Our Changing World

Two stories about science pathways - Katy Gosset heads to the University of Canterbury STEM careers fair to find out what the future might be for science students, while Claire Concannon learns about the weird world of parasite life cycles. Just where might science lead? This week, two stories on the winding paths that science can take you on. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts,...

In her final trawl through the audio archives, Alison Ballance heads to Putauhinu Island, a southern sanctuary for rare birds. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alison Ballance revisits a favourite story from the archives: southern island sanctuary for rare birds. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alison Ballance revisits a 2013 feature on kauri dieback disease and talks to Nick Waipara to find out how the northern kauri forests are coping with the disease in 2021. Alison Ballance's archive choice this week is about kauri dieback disease - she goes back to a feature recorded in 2013, and then hears from Nick Waipara about the situation in 2021. Follow Our Changing World for free on App...

Alison Ballance revisits a 2013 story about kauri dieback disease and gets an update of the disease's impact in 2021. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In this week's retrospective, Alison Ballance revisits an ocean acidification special feature called The Acid Test. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alison Ballance's foray into the vaults finds a feature on ocean acidification, The Acid Test and adds a 2021 update. Alison Ballance revisits a story about ocean acidification, which has been described as 'global warming's evil twin.' She also catches up with NIWA marine biogeochemist Cliff Law to discover what we've learned in the past decade about the growing impact of carbo...

2020 Prime Minister's Science Prize winners talk about their research and teaching. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There are some familiar names as well as some new faces among the winners of the 2020 Prime Minister's Science Prizes. There are some familiar faces as well as some new names among the Prime Minister's Science Prize winners this year. Two of the five prizes are awarded for efforts to better understand and communicate the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts,...

Alison Ballance digs into the Our Changing World archives for an Antarctic blast from the past with Voice of the Iceberg 2: Revelation. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alison Ballance digs into Our Changing World's Antarctic treasure chest and finds part 2 of Voice of the Iceberg. Alison Ballance made two trips to Antarctica during her 12 years as host of Our Changing World. She also visited 'virtually' with an award-winning podcast series that celebrated the sounds of icebergs. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, i...

Alsion Ballance revisits a story looking at the complexity of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. After more than 12 years as host of Our Changing World, Alison Ballance is diving into the archives in search of some golden oldies. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRADIO, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic or wherever you listen to your podcasts This week's the...

In this week's retrospective, Alison Ballance looks at the 'big ones': a big earthquake in Kaikōura in 2016 and a big science effort to understand it. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With more than a thousand conservation stories under her waterproof parka, science journalist Alison Ballance is retiring from RNZ's Our Changing World programme. Alison Ballance has dived with 17 different species of shark, she's drilled down into the ice of Antarctica to capture the symphony of Weddell seals, she's become the kakapo "aunty". But after telling more than 1,000...

Alison Ballance looks back at the 1,000+ stories she has made, and revisits stone-eating spotted shags and urban eagle rays As Alison Ballance prepares to stand down as host of Our Changing World, she looks back at the more than 1,000 stories she has made and revisits some favourites. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRADIO, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic...

Alison Ballance plays favourites from the archives - stone-eating spotted shags and urban eagle rays. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Seabird species are being reintroduced to Mana Island to help restore the ecology of the island. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The story of a seabird translocation to Mana Island, involving fluffy white-faced storm petrel chicks, artificial burrows and sardine smoothies. 'Bringing back the seabirds' is the rallying call for conservationists working to restore Wellington's Mana Island. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRADIO, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic or wherev...

Rare dolphins and whales were among the discoveries when the Far Out Ocean Research Collective surveyed the seas off Northland. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Far Out Ocean Research Collective has been surveying for whales and dolphins in the seas off Northland. The offshore ocean may seem a flat featureless expanse, but underneath the surface there are interesting features, currents and water masses that make ideal habitats for a range of marine creatures. Follow Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRADIO, Google...

Shaun Eaves talks about glaciers in the North Island and how evidence left behind by glaciers can help reconstruct past climates. Talk about glaciers in New Zealand and most of us think about the great glaciers of the South Island - Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the West Coast, and Tasman Glacier near Mount Cook. But glaciologist Shaun Eaves has been pondering the forgotten glaciers of the North...

Developing a new test for detecting IVF embryos carrying too many chromosomes, and what past and present glaciers can tell us about climate. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Fertility researchers are developing a new way of testing IVF embryos that have too many chromosomes. Researchers at Victoria University of Wellington are developing a new non-invasive test that they hope will help fertility clinics quickly determine if embryos are carrying too many chromosomes. Subscribe to Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRADIO, Google Podc...

University of Canterbury freshwater biologists are using a joint mātauranga Māori and western conservation science framework for their work translocating species. Freshwater researchers from the University of Canterbury say that conservation translocations should be a true collaboration between iwi and experts, that involves mātauranga Māori perspectives as well as western science. Subscribe to Ou...

Much of New Zealand's freshwater flows underground, and a team from GNS Science is in the process of mapping it. GNS Science researchers are mapping where water flows underground across New Zealand, which will help with better management of groundwater resources. Waikoropūpū Springs in Golden Bay are fed by groundwater springs. Subscribe to Our Changing World for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, S...