UC Science Radio

We know language development predicts learning outcomes at primary school, so how do we give our tamariki the best chance to succeed? Speech and Language Therapist and University of Canterbury Master's student Catherine Sivertsen wants to get the world excited about language and is encouraging parents and educators to give the gift of words.

Should we be worried about radioactivity in our kai moana? Sarah Guy is the person to ask.

Sarah is a University of Canterbury PhD student researching emerging environmental contaminants that may affect human health. Specifically, she looks at exposure to radioactivity through ingestion of shellfish. In this episode of UC Science Radio, find out what she’s learned, how she came to study environmental science at UC, and why it’s a perfect fit for her.

As a Year-13 student, Rosemary Dorsey’s interest in our solar system was ignited by an outreach event she attended at UC. Now studying towards a PhD in astronomy, she’s returning the favour.

Rosemary’s research focuses on solar system science and characterizing small body populations. She also engages in science outreach to inspire other students to study physics. Hear about her fascinating field and how she’s fostering a new generation of astrophysicists in this episode of UC Science Radio.

Gateway Antarctica PhD student Rodrigo Gomez-Fell explains what satellite imagery can tell us about sea ice movement, sea level rise and climate change.

Rodrigo’s research focuses on ice tongues – narrow sheets of ice that form at the end of glaciers and move rapidly from the coastline into the ocean. He uses remote sensing data from satellites and other tools to monitor the mass balance, flexure, and movement of ice tongues in Antarctica.

Growing up in rural New Zealand, Taylor-Jane Cox felt first-hand the impact of losing people she knew to suicide. Now, studying clinical psychology at the University of Canterbury she is researching what’s behind our country’s alarming suicide statistics and seeking solutions to support our most susceptible group – young men.

People make maps – but maps can also shape people. David Garcia’s research looks into the production of geographic knowledge in the digital age. Who’s making maps, for what purpose, and why do these questions matter?

Computers are incredible at logical processing, but could they ever think like humans do? Josh Mallinson’s work in neuromorphic computing is helping to shed light on how brains work – and how computers might one day follow suit.

When Clare Wilkinson started her PhD at the University of Canterbury, her project was strictly within geology and geomorphology, but her research into how Kaikoura rivers responded to the 2016 earthquake grew her appreciation of the event’s cultural impact and the valuable intersection of mātauranga Māori and western science.

Finn Ross is a University of Canterbury honours student studying ecology. His research is about using seaweed to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. He won the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship 2019 Social Enterprise Challenge for his business plan based on his research called "The Seaweed Solution." Hear how it works in this episode of UC Science Radio.

Do microplastics affect our productive soil systems? That’s the question driving Helena Ruffell, PhD student in Environmental Science at the University of Canterbury. Learn more about what she’s found and what inspired her to go digging in the dirt.