That's What I Call Science!

From the office to the field, STEMM can be pretty spooky! Join us around the theoretical campfire for some scary tales to celebrate Halloween. From the depths of galleries at night to experiments that just don’t work and voices in the dark on remote islands, Emma Hamasaki, Dr Olly Dove and Dr Kate Johnson talk mishaps and scary things, big and small. 

Whether you’re looking for some fun fieldwork tales, or to delve deeper into the perils of the workplace, from mistakes to burnout and toxic culture, this episode has it all. Come along with us as we share our varied experiences and provide what we hope is some useful advice for navigating the scary world of STEMM and beyond.  

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

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

Hosts: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove), Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki) and Dr Kate Johnson (@kateplantphys.bsky.social)

Production: Dr Meredith Castles (@MeredithCastles)

Media & Promotion: Dr Georgia Stewart (Insta: plutoisstillcool)

Happy birthday, Beaker Street! Hobart’s science festival turned ten years old this year, and Olly was back at its Roving Scientist Bar to hear from some of the scientists that make the festival special. 

Tune in to hear from scientists from across Australia, including a physicist, an ecologist, and maybe even a forensic scientist or two. Plus, we have two very special guests to start this week’s episode: the best volunteer duo from across the whole festival!

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).

Production: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove).

Media & Promotion: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki).

Welcome to this year’s episode with the Inspiring Women in STEMM fellows! 

Firstly, we hear from Roberta Amoah, a PhD candidate in the School of Nursing at the University of Tasmania, with a background in midwifery and community health. Up next is Liqun Guan, an architecture graduate specialising in healthy, energy-efficient built environments. And, last on the mic, we have Kimiya Padidar, a PhD candidate at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, with a background in midwifery and human genetics. 

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).

Production: Dr Hannah Moore (@volcanohannah).

Media & Promotion: Dr Georgia Stewart (Insta: plutoisstillcool).

Young Tasmanians are taking over the microphones! Created as part of the University of Tasmania-led Young Tassie Climate Change-Makers Research Project, this episode gives Echo, Lily and Amanda the chance to ask the questions that matter to them. They speak with Luke Cripps from Alluvium Water Cremations about a lower-carbon alternative to flame cremation, and with forest ecologist and science-tour guide Daniel Bar-Ness from Giant Tree Expeditions about helping people connect with nature. Together, they explore environmentally responsible business, climate education, and how young people can help shape Tasmania’s future.

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

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

Host: Dr Hannah Moore (@HannahClareMoore).
Co-host: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki).
Young presenters: Echo, Lily and Amanda

Production: Dr Meredith Castles (@MeredithCastles)

Media & Promotion: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki)

Curiosity killed the cat. Or did it? Turns out the rumours aren’t true, and the cat is off making incredible scientific discoveries. 

This week, Dr Jennifer Payne from the Curiosity Factory shares with Olly her passion for being curious and why she started STEMpals: the program connecting school children with scientists across the country. 

Beyond science outreach stories, Jennifer also shares her experiences in antimicrobial resistance, and tackling challenges of preventing and treating deadly diseases. 

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).

Production: Dr Simin Salarpour (@SalarpourSimin).

Media & Promotion: Zi Yi Kho.

What does it take to help people connect with the ocean?

In this episode of That's What I Call Science, we chat with Dekota Mark, marine science communicator, educator, fellow podcaster, and Master of Marine and Antarctic Science graduate at the University of Tasmania.

From founding the podcast Let's Dive In - Ocean Conversations to facilitating STEM programs with schools, collaborating with the Mawson's Huts Foundation, and using creative initiatives like Art for the Sea to engage young people, Dekota has explored countless ways to make marine science accessible and meaningful.

We discuss the evolving role of science communication, what makes engagement effective, and why building connections between people and the ocean is just as important as understanding the science itself. Dekota also shares insights from her current research, the Big Fish Game, and her interest in knowledge co-production, bringing together Indigenous knowledge, policy, and Western science to support more holistic ocean management.

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: Ella Burgun (@ebburgun)

Production: Dr Hannah Moore (@volcanohannah)

Media & Promotion: Ella Burgun (@ebburgun)

This week kicks off our double bill on the Big Fish card game! You may remember our first guest, Matt Testoni, from Episode 185. Matt’s back to tell us all about the Big Fish card game: a locally-made game aiming to engage the community in the conversation about sustainable fishing. 

Matt talks with Ella and Olly about what he’s been up to since he was last on TWICS, the creation of Big Fish, and what the process has been like to undertake such a huge endeavour.

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: Ella Burgun (@ebburgun).
Production: Richard Siu (Insta: @richard.siu.photography). 
Media & Promotion: Zi Yi Kho.

Did you know musicking (the act of connecting to music) lights up more parts of the brain than any other activity that modern scientific studies have found so far?

So how can music transform from a catchy tune to therapy? In this episode Anna Abela chats with Zach Von Bertouch from Sonic Sibilings Music Therapy. Zach explains what musical therapy is and how music can affect the brain. Alongside his lived experience as a musical therapist working across palliative care, aged care, and individual sessions. 🎶

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

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

Host: Anna Abela (@annaea.jpg).

Production: Dr Meredith Castles (@MeredithCastles)

Social Media: Emma Hamasaki (@EmmaHamasaki)

What does the future of geoscience education look like? Hannah heads to Adelaide for GeoSciEd X, the 10th International Conference on Geoscience Education, to meet some of the people working to inspire the next generation of earth scientists. We hear from educators, researchers and outreach leaders about the organisations and initiatives they represent, what they are presenting and showcasing at the conference, and what they are most excited about. From seismometers and magnetometers in schools to games, digital tools and hands-on earth science, discover some of the creative ways people are bringing geoscience to life. 

Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod

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

Host: Dr Hannah Moore (@volcanohannah).

Production: Dr Simin Salarpour (@SalarpourSimin) 

Media & Promotion: Dr Georgia Stewart (Insta: plutoisstillcool)

In this week’s episode of That’s What I Call Science, we are joined by science communication expert, Caitlin McLeod. We explore Caitlin's journey into science communication and the experiences that shaped her career. From delivering hands-on workshops to some of Western Australia's most remote schools with Scitech, to travelling the country as a Questacon Presenter, freelance science writing, and her current role in community engagement at Tasmania's medical research institute, Caitlin has spent years helping people connect with science in meaningful ways.

We discuss what makes science communication effective, the importance of equity and inclusion in engagement, and why her favourite science communication tool is the "equity compass". Caitlin also shares insights from her work engaging communities in medical research, reflects on surprising lessons from a career in science communication, and considers what the future of science engagement might look like.

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: Ella Burgun (@ebburgun)

Production: Dr Hannah Moore (@volcanohannah)

Media & Promotion: Zi Yi Kho.