The Laborastory

Nicholas J. Johnson is an author, a magician and collector of scams. He exposes tricks and inspires audiences to think critically and never be swindled again. After two decades entertaining and educating audiences, He’s realised there is much we can learn about persuasion, deception and influence from the world of the professional swindler.

Just don’t trust him with a deck of cards.

Eli Mrkusich works for Illumina, the world’s leading genomics (DNA information) company. When Illumina entered the DNA sequencing market a genome (compete DNA sequence) cost $10 million dollars in 2014 Illumina launched the $1,000 genome. Illumina’s technology powers 23andMe and AncestryDNA. Illumina’s mission to unlock the power of the genome to improve human health.

Eli joined Illumina in 2015 and is a Senior Applied Genomics Segment Manager for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) and is based on the Mornington Peninsula. Eli is responsible for market development and outbound marketing activities for the Applied Genomics business across APJ. Eli completed his PhD in neuroscience and molecular biology in 2004 and had six years post-doctoral experience at the University of Melbourne. Eli worked for Bio-Rad for five years in an application support role, most recently as a Global Digital Applications Specialist for Bio-Rad supporting Drop-let Digital PCR, based out of Pleasanton, California.

With a background in stress neuroscience and shocking mice in the name of research, Maria is well-placed to speak at the Halloween edition of Laborastory. Although her latest scientific manuscript explores the mechanism of human pain (muahaha), Maria’s interest in psychiatry, crossed with her villainous mind and crass sense of humour, brings a special kind of science villain to the event - not unlike his predecessor, a psychoanalyst gone a bit rogue in his study of orgonomy, aka “the energy of sexual orgasm”.

Gary Hime completed his PhD at the University of Adelaide before working as a research scientist at Stanford University and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute. He is currently a professor and acting Head in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the University of Melbourne where his work is focused on understanding the genetic regulation of stem cells in development and disease.

Richard is recently retired and is now enjoying a life of travel, music, gardening and wine making unfettered by daily obligations to office, government department machinations and fickle funding. His career encompassed estate management in Scotland, educating university aspirants in land rehabilitation and researching soils and land management for the Victorian government. He has now nearly forgotten everything he ever pretended to know about science but has accepted the challenge to explore the nature of science villainy and share his thoughts with you tonight.

Pam is from the eastern shores of icy Canada, is a medical doctor, a comedian and a passionate environmentalist. She's presented her solo show 'Kim Kardashian is bad for the environment' and her duo show 'Meat Bags' at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Ella Loeffler holds a Bachelors degree in zoology and literature, and is currently completing her honours in wildlife conservation. This means she spends more time than she would like to admit looking at bandicoot poo. She is a mediator at the Science Gallery Melbourne and loves scuba-diving, hiking and reading.

Ryan is Head of Programs at Science Gallery Melbourne at The University of Melbourne and curator of the PERFECTION and BLOOD exhibitions. He is a passionate advocate of art and science in equal measures, a champion of creative science communication and is a sometimes taxidermist. Ryan has a PhD in infectious disease research and spent many years studying somewhat terrifying parasites that will happily live in your blood.

Connor is a second year science student at the University of Melbourne. As a Melbournian, Connor was a natural at having no idea what weather would come next. However, his curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to major in Climate and Weather to gain a better understanding of the world around him. A passionate science communicator, Connor has been involved in several science outreach programs, including the National Youth Science Forum, the Young Scientists of Australia, and is currently on the mediator team with Science Gallery Melbourne.

Dr Chris Lassig is a particle physicist and broadcaster, who has recently acquired the delusion of being a comedian. His show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival told the story of his journey from obscurity in Bundaberg, Queensland, to obscurity as a former research physicist. But he eventually learnt to write, and now calls himself a science communicator.

Since 2011, Chris has been one of the hosts of the long-running community radio program and podcast "Lost in Science". In fact, he likes podcasts so much that he produces another one in his day job for the Stroke Foundation, where he also translates medical science for use by clinicians and stroke survivors. He is currently working on a graphic novel about Isaac Newton's niece, and would like you to ask him about it.