The Future Of

Transcript

Read the transcript: https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/energy/transcript

Behind the scenes

Hosts: David Karsten and Celeste Fourie
Writer: Zoe Taylor
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive Producer: Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the First Peoples of this place we call Australia, and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Climate Anxiety: agency, community and action

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0000

How can we turn climate anxiety into meaningful action and hope for the future?

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Associate Professor Jayne Bryant, Director of the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, to discuss climate anxiety, sustainability leadership and how people can move from fear to meaningful action.

A journey from music to sustainability [00:58]
Discovering climate anxiety [03:24]
Why climate anxiety is growing [07:24]
Sustainability and generational equity [10:57]
Empowering people to drive change [15:31]
Finding purpose through “active hope” [18:33]
Lessons from Scandinavian sustainability [23:27]

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Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Jayne Bryant

Director, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute

Associate Professor Jayne Bryant’s career in teaching, research and practice has focused on building the sustainability leadership capability of those around her. Jayne has spent close to a decade living, working, teaching and researching in Sweden and is keen to share this unique experience in strategic sustainability, transformational leadership and a systems approach to creating change for more just and sustainable futures.

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Professor Julia Richardson

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Caitlin Crowley

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Four-day Work Week: flexibility, productivity and adoption

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Julia Richardson) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:00:00 +0000

The four-day work week sounds ideal, but is it realistic for all of us?

Seven decades ago, Australia moved from working six days a week to five. Many of us now think it’s time for an update, with the idea of a four-day work week gaining traction around the word.

A shorter work week has been shown to boost productivity and mental health, but critics argue it’s a 'white-collar fantasy' that’s unrealistic for many industries.

Our host David Karsten is joined by Professor Julia Richardson to explore the pros and cons of a shorter work week, and how likely it is to be implemented in your workplace.

Clarifying the four-day concept [01:09]
Increased efficiency [03.31]
An identity beyond work [06:21]
Long term sustainability concerns [08:41]
Expectations and performance [12:12]
Interpersonal over AI [20:18]

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From the great resignation to the four-day work week (2024)

Connect with our guests

Professor Julia Richardson is the Head of the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University and a recognised expert in careers and human resources management.

She has enjoyed a global career in the UK, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand and Canada, and has won multiple awards for her research and teaching. Julia’s current research focuses on the future of careers, career sustainability, and work-life balance.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Hosts: David Karsten and Celeste Fourie
Writer:Zoe Taylor

Producer:Emilia Jolakoska

Executive producer: Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Human–AI Decision-Making: trust, agency and context engineering

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Billy Sung, David Karsten, Celeste Fourie) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:00:00 +0000

You make your own decisions – right? AI is already shaping everyday choices and purchases – most often in ways we barely notice.

In this episode, David and Celeste are joined by Professor Billy Sung to explore how AI influences everyday consumer decisions, what drives trust, and how humans can stay in the loop as AI becomes more embedded.

What “AI” actually means (beyond ChatGPT) [01:07]
How AI is already shaping consumer decisions through ads, search and recommendation systems [03:27]
What happens when AI search starts serving ads [04:13]
The three drivers of trust in AI [08:51]
Disclosure is a double-edged sword [11:54]
Why people bond with AI influencers: anthropomorphism and parasocial relationships [16:15]
The likely future: co-created decisions and “shared agency” [31:17]

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Connect with our guests

Billy Sung, Professor, School of Management and Marketing

Professor Billy Sung is a researcher and professor at Curtin University, specialising in neuromarketing, consumer psychology and human–AI interaction. He leads Curtin’s Consumer Research Lab, bringing together behavioural science and emerging technologies to inform industry and policy decision-making.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: Celeste Fourie and David Karsten
Content creator and recordist: Caitlin Crowley
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Smart cities: urban efficiency, surveillance and data

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Courtney Babb) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 02:30:00 +0000

From helping elderly people to cross the road to finding a free parking space, technology is helping to make our cities become safer and more enjoyable. But at what cost to our privacy?

In this episode, David and Celeste are joined by Dr Courtney Babb, a senior lecturer in urban and regional planning at Curtin University. They explore the benefits of integrating technology in urban areas, such as efficiency, security and quality, but also look at the implications, including surveillance and privatisation.

Songdo: the rise of the smart city [02:00]
Data in urban efficiency [03:15]
Who’s using your data, really? [09.30]
Technology doesn’t always mean better [12:00]
Future directions in urban planning [22:00]
Being smarter with your data [29:00]

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Connect with our guests

Courtney Babb

Courtney Babb is a senior lecturer in urban and regional planning at the School of Design and the Built Environment (DBE), at Curtin University. His research interests include institutional change and design in spatial planning; transport institutions and the politics of resisting auto-mobility; transitions to low energy transport systems; and integrated planning and management of riverine environments.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Hosts: David Karsten and Celeste Fourie
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Writer: Zoe Taylor
Executive producer: Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

AI in Education: tutors, learning models and integrity

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Alex Jenkins, Celeste Fourie, David Karsten) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Nearly 80% of Australian students are already using generative AI – but should they be?

In this episode, Celeste Fourie and David Karsten are joined by Alex Jenkins, Director of the WA Data Science Innovation Hub to discuss the future of artificial intelligence in education.

From AI-powered tutoring to the risks of cognitive offloading, this episode examines how students and educators can collaborate with AI while preserving critical thinking.

From neural networks to ChatGPT: how generative AI became mainstream [01:14]
AI in classrooms: mastery learning and AI tutoring [04:53]
Assessments, skill building and academic integrity in tertiary education [12:00]
The danger of cognitive offloading [14:41]
AI risks, ethics and equity gaps [21:31]
How students and educators can use AI responsibly [27:48]

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Connect with our guests

Alex Jenkins, Director of the WA Data Science Innovation Hub

Alex is an artificial intelligence specialist and experienced technology leader. He has more than 15 years of experience working in the technology space where he implements and advocates for analytics, data science and artificial intelligence solutions.

Connect with Alex.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Hosts: Celeste Fourie and David Karsten

Content Creator and recordist: Caitlin Crowley

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Speech: stuttering, genetics and intervention

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Janet Beilby, David Karsten) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 01:00:00 +0000

What causes some people to stutter? It's often believed that trauma or anxiety is the cause, but world-first research has found a genetic link to stuttering, allowing for life-changing early intervention.

Our host David Karsten is joined by Professor Janet Beilby, an internationally renowned stuttering expert and Director of the Curtin Stuttering Treatment Clinic (CSTC). They discuss how Beilby and her colleagues have pinpointed the genes associated with stuttering, meaning intervention can happen much sooner, which is crucial for managing the condition.

David and Janet also talk about the the impact stuttering can have on a person's life, and how the CSTC helps to manage stuttering and other fluency disorders in children, adults and the elderly.

What is stuttering? [01:16]
Challenges faced by people who stutter [05:52]
The genetic link to stuttering [11:05]
‘Genes aren’t destiny’ [19:27]
Fostering resilience in kids [29:44]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [31:00]
Future directions in speech science [40:03]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Janet Beilby

Janet is a leading speech pathology clinician, researcher, educator and director of the Curtin Stuttering Treatment Clinic (CSTC). In July this year, Janet co-published world-first research in Nature Genetics that pinpointed the genetic markers for stuttering.

As director of CSTC, Janet has translated research into life-changing outcomes for over 10,000 clients, trained hundreds of students and been awarded over half a million dollars in research funds to investigate aspects of stuttering disorders, as well as dementia and virtual education.

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Transcript

Read the transcript: https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/speech/transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Content writer: Zoe Taylor
Executive producer: Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Social Media: Australia’s ban, AI and young people online

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Celeste Fourie, David Karsten, Professor Tama Leaver) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Australia is banning social media for children 16 and under – but will it actually keep them safe or only spark new problems?

In this episode, hosts David Karsten and Celeste Fourie are joined by Professor Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University, to discuss Australia’s proposed ban on social media for children under 16.

We explore what the Ban aims to achieve, who it will affect, and whether it could reshape the relationship between government and big tech.

The discussion also ventures into what social media will look like when the ban comes into play, and how AI is creating a new internet for the next generation.

The ban: Purpose, platforms and rollout [01:15]
Consultation and youth input [04:40]
How social platforms shape teens’ social lives [06:20]
Will the ban protect young people? [11:12]
Generative AI and youth [16:30]
Industry and global response [22:00]
Digital literacy and misinformation [16:50]
The path forward: advice on supporting teens as the ban takes effect [33:10]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University

Tama is a regular media commentator, Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and former president of the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR).

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Hosts: Celeste Fourie and David Karsten

Content Creators: Zoe Taylor and Caitlin Crowley

Recordist: Caitlin Crowley

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Neuro Tech: Neuralink, brain chips, human augmentation

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Sarah Hellewell) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Inserting microchips into human brains was once the stuff of science fiction but is now reality thanks to companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink. But what are the pros and cons of having Musk tech inside our heads?

In this episode, our host David gets cerebral with Dr Sarah Hellewell, a Neurotrauma Research Fellow at Curtin University and the Perron Institute. Together, they unpack how human augmentation tech like Neuralink works, and how it can help to improve the quality of life for people with brain injuries or neurological conditions. They also explore the ethics of merging ‘mind with machine’.

Understanding brain computer interfaces (BCI) [01:02]
Decoding thoughts into actions [04:45]
BCI can change lives [09:12]
Ethical implications of BCI tech [14:15]
The future of BCI in everyday life [12:36]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Sarah Hellewell

Sarah is a Senior Research Fellow in Neurotrauma at Curtin University and the Perron Institute. Her research incorporates both clinical and preclinical research programs spanning the spectrum of neurodegeneration and brain injury severity, enabling her to rapidly identify clinical problems and translate “bedside to bench” and back again.

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Transcript

Read the transcript: https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/neuro-tech/transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creators: Caitlin Crowley and Zoe Taylor
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive producer: Natasha Weeks and Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Masculinity: identity, social media and extremism

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Todd Morley, David Karsten, Dr. Ben Rich) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Gender is always in motion, but is masculinity in crisis? In this episode, host David Karsten speaks with Dr Ben Rich and Todd Morley about modern masculinity, the challenges men face today, the rise of extremism and the solutions that could benefit us all.

What does it mean to be a man in 2025 – and is masculinity in crisis? [00:09]
Why men are falling behind: education, mental health and identity in a time of “polycrisis” [02:04]
Generational divides and changing views on struggle [07:43]
How social media is shaping masculinity [11:19]
Extremism explained – what it really means and how it connects to masculinity [14:49]
Is the internet an accelerant for radicalisation? [23:01]
What men – and society – can do to create better futures [26:59]
Redefining the “modern man” – why ambiguity matters [30:50]
Inside the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN) [34:59]

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Connect with our guests

Doctor Ben Rich

Dr Ben Rich is a senior lecturer in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, and co-director of the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN), where his research focuses on the factors behind politically extreme views in areas such as gender, race, and public health.

Todd Morley

Todd Morley is a PhD researcher in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry. His current research focuses on the radicalisation patterns of lone actor terrorists, and he also works as a preventing/countering violent extremism practitioner and consultant outside of Curtin.

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Transcript

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Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creator and recordist: Zoe Taylor
Editor: Caitlin Crowley
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Sustainable Futures: climate, curriculum and collaboration

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Josh Byrne, Saf Flatters) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:00:00 +0000

What do an urban designer, an electrician and Curtin University have in common? They all want to help humanity prosper. To achieve that, sustainability is key.

In this episode, our host David is joined by Professor Josh Byrne and Saf Flatters. Josh is Dean of Sustainable Futures at Curtin (he’s also well-known as a presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia), and Saf is an electrical and energy specialist and third-year Curtin data science student.

Together, they explore what a ‘sustainable future’ really means, and how a novel Curtin University subject called Sustainability Challenge is bringing together academia, industry, government and community to create real solutions to some of the most pressing environmental and social problems.

What does a ‘sustainable future’ mean? [03:24]
Sustainability problems more complex than ever [04:40]
Big problems mean big solutions [07:30]
Data science brings structure to complexity [08:28]
Cultivating hope and optimism [10:11]
Sustainability Challenge insights [12:29]
There’s no ‘doctor evil’ industry [30:59]
Learnings to last a lifetime [35:17]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Josh Byrne, Dean of Sustainable Futures, Faculty of Humanities
Professor Josh Byrne is an environmental scientist, urban design professional and Dean of Sustainable Futures at Curtin. His career bridges academia, professional practice, media and policy, with a focus on advancing urban sustainability through demonstration and collaboration. In 2025, Josh was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to conservation, the environment and public communication.

Saf Flatters, Bachelor of Science (Data Science) student, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Saf describes her career path as “very twisty.” With more than 15 years of experience as an electrician in the electrical and energy sectors, she’s now studying a Bachelor of Science (Data Science) at Curtin. Saf is passionate about using data to solve real-world problems, and outside her studies, she runs an electrical business, serves on industry boards and spends time bike packing through hidden corners of the world.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Researcher: Caitlin Crowley
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges all First Nations of this place we call Australia and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with all Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Reproductive Health Leave | Dr Silvia Salazar and Dr Abebe Hailemariam

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Abebe Hailemariam, Dr Silvia Salazar) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Have you ever had to take a day off work due to severe period pain? Or to manage menopause symptoms? Or to attend an IVF appointment? New research reveals it would save the Australian economy billions of dollars a year if employers offered leave specifically for reproductive health.

In this episode our host David Karsten talks with the authors of the research, Dr Silvia Salazar and Dr Abebe Hailemariam, from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. They discuss what reproductive health leave is and explore the benefits it could have for both employees and employers, including economic savings, increased productivity, improved mental health and wellbeing, and better workplace equity.

They also discuss some of the risks of implementing reproductive health leave and the cultural stigma associated with women’s reproductive health.

What is reproductive health leave (RHL)? [01:02]
Absenteeism and presenteeism costs economy A$21billion [03:49]
RHL is a shared concern and promotes equality [08:45]
How other countries offer RHL [10:28]
Will RHL discriminate against women? [15:19]
Steps to legislate RHL in Australia [23:00]

Connect with our guests

Dr Silvia Salazar

Research Fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre

Dr Salazar is a researcher in development economics, ethnic and gender issues and public policy. She obtained her PhD at the Paris School of Economics and the University Paris 1, Panthéon Sorbonne, and has presented her research at numerous international conferences and workshops.

Dr Abebe Hailemariam

Senior Research Fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre

Dr Hailmarian obtained his PhD in Economics from Monash University, where he and received the Mollie Holman Medal Award for Best doctoral thesis in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University.

Dr Hailemariam’s research areas of interest include energy economics, health economics, housing, gender and inequality.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creators: Caitlin Crowley and Zoe Taylor
Producer:Emilia Jolakoska

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Planetary Defence | Assoc Prof Nick Timms & Prof William Rickard

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Picture this: there’s an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. What exactly would we do – and who’s working behind the scenes to keep us safe? In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Associate Professor Nicholas Timms and Professor William Rickard to explore the fascinating science of planetary defence.

o How a Moon rock changed a career [00:58]
o Planetary defence 101 [02:32]
o Space rocks and the tools unlocking their secrets [04:50]
o What Asteroid Bennu is teaching us about life’s building blocks [07:40]
o The story of WA’s Mother’s Day meteorite [10:24]
o Popcorn asteroids, Apophis and the DART mission [15:45]
o Potentially hazardous objects: Whose problem is it anyway? [19:47]
o The future of planetary defence and space research [22:17]

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Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Nicholas Timms, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Nick is a leading expert in rock and mineral deformation and geochronology and has focussed his recent research on impact cratering and extra-terrestrial geology. Deeply immersed in the field, Nick is director of the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University, a team member for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission and member of the CASA Moon NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI).

Professor William Rickard, Director, John de Laeter Centre

Professor Will Rickard is an experienced materials scientist with a successful record in applied research and analytical facility management. He collaborates widely with researchers and industry as the subject matter expert for advanced materials characterisation. Will is the Director of the John de Laeter Centre where he manages a suite of core research facilities and co-ordinates a number of projects in defence, materials science and geoscience disciplines.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator and recordist: Caitlin Crowley

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Celeste Fourie

Executive Producer: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.
Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Personal Data Privacy Online | Dr Adam Andreotta

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Tue, 13 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Data is the currency of the digital age, and most of us give our personal data away without realising. In this episode, host David Karsten is joined by Dr. Adam Andreotta to discuss his book, Rethinking Informed Consent in the Big Data Age.

Listen to discover how big data is reshaping our privacy and how we can protect our information in the new age of integrated technology.

Dr Adam Andreotta’s journey [01:17]
What is personal data? [04:54]
The upside of sharing your data [08:14]
What are we agreeing to when we ‘accept terms’? [11:23]
The pitfalls of privacy policies [15:21]
Can we take back control? [18:24]
Copyright and consent [33:00]
The future of online privacy [36:28]

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Connect with our guests

Dr Adam Andreotta, Lecturer, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University

Dr Adam Andreotta's research explores the philosophy of artificial intelligence, the ethics of big data, and how we can better secure informed consent surrounding the collection and use of our personal data online.

In 2024, Adam authored Rethinking Informed Consent in the Big Data Age where he delves into the challenges of self-managing our private data online and suggests ways we can improve data consent practices in everyday contexts.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Recordist and Content Creator: Caitlin Crowley

Social Media: Celeste Fourie

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Executive Producer: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Screen Time and Child Development | Dr Amber Beynon

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Amber Beynon, David Karsten) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Screens and digital technology are ubiquitous in the lives of children and parents – but what does this mean for child development? In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Dr Amber Beynon to discuss her research into the relationship between infant development, screen time and other family factors.

What we know (and don’t) about screen time and children’s development [00:58]
Understanding the impact of the broader family environment [04:26]
Advice for parents navigating the digital landscape [07:56]
Closing the research gap [10:55]
Navigating new technology: From TV to AI [11:55]
Amber's journey in this evolving field [16:23]

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Dr Amber Beynon

Dr Amber Beynon is a Research Fellow at Curtin University’s School of Allied Health. She investigates the health impacts of information technology and the epidemiology of musculoskeletal pain in young populations.

Find out more about Amber’s work:

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creator: Caitlin Crowley
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Recordist: Annabelle Fouchard
Social media: Celeste Fourie
Executive producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

eDNA | A. Prof Paul Nevill and Joshua Kestel

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Associate Professor Paul Nevill, Dr Joshua Kestel) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Insects pollinate 75% of all agricultural crops, yet many face extinction. Discover how a ‘Star Trek’ level tech called eDNA can monitor vital insect pollinators and support global food security.

The pollinator crisis [01:15]
eDNA a gamechanger for biodiversity monitoring [03:09]
Hoverfly vs honeybee in avocado pollination [05:46]
Native bushland sustains agriculture [08:21]
Diverse applications for eDNA [14:05]
Merging tech with farm mechanisation [19:36]
Cambridge calling [20:10]

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Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Paul Nevill

Paul leads the Minesite Biomonitoring with eDNA (MBioMe) research group at Curtin University. He is a molecular ecologist working on everything from soil microbes to mammals. His main interest is eDNA-based monitoring of biodiversity.

Dr Joshua Kestel

Joshua is a molecular ecologist interested in pollination and the resulting genetic consequences. He has undertaken research with the Minesite Biomonitoring with eDNA (MBioMe) research group at Curtin University, and the Department of Conservation, Biodiversity and Attractions (DBCA). He is now working at Cambridge University to further his research detecting pollinators using eDNA.

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Future tense? Global Futures uncovers what the past can tell us about tomorrow

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Episode researcher:Zoe Taylor
Executive producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

Global Futures | Professor Joe Siracusa

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Joe Siracusa) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 01:00:00 +0000

We’re at a pivotal moment in time for humanity. Are we doomed to repeat past mistakes or can Global Futures help to better shape our collective tomorrow?

In this insightful episode, special host Matthew Sykes is joined by Professor Joe Siracusa, veteran historian and Inaugural Professor of Global Futures in the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University. They explore how Global Futures can help us to understand history as a dynamic, non-linear journey that shapes our present and future possibilities, and empower us to make informed decisions for a brighter future.

• Defining Global Futures [01:18]
• Unpacking critical realist ontology [02:20]
• The role of philosophy and science fiction [16:35]
• Turning foresight into actionable insight [11:20]
• Lessons on the past: meeting Martin Luther King [24:26]

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Leading political expert named Dean of Global Futures at Curtin

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Joe Siracusa
Professor of Global Futures, Curtin University
President Emeritus of Australia’s Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Siracusa has also authored and co-authored over 30 books including America and the Cold War, 1941-1991: A Realist Interpretation, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in History. Professor Siracusa is also a regular media commentator on international diplomacy, nuclear weapons and American foreign policy.

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Professor Ben Phillips

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Host and researcher: Matthew Sykes
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Editor: Zoe Taylor
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

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Toad Containment Zone | Professor Ben Phillips

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Ben Phillips) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 02:10:00 +0000

The cane toads are coming. Can a simple, but clever plan stop them from fully invading Western Australia and causing catastrophic damage?

Join our host David as he talks with Professor Ben Phillips about the project he's leading, the Toad Containment Zone (TCZ). A collaborative effort between community, rangers and scientists, the TCZ is the last line of defence against the cane toad invasion of Western Australia. If not stopped, the cane toad will have devastating wildlife and cultural impacts.

How cane toads came to Australia (01:15)
Ecological fallout of toads (06:38)
“Put them in the freezer”: efforts to control toads (12:11)
The Toad Containment Zone (TCZ): what it is and how it will work (14:14)
Charismatic species set to disappear (23:08)
How soon can we gauge success? (26:11)

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Professor Ben Phillips is a population biologist and a Premier Science Fellow at Curtin University, where he conducts biosecurity research in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences. He has worked extensively across the Northern Territory and Western Australia on cane toad biology, ecology and evolution, and on how to control and reduce the impacts of cane toads on vulnerable native species, including northern quolls.

Ben’s modelling work has identified where the Toad Containment Zone should be placed and how large it should be to stop the toad invasion to the Pilbara.

