Collection:LPB

Genre: Educational

Place Covered: Bozeman, Montana, Wyoming, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1999-10-27

Duration: 00:19:14

Subjects: Educational films | Science | Biofilms | Microorganisms | Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.) | Yellowstone National Park

Contributors:

• Grandy, Greg Host
• LaBauve, Randy Producer
• Azene, Hendekea Speaker
• Nunes, Daniel Speaker
• Smith, Molly Speaker
• Cochran, Wendy Interviewee
• Weightman, Alma Interviewee
• Davies, Dave Interviewee
• Ripple, Steven Interviewee
• Portier, Ralph Interviewee

In this episode of the series “Enviro-Tacklebox” from October 27, 1999, host Greg Grandy explores biofilms, communities of microorganisms. Grandy first visits the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, where he learns about their research. He interviews: Dr. Wendy Cochran, microbiologist; Alma Weightman, operations manager; and Dr. Dave Davies, microbiologist. Next, Grandy, Dr. Cochran, and Dr. Davies visit Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and collect biofilm samples from the Norris Geyser Basin. Back in Baton Rouge, student reporter Hendekea Azene visits her dentist, Dr. Steven Ripple, to learn more about plaque, biofilms that grow in your mouth. Lastly, Greg visits Dr. Ralph Portier, an environmental scientist at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, who discusses his work in creating microbes that can clean up oil spills.