The Future Of

Mass shootings are rare, but these heineous crimes have become a magnet for global media attention. There are growing concerns the detailed coverage is leading to copycat and contagion killings. Recent research also shows a disturbing trend where shooters seek to publicise their beliefs and intentions through media platforms in an effort to gain notoriety and infamy. In this episode, David speaks...

Palaeontology is the study of the history of life on Earth through fossils, a fascinating branch of science that enhances our understanding of extinction, biodiversity, evolution and preservation, and how to respond to climate change. Professor Kate Trinajstic is a vertebrate palaeontologist and Curtin Research Fellow, who specialises in armoured prehistoric fish. Her work focuses on how early ver...

On the internet, anyone has the potential to become a celebrity. Some actively seek internet fame by carefully cultivating their online identity; while others may become unwitting internet celebrities when a stray, unflattering image of themselves is used as the subject of a meme. In this episode, David is joined by digital anthropologist Dr Crystal Abidin, to discuss the rise and fall of both ‘de...

Twenty-first century marketing is an increasingly exact science, with technology giving brands unprecedented insight into consumer behaviour. In this episode, David is joined by experts Dr Min Teah and Dr Luke Butcher from Curtin University’s School of Marketing, to discuss what goes on behind the brands . How technology can track a consumer’s emotional state (0.47) If consumers are becoming more...

Concrete is the most consumed resource on earth next to water. Curtin researchers are developing a self-healing and sustainable biocement using natural microbes that could be utilised in a range of building construction and restoration applications. In this episode, David is joined by civil engineer Professor Abhijit Mukherjee and construction biotechnologist Dr Navdeep Dhami to explain what bioce...

Innovative ideas require significant investment in order to move beyond the ideas phase and become financially viable products that can change lives. For investors, there’s money to be made. For the broader community, there’s the potential for a product that could be a game changer. Think medical advances, renewable energy and blockchain technology. For university research departments, the researc...

Thanks to technology, we can now access many kinds of music at any time, and carefully curate not just our playlist but our very identities. How is this instant availability changing the way we consume music, and how is music technology shaping our lives? Dr Adrian North heads the School of Psychology at Curtin University and researches the social and applied psychology of music. His research conc...

From high-tech washing machines, to digital voice assistants, robots have become integral parts of many of our daily lives. But while these technologies have proven useful, their increasing intelligence has led to concerns of robots taking our jobs and even robot uprisings. In this episode, David is joined by human-robot communication expert Dr Eleanor Sandry, to discuss whether this fiction has a...

How do you want your work-life balance to look like in the future? Professor Julia Richardson explains the importance of work-life balance, how it can impact your productivity, career development and wellbeing, and the strategies you can explore to achieve this sometime elusive concept. Whether work-life balance is only a dream or could be a reality (3.17) What hard questions you need to ask yours...

Ninety-seven per cent of pregnant Australian women give birth in a hospital environment. It is considered the safest option for both mother and child, with medical staff and equipment on hand to promptly manage any complications. However, studies have shown that stark, clinical hospital surroundings can hinder the natural birthing process, and have a detrimental effect on psychological, social and...

New research suggests that to meet the needs of Indigenous youth, Australia’s health and education systems must adopt practices that provide cultural safety and positive meanings about Aboriginality. In this episode, David is joined by Professor Rhonda Oliver, Head of Curtin’s School of Education, and Dr Michael Wright, a mental health researcher and Yuat Nyungar man, to discuss what needs to be d...

In the past few years, there has been a steady decrease in the percentage of Australians owning their home and an increase in the percentage of those renting. These numbers, coupled with fluctuating property prices, have left the future of home ownership in uncertainty. In this episode, David is joined by Associate Professor Steven Rowley, the Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research...

From design to merchandising, the fashion industry is undergoing rapid change in response to market demand for sustainability, wearable technology and digital design. Dr Anne Farren has been engaged in the craft of making since she was eleven, in both ceramics and textiles. For the past thirty years she has been involved in the curation of textile and fashion exhibitions presented in Japan, Thaila...

