In 2025, Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” featured more than 30 researchers sharing their expertise. We learned about everything from the future of airspace, mitigating online threats, and curing cancer with air bubbles to the neuroscienceof dancing, the importance of ghost stories, the history of Christmas music, and much more.
We’re so thankful each one took the time to chat with us, and excited for even more "Curious Conversations" coming in 2026!
Ariana Wyatt joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of Christmas music, from its origins in early Christian hymns to its transformation into a commercialized genre in the 20th century. She shared the cultural impact of Christmas music, the distinction between church hymns and secular songs, and the nostalgia that these tunes evoke during the holiday season. Wyatt is associate dean for outreach and engagement and associate professor of voice in Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. A graduate of Juilliard Opera Center, she has performed in operas and concert halls throughout the country and her research focuses on vocal diction and acting as well as opera research and production.
Andrew McCoy joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about 3D printing concrete homes as a potential solution for current housing challenges. He shared the current landscape of housing in Virginia and how this emerging technology might be harnessed to reduce costs and improve efficiency. He broke down how this building process works, the challenges of attempting to shift to it, and how he and his colleagues are working to overcome those hurdles.McCoy, the Beliveau Professor in the Department of Building Construction, is associate director for research and innovation for the Myers-Lawson School of Construction and director of the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech. His research focuses on pioneering solutions using industrialized construction, 3D concrete printing, and smart housing technologies with a goal of building housing that’s smarter, faster, and fairer for all.
Patrick Salmons joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of the banjo, including its origins, cultural significance, and the impact of racism and minstrelsy on its perception. Salmons also shared the music industry's impact on the instrument and highlighted contemporary banjo players who are reshaping its narrative.
Salmons is the graduate programs coordinator and a communication specialist with the Department of Political Science, as well as an instructor for Appalachian Studies. His research focuses on the intersection of music, history, race and class relations. In 2021, he wrote a dissertation titled, “Hip Hop, Bluegrass, Banjos, and Solidarity: Race and Class Histories in Appalachia U.S.A.”
Robin Queen joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the nature of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in knees. She shared insights about the common mechanisms of injury, the impact of age and gender, and the importance of recovery and prevention strategies. She also provided some general advice for athletes of all ages on injury prevention and recovery.
Queen is the L. Preston Wade Professor of Engineering professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and the director of the Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on whole body mechanics with an emphasis on loading symmetry and functional outcomes following surgical interventions.
Marcella Kelly joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Virginia Tech, her journey into wildlife conservation, and insights on bear populations in Southwest Virginia. She explains the use of genetic sampling to study bear health, the impact of warm winters on their behavior, and how to navigate human-bear interactions.
Kelly is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. She researches the dynamics and behavior of elusive carnivores, including coyotes, bobcats, black bears in the U.S. and she studies jaguars, ocelots, pumas, tigers, and cheetahs abroad. She uses a combination of non-invasive techniques (remote cameras, genetic sampling) along with more traditional techniques like GPS collaring and newly developed camera collars on wildlife.
Lindsay Miles joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about her research on bed bugs, focusing on genomic sequencing, the history of bed bug populations, and the implications of their mutations. She explained how bed bugs evolved alongside humans, their genetic similarities, and the challenges in managing their populations due to their emerging resistance to pesticides.
Miles is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Entomology and an affiliate with the Fralin Life Sciences Institute. Her research focuses on population genetics and molecular evolution to understand how urbanization impacts organisms and she is currently studying how urbanization and pesticide use can influence genomic evolution in bed bugs.
Shaily Patel joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about a new course she’s teaching that explores hauntology, its connection to ghost stories, and the cultural significance of these narratives. Patel explained the role of ghosts as cultural metaphors and how ghost stories serve as a way of making meaning out of past traumas. She also shared the significance of ghost stories in Appalachia and the importance of their role in how people make meaning of the human experience.
Patel is an assistant professor of early Christianity in the Department of Religion and Culture at Virginia Tech. Her research explores the ways in which so-called magic was used to advance a number of theological ends in early Christian texts, and she teaches courses in New Testament, Christian apocryphal texts, orthodoxy and heresy, and demonology and exorcism.
Abhishek Reddy joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact of screen time and time of day on the suicide risk of adolescents. Reddy shared his recent study that examined these two factors, as well as the medicine used, among a group of adolescents who attempted to overdose. He also shared proactive strategies for parents and guardians to help mitigate potential issues, as well as some good sleep hygiene practices for people of all ages.
Abhishek Reddy is a faculty member and associate professor in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. He works at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke with specialties in child and adolescent psychiatry and sleep medicine.
Webster Santos joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the intricate process of drug discovery and the rigorous multidisciplinary approach required to develop new pharmaceuticals. Santos is exploring a new weight loss compound that has the potential to help people lose weight without exercise and retain muscle.
Santos is a professor of chemistry and the Cliff and Agnes Lilly Faculty Fellow in the College of Science. He also directs the Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, which is affiliated with the Fralin Life Sciences Institute.
Julia Basso joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about her research at the intersection of mind-body movement and neuroscience, particularly through the lens of dance. She explained how the Embodied Brain Lab explores the effects of dance on brain function, mental health, and social connections. She also shared the unique aspects of dance that make it an ideal activity for these studies.
Julia Basso is an assistant professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Embodied Brain Laboratory. Her research investigates the effects of exercise on brain function and physiology, and the neurobiological underpinnings of exercise motivation.
