March 18, 1981 - Results show water quality has shown marked improvement since Reserve Mining stopped discharge of taconite tailings directly into Lake Superior. Environmentalists believe fibers found in the taconite tailings have carcinogenic characteristics of asbestos.
March 27, 1981 - MPR’s Kim Hodgson reports on speech comments regarding toxic waste from journalist Michael Brown, author of the book Laying Waste: The Poisoning of America by Toxic Chemicals.
June 8, 1981 - Humanist Bruce Bomier shares his concern on the promotion of infant formula in developing countries by food conglomerates.
June 10, 1981 - Mark Ascerno, entomologist at University of Minnesota, discusses common and uncommon pest problems in the home and garden. Ascerno also answers listener questions.
June 26, 1981 - Dr. Gough Reinhardt, physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California; and Dr. Frank Barnaby, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, debate at the Science Town Hall Meeting titled, “Nuclear Weapons Technology: Do We Need It?” The meeting was held at the St. Paul-Ramsey Arts and Science Auditorium and presented guests' differing views of nuclear weapons technology and the value and uses of nuclear science. MPR’s Rich Dietman moderated debate.
August 7, 1981 - Lou Breimhurst, executive director of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, discusses various environmental and hazardous waste issues in the state. Breimhurst also answers listener questions.
September 24, 1981 - MPR’s Dick Daly reports on seminar looking at possible use of the vast peat moss found on Minnesota lands as a energy source. Daly interviews local political figures about the logistics.
November 19, 1981 - A Midday broadcast of Dr. Rollo May, author, psychologist, and theologian speaking to the Westminster Town Hall Forum on love, creativity, freedom, anxiety, and death.
December 19, 1981 - On this Weekend program, MPR’s Rich Dietman talks with Mike Collins, University of Minnesota computer analyst programmer, about home computers. Topics include understanding difference between software and hardware, education courses, and various features. Collins also answers listener questions.
January 29, 1982 - In this Science Town Meeting, held at Arts and Science Center Auditorium in St. Paul, Dr. Elisabeth Mann Borgese, professor in the Training Program for the Management and Conservation of Marine Resources in the department of Political Science at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, speaks on the future use of the resources of the sea and progress toward international treaties and agreements on such uses of the ocean. MPR’s Rich Dietman hosts and moderates’ program.