Paramount Importance

Professor Judy Shamoun-Baranes is a world-leading aeroecologist and Professor of Animal Movement Ecology at the University of Amsterdam, where she leads research into how animals move through one of Earth’s least visible habitats: the air. Her work sits at the intersection of ecology, meteorology, technology and conservation, using tools such as GPS tracking, accelerometers, weather radar and predictive modelling to understand how birds, bats and insects move through the atmosphere.

Aeroecology is the study of life in the air. It looks at how animals use the aerial environment, how weather shapes their movement, how species interact while flying, and how human activities such as aviation, drones, skyscrapers and wind farms are changing the sky they depend on. In other words, the air is not empty space, it is habitat.

In this episode of Paramount Importance, we explore the hidden world above us: how weather radar can detect bird migration, why tiny birds make extraordinary weather decisions before crossing oceans, how wind farms can affect aerial wildlife, and why understanding animal movement is essential for conservation, renewable energy planning and aviation safety.

This conversation will change the way you look at the sky.

This episode is sponsored by the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University

Professor Tobias Strunk and Professor Andrew Currie are world-leading researchers in neonatal medicine and immunology, working at the forefront of one of the most critical and underexplored areas of science—how we protect the most vulnerable humans on the planet in their first moments of life. Combining clinical expertise in newborn intensive care with cutting-edge immunological research, their work focuses on understanding and preventing life-threatening infections in preterm infants.

Together, they are tackling one of medicine’s greatest challenges: newborn sepsis—a condition that remains a leading cause of death globally, yet is still poorly understood and incredibly difficult to diagnose. From uncovering how the immune system develops in the earliest weeks of life, to running large-scale international clinical trials, their research is not only advancing fundamental science but actively reshaping how neonatal care is delivered around the world.

In this episode, Kurt sits down with Professors Strunk and Currie to explore the science behind newborn survival, the global scale of preterm birth, and the groundbreaking work being done to improve outcomes—from innovative therapies to surprisingly simple solutions like coconut oil skincare. This is a powerful conversation that goes beyond medicine, revealing how science, persistence, and bold thinking are driving real change where it matters most.

Professor Navid Moheimani is a leading algal biotechnologist at Murdoch University and a global authority on microalgae, working at the forefront of sustainable innovation across energy, agriculture, and environmental management. His research explores how some of the smallest organisms on Earth, algae, can solve some of our biggest challenges, from producing oxygen and biofuels to transforming waste into valuable resources. 

Through pioneering work in algal cultivation and large-scale applications, Professor Moheimani is redefining how we view waste, developing “waste-to-profit” systems that convert agricultural and organic waste into renewable energy, high-protein biomass, and sustainable products. His research spans everything from wastewater treatment and carbon capture to the future of biofuels, bioplastics, and even algae-powered infrastructure. 

By combining cutting-edge science with real-world application, his work sits at the intersection of climate solutions, food security, and circular economies, positioning algae as one of the most powerful and overlooked tools for building a more sustainable future.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Rochelle Steven, Lecturer in Environmental and Conservation Science at Murdoch University, one of Australia’s leading conservation scientists working at the intersection of avian ecology, biodiversity, citizen science, and human–wildlife interactions. 

Before joining Murdoch, Rochelle held a series of highly respected roles across Australia’s conservation sector, including Species Conservation Project Coordinator at WWF-Australia, where she worked on threatened species management and community-led conservation, as well as a postdoctoral research role with the University of Queensland’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, focused on citizen science and species recovery.

With a PhD in bird conservation and a career spanning academia, conservation policy, and public engagement, Rochelle brings extraordinary insight into the science of birds, ecotourism, and the human behaviours shaping our natural world.

From the decline of migratory shorebirds and the power of citizen science, to the hidden impacts of recreation on wildlife and the ethics of conservation, this is a powerful conversation with one of the country’s most respected voices in environmental science.

In this episode, Winthrop Professor Marc Tennant, Chair of the Academic Board at The University of Western Australia, is one of Australia’s leading voices in public health dentistry. With over three decades dedicated to tackling health inequality, Marc has helped transform how dental care is delivered, especially for rural, remote, and disadvantaged communities across Australia.

From teaching generations of dentists since the 1980s to driving the expansion of regional dental schools, his work has had a direct impact on access to care, shifting outcomes for some of the most vulnerable populations.

But this conversation goes far beyond policy.

We dive into the fascinating science of teeth, the surprising power of fluoride, and how something as simple as brushing your teeth can prevent serious disease. Marc unpacks the hidden link between oral health and socioeconomic inequality, shares practical tips that could save your teeth, and reveals the future of dentistry.

This is a conversation about more than teeth, it’s about health, access, and the systems that shape our lives.

