Beyond BAFF

This Beyond BAFF podcast episode features Kuno Kasak, an Estonian environmental researcher. Kuno is a Professor in Environmental Technology at the Department of Geography, University of Tartu.
During the recording of this episode, he is actually temporarily back in the US, working at the University of California, Berkeley, as a Visiting Professor through The Fulbright Program. He is currently conducting research at the Biometeorology Lab focusing on wetlands methane flux dynamics.

Join us as we delve into the research of a prominent scientist focused on restoring damaged wetlands. We talk about the origins of his PhD studies in wastewater treatment to his current work on greenhouse gas fluxes and ecological systems, this episode explores the intricate planning, challenges, and collaborative efforts involved in wetland restoration. Learn about significant projects in California, the differences in restoration approaches across climates, the importance of community engagement, and groundbreaking findings that could shape future climate mitigation strategies.

At the podcast, we talk about:

• Kuno’s background and PhD Journey
• Importance of wetlands in climate change
• Challenges and solutions in wetland restoration
• Research in the US and California wetlands
• Scientific curiosity and career development
• Future of wetland research and personal insights

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates, and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Paulina Streimikyte is a Lithuanian researcher and a senior scientist at the Lithuanian Research Centre of Agriculture and Forestry. She is responsible for fermentation in the food & beverages field.

During her BAFF fellowship, she researched mousy off-flavors in sour beers and the complexities of detecting specific flavor molecules. She is an expert on methods to improve food preservation through fermentation, and also knows a lot about the historical significance of beer brewing.

Currently, she lives back in the US in Silicon Valley because she is part of the Plug'nPlay accelerator program where, together with a startup team, they are trying to bring fermentation sciences into regular people's food plates.

With the startup, they enhance grains which are used in breweries and other food industry waste into more sustainable and functional food using fermentation.

At the podcast, we talk about:

• What is a sour taste in the beer and how can one research it
• Researching the mousy off-flavors in sour beers and the complexities of detecting specific flavor molecules.
• Joining a startup and her new daily routine in Silicon Valley.
• Specific tips for training the skill of tasting.
• Things she would bring back to the Baltics from the US.
• Paulina's recommendations for someone, who is interested in pursuing science.

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates, and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Dalia Bankauskaite is a Lithuanian interdisciplinary expert in security policy, strategic communication, and political advisory.
With decades of experience across government, academia, and consulting, Dahlia focuses on advancing the understanding of total defense and a whole-of-society approach to security, including hybrid warfare and influence operations.
Dalia currently serves as a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis. She is also a professor at Vilnius University and an expert at the Swedish Defense University.
In this episode, Dalia delves into the intricacies of strategic communication and its role in societal resilience, security, and disinformation campaigns.
At the podcast, we talk about:

• What is the 'whole-of-society' approach to security?
• The importance of media literacy
• The importance of clear goals and target audience when understanding strategic communication
• Continuous effort that is needed to bridge the gap between government institutions and society
• Envisioning the Future: Societal Resilience and State Crafting
• Dalia’s reflection on the BAFF Experience?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates, and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Katrin Õunap is a leading Estonian clinical geneticist specializing in rare diseases and
metabolic disorders.
In this episode Katrin delves into her journey into genetics, starting with her early career and unexpected shift into genetics after Estonia's independence from the Soviet Union. She recounts her pivotal role in introducing newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) in Estonia, emphasizing the collaboration and learning experiences that shaped her path.
The discussion covers Katrin's research in Estonia and abroad, including her significant work in the U.S. with the Center of Mendelian Genomics at Harvard University, aiming to solve unsolved genetic disease cases.
Today Katrin is a professor in Clinical Genetics at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, at the University of Tartu. She is also the Head of the Department of Clinical Genetics, at Tartu University Hospital.
At the podcast we talk about:

• Navigating the complex world of rare diseases
• The definition of a “rare disease”?
• The importance of international cooperation?
• How did Katrin evolve from a pediatrician to a researcher and a genetics specialist?
• What lies ahead for Katrin regarding future projects and European collaborations?
• How did phenylketonuria research got it’s start in Estonia thanks to Katrin?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Meet Ryte Damaseviciute, a resident doctor in Vilnius with a strong passion for improving how medical students and physicians engage with research. She believes that even those who don’t plan to become scientists should have a solid foundation in clinical research and data science.

Ryte focuses on Pancreatic cancer clinical research. Predictive models for post-operative complications evaluation. Her main passion is in medical research to improve the quality of medical students' and physicians' backgrounds in research.

In the podcast, we talk about:

• Why does Ryte find doing research in the medical field so valuable?
• Why should one take a year for research or internship before continuing their residency in medicine?
• Imposter syndrom in the medical field?
• Trends and the future in the medical field?
• What’s the cure for cancer?
• Ryte's advice for young Researchers

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org