies the anatomy of the respiratory system of reptiles and birds, and how they have evolved over time. The TEDxLSU 2019 speaker is also an accomplished artist who uses various forms of art to communicate her research to both the scientific community and the public.

Her detailed scientific illustrations have been published in a number of scientific journals and major media outlets. Emma was previously part of a research team from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History that discovered and named a 66-million-year-old bird-like, 500-pound dinosaur species, Anzu wyliei, which the researchers nicknamed the “chicken from hell.”

In her addition to her research and artistic endeavors, the Pennsylvania native manages the online presence for Mila of Troy and Augustus (aka The Velvet Burritos), her celebrity rescue pit bull mixes, and advocates for changes in the public attitude about bully breeds while promoting science-based methods for training and enhancing canine welfare.  

We recently chatted with Emma about her research, her art and her internet-famous dogs. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

How did you end up in your profession?
It was a rather unusual path. I have always loved dinosaurs and animals since I was a small child — but I have also many interests and found it difficult to choose. I was recruited to play Division 1 lacrosse at Bucknell University and originally planned to study animal behavior there. I ended up experimenting with the classics, history, and then landing in political science for a bit. Halfway through my senior year, through the assistance of a family friend, Bill Pinder, I started doing illustrations of fossils for a professor at Swarthmore College, Dr. Scott Gilbert, and his student, Tyler Lyson, who is now the curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum, and a frequent collaborator of mine. Tyler started his own paleontological research foundation on his family’s cattle ranch out in North Dakota, so I was able to get into dinosaur field work, which was my sideways door into grad school, along with my art portfolio.

I did an MSc at the University of Bristol, which was like boot camp for paleontology. They throw you in the deep end and see if you can sink or swim. I loved it, and then came back to the US for my PhD. As I continued with my studies, I became more and more interested in the biology of modern animals, and how we can use reptiles and birds to better understand the biology of their extinct ancestors.

What is the most important aspect of your work and art?
All aspects of my research are important for the final product, but dissection, building the 3D models and then putting together the final figures is my absolute favorite. Dissection and modeling are both the best combination of art and exploration. Every time you build a model or open up an animal you are the first person to have ever seen that specimen.

Dissection is like reverse sculpting, and no animal is the same, even if the anatomy of that species has been well described. There is always enormous variation, even in humans, which often shocks my dental and allied health students when they first get into the gross anatomy lab.

Is it true that your parents send you dead things so you can investigate and dissect them?
It’s more that they tolerated my propensity to collect dead animals and dissect them in their kitchen since I was a very young child. Although they did mail me a beautiful mummified cat that I then had professionally mounted, and they helped me move my large (and growing) taxidermy collection around the country every time I took a new academic position.

How did you develop your artistic style?
I have no real formal training in art or scientific illustration. However, my mother, Judy Schachner, is an artist and New York Times best selling children’s book illustrator/author. So I grew up surrounded by art, and thankfully had an informal lifelong education in creativity. When it comes to learning scientific illustration I would practice by copying the images from the Ellenberger, Dittrich, and Baum Atlas and would constantly seek and receive basic advice on technique from my mom. Ultimately, my style improved a lot over the years via trial and error, and input from my research collaborators and mentors.  

What’s the most interesting thing the team uncovered in your summer field work in North Dakota?
We found a mummified hadrosaur, a duck-billed dinosaur, with intact skin impressions. I’ve illustrated quite a few extinct Mesozoic turtle skulls from the Hell Creek Formation. But my favorite animal to work on that came from North Dakota was definitely Anzu wyliei — our “chicken from hell.” Anzu was a new species of gigantic oviraptor — a biped with a large crest on its head and a beak like a bird.

Tell us about your rescue dogs and how they became Instagram celebrities.
I currently have two rescued pit bull mixes, Mila of Troy and Augustus (whom I just rescued a few months ago). However, their Instagram account, @thevelvetburritos started with Murphy Bean (who died in 2016), a pit mix that I adopted when I lived in Salt Lake City. He was a ridiculous dog with silvery velveteen fur, deranged yellow dot eyes and severe behavioral issues.

When I moved to Baton Rouge for my second postdoc, I adopted Mila of Troy: the face that launched 1,000 treats. Unsurprisingly I had a lot of trouble with the two of them, and instead of presenting a perfect façade on social media, I shared all of my struggles, failures and successes with the world. Murphy was my silver-lining dog. He taught me how to be a much more successful dog parent, and because of him I was able to become a much better advocate for a really misunderstood and maligned breed.

