That's What I Call Science!

For week two of our four-part Eureka Prizes mini-series, we’ve got a million things to talk about. More specifically, we’ve got 1 Million Turtles to talk about! Joined by three team members from the 1 Million Turtles project (James Van Dyke, Deborah Bower, and Ricky Spencer), we hear all about freshwater turtles in Australia, and how we can help them survive and thrive. We also hear what winning a...

For week two of our four-part Eureka Prizes mini-series, we’ve got a million things to talk about. More specifically, we’ve got 1 Million Turtles to talk about! Joined by three team members from the 1 Million Turtles project (James Van Dyke, Deborah Bower, and Ricky Spencer), we hear all about freshwater turtles in Australia, and how we can help them survive and thrive. We also hear what winning a...

Robyn Williams is a legend in science journalism. For over 50 years he has brought science stories to the airways through ABC National’s Science Show.  As the founder of Australia Museum’s Eureka Prize, he joins Anna and Olly for part one of four episodes in the Eureka Prizes mini-series. They discuss the history of STEMM communication, cultural changes, and what’s kept Robyn passionate across his...

Welcome to our final episode of the Conservation of Tasmanian Plants mini-series. Today, our botany hosts Kate and Katya have the incredible privilege of chatting with Professor Greg Jordan, a paleobotanist and plant science lecturer at the University of Tasmania. Greg shares some of his career highlights and his love for Tasmanian native flora, and shows us why Tassie is such a unique place to st...

It's week two of the Conservation of Tasmanian Plants mini-series, and this week Katya and Olly are chatting to Dr. Laura Williams from the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. In this episode, Laura talks us through the unique plant collections found at the gardens and the many conservation initiatives she is involved in. We also hear a little bit about her previous work monitoring plants on M...

Kicking off our three part mini-series on the Conservation of Tasmanian Plants, today we are talking to Dr. Miguel de Salas from the Tasmanian Herbarium, a branch of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Join us as we chat about botany curation, plant taxonomy, dinoflagellates, and how you can get involved with plant conservation using the iNaturalist app.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod H...

Australia’s national research vessel, the RV Investigator, recently celebrated a special milestone; it set sail on its 100th voyage! Hannah and Olly sit down with Dr Ben Arthur from CSIRO’s Marine National Facility to celebrate, hear about the various voyages which have taken place over the last nine years, and ask how you might be able to join a voyage on the Investigator! Show theme music: Kevin...

In September 2023, twelve early career researchers from across Australia were brought together in Perth to battle it out for the FameLab Australia National Finals 2023.  While a winner did emerge from the competition, the real winners were the friends we made along the way. Join Olly as she hears from the finalists about their wholesome experiences in FameLab and their passions for science communi...

Recently, Hannah and Olly from the TWICS team attended the Centre for Marine Socioecology (CMS) Showcase Day. CMS (www.marinesocioecology.org) is a multi- and transdisciplinary research collaboration based in lutruwita/Tasmania, made up of individuals from various backgrounds and experience, from undergraduate students to experienced researchers.  The focus of CMS’s Showcase Day was all about look...

Fossils, plants and big data are three things Dr Matilda Brown loves and brings together in their position in the Conservation Assessment and Analysis team at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London. Join Dr Kate Johnson to hear about Matilda’s work in a wonderland of palm-houses and rooms full of pressed plants where she seeks not only to improve the inclusion of plants in world-wide data-sets bu...

In this episode, we embark on an icy adventure with Meg Harlan, a dual-degree PhD candidate exploring the secrets locked within polar ice cores. Join us as we decode Earth's ancient climate history, from the hidden chemistry of ice cores to their role as climate proxies. Meg takes us on a journey to coastal East Antarctica, where she investigates volcanic eruptions' impact on iron fertil...

Join Bianca on a journey through Tadmania’s wilderness as she shares her passion for plant chemistry and more. From using coffee machines to uncover ancient plant secrets you’ll get an insight into the world of botanical science.  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Olly Dove (@olly_dove) Co-Host: Emma Hamasaki  Production: Ryan Smith Media & Promotion: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki)

Evolutionary trees hold a dual meaning in the life of mathematician, Dr Julia Shore. During her PhD journey in phylogenetics, she used mathematical techniques to model intricate processes found in nature. But here's the twist - she did all of this while raising three children! In this episode, we explore the field of phylogenetics, where maths meets evolution. We explore Julia’s work and  hea...

