Podcasts
'Curious Conversations'
Sep 29, 2025
Michael Evans joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about controlled environment agriculture. He shared its historic roots, economic challenges, and impact on consumers. He explained how this method of farming allows for the cultivation of crops in controlled settings, the role technology plays, and the importance of efficiency and sustainability in modern agriculture.
Apr 27, 2026
Rory Maguire joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about fertilizer and its connection to the Iran war. He explained what nutrients make up most fertilizers, which of those are most impacted by the conflict, and how they behave differently in soil. He also shared some practical advice that could be applied to both large-scale farms and small gardens.
'Inside IALR'
Jul 3, 2024
The fourth episode of “Inside IALR” focuses on some of the research offered by the Applied Research division with Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research. Along with the overview, Dr. Lowman gives an in-depth view of the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, the CEA Summit East and the growth of the CEA industry in Virginia and around the world.
Inside IALR Podcast Episode: Advancing the CEA Industry
Jul 3, 2024
This episode of “Inside IALR” features a roundtable conversation with several leaders involved in the recent creation of a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) Roadmap Strategy for GO Virginia Region 3:
• Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at IALR
• Bryan David, Program Director of Southern Virginia/GO Virginia Region 3
• Ellie Travis, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement
They discuss the current state of the CEA industry as a whole, but specifically in GO Virginia Region 3. While discussing the Roadmap, they explain how CEA represents tremendous economic opportunity and growth potential for Virginia.
Aug 25, 2025
What happens when Ph.D. candidates, master’s students, undergrads and interns all share the same greenhouse? You get a powerful, layered research environment that grows more than just plants. In this episode of Inside IALR, we explore how the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also training the next generation of researchers and industry leaders. A partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech, the CEA Innovation Center blends hands-on research, mentorship and workforce development.
Jul 3, 2024
The eighth episode of “Inside IALR” focuses on the recent Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East event. This special edition episode features interviews with Virginia Secretary of Forestry and Agriculture Matthew Lohr, IALR’s Dr. Scott Lowman, AeroFarms’ Guy Blanchard, Virginia Tech’s Dr. Kaylee South, Indoor Ag-Con’s Brian Sullivan and Virginia Tech’s Dr. Michael Schwartz. Each interview provides unique insights into the growth and potential of the CEA industry and highlights the impact and significance of events like the CEA Summit East for the industry.
Jul 28, 2025
What is it like to be an intern at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research? In this episode of Inside IALR, hear from five of the 18 interns who spent their summer working across IALR’s divisions—from applied research and economic development to manufacturing advancement and GO TEC.
You’ll hear from:
• Grayson Snead, an ag tech intern researching bacterial endophytes in broccoli microgreens
• Dilara Sultanova, a data-savvy Empower intern building automation tools and career resources
• Daniel Olasoko and Moiz Fakhri, who worked with machine learning models to support student success in the ATDM program
• Dakotah Younger, who helped train teachers and guide students through hands-on technology with the GO TEC team
They reflect on what they learned, the real-world impact they made, and how the experience is shaping their future careers.
