That's What I Call Science!

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...

What is the link between maths, first life on earth and creativity? Listen to find out how maths is all around us. Niamh Chapman and first time co-host but previous guest on the show, Mibu Fisher interview Dr Rowena Ball about her passion for and lifelong dedication to maths. Tune in to hear maths like you've never heard it before. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapm...

Music and science meet in the life of Emily Sheppard, a classical musician and environmental scientist who composes music about nature and plays in caves, fields and forests. Emily, Kate and Niamh talk about the nexus of science and art and how emotion can be used for powerful communication. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Kate Johnson (@KatePlantPhys) Pro...

Hear Dr. Carly Tozer from the CSIRO explain how models are used to predict the future of Australia’s climate to inform the nation's farmers and industries to better deal with climate variability and climate extremes. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) & Kelsey Picard (@KelseyOnScience) Production: Meredith Castles (@meredithcastles) & Olly Dove (@littl...

In this episode we interview Phoebe Nash a chemical engineer who works in the water and wastewater engineering field.  With Phoebe we explore how water is treated before it reaches our taps, what happens when water enters the sewers and measures towards increasing sustainability in the industry. Phoebe Nash received the 2019 Engineers Australia Tasmania Young Professional Engineer of the Year Awar...

Niamh interviews Associate Professor Seana Gall about her $5 million grant to prevent stroke and save lives. Seana is using a collaborative approach working with researchers and healthcare workers across Australia and New Zealand to address the causes of stroke and improve surveillance.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Niamh Chapman (@nchapmanTAS) Production: Meredith Castles (@meredithcast...

Olly talks with expert guest Claire Butler on what transitioning from research to working in the marine industry is like, as part of a collaboration between That’s What I Call Science! and The Royal Society of Tasmania for National Science Week 2020.  This series was produced for National Science Week with thanks to the Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia program.  Show theme music: Kevin...

Today, Olly talks with marine ecologist Associate Professor Mary-Anne Lea about her incredible career in marine science. Mary-Anne talks us through life out on remote islands with seals and seabirds, as well as how a support network can make all the difference in the sciences. This series was produced for National Science Week with thanks to the Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia program....

Kate interviews Megan Hartog, Marine scientist working at the CSIRO Marine National Facility as a Voyage Operations Manager. Megan tells us what it’s like organising different voyages and arranging research out at sea.   This series was produced for National Science Week with thanks to the Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia program.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Hosts: Kate Johnson (@K...

Hannah talks with Mibu Fischer, Quandamooka woman and CSIRO scientist. Mibu’s specific interests are around utilising Traditional Knowledges and management practices are considered within modern day fisheries, coastal and conservation management. Her goal is to bridge a gap that draws attention to the indigenous communities facing the frontline of impacts and changes to coastlines, ecosystems and...

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...