University of California Video Podcasts (Video)

What's the root cause of poverty in America? And how do we fix it? In this discussion, Matthew Desmond, renowned Princeton sociologist and author of "Poverty, by America," talks about why poverty persists in the U.S. with Marc-Andreas Muendler, economic professor at UC San Diego. Desmond argues we can end poverty through grassroots activism and a willingness to target systems that perpetuate it, like local zoning laws. Desmond was catapulted into the national spotlight as a leading authority on modern American poverty when his Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” made its debut in 2016. His work has been supported by the Gates, Horowitz, Ford, JBP, MacArthur, and National Science, Russell Sage, and W.T. Grant Foundations, as well as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 39385]

In this UC Santa Barbara GRIT talk, Dr. Meghan Morrissey discusses her work to get immune cells to eat cancer. Her goal is to uncover fundamental principles of macrophage signaling and tune macrophage function in the tumor microenvironment. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39441]

Kama Guluma, MD, shares his journey and insights into medicine and education. Guluma provides personal anecdotes, including his childhood in Liberia, his father's impact as a physician, and charting his own path to emergency medicine specialist. The conversation delves into the importance of understanding one's values and finding meaning in the pursuit of a career in healthcare. Guluma emphasizes the significance of aligning personal values with professional choices, highlighting moments of satisfaction and fulfillment in the medical field. Throughout the discussion, the theme of finding one's "why" in medicine resonates, emphasizing the rewarding aspects of problem-solving, human connection, and making a meaningful impact on patients' lives. Series: "Career Channel" [Education] [Show ID: 39343]

How can we use raw materials to improve the environment? In this program, Susannah L. Scott, professor of chemistry at UC Santa Barbara, discusses how to efficiently use catalytic conversion of unconventional materials, such as biomass and synthetic polymers to create sustainable routes to renewable energy, fuels and chemicals. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Show ID: 39440]

When Pope Pius XII died in 1958, his papers were sealed in the Vatican Secret Archives, leaving unanswered questions about what he knew and did during World War II. In 2020, the archives were finally opened. Based on thousands of never-before-seen documents, Brown University Professor Emeritus David Kertzer’s book “The Pope at War” paints a dramatic portrait of what the Pope did and did not do as war enveloped Rome and the continent, and as the Nazis began their systematic mass murder of Europe’s Jews. Kertzer's earlier book, “The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe,” won the Pulitzer Prize. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38975]

Anthony Lim, M.D., J.D. discusses the mindset behind improving peoples relationship with food. Utilizing a whole-food, plant-based diet can transform your well-being and tackle the root causes of health issues. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39578]

In his compelling talk, Jorge Carrillo takes the audience on a journey through his life, from growing up in California to becoming a prominent figure in the legal field. Carrillo reflects on the challenges he faced, including personal struggles and societal issues, offering insights into his experiences as a farm worker and his pivotal role in the implementation of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act. With sincerity and wisdom, he shares advice for students, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, resilience, and seeking help when facing mental health challenges. Carrillo's talk is not just a personal narrative; it's an inspiring testament to the transformative power of education and the impact individuals can have on their communities. Series: "Education Channel" [Agriculture] [Education] [Show ID: 38315]

Join Professor Drew Lucas from Scripps Institution of Oceanography as he delves into the intriguing phenomenon of red tides. In this enlightening talk, you'll discover the behaviors of Lingulodinium polyedra, the primary organism behind these glowing marine events. Professor Lucas's groundbreaking research, featuring tools like an underwater microscope and a wave-powered profiling device, sheds light on the 2020 red tide's secrets. Gain insights into the complex swimming patterns of phytoplankton, their nutrient uptake strategies, and the resulting effects on marine ecosystems. This program offers an in-depth look at marine ecology and underscores the vital role of technological innovation in oceanographic research. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 39251]

Having a skilled primary care clinician will go a long way to maintaining your health and wellness. Join Dr. Diana Thiara as she explores weight loss and healthy living. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39571]

