Fuzzy Logic Science Show

Government revenue comes from taxation, right? At least that's a common view.

But, according to Modern Monetary Theory, central governments must create the dollars before they can be taxed: money that does not exist cannot be taxed.

That means a central government budget is not like a household, business or even a state government budget.

While it's still controversial in some corners, MMT has profound implications for how governments spend and whether they run deficits. There are also a few caveats.

To navigate us through a complicated topic, you couldn't ask for a better guide than Dr Steven Hail who is an economist at MML and Adjunct Associate Professor at Torrens University Australia.

Interview by Rod as part of a series for the book Sustainability and the New Economics.

What does it mean to be Australian?

A very short speech by Rod on Australia Day 2022 to the Federation of Chinese Community of Canberra Inc at the Canberra Labor Club.

Neoliberalism is the path to prosperity for all, yes? Or maybe not.

Few philosophies have had a more profound effect on our current world. Yet it is now crumbling, and what it morphs into remains to be seen.

Professor John Quiggin is the author of a chapter on neoliberalism in this Springer book. His book Zombie Economics: How Dead Ideas Still Walk among Us sold over 20,000 copies and was translated into eight languages. His latest book is Economics in Two Lessons: Why Markets Work So Well, and Why They Can Fail So Badly.

John Quiggin is UQ Laureate Fellow at the School of Economics, University of Queensland.

Interview by Rod who is co-editor of the Springer book.

How often have you heard the word 'sustainable' this week? We've been living with this language for so long, it's become almost meaningless. And yet there is possibly no more important concept today as the world plunges into environmental chaos.

In this interview we talk to a world expert on why economics is central to this problem. Professor Steve Keen reveals the astonishing incompetence embedded in the IPCC economics analysis. The impacts of neoclassical economics are profound and ongoing.

Prof Keen is one of the emminent authors in this new Springer book that examines this topic in depth. He is also a senate candidate for The New Liberals in the election this year.

Interview by Rod who is co-editor of the Springer book.

Where do you go to get your food you're stuck during lockdown or bushfire smoke? And what does it mean to see empty shelves in the supermarket?

That can be hard enough for most people, but even harder if you're not mobile.

Sathiyakumar Rahanan is researching for his PhD with the University of Canberra where he is looking at the role of local shops.

If you're a small shop owner, you can help by being part of his study [email protected] (or 0475 614 047).

In this episode Rod also interviews documentary maker Derek Muller, who produced Vitamania, on SBS.

This epsiode Fuzzy Logic celebrates Earth Science Week with Geoscience Australia dishing the dirt on how soil is solving crimes around Australia. Dr Patrice de Caritat starts the episode by sharing how researchers in Canberra trialled a new method of tracking criminals using soil. Next up, Natalie Schroeder takes us back in time to share how Australia's first female Commonwealth palaeontologist helped to solve a crime in 1952 using her knowledge of fossils. Finally, Dr Keith Sircombe explains how a machine that uses radioactivity to date ancient rocks was used to match gunshot residue. A show full of ground-breaking research. Special thanks to Geoscience Australia for access to these amazing earth scientists.

The climate change problem is immense and it can feel like we're helpless. Yet in our own way there is a lot we can do.

Today on Fuzzy Logic we met people from different backgrounds who demonstrate their own approaches to the problem.

This week Broderick dives into the quirky world of the Ignobel Prizes. With talking cats, old chewing gum and beard research we hope this episode will make you laugh and make you think!

In this National Science Week episode of Fuzzy Logic, Broderick explores the geological journey that has occurred to bring food to our plate. Joined by expert scientists from Geoscience Australia, this episode highlights how closely linked our food is to the geology that surrounds us.

Guests include Dr Steve Hill, Chief Scientist at Geoscience Australia, Dr Claire Phillips, a remote sensing scientist, and Amy Peterson, Team Lead for the Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

Michael Jennnions is a evolutionary/behavioural ecologist from the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University (ANU).  We discuss what it is to be a behavioural ecologist, some of his work on mosquito fish and his thoughts on how to improve the incentives and process of science publication.

Interviewed by Tom