In Situ Science: Recent Episodes
In Situ Science
Sharing the stories behind scientific discovery. Each episode James O'Hanlon meets a different scientist and hears their 'behind the scenes' stories.
SPECIAL GUEST: Darryl Jones (Griffith)
Don't feed the birds! Well.. OK, if you must make sure you do it properly.
Dr Darryl Jones is an urban ecologist who has spent years studying the interactions between humans and animals in towns and cities. One of the most common and widespread interactions between animals and humans is bird feeding. Despite how common it is, there has been very little research into the impacts of this interaction on birds' behaviour and ecology. Darryl has turned his focus towards understanding what food we are giving birds and why we feel so compelled to do this.
In this episode of In Situ Science we talk about Australia's bird life and how adopting bird feeding strategies developed in other parts of the world is inappropriate for our unique birds. We talk about what impacts our bird feeding behaviours can have on birds, and, if you do feel compelled to feed birds, how you can do it responsibly. If you do want to know more about how to feed the birds in your garden make sure to grab a copy of Darryl's two books "The Birds at My Table: Why We Feed Wild Birds and Why it Matters" and "Feeding the Birds at Your Table: A Guide for Australia".
Follow Darryl on Twitter @MagpieJonesD
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Cameron Webb, to put it simply, is the mozzie guy. He has built his career studying the diversity and ecology of mosquitoes and also their interactions with humans and how they can be vectors of significant human diseases. His expertise in mosquitoes requires him to be in one moment a champion for mosquito appreciation and understanding, whilst simultaneously understanding the need to control their populations and their impact on people.
When he’s not out in swamps surveying mosquito populations, you can find him in the lab, or in front of a microphone advocating for responsible urban development and integrated pest management. As cities grow and become greener, we are also faced with the inevitable interactions with wildlife that can occur including our complex relationship with mosquitoes. In this interview we advocate for a new breed of mosquito appreciators, AKA “itchers”, and a balanced appreciation of what ‘living close to nature’ really means.
You can find out more at Cameron’s website here.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Sami Bayly (Author and Illustrator)
Sami Bayly is the author and illustrator of the award winning children’s’ book ‘The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals”, published by Hachette Australia. This book features full page illustrations and fun facts about some of the world’s strangest animals, who are all beautiful in their own very special way. Sami studied natural history illustration at university and is now forging a career publishing books that highlight weird and wonderful creatures that you may have never heard of.
In this interview with In Situ Science we talk about what scientific illustration is, what sorts of skills you need, and how a creative career can pose all sorts of weird challenges beyond simply doing great work. She is currently working on her next book of incredible animals that is due to be released in late 2020.
Follow Sami on Instagram, Facebook, and visit her website here.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUESTS: Dr Jim Jobin and Nick Tangeman (Pod Therapy)
How are you handling isolation and COVID-19? If you feel like you need some support and want to talk to someone about it, our two special guests today are here to tell you that you definitely should. In this very special episode of In Situ Science we chat to the hosts of Pod Therapy - a podcast dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and breaking down stigmas surrounding therapy.
Dr Jim Jobin and Nick Tangeman are clinical therapists from Las Vegas who specialise in treating a range of mental health issues including depression, addiction, and relationship counselling. In this interview we chat about how the COVID-19 presents some of the most challenging social and economic conditions for people's mental health. We also talk about the relationship between research and practice in therapy, career paths in psychology and the standard of Australian ice hockey.
Ask the guys a question at www.podtherapy.net
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Whats next for In Situ Science?
In the weird new world we are living in things have changed quite a bit. Here's a quick update to let you know that we're still here and we're so happy to have your support during these crazy times!
Take care, stay safe, and we'll see you all again soon!
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Way back on episode 39 Charlotte Mills was a PhD student at UNSW. She has since completed her PhD and is now Dr Charlotte Mills. Charlotte describes her time as a PhD candidate as a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ experience. This experience has taken her across the magical desert landscapes of inland Australia and continues to be an exciting adventure.
Follow Charlotte on Twitter @EcologistMills
Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
This flashback episode takes us back to episode 60 where we chat with Dieter Hochuli, an invertebrate biologist and urban ecologist from the University of Sydney who studies how nature survives in towns and cities. His research investigates the ecological, economical and psychological benefits of nature in cities, and how our modern way of life affects the plants and animals around us.
In an interview with In Situ Science Dieter chats with us about how connecting with nature is being shown to have significant impacts on people’s health and well being, and that this connection can still happen even when you live in a big city. We also chat about the creative side of science and science communication, and how taking ourselves a little less seriously can be a great technique for approaching science and scientific careers.
Follow Dieter on Twitter @dieterhochuli and check out his lab website here.
Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Our next flashback episode goes all the way back to Episode 11 where we chatted with Dr Heather Hendrickson about the battle against anti-biotic resistant bacteria. Dr Hendrickson is a research scientist and science communicator from Massey University in New Zealand. Her research group is at the front line of understanding how other forms of treatment can be used as alternatives to broad spectrum antibiotics. In an interview with in situ science she takes us through her research into bacteriophage therapy: finding viruses that will target and kill pathogenic bacteria.
Find out more about Heather’s research here and read her thoughts on the This Microbial Life blog.
Follow Heather on Twitter @DrHHNZ
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
For the next few episodes In Situ Science will be revisiting some old classics while James takes a break from podcasting to tackle a very important job :-)
First off the rank is Episode 47 with the one and only Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Dr Karl is perhaps Australia’s most prolific and well known science communicator. He has written over 43 books, and has appeared regularly on national radio for over 30 years. In an interview with In Situ Science we chat about the immense amount of research and hard work that goes in to building up Dr Karl’s broad range of expertise.
Vist Dr Karl’s website at www.drkarl.com and follow him on Twitter @doctorkarl
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Adam Hamlin is a neuroscientist at the University of New England who studies how drugs, such as painkillers, affect brain neurochemistry. These chemicals can have wonderful affects and are miracles of modern medicine, however if used improperly can lead to dependencies and addictions.
In this interview with Dr Hamlin we talk about how these painkillers work and what make them such effective and potentially dangerous substances. We also chat about what makes lab rats such effective models for medical research, why scepticism is beautiful, and what antidepressants might have to do with our gutmicrobiomes.
Follow Adam Hamlin on twitter @honestscientist
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Samuel Banister (USyd)
The cannabis plant is useful for everything from textiles to medicine, however our ability to use these plants has been hampered by its association with illegal drugs. People are beginning to make very big claims about the use of cannabinoids to treat almost every ailment under the sun, however the evidence still just isn’t there. Samuel Banister is a medicinal chemist at the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney that studies how drugs affect our brains and bodies in both good and bad ways. He studies how the chemicals found in cannabis might be used to treat conditions such as epilepsy and certain cancers.
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Sam also studies how illicit drugs affect the brain and the chemical pathways behind their effects. In this interview with In Situ Science we chat about the benefits of voluntary pill testing, and whether the prohibition of drugs can cause more harm than good. We also talk about the challenges of understanding the effects of recreational drugs with new drugs constantly being developed and finding their way out into the streets.
Follow Sam on Twitter @samuel_b_phd or find out more about the Lambert Initiative here
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Lucy Farrow (UNE)
Humans have the biggest brains of any animals… well, kind of… only if we correct for body size… which is important… we think. Understanding animal intelligence is difficult, especially when brains are so complex that our own brains might be incapable of understanding themselves. When it comes to animals, brain size has been a primary indicator of intelligence, however showing that having bigger brains leads to greater intelligence is harder than it sounds. You can’t exactly ask a sloth to fill out a survey, or ask an octopus sit an IQ test.
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Lucy Farrow is a PhD student at the University of New England that studies cognition in one of Australia’s most notorious birds, the noisey miner. Their complex societies and behaviour make them incredibly successful urban invaders. Before becoming a research scientist she spent time working with National Geographic working filming documentaries throughout South Africa.
Follow Lucy on Twitter @LucyFarrow7
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Glenn Porter (UNE)
The science of forensics has popularised by the success of TV crime shows, but the reality of how criminal investigations occur, and the science behind evidence gathering is often nowhere near as glamorous as these shows imply. While we may not be able to work the magic they show on TV, new technologies are aiding forensic scientists in more effectively gathering and presenting evidence. With advances in imaging technology and the ubiquity of digital cameras in society, forensic imaging is a continuously growing field and faces new challenges surrounding the management and privacy of enormous amounts of image data.
