127 – Prof Dennis Schatz – Science Communication Pt 1

This entry was posted on Friday, October 15th, 2010 at 23:59.

In this episode, the fourth anniversary of the Brains Matter podcast, I talk to Professor Dennis Schatz, the Senior Vice President for Strategic Programs at the Pacific Science Centre in the US. We discussed the topic of communication in science, including:

- Dennis’s background
- What are some of the issues with current science communication?
- How do you develop your skills as a science communicator?
- What really excites people about science?
- Why is science singled out for jargon?
- What makes a good communicator?
- What are some of the programmes being run by the Pacific Science Centre?

Today’s listener of the episode is Mark Wilson from New Zealand.

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135 – Prof Claude Roux – Forensic Science

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 19th, 2011 at 12:19.

I talk to Professor Claude Roux from the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Technology Sydney about forensics and how it is used. Topics we discuss include:

- The type of research Claude is interested in
- Finger printing
- Forensic anatomy
- Anti body forensic methods
- DNA usage and profiling in the criminal justice system
- Forensic intelligence
- What are the ‘point of identities’ in a fingerprint?
- How many matching points does a fingerprint need to be classified as a match?
- How do forensic scientists ensure identification?
- How accurate is DNA evidence?
- Forensics v archaeology
- The differing definitions of ‘trace’
- The future of forensic science

Listener of the episode is Kathleen Humble, from Melbourne, Australia.

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109 – The Science of Attraction – Live Show

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 20:30.

This episode is the audio of the first Brains Matter live show. The topic for this show is The Science of Attraction
- what is attraction?
- what attracts us to each other?
- how does this compare to the animal kingdom?
- how do physical features, and chemical signals play a role?
- what influences our view of attractiveness?
- what kinds of jealousy do we feel?
- what is Valentines Day? What are some of the stories behind it?

and some random facts. Thank you to everyone who came along to the live recording, it was a lot of fun!

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116 – Prof Patricia Vickers-Rich – The Monash Science Centre

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 01:58.

In this episode I talk to Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich and we talk about the Monash Science Centre.

- What is Professor Rich’s background?
- What inspired her to start up a Science Centre in Australia?
- What are the main aims of the MSC?
- When did the MSC open?
- What were some of the difficulties experienced in trying to start up the MSC?
- Some of the features of the MSC building
- The environmental concerns of the MSC
- What is planned for the Monash Science Centre and the MSC precinct?
- The outreach goals of the MSC
- Some of the exhibitions that the MSC has had in the past
- Teachers at the Science Centre
- Programmes offered by the Science Centre
- The future of the Monash Science Centre

Listener of the episode is Frank Connolly from Australia

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You can view the Monash Science Centre website at this link

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132 – Steve Mirsky – (2/2) – Science Communication Pt 6

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 2nd, 2011 at 00:22.

In Brains Matter’s continuing series on science communication, I continue my talk with Steve Mirsky, a journalist and author, editor at Scientific American, and podcast host about various aspects of science communication and the perception of science in the public.

This is part 2 of the discussion. If you haven’t listened to part 1, please go back and listen to episode 131.

Topics we discuss include:

- the impact of science communication
- where podcast listeners are located
- the increased number of science communicators
- where science communication has inspired people
- why do kids lose interest in science within schools?
- how do we influence kids to have a positive view of science?
- how does opportunity and influence affect this?
- the wonder of libraries
- Steve’s path into science
- OG’s path into science
- The impact of good teachers on interest in science
- The relationship between art and science
- How some sciences can lead into other types of science interests

Today’s listener of the episode is Bruce Wallace from Australia.

(Keep an ear out for an out-take from this episode!)

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131 – Steve Mirsky – (1/2) – Science Communication Pt 5

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at 09:06.

In Brains Matter’s continuing series on science communication, I talk to Steve Mirsky, a journalist and author, editor at Scientific American, and podcast host about various aspects of science communication and the perception of science in the public. Topics we discuss include:

- Steve’s background
- The changing view of science by the public
- Stereotypes of scientists
- The modern take in television and movies of a scientist
- Gilligans Island
- Sports v Science
- Perceptions of the Nobel Prize
- Various strategies to get people interested in science
- The IgNobel Prizes
- The differences in science being communicated in print and through new media
- Some fun science stories
- How do we get children more interested in science at a younger age?
- What is a science story?
- The false objectivity of non-science media when they report on science stories
- A discussion on climate change as an example
- The reliance people have on science and engineering
- The funding of science compared to other areas due to a lack of political will and public apathy
- Some great science communicators

Today’s listener of the episode is Joshua Weisskopf.

This is part 1 of an interview with Steve – keep an eye out for part 2 in the next episode.
(Keep an ear out for an out-take from this episode!)

Download MP3 of Ep 131

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