POP Talks

Power of Possibility Talks

Embark on an expedition into the unknown! What is even possible? We don’t know yet, but we’re thrilled to find out.

Each year, we join eight intrepid faculty as they venture beyond the familiar, revealing new facets of the world we thought we understood. For one extraordinary hour, they challenge everything you thought you knew during POP Talks, the Power of Possibility Talks. Our researchers unearth questions you didn’t realize needed answering and redefine the boundaries of possibility.

POP Talks 2025 will take place:

3:30-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 23
International Ballroom of the Bruce M. Pitman Center
U of I Live

In-person student attendees will be entered to win two $1,000 scholarships.

2025 POP Speakers

Bert Baumgaertner, Ph.D., philosophy

Bert Baumgaertner explores what it means to know something — from the logic behind belief to the messy systems that shape how knowledge spreads. A professor, he works at the crossroads of philosophy, cognitive science and computation, using tools like agent-based modeling to examine questions about language, reasoning and truth in social settings.

Baumgaertner’s research spans everything from the philosophy of mind to the evolution of ideas. By blending modeling and data with deep questions, Baumgaertner helps us understand how knowledge actually works — not just in theory, but in the noisy, polarized world we argue, vote and scroll through every day.

Janine Julianna Darragh, Ph.D., literacy and language education

Janine Darragh equips future educators with practical, research-based teaching strategies. A professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, she brings more than 30 years of K-20 experience and expertise into her work preparing the next generation of teachers.

Her research focuses on English language teaching and learning, young adult literature, trauma-sensitive teaching and teaching in contexts of crisis. Whether she’s supporting teachers and learners in refugee camps and war zones, designing curriculum, mentoring new teachers or studying how trauma affects the brain and learning, Darragh brings curiosity, creativity and care to everything she teaches.

Kendra Kaiser, Ph.D., water research and resource management

Kendra Kaiser is working to make Idaho’s water research relevant and accessible to decision-makers by connecting faculty and partners across the state. As director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, she focuses on identifying water research needs and helps fill those gaps with science that serves the people who need it most.

A watershed hydrologist by training, Kaiser brings a collaborative, boots-on-the-ground approach to everything from streamflow forecasting tools to data centralization and visualization. Whether she’s partnering with state agencies, irrigators or fellow researchers, her goal is simple: Get the right information into the right hands, so Idaho’s water can be managed more sustainably — for today and for the future.

Simona Picardi, Ph.D., wildlife ecology and conservation

Simona Picardi wants to know where animals go, why they go there and what their movements can tell us about the future of wild ecosystems. As a wildlife ecologist, she uses GPS tracking, data science and behavioral modeling to decode how species respond to shifting habitats, global change and human disruption.

Picardi blends gritty fieldwork with high-powered computation, helping conservationists make faster, smarter decisions rooted in real data. Whether she’s mapping migration routes or teaching reproducible science, she’s all about building tools that protect wildlife and the science behind the scenes.

John Shovic, Ph.D., robotics and artificial intelligence

John Shovic is turning forest restoration into a high-tech operation. As director of the Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics in Coeur d’Alene, he leads Project Evergreen, and his team is teaching autonomous machines to zap weeds in U.S. Forest Service tree nurseries. These 3-foot-wide, battery-powered robots identify unwanted plants with AI and deliver a 5 kV jolt — cutting labor costs, reducing herbicide use and helping reforestation efforts.

Shovic’s vision stretches far beyond trees. He fuses embedded systems with machine vision, builds predictive models for plant disease outbreaks and develops robotics solutions for precision agriculture. It’s a blend of high-tech innovation and environmental stewardship that’s already starting to reshape how we care for our forests and crops.

Tyler Bland, Ph.D., neuroscience

Tyler Bland is a clinical assistant professor in the University of Idaho’s WWAMI medical program, where he teaches pharmacology and core medical topics. A champion of creative learning, Bland blends gamification, storytelling and AI tools to make medical education engaging and memorable.

He is the creator of Medimon, a Pokémon-inspired game where whimsical creatures represent cells, organs and diseases, helping students visualize complex concepts. Bland also transforms clinical case studies into immersive, movie-inspired stories, complete with AI-generated visuals and narration. Through his innovative approach, Bland shows that learning medicine can be fun, interactive and effective — helping future doctors tackle the fire hose of knowledge one creature, one story and one case at a time.

Jess Millward, J.D., LL.M., tribal law and legal advocacy

Jess Millward is advancing justice and sovereignty through the power of law. As director of U of I’s Tribal Law Clinic, she guides students in real-world legal work that protects Native American rights and strengthens rural communities across the Northwest.

Millward’s work centers on tribal law, poverty law and rural legal issues, blending hands-on experience with a passion for empowering underrepresented voices. Through teaching and clinic work, she’s shaping the next generation of lawyers ready to serve and support tribal nations across the Northwest.

Michael Strickland, Ph.D., soil ecology

Michael Strickland is going deeper — literally — to understand the life beneath our feet. As director of the Deep Soil Ecotron, he’s helping build the most advanced facility on Earth for studying soil up to 3 meters deep. It’s a scientific playground where above-ground plants and below-ground microbes, insects and nutrients interact in real time.

Strickland’s research dives into the intersection of soil, microbial and ecosystem ecology. By tracking how deep-soil communities respond to environmental change, he’s uncovering hidden drivers of soil health — and what they mean for everything from food security to climate resilience.