That's What I Call Science!

For Pint of Science 2021, Dr Niamh Chapman interviewed Dr Jordi Nelis about his innovative approach to food safety. Smartphone-based devices for allergen detection have the potential to empower people with food allergies to check if food is safe themselves. For technology like this, accuracy is so important particularly as sensing allergens can be extremely difficult in processed foods as the shap...

Niamh Chapman and Kate Johnson talk to award winning illustrator and author Coral Tulloch. We learn how creating a picture book is remarkably similar to working on a scientific project, involving observation, collaboration and extensive research. We hear about Coral’s experience of Antarctica and Macquarie Island, the subject of some of her books, along with her collaborations with both Australian...

From Antarctica to volcanoes, microbes are everywhere in our environment! Dr Shane Powell from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture studies how these microbes can benefit us - from cleaning up oil spills, to improving soil health on farms. Hosted by Dr Niamh Chapman and Kelsey Picard. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Kelsey Picard (@KelseyOnScience) Produc...

In this episode Sarah and Niamh interview expert guest Klaus Stroehl from Gandy and Roberts, and Dr Assaad Taoum from School of Engineering at UTAS, on Building Information Modelling (also known as Building Information Management).  See how this approach is transforming the construction industry and new technological developments including using Virtual and Augmented Reality in the construction in...

Tun-a in to hear Olly and Niamh chat with Craig Proctor about the bubbly underwater world of fisheries science!  Across multiple decades, Craig’s career has led him from learning Indonesian in the classroom, to working as an international fisheries scientist in Indonesia, to being back in the classroom inspiring future scientists while encouraging them to keep up their language skills. His pathway...

Join Niamh and Sarah in this episode to learn all about 5G with our expert guest PhD candidate Zac Harrold from the School of Engineering at the University of Tasmania.  We’ll discuss the differences between 3G, 4G and 5G, what we can expect with the introduction of 5G and the future of cellular communications. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Sarah Lyden Pr...

Ice shelves can be as large as a small country, so how can ocean waves and sea ice contribute to their catastrophic destruction? This week, Dr Niamh Chapman and Dr Sophie Calabretto speak to multi-award-winning applied mathematician Associate Professor Luke Bennetts about wave science, sea ice modelling, and their link to catastrophic destruction of ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula. Show the...

The Science and Engineering Challenge is an outreach program to change students' perceptions of science and engineering. The day involves fun and competitive hands-on activities. It lets students see that science and engineering are more than just equations and theory but requires creativity, innovation, problem solving and teamwork! We chat with students from Clarence High school, Montrose B...

 Plants are made up of 80-90% water, so it is no surprise that they are vulnerable to drought conditions. Dr Madeline Cairns-Murphy from the University of Tasmania researches how plants are affected by drought, to better inform farmers of when to grow their crops. Listen to our latest episode to hear about the challenges drought pose to Australian farmers in the face of a changing climate.  Show t...

This week Dr Niamh and Mibu had a deep yarn with Dr Emma Lee from Swinburne University. They touched on topics that related to the importance of cultural fisheries and for Traditional Knowledge to be accepted into western systems to create better futures for all Australians. They also touched on the systemic barriers as women in STEMM, but also as Aboriginal women in STEMM and how we can all chall...

It is no surprise that mental health disorders have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from Professor Susan Rossell from Swinburne University about tracking the mental health of Australian adults throughout the pandemic. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Hannah McCleary (@mccleary_hannah) Production: Meredith Castles (@meredithcastles) & Olly Do...

Tune in to hear Sarah and Niamh chat with Mathew Brooks about all things transportation engineering. Mathew Brooks is a Senior Associate Transport Engineer with Jacobs and was awarded Tasmanian Professional Engineer of the Year in 2019 and Young Engineer of the Year in 2016.  He has worked on many significant transport and civil infrastructure projects and shares his professional insights into all...

Tune in to hear Olly and Niamh chat with Dr Shane Richards about the most exciting crossover in history: mathematical biology!  Dr Shane Richards is a senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania and helps us explore how scientists can create statistical models of animal behaviour using data they are able to collect in order to predict patterns of the natural world around us. It’s impossible to k...

