The Research Minute

The Research Minute Real university research, real people, NO JARGON!

Hosted by Dr. David Butler, bringing MTSU's greatest discoveries from the campus to your community every week!🎙️

09/02/2026

"Information Systems is more about people and technology—but we're putting people at the heart."

Dr. David Butler sits down with Sam Zaza to discuss what Information Systems actually means, why it's often misunderstood, and how people—not computers—are the most important part of the equation.

What do you think Information Systems is?

08/31/2026

🤖 Will AI take your job?

Sam Zaza argues that the bigger risk is standing still while the world keeps changing. As technology evolves, the people who continue learning and building new skills will have the advantage.

What skill do you think will be most valuable in the next 10 years?

🎙️ Watch the full conversation on The Research Minute.

08/27/2026

"Younger workers don't want to work."

You've probably heard that before.

But what if the issue isn't work itself—what if it's the way work is structured?

In this clip from The Research Minute, we discuss why more professionals are prioritizing flexibility, remote work, and quality of life over the traditional 8-to-5 schedule.

💬 Do you think companies should offer more flexible work arrangements, or is the traditional office still the best approach?

08/27/2026

"AI is taking our jobs."

You've probably heard that claim before.

But is the real issue AI—or whether we're willing to learn new skills as technology changes?

This clip explores the debate around automation, upskilling, and the future of work. Whether you're excited about AI or concerned about it, there's something here worth thinking about.

🎥 Watch now.

💬 What's one skill you think will be valuable no matter how much technology changes?

08/13/2026

AI is changing more than just classrooms and workplaces—it may be changing how we think. 🤖🧠

Instead of using AI to get answers, what if we used it to ask better questions?

In this clip, Dr. Sarah Baxter explains why AI works best as a thought partner—helping us uncover blind spots, challenge assumptions, and see problems from new perspectives.

💬 Do you use AI to think through ideas, or just to get answers?

08/13/2026

🤔 If a math professor looked at your child's homework, would they call the teacher and say they're doing it wrong?

According to Sarah Baxter, not likely.

While parents often get frustrated by modern math instruction, Baxter says Tennessee's teachers are doing a tremendous job. The bigger challenge is helping parents understand a very different approach to learning mathematics than the one many of us grew up with.

📚 Have you ever looked at your child's math homework and thought, "I have no idea how to help with this"?

08/11/2026

Most people think of the American Civil War as a series of famous battles. But what about the violence that happened in secret?

Historian Andrew Fialka explains why guerrilla warfare is one of the most difficult aspects of the Civil War to study—and how uncovering these overlooked stories inspired his graphic novel Hope Never to See It: A Graphic History of Guerrilla Violence during the American Civil War.

📚 What parts of history do you think deserve more attention?

08/10/2026

🎂🍻 "Every one-year-old should have a birthday party at a brewery."

Andrew Fialka shares what might be the most unconventional parenting advice we've heard on The Research Minute. 😂

Would you ever host a kid's birthday party at a brewery?

08/08/2026

What if humanity's biggest war wasn't against an alien invasion... but against itself?

In this clip, historian Andrew Fialka explains why the U.S. Civil War remains the deadliest conflict in American history and explores a surprising theory about whether humans would actually unite against an extraterrestrial threat.

Would humanity come together—or find new reasons to divide?

08/06/2026

Honeybees help pollinate about one-third of the world's food supply, making them one of the most important species on the planet. 🌎🍯

But what if the chemicals used to protect bees are ending up in the honey we eat?

In this clip, MTSU researcher Manuel Guzman explains how scientists are testing honey from across Tennessee to look for traces of pesticides, herbicides, and other compounds that could affect both bee and human health.

💬 Does this surprise you? Let us know in the comments.

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