SCU Buzz | The Southern Cross University podcast

We're celebrating World Bee Day by chatting with our favourite bee doctor Dr Cooper Schouten. Cooper not only works as a beekeeper, he also manages diverse programs in the Indo-Pacific region, helping locals make an income from bees. He's also a lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and is just about to release a compendium with colleagues of bee research spanning back to 1962. This e...

A special school screening of the film 'Carbon: the unauthorised biography' at this year's ScreenWave International Film Festival (SWIFF) festival was followed by a panel of Southern Cross experts and a student who discuss the science behind carbon footprints and the work the University does in this critical field. The panel was hosted by Fiona Williams (SBS) and featured Southern Cross Associate...

It was a particularly sweet start to Term 2, 2022 for Lismore students as they return to campus for the first time since the devastating floods. Our roving reporters caught up with some students to capture their reactions.

Can a broccoli pill give you the same nutrients as actual broccoli? Why is there no one-size-fits-all diet? How much does what we eat influence chronic disease and mental health? Naturopath and academic Dr Liza Oates shares her insights on food as medicine, pesticides and organic food, the SLOW principle and the academic programs at the University's National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine.

Mununjali woman and Marine Science student Rhiannon Mitchell talks to us this week about her studies and working with young Indigenous girls in her mentoring business, Saltwater Sistas. Rhiannon chats about mentoring, studying and the power of the ocean to connect people as well as the little things that can make all the difference to young people going through tough times.

It's been a very challenging start to the year for many of our students affected by the floods. Our roving reporter Lauren Munro managed to catch up with students who are starting their studies on campus at the Gold Coast. They talk about what they have learned so far, and even have a few tips for newbies about getting the most out of your study experience.

This week our guest is 2021 Student of the Year Theresa Mitchell. Therese is studying psychology at Southern Cross and runs a not-for-profit organisation for the homeless called Agape Outreach inc. She talks about a holistic approach to homelessness, tiny housing, the challenges of food recovery during COVID and how her degree is shaping her practical skills.

Law student Joy Knight-Smith shares how her ‘just do it’ spirit helped her decide to run for council. Joy talks about the crossover between her law degree and politics, how a double degree helps avoid burnout, what you learn in Law, the love of Lismore and community connection, and the power of putting yourself out there.

This week Lauren talks to social anthropologist Dr Antonia Canosa about her research on the effects of tourism on Byron Bay's young people and a theatre performance that evolved from it, driven by the young people themselves. Antonia also talks about the Byron Way Pledge - a grassroots effort to improve tourism behaviour in the tourist town and raise awareness about what responsible tourism means.

This week on the SCU Buzz senior lecturer in social work Dr Kathomi Gatwiri talks about how to prevent burnout in social work (and life), mentally separating work from home, the rise of trauma awareness, the right way to teach children about racism, and exploring micro racial aggressions. She also talks about acknowledging race, the importance of feeling you're enough and how good relationships at...

This week Yasmin speaks to contemporary music students and alumni about their experiences of study and working in the music industry, whether it be playing with Amy Shark, teaching music in Nepal, getting airplay on triple J Unearthed, or even composing an entire film! Featuring Amy Roberts, Alisha Todd, Matt Gray (Mattymadeit) and Omar Hanlon – all thriving musicians who have made a name for them...

Being a new uni student can be exciting and nerve-wracking but having another student to talk to can make those first few months a lot easier. This week Suzie talks to Master of Information Technology student and Unimentor Belle Sypott about the Southern Cross program that connects new students with experienced student mentors. Belle also gives her top tips for success and essential first-time hac...

This week on the SCU Buzz, we talk to our resident pleasure expert and psychology lecturer Dr Desiree Kozlowski about her research into pleasure and gender harmony, why change scares people so much, mental health during COVID and the surprising outcomes of research into the psychology of swearing. A chat that will make you want to study psychology!

This week we chat to Dr Kate Neale, a researcher in therapeutic horticulture and keen-as-a-bean gardener who believes everyone needs a daily dose of green, whatever that might look like. Kate talks about her research in the expanding field of therapeutic horticulture, as well as her work with children and people with complex backgrounds, and the importance of their voices in her research.

After a singing and dancing career in the entertainment industry (including as a backup vocalist on X Factor!), Jaimi found a degree that combined science with her passion for all things vocal. In this episode of SCU Buzz, she chats to Lauren about the similarities between teaching singing and her new discipline of Speech Pathology, her first placement at a children's hospital and why being a mum...

This week's podcast is dedicated to Year 12 students who are approaching their final exams in the middle of a global pandemic. Southern Cross Deputy Vice Chancellor(Students) Professor Nan Bahr shares her thoughts about the best way to finish Year 12, all the different ways you can get into uni and the most important thing to do in your first few months at uni. She also talks about how COVID has s...

Law student Amy chats to Southern Cross lecturer and author of the Activists' Handbook Aidan Ricketts about what participatory democracy means in a State of Emergency and online, how to stage a successful protest and what role activism plays in changing and shaping the public conversation, from recent border closures and lockdown to climate change and Indigenous rights.

Do children consider themselves part of nature? From thinking about your body as a little universe to slow play and even death play, education student Gabriella chats to Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles about fascinating new research in the field of natureplay and what it can teach us about teaching STEM to young children. They also discuss how students can get involved in the research and p...

How can Sociology help us understand the human condition and the trauma of the refugee experience? Lauren chats to Dr Mandy Hughes, lecturer in Sociology at Southern Cross about her extensive work with refugee communities, the importance of food in making people feel at home and how a media background working with the ABC and SBS has informed her research and led to making a film as part of her Ph...

A Science Week special this week as Yasmin chats to our very own Professor Les Christidis, a leading expert on Australian birds and Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research)at Southern Cross University, about all things beaked and feathered. There's even a bonus quiz about birds!

Lauren chats to contemporary music lecturer Brad Hosking about his multifaceted career in music - winning an ARIA as Amy Shark's musical director, teaching music at Southern Cross University and his songs and videos that are helping children with learning difficulties learn to read.

This week SCU Buzz features a recording of the NAIDOC webinar held on 14 July 2021. It features prominent Elders and community leaders discussing the 2021 NAIDOC theme 'Heal Country'. Panellists include: Uncle Des Williams, Aunty Robyne Bancroft, Bruce Pascoe, Michael Jarrett and Leweena Williams. Facilitator of the webinar is Rod Williams, Lecturer with the University's Gnibi College of Indigenou...

This week Lauren chats to Nicholas Colbrelli-Adams, student ambassador, radio host and budding physics teacher. Nick has just completed his first placement and has some tips on how to survive your first experience as as student teacher, how radio and teaching intersect and what it's like working on the help desk in the student centre.

Our new host and digital media student Lauren chats to digital media student Lara about her debut as a documentary filmmaker with a 6-part series that follows a band on tour. They chat about their experiences of studying digital media at Southern Cross and how the degree has exposed them to many different aspects of media including graphic design and photography as well as screen skills.

Suzie chats to international student and PhD candidate Thilinika (Thili) Wijesinghe about conducting drama workshops on climate change with children in Australia and Sri Lanka during COVID. Children are filled with more hope than fear, says Thili, and the perspectives of school-aged children in the two countries is more similar than you'd think.