Dr. Dawn Pauling on Plague, Prairie Dogs and the Power of Curiosity

Dr. Dawn Pauling on Plague, Prairie Dogs and the Power of Curiosity

On this episode of Central Speaks, we sit down with ⁠Dr. Dawn Pauling⁠, associate instructor of biology at UCM, whose career has taken her from tracking wildlife in the wilds of Alaska to researching one of the most misunderstood diseases in history—the plague.

Dr. Pauling pulls back the curtain on her journey into wildlife disease research, busts a few plague myths and explains why hands-on, curiosity-driven learning is a major part of the UCM experience.

We talk about why engaging students in real-world inquiry matters, how UCM supports that mission, and what it means to prepare the next generation of scientists not just to learn science—but to do it.

• Visit the Central Speaks website ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
• Email Alex to nominate a future guest ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
• Listen on Spotify .
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Check out a Faculty Focus video of Dr. Pauling .

© 2025 University of Central Missouri. All rights reserved. Central Speaks is a production of the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ UCM Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted by Alex Greenwood. Recorded at; engineered by Josh Tomlinson.

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