Also, because I like to share science-based dog training tips and promote rescue, Mila and Murphy were featured twice by the Huffington Post as one of the top 10 pit bull Instagram accounts to follow. Just this past year, as I have been working to safely integrate Mila and Auggie, I have been writing about the efficacy of super slow and careful introductions, and I’m continuing to promote science-based training and bully advocacy. Thankfully Mila of Troy, aka the Phocid Queen, aka the Sausage-Shark, has accepted Augustus of the Velvet Legions into her home.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I’m not very good at relaxing, but I like to read as many books as humanly possible on ancient military history in my “free” time, whilst being crushed to death by Mila and Augustus in a velveteen dog pile. Right now I’m really focused on the First and Second Punic Wars (between Rome and Carthage), but I’m generally really interested in most of ancient and classical history.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I’ve trained Muay Thai on and off for about 10 years, and recently switched to boxing because it’s more accessible here in New Orleans. I also like to run, with my dogs of course, and lift. I also play a six-string electric violin. I played in a rock/blues band with my dad and sister growing up and all through college, but I haven’t really had the time to play it much since moving here. I also have an obsessive origami and paper crafting habit that can occasionally get a bit out of hand.


To learn more about Emma or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Librarians Sarah Simms and Hayley Johnson Uncover Louisiana's Hidden Histories in Archives

1/30/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Hayley Johnson and Sarah Simms standing beside each other in a library
LSU librarians Hayley Johnson and Sarah Simms are unearthing historical documents to illuminate long-forgotten but important stories of Louisiana’s past.

At LSU libraries, Hayley is the Head of Government Documents and Microforms, while Sarah works as the Undergraduate and Student Success Librarian. Together they have been uncovering the powerful narratives of Japanese-Americans who were incarcerated in Louisiana internment camps during World War II.

The close friends — who will be sharing the stage together at TEDxLSU 2019, have long had an interest in history, working on numerous projects together before researching Japanese internment, including an exhibit at Nicholls State University on the 100 years between the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington.

They have also partnered with the Historic New Orleans Collection for their traveling exhibition, Purchased Lives, dedicated to the history of the domestic slave trade that emanated from New Orleans. The librarians’ collective skill and dedication is helping to shine a light on important narratives of Louisiana’s history.

 We recently chatted with Hayley and Sarah to discuss their work and lives. Read some highlights of the conversation below.
 

How did you end up as librarians?
Hayley: I was pursuing an academic career in English and realized that what I really loved was the research aspect of academics. I did some searching and discovered that academic librarianship would allow me to do research on a wide variety of topics. So, I changed course and got my MLIS.   

Sarah: After getting my BA, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and worked in environmental construction. Then one day, it hit me that I loved to help people and loved libraries — so why not become a librarian?  I moved to New York City and pursued my MSLIS from Long Island University while working in the antiquarian book trade. After a while, I realized that I wasn’t enamored with my job selling rare books, so I moved to Thibodaux, LA to take a job as an academic librarian at Nicholls State University.  It was there that I met Hayley and we’ve been collaborative partners for about 5 years. Almost two years ago, I took a job here at LSU as the Undergraduate & Student Success Librarian to be able to focus more on teaching and outreach to undergraduate students.  

What is your favorite aspect of your work?
Hayley: My favorite aspect of the work that I do is the variety that comes with being a government documents librarian. One day, I can help someone find statistics on education, population or housing. The next, I can be researching coastal erosion or non-unanimous jury verdicts. The next day will be something just as different. This variety keeps my work challenging.   

Sarah: The best part of my job is teaching information literacy to students in a fun and creative way — lots of discussions in the classroom with students and faculty centering on the idea of how to become information literate and how to use that information well.    

Why did you start researching Japanese internment camps?
Hayley: Curiosity and a bit of chance got this whole research project going.

Sarah:  Hayley is a super curious and persistent researcher. One day she told me that she had found this really cool article where Muslim children read letters to Japanese American adults who had been incarcerated during World War II — these letters were written during World War II by incarcerated Japanese American children. It was really powerful, and she got to wondering if there were any camps here in Louisiana. From there, we’ve been working nonstop to uncover this history.   

How does your friendship play a role in your research partnership?
Sarah: Our friendship outside of work grew organically because of our shared interests and working so closely together for so long.  Since we know each other so well, we also complement each other really well — where one struggles, the other can pick up the slack. We also travel really well together, which we hear is the sign of a healthy relationship!

What’s something that a lot of people don’t understand about being a librarian?
Hayley: Being a librarian isn’t just checking out books and answering other people’s questions. Librarianship is a malleable field that supports varied research interests.   