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Host: David Karsten
Producer:Emilia Jolakoska
Episode researcher:Zoe Taylor

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Stonehenge | Anthony Clarke & Prof Chris Kirkland

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Anthony Clarke, Chris Kirkland, David Karsten) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 02:30:00 +0000

A new discovery brings us closer to understanding one of the world's greatest mysteries ... or does it?

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Curtin University Research Associate Anthony Clarke and Professor Chris Kirkland, to discuss their discovery about the origins of Stonehenge’s Altar Stone and its wide-reaching implications.

What is Stonehenge and why is it so fascinating? [01:11]
The final piece of the provenance puzzle: the Altar Stone [01:23]
How did we get here? Cross-continental journeys and big ideas [04:40]
Drilling into the research: samples, spectrometers, Stonehenge and Scotland [07:26]
A new understanding of communities, technologies and societies of the past [09:33]
From conspiracy theories to deep time history, are we any closer to solving the mystery of Stonehenge? [18:20]
What this discovery means to our guests and where it leads us [25:25]

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Mr Anthony Clarke, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University

Mr Anthony Clarke is a Research Associate at Curtin University, investigating the versatility of accessory mineral geochronology in addressing the age and provenance of geological material. In 2024, Anthony gained a PhD in applied geology at Curtin University, publishing A Scottish provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge (DOI: 10.1038/S41586-024-07652-1).

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Professor Chris Kirkland, Professor, Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University

Professor Chris Kirkland is an accomplished academic and geoscience professional with over 10 years of experience teaching and researching at Curtin University, and a further 10 years of laboratory experience. Chris is a Professor at Curtin University and leads the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group. Chris co-authored A Scottish provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge (DOI: 10.1038/S41586-024-07652-1).

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Serendipity broadens the scope for making graphite

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Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content Creator and recordist: Caitlin Crowley
Social Media: Celeste Fourie
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

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RapidGraphite | Dr Jason Fogg

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Jason Fogg) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0000

To unlock a more sustainable future, graphite is key. The issue: there’s a $14 billion shortage of the crucial resource on the horizon. In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Dr Jason Fogg from the Curtin Carbon Group to explore how his innovation, RapidGraphite, can turn carbon into battery-grade graphite within seconds.

What is graphite and why is it important? [00:09]
Pioneering a game-changing approach to graphite production [02:34]
Projections of growth: meeting the demands of the graphite market [06:38]
Sustainable production methods: flipping the script on traditional mining and manufacturing processes [9:23]
What RapidGraphite means for the green energy transition [14:30]
RapidGraphite research and production: Where to from here? [16:24]

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Curtin Carbon Group

Curtin Venture Studio

A decade of innovation: Unveiling Curtin’s 2024 Accelerate trailblazers

New tech that turns waste into battery-grade graphite lands support

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Dr Jason Fogg is a researcher in the Curtin Carbon Group carbon and the co-developer of RapidGraphite. Dr Fogg is a specialist in materials science, conducting experiments at ultra-high temperatures up to 3000˚C. Fogg has innovated new furnace techniques to access extreme temperatures and study advanced carbon materials for decarbonisation.

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Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content Creator: Karen Green
Recordist: Jayden McLean
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Sustainable Architecture | Zaid Osama

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Zaid Osama, David Karsten) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The world's tallest timber building, digital twinning and biophilic design. Discover how sustainable architecture is revolutionising the places we live and work in.

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Zaid Osama, who shares insights into how buildings are being designed to reduce their environmental impact, including Perth’s ground-breaking plan that will have us rethinking the materials we build with.

The impact of architecture on sustainability [00:01:40]
Sustainable development goals in architecture [00:07:06]
Dynamic architecture: The Edge in Amsterdam [00:10:18]
C6: The world's tallest timber building in Perth [00:13:45]
‘Small-scale’ sustainability: Curtin’s Living Legacy Lab [00:19:13]
Digital twinning in architecture [00:21:16]
What we can learn from Curtin’s digital campus twin [00:30:59]

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Zaid Osama, Lecturer in Architecture and Construction, School of Design and Built Environment, Curtin University

Zaid is a lecturer at Curtin University, specialising in architecture and construction. He is a Ph.D. candidate and the director of AFB Architects. His research interests include digital twins, user-centred architecture, data-driven built environment, architectural design and technology, construction systems and materials and infrastructure design and engineering.

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Gut Health | Dr Hani Al Salami & Dr Armin Mooranian

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode, host Sarah Taillier is joined by Dr. Hani Al-Salami and Dr. Armin Mooranian, both registered pharmacists from Curtin Medical School and CHIRI. Together, Dr Al-Salami and Dr Mooranian are leading a project to develop a prototype for faecal capsules. Such capsules offer new hope to patients battling resistant infections that don’t respond to standard therapies.
• [00:25 – 01:04] How faecal transplant capsules show promise for gut health in a novel trial.
• [02:06 – 02:30] How gut bacteria is crucial for gut health.
• [04:36 – 04:50] Does a capsule approach improve the ease of treatment?
• [08:09 – 08:39] How the capsule provides a non-invasive treatment for the serious bacteria infection, recurrent clostridioides dificile.
• [17:42 – 18:05] The potential for treating neurological diseases via gut health.

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Dr. Hani Al-Salami
Dr Hani Al-Salami is an AHPRA registered Australian and New Zealand pharmacist, a clinician, an academic, and a Program Lead in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Curtin Medical School and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute. Dr Al-Salami’s research focuses on using bile acids as a bio-nano platform for therapeutic delivery, which is aligned with worldwide regulatory approvals, for commercialisation purposes in humans.

Dr. Armin Mooranian
Dr Mooranian is a clinical consultant pharmacist and lecturer at Curtin Medical School. He is registered with AHPRA-Pharmacy of Board of Australia and also holds New Zealand registration with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand. Dr Mooranian's research at Curtin University has led to a significant advancement of knowledge in the field of quantum medicine, biotechnology and nanoengieering of advanced gene-based therapeutic delivery systems for the treatment of neurosensory disorders and cognitive dysfunction.

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Australian Centre for Student Equity and Sucess - ACSES (formally National Centre for Student Equity)

Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier

Content creator: Anita Shore and Alex Foot

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Celeste Fourie

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.

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Multiple Sclerosis | Dr Virginie Lam

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Can MS be slowed down or even reversed? In this episode, host Alex Foot is joined by Dr. Virginie Lam to discuss a revolutionary new treatment that aims to slow down or potentially stop the cycles of attack and remission in many MS cases.

What is multiple sclerosis (MS) and how does it effect the body? [00:46]
• What is relapse-remitting MS and what challenges does it present [02:57]
• How new myelin targeting treatments are offering new hope for MS treatment [08:56]
• What inspired Dr. Lam to research MS [15:05]

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MS Awareness Month: Australia’s advanced imaging technology takes aim at multiple sclerosis (ANIF)

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Dr. Virginie Lam
NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University

Dr. Virginie Lam specialises in neuroscience and myelin repair strategies for Multiple Sclerosis. Her work focuses on lipid-based therapies and the utilisation of advanced MRI technology to track and potentially reverse MS progression.

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Read the transcript

Behind the scenes

Host and Content Creator: Alex Foot
Producer and recordist: Emilia Jolakoska
Social Media: Celeste Fourie
Executive Producers: Matthew Sykes and Anita Shore

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Equity In Education | Prof Ian Li

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Wed, 6 Mar 2024 02:00:15 +0000

How do we overcome barriers to education in Australia? ‘In this episode, Alex Foot is joined by Professor Ian Li, Director of the Research and Policy Program at the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES), to discuss the equity landscape in Australian higher education, and how things are moving towards a more accessible system.

What is equity in education and why’s it important [01:35]
How does Australia compare globally in educational equity [04:14]
How primary and high school impact the equity of higher education [07:23]
The TAFE system [17:35]
What ‘good’ looks like in the future [23:30]

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Professor Ian Li

Director of the Research and Policy Program at the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES)

With a background in health and labour market economics, Professor Ian Li is the Research and Policy program at the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, where he heads up efforts to find out ‘what works’ in creating a more equitable higher education system in Australia.

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Bushland conservation and restoration

Behind the scenes

Host and content creator:: Alex Foot

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Celeste Fourie

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Ecological Restoration | Prof Kingsley Dixon

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Karsten, Professor Kingsley Dixon) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 02:00:00 +0000

How did a simple molecule found in smoke change the way we regenerate native plants? Find out in this episode of #TheFutureOf

In this episode, Professor Kingsley Dixon joins host David Karsten to discuss the critical role smoke plays in seed germination, the evolution of plant conservation and restoration practices, and how these insights are being applied to revitalise Western Australia's unique biodiversity.

How Prof Dixon’s career started [01:32]

Biodiversity regeneration efforts in Kings Park, WA [12:21]

How smoke can help with ecologic regeneration [11:23]

How Prof Dixon’s discovery impacted the nursery industry [21:04]

Discussion on cryogenics history and potential [31:4]

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King’s Birthday Honours: Passion for natural world drives acclaimed botanist Kingsley Dixon (The West Australian)

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Professor Kingsley Dixon

Professor Dixon has led transformational research in plant conservation and restoration. As Foundation Director at Kings Park, he built a team of over 50, pioneering 'science-into-practice' approaches with $24M in industry funding. His work has positioned WA as a global leader in environmental restoration, securing $7.6M in competitive funding and establishing significant science partnerships.

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• Curtin Korean Studies Major
• Korean Research Centre WA

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Alex Foot

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Celeste Fourie

Executive Producers: Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Korean Wave | A. Prof Jo Elfving-Hwang

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Wed, 7 Feb 2024 03:09:12 +0000

From BTS to Busan's Film Festivals, how has Korea's cultural influence spread across the globe? Find out in this episode of #TheFutureOf.

What is the Korean Wave or ‘Hallyu’ [00:50]
• How the government encouraged a cultural push of Hallyu [14:14]
• Korean Cultures spread to Australia [21:23]
• How the spread of Korean culture impacts life in South Korea itself [39:23]

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Associate Professor Jo Elfving-Hwang

Jo Elfving-Hwang is an Associate Professor of Korean Society and Culture in the School of Media Creative Arts and Social Inquiry (MCASI) at Curtin University. She is also Dean Global, Korea, with the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor Global, Director of the Korea Research & Engagement Centre at Curtin University and Major Coordinator of the Korean Studies program at Curtin.
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Marine heatwaves decimate sea urchins, molluscs and more at Rottnest

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creator: Alex Foot
Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska
Social Media: Celeste Fourie
Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Marine Biodiversity | Prof Fred Wells & Prof Monique Gagnon

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Professor Fred Wells and Professor Monique Gagnon to discuss the impact of rising sea temperatures and oil spills on aquatic life.

Significant changes in marine fauna along Perth’s coastline (00:01:02:03)

Impact of 2011 heatwave on the west end of Rottnest (00:04:12:12)

How fish fingerprints are helping identify oil pollutants (00:09:23:04)

Recovery of marine populations after the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea (00:19:54:22)

Positive trends in pollution reduction (00:21:26:23)

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Fish Fingerprinting: Identifying Crude Oil Pollutants using Bicyclic Sesquiterpanes (Bicyclanes) in the Tissues of Exposed Fish

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Professor Fred Wells, Adjunct Professor, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University

As senior curator of aquatic zoology at the Western Australian Museum for many years, Professor Wells developed a keen interest in tropical marine ecosystems and Western Australian marine habitats. He later moved to the WA Department of Fisheries where he led a research project on introduced marine pests. His research has included all major habitat types in the Western Pacific, with a particular focus on coral reefs and mangroves, and documenting molluscan assemblages in marine areas not previously investigated by scientists. He is the former President and a Lifetime Member of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, The World Scientific Society for Molluscs, and the Australasian Mollusc Society.

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Professor Monique Gagnon, Discipline lead, Ecology, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University

A prominent researcher in ecotoxicology, Professor Gagnon has led major research projects for industry, government and the Australian Research Council. Her research focuses on the impact of accidental oil spills, petroleum exploration and production on fish health, endocrine disruptors, sewage treatment plants and urban runoffs, and the toxicity of drilling muds used in the petroleum exploration industry. She provides advice on drilling programs in sensitive marine areas like Botany Bay and Barrow Island. She also monitors the effects of anti-fouling chemicals on vertebrates and invertebrate populations. Professor Gagnon is an associate editor for the international peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Toxicology.

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Study a research degree

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Anne Griffin-Appadoo

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Creativity and Generative AI | A. Prof Rachel Robertson & A. Prof Susanna Castleden

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 02:00:00 +0000

With the rapid rise of generative AI, what does this mean for the human side of creativity, art and culture?

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Rachel Robertson and Susanna Castleden explore the intersection between generative AI and human creativity, and discuss the ways in which innovative projects can act to showcase the creative work of our human artists and writers.

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Book Mentioned:

Here Be Monsters: Is Technology Reducing Our Humanity? by Richard King (Monash University Publishing, 2023).

Article Reference:

Richard King's article 'The Defence' in Griffith Review, issue 81, 2023, pp20-28.

AI Carbon Footprint:

We're getting a better idea of AI's true carbon footprint, MIT Technology Review, 2022.

Human Rights Issues in AI Industry:

Open AI Used Kenyan Workers ... To Make ChatGPT Less Toxic, TIME, 2023.

Writers Response Project Anthologies:

Where the Ink Falls, edited by Rachel Robertson, published by John Curtin Gallery, 2022.

25 for 25: Curtin Writers Respond, edited by Rachel Robertson, published by John Curtin Gallery, 2023. Available in hard copy at the John Curtin Gallery, and available soon on Issuu.

Podcast Links:

Explore more episodes on creativity and generative AI: Word & Image Podcast.

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Rachel Robertson

Associate Professor, Curtin School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry

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Associate Professor Rachel Robertson teaches and supervises in Professional Writing and Publishing and Creative Writing in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University. She has a BA (Honours) and MPhil from UWA and a PhD from Curtin University. Her memoir, Reaching One Thousand: a story of love, motherhood and autism, was published by Black Inc in 2012 and re-issued in 2018. She is editor or co-editor of seven other scholarly or creative books including recent titles Where the Ink Falls (2022) and 25 for 25 (2023). Her creative nonfiction and essays have been published in outlets such as Griffith Review, Island, Best Australian Essays, Australian Book Review and Westerly.

Susanna Castleden

Associate Professor in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry; Dean of Research in the Faculty of Humanities

As Dean of Research in the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University, Susanna is responsible for supporting and promoting researchers in the School of Education, the School of Media Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, and the School of Design and Built Environment. 

Susanna is a multi-award-winning artist and educator and has exhibited continuously throughout her career. She has participated over 30 solo and group exhibitions, and her artworks are held in more than 20 major collections across Australia, including the National Gallery of Australia and The Art Gallery of WA.  Susanna’s creative practice, predominantly in printmaking and drawing, includes large-scale projects that bring together ideas of mobility and proximity, often seeking to reveal alternate ways of encountering and understanding movement. 

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Murajuga Traditional Owner Wins Legal Bid to Stop Woodside from Conducting Seismic Blasting.

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Yvette Tulloch

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Energy Transition | Prof Petra Tschakert & Prof Peta Ashworth

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

As our planet grapples with the urgent realities of climate change, the transition to sustainable energy solutions becomes pivotal. But how do we make this transition just, inclusive, and effective?

Today, host Alex Foot is joined by two esteemed Curtin University professors, Professor Peta Ashworth OAM and Professor Petra Tschakert. They break down the complex layers of the energy humanities, the changes in public attitudes towards energy, and the need for an equitable energy shift.

Why the energy transition needs a ‘humanities look’ [06:40]

The benefits of energy literacy [17:58]

The social challenge of ensuring everyone benefits from the energy transition [27:18]

Western Australia’s role in a just energy transition [38:20]

Why action is key to ensuring a just transition [46:11]

Learn more

News Article on Energy Transition Jobs

Curtin’s Centre for Energy Transition

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Professor Petra Tschakert

Professor Tschakert is trained as a human-environment geographer and applied anthropologist and conducts research at the intersection of political ecology, climate change adaptation, climate and mobility justice, multispecies justice, energy humanities, transformative sustainability education, and livelihood security. She has abundant experience using participatory methods and community engagement practices for capacity and resilience strengthening for >30 years in Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania, India, Nepal, and Panama, and recently in Western Australia.

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Professor Peta Ashworth OAM

Professor Ashworth is a renowned expert in energy, communication, stakeholder engagement, and technology assessment. She has researched public attitudes towards climate and energy technologies, including wind, carbon capture and storage (CCS), solar photovoltaic, storage, geothermal and hydrogen, for almost two decades. An accomplished speaker and educator, she actively promotes energy literacy globally and contributes to policy briefings and educational events.

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Behind the scenes

Host and Content Creator: Alex Foot

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Mountain Biking | Paul Braybrook & Rod Annear

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 02:20:00 +0000

Mountain biking, an exhilarating outdoor adventure, is taking the world by storm. From conquering rugged trails to exploring diverse terrains, it offers a fantastic cardiovascular workout, enhancing your strength, endurance, and agility. In fact, it's one of the fastest-growing recreational activities globally. In this episode, Host David Kasten sat down with Paul Braybrook, a dedicated paramedic and paramedicine researcher at Curtin University; and Rod Annear, Assistant Director of Parks and Visitor Services at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions to discuss the growth and transformation of mountain biking into the loved activity it is today.
Doing a PhD in mountain biking [01:40]

The planning that goes into expanding mountain biking trails [09:20]

Are severe are typical mountain biking injuries? [11:29]

What the next ten years of mountain biking holds [21:58]

How families can casually get into mountain biking [28:11]

Learn more

Pedal power takes off: Mountain biking benefits outweigh risks (Curtin News)

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Paul Braybrook
Researcher, Curtin School of Nursing
Paul Braybrook is a AHPRA Registered Paramedic for St John WA working for the state ambulance service. He is also the course coordinator for paramedicine at Curtin University.
In his spare time, he can be found riding in whatever mountains he happens to be closest to. Paul has a particular interest in sports medicine epidemiology and the management of traumatic injuries in outdoor remote locations. Pauls doctoral thesis aims to investigate the medical events that occur during the recreational use of outdoor terrestrial trails in Western Australia (WA) with particular focus on mountain biking and hiking. This is from both an epidemiological perspective and from a health service resources perspective.
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Rod Annear
Assistant Director Parks and Visitor Services at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Rod is developing the next generation of supporters and visitors of national parks, marine parks and protected areas in Western Australia.
He is currently responsible for planning and implementing facilities, trails, experiences and information; and leading the management of the Parks website, social media strategy and mobile applications for park supporters and visitors.
Rod has wide experience in national park management and conservation; and recreation facility and activity planning, having spent 30 years in natural area management including 20 years as a National Park Ranger in Western Australia.
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Curtin study suggests rare echidna noises could be the ‘language of love’

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creator: Alex Foot
Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska
Social Media: Amy Hosking
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew Sykes

First Nations Acknowledgement

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Echidnas | Dr Christine Cooper

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Christine Cooper, David Karsten) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

As one of the world’s rarest mammals, the iconic echidna has developed surprising ways to adapt to a warming climate.

In this episode, David Karsten was joined by Dr Christine Cooper from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences to discuss the unique traits of echidnas and what the future holds.

What is a monotreme? 01:30

Dr Cooper explains how echidnas use vocalisations to mate [8:05]

The differences between echidnas across the country [14:09]

How echidnas survive in extreme heat [22:03]

Learn more

Study finds blowing bubbles among echidna’s tricks to beat the heat

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Dr Christine Cooper, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University

Christine Cooper is an expert in vertebrate ecophysiology. She completed her PhD in zoology at UWA, focusing on numbat physiology and behaviour. Since becoming a lecturer at Curtin in 2005, Christine splits her time between teaching, supervising research projects, and studying Australian birds and mammals. She has established extensive collaborative networks nationally and internationally, and maintains strong links with wildlife and conservation organisations.

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Cryo-Seed Banking at Kings Park, WA

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Anne Griffin-Appadoo

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Cryo-Conservation | Prof Ricardo Mancera and Dr Bryn Funnekotter

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Why are experts turning to cryo-preservation to combat plant extinction threats? In this episode, host David Karsten is joined by Professor Ricardo Mancera and Dr Bryn Funnekotter to discuss the role of cryo-preservation for long-term conservation of plant species, asked why this is necessary for industry, and discussed emerging cryo biotechnology that could be a viable alternative to conventional seed storage.

What sort of challenge does plant extinction pose to Australia's unique biodiversity? [01:01]

The role that cryo-preservation plays in preservation of natural environments [ 08:54]

How mining industry and scientists work together to restore degraded ecosystems [17:23]

The wider implications of saving species via cryo-storage [30:11]

Learn more

The successful cryo-freezing of Avocado Trees/Seeds in QLD (ABC)

Scientists reviving 32000 year old previously extinct seeds from Siberia (National Geographic)

Connect with our guests

Professor Ricardo Mancera

Prof. Ricardo Mancera is a distinguished expert in Biophysical Chemistry and Computational Biophysics from Curtin University's School of Biomedical Sciences. His research delves into the complexities of protein behaviour, enzyme mechanisms, and hydration's role in drug design, advancing medical science and therapeutics.

Dr Bryn Funnekotter

Dr. Bryn Funnekotter leads biotechnological conservation efforts with a profound passion for preserving Australian flora. Based dually at Curtin University and Kings Park, his research focus is to enhance and solidify the use of cryopreservation and plant tissue culture as viable conservation instruments for Australia's unique plant species.

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Botanic Gardens of WA Staff Page

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Hit your head while playing sport? Here’s what just happened to your brain

Behind the scenes

Hosts: David Karsten

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Episode researcher: Alex Foot

Recordist: Alex Foot

Editor: Alex Foot

Executive producer: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Brain Trauma and Sports | Dr Sarah Hellewell

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Sarah Taillier) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Traumatic brain injuries are becoming more widely discussed, with more sports stars revealing their health issues after repeated episodes of concussion. But what about the lesser injuries, which cumulatively may have a profound effect on the brain? In this episode, host Sarah Taillier chatted with Dr Sarah Hellewell, a leading international expert in the area of traumatic brain injury who is based at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science at Curtin University. They discussed the causes of brain trauma from sports, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on the brain, and progress on new treatments to lessen or reverse brain damage.

