Sponsorship

Research 61 results

Big Mike’s B-town: Cristian Medina, Scientist, Poet, Chess Leader

Cristian Medina, a poet, cook, IU researcher, and chess leader from Arica, Chile, has found plenty to keep him busy since moving to Bloomington in the mid-2000s. LP columnist Michael G. Glab talks to Medina about his hometown — bordered by ocean, mountains, and desert — geology and climate change, his work founding Cardboard House Press, and more in the latest Big-Mike’s B-town. Click here to read the full story.

‘Crime Spotlight’ Writer Does Justice to True Crime Stories

True crime writer Sarah Kolodziej has been hooked on stories of crime, murder, and suicide since she was five years old. While a case anywhere might grab her eye, most of the ones she writes about on her "Crime Spotlight" blog and Instagram account have ties to Bloomington and Indiana — especially cold cases and unsolved crimes. Writer Jonah Chester investigates. Click here to read the full story.

Cave Diving in Southern Indiana Takes a Mature Mindset

Samuel Frushour and his cave-diving peers have mapped miles of aquatic caves in southern Indiana. While Hoosier caverns might not have the clear blue waters of tropical caves, they offer an adventure that is increasingly difficult to find in modern times — exploring uncharted territory. Writer Jonah Chester dives into the story. Read the entire story here.

Reconcile the ‘Happy’ and ‘Pathetic’ Moments of Parenting with Play

“All the love and irritability” of parenting can be hard to reconcile. But experts are finding one of the best ways to cope is through play. More importantly, says writer Jared Posey, play is crucial to childhood development — of motor coordination, emotional intelligence, creative thinking, problem-solving, and relationship building, among others. Click here to read the full story.

56:46 — WTIU’s Legacy of ‘Meaningful and Relevant’ Documentaries

Now in its 50th year, WTIU has an extensive history of making long-form documentaries that tell Hoosier stories — rural, small-town, and world-renowned stories. Creating highly regarded films is unusual for a local PBS affiliate — and no easy feat, says writer Michelle Gottschlich. Here, she talks with WTIU’s filmmaking team. Click here to read the full story.

850 Hoosier Scientists and Allies Oppose EPA Proposal

Concerned Scientists @ IU, a group of 850 local scientists and allies, has submitted a public comment to oppose the EPA’s proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan. The EPA’s case for repeal, the scientists say, is based on “unconvincing legal arguments, without appropriate consideration of the scientific evidence for human-induced climate change.” Read their comment, as well as the proposed repeal, here.

Bats! Hoosier Neighbors Deserve ‘Respect and Admiration’

Southern Indiana has some of the country’s largest roosting places for Indiana bats. But these Hoosier mammals face many threats. Writer and bat fan April McKay gives us an in-depth look at these wondrous creatures, and how to help secure their survival — such as attending the Indiana Bat Festival. Click here to read the full story.

IU Researcher: Some Species Adapt Faster to Climate Change

IU Research Scientist Adam Fudickar studies animal behavior in response to climate change. “Many parts of the planet that haven’t changed for a really long time are changing very rapidly,” he says. While many species cannot adapt fast enough, some can, which provides hope to researchers. Writer Brian Hartz explores Fudickar’s work on the dark-eyed junco. Click here to read the full story.

Becoming Media Literate in a ‘Post-truth’ Era

In the so-called “post-truth” era, says Elijah Pouges, a journalism student at Indiana University, “the reasons to be media literate have never been so dire.” Learning when news sources frames stories for their own agenda can help people become better consumers of the media. Click here to read the full story.

More HOPE for Youth in School-to-Prison Pipeline

HOPE, a program started by IU professor Theresa Ochoa, is designed to help youths in juvenile-detention facilities across Indiana. Anne Georgescu follows up her first article on HOPE, showing how the only mentorship program of its kind in the country continues to help break the school-to-prison pipeline for juvenile offenders. Click here to read the full story.

Is B-town’s Tap Water Safe? A Full Report

Reports about contaminants in Bloomington’s water supply have caused concern among residents, city officials, and consumer advocates (remember Erin Brockovich?). Journalist Michael G. Glab has looked into the controversy and discovered that drinking any water is a gambler’s game. Here’s his in-depth report on whether our drinking water is safe. Click here to read the full story.

IU Researchers Find Hoosier Support for Trump Is Rooted in Indiana History

Donald Trump’s nomination as the GOP presidential candidate, it’s been widely reported, is due to the economic anxiety of voters and to Trump’s appeal as an authoritarian. But Luke B. Wood, a research associate and policy analyst, and Matthew Fowler, a political science researcher (both at IU), argue that Trump won in Indiana for a different reason — one deeply rooted in Hoosier history. Click here to read the full story.