Michael Evans joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about controlled environment agriculture. He shared its historic roots, economic challenges, and impact on consumers. He explained how this method of farming allows for the cultivation of crops in controlled settings, the role technology plays, and the importance of efficiency and sustainability in modern agriculture.
About Evans
Evans is a professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and co-director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, which is primarily housed in Danville, Virginia. His current controlled environment agriculture research is focused on the production of crops such as lettuce, herbs, medicinal plants, and strawberries in soilless and hydroponic systems within greenhouses, factories, and vertical farms.
Cayelan Carey joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about ecosystem forecasting, which provides near real-time predictions about water quality in lakes and reservoirs. She explained how utilizing advanced modeling techniques and data from sensors, her team at Virginia Tech is able to help water managers make informed decisions to mitigate issues like algal blooms, both in Southwest Virginia and across the globe. She also shared the importance of collaboration, both domestically and internationally, and the future potential of ecosystem forecasting beyond water quality.
About Carey
Carey is the Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellow, a professor of biological sciences, and a founding director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Ecosystem Forecasting. Her research integrates freshwater ecosystem ecology and data science to examine how humans are affecting freshwater systems, and in turn how changing water quality is altering human decision-making.
Jonas Hauptman joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about his extensive work researching bamboo as a sustainable building material. He shared his journey into non-traditional materials, the challenges of using bamboo in construction, and the potential impact of bamboo might have in addressing global housing shortages.
About Hauptman
Hauptman is an associate professor of industrial design at the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, as well as the co-founder and co-leader of the Bio Design Research Group. He is also a fellow to Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity and Innovation, which has supported his bio-inspired design research through multiple projects.
Chris Williams joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the evolution and significance of additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing. He explained the differences between additive and subtractive manufacturing, the various materials used, and the advantages of this technology. He also shared some of the ongoing additive manufacturing projects of he and his colleagues.
About Williams
Christopher Williams is the L.S. Randolph Professor and the Electro-Mechanical Corporation Senior Faculty Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. He is the Director of the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Laboratory and holds affiliate faculty appointments in the Department of Engineering Education and the Department of Material Science and Engineering.
Bryan Hsu joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about bacteriophages, commonly called phages. He explained their role in the gut microbiome, their potential in phage therapy, and the potential as a tool against antibiotic resistance. Hsu also broke down how phages interact with bacteria, their dual nature as both beneficial and harmful, and the innovative ways researchers are engineering phages for therapeutic use.
About Hsu
Bryan Hsu is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and an affiliate of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute. His research broadly focuses on using an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding and remodeling the gut microbiota with a special focus on discovering new phages and genetically engineering them for anti-bacterial and anti-virulence applications.
David Bieri joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of understanding economic climates and the importance of historical context and narratives in economic theories. He emphasized the role of government in providing certainty, the significance of individual actions in the economy, and the necessity of re-evaluating economic ideas and institutions. Bieri also highlighted the interplay between economics and humanity, advocating for a more thoughtful approach to economic systems.
About Bieri
David Bieri is an associate professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and an associate professor of economics. He also holds an appointment in the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience. His teaching interests are at the intersection of public finance, monetary theory and history of economic thought. He has held various senior positions at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland. Prior to his work in central banking, he worked in investment banking in London and Zurich.
Matt Wisnioski and Michael Meindl joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the enduring impact of “The Magic School Bus,” which is best known as a long-running educational television show for children. Wisnioski and Meindl shared the insights they’ve gained while working on a National Science Foundation-supported research project aimed at understanding why the content worked and how it influenced the worlds of science, education, and entertainment. The discussed the television show’s origins and the importance of the collaborative nature that led to its success.
About Wisnioski and Meindl
Wisnioski is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Science, Technology, and Society.
Meindl is an associate professor in Radford University’s School of Communication and a Ph.D. student in Virginia Tech’s Department of Science, Technology, and Society.
The pair are co-investigators on a National Science Foundation-supported research project aimed at understanding why “The Magic School Bus” worked and how it influenced the worlds of science, education, and entertainment
Eiman Elgewely joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about her work using virtual reality and the principles of interior design to explore historical spaces. She described the research and collaboration required by such projects and explained how digital technology can help revive lost heritages, increase access, and provide insights for current applications. She specifically talked about two recent projects - 3D virtual reality creations of the house of Sheikh Isa in Bahrain and Meketre's ancient Egyptian garden. The latter can be experienced in the Cube at the Moss Arts Center from May 5 - May 7.
About Elgewely
is an Assistant professor of Interior Design at the School of Design and a Faculty Affiliate of the Center of Human-Computer Interaction at Virginia Tech. Her research interests are in digital cultural heritage and museum studies and she currently leads several projects in the Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab.
Alex DiFeliceantonio joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact of ultra-processed foods on health, the NOVA classification system for food, and the role of dopamine in food choices. She highlighted the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in the American diet, their association with various health issues, and the challenges of navigating food choices in a highly processed environment. She also emphasized the need for a balanced approach to diet, recognizing the difficulties in reducing ultra-processed food intake while maintaining convenience and accessibility.
About DiFeliceantonio
DiFeliceantonio is an assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and interim co-director of its Center for Health Behaviors Research. She holds an appointment with Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. DiFeliceantonio is a neuroscientist who studies how the brain integrates peripheral signals to guide food selection and eating behaviors. Using multimodal brain imaging and metabolic measures, her laboratory in Roanoke, Virginia studies food motivation to ask new questions about diet, food choice, and addiction.