About the 💩 Series
"Poop Week" is a gut-busting video series that explores the fascinating science behind feces. This special week of "Minute with Mark" videos is dedicated to all things fecal. From matching feces to species to solving crimes with doggy doo, we're stepping in it all week.
We've got a whole week of scatastic content lined up for you:
- Stool Sunday: Match the Feces with the Species
- Manure Monday: Rumenating on Waste
- Tapeworm Tuesday: Poop Parasitology
- Waste Wednesday: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
- Turd Thursday: Is Pooping a Crime?
- Fecal Friday: Poop Palpations
- Scat Saturday: What Does the Fox Poop?
Stool Sunday: Match the Feces with the Species
Did you know that poop is an integral part of veterinary medicine?
💩 is an important barometer of health and can tell us critical information about disease, genetics, digestive history and more. That’s why we’re dedicating an entire week to laughing and learning about it!
In this introduction to Poop Week, we invite you to take on the challenge. Can you match the feces to the species? Test your poop percipience against the middle schoolers from the UC Davis pre-vet summer academy!
Manure Monday: Rumen-ating on Waste
Happy rumen juice comes from happy California cows!
When sick cows and other livestock stop eating, their gut microbiome can shut down. That’s where rumen juice comes in—an all-natural probiotic sourced from a healthy cow's stomach to help them get back on track!
Watch as Dr. Sarah Depenbrock takes us inside the rumen on Manure Monday.
Tapeworm Tuesday: Poop Parasitology
What’s hiding in poop? We’re diving into the microscopic world of parasites for Tapeworm Tuesday! 🐛🔬
Dr. Lauren Camp shows us how fecal tests help detect infections and parasites (including some that are dangerous to humans), and keep animals healthy.
Poop Week is just getting started, stick around for more fecal findings
Waste Wednesday: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
It's Waste Wednesday and we’re learning how Dr. Pramod Pandey is revolutionizing the way we use cow manure—extracting methane for energy, water for reuse, and fertilizer for crops. 💩♻️
To put the power of poop to the test, we’re brewing coffee using water extracted from manure and heat from methane. Would you take a sip?
Stay tuned for more manure moments during Poop Week.
Turd Thursday: Is Pooping a Crime?
It’s Turd Thursday, and we’re diving into the forensic side of feces!
💩🔍 In the Veterinary Genetics Lab, Christina Lindquist and Julia Malvick show us how poop can be the key to cracking a case.
Stay tuned for more science during Poop Week.
Fecal Friday: Poop Palpations
It’s Fecal Friday, and we’re getting hands-on with pregnancy checks!
💩👩⚕️Dr. Catherine Renaudin walks us through the process—gloves, lube, and an ultrasound probe—revealing that Fluffy is expecting.
Any guesses on the baby’s gender?
Stay tuned for more fascinating fecal science during Poop Week.
Scat Saturday: What Does the Fox Poop?
It’s Scat Saturday, and we’re tracking poop for conservation. Wildlife genetics expert Dr. Ben Sacks and his team use trained dogs to sniff out carnivore scat, revealing species, diet, and identity.
🦊🔬 Their work even helped rediscover the Sierra Nevada red fox, once thought to be extinct!
We hope you’ve enjoyed Poop Week as much as we have—thanks for laughing and learning!
Get a Taste (Figuratively, of Course...)
Can't wait to dig into the science of scat? Get a sneak peek at the weird, wonderful, and surprisingly important world of poop. From the microbes in your gut to the impact of animal droppings on the environment, these clips will leave you flushed with excitement!
More Science, More Stories
Dive even deeper with our "A Minute with Mark" video series, where Dean Mark Stetter takes you behind the scenes of the latest discoveries, exciting breakthroughs, and fascinating topics shaping our school. Whether it's cutting-edge research, student success stories, or the unexpected wonders of science (like Poop Week), this series delivers bite-sized insights that pack a punch.