What do we know about the link between sports and brain trauma? [01:21]

Symptoms of sports related concussions [07:06]

The relationship between COVID-19 and brain damage [11:54]

When to reach out to a doctor following a hit to the head [20:19]

Learn more

Dr Sarah Hellewell on Concussions in Contact Sports

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Dr Sarah Hellewell, Research Fellow

Dr Sarah Hellewell is a neurotrauma Research Fellow at the Perron Institute and a leading international expert in traumatic brain injuries. She is developing and applying new tools to examine changes in brain structure and function after injury from the whole brain to an individual cell level. Among other topics, she has contributed to research articles on sport-related concussion and brain injury from domestic violence.

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Curtin Staff

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Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Educaton)

Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier

Content creator: Karen Green

Producer and Recordist: Alex Foot

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Early Childhood Education and Technology | Emma Cross

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Emma Cross, David Karsten) — Tue, 5 Sep 2023 03:58:38 +0000

Our children today navigate a world where the boundaries between digital and physicals worlds are increasingly blurred. As they tap, swipe, and interact, Australian parents wonder: How does this digital immersion shape a child's growth? How do we differentiate constructive digital engagement from detrimental? And above all, how do we ensure their safety in this vast digital expanse? In this episode, host David Karsten sat down with Emma Cross to chat about the role of digital technology in early learning.

Do children have the right to technology? [01:28]

What is screentime? Is it really as bad as people say? [10:20]

Data and privacy issues [11:29]

Emma's academic and professional journey [21:58]

Learn more

Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child)

Connect with our guests

Emma Cross

Emma Cross is an early childhood specialist with a commerce degree in management and marketing, and a master degree in early childhood education. She also has experience as a centre director for Australian early childhood service providers.
In October 2022, Emma was recognised as the Barbara Creaser Young Advocate of the Year for her contribution to Early Childhood Education.

Emma currently works as an Associate Investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, which Curtin University is one of six partnering Universities. She is part of a team investigating the impact of digital technology on young children’s creativity and connected learning experiences, in partnership with Scitech.

She’s also the course coordinator for Early Childhood Education and Educational Studies at Curtin University. And, she’s studying her PhD, exploring quality leadership practices and positionality in the Western Australian early childhood sector.

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Koya Aboriginal Corporation

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Yvette Tulloch

Producer and Recordist: Alex Foot

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Voice To Parliament | Prof Cheryl Kickett - Tucker

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Karsten, Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker) — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Is this Australia's pivotal moment? In this episode, host David Karsten is joined by Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker to discuss the upcoming Australian referendum on recognising the First Nations people of Australia in the constitution and the potential establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

What is the proposed Voice to Parliament? [01:10]
How Prof. Kickett-Tucker's community is feeling about the referendum [08:22]
What would a ‘yes’ vote mean? [11:15]
How would a ‘no’ vote impact how Australia is perceived? [18:21]
Prof. Kickett-Tucker's community programs [20:49]
Prof. Kickett-Tucker on her personal motivations and hopes for the future [33:15]

Learn more

Curtin’s Reconciliation Action Plan

Reconciliation Australia’s Information on the Voice to Parliament

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Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker AM

Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker AM is a Wadjuk Noongar Aboriginal from Western Australia. She is a Research Fellow at Curtin University and Project Director at Koya Aboriginal Corporation.

Her research interests include Aboriginal identity and self-esteem of Aboriginal children, including the development of culturally appropriate instruments for racial identity and self-esteem across the lifespan.

Prof. Kickett-Tucker's Curtin Staff Profile

Prof. Kickett-Tuckers's LinkedIn

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Bachelor of Science (Cyber Security)

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Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Zoe Taylor

Producer and Recordist: Alex Foot

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Cyber Warfare | Dr Nickson M. Karie

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Nickson Karie, David Karsten) — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In the face of cyber threats, how do nations and organisations safeguard personal data and secure the digital systems we rely on? In this episode, host David Karsten is joined by Dr Nickson Karie, a cybersecurity and forensics expert to discuss the looming threat of cyberattacks, the potential impacts of cyberwarfare on a nation, and what we can all do to keep our information safe in cyberspace.

What is cyberwarfare? [00:57]

The future of cyber-defence and AI [06:23]

The likelihood of a catastrophic cyberattack [09:20]

What inspires Dr Karie [20:20]

Learn more

Curtin Institute for Data Science (Formerly Curtin Centre for Computation)

Connect with our guests

Dr Nickson M Karie
Dr Karie is an accomplished cybersecurity and forensics professional with more than ten years of academic teaching and research. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity and Forensics at Curtin University.

Dr Karie uses his cybersecurity and forensics skills and knowledge to contribute to the technological advances happening in different industries. He believes that security is not only a fundamental part of our daily life but also key to the future of our global
digital economy.

Dr Karie graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2016 with a PhD in Computer Science. His research interests are in cloud forensics, critical infrastructure security, cybersecurity, digital forensics, incident handling and intrusion detection,
IoT forensics, and mobile forensics.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Alex Foot

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Legalising Cannabis (Re-Release) | Prof Simon Lenton

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Could Australia legalise recreational cannabis use while avoiding the same profit-driven pitfalls that have occurred with tobacco and alcohol?

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Simon Lenton from the National Drug Research Institute to explore how Australia may go about legalising the recreational use of cannabis, learning from the commercial models seen in North America.

Highs and lows of commercialising cannabis [05:17]
Cannabis social clubs [08:15]
The cannabis profit playbook [11:49]
Reducing the risk of drug driving [14:40]
Cannabis law in Australia right now [17:10]
Finding the middle ground for legalisation [19:30]
‘Things are wrong with the system’ [22:33]

Transcript

Full Transcript

Learn more

Legalise Cannabis party introduces personal use bills in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia
It could take 10 years to measure the impact of legalising weed
Assessing options for cannabis law reform
Legalizing cannabis: Experience, lessons and scenarios

Connect with our guest

Professor Simon Lenton has worked with the National Drug Research Institute since 1993 in both research and professional roles. He also works part-time as a clinical psychologist in private practice.

His research interests include bridging the gap between drug policy research and drug policy practice, illicit drug use and harm reduction, and the impact of legislative options for drugs.

He has published widely on drugs, health and the law and has given advice to a range of government and private organisations, both in Australia and internationally, on evidence-based drug policy and other drug issues.

Web: ndri.curtin.edu.au

Twitter: @NDRIau

Facebook: @NDRIau

LinkedIn: National Drug Research Institute (NDRI)

YouTube: NDRIau

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Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

Host:Sarah Taillier

Announcer: David Karsten

Researcher, Recorder and Editor: Zoe Taylor and Yvette Tulloch

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

Producer: Annabelle Fouchard and Emilia Jolakoska

Assistant Producer: Alexandra Eftos

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

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Jobs for Humans (Re-Release) | Prof Mark Griffin

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Digital disruption, AI, automation and changing views about work-life balance are going to transform our workplaces. A Deloitte Access Economics report forecasts that four out of five jobs created between now and 2030 will be for ‘knowledge workers’.
In this episode, Jess and David are joined by Professor Mark Griffin, Director of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University, about how our workplaces are going to change.

• Should we be worried about ‘technological unemployment’? (00.28)
• What will be the biggest differences between the workplace today and in 2030? (02.41)
• How do we upskill to prepare for the future? (04.39)
• What’s the impact of the gig economy? (09.16)
• What do people need from their workplace? (16.04)

Learn more

The Future of Work Institute at Curtin University
Deloitte:While the future of work is human, Australia faces a major skills crisis

Connect with our guests

Professor Mark Griffin, Director of the Future of Work Institute
The Future of Work Institute promotes productive and meaningful work as essential foundations of a healthy economy and society. It focuses on how people contribute to and benefit from new knowledge and practices. Their mission is to support thriving people and organisations in the digital age. The Institute promotes productive and meaningful work as essential foundations of a healthy economy and society.

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Transcript

Read the report: ‘Housing Affordability in Western Australia 2023’

Behind the scenes

Host: Jessica Morrison and David Blayney.
Announcer: David Karsten
Content creator: Daniel Jauk and Yvette Tulloch
Producer: Annabelle Fouchard and Emilia Jolakoska
Social Media: Amy Hosking
Executive Producers: Anita Shore

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Housing Affordability | Dr Adam Crowe and Ryan Brierty

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Adam Crowe, Ryan Brierty, David Karsten) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

With rising interest rates, dwindling housing supply and a rental market in crisis, what is happening to Australian housing affordability, and is there any relief in sight?

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by researchers Dr Adam Crowe and Ryan Brierty to discuss their new report on housing affordability in Western Australia in 2023 and what we can expect from the housing market in the future.

Renters face increasing “deposit hurdle” [03:10]

WA’s social housing deficit [06:23]

Intergenerational impact on housing [10:16]

The perfect storm: ‘Homebuilder’ scheme and COVID-19[17:52]

Reforming tenants’ rights [24:46]

Moving away from ‘detached dwellings’ [28:02]

Resources to help with cost of living [36:53]

Learn more

Find out more about the BankWest Curtin Economics Centre

Responding to the pandemic, can building homes rebuild Australia?

Australia's Covid-19 housing policy responses

Not-for-profit housing assistance services:

Circle Green Legal: https://circlegreen.org.au/

St Barts: https://stbarts.org.au/

St Pats: https://stpats.com.au/housing/

Uniting: https://unitingwa.org.au/

RUAH: https://www.ruah.org.au/need-help/

Government services:

Crisis Care

WA Government renting assistance programs and service

MoneySmart

Connect with our guests

Dr Adam Crowe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, AHURI (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute), Curtin University

Adam Crowe is currently completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the AHURI – Curtin Research Centre. His research examines innovative ways to improve tenure security within the private rental sector, with a focus on tenant experiences and outcomes, policy innovation, and Build-to-Rent as an emerging asset class touted to increase rental supply.

Ryan Brierty, PhD student, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Curtin University

Ryan is a property economics tutor and research assistant at Curtin University. He co-authored the report ‘Housing affordability in Western Australia 2023: Building for the future’. He is currently completing a PhD at Curtin, centred on housing economics.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten

Content creator: Anne Griffin-Appadoo

Producer and recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Editor: Karen Green

Executive producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

The Manosphere | Dr Ben Rich and Dr Francis Russell

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Francis Russell, Dr Ben Rich) — Mon, 29 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

What is ‘the manosphere’, what has it got to do with masculinity, and why are high school teachers concerned by teenage boys’ attraction to it? In this episode, our guest presenter Associate Professor Kathryn Shine is joined by Dr Ben Rich and Dr Francis Russell, from the Curtin Extremism Research Network, to discuss the realm of the manosphere.

What is the manosphere? [00:09]
Why are men feeling ‘disenfranchised’? [02:57]
Are there racial and religious elements within the manosphere? [11:58]
What is the Curtin Extremism Research Network? [35:54]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Francis Russell is a lecturer and researcher in various areas across the humanities, including cultural studies. Along with Dr Ben Rich, he is the co-director of the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN).

Dr Francis Russell's Curtin University staff page

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Staff profile
Twitter profile
Website

Behind the scenes

Host: Associate Professor Kathryn Shine

Content creator: Karen Green

Producer and recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social media: Kimberley Tait

Executive producer: Jarrad Long

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

TikTok | Prof Crystal Abidin

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Crystal Abidin) — Mon, 15 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Whether you love it, hate it, don’t get it or your grandma’s trending on it, TikTok is a cultural phenomenon. But how did it become so popular and should we be worried by its reach?

Join our host Sarah Taillier as she chats with Crystal Abidin, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University and Founder of the TikTok Cultures Research Network.

They explore why TikTok is so popular, how its algorithms might work and its influence on society, now and into the future.

Why is TikTok so popular? [00:52]
Activism is trending on TikTok [02:59]
The ‘algorithmic imaginary’ [06:12]
‘Social media is not an arbiter of morality’ [10:43]
What comes after TikTok? [12:42]
First Nations on TikTok [15:48]
TikTok Research Cultures Network [19:01]
Read the book: TikTok and Youth Cultures [23:20]
Finding content on TikTok [28:15]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Crystal Abidin
Professor of Internet Studies, Curtin University

Professor Crystal Abidin is a social media researcher, digital anthropologist and Founder of the TikTok Cultures Research Network, which shares research into TikTok cultures with scholars based in the Asia-Pacific. Crystal’s notable awards include the WA Tall Young Poppy Science Award (2022), The Australian Top 40 Early Career Researchers (2021) and ABC Top 5 Humanities Fellow (2020).

Crystal has published multiple books and more than 80 articles and chapters on various aspects on internet celebrity and vernacular internet cultures. Her most recent book, TikTok and Youth Cultures, is due to be published later this year.

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Centre for Transformative Work Design

Team

Host: Sarah Taillier
Content creator: Zoe Taylor and Daniel Jauk
Recordist: Anita Shore
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Mining Culture | Prof Sharon Parker & Dr Patricia Todd

Mon, 1 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Western Australia's mining sector is the lifeblood of the state, but it's not without scrutiny. Learn how the industry is using research to undergo a cultural revolution to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its workers.

In this episode, David is joined by Professor Sharon Parker and Dr Patricia Todd to explore how the government-backed Landmark Study can address serious cultural and safety issues in the mining industry, including sexual harassment, discrimination, poor mental health and new tech challenges. If you work in the WA mining industry, find out how you can get involved in the study.

What is the MARS [Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety] Landmark Study and why do we need it? (01:18)
How can the mining industry use these early findings to make changes in their workplaces? (07:41)
What safety challenges have emerged due to new mining technologies and automation? (14:44)
What's the survey about and how can mining workers get involved? (22:06)

Learn more

Future of Work Institute

MARS Landmark Study Worker Survey

Connect with our guests

Professor Sharon Parker  is the John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Curtin University, and Director of the Centre for Transformative Work Design, which is part of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University. Sharon is a world-leading researcher on the topic of work design, proactivity in the workplace, mental health, job performance and the impact of technology on the future of work.

Dr Patricia Todd is Chair of the Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee (MAPAC), which advises the WA Government on matters relating to work health and safety in the mining and petroleum industries. Previously, Trish was Professor of Employment Relations and Head of the Management and Organisations Discipline Group at The University of Western Australia.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content Creators: Zoe Taylor, Karen Green
Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska
Social Media: Amy Hosking
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Moon Travel | Prof Phil Bland & Prof Gretchen Benedix

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 02:00:00 +0000

It's been half a century since humans travelled to the moon when astronauts explored an area of the moon known as the Taurus-Littrow Valley in 1972. Now, NASA's Artemis space program could resume travel to the moon by 2024 and provide exciting opportunities for the next generation of planetary scientists and space explorers.

To explore this topic, Sarah was joined by Professor Phil Bland and Professor Gretchen Benedix. Phil and Gretchen are both planetary scientists from the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University. They talked about NASA's Artemis program, how Curtin University is involved, the evolution of CubeSats and lunar mining.

How NASA’s Artemis program will contribute our understanding of the moon [01:17]
Curtin’s involvement in the program [08:35]
Resources that can be mined from the moon [13:48]
How the Artemis program will shape the future of human civilisation [25:28]
Watching the 2023 solar eclipse [32:54]
The best ways the public can stay across the Artemis program [35:31]

Learn more

Here’s why humans are going back to the moon
From WA to the moon

Connect with our guests

Professor Phil Bland, Planetary Scientist, Curtin University

Professor Bland is a planetary scientist who is the Director of the Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC) at Curtin University, Director of the Australia node of the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute and Director of the Desert Fireball Network (DFN).

He has worked with NASA, ESA and JAXA and led the Curtin team that coded and built the Binar-1 CubeSat, which was launched into low orbit from the International Space Station in August 2021. Six more Binar missions are planned over the next 18 months.

Professor Bland was named Western Australia Scientist of the Year in 2019. His goal is to see Australia take its place amongst space faring nations by leading our own planetary missions, and to inspire the public and advance industry through space mission science and engineering.

Professor Gretchen Benedix, Planetary Geologist, Curtin University

Professor Benedix is a renowned planetary geologist and meteorite expert who works at Curtin University. She is particularly interested in extraterrestrial geology, the physical and chemical processes that shaped the asteroids and how they relate to the formation and evolution of the planets.

Professor Benedix has made significant contributions to the field of planetary science through her research. She has participated in numerous expeditions including a two-month-long expedition to Antarctica in 2001, where she led a team of researchers to collect meteorites from the ice.

In addition to her research, Professor Benedix is a dedicated educator and mentor, working to inspire the next generation of planetary scientists. She is actively involved in science outreach programs and regularly speaks at public events to share her passion for planetary science with the broader community.

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Behind the scenes

Researcher and Editor: Anita Shore

Producer & Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Social Media: Amy Hosking

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Black Cockatoos | A. Prof Bill Bateman & Jane Hammond

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Associate Professor Bill Bateman, Jane Hammond) — Tue, 4 Apr 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Is it too late to save our iconic black cockatoos, or is there still time to act and protect these majestic birds?

With their distinctive call and striking feathers, black cockatoos are beloved by many Australians. But some species of black cockatoo will be extinct by 2050 due to major habitat loss.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by wildlife biologist Associate Professor Bill Bateman and filmmaker Jane Hammond to discuss the decline in WA’s three species of black cockatoo, and what needs to be done to halt their spiral towards extinction.

Meet WA’s black cockatoos [04:28]
Land clearing the death knell of cockatoos [06:03]
EPA’s review too little too late [08:04]
Adaptability a necessity for survival [08:37]
Doco evokes action [10:23]
“But I see cockatoos all the time” [15:55]
What we can do differently [19:18]
Policy and legislation must change [28:35]
Cultural significance of black cockatoos [29:26]
Contributing to conservation [30:13]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Bill Bateman, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University

Bill Bateman is wildlife biologist who researches animal behaviour, conservation and ecophysiology. He has published over 85 papers and book chapters, with research spanning invertebrates through to large mammals.

Bill’s research interests include investigating mating selection, species’ survival tactics and the ability of birds and animals to survive in urban environments.

He is a regular media commentator on animal behaviour, wildlife biology, urban ecology and conservation.

Twitter profile

Staff profile

Jane Hammond, freelance journalist and filmmaker

Jane Hammond is a Perth-based documentary filmmaker who has worked for more than 25 years as a journalist. She writes, directs and shoots documentaries on environmental issues, social affairs, science and politics.

Her latest documentary, Black Cockatoo Crisis, captures the plight of WA’s black cockatoo species and has so far won five international awards.

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Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier
Content creator: Zoe Taylor
Recordist: Jayden Mclean
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Alzheimer's | Prof John Mamo & Dr Virginie Lam

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Virgine Lam, Professor John Mamo) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Curtin researchers are trialling a medication that could help preserve the cognitive function of people with Alzheimer’s.

In this episode, Sarah Taillier is joined by Professor John Mamo and Dr Virginie Lam from the Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute. They discuss how they’re trialling an existing drug that could be a game changer for people with Alzheimer’s by preventing the build-up of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain. They also explore some of the lifestyle factors that are likely to cause the disease.

Amyloid beta and its link with Alzheimer’s [0:26]
How the drug probucol works [5:47]
Why is Alzheimer’s on the rise? [08:31]
Current treatment options for Alzheimer’s [10:13]
The problem with the drug Lacanemab [11:25]
Simple lifestyle changes to help prevent Alzheimer’s [20:33]
Should we do genetic testing for Alzheimer’s? [27:00]
Listening to our bodies is key to good health [32:48]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor John Mamo

Professor Mamo is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor and Director of the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI). He leads a team of physiologists and vascular biologists in exploring cerebral capillary dysfunction in a range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and in pain disorders.

John is the Principal Investigator of a nationally funded drug study in Alzheimer’s disease. He has published 200 peer reviewed publications and been cited on more than 6300 occasions.

Dr Virginie Lam

Dr Virginie Lam is an Early Career Research Fellow with preclinical and clinical expertise investigating the role of micro-nutrients in regulating brain capillaries and cognitive performance. Her research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

She completed her PhD in 2016 and currently possesses authorship to more than 60 publications.

Virginie’s current line of research examines the interactive effects of vasoactive nutrients with lifestyle and pharmacological interventions that can restore vascular damage to improve cognitive health and halt the onset and progression of vascular-based neurodegenerative diseases.

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Team

Content creator: Zoe Taylor

Producer and recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Grief | Prof Lauren Breen and Shelly Skinner

Tue, 7 Mar 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Grief and dying are among the most underdiscussed topics in society. How does this impact our wellbeing, and does our understanding about grief need to change?

To explore this topic, Sarah is joined by Professor Lauren Breen and Ms Shelly Skinner. Lauren is researcher in Curtin University’s School of Population Health, specialising in the psychology of grief and loss. Lauren’s research is internationally recognised, and she has received a research recognition award from the Association for Death Education and Counselling in the USA, for her significant contribution to studies concerning grief across the lifespan. Shelly is a social worker who specialises in the palliative care of children, and is also the CEO and Founder of a children's bereavement service, Lionheart Camp for Kids.

What is grief literacy? [1:49]
Does palliative care need to change to include the grieving process after death? [09:11]
Has the rising acceptance of voluntary assisted dying helped in discussions about death and grieving? [12:49]
The stigma of certain ‘causes’ of death [14:29]
COVID-19 and ‘pandemic grief’ [17:30]:
The so-called ‘death industry’: will the funeral industry change in light of our changing attitudes towards death [19:41]
How should we be involving children in the grieving process and ritual? [24:23]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Lauren Breen

Professor Lauren Breen is a Curtin University health researcher who is internationally recognised for her research in the psychology of grief and loss.

Shelley Skinner

Ms Shelly Skinner is a social worker who is involved in the palliative care of children. She founded the Lionheart Camp for Kids to help children who have lost people close to them to grieve.

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Transcript

Read the transcript.

Team

Host: Sarah Taillier
Content Creator: Karen Green
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Recordist: Annabelle Fouchard

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Twitter | Prof Tama Leaver

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Tama Leaver) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Will Twitter ever be the same since Elon Musk’s takeover? And what impact will his changes have on users, free speech and (dis)information?

Twitter is one of the most influential speech platforms in the world – as of 2022, it had approximately 450million monthly active users. But its takeover by Elon Musk has sparked concerns about social media regulation and Twitter’s ability to remain a ‘proxy for public opinion’.

