Fuzzy Logic Science Show

Fail / resubmit. Scoring the environment Australian

We begin today's interview by asking our expert guest Prof David Lindenmayer: if the Australian environment were a medical patient, what score would he give it?

It's a plot spoiler to say his answer is an "F".

But he goes on to say, not just why it matters, but what are some of the positive steps we can do to fix it. He offers some surprisingly upbeat, optimistic and practical things that can be done. The cost? Minimal. The gain? Enormous.

Interview by Rod, Camille and Eamon.

Prof David Lindenmayer is from the ANU Fenner School and contributing author of Sustainability and the New Economics (Springer, 2022).

Find us on @FuzzyLogicSci

How many Australians?

Yesterday we caught up with Dr Paul Collins who was launching Sustainable Population Australia's discussion paper “How many Australians?”

With his theology background Dr Collins offers a lively philosphical view on our diminished connection with nature. And...traffic jams in a national park?

Interview by Rod who is a member of SPA.

The discussion paper is on this link:

https://population.org.au/discussion-papers/how-many-australians-the-need-for-earth-centric-ethics/

Forever growth

At the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is a contradiction: by assuming the Ever Bigger Pie economic model, everybody will be better off.

But can that really happen? We explore how the SDGs got this way and the thinking behind them.

Dr Kerryn Higgs who is writer and historian, Associate Member Club of Rome (speaking here on her own behalf), and author of Collision Course: Endless Growth on a Finite Planet (MIT Press, 2014).

She's also author of two chapters in Sustainability and the New Economics (Springer, 2022).

Interview by Rod who is co-editor of the Springer book.  @FuzzyLogicSci

Diet and rheumatoid arthritis

As the cliche goes, you are what you eat. But did you know it might be linked to rheumatoid arthritis?

Honours student Shweta Venkataraman and supervisor Dr Chloe Goldsmith have been investigating the link between diet, the immune system's T-cells and rheumatoid arthritis.

For this research they recruited Fuzzy host Rod, who agreed to provide a detailed account of his weekly diet. From that, they derived a detailed nutrition analysis. They used a blood sample to measure T-cells and later will investigate his epigenetic profile.

Join Shweta, Chloe, Camille and Rod for a fascinating conversation.

Find out more at www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/faculties/health/research/participate-in-a-research-study

 

Geodesy: A guide for epic journeys

This week Fuzzy Logic celebrates Earth Science Week as Broderick talks to Nick Brown and Anna Riddell both geodetic scientists from Geoscience Australia. They explain and explore the world of geodesy and the role it plays in helping us track the movements across our planet and the movements of our planet to make sure our GPS is accurate for our journeys, along with many other applications.

Thanks to Geoscience Australia for providing these two amazing scientists for this week's episode.

The case for steady state

What are the causes of our environmental crisis and how do we fix it? Jonathan Miller argues that we should address the fundamental issue, which is the addiction to growth.

That means a transition to a steady state economy. But what does that look like and how do we get there?

Interview by Eamon and Rod.

Back from the dead

What happens when a species goes extinct? Obviously the best course is to avoid it in the first place, but there are plans to resurrect the Tasmanian tiger and the woolly mammoth.

We talk about a few projects that are creating safe havens for species, helping them to recover from bushfires and cats.

Brought to you by Millie, Camille and Rod.

Geoscience Saving the World

From melting ice sheets to endless floods and extreme storms, the news lately has been a bit bleak. But science is fighting back and giving us hope for better world. 

From up in space to deep beneath the Earth’s surface, scientists at Geoscience Australia in Canberra are working to make our planet more sustainable - through satellites whizzing above our heads to uncovering the low-emission fuels of the future underneath our feet.  

Dr Andrew Feitz and Dr Aleks Kalinowski are part of a team of hydrogen and low carbon gurus at Geoscience Australia, while Dr David Hudson is the Director, Satellite Programs at Geoscience Australia. Tune in to this episode to hear these amazing geoscientists talk to Broderick about how they're helping to save the world!

National Science Week 2022

This week Broderick discusses the many events happening across the ACT for National Science Week 2022. He's joined in the studio by Heidi from Kids Securiday, Peter from FungiCo and Prof Lara Malins from the Australian National University who each share some of the interesting science being showcased at their events.

National Science Week is from August 13 to 21 and event details can be found at www.scienceweek.net.au

Climate change and hope vs despair

Is the climate crisis a science problem? Not according to our speaker. Climate change is caused by people - us - and must be resolved by people. We have the tools if only we can use them.

In this talk with the Canberra Jung Society, Fuzzy Logic's Rod Taylor discusses the psychology of climate change and the other environmental problems.

What does it mean to have 'hope' and how do we convert despair into action?

These stories are inspired by his book Ten Journeys on a Fragile Planet.

With thanks to our friends at the Canberra Jung Society.