Curious Conversations

Lifestyle choices and brain health with Ben Katz

Ben Katz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact of lifestyle choices on brain health and cognition. He shared insights about how cardiovascular exercise, spending time in nature, and maintaining a healthy diet can enhance cognitive function. He also talked about the importance of sleep and benefits of social interactions, as well as what changes he has made to best support his own cognition.Ben Katz is an associate professor of adult development and aging within the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech. His research focuses on interventions to improve executive function capacities, including non-invasive brain stimulation, cognitive training, and lifestyle change.

Cycling safety and infrastructure with Laura Hamm

Laura Hamm joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about cycling safety, infrastructure, and the behaviors of both riders and vehicle operators. She explained the challenges to getting accurate information about bicycle-vehicle collisions and what conditions make riding safer. She also talked about a project she’s working on that will help the Virginia Department of Transportation better assess traffic stress, connectivity, and accessibility of bike and pedestrian routes and her own experience as an avid cyclist. Hamm is a senior research associate in the Division of Vehicle, Driver, and System Safety at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Her research focuses on the safety and mobility of vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. She is currently leading a pilot program to collect and analyze naturalistic data from cyclists aimed to better understand bicycle-vehicle interactions and cyclist behavior under diverse environmental contexts. She is also leading a project in Virginia to incorporate new data sources into the calculation of level of traffic stress for pedestrians and cyclists.

Fertilizer and the Iran war with Rory Maguire

Rory Maguire joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about fertilizer and its connection to the Iran war. He explained what nutrients make up most fertilizers, which of those are most impacted by the conflict, and how they behave differently in soil. He also shared some practical advice that could be applied to both large-scale farms and small gardens. Maguire is a professor and extension specialist in the Virginia Tech in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. He is also the supervisor of the Soil Testing Laboratory at Virginia Tech. His research aims to improve the efficiency of fertilizer and manure nutrient management, using innovative approaches to protect the environment while enhancing the profitability and sustainability of farming systems. #virginiatech #fertilizer #iranwar #soil #farming

The connection between renting and education with Tom Mayock

Tom Mayock joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about recent research that shows a relationship between single-family rental housing and educational outcomes. He explained the historic and evolving landscape of rental markets and the work he and his colleagues did that point to a rise in student achievement when units are located in thebounds of high-achieving school districts. Mayock is the Michael G. Miller Professor of Real Estate in the Blackwood Department of Real Estate. His research interests include real estate, urban economics, public economics, and credit risk.

Food facts with Melissa Wright

Melissa Wright joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about navigating topics related to food, food ingredients, and nutrition. She explained how people should interpret labels and the complexities of topics like raw milk, protein, and color additives. Wright also offered practical advice for consumers and producers to make informed decisions about food safety and nutrition.Wright is director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Network at Virginia Tech, which supports food entrepreneurs by assisting with nutrition label content, food safety analysis, and pertinent food regulations. The program’s goal is to help Virginia’s food-processing industry produce high-quality, safe, and innovative food products.#virginiatech #food #foodlabels #fooddyes #protein #milk #nutrition #foodsafety