To explore this topic, Sarah is joined by Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University.

Why does Twitter matter? [00:48]
Elon rewinds content regulation [06:54]
Twitter’s political clout [10:16]
Make the internet democratic again [11:28]
What is Mastodon? [15:29]
Can we ever really trust the internet? [17:47]

Learn more

Elon Musk, Twitter and the Declaration of the Future of the Internet impact

Connect with our guests

Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University.

Tama Leaver’s research interests include children’s data, privacy and rights in an online world, visual social media, the activity and regulation of big social media companies, and the social, casual and mobile gaming landscape.

He is the President of the Association of Internet Researchers, a regular media commentator and a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.

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Team

Curtin University Research

Content creator: Zoe Taylor
Producer & Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Research | Prof Chris Moran & Prof Fran Ackermann

Tue, 7 Feb 2023 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Chris Moran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Curtin University and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Fran Ackermann, to discuss the future of university research.

Current challenges for Australian universities [02:07]
The future of universities is around integration between disciplines [06:32]
What does the fight for research dollars mean for universities? [08:36]
Is the physical (university) campus a finished thing with online education? [14:45]
How important is the link between teaching and research? [17:40]
What can we do to retain and build (Australia’s) research capacity? (20:34)

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Connect with our guests

Professor Chris Moran is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Curtin. Chris has been involved in research for more than 30 years in natural resource and industry areas, and has also served as a research leader at the CSIRO and at the University of Queensland.

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Fran Ackermann joined Curtin Business School in 2012 as an internationally recognised researcher in the areas of strategy and complex project management. She has also served as Dean of Research in Curtin’s Faculty of Business and Law.

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Team

Host: Sarah Taillier
Topic Researcher: Karen Green
Producer & Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska
Audio Editor: Karen Green
Social Media: Amy Hosking

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Green Hydrogen (Re Release) | Prof Craig Buckley

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Is green hydrogen the key to a carbon-free energy future?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Professor Craig Buckley from Curtin University’s Hydrogen Storage Research Group to discuss the future of green hydrogen and how he and his team are making it a viable energy solution.

The colours of hydrogen [00:45]
Using Raman scattering to detect hydrogen [04:11]
Is green hydrogen a feasible energy solution? [08:42]
Safety of hydrogen compared to fossil fuels [11:01]
Using hydrogen to fuel transport vehicles [16:27]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Craig Buckley,John Curtin Distinguished Professor, School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematicals Sciences.

Professor Buckley is Head of the Hydrogen Storage Research Group at Curtin University and is recognised internationally for his work on hydrogen storage materials.

He is the Australian Executive Committee member on the International Energy Agency (IEA) Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Program (TCP) and is an Australian expert on the IEA Hydrogen TCP Task 40 Hydrogen Energy Storage and Conversion.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Socials

https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/green-hydrogen/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Screen time and our attention span | Dr Patrick Clarke, Tamsin Mahalingham

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Patrick Clarke, Ms Tamsin Mahalingham) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Our growing reliance on mobile phones, the internet and social media may be changing how our brains work and altering our ability to focus. Early research expresses concern about the impacts of screen use on our concentration and mental health, and particularly on young children. However, newer research finds that many of the early conclusions regarding the negative effects of screen time and social media may have been overstated.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Dr Patrick Clarke and Ms Tamsin Mahalingham.

Dr Clarke is a lecturer, clinical psychologist and researcher in psychology. His research considers whether our interactions with our devices influence our patterns of emotion, for better and for worse.

Ms Mahalingham is a PhD student at Curtin, where she has been examining the impact of social media use on mental health outcomes.

They discuss, how cognitive processes are changing in response to technology, the connections between inner tension and health, and how future technologies could impact brain function.

What attention control is and how it is measured [1:11]

In what ways is the digital world changing our attention span and shaping our cognitive abilities [4:58]

The connection between distractability, social media and mental health. [6:17]

How we can rebuild our attention spans – or retrain our brains to help us focus without distraction [15:07]

How our brains will adapt to the intense, digital demands of the future, such as VR and the Internet of Everything [19:13]

Patrick and Tamsin’s upcoming research plans [24:33]

Learn more

Attention control moderates the relationship between social media use and psychological distress

Symptoms of ADHD

Screentime associated with inattention in pre-schoolers

Connect with our guests

Dr Patrick Clarke

Senior Lecturer, Curtin School of Population Health

Dr Clarke is a lecturer, clinical psychologist and researcher in psychology. His research interests include understanding the cognitive and neural processes that underlie emotional vulnerability and resilience. His recent research also considers how interactions between patterns of cognition, such as attention, and our devices may influence patterns of emotion for better and for worse.

Email

Patrick.Clarke@curtin.edu.au

Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=qJmehJwAAAAJ

Twitter

@DrPatClarke

Ms Tamsin Mahalingham

Provisional Psychologist, Professional Masters and PhD Psychology student, Curtin School of Population Health

Ms Mahalingham is a PhD student at Curtin, where she has been examining the impact of social media use on mental health outcomes. She has found that people who get distracted easily are more prone to experience negative psychological effects (anxiety and depression) from high levels of social media use. She is also a volunteer with YouthFocus WA.

Email

Tamsin.Mahalingham@curtin.edu.au

Twitter

@TMahalingham

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Researcher and Editor: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

Producer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

Social Media Coordinator: Amy Hosking

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Prisons | Dr Stuart Kinner

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Stuart Kinner) — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 02:30:00 +0000

“People are sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment.” The appalling treatment of children at Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre urges us to rethink how we treat some of society’s most vulnerable people.

People who have spent time in prison are generally more disadvantaged, with higher health care needs than the wider Australian population, but their quality of life is often not considered to be public health or human rights issues.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Dr Stuart Kinner, a Professor in Curtin’s School of Population Health. They discuss Australia’s current treatment of justice-involved people, and changes that need to be made to multiple systems to improve structural inequalities that exist for people who are involved throughout the prison cycle.

Government’s response to Banksia Hill found wanting [02:02]
“People are sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment” [04:42]
People in prison have human rights [04:42]
People in prisons can't access Medicare [06:36]
The stigma of being in prison [13:25]
People who seek help more likely to return to jail [19:15]
Effective support for people released from prison [22:55]
Prisons as places of rehabilitation [26:51]
Hope for changes to the system [28:55]

Learn more

Connect with our gests

Dr Stuart Kinner is a Professor in Curtin’s School of Population Health. He leads a program of multi-disciplinary research on the health of marginalised and justice-involved people. His work is distinguished by methodological rigour, ethical research practice and meaningful research translation.

He is experienced in longitudinal studies, multi-sectoral data linkage, randomised controlled trials, program evaluation, policy analysis, systematic review, and meta-analysis. He has produced more than 250 publications (192 peer reviewed) and attracted more than $28 million in research and consulting funds, mostly from nationally competitive schemes.

Dr Kinner is Chair of Australia’s_National Youth Justice Health Advisory Group and_ the WHO’s Health in Prisons Programme Technical Expert Group. He also serves on the Steering Committee for the_Worldwide Prison Health Research and Engagement Network.

Dr Kinner's social profiles:

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Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier
Content creator: Zoe Taylor

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Synthetic Milk | Professor Dora Marinova

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Dora Marinova) — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 02:30:00 +0000

Would you drink milk that came from a laboratory instead of a cow? Synthetic milk is set to shake up the dairy industry, boasting a similar look, taste and nutrition profile to cow’s milk, but with a smaller carbon footprint.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Dora Marinova from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute. They discuss how synthetic milk is made, why we need another dairy alternative and the possible benefits and impact of fake milk on the dairy industry and consumers.

I can’t believe it’s not milk! [01:02]
What is synthetic milk made from? [02:30]
How ‘green’ is synthetic milk? [07:26]
Impact of synthetic milk on dairy jobs [11:53]
We already drink processed milk [14:05]
Trying different brands avoids path dependency [16:28]
Has the food industry become hyperreal? [19:23]
“We need miracles on demand” to battle climate change [23:56]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Dora Marinova

Dora Marinova is Professor of Sustainability at the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute and was CUSP Director from 2015 to 2018 and Deputy Director from 2007 to 2014.

She has more that 320 refereed publications and has supervised 57 PhD students. Marinova’s research areas of interest include innovative global green systems, sustainometrics (the modelling and measuring of sustainability), flexitarianism, the role of China in decarbonising the global economy, and the role of the individual in living sustainably.

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Assessing tourism potentials in the Fitzroy Valley

Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier
Content creator: Zoe Taylor

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Indigenous Cultural Tourism | Robert Taylor, A. Prof Michael Volgger

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Robert Taylor, Dr Michael Volgger) — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 02:30:00 +0000

Learn how the peak body for Aboriginal tourism in WA is leading the way in sharing the cultures and knowledges of First Nations Peoples.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Robert Taylor, CEO of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) and Michael Volgger, Co-Director of the Curtin Tourism Research Cluster. Together, they discuss ways to expand Indigenous cultural tourism in Australia, including looking at the Fitzroy Valley in the Kimberley region as a case study.

WAITOC leads the way in WA’s Indigenous tourism industry [02:46]
Martuwarra Fitzroy River can create A$30million in tourism income [05:10]
Indigenous tourism supports reconciliation [07:30]
Maintaining culture means maintaining country [13:33]
Capacity building for tourism operators [18:36]
Indigenous cultural tourism in New Zealand [20:19]
Cultural tourism beyond the dollar value [27:55]
Plans for a national Aboriginal tourism organisation [39:29]

Learn more

Strong support to protect the the Martuwarra Fitzroy River

WAITOC website

Connect with our guests

Robert Taylor is the CEO of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC). WAITOC’s goal is to present WA as the leading destination in Australia for authentic Aboriginal tourism experiences.

Prior to WAITOC, Taylor spent 30 years working in the tourism, hospitality, recreation and manufacturing industries in Perth, Margaret River, Busselton, Karratha and Mandurah.

Taylor is of Nhanda Yamiji descent, the Nhanda people being the traditional custodians of the land between Geraldton and the Murchison River in Western Australia’s Midwest region.

Robert Taylor’s LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor Michael Volgger is the Co-Director of the Curtin Tourism Research Cluster, and an Associate Professor and research supervisor within Curtin Business School. He is also an editor for the Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research series and an associate editor for the Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism journal.

Volgger’s areas of expertise include product development and innovation in tourism, tourism destination governance, sustainable consumer behaviour, and corporate social responsibility in hospitality.

Michael Volgger’s Curtin staff profile

Michael Volgger’s LinkedIn profile

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The Consumer Research Lab

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Transcript

Read the transcript.

Team

Host: Sarah Taillier

Content creators: Daniel Jauk and Zoe Taylor
Prodcuer & Recordist: Annabelle Fouchard

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Neuromarketing | Dr Billy Sung

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Associate Professor Billy Sung) — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 03:08:14 +0000

What exactly is ‘neuromarketing’ and how does it help companies hone their product marketing?

How do consumer neuroscience technologies like eye-tracking devices reveal what people really think of advertisements?

Innovations in neuromarketing, such as eye tracking devices and biometric wristbands, are helping reveal what viewers really think of advertisements. In this episode, Sarah discusses the cutting-edge area of neuromarketing with Associate Professor Billy Sung. Dr Sung leads a research team at The Consumer Research Lab at Curtin University, and specialises in digital marketing and consumer psychology.

What is neuromarketing? [01:00]
Who’s using neuromarketing at the moment? [02:15]
How does neuromarketing compare with other marketing research techniques? [02:42]
Using eye tracking to measure visual attention, pupillometry to measure cognitive processing, and facial expression to measure emotional experience [06:18]
What about the privacy concerns related to facial recognition technology? [07:21]
How did a graduate of psychological science become a leading researcher in biometrics and neuroscience marketing? [14:52]
What are some examples of the groups or consumers that are using the Consumer Research Lab? [21:46]

Learn more

Connect with our guest

Associate Professor Billy Sung is a researcher in the School of Management and Marketing, Curtin Business School. He holds a PhD in Consumer Psychology and his current research relates to the study of emotion and the application of psychophysiological methods in marketing, consumer psychology, health and robotics. Billy also works on industry projects at the Consumer Research Lab.

Connect with Billy:
LinkedIn
Curtin staff profile

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Transcript

Read the transcript here.

Team

Host: Sarah Taillier
Content creator: Karen Green
Producer & Recordist: Annabelle Fouchard

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

E-waste | Dr Elsayed Oraby

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Elsayed Oraby) — Tue, 1 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Worried about the ever-increasing amount of e-waste going to landfill? Find out how e-waste is being recycled to remove the rare metals that are worth a fortune.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Associate Professor Elsayed Oraby, a researcher at the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, to discuss how and why e-waste is recycled.

What exactly is e-waste? (00:50)
It's obviously a far more environmentally friendly process leaching process that you have helped to develop. How does it compare to the cost of the traditional leaching method? (04:27)
What are some of the basic things that we can do to help address the problem of e-waste? (07:50)
You're a metallurgical engineer. What brought you to working in the area of e-waste? How did that happen? (11:58)

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Elsayed Oraby is a metallurgical engineer and researcher at the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, and is passionate about improving the recycling of e-waste.

Connect with Elsayed on LinkedIn.

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facebook.com/curtinuniversity

Socials

twitter.com/curtinuni

instagram.com/curtinuniversity

youtube.com/user/CurtinUniversity

linkedin.com/school/curtinuniversity

Transcript

thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/e-waste/transcript

Production

Executive producer: Jarrad Long

Episode researcher: Karen Green

Sound recordist: Annabelle Fouchard

Sound editor: Karen Green

Social media: Amy Hosking

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

First Nations acknowledgement

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in T_he Future Of_ podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Visual Effects | Dr Stuart Bender, Brendan Seals

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Stuart Bender, Brendan Seals) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 03:00:00 +0000

As visual effects technologies advance and audience engagement changes, what could movies look like in the future?

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Dr Stuart Bender and VFX Supervisor Brendan Seals, who has worked on 30 movies, including the Oscar-nominated Spider-Man: No Way Home, for VFX vendor Luma Pictures.

They discuss how visual effects are used on screen more than we realise, examine why audience reactions to visual effects have changed in the past 20 years, and predict how new technologies could transform the visual effects industry and even impact the real world.

Brendan’s visual effects work [01:19]
How audience attitudes to visual effects have changed [05:14]
LED StageCraft technologies as seen in The Mandalorian [13:02]
Shooting on camera vs. adding visual effects: the case of Top Gun: Maverick [15:13]
Deepfakes in the industry and the real world [19:05]
Advice for future visual effects artists [26:42]
What’s next for Stuart and Brendan? [31:27]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Stuart Bender is the Major Coordinator for the Screen Arts program at Curtin University in the new Bachelor of Creative Arts.

He has heavily researched psychological responses to high-emotion media, including cinema visual effects. In the past few years, he has frequently offered expert commentary on representations of violence, trauma and aggression in the media.

Brendan Seals is a Visual Effects Supervisor at Luma Pictures, a world-class VFX studio based in Melbourne, Australia. With a design background in FX, lighting and composition, Seals’s credentials include working on the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed Spider-Man: No Way Home and Jojo Rabbit.

He is a graduate of Curtin University’s Bachelor of Arts program.

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

Researcher and Editor: Daniel Jauk

Recordist: Annabelle Fouchard

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

Assistant Producer: Alexandra Eftos

Social Media Coordinator: Amy Hosking

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Skinks | Dr Holly Bradley

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Holly Bradley) — Tue, 4 Oct 2022 02:00:00 +0000

Love lizards? Learn all about the Western Spiny-tailed Skink, a punkish reptile with a penchant for living in log castles.

Sarah is joined by Dr Holly Bradley from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, who shares her research of an elusive skink that’s found nowhere else on Earth except Western Australia. She talks about how a novel use of light technology is helping conservationists to understand the skink’s habitat needs and ensure its ongoing survival.

A world-first for LIDAR tech [02:23]
A skink’s home is his castle [03:27]
Translocation for homeless lizards [05:38]
Managing predators and mine sites [08:29]
‘Every small action helps’ [13:10]
Working as a sloth technician [15:14]

Learn more

Connect with our guest

Dr Holly Bradley, Researcher, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University.

Holly has recently completed her PhD within Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding the ecology of the endangered Western Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia stokesii badia), to help improve translocation management and conservation of the subspecies.

Her research interests include conservation biology, threatened species management and restoration ecology.

Connect with Holly:

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Nine out 10 Aussies have low vitamin D intakes, Curtin study shows

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Transcript

Read the transcript here.

Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier
Researcher, Recorder and Editor: Zoe Taylor
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long
Assistant Producer: Alexandra Eftos
Social Media Coordinator: Amy Hosking

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Vitamin D | Dr Eleanor Dunlop

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Eleanor Dunlop) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Nine out of 10 Aussies have low vitamin D intakes, but why do we need vitamin D and why aren’t we getting enough of it?

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Dr Eleanor Dunlop to talk about the role vitamin D plays in our bodies and why some of us are vitamin D deficient. Dr Dunlop also discusses how her research could help inform nutrition policy in Australia and increase our intake of the ‘sunshine vitamin’.

Why Aussies are vitamin D deficient [04:17]
Factors that impact vitamin D uptake [07:14]
Australia’s first vitamin D database [08:40]
Vitamin D-fortified foods [11:36]
Vitamin D in Aboriginal populations [15:33]

Learn more

2021 Premier Science Awards

Bush tucker and vitamin D

Connect with our guest

Dr Eleanor Dunlop, Research Associate, Curtin School of Population Health.

Dr Eleanor Dunlop is an accredited practising dietitian and postdoctoral researcher focusing on vitamin D, food composition and the role of diet in the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis.

Her PhD project, Investigating dietary vitamin D in Australia, was completed in 2022 and received the Curtin Chancellor’s commendation. Eleanor is an active research communicator and was a finalist in the 2021 Premier’s Science Awards.

Connect with Eleanor:

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Transcript

Read the transcript here.

Behind the scenes

Host: Sarah Taillier
Researcher, Recorder and Editor: Zoe Taylor
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long
Assistant Producer: Alexandra Eftos
Social Media Coordinator: Amy Hosking

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Transgender Inclusion | A. Prof Sam Winter

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Associate Professor Sam Winter) — Tue, 6 Sep 2022 03:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to be a trans person? How included do they feel in society, and why are some of us afraid of people who are different?

In this episode Sarah is joined by Associate Professor Sam Winter, who shares their insight into what it means to be a trans person, how society can be more inclusive of people who are gender diverse and where traditional notions of gender may still be relevant.

What defines a trans person? [02:55]
Accessing gender affirming healthcare [05:19]
Birth certificates for trans people [06:40]
Empathy leads to equity [09:16]
Legislation as education [11:07]
Why is there a fear of trans people? [12:18]
What is a woman? [17:48]
Trans women in sport [21:28]
Sam’s journey to trans research [28:31]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Sam Winter, Curtin School of Population Health.

Associate Professor Winter is a researcher and teacher working in the field of trans health, wellbeing and rights. Much of his research experience has been in Asia and the Pacific.

Since 2000 her work has focused on trans-related issues, in which time she has led or been an investigator on around 20 funded research projects and has published around 60 works on the health, rights and wellbeing of trans people.

They were a member of the WHO Working Group that initiated the 2019 removal of the ‘gender identity disorder’ diagnoses from the mental disorders chapter of the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases manual.

Sam Winter staff profile

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

Sarah Taillier, Host

Zoe Taylor, Episode Researcher, Recorder and Editor

Anita Shore and Jarrad Long, Executive Producers

Alexandra Eftos, Assistant Producer

Amy Hosking, Social Media Coordinator

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Anti-vaxxers, Incels and QAnon | Drs Ben Rich and Eva Bujalka

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 03:00:00 +0000

The last few years have seen dramatic growth in the popularity of these extremist groups. How will they affect society in the future?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Doctors Ben Rich and Eva Bujalka, Co-directors of the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN).

Together, they explain how these three different groups share some commonalities, as they are emblematic of growth in social media use, salad bar ideologies and red pill philosophy. They also address why it is problematic to brand people from these groups as “violent” when most are nonviolent and predict whether these groups are here to stay or if new extremist groups will take their place.

CERN is a new research network based in Western Australia that is investigating extremism-related challenges in the developed world.

Origins of the COVID anti-vax movement, incels (“involuntary celibates”) and QAnon [01:10]
Unpacking the intersecting philosophical and ideological beliefs [05:14]
Why current approaches to treating people from these groups may have backfired, and what we should be doing instead [09:01]
Where these beliefs are heading and why they have salience [20:51]
Discussing CERN’s vision and what’s next [27:56]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Ben Rich is a senior lecturer in Curtin University’s School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry (MCASI) and a Co-director of CERN, alongside Drs Eva Bujalka and Francis Russell.

His research focuses on the rise of the Western Far Right, non-terrorist extremist ideologies in Australia and the West, and the role of ontological (state of being) insecurity in forming politically extreme views.

Dr Rich’s staff profile
The Future Of: Political Extremism, featuring Dr Ben Rich and Michael Wieteska
The Future Of: Geographical Borders, featuring Drs Ben Rich and Donna Butorac

Dr Eva Bujalka is an academic and creative writer who works within Curtin University’s School of MCASI and is a Co-director of CERN.

Her research focuses on incels, the growth of anti-feminist discourse and the ‘Manosphere’ – a collective of online groups that wish to rebuild the patriarchy, improve men’s capacity for self-improvement and solve today’s masculinity ‘crisis’.

Dr Bujalka’s staff profile

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/anti-vaxxers-incels-and-qanon/transcript

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Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0.
Music promoted by Audio Library.

Legalising Cannabis | Prof Simon Lenton

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Simon Lenton) — Tue, 9 Aug 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Could Australia legalise recreational cannabis use while avoiding the same profit-driven pitfalls that have occurred with tobacco and alcohol?

Highs and lows of commercialising cannabis [04:31]
Cannabis social clubs [07:44]
The cannabis profit playbook [11:09]
Reducing the risk of drug driving [13:58]
Cannabis law in Australia right now [16:31]
Finding the middle ground for legalisation [19:00]
‘Things are wrong with the system’ [21:51]

Learn more

Connect with our guest

Professor Simon Lenton has worked with the National Drug Research Institute since 1993 in both research and professional roles. He also works part-time as a clinical psychologist in private practice.

