That's What I Call Science!

Is social media deceiving you and spreading fake news? With much of the world in lockdown we are using social media and devices more and more to stay connected. While these devices are useful, there are some technologies that help provide a gateway for damaging misinformation to reach the masses. In this episode Meredith and Niamh chat with social media Psychology academics to find out how we can...

Is fake news a deadly threat during the pandemic? For many people the pandemic has been their first experience of witnessing the scientific method first hand. As the scientific community has rapidly investigated the novel coronavirus, government policy and recommendations have changed in response to emerging evidence. This week the show is taken over by Elizabeth College students Harrison, Sarah a...

What is misinformation and why do people believe it? Niamh and Kate chat about misinformation in the digital age with UTAS Philosopher and senior lecturer, Dr David Coady. We ask David about the debate around climate change and he gives us insights into conspiracy theories (and if we should really call them that), rumours and information spread. This is part of a 3-part series for National Science...

Many airports are equipped with a device that can detect traces of explosive substances. Now the creators of this device are using the technology to detect the presence of viruses faster and more accurately than ever before. Professor Michael Breadmore and Mostafa Adel talk us through their ingenious invention. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Allanna Russe...

In this episode we explore the world of biomedical engineering, starting with discussing what a biomedical engineer does and some interesting projects occurring in this space in Tasmania. Work completed by local Tasmanian engineers in the development of “OxyGenie” technology which is used in neonatal ventilators is a key component of this episode. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapm...

One in four respondents to The Tasmania Key findings Project’s Food Survey reported running out of food because they could not afford to buy more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Katherine Kent tells us about the Tasmania Project’s findings, and what the pandemic has meant for the food insecurity of Tasmanian households. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Kel...

In this week’s episode Hannah and Niamh are joined by Deadly Science founder, NSW Young Australian of the Year, and all-round legend Corey Tutt. Corey is a Kamilaroi man, who is passionate about increasing opportunities for education in STEMM for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, particularly those in rural areas.  That’s What I Call Science acknowledges the postponement of NAI...

Health and social inequities are huge issues in Australia, between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The public is often shown the ‘what’ of the issue, in the form of statistics and facts, but very rarely the ‘why’, and the root of the issue. We join Professor Maggie Walter to discuss this, as well as exploring her own personal journey as an Aboriginal woman studying higher education in A...

These doctors diagnose 100% of cancers and inform 70% of all medical decisions, so why don’t we know who they are? This episode we chat to two expert pathologists, Dr Dan Owens and Dr Eileen Long, to find out how medical tests are analysed behind the scenes. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Allanna Russell (@AllannaRussell) Production: Meredith Castles (@me...

In this episode, Niamh and Meredith talk to UTAS technologist and lecturer Dr Lindsay Wells who specialises in mobile application development. They discuss the way the world is increasingly going mobile, and the benefits and risks that move opens up for us all. They delve into the recent controversy surrounding the Government’s COVID app and the distrust of data handling that sparked it, and the w...

Cardiovascular disease including heart attack and stroke kills more people worldwide and in Australia than any other disease. Blood pressure is the single most important risk factor yet measuring it can be extremely difficult.  Niamh interviews Prof. James Sharman and Dr. Dean Picone about their work that showed there are nearly 1,000 different blood pressure devices available to Australians but o...

Our Founding Director Niamh Chapman recently submitted her PhD thesis, she’s officially on the home stretch! Tune in to hear Niamh and her supervisor Professor James Sharman reflect on her PhD. The show is sure to provide some helpful hints on how to overcome common PhD challenges and also how to make the most of the opportunities that come your way.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh C...

What does beer, bread and sauerkraut have in common? Fermentation! Microbiologist Dipon Sarkar (@DiponSarkar10) explains the good and the bad bacteria in our food, how they affect the flavours and chemistry of the food and explains the craze about sourdough bread. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Kelsey Picard (@KelseyOnScience) Production: Meredith Castles...

Niamh and Kate talk to clinical psychologist Dr Kimberley Norris about how people cope in extreme and unusual environments like isolation. Kim’s research looked at Antarctic scientists and NASA astronauts, but her findings are relevant for all of us to maintain good mental health while social distancing. This week we are launching a new feature and bringing you a how-to guide for coping with relax...

The family lives of lizards are more complex than it seems. In this episode Niamh, Kelsey, and Olly talk to ecologist Tom Botterill-James, about his work studying lizards in east Tasmania, researching how social dynamics are affected by environmental changes and how these social traits have evolved in animals. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod To listen on demand or to access all previous episodes v...

May 12th is an important opportunity to celebrate women in mathematics with the goal of inspiring women’s achievements in mathematics and to encourage an inclusive mathematics community. That’s what I call Science interviewed local early-career researcher Dr Venta Terauds to find out more about her work as a biological mathematician. Venta is using mathematics to understand changes in the genes of...

In this episode Niamh and Hannah talk to elasmobranch ecologist David Moreno, about his work with shark and skate species in Macquarie Harbour here in Tasmania. The unique and challenging environment of Macquarie Harbour has made the species that inhabit it adapt and become unique from anywhere else in extremely interesting ways.  We discuss how climate change is a huge issue for our marine life a...

Camera drones are quickly becoming one of the most popular consumer technologies for people of all ages. In research and industry, drones are proving to be invaluable tools with their use bounded only by imagination. What are some of the tasks that drones are being used for in Tasmania?  Niamh and Meredith talk to University of Tasmania PhD Candidate Sean Krisanski who is using drones to map fores...

How does the change in land use affect the types of birds that thrive in Tasmania, and what are we missing when birds go extinct? These are some of the eggciting questions Matt Fielding (@mattwfielding & @ecol_evo) is trying to answer in his research. To listen on demand or to access all previous episodes visit our podcast webpage via this link: https://thatssciencetas.buzzsprout.com/ For more...

Love them or hate them, the loss of the oyster industry would have huge impacts on the Tasmanian economy. When a global oyster virus began to wipe out the French oyster industry, Tasmania was one step ahead. Hear from Lewa Pertl from the Australian Seafood Industry about how a Tassie breeding solution saved the oyster industry from the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome. To listen on demand or to a...

In this episode we explore all things hydro power related including the exciting opportunities of pumped hydro. Wind and Solar are renewable resources which vary significantly based on the weather, so technology to store this energy for use when demand increases is becoming important. While batteries have limitations to store all this extra renewable energy, pumped hydro presents an improved large...

Health literacy helps us access, understand and use information to make decisions about our health and medical care. Our health literacy is not an individual skill but an asset for the individual and the community. This week Niamh Chapman interviewed Dr Rosie Nash, health literacy expert, pharmacist and public health lecturer from the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. To listen on...

Mindfulness is a practice that has shown positive benefits for stress management and health, but what’s it all about?  Tune in to hear Niamh Chapman and Dr. Larissa Bartlett discuss what is mindfulness, how can one develop the skill of being mindful and how this could help to cope with stress both in and out of the workplace! To listen on demand or to access all previous episode visit our podcast...

In this week's episode Niamh and Meredith chat to Dr Emily Lowe-Calverly, a researcher from the University of Tasmania, about the science of 'Likes' and how psychology might be the driving force behind social media or social connection in the digital age.  They break down the positive and negative aspects of social media use and the design of the technology that enforces addictive b...

Celebrating women - final installation of our International Women's Day series. The team from Science in the Pub recently awarded an Inspiring Women in STEM grant to an international PhD student to allow her to go back to her home country and share her research. This week we chat to Dr Emily Flies from Science in the Pub and the winner of the grant, Mercy Ndalila about how the grant has allow...