Seeds

Sarah Kessans is a research fellow at the University of Canterbury. In this interview we talk about her work as a synthetic biologist and discuss genetic engineering and the ethics of change as well as how it all actually works at a practical level. We also talk about her application to become an astronaut to NASA and what it was like to go through that process.

This is one of 48 interviews with people doing things a little differently in a wide variety of areas. Check some of the others out at www.seeds.libsyn.com

A brief note from Sarah: "in relation to the Arctic apples - I mentioned that the enzyme that they knocked out oxidises sugars, when it actually oxidises polyphenols ... https://www.arcticapples.com/arctic-apples-r/introducing-nonbrowning/"

Peter is the project coordinator for the local urban food hub Ōtākaro Orchard. Its aim is to provide knowledge and inspiration about sustainable food systems as part of the Food Resilience Network. In this interview we talk with Peter about his background and experiences in different parts of the world and what led him to move to Christchurch to be involved with this new initiative as well as his time in Edinburgh, Costa Rica, discussing modern dance, acting and theatre.

There are three stages to what is being done at Ōtākaro Orchard:

An Edible Park featuring a public food forest, multiple herb and vegetable beds showcasing a variety of growing techniques, space for educational workshops and an amphitheatre for public gatherings and events.

A Local Food Information Centre and Cafe housed in what we envision will be Christchurch's most regenerative building.

A Dome which will serve as an indoor food production and classroom space.

https://otakaroorchard.org/

http://beaconfoodforest.org/

NZ food related resources: https://www.localisingfood.com/

More from the website:

The Ōtākaro Orchard will serve as the welcoming front door to the local food resilience movement with has been gaining momentum since the earthquakes shook our city apart. In that time we realised that supermarkets carry only 3 days worth of food and if our supply chains get disrupted we go hungry. Community gardens became important places of refuge and connection as well as sources of fresh food. In the past few years the Food Resilience Network (aka Edible Canterbury) has been holding a collective vision of Christchurch as an 'Edible Garden City'. A city where every citizen has access to the fresh and healthy food they need to live well. Research has shown that up to 40% of Cantabrians are food insecure which means they can struggle to have access to the food they need. Reimagining our urban green spaces as edible ones is a key way we can start to change this. We hope that by establishing the Ōtākaro Orchard as proof that these kinds of spaces can work, that many more can become possible in the city.

Alanna Chapman is a co-founder of 27 Seconds which is a social enterprise winery whose profits go to ending modern day slavery. They do this by supporting the work of Hagar with their profits. In this interview we talk about her childhood that included living in South East Asia, her more recent encounters with modern slavery and the resulting origin of the idea for 27 Seconds and how it operates as a social enterprise.

https://27seconds.co.nz

https://www.facebook.com/27secondswinery/

http://hagar.org.nz/

www.seeds.libsyn.com

Samantha Jones is a social entrepreneur who founded B Corp certified Little Yellow Bird (https://www.littleyellowbird.co.nz/). It's aim is to ethically make uniforms and other workwear while also considering the source of organic cotton, impact on the environment and the fair treatment of the workers involved. In this interview we talk with Samantha about her childhood, living in Russia, some initiatives she is involved in such as Campus and the origins of Little Yellow Bird.

https://www.littleyellowbird.co.nz

https://www.campus.org.nz/

http://bcorporation.com.au/bcorp_nz

"I guess definitely the whole resilience side - you know, constantly going through ups and downs - and we have had multiple times in our business journey already where you are like "is this it"? We have had several times where we have run out of money, so tired, you know, working long hours and not getting the traction you are hoping and then miraculously the next day or the next week something happens. And then you look back and you are like, "that was worth it", and that has happened - there are about 3 really significant examples or times in our business already where it could have gone either way. So learning that I think is really important…"

Michael founded the iconic New Zealand brand Cookie Time more than 30 years ago. But that wasn't his first business idea and the initial ones he had tried failed - but he kept trying. When you talk to Michael it is apparent that if the cookie idea hadn't worked then he would have tried something else - that entrepreneurial spirit is still evident today with the launch of social enterprise Nutrient Rescue and other ventures we discuss in the interview. Michael's focus has shifted greatly in the last few years and we discuss his continuing evolution and a wide variety of things that interest him - from tiny houses to electric cars and 'Light'.

