The Future Of

It’s not uncommon for women to post carefully crafted exercise photos on social media to foster a culture of empowerment. But could this be causing more harm than good? In this episode, Amelia is joined by Dr Madison Magladry and Professor Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani to discuss how we can build a more positive fitness culture that better supports women’s physical and mental health. Women’s fitness...

In 2009, the world’s first online cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was launched using blockchain technologies. Now, thousands of cryptocurrencies are in circulation, including some backed by the Dubai and Chinese governments.  In this episode, our new host Amelia is joined by Associate Professor Vidy Potdar and Professor Saurav Dutta, to discuss how widespread cryptocurrencies will be in the future. Relat...

Sharks have earned a reputation in popular culture for being ‘blood thirsty people eaters’ but research and statistics show that this label is grossly misleading. In fact, up to 31 per cent of sharks face extinction, despite the important role they play in our ecosystems.  Tom and our new host, Amelia Searson, are joined by Melissa Cristina Márquez, a Latina marine biologist and conservationist. M...

Universities have evolved significantly over the centuries, and in the 21st century,they continue to evolve. The trend towards online study, which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, raises the question of whether universities will always have physical campuses. And in Australia, the government is steering students towards STEM careers and away from the humanities. In this episode, Tom...

Our environment is a fascinating web of ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between the environment’s plants, animals, rocks, soils, minerals, waters and us, will enable us to better conserve important ecosystems and ensure an inhabitable Earth for future generations. In this episode, Tom is joined by Dr Stephen van Leeuwen, Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity and Environmental Science at Curt...

In the last 60 years, humankind has made great strides in our search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). But will we ever be successful?  In this episode, Tom is joined by Professor Steven Tingay and Dr Chenoa Tremblay – who recently scanned 10.35 million known stars in the deepest and broadest search ever for extraterrestrial technologies – to discuss what progress has been made. Recent SET...

To prevent extreme weather events like the bushfires we’ve seen in Australia and now California, as well as rising sea levels, warmer temperatures and the depletion of food and water, we must rethink how we use our natural resources. Sustainable engineering is a field dedicated to delivering low-energy design projects in the built environment. It focuses on finding ways that promote sustainable mo...

According to the World Health Organization, the population aged 65 and over is growing faster than all other age groups. It’s therefore important to make sure this cohort has the means to be socially, politically and economically engaged in communities. Tom Robinson is joined by professors Anne-Marie Hill and Siobhan Austen to discuss how advances in technology are helping us to live better for lo...

It’s been one year since we first launched The Future Of podcast at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. We’re so thrilled to be able to journey into the future with you and explore how research is helping to change the world. This podcast is only possible through the efforts of the Curtin community, so we’d like to give a special thanks to our hosts, creative and marketing teams, produc...

Killer whales are at once both fascinating and fearsome, and Dr Wellard has dedicated the past 10 years of her research career to learning more about these mammals. In this episode, Dr Wellard reveals some of key characteristics and behaviours of orcas, such as their ability to take on sharks and whether they really connect with humans. She explains how killer whales use bioacoustics, including ec...

China’s economic and military rise are well documented, but their ‘soft power’ strategy, which involves boosting their image as one of the good guys in the global mind, is more complicated. As China emerges from the pandemic relatively well, can they maintain their ‘peaceful rise’ narrative, particularly while the western world, including Australia, casts a skeptical eye on Chinese platforms such...

Recent protests have shone a light onto the racism and discrimination that still exists all over the world in 2020. This has led Australians to reflect on discrimination close to home against indigenous peoples and contemplate how we can do better and become more inclusive as a nation.  In this episode, Tom is joined by Curtin Nyungar cultural advisor Mrs Ingrid Cumming and Curtin research Fellow...

COVID-19 has delivered a crushing blow to the tourism and travel sector, but some countries are successfully managing the virus, and are considering opening up their borders to neighbouring nations. These ‘travel bubbles’ have been pitted to bolster the global economy and enable us to travel safely and with more freedom.  In this episode, David is joined by new podcast host Tom Robinson, and Curti...

