Category: Podcast

Events, Podcast

Ep 83. Life Vs Science 2019

In Situ Science returned to the Django Bar to celebrate National Science Week and the Sydney Science Festival. This year we we’re joined by Cameron Webb (USyd and NSW Health), Katherina Petrou (UTS), Fonti Kar (UNSW) and Samuel Bannister (USyd) who shared stories about everything from studying marine algae in Antarctic sea ice to fishing for komodo dragons with giant genetically engineered mosquitos. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/r4vy6z/Life_Vs_Science_2019.mp3 We … Continue reading Ep 83. Life Vs Science 2019

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Podcast

Ep 82. Emu farming, pregnancy tips and Bill Nye the Science Guy with Andrew Katsis

A single tweet can make all the difference, or at least it did for Andrew Katsis, who decided to get involved in the #billmeetsciencetwitter trend. Little did he know that his tweet would be seen by American television producers, who decided to fly Andrew over to LA to talk about this research on the Netflix show ‘Bill Nye Saves the World’. Andrew’s research looks at … Continue reading Ep 82. Emu farming, pregnancy tips and Bill Nye the Science Guy with Andrew Katsis

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Podcast

Ep 81. Harry potter, taxonomy and academic publishing with Tom Saunders

Tom Saunders experienced a burst of scientific fame after naming a newfound species of wasp Lusius malfoyi, after the beloved and maligned Harry Potter character Lucius Malfoy. Naming new species after pop culture figures has become a useful tool for enhancing public awareness taxonomy and biodiversity research. Taking this strategy though has to be handled delicately as paying homage to beloved fictional characters can upset … Continue reading Ep 81. Harry potter, taxonomy and academic publishing with Tom Saunders

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Podcast

Ep 80. Deception, maths and parental expectations with Amy Martin

Amy Martin is a researcher at the University of Auckland that studies the incredible private lives of orchids that trick male wasps into mating with them. By depriving these wasp populations of male sperm they can actually have long term effects on the wasp populations. Amy says that this is why deceptive orchids the world over tend to use haplodiploid insects as their pollinators as … Continue reading Ep 80. Deception, maths and parental expectations with Amy Martin

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Podcast

Ep 79. Meteorites, volcanoes and Armageddon with Tim Chapman

This episode sees our first ever geologist on the podcast. Tim Chapman is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of New England. He studies the high energy geological reactions, such as the formation of volcanoes and meteorite impacts, and what influence these have had on our landscape. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/tudehb/TimChapman.mp3 As we discuss the cutting edge of geological science, Tim answers such pressing questions as ‘what … Continue reading Ep 79. Meteorites, volcanoes and Armageddon with Tim Chapman

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Podcast

Ep 78. Lizard fights and crafternoons with Fonti Kar

Fonti Kar is a behavioural ecologist from the University of New South Wales. She studies the life history of skinks and how the conditions they are born in can affect their behaviour and development later on in life. In this interview Fonti we dive deep into what it takes to be a productive scientist and the pros and cons of forging out a career in … Continue reading Ep 78. Lizard fights and crafternoons with Fonti Kar

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Podcast

Ep 77. Craft beers, trilobites and Lagerstätten with John Paterson

John Paterson is a professor of paleontology and earth sciences at the University of New England. He studies the evolution of life during the Cambrian explosion. Some of his recent research has shown that during this time some of the largest predators around, Anomalocaris, had wonderfully complex eyes and they were likely to be incredible visual predators of their time. In this interview we also … Continue reading Ep 77. Craft beers, trilobites and Lagerstätten with John Paterson

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Podcast

Ep 76. Spinifex, fires and Aboriginal languages with Boyd Wright

Boyd Wright is an arid zone ecologist from the University of New England that studies the life history of the sturdy plants that make their homes in Australia’s dry deserts. Boyd has spent many years working with Indigenous communities in these areas and has made it his mission to find as many opportunities as he can to work in his true desert home. This includes … Continue reading Ep 76. Spinifex, fires and Aboriginal languages with Boyd Wright

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Ep 75. Small shelly fossils and paleo tattoos with Marissa Betts

Palaeontology isn’t just about Dinosaurs! Marissa Betts is a researcher at the University of New England that studies the evolution of miniscule animals that existed during the Cambrian explosion. During this era animals evolved hard shelled bodies that made them much more likely to fossilise. By looking at these tiny fossils Marissa can investigate how lifeforms on earth have changed over millions of years and … Continue reading Ep 75. Small shelly fossils and paleo tattoos with Marissa Betts

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Podcast

Ep 74. Cotton, moths, and kleptoparasites with Mary Whitehouse

Farmers have learned that the widespread use of pesticides is a dangerous strategy as it can lead to the evolution of highly pesticide resistant crop pests. Land managers are moving towards ‘Integrated Pest Management’ techniques that use a multitude of strategies to more responsibly control pests, including fostering populations of natural pest predators.  https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nzfrzc/Mary_Whitehouse.mp3 Mary Whitehouse has (in her own words) been masquerading as an … Continue reading Ep 74. Cotton, moths, and kleptoparasites with Mary Whitehouse

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