The Cosmos Podcast

Now, more than ever, it's important to communicate science in an engaging and accessible way - but using traditional media isn't the only way. Today, Cosmos journalist Lauren Fuge speaks to science communicator, Rachel Rayner. With a degree in Liberal Studies majoring in Physics and Art History & Theory, and a background in strategic marketing, events, and PR, she has a unique blend of skills – and her science communication takes in everything from performance to poetry.

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

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Professor Fred Watson AM has been a fixture of Australian astronomy for decades, perhaps best known for his work promoting and explaining science and astronomy on television, radio and through publications.

In addition to a long career at the Australian Astronomical Observatory and now as astronomer-at-large for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, he is the author of several popular books, a regular radio presenter, and keen musician.

Today, The Royal Institution of Australia’s Editor-in-chief Ian Connellan, talks with Professor Watson about his work as an astronomer-at-large and about his new book, Spacewarp: Colliding Comets and other Cosmic Catastrophes, released on 1 November 2021. He  takes us through topics including the tale of what got him interested in astronomy, the James Webb Space Telescope, the Dark Sky Alliance, and how we can improve our skies for professional and amateur astronomers alike.

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

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Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

When we move off into the interplanetary expanse, we will still need to be well fed. But food isn’t exactly abundant in space, or on other planets like Mars. The answer? Space crops.

But what are the challenges of growing plants in space? And how could we develop crops to support long-term space habitation?

Today, Cosmos journalist Dr Deborah Devis talks to Professor Matthew Gilliham, the director of the Waite Research Institute at the University of Adelaide. His research focuses on crop plant nutrition and stress resilience, and he is currently developing programs in space agriculture – including the growth and adaptation of plants to space environments.

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

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Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

Scientists say that 2021 is our last chance to stop the effects of climate change from fundamentally disrupting the weather patterns we've relied on for millennia. After a year’s delay due to COVID, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference - also known as COP26 - is about to begin in Glasgow, providing a crucial opportunity for more than 100 world leaders to come together and chart our future on this planet. But what do the climate scientists themselves think of this pivotal moment? This week, Cosmos journalist Lauren Fuge, speaks to five Australian climate scientists – one each day - to give you an insider’s guide into what's at stake at COP26, what to look out for, and what their hopes and fears are.

Today, we talk to Dr Andrew King, a lecturer in Climate Science and ARC DECRA fellow at the School of Earth Sciences and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, at the University of Melbourne.

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

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Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

Scientists say that 2021 is our last chance to stop the effects of climate change from fundamentally disrupting the weather patterns we've relied on for millennia. After a year’s delay due to COVID, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference - also known as COP26 - is about to begin in Glasgow, providing a crucial opportunity for more than 100 world leaders to come together and chart our future on this planet. But what do the climate scientists themselves think of this pivotal moment? This week, Cosmos journalist Lauren Fuge, speaks to five Australian climate scientists – one each day - to give you an insider’s guide into what's at stake at COP26, what to look out for, and what their hopes and fears are.

Today, we talk to Professor Mark Howden, a Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions at The Australian National University. He is also an Honorary Professor at Melbourne University, a Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and is the Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council.

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

Watch and listen to all our Cosmos Briefings

Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

Scientists say that 2021 is our last chance to stop the effects of climate change from fundamentally disrupting the weather patterns we've relied on for millennia. After a year’s delay due to COVID, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference - also known as COP26 - is about to begin in Glasgow, providing a crucial opportunity for more than 100 world leaders to come together and chart our future on this planet. But what do the climate scientists themselves think of this pivotal moment? This week, Cosmos journalist Lauren Fuge, speaks to five Australian climate scientists – one each day - to give you an insider’s guide into what's at stake at COP26, what to look out for, and what their hopes and fears are.

Today, we talk to Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climate scientist interested in extreme events. She is currently an ARC Future Fellowship, a chief investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, and a senior lecturer at the School of Science, UNSW Canberra. 

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

Watch and listen to all our Cosmos Briefings

Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

Scientists say that 2021 is our last chance to stop the effects of climate change from fundamentally disrupting the weather patterns we've relied on for millennia. After a year’s delay due to COVID, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference - also known as COP26 - is about to begin in Glasgow, providing a crucial opportunity for more than 100 world leaders to come together and chart our future on this planet. But what do the climate scientists themselves think of this pivotal moment? This week, Cosmos journalist Lauren Fuge, speaks to five Australian climate scientists – one each day – to give you an insider’s guide into what's at stake at COP26, what to look out for, and what their hopes and fears are.

Today, we talk to Professor Matthew England, a physical oceanographer and climate scientist. He is currently Scientia Professor of Ocean & Climate Dynamics at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. 

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

Watch and listen to all our Cosmos Briefings

Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

Scientists say that 2021 is our last chance to stop the effects of climate change from fundamentally disrupting the weather patterns we've relied on for millennia. After a year’s delay due to COVID, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference - also known as COP26 - is about to begin in Glasgow, providing a crucial opportunity for more than 100 world leaders to come together and chart our future on this planet. But what do the climate scientists themselves think of this pivotal moment? This week, Cosmos journalist Lauren Fuge, speaks to five Australian climate scientists – one each day - to give you an insider’s guide into what's at stake at COP26, what to look out for, and what their hopes and fears are. 

Today, we talk to Dr Linden Ashcroft, a lecturer in climate science and science communication at the University of Melbourne. Originally from country Victoria, Linden’s career has spanned the academic, government and non-for-profit sectors, working in climate science communication, citizen science and historical weather data rescue.

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

Watch and listen to all our Cosmos Briefings

Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

If children are the future, then how we teach them will shape that world. But are we raising them in the right way? As STEM skills increasingly become necessary in shaping society, a data-driven approach to education may be the only way for the future generation to change the world. To explore this more, we have two fascinating guests who Cosmos journalist Dr Deborah Devis will be talking to. Linda McIver is the executive director of Australian Data Science Education Institute. Her recent book "Raising Heretics: Teaching Kids to Change the World" explores the way we teach STEM, and proposes a data-centric, problem-based learning approach that engages kids and empowers them to create positive change in their own communities. Dr. Marissa Bond, is the Head of Technology at Lumination, a technology company on a mission to revolutionise the way we teach, learn and work. 

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

Watch and listen to all our Cosmos Briefings

Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

Today we present the Nature for Everyone session from the Nature Festival held in Adelaide between the 25th of September and the 4th of October this year. Nature does indeed have something for everyone but is it within everyone’s reach? In this panel discussion we look at the diverse value of nature, some of the barriers South Australians experience in accessing it, and showcase some of the programs that are working to make it easier for everyone to connect. Our guests today are Ben Trewren, Youth, Inc. Experiential Learning Manager, Youth, Inc. is an Adelaide-based learning alternative, designed specifically for young people aged 17-24 who are looking for something a bit different; Yvie Eglinton, Dept of Environment and Water’s National Parks Access Coordinator; Tricia Curtis, who looks after Trees For Life’s Regenerate and Stepping Stone Programs; and Harry Spurrier from Neurohero Foundation, an organisation that aims to improve the lives of teenagers with debilitating neurodegenerative disorders through virtual reality video games and at-home sustainable agriculture. The discussion is hosted by Christy Spiers, Network Facilitator for the SA Urban Food Network, and Adaptive Communities Coordinator for Green Adelaide. 

Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website 

Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

Watch and listen to all our Cosmos Briefings

Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.