Lab Notes

By Lab NotesBusiness Entrepreneurship Science

Lab Notes episodes

April 17, 2020 007 - THE SURFING SCIENTIST - Prof. Marc in het Panhuis
As lead researcher for the Surf Flex Lab - Prof. Marc in het Panhuis can regularly be found testing the limits of surfboard and fin design both in the lab and on the ocean. Yet these projects are truely a world away from Marc's roots as a history-loving teen from the Netherlands.

In many ways Marc's career is even more wide ranging than it first appears - spanning not only geographies, but also technical fields including petrochemicals, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, soft robotics, edible electronics and surfing.

Marc's unconventional approach to research was fostered in Ireland as an early hire for the European expansion of the MIT Media Lab, a role in which Marc worked directly with industry, presented science to U2, and saw the MIT brand open doors to business leaders all across Europe.

In this episode we talk to Marc about flexibility in work, life and science, and hear how a love for the ocean has come to underpin his research as well as his down time.

GUEST : Prof. Marc in Het Panhuis
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/
https://panhuis.org/wp/

SURF FLEX LAB
https://twitter.com/surfflexlab
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/09/13/visit-surf-flex-lab

EON LABS :
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/

RENY DIGITAL :
https://renydigital.com/

HOST :
Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/

MUSIC :
Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
22 min
April 08, 2020 006 - AN ANGEL IN RESIDENCE - Alan Jones
Few people know the Australian technology sector quite like Alan Jones

From a vantage point in marketing in the early 90's Alan had a front row seat to the boom. Yet watching from the sidelines was never going to satisfy Alan's entrepreneurial itch - and he soon dove head first into the fast-paced world of the early internet.

As a key hire for Yahoo's expansion into Australia - Alan experienced the highs and lows of the tech bubble from inside one of the internet's rising stars, gaining wealth and wisdom in equal measure. After bidding farewell to the newly crowned incumbent of the internet in 2003, Alan started several ventures of his own before ultimately finding his calling as an angel investor and adviser, fostering the next generation of Australian tech startups at some of Australia’s leading startup accelerators including Startmate, Blue Chilli, Pollenizer, muru-D and Remarkable.

Plug in for some truely fascinating perspectives on innovation, investment and the internet.

GUEST : Alan Jones
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjones/
M8 VENTURES
https://m8.ventures/
REMARKABLE
https://remarkable.org.au/
EON LABS
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/
RENY DIGITAL
https://renydigital.com/
HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/
MUSIC : Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
41 min
April 01, 2020 005 - SHARPENING AUSTRALIA’S COMPETITIVE EDGE - Michael Sharpe
Michael Sharpe is the National Director of Australia's Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre - an organisation at the heart of the manufacturing industry's transition into the new age of digital fabrication. In this role Michael has travelled the length and breadth of Australia, forging links between businesses, academia and the government to ensure Australia’s manufacturers are innovative and competitive in an increasingly global marketplace.

Skipping a tertiary education to join the family's multi-generational business Sharpe Bros, Michael has primarily learned through hands-on experience, from operating a shovel to managing a multi-million dollar enterprise. Now with executive education from the Harvard Business School, a long history of community service and even a brief foray into politics under his belt, Michael brings a wealth of experience to the table as he works to bring about a quiet revolution in the Australian manufacturing sector.

GUEST : Michael Sharpe
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmichaelsharpe
AMGC (Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre)
https://www.amgc.org.au/
MANUFACTURING ACADEMY
https://www.manufacturingacademy.org.au/

SHARPE BROS
http://www.sharpebros.com.au/

EON LABS
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/
RENY DIGITAL
https://renydigital.com/
HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/
MUSIC : Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
26 min
March 24, 2020 004 - THE COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE - Toni Stevens
On this week's show we sit down with science-communicator and ecologist Toni Stevens to hear about the Australian Science Communicators Conference in Melbourne and how science communication is changing to confront the impacts of climate change. Toni also shares her tips on how young researchers can build a personal brand to position themselves for success in competitive landscape of research grants and science prizes.