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Glenn Porter is the head of the Centre for Rural Criminology at the University of New England and specialises in how optics and photographic techniques can be used gather and present evidence in criminal investigations. Glenn began his career as a creative photographer and, after finding a job as a forensic photographer, found his career taking a new and exciting direction towards forensic science research. In this interview with In Situ Science we talk about how forensic science can play a role in the complex and collaborative field of crime detection, investigation and prevention.
Find out more about the Centre for Rural Criminology here.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Belinda Craig (UNE)
How well can we read other people’s faces? And how good are we at faking our own emotional responses? Turns out not to great. In the absence of other contextual cues people are not very good at reading peoples facial expressions. Add to that the fact that cultural differences can have a huge impact on what emotions are expressed and how. As humans we are inherently biased towards favourably reading the expressions of people within our own groups. Even things like facial hair can affect how emotions are perceived.
Belinda Craig is ‘not that kind of psychologist’ from the University of New England. She studies how the social groups we belong to affect how we perceive emotions. In this chat with In Situ Science we chat to Belinda about fluctuating fashion trends in the world of beards, spider phobias and why we have them, and why you shouldn’t fall asleep in an FMRI machine.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Matthew McKenzie (Thalgarrah EEC)
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Matthew McKenzie is the principal and head teacher of a public school with a difference. Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre is located in the woodlands outside of Armidale in regional NSW. It is part of a network of environmental and zoo education centres across NSW that provide other schools with a base for excursions, camps and experiences focussed on using nature as a learning and teaching resource.
In this interview with In Situ Science Matt talks about the importance of connecting with nature in the classroom and how school students have the opportunity to not just learn about science, but be scientists by taking part in real-world science experiments. We chat about the Tiny Gardeners Project, an upcoming citizen science project where school groups across Australia can participate and learn about how ants are Australia’s ‘tiny gardeners’ planting tree seeds across our vast country.
Find out more about the Tiny Gardeners Project here, and about the Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre here.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Michael Kasumovic (UNSW)
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After a brief stint trying to become a dentist, Michael Kasumovic found his true calling studying the ecology and evolution of spiders. That was until he found another calling studying everything else from performance in professional athletes, how income can affect facial preferences, and how sex and social status can influence people’s behaviour in online videogames. Not content with simply being a prolific research scientist Mike decided to start his own educational company developing apps that can be used to teach scientific concepts and principles in the classroom.
Arludo was developed to provide school teachers with tools to engage students with active and exploratory challenges that helps them develop problem solving and collaboration skills. Teachers can join in on YouTube live sessions to see Arludo in action or try out there freely available apps.
Follow Michael on Twitter @mkasumovic, visit his website, or check out the Arludo website to find out more about their educational apps for the classroom
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: Isabelle Kingsley (UNSW)
From school teacher, to science communicator, to events producer, and now researcher, Isabelle Kingsley has spent her career spanning widely different areas of science education and outreach. She founded the Sydney Science Festival in 2015 which has grown into an annual festival attended by over 80,000 people. While she was running the Sydney Science Festival she began to wonder what sort of educational impact public science events actually have.
This inspired her to undertake her PhD at the University of New South Wales where she is developing methods to quantify what people actually learn from public science events. Despite the proliferation of science communication and outreach across the world we actually don’t know how effective these initiatives are at increasing science literacy and comprehension. Isabelle’s work will help improve the efforts of science communicators and educators and help make science engagement more effective into the future.
Visit Isabelle’s website to find out more or follow her research and outreach journey on Twitter and Instagram @isabellekingsley
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: Benji Kessler (UC)
Benji Kessler is a man of many talents, he studies the behaviour of spiders, teaches mathematics to school kids, does stand-up comedy and looks great in a Spider-Man costume. Benji is currently visiting Australia from the USA where he is doing his PhD at the University of California. He was nice enough to sit down for a chat to talk about how a severe arachnophobe managed to forge a career in science studying the visual and vibratory signalling behaviours of spiders.
In this interview we talk about how a life spent doing both science and comedy can interact and how sometimes you’re not sure which one you are doing. We discuss whether you can be a stupid scientist, whether you HAVE to be stupid to be a scientist, and how far can you push the limits with putting puns in your research paper titles. At In Situ Science we strongly believe that great discoveries come from the amazing and unique individuals that do research, and Benji Kessler is the perfect example. His sheer passion and joy for what he does makes him a great scientist and one hell of a podcast guest.
Search for Benji Kessler on YouTube to see some of his stand-up comedy or follow him on twitter @BenjiKessler
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Alva Curtsdotter (UNE)
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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 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 how animal populations may respond in the future to things like climate change and environmental disturbance.
In this interview we discuss how empirical and theoretical approaches to science are both necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the world around us, but to make that work we need scientists who are able to understand both so that empirical and theoretical scientists can communicate effectively. As always we discover that everything in science can be likened to some kind of pop culture reference and, when pressed for relevance, sports references can always do the trick.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Natalie Morgan (UNE)
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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 overall animal health and yield.
In this interview we talk about the connection that people have to their food in a society where most people are getting their food from supermarkets rather than farmers and growers. We also talk about the difference between caged, barn reared and free-range chickens, and pitch ideas for new ‘big thing’ tourist attractions.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
Live from the Django Bar
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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.
We asked our panel important questions about careers in science such as ‘do you have a plan B’ and ‘whats the weirdest thing you have been bitten by?’ We discovered a range of new scientific terms including ‘bum snorkels’ and ‘Devil’s lettuce’ and once again we tested the wits and wisdom of our panel with a ‘guess that ology’ quiz. Katherina Petrou was named smartest scientist of the night and took home one of our much sought after In Situ Science trophies.
Thanks to the Django Bar for having us back once again and to our amazing Sydney Science Festival Volunteers.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Andrew Katsis (Deakin)
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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 how bird calls can affect the development of chicks while they still inside their eggs.
Andrew’s life in ornithology had a bumpy start as he grew up on his family’s emu farm and was terrorised by the giant birds roaming their property. The birds he studies now are much smaller and more manageable, but no less fascinating. Andrew is also a co-founder of Lateral Magazine, a freely available popular science magazine driven by early career scientists.
Check out Lateral Magazine here, follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_katsis, and check out his research website here.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Tom Saunders (U of Auckland)
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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 both traditional taxonomists and hardcore pop-culture fans.
Tom Saunders studies the biology of agricultural pests and biocontrol agents at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. In this interview we talk about the importance of fundamental biological research for enhancing applied agricultural research. We also chat about the strange beast that is the academic publishing system and how it needs to be improved into the future.
Follow Tom on Twitter @TomSaundersNZ and visit his research website here.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Amy Martin (UoA)
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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 their unique mating systems make them ideal dupes.
Amy’s scientific specialties in animal behaviour and mathematical modelling come as no surprise when you find out that she is the daughter of a mathematician and an animal behaviour researcher. In this interview we chat about what it’s like following your parent’s footsteps into a career in academia and whether their support and interest can be a blessing or a curse.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Tim Chapman (UNE)
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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.
As we discuss the cutting edge of geological science, Tim answers such pressing questions as ‘what is a rock?’ We cover hot topics including geology themed sci-fi disaster movies and whether glass can actually flow over time. The take home message is, if you haven’t seen ‘The Core’, go and see ‘The Core’.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Fonti Kar (UNSW)
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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 such a competitive field.
And, as always, it seems that the answer involves regular crafternoons. Your productivity as a scientist can have as much to do with the time spent outside of work, as it does your time spent working. Fonti is a passionate baker, gamer, dancer and crafter and has found that making time to escape from the pressures of a high achieving career path are essential for your overall happiness and ultimate success.
Follow Fonti on twitter @Fonti_Kar or visit her website here
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: John Paterson (UNE)
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 hear about his work studying the fossils found in the Emu Bay Shale on Kangaroo Island. We also hear about how he and his team celebrated their 10 year anniversary of working at the Emu Bay Shale with a specially brewed ‘Shale Ale’, a craft beer filtered through fossil remnants.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Boyd Wright (UNE)
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 finding odd jobs on farms, in aged health care and even as a Pintupi-Luritja language interpreter.