His research interests include bridging the gap between drug policy research and drug policy practice, illicit drug use and harm reduction, and the impact of legislative options for drugs.

Web: ndri.curtin.edu.au

Twitter: @NDRIau

Facebook: @NDRIau

LinkedIn: National Drug Research Institute (NDRI)

YouTube: NDRIau

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Transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

Sarah Taillier: Host
Karen Green: Researcher
Recorder and Editor: Zoe Taylor
Anita Shore and Jarrad Long: Executive Producers
Annabelle Fouchard: Producer
Alexandra Eftos: Assistant Producer
Amy Hosking: Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Breast Cancer Treatment | A. Prof Pieter Eichhorn

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 03:00:00 +0000

From chemotherapy to immunotherapy and targeted drug delivery, what’s next for breast cancer treatment?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by cancer research expert Associate Professor Pieter Eichhorn, who is co-leading an Australian Government subsidised drug delivery project that aims to change the behaviours of proteins found in breast cancer.

Together, they discuss what conventional treatments exist and where they’re going, Associate Professor Eichhorn’s exciting new drug treatment, and what he believes needs to change to drastically reduce the rates of breast cancer going into the future.

Associate Professor Eichhorn’s research project is supported by the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute and the National Drug Discovery Centre at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

How breast cancer develops [01:15]

Predicting future rates of breast cancer [04:26]

Progress in conventional treatments [07:56]

What’s unique about the drug delivery project? [13:27]

Associate Professor Eichhorn’s research journey [17:34]

Reducing rates of cancer through tumour sequencing [19:45]

Content note: This episode predominantly covers the experiences of women who are cisgender. Cisgender women are those women whose sense of their gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth and who are the population group at greatest risk of contracting breast cancer.

Learn more

WEHI: National Drug Discovery Centre announces new projects

National Breast Cancer Foundation website

Breast Cancer Now website

Connect with our guest

Pieter Eichhorn is the Dean of Research Infrastructure at Curtin University, and an Associate Professor at the world-renowned Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute.

He has devoted his career to developing targeted treatments for breast cancer and melanoma patients. Prior to Curtin, he has worked at a variety of prestigious institutes including Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and the Netherlands Cancer Institute.

Associate Professor Eichhorn’s staff profile

Associate Professor Eichhorn’s LinkedIn profile

Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute website

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/breast-cancer-treatment/transcript

Transcript

Behind the scenes team

Curtin University: Next steps for digital agriculture in Australia

Anita Shore, Executive Producer

Annabelle Fouchard, Producer

Daniel Jauk, Episode Researcher, Recordist and Editor

Alexandra Eftos, Assistant Producer

Amy Hosking, Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music

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The Agribusiness Supply Chain | Dr Elizabeth Jackson

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Elizabeth Jackson, Jessica Morrison) — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Bare supermarket shelves have become a familiar sight in recent years, following a series of disruptions to the agribusiness sector.

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Dr Elizabeth Jackson, the non-executive director of Agribusiness Global Allies Limited and of Sheep Producers Australia, to discuss what we can learn from these disruptions and how they could inform opportunities for improvement in the supply chain.

She also addresses the latest figures from the United Nations stating that 1.3 billion tons of food – a third of all food produced globally – goes to waste and how consumer attitudes need to shift to address this challenge.

Impact of COVID-19, panic buying and floods [00:58]

Mitigating risks to the supply chain [04:43]

Implementing new technologies, such as fresh fruit and vegetable industry innovations and DEXA (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) for the meat industry [07:33]

Addressing food waste: what is our responsibility as consumers? [14:59]

Dr Jackson’s research journey and challenges [22:06]

Learn more

AgWatchers podcast: Capturing beyond the farm gate value

Curtin University: Bachelor of Agribusiness

ICFO: Food waste by country: who’s the biggest waster?

Connect with our guest

Dr Elizabeth Jackson is a Senior Lecturer in Curtin University’s School of Management and Marketing, a non-executive director of Agribusiness Global Allies Limited and of Sheep Producers Australia, and a visiting scholar at the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College.

She has particular expertise in supply chain management, procurement, distribution, food and agribusiness systems.

Dr Jackson’s Curtin staff profile

Dr Jackson’s LinkedIn profile

Dr Jackson’s Twitter profile

Curtin University: Agriculture and Environment research area

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Transcript

Behind the scenes team

Biotechnology and Drug Development Research Laboratory/

Anita Shore, Executive Producer

Annabelle Fouchard, Producer

Daniel Jauk, Episode Researcher and Editor

Zoe Taylor, Episode Recordist

Alexandra Eftos, Assistant Producer

Amy Hosking, Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Music
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Hearing Loss | A. Prof Hani Al-Salami

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Jessica Morrison, Associate Professor Hani Al-Salami) — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:32:10 +0000

We have medications to treat most human diseases and impairments, why not hearing loss? It’s complicated, explains Associate Professor Hani Al-Salami. But fortunately, a gel medication to treat hearing loss is in the pipeline.

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Associate Professor Hani Al-Salami from the Curtin Medical School. He is also part of a team that is creating a medication that can be delivered directly into the inner ear to address hearing loss. This year, his research team at the Ear Science Institute of Australia received funding from Telethon, “to enhance the lives of those with ear and hearing disorders, delivering innovative treatments and developing ground breaking cures for tomorrow’s generation. This means the development of a novel inner ear cell culture system will benefit children with Usher syndrome, an internationally acclaimed novel scaffold to repair perforated eardrums in children and a nano-gel for children with cancer to prevent chemotherapy-induced hearing loss”.

Why are more people experiencing hearing loss? [01:45]
What are the current treatments for hearing loss, and what are their limitations? [02:19]
Tell us about the medication your team is creating [03:50]
What inspired you to become a researcher in pharmaceutical science and specifically hearing loss? [08:35]
What are the challenges in this research area? [09:45]
How long before a medication is available? [11:38]

Learn more

Hearing loss treatment wins Curtinnovation award

Connect with our guest

Associate Professor Hani Al-Salamileads the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences research program at Curtin Medical School, and Heads the Hearing Therapeutics Department at the Ear Science Institute Australia.

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/hearing-loss/transcript

Transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode was brought to you by:

Host:Jessica Morrison

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Jarrad Long

Producer: Annabelle Fouchard

Episode Researcher: Zoe Taylor

Recordist and Assistant Producer: Alexandra Eftos

Sound Editor: Karen Green

Social Media: Amy Hosking.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by Audio Library.

The English Language | OED Consultant A.Prof Lisa Lim

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Jessica Morrison, Associate Professor Lisa Lim) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 03:00:00 +0000

English has cemented its place as the world's lingua franca, with 2 billion speakers. Will it remain a global language in the future?

In this episode, Jess is joined by Associate Professor Lisa Lim, a consultant to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and a recent moderator at the Oxford World English Symposium.

Associate Professor Lim reveals the complexities behind the rise of the English language from the 1600s to the modern day and the language’s predicted future evolution, discusses the growth of ‘World Englishes’ outside of Western nations and explains how you can add new words to the OED.

How the English language became so widespread (01:14)
The “million dollar question” about its future (06:47)
Adding words to official English dictionaries (10:06)
Impacts of technology, from texting’s ‘lol’ to Hong Kong’s ‘add oil’ (18:28)
Changes in slang and the emergence of ‘cheugy’ (27:19)
Dr Lim’s research journey and research interests (30:13)

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Lisa Lim is a consultant to the OED, an Associate Professor at Curtin University’s School of Education and writes a fornightly column titled “Language Matters” for the South China Morning Post's Sunday Post Magazine.

Her research interests lie in New Englishes, multilingualism, issues of language shift, endangerment and revitalisation, and the sociolinguistics of globalisation.

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/the-english-language/transcript

Transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

Anita Shore, Executive Producer

Annabelle Fouchard, Producer
Alex Eftos, Assistant Producer

Daniel Jauk, Episode Researcher, Recordist and Editor

Amy Hosking, Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children | Profs Jane Valentine and Catherine Elliot

Tue, 10 May 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Early intervention is critical to treating neurodevelopmental disorders, like cerebral palsy. But just how early can we diagnose them?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Professors Jane Valentine and Catherine Elliott, whose international Early Moves project is able to diagnose children with cerebral palsy as early as three months of age.

Together, they discuss examples of neurodevelopmental disorders, the progress made in early diagnosis and treatment, and the role that Early Moves is playing, as the largest trial in the world identifying early biomarkers for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Early Moves is a research study led by Curtin University and Perth Children’s Hospital in partnership with the ORIGINS project, in Western Australia. It receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Telethon 7 Trust, The Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Western Australia Child Research Fund, Mineral Resources Limited and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Examining neurodevelopmental disorders [01:12]
Tapping into a child’s peak period of neuroplasticity [04:32]
What is the Early Moves project? [06:40]
Role of parents and how they’re supported [09:55]
Next steps for the research [13:09]
How did Professors Valentine and Elliott come to work on the project? [14:45]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Jane Valentine is a Senior Consultant Paediatrician at Perth Children’s Hospital, Head of Research at Kids Rehab WA and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute.

She is part of the international team that published the international guidelines for the early detection of cerebral palsy and the International Clinical Practice Guideline Based on Systematic Reviews, for early intervention for children with or at risk of cerebal palsy.

Professor Catherine Elliott is the Director of Research at the Telethon Kids Institute and a researcher in Curtin University’s School of Allied Health.

Her research focuses on improving the outcomes for babies and children who have neurological impairment. The National Health and Medical Research Council is supporting her research to explore early indicators of cognitive impairment in babies younger than three months old.

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/neurodevelopmental-disorders-in-children/transcript

Transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

Jarrad Long, Executive Producer

Annabelle Fouchard, Producer

Karen Green, Episode Researcher

Daniel Jauk, Episode Editor

Alexandra Eftos, Recordist and Assistant Producer

Amy Hosking, Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Sustainable Resources | Prof Michael Hitch

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Jessica Morrison, Professor Michael Hitch) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:26:39 +0000

How will our resource use and mining operations change as we move towards a sustainable, decarbonised future?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Professor Michael Hitch, the Head of Curtin University’s renowned Western Australian School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering (WASM: MECE). The school has for the past six years ranked as the world’s second-best mining school in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Together, they unpack how the mining industry is shifting towards a greater focus on economic sufficiency, social wellbeing and biophysical integrity.

Benefits of adopting a circular economy [01:11]
Importance of a ‘Social License to Operate’ [08:55]
Challenges in the developing world [11:55]
Professor Hitch’s transition from industry to academia [14:13]
Western Australia’s role in the future of mining [16:22]
Rethinking our use of sustainable resources [19:08]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Michael Hitch is the Head of WASM: MECE. Prior to beginning his academic career, he had 20 years of industry experience, which saw him travel frequently around the globe.

Professor Hitch has extensively studied the benefits of the circular economy model, Social Licenses to Operate, sequestering human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and extracting valuable byproducts in mining processes.

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/sustainable-resources/transcript

Transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

Anita Shore, Executive Producer

Annabelle Fouchard, Producer and Recordist

Daniel Jauk, Episode Researcher and Editor

Alexandra Eftos, Assistant Producer

Amy Hosking, Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by Audio Library.

Waste-free Construction

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Roberto Minunno, Jessica Morrison) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 03:00:00 +0000

The construction industry is a leading contributor to landfill. Is a circular economy the solution to reducing this waste?

In this episode, Jessica chats with Dr Roberto Minunno from the Curtin University Sustainable Policy Institute about how moving towards a circular economy could improve the construction industry’s environmental footprint.

The problem with recycling [01:59]
Barriers to adopting a circular economy [07:43]
How modular buildings can help reduce construction wastage [10:04]
The Legacy Living Lab – an example of an circular economy building [13:45]
Turning buildings into material banks [29:49]
How can we apply circular economy principles to our lives [32:55]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Roberto Minunno

Sessional Academic at Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences

Dr Roberto Minunno is an expert in circular economy and sustainable, modular building design. He completed his PhD at Curtin University, where he joined the team at Curtin University Sustainable Policy (CUSP) Institute as the ideator of the Legacy Living Lab: a moveable, disassemblable, modular building, enabling a deeper understanding and application of the circular economy concerning building materials, components and operations.

Curtin staff page

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/waste-free-construction/transcript

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Vaccine Equity

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Jessica Morrison, Professor Jaya Dantas) — Tue, 1 Mar 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Many people around the world can't access the COVID-19 vaccine. What impact could this have on the global spread of the virus?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Professor Jaya Dantas, Dean International of Curtin’s Faculty of Health Sciences to discuss this inequitable distribution of vaccines and the impact it is having around the world.

Vaccine inequity can lead to new COVID-19 variants [01:40]
What issues are caused by vaccine inequity? [05:09]
The reasons behind the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine [09:04]
Vaccine inequity in migrant, refugee and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations [15:31]
What needs to change to achieve global vaccine equity? [24:53]

Learn more

UN Data Futures: Global dashboard for Vaccine Equity

UNICEF: In the COVID-19 vaccine race, we either win together or lose together

Aljazeera: African leaders highlight vaccine inequity

The Conversation: Australia’s fickleness on COVID vaccines is perpetuating global vaccine inequity

Connect with our guests

Professor Jaya Dantas,

Dean International in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Professor Dantas is Deputy Chair of the Curtin Academic Board, Dean International in the Faculty of Health Sciences and a Professor in the Curtin School of Population Health where she leads a programme of research in refugee and migrant health.

As a global public health researcher, Professor Dantas has been mapping the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as it impacts developing countries like India and in Africa.

Curtin staff profile
Twitter account
Website

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/vaccine-equity/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by Audio Library.

Green Hydrogen

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Craig Buckley, Jessica Morrison) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Is green hydrogen the key to a carbon-free energy future?

The colours of hydrogen [01:08]
Using Raman scattering to detect hydrogen [03:38]
Is green hydrogen a feasible energy solution? [10:33]
Safety of hydrogen compared to fossil fuels [13:24]
Using hydrogen to fuel transport vehicles [20:01]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/green-hydrogen/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Snakes - Summer Favourites

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Amelia Searson, Damian Lettoof) — Tue, 1 Feb 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Snakes might seem pretty scary, but did you know they play an essential role in our ecosystems?

It’s summer in Australia and the sun is out, which means snakes are too. This is a scary thought for some, but are these cold-blooded creatures really as menacing as they seem?

To find out, we’re revisiting one of our favourite episodes, The Future of Snakes.

In this episode, host Amelia Searson is joined by Australian snake wrangler, researcher and wildlife ecologist Damian Lettoof. Together, they unpack the important role snakes play in ecosystems and whether they deserve their fearsome reputation.

Why we need snakes in some environments [00:57]
Catching them alive – how Damian collects snake data [07:56]
Reducing our impact on wetlands and snake habitats [11:03]
Damian’s experience handling 500 tiger snakes [13:24]
How to not get bitten [19:38]
Damian’s top two snake stories [22:14]
How research is impacting the future of snakes [30:38]

Learn more

Connect with our guest

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/snakes-summer-favourites/transcript.

Bushfires - Summer Favourites

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Philip Zylstra) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 03:00:00 +0000

We explore the phenomenon of Australian bushfires and what strategies we can employ to reduce forest flammability.

It’s summer down-under and all around the country people are on high alert for signs of smoke. So, we thought it was time to revisit one of our favourite episodes, The Future of Bushfires.

In this episode, David Blayney speaks with Dr Philip Zylstra an adjunct associate professor at Curtin University, whose research focuses on the drivers of fire behaviour, flammability and modelling bushfire risk.

Dr Zylstra gives context to prescribed burning of Australian landscapes, raises questions on the effectiveness of current fire prevention strategies and discusses how our current methods differ vastly from traditional Aboriginal fire practice.

What is a prescribed burn? [02:19]
What happens to the forest after a fire? [10:36]
What we should be doing to prevent bushfires [16:00]
The single most important thing in fire prevention [20:30]
Fire burning strategies employed by First Nation peoples [21:10]

Find out more

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/bushfires-summer-favourites/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Sharks - Summer Favourites

Tue, 4 Jan 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Are shark attacks sensationalised by the media, or do sharks truly have taste for human flesh? Learn the truth with Melissa Márquez, the Mother of Sharks.

Sharks have earned a reputation in popular culture for being ‘blood thirsty people eaters’ but research and statistics show that this label is misleading. In fact, up to 31 per cent of sharks face extinction, despite the important role they play in our marine ecosystems.

With summer upon us and many Australians flocking to the beach, we thought now is the time to revisit one of our favourite episodes to sort out the fact from the fiction.

In this episode Tom Robinson and Amelia Searson are joined by former Curtin researcher, marine biologist and conservationist, Melissa Cristina Márquez.

Together, they discuss the importance of the sharks in our oceans and the impact that sensationalised media coverage is having on the conservation of these species. Melissa also provides some eye-opening insight into the life of a marine biologist and the importance of diversity in STEM.

Categories of shark bites [01:39]
The role of sharks in ecosystems [07:09]
Media impact on shark conversation [09:00]
SMART drumlines [11:31]
Croc attack? [15:00]
Diversity in science [20:56]

Learn more

Questions, or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/sharks-summer-favourites/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Understanding Consumers - Summer Favourites

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 03:00:00 +0000

What is it that makes consumers tick and influences our purchasing habits?

With the festive season upon us and Australians estimated to have spent a record $5.4 billion on Black Friday sales, we’ve decided to revisit one of our favourite episodes: Understanding Consumers.

In this episode, our former host David Blayney was joined by Associate Professor Min Teah and Dr Luke Butcher from Curtin University. The researchers took a close look at research on brands and marketing and chatted about whether Millenials and Gen Z are more savvy about marketing than previous generations.

Tracking a consumer’s emotional state (01:03)
Building trust with today’s consumers (08:11)
Which companies are best in touch with their consumers? (15:09)
The ethics of capturing data (19:11)
Why did Amazon offer a free smart speaker to David? (23:52)
Imagining the layout of future stores (27:10)

This will be the first of three episodes we’ll be re-releasing, as we take a break over the summer holidays.

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Min Teah

Associate Professor Teah is the Dean of Research at Curtin University’s School of Management and Marketing. She has research expertise in luxury branding, consumer behaviour, brand mimicry and ethical consumption, having worked with clients including Gabriel Chocolate, Simmos Ice Creamery, Nash Pearls, Lust Pearls and Shiseido.

In 2016, she helped to develop a mobile headset that measures consumer’s physical reactions to marketing material, which is now used by Curtin’s Luxury Branding Research Centre.

Dr Luke Butcher

Dr Butcher is a Senior Lecturer within Curtin University’s School of Management and Marketing. His research has focused on innovation acceptance, luxury branding and the evolution of the video games industry and their enigmatic gamers, including the rapid rise and lasting legacy of Pokémon GO.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/understanding-consumers-summer-favourites/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Type-2 Diabetes

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Hani Al-Salami, Dr Ryu Takechi, Jessica Morrison) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 03:00:00 +0000

New nano capsules could spell an alternate effective treatment for type-2 diabetes – the world’s fastest growing health condition.

Jess is joined by two of the researchers behind the capsules, Dr Hani Al-Salami and Dr Ryu Takechi, to learn how the technology, which is filled with a combination of bile acids and the lipid-lowering drug Probucol, targets the inflammatory effects of diabetes.

The researchers also discuss how type-2 diabetes is connected with other health conditions such as dementia and hearing loss, and what we can all do to safeguard our health into the future.

Why is the number of people with type-2 diabetes growing? [00:49]
Dr Al-Salami explains the nanotechnology [02:41]
Why does diabetes affect our hearing and memory? [08:46]
What drives Dr Al-Salami’s and Dr Takechi’s research? [10:40]
Assessing the uncertain future of type-2 diabetes [14:22]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Hani Al-Salami

Dr Al-Salami is an AHPRA-registered Australian and New Zealand pharmacist, and a Program Lead in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Curtin Medical School and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI). He is also the Head of Heating Therapeutics Department at Ear Science Institute Australia. Dr Al-Salami has led research into developing nanotech treatments for diabetes, as well as the connection between diabetes and hearing loss.

He was recently announced as one of the top 2% most highly cited scientists in the world, according to Stanford University’s renowned Science-wide Author Databases of Standardised Citation Indicators.

Dr Ryu Takechi

Dr Takechi has recently been appointed as Domain Lead for Neurodegeneration and Chronic Pain Research for CHIRI. He has investigated links between the consumption of energy drinks and diabetes, previously investigated the connection between diabetes and dementia, and also assisted with Dr Al-Salami's nanotechnologies research.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/type-2-diabetes/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Cyber Security

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Jessica Morrison, Tim Jones, Stefan Prandl) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Cyber security attacks have become a global concern — so how can we protect ourselves online?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Stefan Prandl, Associate Lecturer from Curtin’s School of Electronic Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences and his colleague Tim Jones, CEO of Hyprfire, a cyber security startup. Together they discuss the evolving threat of cyber attacks and how we can protect our data and devices.

Why you need to protect yourself from cyber attacks [01:16]
Phishing emails, text messages and other types of cyber attacks [02:55]
The growing threat of ransomware [05:04]
Rule of three for cyber security [14:52]
Cyber threats while working from home [20:19]
Simple ways to protect yourself from cyber attacks [23:33]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Stefan Prandl, Associate Lecturer, Curtin School of Electronic Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Along with his work at Curtin, Mr Prandl is also the Chief Technology Officer of Hyprfire — a Curtin-launched cyber security start-up.

He has completed research in the areas of network and information security, anomaly detection, power laws and distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS).

Curtin staff page

Stefan Prandl LinkedIn profile

Hyprfire

Tim Jones, CEO, Hyprfire

Mr Jones is the CEO of Hyprfire — a Curtin-launched cyber security start-up and has significant experience as a senior executive in technology businesses and in bringing new technologies and business models to market.

Tim Jones LinkedIn profile

Hyprfire

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Binar-1 and Space Science: Part 2

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Jessica Morrison, Professor Phil Bland, Renae Sayers) — Tue, 9 Nov 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Now transmitting data from space to Earth, we explore the next steps for Western Australia’s diminutive Binar-1 satellite.