Sarah: I think a lot of people have this stereotype in their mind that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Librarians are very civic-minded and work to promote people’s rights — privacy, information usage, and literacy, just to name a few.   

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
Hayley: I spend time with family and friends. I also love to unplug for a few hours with a good movie or book.

Sarah: British murder mysteries are my go-to for relaxation!    

Do you have any other hobbies?
Hayley: I love travel, tennis and music.
   
Sarah: I’m a huge nerd when it comes to cemeteries. I love the history that exists in these spaces, frozen in time. I’ll make a point to visit a historic cemetery whenever I travel. I especially love the folk art elements that you see in New England cemeteries.   

What is your superpower?
Hayley: Tenacity. I don’t give up easily. Over the course of this project, there have been countless hours spent following leads that ended up being dead ends. Every dead end just made me more determined to uncover the history of internment in Louisiana.   

Sarah: I’m a people person, so I love talking to people about their experiences. I’m genuinely interested in the human experience and can talk to anyone about anything!   

Of all the 2019 TEDxLSU speakers, which are you most excited about seeing, and why?
Hayley: LadyBEAST. I’ve heard about her act and can’t wait to see it in person.  

Sarah: I can’t narrow it down, I can’t wait to see what everyone brings to the stage. The lineup is amazing!  

​
To learn more about Hayley and Sarah or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience their talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Organic Chemist Rolanda Wilkerson Advances the Science of Beauty

1/23/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Picture
Organic chemist and science communicator Rolanda Wilkerson is helping women of African ancestry embrace and care for their natural hair through the development of better beauty products rooted in science.

As a Principal Scientist and Senior Manager of Scientific Communications in Beauty Care at Procter & Gamble, Rolanda has been a part of scientific work that has helped improve the formulations for numerous popular hair care products.

Born and raised in Baker, Louisiana, she would do hair and experiment with makeup on her dolls and friends. Her hobby, combined with an early interest in science, evolved into a career as she studied chemistry at Southern University and earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry from LSU.

The daughter of a science teacher and a chemical plant manager, Rolanda was exposed to STEM concepts at an early age, and believes young women should have the same opportunities to explore science. Now residing in the Cincinnati area, she regularly gives talks around the nation to expose young girls to STEM opportunities while encouraging them to achieve their personal best and break out beyond the limits placed on them by society.

We recently chatted with Rolanda to discuss her work and life. Read some highlights of the conversation below.
​

What role did your parents play in your career path?
My mom is a retired science teacher and my dad is a retired chemical plant manager. Starting at a young age, they encouraged my interest in science by exposing me to STEM opportunities. I was in an educational or science-related program every summer when I was a younger. We also went on family vacations and were exposed to science-related activities. Influence from my parents, coupled with my passion for beauty-related activities, has brought me to where I am today.

What inspires you to give talks around the country to inspire girls?
Many young girls are not aware of the opportunities available to them in STEM. As a scientist, I believe it is a part of my purpose to help expose young girls to who and what they can become, what they can achieve, and not allow society to place them in a box. The talks I give focus on exposure to STEM but also encourages them achieve their personal best.

What fascinates you most about the science of beauty?
From my perspective, beauty is not just about how something looks, it is the primarily characteristics of a thing or person that produces good feelings. The science of beauty allows us to protect, nurture and enhance those characteristics that women personally care about, helping them to continue to feel good, healthy, confident and beautiful.

If you weren’t looking at the science of beauty, what would you be doing?
Teaching and encouraging young girls and women all over the world!

Do you maintain connections with Louisiana?
Although I am no longer physically located in Louisiana, I travel home a lot and I consider myself a Louisiana girl true and through. I have several fleur de lis around my home to remind visitors of where I was born.

What’s the one place you have to see when you return to Baton Rouge?
I enjoy going back to the labs where I did research to see the changes and advances in the research program. Oh, and Tony’s Seafood.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I unwind with Chai tea and my neck massager at home!

To learn more about Rolanda or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience Rolanda’s talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

LSU Researcher Clay Tucker Unearths the Secret Stories of Trees

1/16/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
​Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Picture

LSU graduate student and researcher Clay Tucker is translating the hidden stories trees can tell us about earth’s past to ultimately help us better understand how our ecological future may unfold.  

As a PhD student in Geography at LSU, Clay’s primary research focus is dendrotempestology: the study of how hurricanes affect tree growth. He uses pine and cypress tree growth rings to illuminate how hurricane storm surge impacts tree growth, telling the narratives of environments in the past while also leveraging the data to illuminate the possible futures of the planet.