Dr Narelle Dybing is a parasitologist whose research investigates the hidden world of parasites and the role they play in wildlife health, invasive species ecology and biosecurity. After completing her PhD at Murdoch University, her work has focused on parasites carried by invasive animals such as feral cats, foxes, rats and wild dogs, helping to uncover how these often-overlooked organisms move through ecosystems and the risks they can pose to wildlife, livestock and even people. 

In this episode we explore the fascinating and sometimes unsettling world of parasites. Drawing on years of field and laboratory research, Dr Dybing shares stories from dissecting feral animals across Western Australia to investigating parasites on remote Christmas Island. Her work reveals that invasive species don’t just impact ecosystems through predation, they can also carry hidden pathogens and parasites capable of affecting native wildlife and altering ecological balance. 

We discuss the complex life cycles of parasites, zoonotic diseases that can move between animals and humans, and why understanding parasite diversity is essential for effective wildlife management and biosecurity. From rat lungworm to tapeworms more than half a metre long, this conversation reveals an invisible layer of ecology that shapes ecosystems in ways most people never realise.

WE DID IT! The world’s first live underwater podcast — hosted by Kurt Krispyn — went to air on February 27th at 10am, broadcast directly from a seagrass meadow off Rottnest Island for World Seagrass Day. Our seagrass expert and underwater guest was Associate Professor Mike van Keulen from Murdoch University. Mike is the chair of the IUCN Seagrass Specialist Group, Academic Chair of Marine Biology and Dean of Environmental of Conservation Sciences. With decades of experience Mike is the perfect person to speak to about seagrass.

We streamed live into more than 12 schools and reaching viewers across the globe, the conversation was all about shining a light on our vital seagrass ecosystems — raising awareness, sharing science, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible when research meets technology.

This milestone was made possible through the incredible innovation of Jason Maley, whose cutting-edge underwater system allows video, audio, and live streaming across platforms beneath the surface (connectingeyestooceans).

An effort like this takes a remarkable team:

 • Dr. James Tweedley — marine biologist and top-side host
 • Kesia Savill — underwater camera
 • Arianna Ardit — safety diver
 • Ollie Loffelman — top-side camera
 • Captain Trini Reynolds — skipper

Special thanks to Professor Jennifer Verduin for helping bring the vision to life, and Dr. Geoff Reynolds for lending his boat and stepping in when it mattered most.

And this is only the beginning. Ryan Chatfield has documented the entire journey, alongside Nick Thake and Jacob Horan, capturing what will become a documentary of this special moment.

With the generous support of our major sponsors — Murdoch University and Western Australian Marine Science Institution — we’ve shown what’s possible when passion, science, and community come together.

From the seafloor to the world — and we’re just getting started.

Hi everyone, this has been an amazing year. We have reached 1000s of listeners spanning over 72 countries in less than eight months. We started this as a bit of a trial, to see if it would work without having any proper tools set up for taking it to the next step. So, we are taking a break and restructuring how we approach this, and we'll be back in the new year (February) with a whole bunch more exciting topics and people. Stay tuned on our socials as we will be putting out many more science videos and documentaries, plus a website and some merch. It has meant a lot to us that we have had such a supportive crew and cant wait for the next stage.

In this episode, I chat with spider researchers Dr. André Wanderley do Prado and Dr. Pedro de Souza Castanheira to explore the remarkable and often misunderstood world of spiders. André and Pedro share their journey from researching Brazil’s dense, biodiverse forests to working hands-on with Western Australia’s unique species at the WA Museum, where live specimens, fieldwork, and careful taxonomy all play a role in uncovering new insights into arachnid life.

We dive into what it is like to work with venomous species, why spider diversity is so much higher in some regions than others, and how museum collections help scientists trace evolution, behaviour, and ecological change. Along the way, André and Pedro break down common myths, highlight the surprising beauty and complexity of spiders, and reveal what these tiny predators can teach us about our rapidly changing planet.

In this episode Kurt dives into the wild coastline of Western Australia with whale researchers Katy Fannei and Max Fabry, two scientists who built a groundbreaking whale-monitoring program from scratch, fueled by passion, volunteers, and community pilots.
From flying light aircraft over 450 km of coastline to navigating remote beaches with drones and 4WDs, Katharina and Max reveal how a chance meeting led to a unique collaboration linking whale behavior with estuaries, drones, and citizen science. Discover how storm-driven estuary openings may shape whale movements, hear incredible close-encounter stories with southern right whales and great white sharks, and learn how community-powered science can unlock secrets of our oceans.
It is science in the sky and surf, equal parts inspiring, adventurous, and awe-filled. Tune in to explore the frontier where whales, people, and place meet.