In this interview with In Situ Science we chat about how Boyd had learn the Pintupi-Luritja language from scratch by living amongst the community and is now a NAATI accredited language interpreter. By building relationships with Indigenous communities Boyd has been able to share his scientific knowledge and work alongside them to study the ecology of fire and its role in shaping the Australian landscape.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Marissa Betts (UNE)
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 how this information can be used to trace the history of the earth itself.
In this interview we chat about everything from paleo-art tattoos to continental drift, magnetic pole shifts, lumpers and splitters, and scientific ‘arranged marriages’. Marissa trots across the globe finding fossils and conducting research across Australia, Asia and Europe. Follow her adventures on her website and check her out on Instagram @200micron
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Mary Whitehouse (CSIRO)
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.
Mary Whitehouse has (in her own words) been masquerading as an entomologist with the CSIRO for almost 20 years studying the management of cotton crop pests in regional NSW. Although her secret scientific passion has always been the private lives of spiders. In this interview we chat about the history of genetically modified cotton in Australian agriculture and how keeping landscapes natural and biodiverse can enhance our agricultural industries.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUESTS: Alexander and Jane Dudley (Faunaverse)
Alexander and Jane Dudley are passionate defenders of the natural world. They have written two poetry books showcasing Australia’s unique animal life. Alexander travels all across Australia as a wildlife surveyor. His passion for animals and poetry has led him, with some firm encouragement from Jane, to compile his poetry together and share it with the world. Jane has been taking things one step further and putting her passion for wildlife into songs.
In this episode we talk about, well, everything! Topics include wombat poo, house prices and the Coolatai panther. We hear about how the couple met when Jane jumped online to try and identify a frog. We chat about We hear the story of Jane’s struggle with mental illness and how an unconventional and experimental treatment has had some pretty incredible results.
Get your own Australian wildlife poetry book at the Faunaverse website or follow the team on social media @faunaverse.
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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com
SPECIAL GUEST: Tanya Latty (USyd)
Urban beekeeping is all the rage but its not the only thing you can do to help pollinators. Tanya Latty from the University of Sydney says being a lazy gardener may be the best thing you can do to help your local bees, beetles and butterflies. Tanya’s work was recently featured on ABC’s Catalyst as part of the Great Australian Bee Challenge.
Tanya and her lab work on understanding how social organisms work together to solve problems like navigation, predation and decision making. Incredibly this work can help scientist and engineers develop new technologies such as self-driving cars and autonomous robots.
We had a few audio issues with this one. Apologies for the scratchy track, but a million thanks to John Dennison for helping out and saving this one for us!
Find out more about Tanyas work on her lab website or follow her on Twitter at @TanyaLatty
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LIVE FROM THE SYDNEY DESIGN FESTIVAL
Can science explain what makes good design? Are designers and scientists really that different? Or are they both just explorers searching for truth in different ways?
We celebrated the intersections of Science and Design at the Sydney Design Panel with a celebrity panel featuring Tom Gordon, Chris Reid, Wendy Davis and Laura Jade Hindes.
We explored everything from optical illusions to corpse piles to redneck science. Audience members got a sneak peek at the inner workings of James' brain and everyone got to take home a slime mould!
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SPECIAL GUEST: Richard Charlesworth (UNE)
Is gluten actually bad for you? Is all the hype surrounding gluten free diets justified? According to Dr Richard Charlesworth, its complicated. People's responses to gluten can range from severe coeliac disease, through to a whole spectrum of intolerance syndromes, to not reacting to it at all. And diagnosing which of these conditions people are susceptible to is a complex challenge.
In an interview with In Situ Science Richard chats about his own challenges with living a gluten free lifestlye and his research into developing better diagnostic tests to understand coeliac disease. As well as being a scientist and lecturer Richard is an enthusiastic archer, flautist, and keeper of carnivorous plants. We chat about his range of hobbies and explore what it takes to make sure you have a healthy work-life balance in academia.
Follow Richard on Twitter @drcarnivorous
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SPECIAL GUEST: Russell Bicknell (UNE)
Horseshoe crabs, firstly, are not crabs, nor do they make effective horseshoes. They are a unique animal more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crustaceans. They are highly valued due to the coagulant properties of their blood, which is harvested as a pharmaceutical product to identify impurities in medicinal products. This sadly also places them under threat as their populations are routinely harvested and their numbers are declining.
Russell Bicknell is a scientist studying their feeding behaviour and says that they need additional protection for them to survive. Russell also uses fossils to understand ancient predators from the cambrian using 3D scanning techniques to ‘reconstruct’ images of fossilised organisms. He also hopes to one day publish a pink fluffy PhD thesis :-D
Find out more about Russell's work here
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SPECIAL GUEST: Kirsti Abbott (UNE)
Have you ever wanted to visit a Steampunk themed scientific learning space aimed at all ages in a regional university. We’ll guess what!? The Boilerhouse Discovery Space is currently under construction at the University of New England and is on track for completion in 2022. In this interview we chat with Kirsti Abbot the manager of UNE Discovery. She talks to us about how making learning experiences accessible to kids in regional communities is essential for bringing about equality in education later on in life.
We also talk about her previous work as an entomologist studying invasive species management. Working in invasive species management enabled her to engage with community members and diverse stakeholders and lead her towards a career in science outreach and community engagement.
Follow Kirsti on Twitter @beyondbuggirl
Or find out more about the Boilerhouse Discovery Space at uneboilerhouse.org.au
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SPECIAL GUEST: Vincent Raoult (UoN)
Sharks are cool! Thats about all there is to it. Gone are the days of viewing sharks as bloodthirsty killers, we're now all on board with the fact that they are an incredibly diverse group of animals with amazing biology. Vincent Raoult from the University of Newcastle studies the biology of sharks and is looking at ways we can improve fisheries practices to work more efficiently and protect sharks at the same time.
In this interview with In Situ Science we also discuss juggling a work with family life and hear about science careers from the perspective of someone with a 6-week old daughter. With so much focus on supporting women in STEM, perhaps a little extra support for fathers in STEM might solve a whole lot of problems.
Follow Vince on Twitter @sawsharkman
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SPECIAL GUEST: Martin Whiting (MQ)
Martin Whiting is a true natural historian. He has spent his life studying reptiles across the world as far as Australia, Asia and Africa. In an interview with In Situ Science we delve into the secret lives of social skinks and their incredible intelligence and the incredible flat lizards that signal their quality using UV colour patches.
Martin’s work has been featured in BBC documentaries and he had the opportunity to work alongside Sir David Attenborough for the filming of ‘Life in Cold Blood’. During the interview we also meet Martin’s two dogs Winnie and Douggie and hear all about Martin’s other two prides and joys, his amazing natural history library and his lizard infested rock wall.
Follow the Lizard Lab on Twitter @lizard_lab Visit the Lizard Lab website Follow the Lizard Lab on Facebook
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SPECIAL GUEST: Sonja Dominik (CSIRO)
In this special Christmas episode 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 as sheep, cows and even fish!
In an interview with In Situ Science Sonja explains how looking for genetic markers for good health and particular traits can help farmers breed better animals more efficiently and ethically. We also discuss Sonjas exciting hobbies including gymnastics, body building and ninja warrior sports.
Despite what you may hear on the podcast Sonja’s twitter handle is @SonjaDominik or you can follow her Ninja Warrior adventures on Instagram @ScienceNinja4
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SPECIAL GUEST: Mandy Hagstrom (UNE)
Lift heavy, but not too heavy. Don't eat too much, unless you need to eat a lot. Cardio is great, until it isn't. Sports science is a relatively new field of science and there is lots of conflicting information out there that can leave people very confused about how best to approach healthy decisions. Sports scientist Mandy Hagstrom from the University of New England tends to agree and says that we are really only scratching the surface in terms of our knowledge about how the body responds to exercise.
Mandy's research investigates how resistance training can have health benefits well beyond pure strength. Mounting evidence suggests that recovering from serious illness isn't just about rest and recuperation, but also about hitting the gym. She doesn't just spruik the benefits of strength training, she lives and breathes it. Mandy has has a background in competitive weightlifting and powerlifting and continues to practice what she preaches.
