Technologically Speaking

We Have to Prepare to Be Surprised

Technologically Speaking host John Verrico sits down with Matthew Moe, Program Manager of the Probabilistic Analysis for National Threats Hazards and Risks, or PANTHR, program. Matthew recounts getting the call to study the virus that causes COVID-19, making discoveries about the effect of sunlight and ultraviolet on the disease, and sponsoring research to get answers quickly. Tune in to hear why Matthew considers himself the conductor to an orchestra of the nation’s leading scientists at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, what it’s like to solve unforeseen problems at the intersection of public health and national security, and his journey to S&T to do the work he loves.

Speed up the Cleanup

Technologically Speaking has a sobering and important conversation about preparing for chemical and biological contamination. Whether it’s intentional or unintentional, the impact of such an event would be staggering. S&T exists, in part, to research and test tools for complex cleanup scenarios that require acting quickly, efficiently and with confidence that hazardous material, like anthrax, is decontaminated. Guest Dr. Don Bansleben, a program manager at S&T specializing in chemical and biological threat detection, talks about the current work S&T is doing with U.S. government partners to prepare for these scenarios.

You Don’t Just Get the Nose with the Dog

With the help of Program Manager Guy Hartsough, our host John Verrico sniffs out the many ways S&T’s Detection Canine Program improves counter-IED (improvised explosive device) efforts. You’ll learn about the hard science behind the “art” of working with dogs and appreciate all that goes into turning a potential pet into a sophisticated tool for national security. You’ll find out what makes for a good detection canine and be able to better appreciate what it takes to work in law enforcement. From how training aids are designed and deployed, to why a centralized focal point for best practices is so crucial, this episode is a real treat.

Getting Creative About How to Get the Message Through

Host Dee Saini chats with Office of Science and Engineering program manager Sridhar Kowdley about testing technology in the New Mexico desert at JamX 2022, a field exercise where S&T evaluated tactics and technologies that help responders better deal with electronic jamming. Listen in as Sridhar discusses what jamming is and gives a rare inside look into the JamX exercise—including what it’s like to conduct an exercise amidst desert wildlife. This very special episode features clips from the field test as the action was unfolding and an interesting exchange on government acronyms and actress/science inventor Hedy Lamarr.

The Three-legged Stool

Host John Verrico sits down with Arun Vemury, program manager in the Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Biometrics and Identity Technology Center, to discuss facial recognition performance and fairness. They dive into how the technology works, how it has changed over time, current challenges and biases and what S&T is doing to overcome them. Arun and John also touch on whether facial recognition technology can distinguish between identical twins and the need for cameras that are designed to better accommodate the diversity of human faces and skin tones.

The Bomb Squad Is Not an Afterthought

Technologically Speaking host Dee Saini is joined by Byung Hee Kim who shares how her time in the military prepared her for her current role as S&T’s Response and Defeat Operations Support (REDOPS) program manager. Tune in to this episode as Byung Hee takes us back to her childhood in South Korea and shares both the journey that led her to work on counter-IED (improvised explosive device) efforts for the U.S. Marine Corps and for our nation’s bomb squads through her work at S&T. While we shine a spotlight on Byung Hee, she does the same for the unsung heroes of emergency response and ingenuity.

A Very Nasty Insecticide You Don’t Want in Your Food

Unless you don’t eat, our flagship episode covers a topic that affects us all—food defense. This wide-ranging and enthralling episode, hosted by S&T’s John Verrico, features Jessica Cox, Program Manager for Chemical Threat Characterization at the Chemical Security Analysis Center. Jessica kicks off the first season of the podcast, delving into food safety vs. food defense (hint: they aren’t the same thing). Tune in to learn how S&T fits into the picture of securing the nation’s food supply, and how terrorism, con artists and even domestic disputes can pose threats in ways you wouldn’t expect. Thinking about a future career in science? Jessica also shares her backstory, how she went from a Division I college athlete to a top-level scientist, and her advice to young women who feel intimidated breaking into a traditionally male realm.