by William and Mary's School of Computing, Data Sciences and Physics
DeanCast is hosted by Doug Schmidt, the Dean of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics at William & Mary. In each episode Doug talks with a member of the W&M community - both past and present - to explore the research questions that drive them, the discoveries that excite them, the experiences they’ve had as teachers and students, and the societal impact of their work. Theme: 'Upbeat Summer Background Music' by DELOSound via pixabay.com
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/8/2025
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June 23, 2026
<p>In this episode of DeanCast, we sit down with Dr. Margaret Saha, Chancellor Professor of Applied Science at William & Mary, to explore how living systems adapt, heal, and thrive in an unpredictable world. From her unconventional journey studying history to developmental biology, Margaret shares how a fascination with discovery led her to question how organisms maintain robustness and plasticity, and how those same principles might help us engineer biology for the future.</p><p>Margaret discusses her groundbreaking work with frog embryos, whose remarkable ability to reorganize and regenerate tissues offers clues for repairing the human nervous system. She explains how advances in synthetic biology and AI are opening new possibilities for programming cells to regenerate damaged tissues, clean up environmental pollutants, and create smarter medicines. The conversation also explores William & Mary’s leadership in hands-on biological research through programs such as Phage Lab and iGEM, where students tackle real-world challenges using interdisciplinary approaches that span biology, computing, engineering, and public policy. Ultimately, Margaret argues that biology is entering a new era—one where understanding how life builds and repairs itself may help address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.</p>
May 7, 2026
<p>In this episode of DeanCast, host Dean Schmidt sits down with experimental particle physicist Dr. Tricia Vahle to explore one of the universe’s most puzzling phenomena: neutrinos. </p><p>From massive underground detectors to international collaborations decades in the making, Vahle shares how scientists are uncovering clues on how neutrinos change identity and may even break our current fundamental understanding of physics. The conversation also reveals the human side of discovery—what it takes to coordinate hundreds of researchers across the globe, how basic science drives unexpected innovations, and why emerging tools like AI are transforming the future of physics.</p><p>Whether you're curious about the origins of the universe or the power of collaborative science, this episode offers a compelling look at how bold questions, and the people who pursue them, push the boundaries of knowledge.</p>
April 1, 2026
<p>In this episode of DeanCast, we explore the evolvingintersection of AI and cybersecurity with Dr. Yue “Luna” Xiao, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at William & Mary. </p><p>Drawing on her experience in both academia and industry, Dr. Xiao examines how AI is transforming the way we identify software vulnerabilities – while simultaneously introducing new risks that demand urgent attention.</p><p>From uncovering tens of thousands of previously unknown bugs in the Linux kernel to demonstrating how AI agents can be manipulated through surprisingly simple attacks, Dr. Xiao’s work highlights both the scale of AI’s capabilities and the complexity of securing it. She also reflects on how AI isreshaping education and lowering the barrier to entry in computing, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to build real-world systems earlier than ever before. </p><p>Join us for a timely conversation on the promises, pitfalls,and responsibilities of AI in today’s cybersecurity landscape.</p>
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DeanCast is hosted by Doug Schmidt, the Dean of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics at William & Mary. In each episode Doug talks with a member of the W&M community - both past and present - to explore the research questions that drive them, the discoveries that excite them, the experiences they’ve had as teachers and students, and the societal impact of their work.
Theme: 'Upbeat Summer Background Music' by DELOSound via pixabay.com
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