Follow Mandy on Twitter @ADHagstrom
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SPECIAL GUEST: Chris Goatley (UNE)
What do animals do? It may sound like a very simple question but for many biologists it can be very hard to answer. For marine biologist Chris Goatley studying small, elusive cryptobenthic fish, understanding what they get up to is both an incredible challenge and adventure. Teeny tiny fish make up a huge amount of biomass in coral reefs across the globe and we actually know very little about how they survive and what role they play in coral reef ecology.
In an interview with In Situ Science Chris chats with us about how a childhood fascination for the ocean lead to him setting off on a globe-trotting, ocean spanning career. We also chat about how he ended up doing marine biology in Australia’s most inland, high-altutude university.
You can follow Chris on Twitter @buzzgoatley
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SPECIAL GUEST: Will Billingsley (UNE)
With computer technology processing rapidly, and the proliferation of the internet into all aspects of our lives and businesses, you can't blame people for feeling a little bit out of control. With technologies such as 'machine learning' and 'artificial intelligence' becoming more common place we are beginning to ask questions about how much we actually understand what their effects are. In this episode we sit down for a chat with technologist and computer science lecturer Will Billingsley from the University of New England and chat about what the future holds for computer science. We talk about the importance of understanding how to control the programmes we create, and, more importantly, how good Black Mirror is!
Follow Will on twitter @wbillingsley and check out his website wbillingsley.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: Lindsey Frost (UNE)
Wetlands aren't always wet. Sounds strange but in an arid country like Australia, wetlands may be dry for decades at a time until water arrives via rain and flooding events. These unique habitats provide crucial resources for diverse ecosystems that thrive under dynamic boom-and-bust situations.
Lindsey Frost is a wetland ecologist from the University of New England who is setting out to answer the question, 'how much water does it take to grow a duck?' By investigating the dynamics of entire wetland ecosystem food-webs Lindsey will uncover how much water is actually necessary to sustain a thriving and healthy wetland ecosystem.
Follow Lindsey on Twitter @FrostyCamps
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SPECIAL GUEST: Dieter Hochuli (USyd)
“A society grows great when men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
- Greek proverb
Dieter Hochuli is an invertebrate biologist and urban ecologist from the University of Sydney that studies how nature survives in towns and cities. His research investigates the ecological, economical and psychological benefits of nature in cities, and how our modern way of life affects the plants and animals around us.
In an interview with In Situ Science Dieter chats with us about how connecting with nature is being shown to have significant impacts on people’s health and well being, and that this connection can still happen even when you live in a big city. We also chat about the creative side of science and science communication, and how taking ourselves a little less seriously can be a great technique for approaching science and scientific careers.
Follow Dieter on Twitter @dieterhochuli and check out his lab website here.
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SPECIAL GUEST: Naomi Koh Belic (UTS)
The potential for using stem cells in medical treatments is really only just being explored. Despite this there are already unsubstantiated claims being shared and predatory cosmetic stem cell treatments on the market. Naomi Koh Belic is a PhD researcher at the University of Technology, Sydney who studies the biology of human stem cells and how they differentiate into other cell types.
In an interview with In Situ Science Naomi chats to us about her research on stem cells and human disease. We also chat about her whirl-wind introduction to the world of science communication and what compels scientists to continue doing public science outreach.
Follow Naomi on Twitter and Instagram @naomikohbelic and her website www.naomikohbelic.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: David Lamb (UNE)
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 back to the community that he lives in.
In an interview with In Situ Science David chats with us about how a dream of flying planes sent him down a career path in applied physics and the use of remote sensing in agricultural landscapes. A career in agricultural science has let him experience every side of science from the pure and theoretical, to the applied end points. In his current role as Chief Scientist of the Food Agility CRC David works to improve the production of food across Australia using emerging technologies in precision agriculture.
Learn more about the Food Agility CRC on their website.
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SPECIAL GUEST: Scott Fabricant (Rutgers Medical School)
Boffins, tinkerers, deep-thinkers, these are terms people often use to describe the stereotypical scientist, sitting away in the lab slowly piecing together facts and data. And for a lot of scientists this is true, but not all scientists are the same, and for some this long-game of piecing together complex puzzles simply isn’t satisfying. So what type of science do these people do?
Scott Fabricant started off his scientific career with a PhD looking at the ecology of hibiscus bugs throughout Australia. It didn’t take long though for him to realise his calling was elsewhere. He now studies medicine back home in the US and, in an interview with In Situ Science, tells us about how this career path lets him see the difference he can make in society first hand.
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LIVE AT THE CAMELOT LOUNGE!!!
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a scientist? Do they really wear lab coats? Are they really all timid nerds, like in the movies? All these questions and more were answered at In Situ Science's annual Life Vs Science live podcast recording. Each year we celebrate National Science Week and the Sydney Science Festival with a live podcast at the Camelot Lounge in Sydney's inner west.
This wear we we're joined by Dieter Hochuli (USyd), Michael Kasumovic (UNSW), Naomi Koh Belic (UTS) and Sophie Calabretto (MQ) who regaled the audience with tales of their favourite fluids, fatty uber deliveries, Fortnite parenting strategies and the multiple-hat wearing community. We topped off the night by crowning a science champion with a 'Name that Effect' quiz. Thanks to the Camelot Lounge for having us and to everyone who came along on the night, it was an amazing event!
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SPECIAL GUEST: Karl Vernes (UNE)
The Desert Rat Kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris), or ‘oolaculnta’ was last seen by scientist Hedley Herbert Finlayson in the 1930’s. Since then there have been a number of accounts which suggest that this rare and elusive creature may still be out there, in the stony deserts of South Australia. In Australia, which has one of the worst records for mammal extinctions due to human activity, finding this marsupial alive would be a great boon for Australian conservation.
A team of scientists led by Karl Vernes at the University of New England are on a mission to try and find the Desert Rat Kangaroo and verify if it still exists. They’re looking for support through crowdfunding and you can help make it happen. In an interview with In Situ Science Karl tells us about how he has been planning a hunt for Desert Rat Kangaroo for 15 years and the time has finally come!
You can help support this scientific expedition here!
Follow Karl on Twitter @KarlVernes or check out his camera trapping discoveries on Instagram at @curiousbettong.
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SPECIAL GUEST: Ada Klinkhamer (UNE)
The enormous, long-necked Sauropods are some of the most iconic dinosaurs, and its no surprise given the almost unfathomable sizes that they grew to. Ada Klinkhamer is a palaeontologist from the University of New England that studies how these ancient beasts could have moved and how their skeletons supported such enormous bodies.
In an interview with In Situ Science Ada chats with us about what its like being a dinosaur detective and piecing together stories about how dinosaurs lived from fragments of information. We also chat about what makes good science fiction and why the latest Jurassic World films just aren't cutting the mustard.
Find out more about Ada's research on the Fear Lab Website or follow her on Twitter @ada_klinkhamer
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SPECIAL GUEST: Harry White (LLS)
Australian landscapes have been changed drastically by agricultural practices brought here by European settlers. Some of these have had dramatic impacts on the health of ecosystems and the productivity of farms in Australian climates. One way of addressing these issues is to draw upon the expertise of Australia's Aboriginal people how have lived here for tens of thousands of years. In practice, however, this is easier said than done given the myriad of social and historical issues that continue to divide indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
Harry White is a Gamilaraay elder that has spent much of his career working with indigenous communities throughout the Northern Tablelands Region of NSW. In his current role as Senior Land Services Officer for Local Land Services he works to bridge cultural and communication gaps between indigenous and non-indigenous communities to improve land management practices and provide employment, development and education opportunities for Indigenous communities.
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SPECIAL GUEST: Todd Elliott (UNE)
Fungi are the unsung heroes of our natural world. Their incredible life histories make it possible for plants to grow animals to survive and are often incredibly important cultural resources. Mycologist and natural historian Todd Elliot is currently doing his PhD at the University of New England and is studying the dispersal of truffles throughout Eastern Australia.
In an interview with In Situ Science Todd talks with us about the importance of fungi as a food source and integral part of the ecosystem. He also tells us about the work he does to raise awareness of primitive skills and the importance of reconnecting with nature.
To find out more check out Todd's Website
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SPECIAL GUEST: Deborah Bower (UNE)
Amphibian populations across the globe have been declining rapidly, and the most dangerous contributor to this is the chytrid fungus; a skin disease that affects frogs and salamanders. Dr Deborah Bower from the University of New England says that if we want to have any chance of saving these species then we need to conserve as much of their native habitat as possible.