Tune in to hear Mibu and Niamh chat about the complexity of beauty products with Michelle Wong from Lab Muffin Beauty Science.  Michelle has a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry (medicinal chemistry), and uses her science know-how to interpret skincare and beauty ingredients in a simplistic way, so you can make informed choices as to what chemicals you are putting on your skin.   Show theme music:...

Join Niamh as she chats with our newest co-host (and applied mathematician) Dr Sophie Calabretto. Sophie is a fluid mechanist who uses maths to help us understand why fluids flow the way they do, knowledge that has the potential to impact fields like aerodynamics, climate science, health, and industry. Tune in to find out what pendulums have to do with predicting the weather, what it takes to be a...

Check out this Youth takeover with Hannah, Phoebe, Eli and Eleni from Mount Carmel College as they grill Dr Penny Jones on how climate change can affect our health and whether we’re doing enough to stop it! Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS),  Olivia Holloway (@LivHolloway_)  and Hannah, Phoebe, Eli and Eleni from Mount Carmel College Production: Meredith Castles (...

Assisted by regular co-host Meredith, this episode featured youth hosts Zoe, Darcy and Hwee-Lin from St. Michael’s Collegiate Middle School interviewing Astrophysicist Karlie Noon. The girls explore the science of space and Indigenous astronomy. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS), Meredith Castles (@MeredithCastles) and Zoe, Darcy and Hwee-Lin from St. Michael’s Co...

Assisted by regular co-host Hannah, featured youth hosts Isabella, Ruby and Allegra from St. Michael’s Collegiate Middle School interview Dr John Bowman. The girls explore how microbes differ from other organisms, characteristics of microbes, and where they can be found as well as food safety and its importance in a changing climate.  Host Niamh also talked to leader of digital content at St. Mich...

We ask behavioural ecologist David Hamilton how and why the Devil Facial Tumour Disease spreads through devil populations, as well as find out how the Tasmanian Devil got its name, and ask if we should ship our devils to the mainland and welcome koalas to our island. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Kate Johnson (@KatePlantPhys) Production: Meredith Castles...

Niamh interviewed Dr Emma Beckett from the University of Newcastle. Emma is a prominent scientist and famed for sharing her food facts themed with her clothes every day on Twitter (@synapse101). Niamh and Emma get into the nitty gritty of how researchers are trying to figure out if we really are what we eat.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS)  Production: Meredith...

Have you ever seen reflecting devices on power lines or birds perched above the lines?  These engineering solutions are part of a push towards sustainability in the power system to reduce the risk that threatened birds, like the Wedge-tailed Eagle, will be injured by the power lines.  Listen to this episode to learn more about the risk mitigation approaches and engineering practices which TasNetwo...

Mars, The Red Planet, the 4th Rock from The Sun…it has captured the imaginations of generations of humans and is now being explored by robots who are discovering amazing things about our closest planetary neighbour. Meredith and Niamh talk technology, Rovers and space exploration in this week’s episode with Griffith University’s Professor Paulo de Souza. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niam...

Australia is the world’s largest exporter of sheep meat products. Transporting the vacuum-packed meat over long journeys causes huge costs to the industry through spoilage. Hear how interest in research application led Laura Rood to a PhD project in prolonging the shelf life of meat products by investigating the microbial organisms that cause meat to go bad.  Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) &a...

Gangalu woman and award-winning systems engineer Taylah Griffin oozes inspiration and leadership. Niamh and Hannah talk to Taylah about how she came to pursue aerospace engineering and her passion for promoting greater uptake of STEM subjects in Indigenous communities.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Hannah McCleary (@mccleary_hannah) Production: Meredith...

In this episode we explore the world of lighting design in buildings approached from a human centric perspective.  Our guest Landon Bannister, who has over 20 years experience in lighting design, provides insights into how existing lighting standards don’t match our current environments and how lighting design can be approached in a way that considers the humans using the space.  This new field bu...