Dr Meredith Castles takes an unorthodox approach to communicating science, she livestreams a ‘conversational science’ show to anyone who wants to learn. Essentially, she crowdsources science information from around the world by discussing what people find interesting using Twitch, an online gaming entertainment platform. In this episode we delve into the world of online communities and how to crea...

Sylvie King is a master's student at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science (IMAS), in affiliation with the Australian Antarctic Partnership Program (AAPP) and the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). In this episode we dive deep into her world researching and modelling zooplankton in the southern ocean.  What are zooplankton and why should we be continuously monitoring them? Wha...

Join Dr Ann Thresher, a Philosopher, as she dives into the heart of science's workings and scientists' ethical responsibilities in technology. Explore telescope placements, altering species for climate, gene drive risks, and our duties toward invasive species. Delve into climate change's bounds with geo-engineering and terraforming, and the risks we dare to rescue our world. Uncover...

Zoe Kean loves science so much, she jumped into a profession where she can learn about all of it! As an award-winning journalist and science communicator, her work spans radio, science writing, content creation, and more. Plus, she’s a soon-to-be-published author!  In this episode, we dip our toes into the expansive world of Sci-Comm. We get insight into how to begin a career in the profession - a...

In July 2023, hundreds of ecologists from across Australia flocked to Darwin. It wasn’t just by coincidence, but for the Ecological Society of Australia’s annual conference. TWICS’ Olly was one of those ecologists, and she took the microphone with her to capture the exciting ecological work happening across Australia.  In part 2 of this double bill, you’ll hear from Challis Pulotu from the School...

In July 2023, hundreds of ecologists from across Australia flocked to Darwin. It wasn’t just by coincidence, but for the Ecological Society of Australia’s annual conference. TWICS’ Olly was one of those ecologists, and she took the microphone with her to capture the exciting ecological work happening across Australia.  In part 1 of this double bill, you’ll hear from Professor Euan Ritchie from Dea...

How do we understand how stressed a plant is, or decide when it needs water? First, we need to ask, then we need to translate. Originally from Morocco, having studied in France and now in Tasmania, Dr Ibrahim Bourbia speaks many languages of plants and people and shares his journey to plant science + experience and advice for moving countries for research. Join Dr Kate Johnson to hear how Ibrahim...

Did you know that a whisker can reveal what takeaway you ate last? That is, if you had whiskers!  Antarctic fur seals do indeed have whiskers and PhD candidate Noémie Friscourt sat down with Olly this week to tell us how she’s using them to understand their diet and foraging behaviour. Make sure you tune in for this seal-ly great episode!  Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Olly Dove (@littledo...

Get ready to take off into the world of remote sensing as we’re joined by Emiliano Cimoli, a researcher at the Australian Centre of Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS). Emiliano tells us about his work employing cutting-edge remote sensing techniques with unmanned aerial vehicles (drones!) to unlock the secrets of our planet's marine and terrestrial landscapes.  Show theme music: Kevin Ma...

That’s right, listeners, the episode title hasn’t lied to you. That’s What I Call Science has officially hit 200 episodes!  It’s a huge milestone for a podcast, so the TWICS team got together this week to talk about the joy that the past 199 episodes have brought to us. We wouldn’t be here without our listeners tuning in each week, so a huge thank you to each and every one of you for your ongoing...

After two weeks of episodes at the Grote Reber Museum, we’re headed next door to the Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory for our final episode in the space mini-series!  Brett Reid, manager of the University of Tasmania's radio telescopes, and Dr Patrick Yates-Jones, research associate at the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Tasmania, tell us all about their work at the Observator...

It’s week two in outer space for the TWICS team as Olly and Simin sit down with museum manager Karen Bradford inside the Grote Reber Museum in Cambridge, Tasmania. Surrounded by fascinating memorabilia from the past, Karen tells the hosting duo about her work at the museum, and even gives the pair a recorded tour! Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Host: Olly Dove (@littledove440) and Simin Salarpour...