ESAL spoke with Kelly Oten, an assistant professor at NCSU, to the North Carolina Bradford Pear Bounty's goals and its collaboration with North Carolina State University (NCSU) Extension, and the state’s Forest Service, Urban Forest Council, and Wildlife Federation to remove the ‘Bradford’ pear, an invasive and nuisance species in the South.

ESAL interviewed material scientist Omar Gowayed about his journey to becoming a laser researcher and science activist. We discuss how identity and interests come together to motivate efforts that focus on bridging connections between the public and evidence-based research.