Jess is joined by the Director and Deputy Director of Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre, the largest space science centre in the Southern Hemisphere and the governing centre of the Binar Space Program.

In this special, part two episode, we discuss the historic release of Binar-1 from the International Space Station on 6 October 2021 and how the crew had almost lost hope until a colleague received transmission while driving on a Perth freeway two weeks later.

We then chat about what data the crew will acquire, the purpose of Binars 2–7 and the Binar Prospector, and the broader economic, environmental and social impacts of the program on WA and the world.

Making contact with Binar-1 [00:47]
Preparing for Binars-2 to 7 [05:32]
Heading to the Moon with NASA [08:10]
Why CubeSats are more sustainable in space orbit [09:32]
Involving the amateur radio community and other enthusiasts [12:55]
How Binar-1 can help to diversify WA’s economy [18:48]
Why nothing inspires quite like space [22:38]

Learn more

The Future Of: Binar-1 and Space Science, featuring Binar Project Manager Ben Hartig
Binar Space
Curtin University: Space hunt begins as WA’s Binar-1 mission takes next giant leap
Curtin University: Binar-1 to ground control! WA’s first homegrown spacecraft makes contact

Connect with our guests

Professor Phil Bland

Professor Bland is the Director of the Space Science and Technology Centre, and Director of the Desert Fireball Network (DFN). He has research interests in several distinct areas in planetary science: using primitive meteorites to explore the origin and early evolution of the Solar System, and understanding asteroid and cometary impacts.

Renae Sayers

Renae Sayers is the Deputy Director and Research Ambassador for the centre, leading engagement strategies and policy advocacy. Through her advocacy for Women in STEM and collaboration with NASA, Sayers was selected by the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program for 2018, advancing empowerment for women leaders, planetary science and outreach.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Binar-1 and Space Science transcript

Social media

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Image of Deployment of the Binar-1 and the BIRDS-2S (MAYA-3 and MAYA-4) from the Kibo. Copyright JAXA/NASA

Junk Food Advertising

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 03:00:00 +0000

What makes junk food advertising so successful and how can these messages be counteracted?

Jess is joined by consumer experts Doctors Isaac Cheah and Anwar Sadat Shimul, to discuss how advertising is exacerbating health issues in Australia and worldwide, and how their research can be used to inform the public health response.

The researchers also clarify the difference between junk food and fast food, promotion and prevention-focused advertisements, and offer their thoughts on the future of the junk food industry.

Effect of junk food on our bodies [00:50]
Why is junk food advertising so successful? [03:39]
How consumers respond to healthy eating messages [04:59]
Common junk food advertising issues [09:44]
Future of the junk food industry [15:06]
What inspired the researchers to work in this area? [18:05]

Get involved

Doctors Cheah and Shimul are researchers within Curtin University’s Luxury Branding Research Centre, which aims to improve the performance of both luxury and emerging brands.

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Isaac Cheah works within Curtin University’s School of Management and Marketing and the University’s Luxury Branding Research Centre.

He is the editor for theJournal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science and theassociate editor for theInternational Journal of Advertising. He has conducted consumer behaviour and marketing communications studies with Australian and international clients including AirAsia, Shiseido and HBF.

Dr Anwar Sadat Shimul works within Curtin University’s School of Management and Marketing and the University’s Luxury Branding Research Centre.

He is serving as associate editor for Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics and the Journal of the Global Scholar of Marketing Scholars. Prior to Curtin, he served as a lecturer at North South University in Bangladesh and worked as a marketing executive in Bangkok Hospital, Thailand.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Transcript

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/junk-food-advertising/transcript.

Clean Energy (Live!)

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 03:00:00 +0000

What’s the holdup with energy utilities transitioning from coal-fired power to clean energy?

This episode brings together diverse energy experts, to provide first-hand insights into the issues faced by energy utilities and the initiatives that aim to address those issues, in order to reduce household energy costs and carbon emissions.

Much of the discussion centres around the new RACE (Reliable, Affordable, Clean Energy) for 2030 research centre, which aims to reduce carbon emissions in Australia by 20 mega tonnes by 2030.

This episode is an edited version of a panel recorded as part of Curtin University’s annual Research Rumble event, which showcases university research and innovation. Professor Greg Morrison, who appeared in The Future Of’sClimate Action episode, acts as guest moderator.

What work is RACE doing? [00:58]
Why are the panel working towards a decentralised renewable energy system?
Tracy Deveugle-Frink’s response [05:04]
David Edwards’s response [05:32]
Brian Innes’s response [06:01]
Rod Hayes’s response [06:37]
Research opportunities and challenges
Western Power and managing the energy transition [07:08]
Horizon Power and isolated energy networks [09:11]
Distribution Energy Resources [10:01]
Costs and risks of energy resources [10:46]
Ramifications of flex services [14:37]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Professor Greg Morrison is the RACE for Everyone Program Leader anda Professor of Sustainability within the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP).

He has been involved with the European Union’s Climate-KIC to mobilise cities to implement climate resilient solutions. He has also initiated and run several large-scale societal infrastructure projects in Western Australia that have focused on clean energy, including a two-year trial in Fremantle that saw households share their excess solar energy.

Jonathan Jutsen is the CEO of RACE for 2030. Previously, he was the CEO for the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity and a member of the New South Wales Climate Council.

Tracy Deveugle-Frink is the Head of Change and Innovation at Western Power, WA’s government-owned energy operator that provides electricity to the Perth metropolitan area and the South West. She has experience in innovation and entrepreneurship consulting.

David Edwards is the Digital Strategy and Innovation Manager at Horizon Power, WA’s government-owned energy operator that provides electricity to residents and businesses in regional and remote areas. He has a background in engineering and energy transformation.

Brian Innes is the Founder and Technical Director of Starling Energy Group, an energy asset management company based in WA. Innes helped set up Starling’s Plico Energy Project, a Virtual Power Plant network of solar panels and power systems located in WA’s South West region. He has experience advising about renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

Rod Hayes is the Group Chairman of the Balance Services Group, a Perth-based company that aims to deliver robust energy solutions in regional areas. He is also an Associate Adjunct Professor at CUSP. Hayes has experience managing in the energy and water industries.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/clean-energy-live/transcript

Social media:

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Mass Extinction Events

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Kliti Grice, Jessica Morrison) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 03:00:00 +0000

What’s the likelihood of a mass extinction event happening in our lifetime?

In this episode, Jess is joined by world-renowned organic geochemist, Professor Kliti Grice, to discuss how researchers are using fossil analysis to learn from past mass extinction events, like the event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

She clarifies when the next naturally occurring mass extinction event will likely occur and answers the question: with the undeniable impact that humans are having on the planet, are we in the middle of a human-induced mass extinction event?

Describing mass extinction events [00:49]
What’s Professor Grice’s new project? [03:11]
Possibility of a natural or manmade extinction event in our lifetime [06:55]
How to minimise the chances of another event [09:53]
Why does Professor Grice love her work? [10:39]

Get involved

Are you a high school student or teacher based in the Perth metropolitan area?

Professor Grice is hoping to partner with high schools and give students the opportunity to take part in experiments to grow artificial fossils in a laboratory, as part of a new AUD$3 million research project.

If you think your high school would be interested, please email Professor Grice at K.Grice@curtin.edu.au.

Learn more

Connect with our guests

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Kliti Grice, Founding Director of the Curtin-based Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Facility.

Professor Grice is a world-renowned organic geochemist, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and a recipient of a prestigious 2021 Australian Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Federal Government. She is known for finding a geological and environmental basis for the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history, which occurred about 252 million years ago.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/mass-extinction-events/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Binar-1 and Space Science

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Ben Hartig, Jessica Morrison) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Launched on 29 August, Curtin University’s Binar-1 CubeSat satellite will provide easy access to space for students, researchers and industry.

In this episode, Jess is joined by Binar-1 Project Manager Ben Hartig to learn about the totally-Curtin-built satellite that’s smaller than a shoebox but playing a mighty role in the future of Australian space innovation.

Binar-1 is a CubeSat — a type of small satellite made from 10-centimetre cube-shaped modules. Binar-1 consists of just one such module, meaning it’s technically a 1U CubeSat.

Binar-1 is equipped with two cameras, with two objectives: first, to photograph Western Australia from space, thus testing the performance of our instruments and hopefully also capturing the imagination of young WA students; and second, to image stars. The star camera will precisely determine which way the satellite is facing — a crucial capability for any future Moon mission.

Describing the Binar space program [01:23]
What is a CubeSat? [01:57]
What’s the goal for the Binar Prospector mission? [11:18]
How Binar will revolutionise access to space [12:57]
What inspired Ben to get into space research? [24:57]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Ben Hartig

Hartig is the Project Manager for the Binar Space Program. He has been involved in the development of remote observatories for the Desert Fireball Network (DFN), which tracks meteorites as they enter the atmosphere, as well as the FireOPAL SSA network, which uses the same technology to track satellites and space debris.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/binar-1-and-space-science/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Robots at Work (LIVE!)

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Will a robot ever steal your job? In this special, live episode of The Future Of, host Danelle Cross is joined by research fellow Giverny De Boeck, Associate Professor Jonathan Paxman and returning guest Dr Eleanor Sandry.

The guests speak about their work and industry partnerships, before discussing the type of robots that already exist and setting the record straight on how robots could impact future workplaces.

The talk formed part of Curtin University’s annual Research Rumble event, which showcases future-focused university research and innovation.

Background of the experts [00:52]
What is a robot and what is artificial intelligence? [04:47]
Which tasks and competencies will be replaced? [16:37]
Which new jobs will be created? [27:42]
Q&A
The question of liability [33:32]
Ethical issues and work expectations surrounding automation [37:35]
How robots are enabling meaningful work [46:14]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Giverny De Boeck

De Boeck is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University. De Boeck researches changes to workplaces in light of automation and other technological innovation, and how these impact employees’ work experiences.

Associate Professor Jonathan Paxman

Associate Professor Paxman is the Head of School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at Curtin University. He has a varied work background in AI, robotics and technology. He is currently designing algorithms to count the number of craters on the surface of Mars and is assisting with autonomous operations for the Desert Fireball Network.

Dr Eleanor Sandry

Dr Sandry is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University. She studies human-machine communication and how automation can help to enrich our experiences at work. Her book, Robots and Communication, draws on her early research and theories into human interactions with robots.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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Associate Professor Cheah's staff profile

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Transcript

You can read the full transcript for the episode athttps://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/robots-at-work-live/transcript.

Get-rich-quick Schemes

Tue, 3 Aug 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Get-rich-quick schemes are known as too good to be true, so why do people continue to participate in these businesses?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Associate Professor Isaac Cheah and Associate Professor Billy Sung from the Curtin School of Marketing. They describe how get-rich-quick schemes work and why people continue to fall for them. They also explore whether social media will help or hinder these schemes in the future.

What are get-rich-quick schemes? [01:00]
Reasons why people get involved in get-rich-quick schemes [03:14]
Why health and wellness products lend themselves to pyramid and multi-level marketing schemes [07:43]
Schemes using social media to target the vulnerable [12:37]
Psychological tactics and effects of get-rich-quick schemes [15:47]
Social media platforms banning pyramid and multilevel marketing scheme content [18:50]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Isaac Cheah

Associate Professor Cheah is from the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University. He is the Editor for the Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, and the Associate Editor for the International Journal of Advertising. His research focuses on the study of consumer behaviour, marketing communications, advertising appeals and market research.

Associate Professor Billy Sung

Associate Professor Sung is from the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University. He is the Research Lead of Curtin’s Consumer Research Lab, where his research focuses on the study of emotion and the application of psychophysiological methodology in multiple disciplines including marketing, consumer psychology, health, and robotics.

Associate Professor Sung's staff profile

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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Transcript
You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/get-rich-quick-schemes/transcript.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

NFTs and Digital Ownership

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 03:00:00 +0000

What are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and why have they been selling for millions of dollars online?

In this episode, Jess is joined by returning researcher Associate Professor Vidy Potdar, as well as the Managing Director at Natsoft Consulting, Australia, Srinivas Boyapati, to unpack this mysterious new application of blockchain technology. The two leading experts clarify how NFTs work, why NFTs are being bought for such exorbitant prices and what the future of NFTs holds.

How NFTs use blockchain [00:58]
“Charlie bit my finger”: content becoming NFTs [03:51]
Impact of the mid-2021 cryptocurrency crash [05:55]
Other well-known NFTs: NBA NFT trading cards, CryptoKitties and Disaster Girl [07:46]
Natsoft’s new platform will expand how we can create, buy and sell NFTs [11:52]
Are NFTs a fad or are they here to stay? [14:47]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Vidyasagar “Vidy” Potdar, Director of the Blockchain Research and Development Lab, Curtin University.

Associate Professor Potdar is helping to build blockchain technology solutions and accelerate development of proof of concepts and minimum viable products based on industry requests. He has secured more than $1.1 million in external research funding.

Srinivas Boyapati, Managing Director, Natsoft Consulting, Australia.

Boyapati has more than 30 years’ experience in industrial control systems, operations technology and process automation. Prior to Natsoft, he worked with companies like IBM and Deloitte to successfully execute large ICT projects. He is currently helping to build an NFT solution for a client in India.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/nfts-and-digital-ownership/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Freedom of Movement (LIVE!)

Tue, 6 Jul 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Will COVID-19 lockdowns increase the public’s support for refugees and other individuals with restrictions to freedom of movement?

In this episode, Jess and Amelia are joined by the Co-Directors of Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education: Associate Professor Caroline Fleay and Dr Lisa Hartley. The researchers discusss why the right to move is so important, how COVID-19 lockdowns have restricted our ability to move and how this right is often unequally experienced.

This episode was recorded live on Curtin University Open Day on Sunday 30 May 2021.

What is the right to freedom of movement? [01:18]
COVID-19 lockdowns may increase the public’s understanding towards refugees in Australia’s detention centres [02:51]
Australia’s “problematic” India travel ban [05:30]
The future of Australia’s asylum seekers [08:12]
What inspired the researchers to work in this area? [14:02]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Associate Professor Caroline Fleay, Co-Director of Curtin’s Centre for Human Rights Education, School of Media Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Curtin University.

Associate Professor Fleay is a Board Member of the Refugee Council of Australia. In April 2020, she joined human rights researchers calling for refugees to be released from Australia’s detention centres to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak.

Dr Lisa Hartley, Senior Lecturer, Co-Director of Curtin’s Centre for Human Rights Education, School of Media Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Curtin University.

Dr Hartley is a self-described “academic activist” who has worked extensively with a range of community groups providing advocacy for human rights issues. She is on the Editorial Board of the Human Rights Education Review journal.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au

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https://www.youtube.com/user/CurtinUniversityhttps://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/%5bepisode-name%5d/transcript

https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/freedom-of-movement-live/transcript

Transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Stolen Artefacts

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, Jessica Morrison) — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 23:00:00 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of stolen, Colonial Era artefacts are on display in Western museums. Will they ever be returned home?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Dr Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, an expert in colonialist epistemic violence research. He describes the types of artefacts that have been stolen, why museums are starting to repatriate these artefacts and how their return will influence future interpretations of history.

How seeing the museumised Ark of the Covenant impacted Dr Woldeyes [00:55]
Why museums are repatriating stolen artefacts [07:55]
Benefits of repatriation [11:42]
Not every single artefact has to be repatriated [16:33]
Dr Woldeyes’s research into knowledge grabbing [22:26]
There’s still a market for stolen artefacts [26.23]
What is the ideal future? [28:01]

Learn more

The Conversation: Repatriation: why Western museums should return African artefacts

The Guardian: Museums grapple with rise in pleas for return of foreign treasures

Connect with our guests

Dr Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes –Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Curtin University

Dr Woldeyes’s staff profile

Questions or suggestions for future topics

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript for the episode athttps://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/stolen-artefacts/transcript.

OCD

Mon, 7 Jun 2021 23:00:00 +0000

“OCD” is often used as an adjective to describe someone who enjoys cleanliness and organisation, but is that appropriate?

In this episode, Amelia and Jessica are joined by Dr Rebecca Anderson, an expert in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) research. She describes the symptoms and types of OCD, how information about OCD has been muddled during the pandemic and how new treatments might help better alleviate the symptoms of OCD in the future.

What is OCD? [01:02]
Comparing OCD behaviours with COVID-safe behaviours [01:57]
Recognising that intrusive thoughts are normal [05:06]
Treatment options for people with OCD [11:12]
Why perfectionism and rumination should be the target of behavioural treatments [13:50]
tDCS: a new treatment for the future [15:48]
Making life easier for people with OCD [20:11]

If you have OCD or know someone who has it and need advice, please visit Beyond Blue if you live in Australia, or look for your nearest OCD clinic. Dr Anderson also has a free treatment program available for adolescents.

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Dr Rebecca Anderson –Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health, and Psychology Clinic Director, Health and Wellness Centre, Curtin University.

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Socials

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/ocd/transcript

Children's Online Privacy

Sun, 23 May 2021 22:00:00 +0000

What’s the impact of parents sharing content of their children online? And what rights do children have in this space?

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Dr Anna Bunn, Deputy Head of Curtin Law School and Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University to discuss “sharenting” – the growing practice of parents sharing images and data of their children online. The three examine the social, legal and developmental impacts a life-long digital footprint can have on a child.

What is the impact of sharing child-related content on our kids? [04:08]
What type of tools and legal protections would you like to see in the future to protect children? [16:30]
At what age can a child give consent to share content [18:25]
What about the right to be forgotten [21:11]
What’s best practice for sharing child-related content online? [26:01]

Learn more

The West Australian: Even benign ‘sharenting’ can damage kids’ self-esteem

Connect with our guests

Dr Anna Bunn - Deputy Head and Senior Lecturer, Curtin Law School

Professor Tama Leaver, Internet Studies, Curtin University

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Socials

https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/childrens-online-privacy/transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript for the episode at

Land Restoration Through an Aboriginal Lens (LIVE!)

Sun, 9 May 2021 23:00:00 +0000

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have had a deep connection with the land, or “boodja” as it’s known in the Nyungar language, for more than 60,000 years.

This episode brings together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perspectives on how ancient Aboriginal knowledge of the environment, together with world-leading science, can be used to restore and conserve our land for future generations.

Hosted at the stunning Western Australian Musem Boola Bardip, the talk was part of Curtin University’s annual Research Rumble event – a week-long series of talks that showcase the future-focused research coming out of the university.

Renowned botanist Professor Kingsley Dixon, Director of the Australian Research Centre for Mine Site Restoration, is your MC.

Indigenous restoration solutions are critical. What are those Indigenous solutions going to look like?
- Stephen van Leeuwen’s response [03:00]
- Heidi Mippy’s response [05:30]
- Oral McGuire’s response [06:20]
- Vivienne Hansen’s response [08:50]
The ideal Aboriginal leadership model for the journey ahead (Oral McGuire) [13:00]
The importance of restoring the spirit of the land (Heidi Mippy) [17:30]
Describe what healthy country is (Vivienne Hanson) [21:25]
It’s more than planting trees – it’s about restoring the richness within (Stephen van Leeuwen) [26:40]
A non-Aboriginal perspective
- Adam Cross’s response [31:50]
- Renee Young’s response [34:40]
Advanced reseeding technology (Simone Pedrini) [37:30]
A farming family’s thoughts on the path ahead (Renee Young) [41:05]
Lessons learned in the spiritual aspect of ecology (Adam Cross) [44:00]

Learn more

About the speakers

Connect with our guests

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Read the full transcript for the episode.

Socials

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

Sex Education

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 23:00:00 +0000

How can schools improve our understanding of consent, sexuality and sex positivity?

In this episode, Amelia and Jessica are joined by sexology expert Dr Jacqueline Hendriks. The three discuss which topics feature in Australia’s sex education curriculum and what changes could be made to promote more respectful and meaningful sexual relationships.

Starting sex education early [00:52]
Differences between schools [04:03]
Perceptions of sexual encounters as conquests [08:37]
Sexual assault allegations in Canberra [09:27]
Being inclusive of people identifying as LGBTIQ+ [11:58]
Countries with exemplary sex education curricula [13:51]
How is Jacqui’s research creating positive change? [16:44]

Content Warning: This episode contains information about sexual assault.

If you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment and feel you would like to speak to someone for support or information, 1800RESPECT (Phone: 1800 737 732) can provide counselling 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are feeling unsafe right now, call 000.

Learn more

Talk soon. Talk often. [.pdf]

Hundreds of Sydney students claim they were sexually assaulted

Curtin’s Introduction to Sexology Attitudes and Values unit

Connect with our guests

Dr Jacqueline Hendriks, School of Population Health, Curtin University

Jacqui’s article in The Conversation

Jacqui’s Curtin profile and email

Jacqui’s website

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Socials

Debbie's Twitter
Debbie’s LinkedIn

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/sex-education/transcript.

Air Quality

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 23:00:00 +0000

Everyday, we breathe in more hazardous chemicals and gases at home, work and in the environment than you think.

In this episode, Amelia and Jessica chat with Associate Professor Debbie Silvester-Dean about the hazardous gases in our homes and workplaces, and how cutting-edge research in electrochemistry will drive innovation in the detection of hazardous substances.

In early 2021, Debbie won the Australian Academy of Science’s Le Fèvre medal for chemistry research.

Top reasons for poor air quality at home and at work [02:08]
Current methods of detecting hazardous gases [05:01]
What innovations are on the horizon? [06:37]
Why STEM research areas need more women [13:30]

Learn more, or connect with our expert guest

Associate Professor Debbie Silvester-Dean, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University

Debbie's website

Debbie's Curtin researcher profile and email
Head of School (Molecular and Life Sciences) email for school tours

Questions and suggestions for future topics

Socials

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript of the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/air-quality/transcript.

Gender

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Mx Misty Farquhar, Jessica Morrison, Amelia Searson) — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 23:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to be ‘gender diverse’? And should gender even matter?

In this episode, Amelia and Jessica are joined by gender and sexuality expert Misty Farquhar from the Curtin University Centre for Human Rights Education. The three delve deep into gender diversity, inclusivity and the right age to transition.