Chronic liver disease is one of the most rapidly growing causes of death worldwide. Current treatments for liver cancer are limited and only prolong life by only months. In this episode, Associate Professor Nina Tirnitz-Parker from Curtin University’s Liver Disease and Regeneration Group and Professor John Olynyk, Director of Research Development at Fiona Stanley Hospital, explain what liver disea...

Coral reefs protect our coasts from storms, provide habitats for diverse marine species and generate billions of dollars for the fishing and tourism industries. Unfortunately, recent mass coral bleaching events have put these spectacular ecosystems at risk. In this episode, coral taxonomist Dr Zoe Richards discusses the state of coral reefs and how we can best protect them in the future. Dr Richar...

2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. A few years ago, the United Nations reported that of the six-and-a-half-thousand languages spoken around the world, about 40 per cent are in danger of dying out. Professor Alan Dench is Professor of Linguistics at Curtin University, and author of several books on the topic of Aboriginal languages. What does it mean to ‘preserve’ a language? 0...

Plant pathogens are just as much of a risk to crop production as the effects of drought or climate change. In this episode, Professor Mark Gibberd , from the Centre for Crop and Disease Management, explains how scientists are combatting these pathogens to ensure food security now and into the future. What’s being done to combat plant pathogens? (02:35) What role do fungicides play? (06:57) How doe...

Many of us are fearful of being judged by others. But, for those with social anxiety disorder, the associated negative thoughts and physical sensations – a racing heartbeat, irregular breathing and tense muscles – can be crippling. In this episode, clinical psychologist Professor Peter McEvoy discusses what's being done to help sufferers address their social anxiety now and in the future. What’s t...

The Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the global temperature rise to 2oC above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, came into force three years ago. Since then, there have been some doubts as to whether this target can be achieved and, in response, a global youth movement has emerged to demand more action. In this episode, Professor Greg Morrison, from the Curtin University Sustaina...

Digital disruption, AI, automation and changing views about work-life balance are going to transform our workplaces. A Deloitte Access Economics report forecasts that four out of five jobs created between now and 2030 will be for ‘knowledge workers’. In this episode, Jess and David are joined by Professor Mark Griffin, Director of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University, to discuss how o...

Many of us are shunning tourism hotspots and instead preferring to undertake immersive experiences that make us feel like a local. Dr Michael Volgger, Co-Director of Curtin University’s Tourism Research Cluster, explains the Airbnb phenomenon, and also delves into the topic of ‘robots in tourism’. Why has Airbnb had such a profound impact on travel? (0.34) How does the impact of home-sharing platf...

Organisations are beginning to recognise the benefits of employing people with autism and other examples of neurodiversity. In this episode, Jess and David are joined by Professor Sonya Girdler, from the Curtin Autism Research Group, to discuss how workplaces can best support people with autism and which industries will see the biggest rise in the number of employees with autism. Will we see parit...

Maintaining social media profiles of dead people and creating social media profiles of human fetuses raises many ethical questions. In this episode, Jess and David are joined by Associate Professor Tama Leaver, from Curtin University’s media school, to discuss the practices and viewpoints regarding social media pre-birth and post-death. Should we be more mindful that our posts can exist long after...

Refugee policies are a wedge issue in Australia – which is the only country with a policy of mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without a visa. In this episode, David explores the future of seeking asylum in Australia. He is joined by Associate Professor Caroline Fleay, from the Centre for Human Rights Education at Curtin University. Does locking up asylum see...

Despite the first cases of dementia being documented more than 100 years ago, we’ve yet to determine how to prevent it. In this episode, Jess and David are joined by bioscientist Professor John Mamo, who explains what we know about dementia and what inroads researchers are hoping to make in the future. Will we ever discover a cure for dementia? (00:44) Professor Mamo previously discovered that sat...