Smelly industrial and wastewater processing is an inevitable part of life. We need these systems, preferably in a way that doesn't adversely affect communities. How do we respond to odours, and what can we do if we live near a smelly processing plant? The way we respond to odours is highly subjective, so how can we measure or report what our noses are telling us? These are questions that concern Dr Ruth Fisher. Dr Fisher is a Research Associate at the UNSW Odour Laboratory. Interview via zoom wi...
May 25, 2020•33 min•Ep. 132
This week Broderick talks optics and visuals with researchers from the Australian National University. He's joined by Dr Erin Walsh who shares her love for scientific illustrations and Dr Doris Grosse who shows how important adaptive optics are to protect our planet. Special thanks to Pint of Science for helping us source this week's guests. Find more great Australian science from them at www.pintofscience.com.au
May 17, 2020•58 min•Ep. 131
This week Broderick takes you through some of the latest news around COVID-19, but also explores the inspring scientific research that is happening- COVID and non-COVID related.
May 03, 2020•46 min•Ep. 130
Stephanie Davis from the Australian National University gives us the low down on the Corona virus. Presented by Tom Street and Atul Sharma.
Mar 02, 2020•52 min•Ep. 129
If there's a triumph of modern civilisation, it's the efficiency with which products such as food are delivered to our shelves. That's an amazing thing, but it hides the hugely complicated system that makes it all happen. The largely invisible process can make us blind to our connection to the land. Why do we waste so much food, and what can we do about it? What can we do to make agriculture more sustainable? We tackle these questions with our guests Dr Bethany Turner and Dr Ro MacFarlane from t...
Feb 23, 2020•52 min•Ep. 128
With firestorms and floods ravaging Australia, now is the time for leadership on climate change. While that's missing on the national level, in Canberra we have just achieved 100% renewable energy for a 40% reduction in the city's greenhouse emissions. It's a good start, but the job's not done yet. Shane Rattenbury roles include being ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. He tells the story of how we got this far, and where we go next. Interview by Tom and Rod...
Feb 10, 2020•50 min•Ep. 127
In this show scientist Lennart Bach from the Institute in Marine and Antarctic Studies in Tasmania talks about the possible side effects of negative emission technology, ocean acidification's effect on marine plankton communities and other thoughts on our climate future.
Feb 02, 2020•46 min•Ep. 126
On todays episode Jamie Kirkpatrick, geographer and conservation ecologist from the University of Tasmania talks about bushfires. Zanna Chase, professor of oceanography at the University of Tasmania, talks about some of her research into oceanic drivers of climate change.
Feb 02, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 125
There are only seven meals between civilisation and anarchy . But we're okay in Australia, right? There's always food in the supermarket and shortages are what happens in other places. Not here. The horrendous current drought, record heat and devastating fires across our country are a hint that we should lose our complacency because Australia is vulnerable. In spite of what our Prime Minister seems to think, climate change is here and it's happening right now. Julian Cribb's latest book is Food ...
Jan 26, 2020•58 min•Ep. 124
The climate clock is ticking. Actually, it's not just ticking because the alarms are going off with deafening roar. If ever we needed visible evidence of what climate change means, the start to 2020 is it. We invited Emeritus Professort Will Steffen to put this in perspective. Are the bushfires devastating our country unexpected? Will there be more? And what can we do about it? Prof Will Steffen is a world recognised authority on climate and the Anthropocene. Interview by Rod. Music by Shock Oct...
Jan 21, 2020•55 min•Ep. 123
This week on Fuzzy Logic, Broderick is joined by some local experts to share the science behind the bushfires that are currently the focus for all Australians. Dr Geoff Cary from the Fenner School at the Australian National University shares his research and all the science behind bushfires, while Dr Arnagretta Hunter, a local cardiologist and member of Doctors for the Environment Australia, shares some insights behind what long term health effects might be caused by these fires, both physically...
Jan 05, 2020•50 min•Ep. 122
Join Broderick for a very merry, sciencey time as he shares the psychology behind wrapping presents, the maths behind Christmas birthdays and the science behind what we eat. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Dec 23, 2019•46 min•Ep. 121
On this episode of Fuzzy Logic we had three researchers from the Australian National University (ANU): Alena Kimbrough a paleoclimate scientist who has been researching rainfall in Indonesia over the past 380, 000 years by analysing stalagmites from caves in Sulawesi. Katharine Grant,also a paleoclimate scientist who uses ocean sediment cores to gain understanding of the earth's past climate even further back in time. Rebecca Colvin, a social scientist who is working to understand how human grou...
Dec 02, 2019•54 min•Ep. 120
As population soars in a rapidly deteriorating global environment, it's hard to remain optimistic. We ask ourselves, what does it mean to have hope? Do we give up and fall into despair? This is the question our two guests touch on in these interviews. Clive Hamilton is a the well-known author of books such as Requiem for a Species and Earthmasters . Robyn Williams is the renowned presenter of the ABC Science Show. Interviews by Rod.
Dec 01, 2019•14 min•Ep. 119
Peak Oil, remember that? Back in 2008 we interviewed Robert Rapier , a respected analyst in the energy business. It's interesting to look back and see what has - and hasn't changed since then. Oil is as dirty a source of CO2 as it ever was. Or arguably, it's dirtier now because it requires ever more energy to extract as easier sources are depleted. Fears of Peak Oil have largely faded as unconventional reserves are exploited, especially in the USA. But, the day must come when oil declines. In a ...