What’s the difference between sex and gender? [01:38]
Using pronouns properly [05:24]
What issues do trans and gender diverse people face? [11:37]
The future of ‘gender reveals’ [13:44]
Is there a right age to transition and what does it involve? [15:02]
Is it time to ‘do away’ with gender? [20:53]

Learn more

Almost half of trans young people try to end their lives. How can we reduce this alarming statistic? https://theconversation.com/almost-half-of-trans-young-people-try-to-end-their-lives-how-can-we-reduce-this-alarming-statistic-83221
The future of gender is increasingly nonbinary https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/The-Future-of-Gender-is-Increasingly-Nonbinary
I started the ‘gender reveal party’ trend. And I regret it. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jun/29/jenna-karvunidis-i-started-gender-reveal-party-trend-regret

Connect with our guests

Mx Misty Farquhar
Sessional Academic, School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry

Got any questions or suggestions for future topics?

Email
thefutureof@curtin.edu.au

Socials
https://twitter.com/curtinuni

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/gender/transcript.

Self-Injury Recovery

Mon, 1 Mar 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Why do people self-injure and what support do they need in their journey to recovery?

In this episode, released on international Self-Injury Awareness Day, Amelia and returning host, Jessica Morrison, are joined by Professor Penelope Hasking, the President of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury. The three debunk misconceptions about self-injury and explore why it’s important to recognise that recovery isn’t a linear process.

Top misconceptions [02:52]
Unsure how to help? Just listen [06:47]
What does recovery look like? [08:50]
How is research helping people at risk? [13:48]
13 Reasons Why and other examples in the media [18:14]
Future changes Professor Hasking hopes to see [21:45]

If this episode has raised issues for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, if you live in Australia. If you aren’t based in Australia, please visit https://checkpointorg.com/global/to find crisis hotlines and mental health resources based in your region.

Learn more

International Society for the Study of Self-Injury: https://itriples.org/
Self-Injury Outreach & Support: http://sioutreach.org/
International Consortium on Self-Injury in Educational Settings: http://icsesgroup.org/
Self-Injury & Recovery Resources: http://www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu/

Connect with our guests

Professor Penelope Hasking

President of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury and Professor within Curtin University’s School of Population Health

Email: penelope.hasking@curtin.edu.au
Curtin staff profile: https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/penelope-hasking-6588bc90/
News story: https://theconversation.com/its-not-only-teenage-girls-and-its-rarely-attention-seeking-debunking-the-myths-around-self-injury-120214

Questions or suggestions for future topics

Socials

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/self-injury-recovery/transcript.

Snakes

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Damian Lettoof, Amelia Searson) — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Snakes might seem pretty scary, but did you know they’re essential in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems?

In this episode, Amelia is joined by Australian snake wrangler and wildlife ecologist Damian Lettoof. The two unpack the crucial role snakes play in regulating local food populations and discuss why the health of many top tier predator snakes are in decline.

Why we need snakes in some environments [00:42]
Catching them alive – how Damian collects snake data [07:46]
Reducing our impact on wetlands and snake habitats [10:46]
Damian’s experience handling 500 tiger snakes [13:08]
How to not get bitten [19:23]
Damian’s top two snake stories [22:06]
How research is impacting the future of snakes [30:38]

Learn more

Connect with our guests

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Socials

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode at https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/snakes/transcript.

Oil and Gas

Mon, 1 Feb 2021 08:11:04 +0000

While oil and gas continues to power most of our everyday lives – the industry’s environmental impacts are causing more countries to switch to renewable energy. But is this switch really feasible?

In this episode, Amelia is joined by Professor Claus Otto and Dr Roberto Aguilera from Curtin University’s Oil and Gas Innovation Centre. They break down why countries are switching away from oil and gas, how companies are improving production and reducing their carbon footprint, and why the industry will still be relevant in the coming decades.

Transitioning to renewables [00:38]
Are we running out of oil and gas? [05:19]
Decreasing the environmental impact [08:49]
Decommissioning aged facilities [13:11]
What is Curtin University doing? [16:04]
Alternatives for transportation [18:09]
Oil and gas in the future [21:28]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/oil-and-gas/transcript

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode at

Political Extremism

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Michael Wieteska, Dr Ben Rich, Amelia Searson) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:06:16 +0000

Despite living in a global age, the rise of political extremism reflects a world that has never been more divided – we only need to look at the storming of the US Capitol to see the great rift that exists between the ‘left’ and ‘right’. How did we get here, and where to next?

In this episode, Amelia is joined by Dr Ben Rich and Michael Wieteska from the Curtin School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry. They unpack what makes someone a political extremist and explore the rising appeal of political extremist groups. They also discuss some of the defining characteristics of the left and right, and the problems that occur when we solely label ourselves as one or the other.

Political extremism and violence [01:24]
Determinists vs free agents [03:40]
The role of education in extremism [11:05]
Terrorism in the US [14:15]
Treating social problems as terrorism [17:24]
The extreme right and the ‘nostalgic past’ [25:44]
Political extremism after Trump? [30:44]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Disability and the Media

Mon, 4 Jan 2021 03:00:00 +0000

One billion people live with a disability, each with their own unique experience of the world, yet the media still largely portrays people with disability using traditional and inaccurate stereotypes.

In this episode, Amelia is joined by Curtin University Professors Katie Ellis and Mike Kent, who discuss how disability is a social construct, rather than a medical one. They explore some of the ways people with disability are portrayed in the media, highlighting both progressive and entrenched examples. They also take a look at some of the ways COVID-19 has made technology and daily life more accessible for all people.

COVID-19 improves accessibility [02:35]
The social approach to disability [04:41]
‘Charity case’ or ‘an inspiration’ [07:53]
Ableism in film and TV [12:00]
Progressive representations of disability [14:07]
What is audio description? [16:19]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

ABC: Tayla Harris AFLW photo could become landmark moment in Australian sport

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Women's Fitness Culture

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 03:00:00 +0000

It’s not uncommon for women to post carefully crafted exercise photos on social media to foster a culture of empowerment. But could this be causing more harm than good?

In this episode, Amelia is joined by Dr Madison Magladry and Professor Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani to discuss how we can build a more positive fitness culture that better supports women’s physical and mental health.

Women’s fitness culture on Instagram [0:54]
Why women exercise less than men [04.09]
Fostering a more inclusive social media environment [09:43]
Main factors affecting motivation [14:55]
Fitness influencers becoming a source of authority [18:18]
Broadening the discussion – experiences of non-binary people, older people and gay men in the gym [24:14]
How COVID-19 has impacted fitness [31:40]
Promoting a healthier fitness culture [36:37]

Our experts

Dr Madison Magladry: Twitter – @MagladryMadison

Professor Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani: Twitter – @ecthogersen, Web –pawresearchgroup.com

Learn more

ABC News: When the pursuit of fitness and exercise is a slog, how do we stay motivated?

Broad Agenda: How feminist is fitness culture
Decolonizing Fitness

Guardian: Man runs marathon on 7-metre balcony during French lockdown

Susanna Barkataki

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

BBC Newsnight: How does Bitcoin mining work?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain

Mon, 7 Dec 2020 03:00:00 +0000

In 2009, the world’s first online cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was launched using blockchain technologies. Now, thousands of cryptocurrencies are in circulation, including some backed by the Dubai and Chinese governments.

In this episode, our new host Amelia is joined by Associate Professor Vidy Potdar and Professor Saurav Dutta, to discuss how widespread cryptocurrencies will be in the future.

Relationship between cryptocurrencies and blockchain [01:10]
Taking power from banks [04:00]
High energy consumption – as much as Belgium [08:49]
Prone to hacking? [11:59]
Explaining Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin and Tether [13:27]
Can anyone get involved? [18:19]
Vidy’s and Saurav’s projects [23:09]
Government responses [26:20]
Will cryptocurrencies replace fiat money? [29:57]

Our experts

Associate Professor Vidy Potdar: Laboratory – businesslaw.curtin.edu.au/our-research/centres-and-institutes/blockchain-research-and-development-laboratory/, Crypto fund – payments.curtin.edu.au/crypto-donations/

Professor Saurav Dutta: Books – amazon.com/Saurav-K.-Dutta/e/B00E6JFXVW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share, Curtin School of Accounting – businesslaw.curtin.edu.au/curtin-business-school/accounting/

Learn more

Curtin University: Curtin announces new blockchain lab to research disruptive technologies

Curtin University: Curtin’s new cryptocurrency scholarship fund a boost for PhD students

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Sharks

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Sharks have earned a reputation in popular culture for being ‘blood thirsty people eaters’ but research and statistics show that this label is grossly misleading. In fact, up to 31 per cent of sharks face extinction, despite the important role they play in our ecosystems.

Tom and our new host, Amelia Searson, are joined by Melissa Cristina Márquez, a Latina marine biologist and conservationist. Melissa sorts fact from fiction and explains how we can better coexist with these cartilaginous fish.

Categories of shark bites [01:39]
The role of sharks in ecosystems [07:09]
Media impact on shark conversation [09:00]
SMART drumlines [11:31]
Croc attack? [15:00]
Diversity in science [20:56]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Universities

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Jill Downie, Tom Robinson) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:39:35 +0000

Universities have evolved significantly over the centuries, and in the 21st century,they continue to evolve. The trend towards online study, which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, raises the question of whether universities will always have physical campuses. And in Australia, the government is steering students towards STEM careers and away from the humanities.

In this episode, Tom discusses these issues with Professor Jill Downie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Curtin University.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students [01:14]
Reliance on international students [03:36]
Immersive online experiences in university teaching and learning [11:54]
The humanities [15:27]
Mass higher education [18:56]

Learn more

Associate Professor Jill Downie

Horizon Report

The government's funding changes are meddling with the purpose of universities

Vital signs

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons – Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0. Music promoted by Audio Library.

Land Conservation

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Simon Wilde, Dr Stephen van Leeuwen, Tom Robinson) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Our environment is a fascinating web of ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between the environment’s plants, animals, rocks, soils, minerals, waters and us, will enable us to better conserve important ecosystems and ensure an inhabitable Earth for future generations.

In this episode, Tom is joined by Dr Stephen van Leeuwen, Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity and Environmental Science at Curtin, and Dr Simon Wilde, a John Curtin Distinguished Professor in Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Science. Together, they discuss the unique features and creatures of the Australian landscape, and what’s required to ensure a better balance between land use and land conservation.

Characteristics of WA’s biodiversity hotspot [01:30]
The role of rocks in biodiversity [04:46]
China’s innovative geo parks [06:20]
Protecting the oldest mineral on Earth [07:15]
A new plant described every week [09:58]
New tech preserving geology [10:51]
Australia’s first engineers [14:10]
How to appreciate planet A [17:59]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/land-conservation/transcript.

Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 03:01:15 +0000

In the last 60 years, humankind has made great strides in our search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). But will we ever be successful?

In this episode, Tom is joined by Professor Steven Tingay and Dr Chenoa Tremblay – who recently scanned 10.35 million known stars in the deepest and broadest search ever for extraterrestrial technologies – to discuss what progress has been made.

Recent SETI survey is just a drop in the ocean [02:44]
Signals might not necessarily be thousands of years old [06:54]
How do you know where to look? [10:02]
Square Kilometre Array will improve search capabilities [11:48]
What would happen if you found a signal? [15:53]
Thoughts on announcement of possible life on Venus [21:25]
Proving signals are of alien origin could take decades [27:23]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Read the full transcript

Sustainable Engineering

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 02:00:15 +0000

To prevent extreme weather events like the bushfires we’ve seen in Australia and now California, as well as rising sea levels, warmer temperatures and the depletion of food and water, we must rethink how we use our natural resources.

Sustainable engineering is a field dedicated to delivering low-energy design projects in the built environment. It focuses on finding ways that promote sustainable models of production and consumption, and has diverse applications in all areas of life.

In this episode, Tom is joined by Professor Michele John and Associate Professor Wahidul Biswas. Michele is Director of the Sustainable Engineering Group at Curtin and Wahidul is an Associate Professor in Curtin’s School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

What is sustainable engineering? [01:10]
Current sustainable engineering projects [03:00]
What will happen if we don’t embrace sustainable engineering? [05:46]
Can developing nations afford to embrace sustainable engineering? [07:40]
Is sustainable engineering expensive? [09:40]
What are some of the roadblocks? [12.20]
Could Australia become a world leader in this space? [13:50]
What can individuals do? [16:40]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Getting Old

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 03:00:15 +0000

According to the World Health Organization, the population aged 65 and over is growing faster than all other age groups. It’s therefore important to make sure this cohort has the means to be socially, politically and economically engaged in communities.

Tom Robinson is joined by professors Anne-Marie Hill and Siobhan Austen to discuss how advances in technology are helping us to live better for longer, how we can remain financially independent after we retire, whether COVID-19 has revealed ageist attitudes, and key things we can do now to stay mentally and physically active at any age.

COVID-19 and aged care [02:43]
Key aspects to living well [05:32]
Push back on being told you’re old [05:49]
Tech advances helping us to live well [09:16]
Pension vs superannuation [12:31]
Falls indicate if we’re ageing well [14:58]
Women and their super rights [19:34]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here: https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/getting-old/transcript.

Journalism

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Kathryn Shine, Tom Robinson, Glynn Greensmith) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 03:00:03 +0000

It’s been one year since we first launched The Future Of podcast at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. We’re so thrilled to be able to journey into the future with you and explore how research is helping to change the world. This podcast is only possible through the efforts of the Curtin community, so we’d like to give a special thanks to our hosts, creative and marketing teams, production coordinators and the Curtin researchers who make it all happen.

Journalism has survived the advent of radio and television, the demise of print, but now has new threats to address, namely social media and an outdated business model.

COVID-19 has particularly exposed how vulnerable the industry is to a loss of advertising – falls in revenue have resulted in the closure of newsrooms across the world, and staff cuts to both community and mass media organisations.

In this episode, host Tom Robinson is joined by Glynn Greensmith and Dr Kathryn Shine – journalists and academics in Curtin University’s journalism program. Shine and Greensmith explore the current state of the industry, and the changes that must be made to ensure journalists can continue to deliver news that keeps the public informed and engaged in their communities.

A failing business model [02:12]
Need-to-know vs want-to-know [04:04]
Training future journalists [06:35]
Should tech giants pay up? [09:34]
How journalism become a commodity [12:34]
Community-centric news [16:09]
Greater diversity in news [19:46]

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

You can read the full transcript for the episode here: https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/journalism/transcript.

Killer Whales

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Curtin University) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 02:00:24 +0000

Killer whales are at once both fascinating and fearsome, and Dr Wellard has dedicated the past 10 years of her research career to learning more about these mammals. In this episode, Dr Wellard reveals some of key characteristics and behaviours of orcas, such as their ability to take on sharks and whether they really connect with humans.

She explains how killer whales use bioacoustics, including echolocation clicks and burst-pulse sounds, to navigate, hunt, communicate and socialise with other pod members.

Dr Wellard also reveals the habitats of killer whales, including the deep waters off the Western Australian coast, and how her research is expanding the scientific knowledge of killer whales, enabling stronger population monitoring and conversation efforts.

How killer whales communicate [01:44]
Killer whale habitats [04:49]
Hunting strategies [08:50]
Social structure [11:28]
Conservation status and action [13:25]
Human impact on killer whales [20:53]

Find out more:

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Email thefutureof@curtin.edu.au.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here: https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/killer-whales/transcript.

China’s Soft Power Strategy

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Tom Robinson, Professor Michael Keane) — Mon, 3 Aug 2020 03:00:10 +0000

China’s economic and military rise are well documented, but their ‘soft power’ strategy, which involves boosting their image as one of the good guys in the global mind, is more complicated. As China emerges from the pandemic relatively well, can they maintain their ‘peaceful rise’ narrative, particularly while the western world, including Australia, casts a skeptical eye on Chinese platforms such as TikTok and WeChat?

In this episode, Tom is joined by Professor Michael Keane to discuss the future of China’s international influence and global standing.

What is ‘soft power’? [00:55]
The narrative China wants to tell [02:17]
The role of apps like WeChat and TikTok in China’s storytelling [04:17]
Should people be suspicious of Chinese apps like TikTok? [08:55]
Understanding Chinese culture [21:25]
Will Australia see a rise of Chinese pop culture? [26:22]

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/chinas-soft-power-strategy/transcript.

Reconciliation

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 02:41:02 +0000

Recent protests have shone a light onto the racism and discrimination that still exists all over the world in 2020. This has led Australians to reflect on discrimination close to home against indigenous peoples and contemplate how we can do better and become more inclusive as a nation.

In this episode, Tom is joined by Curtin Nyungar cultural advisor Mrs Ingrid Cumming and Curtin research Fellow Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker to discuss the topic of reconciliation and what we can do to bring all Australians together as one.

What is reconciliation? [00:47]
What can universities and schools do for reconciliation? [04:42]
The first Aboriginal bilingual Wikipedia page in history [11:45]
The importance of language in reconciliation [15:40]
Decolonising spaces [20:07]
The next steps in the reconciliation journey [30:20]

Learn more

Curtin University: Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker
Curtin University: Mrs Ingrid Cumming
Curtin Aboriginal Reconcilation Action Plan
Kaat Koort n Hoops

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Read the transcript for this episode

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

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Travel Bubbles

Mon, 6 Jul 2020 03:00:05 +0000

COVID-19 has delivered a crushing blow to the tourism and travel sector, but some countries are successfully managing the virus, and are considering opening up their borders to neighbouring nations. These ‘travel bubbles’ have been pitted to bolster the global economy and enable us to travel safely and with more freedom.

In this episode, David is joined by new podcast host Tom Robinson, and Curtin researchers Dr Mingming Cheng and Professor Kirsten Holmes, to discuss the likelihood of travel bubbles, changes to tourism operations, and how our own travel experiences may evolve in the wake of COVID-19.

What travel bubbles are [01:26]
Impact of COVID-19 on local tourism [03:04]
Changes to the way we travel [05:42]
Cost of future travel [08:20]
Loss of tourism volunteers [14:40]
Sustainability and tourism [17:48]

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

World Leadership

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 05:59:42 +0000

We live in a world defined by constant change. To keep up, leaders at all levels should be highly adaptable and collaborative, however it’s debatable whether all our world leaders possess those qualities.

On the international stage, we see wildly different personalities and leadership styles, from the brashness of Trump to the brutality of Duterte, to the poise of Ardern.

We’re yet to reach accord on international crises such as climate change, health and migration; which leads us to ask whether there’s a better way.

David is joined by former WA Premier Professor Geoff Gallop AC and strategic affairs analyst Associate Professor Alexey Muraviev to discuss leadership on the world stage and how countries can lead on issues of national and international importance.

The Covid-19 pandemic has put our world leaders to the test. What lessons have we learned? [01:02]
Democracies – do they have a sell-by date? [06:22] and [25:06]
With world technology moving forward at such a fast pace, is making policy decisions on Twitter still a shocking thing? [10:08]
What aspects of Jacinda Ardern’s leadership style have contributed to her success? [16:50]
What is the ideal global leadership model? [26:31]

Learn more

Curtin University: Geoff Gallop: a brief biography
Curtin University: Professor Alexey Muraviev
Indeed career guide: 10 Common leadership styles
T-three: How leadership has changed 2000 versus 2020

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here

Geographical Borders

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Ben Rich, Dr Donna Butorac) — Mon, 8 Jun 2020 03:18:34 +0000

For decades, the world has been on a trajectory of rising globalisation with cross-border flows of trade, investment, data, ideas, technology and people.

But recent global events point to a trend that’s at odds with that narrative. The election of nationalist leaders in many powerful countries; Brexit and the subsequent weakening of the EU; and COVID-induced territorialism have all contributed to a sense of ‘us vs them’.

David is joined by Curtin University academics Dr Donna Butorac and Dr Ben Rich to discuss whether we’re witnessing a ‘de-globalisation’ that could impact our ability to solve global problems like climate change and food security.

Are we retreating behind borders, and if so, how did we get here? [00:54]
Has the pandemic affected the trust we place on international organisations? [06:48]
How does our geographical location influence our sense of indentity? [13:26]
How can we solve global problems if we’re looking inward? [17:10]
Has the pandemic revealed the fragility of our international supply chains? [24:50]
It’s become easier to move capital and goods across borders, what about moving ourselves across borders? [27:35]

Learn more

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View the transcript of this episode

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Pandemics

Mon, 25 May 2020 03:00:08 +0000

Prior to COVID-19, you might not have anticipated that a virus could have such a profound global impact in the 21st century.

To discuss the impact of COVID-19, what researchers can learn from it, and what the future might hold, David talks to Professors Archie Clements and Christopher Reid, both from Curtin’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Why has it taken so long for a virus to impact the world like this? [0.44]
Chris, you're involved in a study that's investigating the potential long-term impacts of COVID-19. What are you hoping to reveal? [3.30]
How is Australia performing in terms of its response? [5.52]
Why is it so difficult to create a vaccine for COVID-19? [10.51]
Why are the origins of COVID-19 unclear? [14.12]
What will be the lasting impacts? [18.51]

Learn more

COVID-19 Health Alert (Australian Government Department of Health)
What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19) (Australian Government Department of Health)
Novel coronavirus-2019 (World Health Organisation)
Health sciences research at Curtin University
Professor Archie Clements staff profile
Professor Christopher Reid staff profile
The man behind the mic: David Blayney

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here

Work

Mon, 18 May 2020 03:12:17 +0000

Automation and AI were tipped to revolutionise the workplace, but it’s been a virus that’s brought real change. COVID-19 has stalled the global economy, with the UN predicting cutbacks equivalent to nearly 200 million full-time workers by July.

In The Future Of Work, Associate Professor Rebecca Cassells from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, outlines the impact of the pandemic on Australian jobs, including the people and industries most affected, and the wider societal effects of mass unemployment.

Rebecca is joined by Professor Sharon Parker, Director of the Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University, who explores how the ‘working from home’ phenomenon has helped bolster Australia’s economy and how people can work most effectively from home to support their mental health.

Rebecca and Sharon also consider how COVID-19 could be the catalyst for greater workplace flexibility, stronger mental health initiatives and evolutions in economic trade.

