Self Improvement Wednesday

ABC listen•www.abc.net.au

Education

A weekly lesson on a specific topic with some of Sydney's greatest teachers.

Last refreshed: August 16th, 2025 at 7:17 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Self Improvement: Archimedes' Eureka and other moments

It's a Greek word that has slipped into the Aussie vernacular, but the word "Eureka" was famously yelled by the great thinker Archimedes. So where did his lightbulb moment come from? And what happened next? Your teacher this week is Dr Anne Rogerson, the Charles Tesoriero Senior Lecturer in Latin at the University of Sydney.

May 26, 2021•10 min

Self Improvement: How to Think Like a Landscape Architect

Most people understand what architects do, but fewer understand what is involved in Landscape Architecture and what kind of skills we bring to their work. Elizabeth Mossop, Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney explains how to see places in all of their natural and human complexity.

May 12, 2021•9 min

Self Improvement: Which frogs survive best in human environments?

Do you have a frog in your backyard? Maybe you often hear one at night in your street. Like us, frogs have preferences when it comes to where they live. Take a listen to this week's fascinating lesson with Dr Jodi Rowley from the Australian Museum.

May 05, 2021•11 min

Self Improvement: Floods on the Hawkesbury

Dyarubbin, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, west of Sydney, has the longest recorded flood history in modern Australia. Written records go back to 1795, but Aboriginal people also told Governor King about floods before that. Your teacher is Professor Grace Karskens from the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, looking at how "flood-mindedness" in the area has evolved over centuries.

Apr 28, 2021•15 min

Bees need flowers but flowers need bees, so who came first?

Dr Eliza Middleton on the history of insects

Apr 21, 2021•11 min

Self Improvement Wednesday: Human-Wildlife Conflict

Everyone has had a nasty encounter with wildlife, even if it’s only getting stung by a bee. Now there is a global discipline of conservation science working on managing Human-Wildlife Conflict. Professor Richard Kingsford form the Centre for Ecosystem Science, at the University of New South Wales talks about how we can better understand our relationship with the world's wildlife.

Apr 14, 2021•11 min

Self Improvement: the influence of Aristotle

Greek philosopher Aristotle influenced everything from logic to politics. So how was he able to set the tone for over two millennia of philosophical enquiry? Dr Tim Dean, a philosopher from the University of Sydney shares his insights.

Apr 07, 2021•10 min

Self Improvement: What's the point of Hamlet?

“To be or not to be, that is the question" they're some of Shakespeare's most famous words. But do we know the true meaning of them? Huw Griffiths, Chair of English at the University of Sydney and author of Shakespeare’s Body Parts gives us the answer in this weeks instalment of Self Improvement.

Mar 24, 2021•14 min

Self Improvement Wednesday: Artemisia Gentileschi

Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art educates us on the work of baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi. An artist who turned the turmoil in her own life into incredible works of art.

Mar 17, 2021•9 min

Self Improvement: The Wood Wide Web

Fungi can help trees communicate with each other. Dr Brett Summerell, Chief Botanist at the Institute of Botanical Science explains how this fascinating symbiotic relationship works.

Mar 10, 2021•12 min

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