GUEST : Toni Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonistevens/
LINKS :
Rethinking Science Communication Models in Practice, Jennifer Metcalfe, PhD Thesis, ANU 2019 (https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/165122)

iNaturalist (Bushfire Recovery Citizen Science Project)
https://www.inaturalist.org/

Australian Science Communicators - 11th Annual Conference
http://asc2020.asc.asn.au/
EON LABS :
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/
RENY DIGITAL :
https://renydigital.com/
HOST :
Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/
MUSIC :
Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
24 min
March 17, 2020 003 - FROM TROUBLES TO SOLUTIONS - Prof. Gordon Wallace
Born in 1958 in Belfast, Northern Ireland - Gordon Wallace's childhood was shaped by The Troubles, a religious and cultural schism that rocked the region for almost 50 years. A diligent work ethic and a passion for soccer helped Gordon keep his head above the fray, and ultimately allowed him to make the most of a fresh start in Australia when his family fled the increasingly violent conflict in 1972.

Since graduating with a doctoral degree in Electrochemistry from Deakin University, Gordon has spent most of his career at the leading edge of nanotechnology and polymer science. Initially focusing on the fundamental properties of conductive polymers, a chance encounter with Prof. Graham Clarke inspired a new branch of research in applied medicine and bionics that ultimately led Gordon to his current role as director for ACES, a research network covering applications as diverse as battery technology, solar cells, artificial muscles, tissue engineering and additive manufacturing.

Gordon’s has been the recipient of two honorary doctorates, a Eureka Prize for Research Leadership, the NSW Scientist of the Year Award and an Order of Australia medal, and he has also overseen the formation of several spin-out companies stemming from ACES research.

GUEST : Professor Gordon Wallace
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-wallace-35b26850/

ACES (ARC Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science)
https://electromaterials.edu.au/

EON LABS
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/

RENY DIGITAL
https://renydigital.com/

HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/

MUSIC : Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
29 min
March 10, 2020 002 - ENERGY STORAGE - Dr. Jon Knott
The drive towards to a low-carbon future has driven tremendous progress in clean-energy solutions like solar power and wind turbines. In many cases these technologies are now economically-competitive with coal, nuclear and other base-load power sources on a per-kilowatt basis, however a key challenge remains in ensuring this renewable energy can provide reliable electricity 24/7.

To complete our transition the electricity grid need a dramatic overhaul to incorporate distributed production, energy storage and demand-response solutions that ensure the system can cope with the increasing mismatch between power generation and consumer demand.

Today we are joined by Dr. Jon Knott - a research fellow specialising in energy storage at the Institute for Superconductive and Electronic Materials - to discuss the emerging energy storage options and how we can update our electricity grid for the 21st century.

GUEST : Dr. Jonathan Knott
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncknott/
EON LABS :
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/
RENY DIGITAL :
https://renydigital.com/
HOST :
Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/
MUSIC :
Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixing by Dr. Nat Harris
23 min
March 10, 2020 001 - ROCK AND ROLL AND RESEARCH - Chris Gilbey OAM
Chris Gilbey's career spans both industries and continents. Born in the UK in the aftermath of WWII and educated in South Africa in the midst of Apartheid, Chris Gilbey’s early life had its fair share of challenges. Yet they also fostered an entrepreneurial spirit that has seen Chris work well beyond the bounds of his engineering qualifications to take up careers as diverse as a guitarist, leather maker, music producer, sound engineer, consultant and more, experiencing all the highs and the lows that a life as an entrepreneur has to offer.

Chris' current role is CEO of Imagine Intelligent Materials - a University spinout focused on realising the promise of graphene in active surfaces and sensing technologies. He is the current Chairman of the Australian Graphene Industry Association, and an Order of Australia medallist recognising his charitable work.

GUEST : Chris Gilbey OAM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgilbey/

IMAGINE INTELLIGENT MATERIALS
http://imgne.com/

EON LABS :
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/

RENY DIGITAL :
https://renydigital.com/

HOST :
Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/

MUSIC :
Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
27 min
March 09, 2020 000 - ZERO TO ONE - An Introduction to Lab Notes
Welcome to Lab Notes!

This episode is a quick primer about what to expect from the series - so dive on in!

In future episodes we'll be joined by Australia's most illuminating luminaries to talk science, innovation, entrepreneurship and explore the wilderness between fundamental discovery and commercial success.

HOST :
Dr. Leo Stevens
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/

EON LABS :
https://www.eonlabs.org/
https://eonjournal.com/

RENY DIGITAL :
https://renydigital.com/

MUSIC :
Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris
4 min