- Entries : Category [ Science and Technology ]
10 September
2009
Here and Now - Renewable Energy in AZ
In January, KJZZ brought listeners a special series on renewable energy that looked at why other places, such as Germany, were further along in adopting the use of renewable energy sources than Arizona. KJZZ's Here and Now featured a discussion on what it would take for renewable energy policies to take hold in Arizona.
Friday, a conference at NAU in Flagstaff examines the need to integrate state and federal policy with emerging technologies to increase the amount of energy produced from renewable sources. Renewable energy consultant Amanda Ormond joins Here and Now host Steve Goldstein from the KNAU studios in Flagstaff.
NAU political science professor Fred Solop will later join Goldstein to discuss Northern Arizona politics and public policy.
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29 July
2009
Here and Now: Growing Arizona's High Tech Economy
Motorola founder Paul Galvin helped lead Arizona's entry into high technology when he opened research and production facilities in the valley. The semi-conductor industry leader employed tens of thousands of Arizonans in 1980's and 90's. While a handful of semiconductor remain, Motorola sold off most of its Arizona based assets. Now, the likes of Raytheon, Honeywell and Intel are the state's three largest high tech employers. Others , including General Dynamics and Boeing depend on military contracts while companies such as Avnet, Gore, and Medtronics compete in their specialized areas.
Science Foundation Arizona CEO Bill Harris knows a thing or to about building a high tech industry. Harris helped the country of Ireland grow its research and development sector and was hired away to do the same for Arizona.
He'll be joined on the show by Julie Smith David, director of the Center for Advancing Business through Information Technology at the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU.
We'll talk to them about why attracting and developing more high tech companies is beneficial to Arizona; what obstacles are in way, and what we have to offer that other communities don't.
Your thoughts, comments, or questions are welcome!
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Paul Atkinson - Here and Now Producer at
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11 March
2009
Here an Now - National Geographic's Brady Barr
Brady Barr is not your mild mannered herpetologist. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he has lovely manners, and is the kind of person you want to invite home to dinner with the family. It's just that this guy has guts. How else would he be willing to travel the globe in search of every specie of crocodile and alligator and not just observe them, but to get up close and, well, personal?
I can't think of many people who would venture into a cave where bat guano is so think, it's like wading through mud. Bats are flying overhead, maggots and cockroaches crawl among the muck and rocks, and oh yea, there's tons of pythons slithering through it all.
Its enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. I'd like to see the folks in Hollywood try to recreate such a scene. I don't even think Indiana Jones would last 10 seconds.
So, Brady has been gracious enough to spend an hour with KJZZ listeners, telling stories and answering questions. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to hear what he has to say. I'm just glad he's not bringing along some of the creatures he studies. Or is he?
Please submit your questions below. The shorter the question, the more likely it will be chosen. Thanks! Paul
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Paul Atkinson / Here and Now Producer at
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17 January
2009
Here and Now - Ocean Explorer Robert Ballard
Perhaps best known for his discovery of the shipwrecked Titanic, Robert Ballard has spent his life searching the oceans for new discoveries, both archeological and biological.
Ballard played an instrumental role in pushing for the development of underwater craft to explore the ocean's floor. Using the deep sea submersible ALVIN, Ballard and a team of researchers from Wood Hole Oceanographic Institute discovered an ecosystem thriving around deep sea thermal vents. Until then it was thought that photosynthesis---or the process in which plants turn sunlight into energy-- was the basis of life. But the organisms discovered at the hydrothermal vents had no access to sunlight. Instead they relied on chemicals to make energy.
Ballard's passion for underwater exploration soon turned to shipwrecks. He helped find and record the images of such lost ships as the Lusitania, the German battleship Bismarck and others.
The San Diego native played an instrumental role in helping create a new way to search underwater. Instead of using submersibles, Ballard helped create a system that allows researchers above water to control cameras and other tools to view life thousands of miles below the ocean surface. That technology is the foundation for a new initiative that allows scientists on land to study the ocean from thousands of miles away--using fiber optic cables to transmit real time images and data.
Ballard is in the valley for a special appearance at the Mesa Arts Center as part of a National Geographic speaker series Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
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02 December
2008
Here and Now: Spencer Wells and the Genographic Project
"Okay, open your mouth and say 'Ahhhhh!'" One swab of saliva at a time, Spencer Wells is collecting a DNA database to help trace human origins to the continent of Africa tens of thousands of years ago.
Wells is one of those whiz kids who graduated high school at the age of 16. He later obtained his PhD from Harvard and studied under Luca Cavalli-Sforza at Stanford's School of Medicine. Cavalli-Sforza is considered by many to be the "father of anthropological genetics."
Wells is studying genomic diversity in indigenous populations in the hope of unraveling age-old mysteries about early human migration.
Here's a link to the Genographic
Project.
Submit your comments or questions below. The shorter the question, the more likely we will use it. Also, if your submission doesn't appear right away--we moderate it--to keep spammers from filling our web pages with obnoxious entries.
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Paul Atkinson - Here and Now Producer at
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14 November
2007
Space: The Final Frontier
Sure, an observatory in Northern Arizona was used to discover Pluto, the planet, not the Disney character. At least Pluto was classified as a planet until astronomers recently reclassified it as a 'dwarf planet.' Then there's Meteor Crater, that big round indentation in the ground between Flagstaff and Winslow. And who can forget Arizona's role in creating the Hubble telescope, the one instrument that would allow us to see further into space than ever before--except that the mirror on the telescope had a slight glitch that caused numerous headaches. And the biosphere was supposed to prove that humans could live in a contained environment, be it on earth or some other planet. Besides Arizona's historic ties to space, the state is involved in many important research projects involving observatories in northern and southern Arizona and Arizona universities. Got a comment or question about Arizona's involvement with space? Jot it down below.
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24 October
2007
Here and Now - Biomedicine
You've probably already heard the word 'biomedicine,' but what does it mean and why is it considered so important to the valley and Arizona? Here and Now explores bioscience in Arizona, looking at the various research that's underway, how it can improve our health, and what it means to the state's economy. What do you think about the investment of tens of millions of public and private dollars in bioscience in Arizona? Your thoughts are welcome below.
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02 August
2006
Bioscience on Here and Now
You've heard the terms "bioscience" or "biotechnology" but do you know what they really mean? Why are local governments, philanthropists and others investing tens of millions of dollars in "bioscience" research? Why is such research so important to our quality of life and local economy? Can Arizona catch up to other places that are established leaders in the field? Find out as KJZZ's Here and Now explores the issue of bioscience. Learn what it is, what kinds of research is being conducted, and why it's important to Arizona.
Additional background information for this discussion, see the Here and Now "Fast Facts".
To ask a question during the show call 480-774-8200 or you can post a question ahead of time by clicking the "comment" link below.
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KJZZ at
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25 January
2006
Technology in Arizona
The city of Tempe is grabbing headlines across the country for creating a wireless internet network that blankets the city. It goes fully online next month.
Now Chandler is following with its own wireless network. And bigger cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco are creating their own hotspots. Does WiFi matter to YOU?
Plus... what are the social effects of ubiquitous internet access? Do you spend all your time online? We also want to hear from the less technologically inclined.
And we'll check in with Google this hour about its plans for the new Valley office.
View additional resources.
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