AMplify - The Australian Museum Podcast

This week, Kim McKay talks to Sharni Jones about her roots, beginnings and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Collections at the Australian Museum.

This week, Kim McKay talks to Gillian Scott about the beginnings of her museum career and her plans for exhibitions at the Australian Museum.

In this live recording hosted by The Science Show's Robyn Williams, Dr Michael Bowen, Dr Richard Major, Professor Angela Moles and Sonya Pemberton share their Eureka Prize-winning work and discuss the big issues facing Australian science.

This lively panel discussion covers a diverse range of topics including psycho-pharmacology, rapid evolution in introduced plant species, making compelling and challenging science documentaries, science in the era of Trump and the importance of building curiosity in the world from a young age.

Our panellists for the evening were: Dr. Michael Bowen, School of Psychology, University of Sydney; Dr. Richard Major, Senior Research Scientist, Australian Museum Research Institute; Professor Angela Moles, Big Ecology Lab, UNSW Australia; and journalist and producer Sonya Pemberton, Genepool Productions.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes reward excellence in the fields of research, innovation, leadership, science communication and school science. The 2017 Eureka Prize finalists will be announced at the end of July and winners at the end of August. To read more, visit

0:00 – 13:50 Introduction from Kim McKay AO, Executive Director and CEO, Australian Museum

13:50 – 50:10 Panel discussion hosted by Robyn Williams

50:10 – 55:00 Close from Kim McKay AO, Executive Director and CEO, Australian Museum

author Bruce Pascoe detailed his research into early colonial diaries and records of Indigenous life in this episode of Live at the AM. His work indicates that Aboriginal people right across the continent were using domesticated plants, sowing, harvesting, irrigating and storing – behaviours inconsistent with the hunter-gatherer assessment. In this lecture, he also addressed the underlying agendas that have shaped the narrative regarding Australia’s 60,000 years of history.

Pascoe was joined by special guest Dr Michael Westaway, archaeologist and biological anthropologist, who discussed his research and findings from work at both Aboriginal sites and with Australia's megafauna.

A clinical psychologist, toxicology expert and naturalist examine the dangers – real and imagined – which underpin our society’s persistent fear of spiders in this episode of Live at the AM.

Clinical psychologist Sophie Li details the ins and outs of the psychology behind arachnophobia, as well as strategies for treatment. From cognitive behavioural therapy to exposure therapy, challenging initial beliefs with informed learning, and tactics for handling set-backs, psychologists can help sufferers manage their fear and think realistically about the threat posed by spiders.

Public perception and fears surrounding spider bites and venom toxicity often veer widely from what is real. Pharmacist Nicole Wright, a Specialist in Poisons Information, will review these misconceptions alongside symptoms, first aid and antivenom treatments for red back and funnel-web spiders.

Naturalist and Australian Museum Live Exhibits Officer, Lachlan Manning will explore the evolutionary and cultural underpinnings of arachnophobia, as well as give scientific insights into the contrasts between common beliefs and actual behaviours of arachnids.

This week, Kim McKay talks to Dr Jenny Newell about her extensive background and expertise in the Pacific art and culture, as well as her focus in the cultural communities affected by the climate change.

Hear Dr Helen Maynard-Casely share her fascinating insights as we celebrate the United Nations’ inaugural International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Dr Helen Maynard-Casely is an instrument scientist for the WOMBAT High-Intensity Powder Diffractometer at ANSTO. Her expertise is in the study of small molecules and ices under pressure. She is as passionate about understanding the planetary bodies in our Solar System as she is about promoting science to a wide audience, for example, in her column ‘The Shores of Titan’ for The Conversation.

Get behind-the-scenes of Australian Museum's newest exhibition Transformations - Art of the Scott Sisters with Vanessa Finney, Manager of Archives and Rare Books as she talks about this jewel of AM's collection with Kim McKay.

Sheldon Teare works in Materials Conservation across the AM's Collections, and specialises in Natural Sciences Collection materials and objects.

Listen to Kim McKay in conversation with Professor Tim Flannery who has made many remarkable discoveries in palaeontology, mammology and environmental science.