In an interview with In Situ Science, Deborah chats with us about how ever expanding urban developments destroy native habitat, and asks whether we can design better cities to help our native animals. We also chat about the ‘leaky pipeline’ problem of science careers and our shared dreams of running away to become science fiction writers.
Follow Deborah Bower on twitter @deborah_bower
Visit her research website at www.deborahbower.wordpress.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: James O’Hanlon (UNE)
The tables have turned this episode as the interviewer becomes the interviewee. Siobhan Dennison puts In Situ Science host James O’Hanlon under the microscope to find out more about what he does and why he does it. James O’Hanlon is a behavioural ecologist from the University of New England that has a passion for studying poorly understood creatures and exploring the unknown.
In this interview James takes us through how a childhood passion for art and design led him unexpectedly to a career in scientific research, that he quickly left in a huff, before returning to it again with a new focus on science outreach and communication. He also chats about how science is actually a very creative pursuit that requires equal parts inspiration, flexibility and simply being able to count.
Follow James on Twitter @jamohanlon
Visit James’ research website at www.jamesohanlonresearch.wordpress.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: Stuart Harris
In the summer of 2008 Stuart Harris was out bushwalking when he spotted a small colourful spider. He decided to take a photo and put it up online on his flickr account. Little did he know that this was a peacock spider that was previously unknown to science. This marked the beginning of a long adventure for Stuart, along with a number of passionate arachnologists and explorers, that have discovered and documented numerous new peacock spider species.
Stuart Harris is now a spokesperson for citizen science and natural history with a career path worthy of an award winning documentary. The film Maratus chronicles Stuarts adventure and explores the interface of science discovery with our daily lives. In this interview with In Situ Science, Stuart discusses the impact that these discoveries, and the film, have had on his life and career.
Watch Maratus online here
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SPECIAL GUEST: Maarten Stapper (BioLogic AgFood)
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 own agricultural consultancy that helps farmers transition towards organic farming practices whilst maintaining their productivity. He believes very strongly in the role of organic farming, not only for improving our environment, but also human health. Martin also talks openly about the industries behind science and farming that may be actually hindering progress in agricultural research.
Find out more on Maartin's company website BioLogic AgFood
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SPECIAL GUEST: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki is perhaps Australia’s most prolific and well known science communicator. He has written over 43 books, and has appeared regularly on on national radio for over 30 years. In an interview with In Situ Science we chat about the immense amount of research and hard work that goes in to building up Dr Karl’s broad range of expertise.
We then delve into his mind and chat about everything from the science behind what makes people attractive and why world peace can lead to economic inequality. We also get some sneak peeks into his upcoming book and what a day in the life of Dr Karl is like. His latest book Karl the Universe and Everything covers topics from the science behind artificial uteruses to the search for life on other planets.
Vist Dr Karl’s website at www.drkarl.com and follow him on Twitter @doctorkarl
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SPECIAL GUEST: Mariella Herberstein (MQ)
‘There are many Maries out there… But there’s only one Mariella, and thats me.’
- Mariella Herberstein
In addition to her research Mariella Herberstein is well known for her role as a mentor to emerging scientists in biological sciences. In an interview with In Situ Science she discusses how important a collegiate and positive research environment is to making good science happen.
She also tells us about her current research projects in the mysterious lives of spiders. Currently she is working with a team of researchers to understand why and how some spiders mimic ants. She also really likes Eurovision...
Follow Mariella on Twitter @MarieHerberstei
Find out more about her research on the Behavioural Ecology Group website.
Keep up to date with the latest Eurovision gossip at http://www.thescienceofeurovision.website
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SPECIAL GUEST: Milly Formby (Wing Threads)
To raise awareness for shorebird conservation, zoologist and illustrator Milly Formby has formed an epic plan; she will circumnavigate Australia in a microlight aircraft. This journey is roughly the same length as one of the worlds most important seabird migration routes, the East Asian-Australian Flyway.
Milly is a multi-talented scientist, artist, and explorer. After beginner her career in visual arts as a tapestry weaver, she made the career transition to become a research scientist. In an interview with In Situ Science, Milly Formby describes the life changing moments that led her to directing her whole life towards the pursuit of this new goal. Find out more about Milly's journey and donate to support her cause at www.wingthreads.com
Also check out Milly's artwork and online store at www.millyformby.com
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“Born too late to explore the earth. Born too early to explore the stars”
- Anonymous
Modern scientists often have the strange feeling that they have been born in the wrong era; that they are the ‘middle children’ of history. They read enviously about the exploits of explorers past, sailing boldly into uncharted waters, and worry that they may never be able to undertake those same legendary journeys. But the truth is that scientists are explorers everyday; they explore the uncharted waters at the boundary of human knowledge. By studying the phenomena that occur all around us every day they are uncovering more and more information about the building blocks of our universe.
Dr Matthew Bulbert (AKA Dr Bulby) is a behavioural ecologist from Macquarie University with an insatiable desire for exploration. In an interview with In Situ Science he recounts his journeys throughout Papua New Guinea, Africa and Australia in search of rare and poorly understood animals. He explores new paradigms in biology by describing and studying animal behaviours that have never been studied before.
Find out more about his research through his lab’s website www.conflictecology.com or follow him on Twitter @MBulbert
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SPECIAL GUEST: Gal Winter (UNE)
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 fauna respond to environmental changes, and manages to use Game of Thrones as a perfect analogy for this. She also talks about her previous research in the lucrative field of wine research and drops a few diet tips along the way.
You can follow Gal on Twitter @GalWinter2
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SPECIAL GUEST: Mary McMillan (UNE)
In hindsight, career pathways seem like they were meticulously planned and pre-destined. The reality is that they are an unpredictable rollercoaster ride grasping at whatever opportunities present themselves along the way. In an interview with In Situ Science Mary McMillan takes us through the twists and turns that lead to her career as a molecular biologist at the University of New England. Now she spends her days teaching biology and researching the biology behind mental health issues.
2018 is gearing up to be a big year for Mary as she mentors high school students through the Curious Minds program aimed at encouraging more young women to get into STEM fields. Along with all of this she is taking part in the global Homeward Bound leadership program that will see her developing professional skills across the year. This program also culminates in a trip to Antarctica for the award recipients, theres only one catch though… Mary has to fund her own way there!
To support Mary on her journey get in touch with her on Twitter @maryemcmillan or on Instagram @theaccidentalscientist
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SPECIAL GUEST: Manu Saunders (UNE)
Twice a year Australians get together to scour their backyards for native pollinators. The Wild Pollinator count is a nation-wide citizen science project aimed at increasing awareness of Australia’s native pollinator diversity. It was started a few years back by a team including ecologist Manu Saunders. In an interview with In Situ Science Manu describes how it is important that people understand that bees are not the only pollinators, and that many critical ecosystem services like pollination are carried out by lesser known insect groups.
During the interview Manu tells us about her passion for James Bond movies and muses on whether they reflect cultural changes in peoples’ perceptions of scientists over time. This mind field is spurred on by Manu’s manifesto to have ecology realised for the hard science that it is. Unfortunately science is often stereotyped as something that has to involve space, robots, or chemicals in a lab, in modern times we seem to have forgotten that nature and natural history are just as important to scientific discovery and progression.
You can follow Manu on Twitter @ManuSaunders or follow her blog Ecology is Not a Dirty Word
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SPECIAL GUEST: Paul McDonald (UNE)
Australia’s iconic birdlife can be a divisive issue. Whilst some species are welcomed into backyards and gardens, others are derided as pests and invaders. Paul McDonald studies the behaviour of one particularly divisive species, the Noisy Miner. Whilst many people may regard them as urban pests, Paul says that beneath their screeching facade they exhibit complex social behaviour, comparable even to primates.
Paul McDonald is a behavioural ecologist from the University of New England who specialises in understanding the social behaviour of birds. He is also currently the president of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour and in an interview with In Situ Science insists that James refers to him as Mr President. We also chat about the ins and outs of being part of an academic society, as well as the difference between twitchers and normal people.