https://www.michaelmayell.com/

Cookie Time: http://cookietime.co.nz/

Nutrient Rescue: https://nutrientrescue.nz/

A bonus episode to celebrate getting to a total of 10,000 listens of the show and to say thanks to those who subscribe! This is a bit different as it is from the recent conference at Te Papa where I was able to help moderate a session on the topic "Are there too many Charities in New Zealand". Thought it was worth sharing as there were a lot of very stimulating ideas and perspectives shared by the following 5 panelists:

• Cheryl Spain - The Gift Trust https://www.thegifttrust.org.nz/
• Dellwyn Stuart - Auckland Foundation https://aucklandfoundation.org.nz/
• Jamie Cattell - Charities Services (the regulator) https://www.charities.govt.nz/
• Kate Russell - Fundraising Institute of New Zealand https://www.finz.org.nz/
• Sue Barker - Sue Barker Charities Law http://www.lawnewzealand.co.nz/

Craig Fisher from RSM does the introduction at the start. https://www.rsm.global/newzealand/people/craig-fisher

The video of the presentation and the Q&A session as well as the material from all the other 12 sessions at the two day conference are available at no charge here from CLAANZ: http://www.charitylawassociation.org.au/events-nzconf2018

For more info email me at [email protected]

Miranda is the STEM Coordinator at the Ara Institute of Canterbury. In this conversation we talk about Miranda's background including her early years in the ski industry, involvement in space camps for youth, visiting NASA, the mission of Spacebase, the colonisation of Mars and the promotion of STEM for the next generation.

http://www.ara.ac.nz/

https://spacebase.co/

Earlier interview with Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom on Space http://seeds.libsyn.com/emeline-patt-dahlstrom-on-space

David is the Chair of Canterbury Tech and in this episode released during Techweek '18 we talk about the origins of Canterbury Tech, what it is involved in and the future of technology for the next generation. We also discuss David's childhood in South Africa, his different entrepreneurial ventures, what makes a good manager and how you hire to get the best people and culture fit.

Canterbury Tech: http://canterburytech.nz/

Stratos Technology Partners: http://stp.co.nz/

This episode is released during Techweek '18 as we are focusing on Technology for a few episodes.

Techweek '18: https://techweek.co.nz/

Christchurch NZ: https://www.christchurchnz.com/new-zealand/

Stella is the Chief Digital Officer (and Acting Executive Director Allied Health) for the Canterbury DHB and West Coast DHB. In this interview we talk about Stella's career and what she is involved in relating to technology and the health sector. What will a ward of the future look like? What will 'big data' mean for health care? We explore these and other questions in this interview.

This interview is released in the lead up to Techweek '18 and is part of a focus on technology and the role it plays in our lives. The first interview on this topic was Professor Rob Lindemann on Virtual Reality, Peter Beggs on technology in Antarctica and next week will be David Carter on Canterbury Tech.

http://www.cdhb.health.nz

Some of the health related events coming up as part of Techweek '18:

"Techie Brekkie - a feast for mind and body": https://techweek.co.nz/whats-on/2018/innovation-breakfast-308/

"Emerging Tech in Health 2018": https://techweek.co.nz/whats-on/2018/emerging-tech-in-health-18-52/

"Global Trends in Health Tech": https://techweek.co.nz/whats-on/2018/health-tech-lunch-and-showcase-246/

Peter is the Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand and in this interview we talk about his background as well as the history of explorers in Antarctica, the work being done supporting world leading science and environmental protection, keeping people safe on the ice, the role of technology now and in the future as well as the international significance of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

This episode is released in the lead up to Techweek '18 as we are focusing on Technology for a few episodes.

For more: http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/

Techweek '18: https://techweek.co.nz/

Christchurch NZ: https://www.christchurchnz.com/new-zealand/