‘Texas A&M Today’ Season 2 Episode 3 Premieres Oct. 23 On KAMU-TV

Interior view of a greenhouse where a yellow robotic arm stretched across a row of green stalks of leaves — Among other topics, the new episode explores the innovative research being conducted at Texas A&M AgriLife’s Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility, where artificial intelligence and a state-of-the-art robotic arm are used to analyze crops.
Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications

The third episode of “Texas A&M Today” Season 2 premieres Monday, Oct. 23, at 9 p.m. An original production by KAMU, the program showcases exceptional people and places at the nation’s largest university.

The latest episode explores the many ways Aggies are working to enhance the lives of people and their pets, from new frontiers in art and agriculture to the cutting-edge research taking place at Texas A&M’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Stay tuned to the end to hear an A&M veterinarian debunk some common myths and misconceptions about our furry friends.

Watch the Episode 3 preview.

“Texas A&M Today” is hosted by Chelsea Reber, a 2010 A&M graduate who co-hosts “The Infomaniacs” morning show on Bryan Broadcasting’s WTAW 1620 AM.

The episode will re-air Oct. 28 at 6 p.m., Oct. 30 at 9 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. All episodes can be viewed on demand.

Season 2 Episode 3

Older Aggies may remember when Texas A&M served as a popular tour stop for a number of chart-topping musicians, from country favorites like Willie Nelson to jazz and blues giants like B.B. King and Nat King Cole, and even the King of Rock and Roll. We’ll hear from a local author about some unforgettable performances in Aggieland’s past before diving head-first into the future, shining the spotlight on up-and-coming Aggie musicians and highlighting ongoing efforts to bring big stars back to campus.

Next, we’ll take viewers inside a state-of-the-art greenhouse, where robotics and artificial intelligence combine to make plant breeding a breeze. See how researchers at the Texas A&M Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility use a robotic arm to quickly analyze plant specimens, collecting data that will help farmers feed the world with faster-growing, more resilient crops.

After that, take a tour of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) Small Animal Teaching Hospital, which treats more than 20,000 patients each year. We’ll see how innovations like robotic-assisted surgery help Aggie veterinarians provide the highest quality care and learn about the school’s plans for a major renovation in the near future.

Then, to show just how far the study of animal health has come, this week’s “Aggie Fact” will show off a selection of rare, centuries-old books in the VMBS archives, including the first printed book on horses from 1511. These texts provide a valuable record of knowledge and techniques from the early days of veterinary medicine.

Finally, Reber travels across the Brazos to Texas A&M’s 36-pond aquaculture facility, where researchers work to establish best practices for the growing fish farming industry, improving fish genetics and maximizing factors like health and nutrition. Ultimately, their work helps provide a sustainable supply of fresh seafood for consumers around the world.

We’ll wrap up back at the vet school, as Reber sits down for a special Q&A with clinical professor Dr. Lori Teller ’90, an experienced veterinarian with a wealth of knowledge on pets and pet health. Do cats really like milk? Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s? Find out as Teller debunks a variety of common animal myths.

For more on KAMU programming, visit kamu.tamu.edu.