Y Life Science

Samantha and Margaret chat with Dr. Anne Thomas, a recently hired biology professor in BYU’s College of Life Sciences, and undergraduate student Madi Van Valkenburg about their research interests and field experiences. Together, they discuss the questions driving their work, what the research process looks like, and how hands-on mentorship helps students gain experience as scientists. This episode was recorded on March 5, 2026.

Samantha and Margaret visit with Dr. Clint Whipple and Dr. Veronica Mosquera as they discuss their research with flower color in Gilia capitata and Gilia yorkii. They talk about their research methods and the genetics behind flower color expression. This episode was recorded on December 5, 2025.

Expert local birder and eBird reviewer Jeff Cooper joins Y Life Science to explore the power of citizen science. He shares insights from his research on Boreal Owls in Utah’s Uinta Forest—and how his observations helped reshape the species’ range maps. Learn more through Jeff’s blog, NeoVista Birds and Wildlife, and explore tools like eBird and Merlin. This episode was recorded on December 2, 2025.

Leah and Samantha visit with Paula Trater, a biological technician for the Utah Reclamation, Mitigation, and Conservation Commission. They discuss various aspects of the Provo River and focus on the new Provo River Delta project. Leah and Samantha were camp counselors in the summer of 2025 and spent a lot of time on the delta, teaching kids about the June sucker and how the delta is key to helping recover this species. This episode was recorded on December 2, 2025

In this episode of the Y Life Science podcast, graduate student Taylor Probst and Dr. Alison Whiting, curator of herpetology, discuss the genus Prasinohaema. Their research on this group of skinks is particularly compelling, as these animals possess green blood. Tune in to learn more about their work and the efforts underway to better understand this unique phenomenon. This episode was recorded on November 25, 2025.