Learn more about Paul’s research at his lab’s website www.abel.une.edu.au
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SPECIAL GUEST: CHARLOTTE MILLS (UNSW)
The loss of mammals in Australia is having huge impacts on natural ecosystems. So big in fact that they are visible from space. Charlotte Mills is a PhD candidate from the University of New South Wales studying the role mammals play in the functioning of desert ecosystems. In an interview with In Situ Science she describes how disrupting the important roles mammals play as predators can have enormous flow on effects that drastically change vegetation patterns.
Charlotte describes her time as a PhD candidate as a 'choose-your-own-adventure' experience. This experience has taken her across the magical desert landscapes of inland Australia and continues to be an exciting adventure.
Follow Charlotte on Twitter @EcologistMills
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SPECIAL GUEST: KATE UMBERS (WSU)
Stop murdering invertebrates. OK? Good.
Dr Kate Umbers is an animal behaviour expert from Western Sydney University who is fighting to make sure that invertebrates are recognised as the wonderful creatures they are. In an interview with In Situ Science she says that perhaps the arts are the best way of teaching people about the majesty of the other 99% of the animal kingdom. By forming meaningful relationships between people and invertebrates, we can start appreciating them as things other than the creepy, crawly stereotypes they have been given.
Kate along with 29 other women across Australia is a ‘Superstar of STEM’, recognised by Science and Technology Australia for their contribution to science. These superstars are acting as role models to increase the representation of women in science. We talk about her experiences with the Superstars of STEM initiative as well as her breakthrough role on Romper Room as a child.
Follow Kate on Twitter @kateumbers and find out more about her research at www.kateumbers.com
Find out more about the Superstars of STEM scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au at or check out #SUPERSTARSOFSTEM
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SPECIAL GUEST: SIOBHAN DENNISON (UNE)
Being a research scientist means surviving in a higly competitive professional environment. Transitioning out of this environment into other career pathways can be a challenging, rewarding and life changing experience. Siobhan Dennison started her career as a conservation genetecist, studying the ecology of skinks in inland Australia. She has now made the decision to move into science education and use her skills in science communcation to share her passion for science with school kids.
In a candid interview with In Situ Science we chat about Sioban's transition from academia to education and her new job in regional science outreach. We're also interrupted by a large dog with a squeaky toy...
You can follow Siobhan on Twitter @Sib_D or find out more about UNE Discovery on their website.
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SPECIAL GUEST: NICOLÁS CAMPIONE (UNE)
Reconstructing the Earth’s history from fragments of information is an epic task requiring a variety of approaches. Paleontologists combine technological approaches, quantitative methods and artistic visualisations to reconstruct what dinosaur bodies would have looked like using fossil remains.
Nicolás Campione is a quantitative paleontologist at the University of New England in Australia that undergoes this detective work to understand how animals have changed over time. Using this information he studies how animals have responded to environmental change and extinction events. This information can enable us to make predictions about future environmental change will affect life on earth and how we might be able to mitigate these impacts.
You can follow Nic on Twitter @PaleoNic or visit his website www.nicolascampione.weebly.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: Dr Clare Stawski (UNE)
In the face of rapid environmental change scientists are racing to study how animals might be affected by change, or how they can adapt to deal with change. Recent discoveries have shown that changes in temperature are only one consideration and other aspects, such as changes in the frequency of bushfires can have a large impact on animal life histories. Small mammals can use fires as a cue to begin torpor or hibernation, how they will respond to increased fires in Australia is of an immense conservation concern.
Dr Clare Stawski is a mammalogist and ecologist who has been working at the University of New England but is now about to begin a new position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. In an interview with In Situ Science she chats with us about what this big move means for her career and personal life.
You can follow Clare on Twitter @ClareStawski
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SPECIAL GUEST: GREG HOLWELL (U of Auckland)
In a publish or perish environment scientists are finding it harder to spend time out in the field doing pure exploration. This is a great shame as we can never predict where the next great scientific discovery will come from. The wonders of the natural world around us are the ulitmate source of discovery, but for this to happen we need to find the time to go out in the field and explore.
Dr Greg Holwell is an invertebrate zoologist and natural historian from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. In this interview with In Situ Science he stresses the importance of spending time making field observations and having them inform your scientific enquiry. He also chats about the importance of being an effective mentor for students, and the responsibilities involved with fostering the next generation of great scientists.
Find out more about Greg's research at www.gregholwell.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: JODI ROWLEY (AUST MUS)
Spending months on end trudging through monsoonal South East Asian Rainforests is a far cry from the suburban upbringing of Jodi Rowley. However travelling across the globe to remote locations in search of frogs is all part of the job as she now works as a herpetologist at the Australian Museum. She regularly spends time in South East Asia documenting the biodiversity of amphibians.
This research is crucial now as we are currently witnessing rapid declines in frog populations world wide due to climate change and habitat modifications. Only by understanding what species are out there, and where they live can we begin to conserve them before they are lost forever
Follow Jodi on twitter @jodirowley
Or visit www.jodirowley.com
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LIVE PODCAST RECORDING: SYDNEY SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Being a scientist is not just a profession, it is a way of life. It is the searing agony you feel when you find inaccuracies in science fiction movies. It is checking your pedometer hourly, not because you have to, but because you want to.
The Sydney Science Festival 2017 rocked on from the 10th to the 20th of August. During this time, In Situ Science hosted “Life vs Science” a live podcast recording at The Camelot Lounge in Sydney. A wonderful audience filled the air with laughter as they learnt about science ‘behind-the-scenes’ from Jim Fishwick, Shane Hengst, Leigh Nicholson, James O’Hanlon and Alice Williamson.
This diverse panel of scientists delved into the types of research they are currently doing, early inspirations and pet peeves as scientists and closed the night with questions from the audience. Questions include science stereotypes, the biology of the leaf and how we should deal with climate change deniers. So, join us for the highlights of the night!
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Mixed and Edited by Jim Fishwick
SPECIAL GUEST: LIZZY LOWE (MQ)
For some they are feared creatures, for others they are friendly backyard acquaintances. Spiders, for some reason, are divisive creatures that have been unfairly burdened with a terrible reputation for being deadly assassins. Arachnologist Dr Lizzy Lowe spends most of her time researching the ecology and behaviour of spiders, and when she isn’t doing that she is working hard to dispel myths about spiders in the eyes of the general public.
In this interview with In Situ Science we also discuss the reality of balancing a career in science with raising a family. As an early career scientist Lizzy has moved her family between three different cities in the last 18 months. Whilst the instability of this career path can be a a struggle, science is also a career that allows for great flexibility when caring for young children.
Visit Lizzy’s website here, or follow her on Twitter @LizyLowe
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SPECIAL GUEST: DR TOMMY LEUNG (UNE)
James chats with king of outreach and parasite ‘otaku’ Dr Tommy Leung. Tommy is a prolific researcher, communicator, artist and philosopher. When he is not researching the ecology and evolution of parasites he is exploring creative dimensions with Illustration and engaging with scientists and artists through his online persona.
We discuss how scientists are much more creative than they are given credit for and how Tommy explores his favourite parasites with wonderful sci-fi-esque works of art. We also discuss the role social media plays in the communication of scientific research and the pro’s and con’s of how scientists can portray themselves online.
See his art here
Read the Parasite of the Day Blog here
Follow Tommy on Twitter @The_Episiarch
Visit his research website
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SPECIAL GUEST: STEPHEN BOSI (UNE)
Listen along as Dr Stephen Bosi from the University of New England schools James O’Hanlon on the fundamental particles that make up our universe. After starting off with a discussion about the interface between science and art, we take a detour through radiotherapy and finish up discussing quantum physics, famous bongo players and why Einstein was wrong.
Stephen Bosi researches the physics behind medical imaging tools to improve cancer treatments. By understanding the atomic structures that make up the human body he hopes to improve our ability to precisely deliver radiation to cancerous tissues. When he is not doing this he enjoys teaching, science communication and oil painting.
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SPECIAL GUEST: PHIL BELL (UNE)
The science of palaeontology conjures up images of hours spent delicately brushing away sand from immaculately preserved dinosaur skulls. However palaeontologist Phill Bell argues that it is rarely that easy. Luckily, by adopting and developing new technologies, palaeontology is progressing in leaps and bounds and has moved beyond the study of bone fragments, to a dynamic field uncovering the lives and behaviours of prehistoric wonders.
