Episoder
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We're back for a final bonus episode! In 2018, Secret Life of STEM visited two events: the Spaghetti Machine competition, and the Endeavour exhibition.
Both events encompass Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and are hosted at the University of Melbourne for different age groups.
If you're in Year 10, the Spaghetti Machine competition is for you - by participating you'll join a team of fellow students and build an overly complex machine that performs a simple task.
If you're a masters student, you might enter the Endeavor exhibition - a contest for innovations and inventions in STEM. We spoke to two groups who invented new ways to guide the blind, and new ways to keep homes cool in scorching heat.
Produced by Silvi Vann-Wall.
Executive producer was Andi Horvath.
Editing by Silvi Vann-Wall and Arch Cuthbertson.
Secret Life of STEM is a University of Melbourne podcast. -
We’re back! After a brief hiatus, we’re proud to unleash our series finale: A STEM of Advice. It’s our most jam-packed episode yet, featuring tips and tricks from almost every guest we’ve interviewed so far.
Our guests will take you through their greatest STEM achievements - and their greatest failings - in order to prepare you for your own upcoming adventures. Still unsure about a career in STEM? Feeling worried about your studies? Fear not - these reactions are normal, and will soon pass. If you don’t believe us, just listen to Amy Shepherd, or Grace McKee, or Ellen Sandell...well, you get the picture.
Then, three of our reverse-engineers are back to dish out the FYIs for your future STEM-studying self.
This episode’s reverse engineering is presented by Erin Grant, who will uplift you with her high-flying facts on helium.
GUESTS:
Chloe Stuart - In@Science Mentor, University of Melbourne.
Josh Cake - Comedian, musician and recent science graduate, University of Melbourne.
Erin Grant - PhD candidate in biosensing, School of Physics, University of Melbourne.
Rebecca Vincent - an engineering student at the University of Melbourne.
Amy Shepherd - Neuroscientist and PhD graduate, University of Melbourne.
Grace McKee - Founder of Sisters in Science.
Ellen Sandell - Australian politician, State Member of Parliament, Melbourne.
Dr Georgia Aitken-Smith - a.k.a Some Blonde Scientist, science communicator.
Sarah Hanieh - Paediatrician working in global health and for Médecins Sans Frontières.
Mary Mathias - Community Manager for EngineerGirl and the Online Ethics Center, National Academy of Engineering, USA.
Dr. Leah Heiss - Designer and Academic, Wearable Health Technology & Human Centred Design, RMIT University.
LINKS:
WISE - Women in Science and Engineering - https://www.wiseunimelb.com/
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity - https://www.doherty.edu.au/
Indigenous STEM Education Project - https://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Programs/Indigenous-STEM
Sisters in Science - https://www.sistersinscience.net/
Careers and Employability at the University of Melbourne https://students.unimelb.edu.au/careers
University of Melbourne Open Day: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/openday
study.unimelb.edu.au
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Catriona Nguyen-Robertson
Episode Host/Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr. Andi Horvath
Producer/Editor: Silvi Vann-Wall
Assistant Producer: Buffy Gorrilla
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT:
[email protected] -
Manglende episoder?
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In this special bonus episode of Secret Life of STEM, our resident Science Advisor Dr Andi Horvath speaks to Australia’s Chief Scientist, Alan Finkel.
Listen in as Alan Finkel talks about his inspirations and biggest tips for aspiring scientists, and answers year 10’s burning STEM questions. That’s right, you submitted your questions, and now Alan Finkel has the answers.
What is Alan Finkel’s earliest ‘STEMmory’? What challenges has he overcome in his career? What advice would he give his year 10 self? Find out in this bonus episode of Secret Life of STEM!
GUESTS:
Alan Finkel, Chief Scientist of Australia
LINKS:
Alan Finkel’s Biography
CREDITS:
Episode Host/Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr. Andi Horvath
Producer: Buffy Gorrilla
Assistant Producer/Editor: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT:
[email protected] -
Futurists often use popular science-fiction stories to predict future STEM trends. Many technologies previously seen only on Star Trek and similar shows have now become everyday objects, like the iPad. Can you think of something you use today that might have come out of a sci-fi movie in the past?
Also in this episode, we ask who or what inspired you to undertake STEM studies - did you have
a favourite science character growing up? Or perhaps it was your teacher! We brought in the
hosts of sci-fi radio program Zero G to help us look at the sci-fi movies that inspire people in
STEM. We also went to a student BBQ to survey today’s undergrads about who inspired them -
and their answers may surprise you!
This episode’s reverse engineering is presented by Henry Duffield, who deep dives into AI and
machine learning
GUESTS:
Rob Jan, presenter and co-producer of ‘Zero G’, fiction, fantasy and historical radio on 3RRR FM.
Megan McKeough, co-presenter of Zero G on 3RRR FM.
Dr Emma Burrows, NHMRC-ARC dementia research development fellow.
Henry Duffield, Bachelor of Science Student at the University of Melbourne.
LINKS:
Zero G on RRR
Spirit and Opportunity - NASA's Mars Exploration Program
An exploratory study of the relationship of Science-Fiction and Human-computer Interaction
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health - Florey
The Draw-A-Scientist-Test (DAST)
Science Students Society
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Danielle Goulopoulos
Episode Host/Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr. Andi Horvath
Producer/Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Assistant Producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT:
[email protected] -
Want to use STEM to build a better, brighter future? You better listen up! The world of STEM is rapidly changing, just like you will be.
