Coast & Country Podcast

Plant Science Day 2025

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:56:01 +0000

We are proud to present this unique episode of Coast & Country. Host Brian Scott-Smith takes viewers on a tour of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's 115th annual Plant Science Day event at Lockwood Farm on August 6, 2025, in Hamden, CT.

Visit our PSD 2025 page: https://portal.ct.gov/caes/plant-science-day/2025/plant-science-day-august-6-2025

This year marks The CAES's 150th anniversary, established in 1875, please enjoy!

Plant Science Day 2024

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 20:24:20 +0000

In this episode of Coast & Country, host Brian Scott-Smith takes viewers with him as he tours The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's 114th annual Plant Science Day event at Lockwood Farm on August 7, 2024, in Hamden, CT.

Technical Demonstrations shown:

1. "Get Crafting with Grafting: Tomato/Potato Plant," also known as the "ketchup and fries" plant, with Joseph Liquori and Felicia Millett from the Plant Disease Information Office (PDIO).

2. "How to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species" with Jeremiah R. Foley, IV, Ph.D., from the Station's newly founded Office of Aquatic Invasive Species (OAIS).

Scientists showcase their latest research projects and answer members of the public's questions.

Entomology

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:51:41 +0000

In this episode of Coast & Country, host Brian Scott-Smith interviews the Department of Entomology at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Featuring interviews with: Kelsey Fisher, Ph.D., Goudarz Molaei, Ph.D., and Hany Dweck, Ph.D.

Aquatic Invasive Species

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:27:05 +0000

In this episode of Coast & Country, host Brian Scott-Smith interviews the staff of the newly established Office of Aquatic Invasive Species at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Interviews with: Gregory Bugbee, Summer Stebbins, Riley Doherty, and Jeremiah Foley, IV, Ph.D.

Topics include: invasive aquatic plant management, Hydrilla, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), Connecticut River, lake surveys, US Army Corp of Engineers, Phragmites

Plant Science Day 2023

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 18:25:01 +0000

In this episode of Coast & Country, host Brian Scott-Smith takes viewers on a tour of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's 113th annual Plant Science Day event at Lockwood Farm, in Hamden, CT. Scientists showcase their latest research projects and answer the public's questions throughout the day.

PFAS

Tue, 16 May 2023 17:40:53 +0000

In this episode of Coast & Country, Host Brian Scott-Smith interviews Station scientists about PFAS chemicals which are sometimes called forever chemicals because of how long they persist in the environment. Hear how hemp plays a role in soil decontamination from PFAS, along with more research that yields hope for the future.

Nanotechnology

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:25:06 +0000

This edition of our Coast & Country podcast discusses nanotechnology at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Host Brian Scott-Smith interviews scientists from the Station along with Director Jason White.

Beech Leaf Disease

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 02:28:43 +0000

In this edition of our Coast & Country podcast, host Brian Scott-Smith interviews Dr. Robert Marra from The CAES's Dept. of Plant Pathology and Ecology about beech leaf disease: a new threat to Connecticut's forests. Dr. Cameron McIntire, a plant pathologist from the USDA Forest Service, discusses monitoring strategies for beech leaf disease (BLD) as it spreads across the country.

Tick Special

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 21:32:21 +0000

In this edition of our Coast & Country podcast, host Brian Scott-Smith interviews Station scientists about how to stay safe this tick season by controlling tick populations in your own backyard. The CAES scientists featured in this episode are: Dr. Kirby Stafford and Dr. Megan Linske from the Dept. of Entomology, and Dr. Jeffrey Ward from the Dept. of Forestry and Horticulture.

CAES Programs, Services, and the Spotted Lanternfly

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 21:11:25 +0000

In this episode of our Coast & Country podcast, host Brian Scott Smith talks with Dr. Victoria Smith, the Deputy State Entomologist for the state of Connecticut and Associate Scientist for The CAES’s Department of Entomology. Dr. Smith discusses the multitude of services that the Station offers and introduces listeners to the spotted lanternfly, a new threat to Connecticut’s agriculture and quality of life pest.

The CAES has many roles as the state’s plant regulatory agency: including beehive registration, nursery inspection, forest surveys, insect and plant identification, tick and soil testing, and helping CT residents grow better crops.

Ticks - Monitoring and Surveillance Program

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 22:54:24 +0000

In this episode of our Coast & Country podcast, host Brian Scott Smith interviews Dr. Goudarz Molaei from The CAES's Dept. of Environmental Sciences about The CAES's Tick Testing Laboratory and how the station uses the data it collects to predict future trends in tick-borne disease cases in the region, and much more!

Plant Pathology, Amazing Organisms Beneath Our Feet

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 17:47:57 +0000

In this edition of our Coast & Country podcast, our host Brian Scott Smith is talking with Dr. Lindsay Triplett and Dr. Stephen Taerum from The CAES's department of Plant Pathology and Ecology about the fascinating subjects they are studying. As Dr. Triplett explains, plants get sick too, and it's a plant pathologist's job to find out why in order to stop these diseases from occurring in the future. Plants have communities of microorganisms that live on them that comprise their microbiome. The organisms that are not categorized as animals, plants, fungi, or viruses are collectively called protists. At The CAES, plant pathologists are studying protists to learn about their role in plant health, and to hopefully locate beneficial protists.

Bed Bugs, They're Not As Bad As You Think

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 17:57:35 +0000

In this edition of our Coast & Country podcast, Dr. Gale Ridge and entomological researcher Katherine Dugas of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station discuss and debunk bed bug myths that people have believed for generations. You may be surprised to discover that bed bugs do not transmit any diseases to humans; and although they are basically little dinosaurs since they have been around for millions of years, all you need to combat them is a vacuum cleaner. There is a lot we can learn from these misunderstood creatures, like how they have managed to adapt to survive under adverse conditions for so long.

From Sewage to Saliva

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 15:10:11 +0000

In this podcast, Dr. Doug Brackney of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station discusses the role that he and station scientists played in finding and creating the latest saliva-based COVID-19 test, along with collaborators from Yale University. The new testing method will hopefully become a widely adopted, cost-effective way of testing people for the virus: quickly and painlessly. Check out the website mentioned in this video, covidtrackerct.com and as always, learn more at https://portal.ct.gov/caes