This episode continues our microplastics mini-series with a focus on engineering solutions.  Dr Anna Wróbel an environmental engineer from the School of Engineering at the University of Tasmania joins us to talk all things microplastics and the key role that engineers can play in reducing future microplastics and removing existing microplastics from the environment.  We’ll explore a range of questions including if stopping using plastics tomorrow would solve the problem, and how engineers contribute to solving the challenges of microplastics.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Elise Tuuri (insta: @elisetuuri_)

Co-Host: Dr. Sarah Lyden

Production: Ryan Smith

Media & Promotion: Elise Tuuri

In this episode we continue our microplastics mini-series, this time considering the intersection between agricultural systems and engineering.  Our two guests, Sadique Bawa Anyame and Carmel Towns are PhD students studying different aspects of agricultural systems and microplastics.  Both come from industry backgrounds, and share their extensive experience in their fields as well as the innovative work they are doing in their PhDs in this episode.  Anyame is investigating microplastics in biosolids while Carmel is investigating how microplastics end up in farm systems with a focus on poultry, both are also considering how to engineer a solution.  Tune in to learn more about how microplastics end up in the food chain and the innovative work these PhD students are doing to combat this.  

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Elise Tuuri (Insta: @elisetuuri_)
Co-Host: Sarah Lyden
Production: Richard Siu (Insta: @richard.siu.photography)
Media & Promotion:  Elise Tuuri

Microplastics are everywhere, in the ocean, our food, and even the air we breathe. But what exactly are they, where do they come from, and why should we care? In this episode, we chat with Elise Tuuri, a marine scientist who has just submitted her PhD on microplastic pollution. Elise shares her journey into marine science, what sparked her interest in studying tiny plastics, and what she discovered about microplastics in Australian waters. We also discuss how these plastics affect marine life, what it’s like working in this field, and her hopes for the future of microplastics research. Tune in to learn more about these tiny plastics with big impacts, and what we can all do to make a difference.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)

Co-Host: Dr. Sarah Lyden

Production: Ryan Smith

Media & Promotion: Elise Tuuri (@elisetuuri_)

How do you track the invisible spread of disease or predict the risks of invasive species? In this episode, we speak with ecological modeller, Nick Beeton, who uses maths, stats and a whole lot of code to make sense of complex environmental challenges. Nick shares his journey from growing up in Tasmania to working at CSIRO, where his projects have included modelling for wildlife disease like Devil Facial Tumor Disease on Tasmanian devils to genetically engineered mosquitoes for malaria prevention. It’s a fascinating dive into how numbers help us make better decisions for the planet.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)

Co-Host:  Zi Yi Kho (‪@ziyikho.bsky.social)

Production: Dr Simin Salarpour

Media & Promotion: Zi Yi Kho

In this episode, we’re exploring the fascinating world of oscillating chemical reactions — those rare reactions that don’t just proceed in one direction, but actually cycle, changing colours as they go.

Our guest is mathematical chemistry PhD candidate Heath Dimsey, who helps us unpack how these mesmerizing reactions work, why they defy what we think we know about chemical processes, and how they even help explain the patterns on animal coats — like the stripes of a zebra or the spots of a leopard. 

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)

Co-Host: Georgia Stewart

Production: Dr Hannah Moore (@HannahCMoore)

Media & Promotion: Georgia Stewart 

Returning guest Priya Kitchener joins us to unpack Australia’s PISA study results and what they say about how well our students are performing in mathematics.

With experience in both public and private school systems and now working as an engineer at a scientific software company, Priya shares her insights on how teachers, schools, and communities can use data to make meaningful change. From maths anxiety to student confidence, Priya dives into the complexity of maths education and the cultural shift that needs to happen for Tasmania to thrive.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week!

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)
Co-Host: Zi Yi Kho. (‪@ziyikho.bsky.social‬)
Production: Richard Siu (Insta: richard.siu.photography)
Media & Promotion: Zi Yi Kho. 

Nearly 50% of Tasmanians struggle with literacy. Kaitlyn shares her lived experience with literacy and the changes she decided to make for herself by joining 26Ten as an adult learner. She shares her past struggles, and we celebrate her newfound love of reading and writing.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)

Co-Host: Anna Abela 

Production: Ryan Smith

Media & Promotion: Georgia Stewart (@ggstew25)

Ever wondered why librarians tell you to only use sources from the last 5 years? Or what makes research "powerful"? Join us as we chat with a 25-year veteran librarian from the University of Tasmania who's been helping students crack the code of academic research for decades.

Our guest describes themselves as a "jack of all trades and a master of none," but don't be fooled - they're experts at turning confused students into research detectives! We dive into the fascinating world of information literacy, exploring everything from why research might have an expiration date to the mysterious differences between grey and black literature.

But here's where it gets really interesting - as AI tools like ChatGPT become everyday helpers for students, how do we use them ethically? Our librarian guest is at the forefront of figuring this out, and they share their honest thoughts about whether AI is friend or foe in academic research.

We also explore the dark side of research - fraudulent studies that can damage entire fields - and discover why librarians might be more important than ever in our AI-powered future.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)

Co-Host: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki)

Production:  Ryan Smith

Media & Promotion: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki)

In this episode, we sit down with proud Kamilaroi man, author, and science champion Corey Tutt to talk about his latest book Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles. We explore how this vibrant and educational book blends Indigenous knowledge with western science to inspire a new generation of curious minds - especially kids - about Australia’s most misunderstood creatures. 

Corey shares his journey as founder of the award-winning charity Deadly Science, which provides science resources to remote schools across the country. We discuss the power of representation in STEM, the importance of sharing First Nations science, and how reptiles - feared by many - can become a gateway to deeper respect for Country and culture. 

Get ready for a conversation that slithers between storytelling, science, and social change!

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Host: Dr Olly Dove (@olly_dove)

Co-Host: Dr Meredith Castles (@MeredithCstles)

Production: Dr Meredith Castles (@MeredithCastles)

Media & Promotion: Ella Burgun (@ebburgun)

Could you play Minecraft on a quantum computer?

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Susan Coppersmith from the University of New South Wales to explore the strange and fascinating world of quantum computing.

We talk about why quantum computers are so different from the ones we use every day, what a qubit is, what makes this technology so powerful, and how it could reshape things like encryption and digital security.

This episode peeks into a future that’s already being built—qubit by qubit.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! 

Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove)

Co-Host: Georgia Stewart 

Production: Dr Simin Salarpour

Media & Promotion: Georgia Stewart