In Situ Science

SPECIAL GUEST: Darryl Jones (Griffith)

Don't feed the birds! Well.. OK, if you must make sure you do it properly.

Dr Darryl Jones is an urban ecologist who has spent years studying the interactions between humans and animals in towns and cities. One of the most common and widespread interactions between animals and humans is bird feeding. Despite how common it is, there has been very little research into the impacts of this interaction on birds' behaviour and ecology. Darryl has turned his focus towards understanding what food we are giving birds and why we feel so compelled to do this.

In this episode of In Situ Science we talk about Australia's bird life and how adopting bird feeding strategies developed in other parts of the world is inappropriate for our unique birds. We talk about what impacts our bird feeding behaviours can have on birds, and, if you do feel compelled to feed birds, how you can do it responsibly. If you do want to know more about how to feed the birds in your garden make sure to grab a copy of Darryl's two books "The Birds at My Table: Why We Feed Wild Birds and Why it Matters" and "Feeding the Birds at Your Table: A Guide for Australia".

Follow Darryl on Twitter @MagpieJonesD

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

Cameron Webb, to put it simply, is the mozzie guy. He has built his career studying the diversity and ecology of mosquitoes and also their interactions with humans and how they can be vectors of significant human diseases. His expertise in mosquitoes requires him to be in one moment a champion for mosquito appreciation and understanding, whilst simultaneously understanding the need to control their populations and their impact on people.

When he’s not out in swamps surveying mosquito populations, you can find him in the lab, or in front of a microphone advocating for responsible urban development and integrated pest management. As cities grow and become greener, we are also faced with the inevitable interactions with wildlife that can occur including our complex relationship with mosquitoes. In this interview we advocate for a new breed of mosquito appreciators, AKA “itchers”, and a balanced appreciation of what ‘living close to nature’ really means.

You can find out more at Cameron’s website here.

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

SPECIAL GUEST: Sami Bayly (Author and Illustrator)

Sami Bayly is the author and illustrator of the award winning children’s’ book ‘The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals”, published by Hachette Australia. This book features full page illustrations and fun facts about some of the world’s strangest animals, who are all beautiful in their own very special way. Sami studied natural history illustration at university and is now forging a career publishing books that highlight weird and wonderful creatures that you may have never heard of.

In this interview with In Situ Science we talk about what scientific illustration is, what sorts of skills you need, and how a creative career can pose all sorts of weird challenges beyond simply doing great work. She is currently working on her next book of incredible animals that is due to be released in late 2020.

Follow Sami on Instagram, Facebook, and visit her website here.

 

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

SPECIAL GUESTS: Dr Jim Jobin and Nick Tangeman (Pod Therapy)

How are you handling isolation and COVID-19? If you feel like you need some support and want to talk to someone about it, our two special guests today are here to tell you that you definitely should. In this very special episode of In Situ Science we chat to the hosts of Pod Therapy - a podcast dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and breaking down stigmas surrounding therapy.

Dr Jim Jobin and Nick Tangeman are clinical therapists from Las Vegas who specialise in treating a range of mental health issues including depression, addiction, and relationship counselling. In this interview we chat about how the COVID-19 presents some of the most challenging social and economic conditions for people's mental health. We also talk about the relationship between research and practice in therapy, career paths in psychology and the standard of Australian ice hockey.

Ask the guys a question at www.podtherapy.net

Follow them on Twitter @podtherapyguys

Follow Dr Jim @SinCityShrink

Follow Nick @Nick_Tangeman

 

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

Whats next for In Situ Science?

In the weird new world we are living in things have changed quite a bit. Here's a quick update to let you know that we're still here and we're so happy to have your support during these crazy times!

Take care, stay safe, and we'll see you all again soon!

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

Way back on episode 39 Charlotte Mills was a PhD student at UNSW. She has since completed her PhD and is now Dr Charlotte Mills. Charlotte describes her time as a PhD candidate as a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ experience. This experience has taken her across the magical desert landscapes of inland Australia and continues to be an exciting adventure.

Follow Charlotte on Twitter @EcologistMills

Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

This flashback episode takes us back to episode 60 where we chat with Dieter Hochuli, an invertebrate biologist and urban ecologist from the University of Sydney who studies how nature survives in towns and cities. His research investigates the ecological, economical and psychological benefits of nature in cities, and how our modern way of life affects the plants and animals around us. 

In an interview with In Situ Science Dieter chats with us about how connecting with nature is being shown to have significant impacts on people’s health and well being, and that this connection can still happen even when you live in a big city. We also chat about the creative side of science and science communication, and how taking ourselves a little less seriously can be a great technique for approaching science and scientific careers. 

Follow Dieter on Twitter @dieterhochuli and check out his lab website here.

Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

Our next flashback episode goes all the way back to Episode 11 where we chatted with Dr Heather Hendrickson about the battle against anti-biotic resistant bacteria. Dr Hendrickson is a research scientist and science communicator from Massey University in New Zealand. Her research group is at the front line of understanding how other forms of treatment can be used as alternatives to broad spectrum antibiotics. In an interview with in situ science she takes us through her research into bacteriophage therapy: finding viruses that will target and kill pathogenic bacteria.

Find out more about Heather’s research here and read her thoughts on the This Microbial Life blog.

Follow Heather on Twitter @DrHHNZ

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

For the next few episodes In Situ Science will be revisiting some old classics while James takes a break from podcasting to tackle a very important job :-)

First off the rank is Episode 47 with the one and only Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Dr Karl is perhaps Australia’s most prolific and well known science communicator. He has written over 43 books, and has appeared regularly on national radio for over 30 years. In an interview with In Situ Science we chat about the immense amount of research and hard work that goes in to building up Dr Karl’s broad  range of expertise.

Vist Dr Karl’s website at www.drkarl.com and follow him on Twitter @doctorkarl

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

Adam Hamlin is a neuroscientist at the University of New England who studies how drugs, such as painkillers, affect brain neurochemistry. These chemicals can have wonderful affects and are miracles of modern medicine, however if used improperly can lead to dependencies and addictions.

In this interview with Dr Hamlin we talk about how these painkillers work and what make them such effective and potentially dangerous substances. We also chat about what makes lab rats such effective models for medical research, why scepticism is beautiful, and what antidepressants might have to do with our gutmicrobiomes.

Follow Adam Hamlin on twitter @honestscientist

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Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper - www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com