In addition to his dissertation research, the proud seventh-generation Baton Rougean works as a graduate research scholar with Louisiana Sea Grant. Science outreach is also an important element of his work. Clay teaches K-12 students about tree-ring science and assists in environmental workshops that introduce college students from around the southern U.S. to some of Louisiana’s most important environmental issues.

We recently chatted with Clay to discuss his work and life. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

How did you come to study trees and climate?
I was not a great student during my undergraduate years, and as an elective, I took (State Climatologist) Dr. Barry Keim’s Geography of the Atmosphere class as a sophomore. At the end of the semester, I was the No. 1 student of 120. Dr. Keim took me out to lunch to celebrate the achievement, and I changed majors the following semester.

What is your favorite part about the work you do?
Outside in my favorite place in the world. I was raised by a Louisiana sportsman, and as such grew up with a profound love of the Louisiana landscape, culture, food and lifestyle. Unfortunately, my father was forced to only enjoy those aspects outside of work. However, I want to do for a lifetime what my father did on the weekends — and so far, my journey has proven that statement true.

Is it true that your friends sometimes call you Mr. Baton Rouge?
Definitely. It’s tough to say where it originated, but I commonly tout the nickname when meeting new people. Baton Rouge sometimes gets a bad rap from natives, visitors and transplants alike. I consider it my duty — as a person who really likes Baton Rouge — to fight even harder to show how great our city can be.

What do you find most fascinating about trees?
My favorite fact about trees is that 95 percent of their mass is carbon, and the only way they can get that carbon into solid form is by converting CO2 to C6H12O6 (glucose) and forming that glucose into different molecules to make their mass. Trees breathe in air and make it solid. That’s amazing.

What is the most underrated Louisiana tree?
​
Ah yes, the water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica). I often do my best to personify trees. Louisiana’s state tree, bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), is extremely charismatic. It grows perfectly straight up; it’s crown is perfectly circular; when it’s old, it gets bald and gnarly-looking; it’s one of the few deciduous conifers in the world and it dramatically loses its leaves all at once during winter; it’s considered one of the greatest construction timbers due to its rot resistance, great flexibility and high density, and it’s the oldest-living tree east of the Mississippi. It’s Type A and ENTJ on the Myers-Briggs.

The water tupelo is nothing like that: sinuous trunk, simple broadleaves, spongy wood and ugly bark. It’s the “wallflower” of the swamp. Very few people want to know more about a water tupelo. But, the worms that sustain Louisiana’s freshwater fisheries and native crawfish feed on tupelo leaves, which often regenerate once or twice a season to keep those worms happy. Tupelo seeds are much more edible than cypress seeds and provide good sustenance for migratory and local birds. Tupelo trees rot from the bottom up — unlike cypress that rot from the top down — and they ultimately make incredible homes for four-legged mammals like bears, squirrels, raccoons and opossums. And tupelo pollen is used to make the best honey in the world: one with the right sugar content so that diabetics can eat it, but it doesn’t crystallize. Bald cypress gets all the press and glory, and really it is extraordinarily charismatic. But tupelo trees, those are your hero. They’re the ones keeping everything in check, while the bald cypress keeps your attention.

What can trees tell us about climate?
Everything I do in tree-ring research is related to climate. In my case, I use trees to tell us about the past. However, we also have instrumental readings that tell us about past climate. I can use that instrumental data just like I use the tree ring data. I tell stories about the past to inform us of changes in the present so that we can be confident of changes in the future.

What do you do when you’re not studying trees?
I spend as much time as possible on the coast celebrating Louisiana’s four seasons: Mardi Gras, Crawfish, Fishing, and Football. Right now, it’s Mardi Gras season, and I’ve already had the taste of 7 different king cakes. My family has a camp in Cocodrie, so we fish frequently, especially in the summer. I also hunt when I get the chance — mostly waterfowl, but winter is often an extra-busy time for me. I am also very much an LSU football fan, so from September to November, when I’m not physically tailgating, I’m usually planning the next tailgate. In the meantime, I’m also an avid cyclist, a lover of documentaries and a foodie.

To learn more about Clay or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience Clay’s talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All


​© COPYRIGHT 2018  | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PROVIDE WEBSITE FEEDBACK
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
  • Home
  • The Scoop
  • Idea Library
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
  • GET CONNECTED
    • Join the list
    • Partner
    • Volunteer
    • Suggest an idea
  • About
    • TEDx
    • The Team
    • The Experience