Tag: agriculture

Podcast

Ep 85. Theory vs reality, and dancing in the middle with Alva Curtsdotter

Some scientists go out in to the field, collect data and conduct experiments to test their hypotheses. Other scientists conduct their experiments inside a computer. Alva Curtsdotter is a theoretical ecologist at the University of New England that studies the behaviour of animal populations across natural landscapes,  but instead of spending her time surveying and measuring real world populations she runs computer simulations to see … Continue reading Ep 85. Theory vs reality, and dancing in the middle with Alva Curtsdotter

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Podcast

Ep 84. Barns, broilers and big things with Natalie Morgan

Chicken is big business and the science behind poultry nutrition is an incredibly precise mix of chemistry and biology. As the market for poultry continues to increase worldwide there is ongoing need to industry to improve the efficiency and sustainability of chicken feed. Natalie Morgan is a poultry nutrition expert who works to understand how the diets fed to livestock can be modified to improve … Continue reading Ep 84. Barns, broilers and big things with Natalie Morgan

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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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Videos

The Science Behind Poultry Farming

The global demand for poultry continues to rise but the resources we have to produce them don’t, so how can we continue to farm poultry sustainably, ethically and responsibly? A large proportion (20%) of dietary protein fed to broiler chickens is undigestible. These represent a significant proportion of diet cost and may have negative effects on broiler gastrointestinal health and performance. Moreover, decreasing protein excretion … Continue reading The Science Behind Poultry Farming

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Podcast

Ep 65. Livestock, genetics and science ninjas with Sonja Dominik

In this special Christmas episode of In Situ Science we chat to Sonja Dominik from the CSIRO who has just been named one of Australia’s ‘Superstars of STEM’, a nationwide initiative focussed on increasing the visibility of women in STEM and addressing the gender gap in scientific careers. Her research focuses on using genetic technologies to improve the health and productivity of livestock animals such … Continue reading Ep 65. Livestock, genetics and science ninjas with Sonja Dominik

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Podcast

Ep 58. Droughts, drones and data with David Lamb

Living and working in a regional town is having your cake and eating it too! David Lamb is a distinguished professor at the University of New England and Chief Scientist of the Food Agility CRC. He has spent his professional career at regional universities throughout Australia and wouldn’t have it any other way. The research he does on food production in agriculture can contribute straight … Continue reading Ep 58. Droughts, drones and data with David Lamb

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Podcast

Ep 48. Soil microbes and healthy farming with Maarten Stapper

How do you know if you have healthy soil? Look for worms! Dr Maarten Stapper joins us on In Situ Science to chat about how caring for soils and healthy ecosystems can improve our farming practices. Unfortunately modern farming practices, including livestock grazing, pesticide use and synthetic fertilizer use, can actually harm our crops more than they help them. Dr Maarten Stapper now runs his … Continue reading Ep 48. Soil microbes and healthy farming with Maarten Stapper

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Podcast

Ep 43. Microbial Game of Thrones with Gal Winter

How is your gut health affecting your brain? Recent research suggests that conditions like depression can actually be linked to the microbiology of your gut. Dr Gal Winter from the University of New England is a microbiologist that studies the microbial communities involved in food digestion and how it can affect your health. In an interview with In Situ Science Gal explains how your gut … Continue reading Ep 43. Microbial Game of Thrones with Gal Winter

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