In an interview with In Situ Science Phil Bell tells us about why he is drawn to Hadrosaurs, the gentle giants of the dinosaur world. And of course there is ample discussion about the pros and cons of dinosaur fiction including Jurassic Park, Dino-riders and the Land Before Time!
For more information check out www.paleoresearch.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: PHIL WITHERS (UWA)
Great research can be meticulously planned, other times research can be opportunistic, when the right combination of conditions and collaborators fall into place. Dr Philip Withers from the University of Western Australia has an impressive track record studying everything from shark buoyancy, to thorny devil ecology. He says that many of these research opportunities arose from simply spending lots of time in the field and keeping an eye out for cool things to study.
In an interview with In Situ Science we talk about the incredible water absorbing skin of the Australian thorny devil, the complex nostrils of the kangaroo rat and all sorts of wonderful animal adaptations. Phil believes that studying the ‘outliers’, the unique and interesting animals around us, we can learns so much more about the diverse ways animals evolve to survive in different conditions.
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SPECIAL GUEST: TOM GORDON (USyd)
The March for Science was a global event to raise awareness of the role of science in policy and society. In Sydney, on the 22nd of April 2017 over 5000 people ascended on the CBD to make their views heard. One of those science advocates was scientist and science communicator Tom Gordon. Tom returns for the second time as a guest of In Situ Science to chat to us about the success of the March for Science and why it was such an important event.
We also chat about his new research project investigating how educators can most effectively transmit information. Tom is using this information to help refine how he teaches complex concepts in physics education. We also take time out to test Tom’s trivia knowledge in preparation for the upcoming STEMpunk quiz nights.
Follow Tom on twitter @Gordeauz and check out the STEMpunk Facebook page.
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SPECIAL GUEST: CHRISTINE COOPER (Curtin Uni)
A life in science can mean living a life on the road! Or on planes, or buses… Travel comes with the territory as there are ongoing lab visits, field trips and conferences, not mention relocating for job opportunities. For some scientists living out of a suitcase can get frustrating, but scientists like Dr Christine Cooper embrace the opportunity to see the world and experience new things.
Christine Cooper from Curtin University travels across Australia studying the biology of Australian mammals and birds. By visiting different habitats all across the country she can study the physiology behind how animals adapt to different climates and environments.
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SPECIAL GUEST: NIGEL ANDREW (UNE)
The media has gone crazy the past week, enamoured by a team of scientists across the globe that put out plasticine caterpillars to see if they get eaten. This episode we talk to a member of this team Dr Nigel Andrew, about how such simple techniques can be used to conduct high impact, fundamental research.
Dr Nigel Andrew heads the Insect Ecology Lab at the University of New England where he studies the responses of insects to climate change. In the interview he talks about the importance of insects such as dung beetles in supporting ecosystems and modern agricultural practices.
Visit the Insect Ecology Lab website or read about global predation patterns in Science.
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SPECIAL GUEST: JULIA RILEY (MQ)
Reptiles are not usually considered the friendliest of animals, nor are they generally considered ‘social’ animals in the same way mammals and insects are. But recent research is showing us that we have underestimated our cold-blooded companions, and that lizards can form complex social networks.
Julia Riley from Macquarie University talks about her PhD research on Egernia skinks and the social groups that they live in. We meet her dog Dundee and chat about how a childhood fear of snakes gradually morphed into a fiery passion for all things herpetological! Along the way we get a tour of Julia’s house and garden and find all sorts of shenanigans along the way.
Follow Julia on Twitter @jr4science or visit her website https://www.rileybiology.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: CHRIS REID (MQ)
The living world provides endless inspiration for the development of new technologies. Dr Chris Reid from Macquarie University is a research scientist that is studying how groups of organisms work together to make decisions, solve problems and build structures. He says that this information on ‘collective behaviour’ can inform the development of modular robots and automated systems.
In an interview with In Situ Science Chris describes how a “childish” fascination with ants led him to a career studying the natural world and the complex biology behind social behaviour. We also discuss the intersection of scientific enquiry and creativity, and managing a life and career in science.
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SPECIAL GUESTS: ATHOL WHITTEN AND SIMONE STUCKEY (Mezo)
Its all about data! With advances in technology and computing the amount of data avaiable to scientists is mind boggling. However it is not just scientists that are dealing with data now. Businesses are able to collect masses of data on their products, markets and consumer base. Handling this data then requires the quantitative skills of highly trained scientists.
We talk to Dr Athol Whitten and Simone Stuckey who have started Mezo to help businesses utilise their data. Both Athol and Simone have backgrounds in ecology and throughout their careers transferred these skills to the private sector. We talk openly about some of the career challenges facing scientists and how transitioning to the private sector can be rewarding, exciting and lucrative!
Visit Mezo on their website or follow them on twitter @mezoresearch
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SPECIAL GUEST: CHRISTIE MCMONIGAL (UTS)
April is Global Astronomy Month (GAM) and to kick things off In Situ Science had a chat with GAM co-ordinator Christie McMonigal. Christie is a science communicator with a background in astronomy and ancient history. When Christie isn't running outreach events at the University of Technology, Sydney, or raising small children, she works with Astronomers Without Borders bringing astronomy skills and awareness to all corners of the globe.
In this interview Christie shares how a fascination with ancient greek mythology led her to fully appreciate the night sky above us and how it unites us all across space and time. You can also hear Christie on the STEMpunk podcast where they chat about all things science communication.
Find out more about Global Astronomy Month at the Astronomers Without Borders website - http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/global-astronomy-month-2016.html
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SPECIAL GUEST: KELLY TAGALAN (Code Club)
“Program or be programmed”
- Douglas Rushkoff
Understanding how to read and write code is becoming essential in the rapidly advancing digital world that we live in. By preparing the next generation with the skills to write code we are ensuring that we control technology and not the other way around.
In an interview with In Situ Science general manager of Code Club Australia Kelly Tagalan tells us why it is so important to make coding education accessible and universal. Code Club Australia is a charity that hopes to get every kid in Australia the opportunity to learn to code. They do this by training school teachers and setting up free coding workshops run by volunteers in schools libraries and community centres.
To donate, volunteer or find a code club near you visit www.codeclubau.org
Follow Code Club Australia on twitter @CodeClubAus or follow Kelly @kellytagalan
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SPECIAL GUEST: SOLANGE CUNIN (Cuberider)
The space industry is more than just astronauts and moon landings. It is essential for maintaining satellites, keeping our telecommunications running and collecting data about earths environments. Australia however doesn’t have its own space industry and has to rely on other countries to monitor our landscapes and and keep our phones lines working. According to many commentators it is time that this changed and Australia should start investing in space programs.
Entrepreneurs Solange Cunin and Sebastian Chaoui are finding unique ways to get Australia into space with their educational startup Cuberider. Schools can take part in real life space missions by programming data sensors that are sent up to the international space station. Its an amazing world we live in when school kids can become pioneering space explorers and learn about science, space and technology all at the same time.
In an interview with In Situ Science Solange Cunin tells us about how an early fascination with the stars, inculcated in her by her ‘hippy’ parents, lead to her studying mathematics and starting a career in space exploration and startup development. To find out more and get involved in the Cuberider program visit www.cuberider.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: JULIA COOKE (Open University)
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."
- David Attenborough
All you need to do is look and you will find that the natural world holds endless wonders. Scientists that spend their careers studying the natural environment delve into a world beyond the superficial. The grasses and plants around us are not mere scenery, they tell the story of life, of the organisms that they are and the environments that they have formed in. On each leaf, within every stream and under every rock are more creatures, each with a dynamic life story of their own waiting to be be told by natural historians.
In an interview with In Situ Science Dr Julia Cooke takes us into her ‘little world’. On a walk through Lane Cove National park in search of duck orchids Julia takes us on a journey through the natural history of Australia and her passion for the elusive and beautiful creatures that are hidden all around us. In fact she even wrote a children’s book about it ‘My Little World’, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. Her passion for discovery is matched only by her delight in sharing these stories with her family and friends, her students and the public.
Find out more about Julia and her work at www.juliacooke.net and follow her on twitter @CookeJulia
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SPECIAL GUEST: NASIR AHSAN (Abyss Solutions)
Scientists can find their skills having enormous impacts beyond the walls of academia. In many cases people with scientific training make wonderful entrepreneurs. Their skills in developing ideas and managing projects, combined with their self motivation and dedication to long term goals has already prepared them for the dynamic challenges of business development and management.
