By Kellie Cobb

JONESBORO -- The faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at Arkansas State University want community members to know about the research being conducted at the university, as well as vital contemporary science issues.

They plan to use a radio program to help spread their message. Beginning Monday the department will present "Science in the Natural State" at 4:44 p.m. on KASU, 91.9 FM.

The radio program is a spin-off of the department's continuing series of science articles published in The Sun.

"Thanks to its popularity and the way it has been received, we have been able to have the basic material to produce this show," said Dr. Aldemaro Romero, professor and chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences.

Each program is 312 minutes long and includes interviews with ASU science faculty.

The first program will focus on the bird flu.

"We are reading about that topic every day in the newspaper. ... We'll talk about what the real risk of that disease becoming a pandemic," said Romero.

Other topics "Science in the Natural State" will focus on include the work being done by faculty and graduate students to locate the ivory-billed woodpecker, as well as topics dealing with aspects of physics and chemistry.

"This is a real showcase for ASU to demonstrate the breadth and depth of the research that is conducted on campus, as well as the technical capabilities that the communications department has in terms of broadcasting," Romero said.

Marty Scarbrough, program director at KASU, said the program is an opportunity to use the airwaves of KASU to promote the activities at the university.

"We realize there's probably thousands of people whose only connection to ASU maybe tuning into the radio station. Any way in which we can promote the activities that are going on ... it's beneficial not only to the radio station, but to the university as well," Scarbrough said.

Eighteen shows have been recorded, with 13 more in the pre-production stage.

"Science in the Natural State" is a collaborative effort. Script writers for the program include faculty members Romero, Dr. Anne Grippo and Dr. Martin Huss and Joy Trauth, instructor and graduate student.

Betsy Wiederkeher-Huss is the narrator. Radio-television student Brad Bishop is responsible for recording and editing all the shows.

"There's no technical jargon. It's very simple. ... you don't need a Ph.D. to comprehend the things they talk about in the program," Romero said.

"Science in the Natural State" will continue to air Mondays at 4:44 p.m. at KASU, 91.9 FM.

The episodes will also be posted on the Department of Biological Sciences Web site and will be made available to other public radio stations for their use in the near future.

kb@jonesborosun.com