The Laborastory

Over the course of her 20 year career in stem cell research Associate Professor Megan Munsie has combined her scientific expertise – gained through working in academia and industry – with a deep understanding of the issues associated stem cell research and its clinical translation. She has co-authored numerous educational resources for the public, health and educational professionals; contributed to the development of policy at a domestic and international level; and regularly provides advice and information to Australian patient advocacy groups and community members on stem cell science and associated issues. Megan is based at The University of Melbourne where she is Deputy Director of the Centre for Stem Cell Systems and also heads of the Engagement, Ethics and Policy Program of the Australian Government funded Stem Cells Australia initiative. During her PhD Megan published the first proof-of-principle for therapeutic cloning and prior to working in the stem cell field worked for over ten years as a clinical embryologist in Australian IVF clinics.

Rohan Long is the curator of the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology at the University of Melbourne. He is a writer, an obsessive birdwatcher, a composer of esoteric music and a paleontologist with many field seasons experience on the early Cretaceous rocks of the Victorian coast.

Mark completed his honours degree last year with a project in zoology and evolutionary-developmental biology (or evo-devo as the cool kids call it). He now works as a specimen registration officer in the entomology and marine invertebrate departments at Museums Victoria; a role in which he has already learned many things, such as what anal forceps are and that there are fly larvae that will burrow into a small child’s scalp. Nightmarish insects aside, Mark loves riding bikes, listening to disco and funk, and pondering the nothingness beyond the edge of the universe.

Lynette is a wildlife biologist by training and has a Ph.D from Monash University, where she studied the ecology of native Australian frogs. She is now a science media specialist, working mostly in television. Lynette is current president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Science Communi-cators and spends her spare time snorkelling, hiking and competing with her dogs at agility.

Ben Mackenzie is a performer, writer, game designer and nerd for all seasons. He’s written and performed stand-up, sketch comedy, theatre and late night museum tours. He’s part of the team behind the award-winning time travel comedy Night Terrace, and currently co-hosts the Terry Pratchett book club podcast Pratchat. His games include the hit live bank heist adventure Small Time Criminals, and (as lead writer) Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown, a PlayStation VR game from Tin Man Games releasing in early 2019. His favourite dinosaur is Stegosaurus. Follow him on Twitter at @McKenzie_Ben.

Ben is a Vertebrate Paleontologist from Museums Victoria, where he has been exploring the southern coastline of prehistoric Australia for ancient marine organisms. His work has a focus on whales, but he’ll pretty much work on anything that has a backbone and exists within the marine environment. Ben has been on numerous paleontological digs and has found evidence of new species of mega-toothed sharks, the largest birds that took to the sky and crazy weird whales un-known to science. Ben can talk your ear off about whales, their evolution and loves hating Jurassic World.

He has over five years experience in public speaking in numerous formats, is the science advisor for “Bayside Earth Sciences Society” and is creating a documentary series about the strange life of lesser-known animals that exist within Victoria, with a current emphasis on Livyatan, a 5 million year old killer sperm whale that ate other whales.

Dave is a former and future provisional psychologist and a musician. One time a friend said that nothing is boring if you know enough about it and he clings to this for justifying his crippling wikipedia habit. Go see his band Hi New Low, and find them on instagram for kimchi pancakes that look like maps of Jurassic park.

Julian O’Shea is an engineer turned traveller and educator. He leads overseas study tours across Asia including Nepal, India, and Vietnam. As a Melbourne inner city type he sometimes finds the lack of lattes challenging. He has his own crazy projects in the works including a high altitude balloon launch for the upcoming National Science Week, and is building a solar powered tuk tuk that he will drive across Australia.

Kiri is a lecturer and Course Coordinator for the Graduate Diploma of Reproductive Science at Monash University. She graduated from The University of Sydney with a Ph.D. in animal reproduction & genetics, followed by a science communication chaser at the ANU. Kiri accepts that you only get a noble prize by experimenting on yourself, and she works with sperm, so it’s a bit awkward - her subjects would have to buy her dinner first!

Idan has degrees in microbiology, and the history and philosophy of science, a diploma in library studies, and a day job that has very little to do with any of the above. He’s written three books so far. He lives in a smallish rented apartment in Ivanhoe with his wife and their two boys. Sometimes, after they go to bed, he grabs his guitar and makes up harmless little tunes. If you're extra-specially nice, you might get to taste his hummus.