April 8th eclipse

Dr. Angelle Tanner is an associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. Her research is focused on multiple methods of extrasolar planet detection. In addition to her research, Tanner spearheads university programs around celestial events, including the campus viewing of the upcoming solar eclipse.

April 8th eclipse

Dr. Donna Pierce is an associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. Her research concerns the physical and chemical properties of comets. She collaborates with observational astronomers to determine chemical and physical properties of comet nuclei. Comets represent some of the most primitive material in the solar system and thus may provide clues to the process of forming planets.

April 8th eclipse

Robert Swanson is an Instructor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. He writes and performs children’s music about weather and astronomy for school and library groups in an effort to teach science in an innovative and interesting way. Swanson spent a decade as a professional weatherman – 6 years on television and 4 years in print/online working as assistant weather editor at USA TODAY.

Russia-Ukraine War

Dr. Stephen Brain is an associate professor in the Department of History and a co-editor of Environmental History, the journal of the American Society for Environmental History and the Forest History Society. His research focuses on Soviet/Russian history, environmental history, and forest history as well as war, power, and international affairs. He is available to comment on the Russian-Ukraine War as well as related topics.

destructive weather

Dr. Mike Brown is the state climatologist for Mississippi and a professor of meteorology/climatology in the Department of Geosciences. His research interests include severe local storms, public perception of warnings, tornado damage paths, and lightning probabilities at NCAA stadiums. He is available for commentary and analysis on these and related topics.

personality and personality disorders

Dr. DeShong an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on using the five-factor model of general personality to conceptualize, distinguish, and better understand personality disorders and personality constructs like psychopathy and Machiavellianism. She also investigates how personality can influence engagement in adaptive and maladaptive behaviors and thinking styles, such as substance use, suicidal behavior, and rumination. Dr. DeShong is available for…

Nanoscience and Biomaterials

Dr. Nick Fitzkee is a professor in the Department of Chemistry whose research focuses on using a combination of physical chemistry, molecular biology, modeling, and NMR spectroscopy to understand the relationship between protein structure and function. Currently, our research is centered around three main projects: bacterial biofilms, protein-nanoparticle interactions, and structure and properties of disordered proteins. He is available for comments on these and related topics.

plant diversification

Dr. Ryan Folk is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and is the university's herbarium curator. In addition to his research into documenting the origins of plant diversity from evolutionary and ecological perspectives, he leads the state's efforts to digitize herbarium collections across the state in order to make them more accessible to all.  He is available to comment on these and similar topics.

Forensics

Dr. Jesse R. Goliath is an assistant professor of Biological Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures. He is an expert in Forensic Anthropology with extensive forensic casework experience from city, state, and federal agencies. He is Founding Director of the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons Project and serves as a consulting Forensic Anthropologist for the state of Mississippi.

white privilege and racism

Dr. Margaret Hagerman is the author of the award-winning book, White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America (NYU Press 2018), and she is a nationally recognized expert on white racial socialization processes. She is available for comments and analysis on how children and youth learn about racism, racial inequality, and racial privilege in their everyday lives.

Theatre, the humanities

Tonya Hays is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication teaching acting, playwriting, directing, theatre for young audiences and theatre for change. Her recent Theatre MSU productions include Banner: a Sea Turtle Saga which engaged audience members in the fate of sea life in climate change and challenged them to take action. This production garnered international attention. The production of Anne and Emmett invited social discourse on injustice and genocide through the lives…

mental health and therapy

Dr. Michael Nadorff is a professor of psychology and also directs the clinical psychology PhD program. His research focuses on the association between sleep difficulties, nightmares, and suicidal behavior. He is available for commentary and analysis on these and related topics.

Public Service Announcements

Dr. Holli Seitz is an associate professor in the Department of Communication and director of the Message Laboratory at the MSU Social Science Research Center. Seitz's research focuses on health communication, message effects, media effects and health equity. She is an applied communication scientist, using her knowledge to help organizations craft better messages so that audiences will pay better attention.