Spencer Coppage
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Video ItemEconomics, harmonica, and the winds of change , video
Sheryl Ball’s Rockonomics course welcomed Thor Hanes of the New River Blues Society, who introduced students to the harmonica and the technological changes that have shaped its sound over time.
Date: Dec 05, 2025 -
Video ItemWhat's your Science? - Sarah Qazi , video
Fourth-year CMDA major Sarah Qazi talks about her passion for data science and what she hopes to do in the future.
Date: Nov 19, 2025 -
Video ItemSolving ancient algebra using popsicle sticks , video
What do ancient China, popsicle sticks, and autumn weather have in common? Math of course! Students in Andy Norton's History of Math class took their lesson outside to explore how ancient Chinese mathematicians solved matrices. Using sidewalk chalk and popsicle sticks, they recreated this early form of linear algebra.
Date: Oct 21, 2025 -
Video ItemWhat's your Science? - Savaria Parrish , video
Fourth-year geosciences major Savaria Parrish talks about her curiosity for planetary formation and the mysteries of distant atmospheres.
Date: Sep 19, 2025 -
Video ItemGeoscience campers roleplay a volcano disaster response , video
Ph.D. student Elizabeth Curtiss led a tabletop role-playing game where campers stepped into geoscience roles to work together on a simulated volcanic disaster. The activity gave students a hands-on look at how scientists team up during real-world crises.
Date: Jul 30, 2025 -
Video ItemStudying poison frog evolution , video
Roberto Márquez Pizano and his lab study how poison frogs in the genus Phyllobates evolved their bright colors and ability to retain powerful toxins.
Date: Jul 03, 2025 -
Video ItemTaste Buds: Ranking Ice Cream Price by Taste , video
In this classroom experiment designed to explore how consumers perceive quality in a crowded marketplace, students attempt to rank various ice cream products by price based solely on taste.
Date: Apr 29, 2025 -
Video ItemSelf-defense for strawberries , video
PhD candidate Xavier Ozowara of the Whitehead Lab explores how strawberry plants respond chemically to attacks from diverse herbivorous insects.
Date: Apr 08, 2025 -
Video ItemPreventing avian pink eye in the cold , video
Feeding birds in winter helps them survive the cold, but did you know dirty feeders can spread disease? Sara Teemer and Dana Hawley studied how bacteria causing pinkeye in birds survives in cold temperatures and found a simple solution—regular cleaning.
Date: Feb 10, 2025 -
Video ItemA classroom in nature , video
The outdoors becomes the classroom for Susan Whitehead's unique freshman seminar, Natural History of Stadium Woods. This one-credit Biological Sciences course invites students to explore the wonders of this old-growth forest right on campus. Each week, the class meets in Stadium Woods to immerse themselves in the ecosystem, focusing on a new group of organisms with every visit. From towering trees to the smallest forest inhabitants, students gain hands-on experience and a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them.
Date: Nov 12, 2024 -
Video ItemTina Dura & Austin Gray's Microplastic Summer Research Experience , video
Professors Austin Gray and Tina Dura created a unique summer research program to train future environmental scientists. Students traveled to a marsh ecosystem, collected samples, and analyzed them for microplastics at Virginia Tech.
Date: Aug 08, 2024 -
Video ItemUndergraduates Wade into Research , video
Erin Hotchkiss, Ph.D, and Katherine Pérez Rivera guide undergraduates in a hands-on Ecology Research and Local Waterways course . Students dive into practical learning by collecting samples from the duck pond's inlets and outlet. Through detailed data analysis, they uncover trends and insights into the local ecosystem.
Date: Jun 24, 2024 -
Video ItemShuhai Xiao & The Interactions Between Life and Earth , video
Shuhai Xiao, a professor of geobiology soon to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences, delves into his research on the early evolution of life and its environmental context, offering insights into the complex interplay between biology and geology through time.
Date: Apr 22, 2024 -
Video ItemBob Bodnar & The Role of Fluids in Earth's Processes , video
Bob Bodnar, a professor of geochemistry soon to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences, explains his study of fluid inclusions in minerals and what they reveal about Earth’s history.
Date: Apr 22, 2024 -
Video ItemThe Massey Herbarium Welcomes 200-Year-Old Plants Back to America , video
Journey back in time with the Massey Herbarium as we welcome an extraordinary collection of 200-year-old plant specimens back to American soil. Originally collected in the mid 1800s by German pharmacist Friedrich Rugel, these botanical treasures embarked on a voyage to England, only to make a triumphant return to Virginia. This video celebrates their homecoming, exploring Rugel's historic expedition, the cross-continental journey of these specimens, and their enduring scientific value.
Date: Feb 13, 2024 -
Video ItemPredicting Nature Like the Weather: Virginia Tech Researchers Receive LTREB Grant , video
A team of Virginia Tech researchers has secured a grant from the National Science Foundation to support their project, which focuses on monitoring two water reservoirs in Roanoke, Virginia. This initiative aims to provide valuable insights into the ecological dynamics and water quality of these crucial freshwater resources.
Date: Feb 01, 2024 -
Video ItemVanessa Diaz and Girls Launch! , video
Meet Vanessa Diaz, Ph.D., a collegiate assistant professor and the co-director of Girls Launch!. This project isn't just about science; it's a launchpad for change. Here, women graduate students don't just share their scientific passions with children—they're pioneers in a critical experiment. Girls Launch! is at the forefront of understanding how these interactions can reshape young minds, challenging and potentially transforming their gender biases. It's more than education; it's a movement towards a more inclusive future in science.
Date: Dec 11, 2023 -
Video ItemTales from the Galapagos: Study Abroad Spring 2023 , video
In this captivating journey, join Professors Ignacio Moore and William Hopkins—experts in Biological Sciences and Fish and Wildlife Conservation, respectively—as they guide a diverse group of Hokies on an extraordinary study abroad adventure to the Galapagos Islands. From students majoring in various academic disciplines to the unique wildlife encounters, this trip offers an unparalleled educational experience you won't want to miss.
Date: Sep 21, 2023 -
Video ItemFrom Sparks to Breakthrough: Upcycling plastic waste into usable materials with Greg Liu & his lab , video
Discover the innovative work of Greg Liu and his lab, where plastic waste finds a new purpose. Through a novel process, discarded plastics are chemically transformed into fatty acids, a versatile component found in everyday products like soap. Join us to learn how this simple yet impactful approach is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Date: Sep 11, 2023 -
Video ItemSwooping into Science: Tree Swallows and Bluebirds at Kentland Farms , video
Jared Gladbach, an aspiring biologist, shares his intriguing journey of studying cavity-nesting bird behavior, focusing particularly on tree swallows and bluebirds.
Date: May 31, 2023 -
Video ItemVirginia Tech College of Science Spring Commencement 2023 , video
Experience the joy and excitement of our Hokies in the College of Science as they celebrate their academic achievements at the Spring 2023 Commencement.
Date: May 18, 2023 -
Video ItemSigns of Spring: Ramps and Skunk Cabbage , video
Jordan Metzgar, curator of the Massey Herbarium, takes us through a Blacksburg trail to teach us about two local plant species.
Date: Apr 20, 2023