We live in a world defined by constant change. To keep up, leaders at all levels should be highly adaptable and collaborative, however it’s debatable whether all our world leaders possess those qualities.  On the international stage, we see wildly different personalities and leadership styles, from the brashness of Trump to the brutality of Duterte, to the poise of Ardern.   We’re yet to reach acc...

For decades, the world has been on a trajectory of rising globalisation with cross-border flows of trade, investment, data, ideas, technology and people.  But recent global events point to a trend that’s at odds with that narrative. The election of nationalist leaders in many powerful countries; Brexit and the subsequent weakening of the EU; and COVID-induced territorialism have all contributed to...

Prior to COVID-19, you might not have anticipated that a virus could have such a profound global impact in the 21st century. To discuss the impact of COVID-19, what researchers can learn from it, and what the future might hold, David talks to Professors Archie Clements and Christopher Reid, both from Curtin’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Why has it taken so long for a virus to impact the world like...

Automation and AI were tipped to revolutionise the workplace, but it’s been a virus that’s brought real change. COVID-19 has stalled the global economy, with the UN predicting cutbacks equivalent to nearly 200 million full-time workers by July.    In The Future Of Work, Associate Professor Rebecca Cassells from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, outlines the impact of the pandemic on Australian...

For decades, inefficient batteries prevented a large-scale shift to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, because they couldn’t store enough energy to tide us over when the sun wasn’t shining or the wind wasn’t blowing. But that’s all changed. Lithium battery technology has evolved to the point where we could feasibly – with progressive leadership – abandon fossil fuels within the next few...

Space exploration has led to greater understanding of the planet Earth, our Solar System and our place in the universe, but there’s still much to be discovered. To help uncover some of the greatest cosmic mysteries, space agencies around the world are planning missions to explore neighbouring planets to map their history and search for possible signs of past extraterrestrial life.  In this episode...

The allocation of public health services is no guessing game. The government relies on vast datasets – and the analysts who can identify patterns within them – to understand the health of our population and where services are most needed.   In this episode, David is joined by Professor Suzanne Robinson, from Curtin University’s School of Public Health, and Professor Andrew Rohl, from the Curtin In...

When it comes to winning gold medals, we know the mental game is as important as the physical. Many research hours have been poured into understanding the psychology behind athletic performance, but the research findings may reach further than elite sport. In this episode, David and Associate Professor Gucciardi discuss the concepts of mental toughness and resilience, and how they may apply not on...

Universities across the country are adopting high-tech simulations to teach the next generation of healthcare professionals. Faithfully recreated hospital wards, complete with virtual patients that can talk, breathe and even vomit, have become the norm, and it’s no gimmick – research is showing that it can be extremely valuable. David is joined by Associate Professor Michelle Kelly and Dr Zoe Brad...

With the catastrophic summer bushfires in Australia’ eastern states still front of mind,prescribed burning has become a contentious topic – some scientists argue for an increase in the regime, while others are concerned about the impact on the bush ecosystem.   In The Future Of Bushfires, we hear the opinions of Dr Phillp Zylstra, an adjunct associate professor at Curtin University, whose research...

In 2016, the Australian Government joined a global movement by approving the use of medicinal cannabis. Now in 2020, cannabis prescriptions are rising, but many patients are still turning to the unregulated and therefore unreliable black market. In this episode, David speaks with chemical engineer and Curtin University academic, Professor Neil Foster, and Little Green Pharma Chief Operating Office...

Australians love their meat, consuming 110kg per capita every year. But that love comes at a cost. Meat has been linked to cancers, chronic diseases and antibiotic resistance, as well as biodiversity loss, carbon emissions and water and land degradation. In this episode, David is joined by Professor Dora Marinova and Talia Raphaely from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, to dis...