In the coming decades, individuals around the world must adapt to changing environmental conditions, often driven by climate change. Adaptation requires significant resources, prompting the question of whether existing economic and social inequities may be exacerbated when adaptation become accessible to some, but not others. Kyle Meng, associate professor of economics at UC Santa Barbara, explores what happens when one of the world’s most unequal cities experiences an unprecedented, nearly catastrophic environmental disaster. In 2017, following years of prolonged drought, the city of Cape Town announced an impending "Day Zero", at which point pipes would run dry. Using a variety of data sources, we show how households of different wealth levels adapted to Day Zero and discuss the long term implications of Day Zero for Cape Town's water use and public finances. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 39334]

UC Santa Cruz has renamed the Research Center for the Americas in honor of social justice icon Dolores Huerta, whose legacy has influenced the center’s work and values. Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962, and has spent more than 60 years leading community organizing and lobbying efforts to address issues like labor rights, gender discrimination, voter registration, education reform, LGBTQ rights, and economic inequality on behalf of farm workers, immigrants, women, youth, and others in California and the United States. Series: "UC Santa Cruz News" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39253]

Lauren Santiesteban, MD, discusses symptoms and treatments for trigger finger. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39562]

How can we improve the human connection for people with autism? In this program, Ty Verno, director of the UC Santa Barbara's Koegel Autism Center discusses novel methods for measuring, understanding, and altering the social developmental trajectories of individuals with autism and related conditions. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39439]

Hanna Mikkola, M.D., Ph.D., shares her work in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their complex renewal process. Her research aims to unravel these cells' behavior in mice and humans, offering potential insights for future medical advancements. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39258]

In Rome in 1644, four butchers were accused of killing seven of their fellow Roman citizens, stripping the meat from their bones, and grinding it together with pork to make sausage, which was then sold from their shop behind the Pantheon. Although the butchers were quickly executed, their tale was not so easily forgotten. In pamphlets issued around the event, the story of the butchers turned into a morality tale about what to and not to eat. Using these pamphlets, along with trial documents, edicts, and other contemporary diaries, historian Bradford Bouley explores the context of this unusual story of cannibalism, the veracity of the sources, and the meaning of meat and the ways it was produced in early modern Rome. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39336]

What are the shapes of stories? This is a longstanding question in narrative arts, from the plot arcs of novels and rhyme schemes of poems to the shot sequences of films. This program discusses two narrative media forms: interactive branching stories (as in games, gamebooks, and hypertext fiction) represented as networks, and graphic narratives (as in comics, manga and webtoons) with individual pages represented as grid compositions. Through description, encoding, and data visualization, we will explore the shapes of stories in comics and games. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39335]

Tara Javidi, an Electrical and Computer Engineering professor at UC San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering discusses her research in artificial intelligence and large scale wireless networks. Series: "Science Like Me" [Science] [Show ID: 39163]

Mathew Blurton-Jones presents CRISPR-based interventions for a rare brain disorder in mice by substituting defective brain cells with healthy ones. He details experiments demonstrating the efficacy of corrected cells in mitigating brain pathologies. Blurton-Jones emphasizes the need for cautious translation to human trials, advocating gradual cell replacement to preempt potential adverse effects. Additionally, he delves into the implications of microglia in Alzheimer's disease progression and explores potential interconnections among various neurodegenerative conditions. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38333]

Comparative Anthropogeny (CompAnth) is the study of distinctly human traits and characteristics in the context of comparisons with our closest living relatives, the “great apes.” This symposium, the third of CARTA's CompAnth series, will present a collection of distinctive human traits, ranging from molecular, cellular, and anatomical biology to behavioral, societal, and cultural features. Given the large number of human traits for which no counterparts have yet been described in nature, the limitations of the comparative method will also be addressed and alternative approaches to the singularity that is the human phenomenon will be discussed. The goal is a better understanding of human origins and a full appreciation of our species’ planet altering effects. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39281]

Millions attempt some form of diet yet only a small fraction achieve permanent weight loss. Neuroscientist and author Sandra Aamodt suggests four healthy habits instead. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39533]