Dr Nasir Ahsan began his scientific career researching and developing autonomous robots. The tantalising lure of the unknown led him to develop a passion for deep sea exploration and discovery. In this interview with In Situ Science he tells the story of how navigating a remote operated submarine to the unexplored depths of the ocean floor inspired him to start his own company, Abyss Solutions. Nasir and his team are developing underwater ‘drones’ that can navigate autonomously underwater and collect information about the environment around them. Using this technology they can monitor underwater infrastructure such as dam walls, reservoirs and pipelines. Using robots lets them use specialised sensors to explore areas too difficult or dangerous for divers.
For more information visit www.abysssolutions.co, follow them @AbyssSolutions, or visit their YouTube Channel.
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SPECIAL GUEST: TIM KAHLKE (UTS)
In this age of big data even scientists can struggle to keep up with the massive amounts of information available to them. With exponential advances in data storage and computation new fields of science are opening up and new types of scientific professionals are emerging. Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing field using computer programming to organise, analyse and interpret large scale datasets in new an exciting ways.
In an interview with In Situ Science, bioinformatician and marine ecologist Dr Tim Kahlke introduces us to the power of programming in science, but also talks openly about the responsible use of this power. Tim uses large datasets of bacterial genomes to understand the responses of microbial communities to climate change. He also makes a mean Knödel and is maybe a little bit freaked out about Skynet taking over the planet.
FFollow Tim on twitter @TimKahlke and visit the Climate Change Cluster website.
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SPECIAL GUEST: JAMES BAXTER-GILBERT (MQ)
If you catch a scientist in action, chances are they will be doing something strange. After all the entire profession involves pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and conducting experiments that have never been done before. In this pursuit scientists find themselves coming up with creative solutions to new problems.
In this interview James Baxter Gilbert tells tales of his adventures trouble shooting snake probes, protecting threatened species and avoiding bear attacks. His journey as a scientist and herpetologist has taken him from his homeland of Canada to the holy land of reptiles that is Australia. He now spends his days chasing rage lizards in canoes and stealing their babies, best listen to the interview…
Follow James on Twitter @JamesBG_27 or check out www.whitinglab.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: LEILANI WALKER (UoA)
Scientist, communicator, singer, story teller and card shark Leilani Walker is an upcoming force in New Zealand science and exploration. Along with scientific illustrator Emma Scheltema, Leilani is launching a new initiative to raise awareness of New Zealand’s unique insect fauna by designing an insect themed set of playing cards. Pre-orders for the ‘Insects of New Zealand’ playing cards are online now!
Order your own set of Insects of New Zealand playing cards here
On the podcast Leilani philosophises on the use of language in scientist and how scientists are able to tell stories through their writing. Leilani put this in to practice herself as she shares her passion for science and exploration and how it has lead her to conduct a PhD studying the combative mating systems of sheet-web spiders.
Check out Leilani’s blog here or follow her on twitter @Lanipai
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SPECIAL GUEST: RAVINDRA PALAVALLI NETTIMI (MQ)
Doing a PhD can be a life changing experience. For Ravindra Palavalli Nettimi pursuing a PhD has meant travelling across the globe and challenging himself to expand and grow as a person.
In an interview with in situ Science Ravindra takes us through how the evolution of ant colonies have uncovered some remarkable solutions to some problems humans now face in our large interconnected societies.
Ravindra also hosts his own podcast 'Just Questions' where he discusses the importance of asking the right questions in science.
Visit Ravindra's website here - http://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra
Follow Ravindra on twitter here - https://twitter.com/ravindra_pn
Listen to Just Questions here - https://soundcloud.com/user-951555253
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SPECIAL GUEST: HEATHER HENDRICKSON (Massey Uni)
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise. The overuse of antibiotics has lead to the evolution of highly dangerous antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Dr Heather Hendrickson is a research scientist and science communicator from Massey University in New Zealand. Her research group is at the front line of understanding how other forms of treatment can be used as alternatives to broad spectrum antibiotics. In an interview with in situ science she takes us through her research into bacteriophage therapy: finding viruses that will target and kill pathogenic bacteria.
The fun doesn’t stop there though as we continue on to discuss faecal transplants, science communication and how a child growing up in a conservative religious family becomes an influential evolutionary biologist.
Find out more about Heather’s research here and read her thoughts on the This Microbial Life blog.
Follow Heather on Twitter @DrHHNZ
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SPECIAL GUEST: EDWARD LIEW (RBG Sydney)
Dr Edward Liew from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney talks with James O'Hanlon about the science of plant pathology. An expert in fungal diversity Edward manages the spread of harmful plant pathogens in Australian crops and natural landscapes.
Find out more on the Royal Botanic Gardens Website
Follow in situ Science on Twitter - https://twitter.com/insituscience
Visit in situ Science online at www.insituscience.com
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SPECIAL GUEST: TOM GORDON (USyd)
Its time for Australia to join the space race! Tom Gordon from the University of Sydney argues that Australia has a bright future in space exploration and engineering, if only we would start investing in more home grown space infrastructure. Tom Gordon is a scientific polymath taking his passion for exploration into the varied fields of physics, political policy, science education and public outreach.
In our discussion we cover the importance of having a scientifically literate population, what role science fiction can play in education and whether the Big Bang Theory TV show is helping or hindering the public's perception of science.
Follow Tom on twitter @Gordeauz or listen to him spruik science on his very own STEMpunk podcast.
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Being a zoologist isn't all about spending time in the wilderness catching animals, most days are spent working behind a computer analysing data and interpreting your findings. In this episode we talk to Luke Holmann from the University of Melbourne who crunches the numbers to understand why some animals have evolved to be social.
Also we discuss spots versus stripes as we play one of the worst pool games in history.
Check out Luke's research website here and follow him on twitter @LukeHolman_Evo
Visit us at www.insituscience.com for more science stories
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Chrissie Painting from the University of Auckland shows admirable levels of patience when facing an onslaught of terrible weevil puns. She takes us through the science of studying animal weaponry and her journey from being a budding horticulturalist to becoming a hard hitting postdoctoral researcher.
Check out Chrissie's blog at www.chrissiepainting.com or follow her @cpaintingnz
Visit us at www.insituscience.com or follow us @insituscience
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This week brought to you straight from the conference of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour is an interview with Dr Anne Gaskett from the University of Auckland. This one goes deep in to the personal struggles of being a productive research scientist whilst still maintaining a stable life and relationships.
Find out more about Anne's research here - https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/a-gaskett
Check out the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour here - http://www.assab.org
Or follow ASSAB on Twitter here - https://twitter.com/@AnimBehav
Check out in situ Science on www.insituscience.com or follow us @insituscience
Dr Kate Umbers chats about how humans and other animals animals perceive colour, all whilst baking an epic 12-banana banana bread. Kate is a zoologist from Western Sydney University with a passion for sharing the wonders of the natural world through research and exploration.
Follow Kate on Twitter @quasicoherent Follow James on Twitter @jamohanlon
To see behind the scenes of scientific discoveries check out www.insituscience.com and follow us on Twitter @insituscience
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This episode features astrophysicist and science communicator Shane Hengst who shares his passion for science and outreach. Shane manages a hectic schedule being a co-host of the STEMpunk podcast, a member of the UNSW physics outreach team and a PhD student at the University of Southern Queensland.
Check out the STEMpunk podcast here - https://www.facebook.com/STEMpunkpodcast/
Follow in situ Science on Twitter - https://twitter.com/insituscience Visit in situ Science online at www.insituscience.com
In an interview with in situ Science Chris shares with us the rewards of being an insect collector from discovering new species, to visiting ‘old friends’, to using his knowledge to improve agricultural practices. To find out more about Chris’ research visit the Australian Museum website.
Special thanks to the Australian Museum Science Festival for help putting together this podcast.
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Frank Köhler from the Australian Museum gives James O'Hanlon advice on love darts and comparing slugs to snails. Music - www.bensound.com
SPECIAL GUEST: HANNAH ROWLAND (Cambridge) Welcome to the first episode of in situ Science! James O'Hanlon chats with behavioural ecologist Hannah Rowland about everything from twitching to podcasting. Music: www.bensound.com