Unemployment figures and industries worst hit COVD-19 2.13
The pros and cons of working from home 7.10
The social and economic impact of mass unemployment 12.08
Australia’s mental health status and strategies 16.41
How COVID-19 may change the way we work in future 21.50
New opportunities for trade/business development 27.10
How to support good work design while working at home 32.47

Find out more

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You can read the full transcript of the episode here.

Batteries

Mon, 4 May 2020 03:00:01 +0000

For decades, inefficient batteries prevented a large-scale shift to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, because they couldn’t store enough energy to tide us over when the sun wasn’t shining or the wind wasn’t blowing.

But that’s all changed. Lithium battery technology has evolved to the point where we could feasibly – with progressive leadership – abandon fossil fuels within the next few decades.

Hydrogen storage is another technology that could emerge as a viable alternative to lithium batteries before long, futher fueling the renewable revolution.

David is joined by Professor Jacques Eksteen from the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre and Dr Terry Humphries, a Curtin research fellow and chemist with a particular interest in hydrogen storage.

The battery boom is good news for the planet and good news for Western Australia (1.11)
What are the environmental impacts of mining materials for batteries? (7.00)
What are hydrogen fuel cells and what benefits do they offer? (11.50)
Hydrogen is commonly produced using fossil fuels. Does this present a problem? (13.50)
Given their foothold in the economy, it may be hard to move away from fossil fuels (22.30)
There's an Aussie startup with a zinc bromine battery. Could that be another player? (27.30)
Tesla Cybertruck, yes or no? (33.30)

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript of the episode here.

Space Exploration

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Professor Phil Bland) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 01:58:34 +0000

Space exploration has led to greater understanding of the planet Earth, our Solar System and our place in the universe, but there’s still much to be discovered. To help uncover some of the greatest cosmic mysteries, space agencies around the world are planning missions to explore neighbouring planets to map their history and search for possible signs of past extraterrestrial life.

In this episode, David Blaney is joined by Professor Phil Bland to discuss mission preparations to the Moon and Mars, the systemic and environmental challenges faced by automated rockets and rovers, and what we are doing at Curtin University in this space.

What we can learn from looking at meteorites [03:53]
CubeSats: what they are and what they can do [06:36]
Major challenges faced by exploring space [10:36]
Why Mars is such a big focus for space agencies [14:58]
Who actually ‘owns’ space? [18:13]
How space exploration benefits the economy [24:17]

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here

Big Data and Our Health

Mon, 6 Apr 2020 04:43:18 +0000

The allocation of public health services is no guessing game. The government relies on vast datasets – and the analysts who can identify patterns within them – to understand the health of our population and where services are most needed.

In this episode, David is joined by Professor Suzanne Robinson, from Curtin University’s School of Public Health, and Professor Andrew Rohl, from the Curtin Institute for Computation, to discuss health economics in the digital age.

How do the worlds of economics, health and supercomputing combine to make us healthier? [00:30]
How do health authorities get their data and how do they keep it private? [01:33]
What sort of information are we learning from big data that we didn’t know before? [04:03]
How do computers find patterns? [08:06]
How is machine learning applied in a health context? [10:07]
What are we learning about our health from the data that’s been gathered? [13:43]
Are we any closer to learning why Indigenous Australians and those in regional areas have poorer health outcomes? [14:41]
What’s next with health data analytics? [16:15]
What impact will the changes to My Health Record have? [20:08]

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Mental Toughness

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Associate Professor Daniel Gucciardi) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 03:00:02 +0000

When it comes to winning gold medals, we know the mental game is as important as the physical. Many research hours have been poured into understanding the psychology behind athletic performance, but the research findings may reach further than elite sport.

In this episode, David and Associate Professor Gucciardi discuss the concepts of mental toughness and resilience, and how they may apply not only to sports stars, but also the workplace and even the battlefield.

Associate Professor Gucciardi is currently involved in several projects spanning topics such as doping in sport, mental toughness, life skills development, resilience, workplace well-being and stress.

What is mental toughness? (2:17)
The difference between mental toughness and resilience (3:23)
Mental toughness in sport (5:45)
Mental toughness and stress at work (7:49)
Improving performance in the workplace (9:55)
Creating the right environment for resilience (13:19)
Changing culture to foster mental toughness (16:59)
Future research on resilience in the army (18:25)

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript of the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

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Medical Education

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 02:36:44 +0000

Universities across the country are adopting high-tech simulations to teach the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Faithfully recreated hospital wards, complete with virtual patients that can talk, breathe and even vomit, have become the norm, and it’s no gimmick – research is showing that it can be extremely valuable.

David is joined by Associate Professor Michelle Kelly and Dr Zoe Bradfield from Curtin University’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine to discuss the high-tech and surprisingly low-tech approaches to medical simulation.

What kind of simulation are we talking about? [0.40]
How can we use simulations to prepare students for the unexpected? [2.45]
Simulations are human-like but they’re not human. Is there a fear of students not learning to pick up on symptoms that are hard to simulate? [6.17]
How do actors and roleplaying work in a classroom? [11.13]
How does simulation work in regards to mental health education? [14.56]
What advancements are on the horizon? [20.30]

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

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Bushfires

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Philip Zylstra) — Mon, 9 Mar 2020 03:00:05 +0000

With the catastrophic summer bushfires in Australia’ eastern states still front of mind,prescribed burning has become a contentious topic – some scientists argue for an increase in the regime, while others are concerned about the impact on the bush ecosystem.

In The Future Of Bushfires, we hear the opinions of Dr Phillp Zylstra, an adjunct associate professor at Curtin University, whose research focuses on the drivers of fire behaviour, flammability and modelling bushfire risk.

Dr Zylstra has developed modelling on dynamic fire behaviour that calculates the capacity for flames to ignite new leaves, branches or plants, and jump across the spaces between them.

In this episode, Dr Zystra gives context to prescribed burning of Australian landscapes, raises questions on the effectiveness of current fire prevention strategies and discusses how our methods vastly differ from traditional Aboriginal fire practice.

What is a prescribed burn? 2.13
What happens to the forest after a fire? 10.33
What we should be doing to prevent bushfires 15.50
The single most important thing in fire prevention 20.12
Fire burning strategies employed by First Nation peoples 20.56

Find out more

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Medicinal Cannabis

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Paul Long, Professor Neil Foster) — Thu, 5 Mar 2020 04:11:59 +0000

In 2016, the Australian Government joined a global movement by approving the use of medicinal cannabis. Now in 2020, cannabis prescriptions are rising, but many patients are still turning to the unregulated and therefore unreliable black market.

In this episode, David speaks with chemical engineer and Curtin University academic, Professor Neil Foster, and Little Green Pharma Chief Operating Officer Paul Long, who have been working together on research into cannabis to help make the regulated products safer, more accessible, and more affordable.

Professor Foster from the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering and his team developed a new drug delivery system called ARISE (Atomised Rapid Injection for Solvent Extraction) and under a new partnership, Curtin has provided an exclusive worldwide licence to Little Green Pharma for the system.

What is ARISE technology? (1:05)
How prohibition impacted medicinal cannabis adoption and research, and other challenges (4:08)
Can you get high off medicinal cannabis? The difference between THC and CBD (6:10)
Legitimate medicinal cannabis vs black market cannabis (10:51)
Who’s using medicinal cannabis and what illnesses does it treat? (12:39)
Where we’re heading in the future for medical cannabis research and uptake (16:30)
How much does it cost to access medicinal cannabis? (23:00)

Learn more

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Meat Alternatives

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 05:06:54 +0000

Australians love their meat, consuming 110kg per capita every year. But that love comes at a cost. Meat has been linked to cancers, chronic diseases and antibiotic resistance, as well as biodiversity loss, carbon emissions and water and land degradation.

In this episode, David is joined by Professor Dora Marinova and Talia Raphaely from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, to discuss some sobering research findings and how we can transition to a diet that’s healthier for us and the planet.

Could tofu really replace the sausage as the staple barbecue food? [1.05]
How much meat do we need as part of a healthy diet? [2.40]
If we consider the environment, should we be eating even less? [4.00]
As significant as climate change is, does meat impact other areas of the environment? [8.11]
Why aren’t there public awareness campaigns to reduce meat consumption? [13.40]
Are alternatives like soy better for the environment? [20.53]
Tell us more about your book and what you hope to achieve. [28.05]

Learn more

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

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Mass Shooting Media Coverage

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Glynn Greensmith) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 03:29:10 +0000

Mass shootings are rare, but these heineous crimes have become a magnet for global media attention. There are growing concerns the detailed coverage is leading to copycat and contagion killings. Recent research also shows a disturbing trend where shooters seek to publicise their beliefs and intentions through media platforms in an effort to gain notoriety and infamy.

In this episode, David speaks with journalist and Curtin University academic, Glynn Greensmith, who is currently researching the ways in which the media handles the reporting of mass shootings.

Mr Greensmith is a lecturer in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry. He has a background as a journalist, newsreader, producer and radio presenter and is the current host of ABC weekly show “It’s Just Not Cricket”.

What role does the media play in mass shootings? (1:00)
Did the Christchurch attack change the way social media operates? (9:36)
What changed in the wake of the Port Arthur attacks? (14:31)
Media approach to a local shooting vs one that happens elsewhere. (18:32)
How does covering a mass shooting affect the journalists themselves? (23:02)

Learn more

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

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Palaeontology

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Professor Kate Trinajstic) — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 03:00:11 +0000

Palaeontology is the study of the history of life on Earth through fossils, a fascinating branch of science that enhances our understanding of extinction, biodiversity, evolution and preservation, and how to respond to climate change.

Professor Kate Trinajstic is a vertebrate palaeontologist and Curtin Research Fellow, who specialises in armoured prehistoric fish. Her work focuses on how early vertebrates evolved an internal skeleton and complex musculature, how lungs developed, and how teeth and jaws evolved.

She is accomplished in a variety of micro-analytical techniques, including synchrotron and neutron scanning of fossil materials, which have opened up exciting new avenues for non-destructive investigations of the structure of fossils.

Her primary field work is in the Kimberley region of Western Australia at the world-famous Gogo fossil site, which was once an ancient barrier reef teeming with fish.

In this episode, Professor Trinajstic discusses how palaeontology can inform our response to climate change, how she uncovers and analyses fossils, her fieldwork at the Gogo fossil site and the discovery she made that reset the evolutionary calendar.

How life on Earth previously responded to climate change 2.22
What is mass extinction? 6.14
Uncovering fossils with a sledgehammer 7.56
What you can see using synchrotron and neutron scanning 9.50
Professor Trinajstic’s significant discovery 19.13
Working in the Gogo fossil site – a hotspot for palaeontology. 25.00

Links

Australians find mother of a fossil

The First Vertebrate Sexual Organs Evolved as an Extra Pair of Legs

The challenges and opportunities for research in paleontology for the next decade

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Internet Fame

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Crystal Abidin, David Blayney) — Mon, 3 Feb 2020 03:00:03 +0000

On the internet, anyone has the potential to become a celebrity. Some actively seek internet fame by carefully cultivating their online identity; while others may become unwitting internet celebrities when a stray, unflattering image of themselves is used as the subject of a meme.

In this episode, David is joined by digital anthropologist Dr Crystal Abidin, to discuss the rise and fall of both ‘deliberate’ and ‘accidental’ online celebrities.

Why influencers are more than just product-pushing advertisers (2.17)
How the law affects social media influencers differently to traditional advertisers (9.23)
How a social media platform changing, or closing down entirely, affects both influencers and their fans (14.05)
The rise of people being memed and accidentally becoming celebrities (17.24)
Why we’re shifting away from picture-perfect, professional social media influencers and valuing those who are more authentic (23.44)
On the rise of virtual influencers and other trends (28.28)

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Understanding Consumers

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Dr Min Teah, David Blayney, Dr Luke Butcher) — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 16:00:01 +0000

Twenty-first century marketing is an increasingly exact science, with technology giving brands unprecedented insight into consumer behaviour.

In this episode, David is joined by experts Dr Min Teah and Dr Luke Butcher from Curtin University’s School of Marketing, to discuss what goes on behind the brands.

How technology can track a consumer’s emotional state (0.47)
If consumers are becoming more discerning about marketing (7.56)
Discussing companies that are in touch with their customer base (14.55)
Speculation about why David was offered a free smart speaker from Amazon (23.59)
What the store of the future might look like (26.55)

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Sustainable Buildings

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 03:00:19 +0000

Concrete is the most consumed resource on earth next to water. Curtin researchers are developing a self-healing and sustainable biocement using natural microbes that could be utilised in a range of building construction and restoration applications.

In this episode, David is joined by civil engineer Professor Abhijit Mukherjee and construction biotechnologist Dr Navdeep Dhami to explain what biocement is, how it works and how it can help us to build better in the future.

What are biominerals and where are they found? (3.04)
How biocement can address environmental challenges (6.09)
The advantages and drawbacks of biocement compared to traditional construction materials (9.13)
Current and proposed applications of biocement (13.25)
Industry and economic challenges of biocement technology (18.26)
How to ‘coexist with nature’ by harnessing natural processes to ensure a sustainable future (21.53)

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The Innovation Ecosystem

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Bill Tai, David Blayney, Rohan McDougall) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 03:00:08 +0000

Innovative ideas require significant investment in order to move beyond the ideas phase and become financially viable products that can change lives.

For investors, there’s money to be made. For the broader community, there’s the potential for a product that could be a game changer. Think medical advances, renewable energy and blockchain technology.

For university research departments, the research lifecycle doesn’t end at a research paper or proof of concept. Commercialisation is of utmost importance, ensuring that innovative ideas for new products and services become those new products and services, flowing through to the marketplace where they can have an impact.

Today, David is joined by The Director of Commercialisation at Curtin University, Rohan McDougall; and all the way from Silicon Valley, venture capitalist Bill Tai, who is also Adjunct Professor of Innovation at Curtin University, to discuss the future of the innovation ecosystem.

01:00: How could Perth could become the new Silicon Valley?
12:00: How does commercialisation work in the university sector and why is it so important?
14:50: Western Australia mainly exports rocks. What problems does an unsophisticated export market pose?
23:00: Do you see cryptocurrency replacing or augmenting traditional currency anytime in the future?
25:10: What's big at West Tech Fest this year?

This episode was recorded in December 2019 during West Tech Fest.

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Music

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Adrian North) — Sun, 5 Jan 2020 16:00:02 +0000

Thanks to technology, we can now access many kinds of music at any time, and carefully curate not just our playlist but our very identities. How is this instant availability changing the way we consume music, and how is music technology shaping our lives?

Dr Adrian North heads the School of Psychology at Curtin University and researches the social and applied psychology of music. His research concerns music and well-being in both specific and the general populations, in areas such as using digital music in everyday life to improve mood; the impact of music on consumer behaviour and theories behind musical preference and taste.

In this episode, Dr Adrian North answers these questions and more, delving into streaming services, taste-setters, why music recommendation algorithms are so inaccurate, and how musical trends can predict stock market turbulence, gross national product and even a recession.

Does instant gratification in music have psychological benefits? [02:49]
Which variables influence musical tastes? [05:55]
Why recommendation algorithms are getting it wrong and how your phone could help [15:20]
How music can predict a nation’s mood and economy [24:48]
The death of the genre [31:10]

Links

North’s research:

Related articles:

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the University.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

The Human-Robot Relationship

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Eleanor Sandry) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 03:00:16 +0000

From high-tech washing machines, to digital voice assistants, robots have become integral parts of many of our daily lives. But while these technologies have proven useful, their increasing intelligence has led to concerns of robots taking our jobs and even robot uprisings.

In this episode, David is joined by human-robot communication expert Dr Eleanor Sandry, to discuss whether this fiction has any merit to it.

Today’s most egregious misuses of robots (4.50)
If we should be concerned about robots getting smarter (11.03)
Robot design and the rise of the ‘uncanny valley’ (14.52)
Why humans should collaborate with machines to create a positive future (20.18)
If robots have the potential to become fully ‘self-aware’ (23.50)

Learn more

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Your Work-Life Balance (LIVE!)

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (Professor Julia Richardson) — Mon, 9 Dec 2019 03:00:09 +0000

How do you want your work-life balance to look like in the future?

Professor Julia Richardson explains the importance of work-life balance, how it can impact your productivity, career development and wellbeing, and the strategies you can explore to achieve this sometime elusive concept.

Whether work-life balance is only a dream or could be a reality (3.17)
What hard questions you need to ask yourself to achieve work-life balance (10.17)
Two different strategies: segmentation and integration (19.20)
Why managers need to be more concerned about their employees’ work-life balance (25.20)
Why there’s nothing wrong with ‘wasting’ time (31.43)

Learn more

Attend our LIVE events

This talk was part of a lunchtime lecture series hosted by Curtin University in 2019.

To keep up with the latest Curtin events run by one of our expert commentators, please visit our events website or sign up to our community newsletter.

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Birthing

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Lesley Kuliukas) — Mon, 2 Dec 2019 03:00:10 +0000

Ninety-seven per cent of pregnant Australian women give birth in a hospital environment. It is considered the safest option for both mother and child, with medical staff and equipment on hand to promptly manage any complications.

However, studies have shown that stark, clinical hospital surroundings can hinder the natural birthing process, and have a detrimental effect on psychological, social and physical health of both mother and child.

Dr Lesley Kuliukas, a midwifery lecturer at Curtin University has more than 35 years’ experience in maternity settings (hospitals, birth centres and in the community) and in education. She won the Excellence in Midwifery Education award in 2018.

In this episode, Dr Kuliukas discusses the range of women’s birth options, different ways in which women can achieve a more positive birth experience and how giving birth with the support of a midwife and new technology, can be a safe and peaceful experience.

Where are women giving birth? What does the research say? (0.43)
What will happen in the event of complications? Won’t women just be transported back into a hospital setting? (3.39)
Is home birthing a viable option in Western Australia? (9.28)
What's the difference in the journey if you have private health insurance? (16.10)
Where do you see birthing going in 10, 20, 50 years' time? (23.02)
How will the role of the midwife change? (27.38)

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Indigenous Youth Wellbeing

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 04:00:11 +0000

New research suggests that to meet the needs of Indigenous youth, Australia’s health and education systems must adopt practices that provide cultural safety and positive meanings about Aboriginality.

In this episode, David is joined by Professor Rhonda Oliver, Head of Curtin’s School of Education, and Dr Michael Wright, a mental health researcher and Yuat Nyungar man, to discuss what needs to be done to ensure the wellbeing of Australia’s young Indigenous people is improving.

How the NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is disadvantaging Australia’s Indigenous youth (02:02)
What needs to be done to ensure mental health services for Indigenous youth become more effective (08:37)
Defining why translanguaging is important to Indigenous communities (10:59)
How cultural safety of Indigenous people is being affected by Western worldviews (15:47)
Why Australia’s Indigenous youth experience more unfair treatment in education settings than elsewhere (22:42).

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Home Ownership

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 08:00:07 +0000

In the past few years, there has been a steady decrease in the percentage of Australians owning their home and an increase in the percentage of those renting. These numbers, coupled with fluctuating property prices, have left the future of home ownership in uncertainty.

In this episode, David is joined by Associate Professor Steven Rowley, the Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute’s Curtin Research Centre, and Curtin property lecturer Dr Amity James, to discuss whether the great Australian dream of home ownership will still be achievable in the future.

The motivations behind home ownership (2.03)
Price variations, and rates of home ownership among different age groups (6.19)
Australia’s upcoming First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and Western Australia’s existing Keystart low-deposit home loan scheme (13.43)
How Australia is faring when it comes to public housing (19.43)
Positive and negative outcomes for the future (24.19)

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Fashion

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Dr Anne Farren) — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 03:00:33 +0000

From design to merchandising, the fashion industry is undergoing rapid change in response to market demand for sustainability, wearable technology and digital design.

Dr Anne Farren has been engaged in the craft of making since she was eleven, in both ceramics and textiles. For the past thirty years she has been involved in the curation of textile and fashion exhibitions presented in Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. Since 2001, she has been the academic head of the fashion program at Curtin University.

In this episode, Dr Farren discusses what future fashion might look like and the technological, ethical and economic forces will drive it.

What will streetwear look like in 20 years’ time? (0.33)
What exactly is smart fashion? (1.35)
How do we know whether our clothes are made ethically? (10.57)
How long is the ‘fast fashion lifecycle’? (15.45)
What’s being done at Curtin to build the future of fashion and design? (27.17)

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Fighting Liver Disease

Mon, 4 Nov 2019 03:00:27 +0000

Chronic liver disease is one of the most rapidly growing causes of death worldwide. Current treatments for liver cancer are limited and only prolong life by only months.

In this episode, Associate Professor Nina Tirnitz-Parker from Curtin University’s Liver Disease and Regeneration Group and Professor John Olynyk, Director of Research Development at Fiona Stanley Hospital, explain what liver disease is, and what the future holds for its prevention and treatment.

What’s the difference between liver cancer and liver disease? (00:52)
What do we need to learn about liver disease? (07:02)
Why are treatment options for liver cancer and chronic liver disease limited? (08:56)
What are we doing in terms of population health in this area? (12:03)
Can you tell us about the Lions Lotus PhD Scholarship? (13:49)
What kind of impact will these PhDs and scholarships have? (18:05)

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You can read the full transcript for the episode here.

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Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of the university.

Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library

Coral Reefs

thefutureof@curtin.edu.au (David Blayney, Jessica Morrison, Dr Zoe Richards) — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 03:00:04 +0000

Coral reefs protect our coasts from storms, provide habitats for diverse marine species and generate billions of dollars for the fishing and tourism industries. Unfortunately, recent mass coral bleaching events have put these spectacular ecosystems at risk.

In this episode, coral taxonomist Dr Zoe Richards discusses the state of coral reefs and how we can best protect them in the future.

Dr Richards discusses the importance of coral reefs (2.15)
How can we save coral reefs? (8.16)
What areas around the world have been the most affected? (11.59)
Do artificial reefs have a role to play in sustainability? (17.57)

Farewell Jess!

We want to sincerely thank Jessica for helping make The Future Of what it is, and wish her all the best as she takes some time off to welcome her first child into the world. David will be back next week.

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