Nov 26, 2019•58 min•Ep. 118
The mountains of waste we produce are a growing problem. Surely we can do better than just burying all that stuff in a hole. Recycling is an obvious part of the solution, but it's tricky because waste usually arrives as unsorted piles. To recover the value, first we must sort it. That's what David Hinwood aims to do with his robotic hand. For now, he's focussing on sorting textiles, which is more complicated than it looks at first sight. Brought to you by Caroline and Rod.
Oct 13, 2019•48 min•Ep. 117
Back in 2013, Sustainable Population Australia hosted the Fenner Conference, featuring a stellar cast of speakers. It's fascinating to hear Dr Jane OSullivan, Dr Haydn Washington, Dr Simon Michaux and Dr Michael Lardelli as they talk about the environmental challenges facing Australia and the world. It's instructive to think about what has - and hasn't changed since then. World population continues to surge, having grown from 7.2 to 7.7 billion. Peak oil has been deferred, largely due to frackin...
Oct 11, 2019•57 min•Ep. 116
On Fuzzy Logic we get into the science of dancing. With movement, music, biomechanics and helping us age disgracefully, we learn that science is as much about being alive as it is about cold numbers. Professional dancers Liz Lea and Philip Piggin describe how science informs their work - and how their work communicates science. To learn more about Dance for Wellbeing which helps people with Parkinson's, Dimention and other conditions, visit BelconnenArtsCentre.com.au . Liz Lea is Creative Direct...
Oct 07, 2019•58 min•Ep. 115
Political leaders are fond of saying we need a Big Australia, but what does that really mean? How long can our beautiful arid land keep supporting more and more people? Do we need to keep growing to pump the economy? Lish Fejer from ABC local radio interviews Rod from Fuzzy Logic. During the broadcast, Lish mentions Worldometers which shows startling real-time numbers for world population and other statistics....
Sep 15, 2019•19 min•Ep. 114
A human body is a complicated thing, so it can be really difficult to know what happens when you stuff things - food - into it. We eat so many different things that each interact, and we don't even remember exactly what we ate in a day...let alone honestly tell a researcher. New Scientist recently ran a story , highlighting the nutrition muddle caused by endless conflicting advice. What are we to make of this? Dr Nenad Naumovski and Nathan D'Cunha from the University of Canberra join Tom to unta...
Aug 21, 2019•45 min•Ep. 113
If growth is good, lots of growth must be very good. If we like people, then lots of people must be good, right? It took 123 years from 1804 to 1927 to add a billion people to the world's population. It took 12 years to 2011 to add another billion, and now there are over 7.5 billion people on the planet. Michaeal Bayliss from Sustainable Population Australia talks us through some reasons why we should care. But is that racist? Why not just recycle? Music we play during the show are from his band...
Aug 19, 2019•50 min•Ep. 112
This week, Andy is talking with the many wonderful people running events in an around Canberra for National Science Week 2019. Find events near you here: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/
Aug 13, 2019•42 min•Ep. 111
This week, Broderick takes a step back 50 years and shares the news of July 1969. Relive the hype and the mystery that surrounded the space race and the Apollo 11 mission.
Jul 29, 2019•51 min•Ep. 110
Today on Fuzzy Logic we look at how the first Australian's arrived and Broderick delves into the world of animals and accents. Episode originally aired on 23 June, 2019.
Jul 15, 2019•47 min•Ep. 108
This week, Broderick brings you a mixed bag of science news from the week that has just gone. Episode originally broadcast on June 16, 2019
Jul 12, 2019•47 min•Ep. 107
Here's a quick quizz: what's the dominant form of life of Earth? Humans...dinosaurs...insects? None of the above! If you consider the entire lifespan of our planet, the creatures that have spanned the longest are stromatolites. Not only are they are the earliest fossil evidence of life, their time here far outlasts other forms of life. Plus they released vast quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere - which enabled life such as you and I. Hamelin Station is operated by Australian Bush Heritage t...
Jul 12, 2019•17 min•Ep. 109
This week Broderick talks to some of the Canberra speakers from Pint of Science 2019. Guest scientists include Belinda Wilson, Dr Jason Sharples, Dr Fiona Panther and Dr Rose Ahlfeldt. This episode originally aired on May 19, 2019
Jul 09, 2019•56 min•Ep. 106
Sometimes it feels like science is a constant in our lives. The facts are facts and that's the way it is. But that isn't always the case. Today Broderick talks about how science has changed with new information and new discoveries over the years. This episode originally aired on March 24, 2019
Jul 06, 2019•49 min•Ep. 105
This episode originally broadcast on St Patrick's Day- hence the green theme! Broderick discusses Irish science and then delves into the world of colour to understand what it means to be green!
Jul 03, 2019•50 min•Ep. 104
One of Australia's most loved animals is the platypus. They are more common than you might imagine because they're fairly shy. But if you look they're you can see them, even in unexpected places. Geoff Williams is a self confessed platypus enthusiast from the Australian Platypus Conservancy. With some citiizen science you can help monitor the numbers of this wonderful creature. www.platypus.asn.au Interview by Rod
May 06, 2019•10 min•Ep. 102
