Why Basic Research and Bacteria Matter and: An Interview with Dr. Dan Kearns

On Rust Belt Science, hosts Maggie Fink and Shahir Rizk talk with Dr. Daniel Kearns, a biology professor at Indiana University Bloomington, about his research on Bacillus subtilis, bacterial movement, and how life in the lab can change the organisms scientists study. This conversation also explores the value of basic science, the realities of academic research funding, and the pressures on universities and educators. Dan makes the case for following curiosity, giving students room to explore, and recognizing that discoveries often begin without an immediate practical application. T