University of Idaho POP Talks showcases research

From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, University of Idaho experts will present findings regarding injury prevention, farm robots, wildfire smoke, and additional topics during the fourth annual Power of Possibility (POP) Talks Thursday, Nov. 5.

The free event will take place in the Bruce M. Pitman Center International Ballroom and stream at go.uidaho.edu/live.

Eight Presentations and a Cash Grant

Eight faculty members will share their research through four-minute presentations during the event. After the final presentation, in-person and online attendees can vote for their favorite talk. The winner will receive a $2,500 grant, and students attending in person will be entered to win one of two $1,000 scholarships.

University of Idaho POP Talks showcases research

“POP Talks gives people a chance to follow their curiosity into fields they might never have explored,” said Christopher Nomura, vice president for research and economic development, who will emcee the event. “These researchers are asking unexpected questions and finding answers that can change how we work, care for our communities and understand the world around us.”

This Year’s Featured Speakers

The lineup features eight university researchers working across distinct disciplines:

Barrie Robison, Ph.D., whose work investigates ways artificial intelligence can cut down on administrative tasks to allow campus staff more time for impactful projects.
Leda Kobziar, Ph.D., who investigates how wildfire smoke transports living bacteria and fungi.
Marz Everett, Ph.D., whose research focuses on building trustworthy and comprehensible artificial intelligence applications for the manufacturing and farming sectors.
Tom Jacobsen, M.S., whose students engage with ag-tech by utilizing robotic systems designed to check soil moisture levels and irrigate crops.
Joshua Bailey, Ph.D., who studies human movement to identify injury risks and improve training.
Colin Xu, Ph.D., who examines why mental health treatments work differently for different people.
Nicholas Coombs, Ph.D., who studies barriers to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
Andy Kliskey, Ph.D., who helps communities prepare for changes affecting water, energy and other resources.