In this episode, we speak to politicians, journalists, researchers, lecturers, event planners, and students about the big picture - that is, how STEM fits into society and the world beyond. So if you’re curious about where STEM research ends up once a paper is published, or how interactive experiments can help make the world smarter, our influential guests have all the answers.
Also in this episode, student Rebecca Vincent reverse engineers sunscreen - perhaps one of the most important STEM contributions to society yet.
GUESTS:
Ellen Sandell, Australian politician, State Member of Parliament, Melbourne
Kate Ravillious, Science journalist from the UK
Dr Emma Burrows, NHMRC-ARC dementia research development fellow
Dominic Hare, Associate Professor at The Florey Institute
Ryan Kelly, Research fellow in the Interaction Design Lab
Rebecca Vincent, an engineering student at the University of Melbourne
Kristian Camilleri, Lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science
Fiona Fidler, History and Philosophy of Science
Darrin Durrant, Historical and Philosophical Studies
Renee Beale, Victorian Science Week Lead and Engagement Manager
LINKS:
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Microsoft Research Centre for Social Natural User Interfaces
Biometric Mirror
The History and Philosophy of Science Program
School of BioSciences
The ‘Just Says in Mice’ Twitter account
FactBar
National Science Week
study.unimelb.edu.au
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Catriona Nguyen Robertson
Episode Host/Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr. Andi Horvath
Producer/Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Assistant Producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT:
[email protected] -
How do you turn your STEM studies into a living wage? Or even better - how do you turn your golden STEM idea into actual gold? You might just find out in this episode of Secret Life of STEM.
We talk to select entrepreneurs from the Melbourne Accelerator Program, a start up fund that helps grow Australian businesses. These people combined their knowledge of STEM and business, and are now using it to improve the world with the companies Beyond Ag and Curvecrete. You’ll also hear from a teacher that turned her STEM skills into an automated roll-marking system. Neat!
Also in this episode, our reverse engineer Danielle Goulopolous discovers what Google knows about you - and how to reduce that secret knowledge.
GUESTS:
β Phoebe Gardner, Co-Founder - Beyond Ag
β Alex Arnold, Co-Founder - Beyond Ag
β Greg Nyilasy, Academic, Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne
β Warren Rudd, Co-Founder - Curvecrete
β Daniel Prohasky, Co-Founder - Curvecrete
β Danielle Goulopolous, Media and Communications Student
β Martin Elhay, Senior Business Development Manager, University of Melbourne
β Zoe Milne, Co-founder - Loop Learn
LINKS:
β The Melbourne Accelerator Program - https://www.themap.co/
β Beyond Ag - https://www.themap.co/portfolio/beyond-ag
β The Wade Institute of Entrepeneurship - https://www.ormond.unimelb.edu.au/about/wade-institute-entrepreneurship/
β Curvecrete - https://curvecrete.com/
β What does Google know about you? - https://medium.com/productivity-in-the-cloud/6-links-that-will-show-you-what-google-knows-about-you-f39b8af9decc
β The Lean Startup - http://theleanstartup.com/
β Study Business and Economics at UniMelb - https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/interests/business-and-economics/
β Loop Learn Automated Roll-Marking - https://www.looplearn.net/
β Walter and Eliza Hall Institute - https://www.wehi.edu.au/
β Find a course - https://study.unimelb.edu.au
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Erin Grant
Episode Host/Producer/Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr. Andi Horvath
Assistant Producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT:
[email protected] -
“I want to have a career in STEM - but will I fit in?” - this is a question on the minds of many
young STEM students! And for good reason: for many years, the fields of STEM have been
overwhelmingly dominated by workers who are straight, male and white.
But it’s been proven that the best and most effective teams are diverse teams - whether they are
diverse in race, gender, sexuality, ability or neurodiversity. Diversity brings together many
different perspectives, which allows for more efficient problem solving and greater innovation.
In this episode you’ll hear from people like Sophia Frentz, a disabled, non-binary scientist who
currently works as an analytical consultant for DeLoitte. They’ll recount how their efforts made
working in the lab more accessible for people like them. You’ll also hear from Grace Kalinin, an
indigenous science student at the University of Sydney, who is also participating in the
Indigenous STEM Education Project at CSIRO.
Also in this episode, Catriona Nguyen-Robertson explores “inherent” racial bias in her reverse-
engineering segment on neuroracism.
GUESTS:
β Bryce Hughes, assistant professor at Montana State University
β Sophia Frentz, analytical consultant at DeLoitte
β Chloe Stewart, a student of environmental science at RMIT
β David Cameron-Staples, Senior Engineer at Unix Systems and Technology Management
at Infrastructure Services
β Catriona-Nguyen Robertson, PhD candidate, the Peter Doherty Institute
β Grace Kalinin, participant in the Indigenous STEM Education Project, CSIRO
β Grace McKee, Founder of Sisters in Science
LINKS:
β WISE - Women in Science and Engineering - https://www.wiseunimelb.com/
β DeLoitte - https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en.html
β Bachelor of Environmental Science - https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/major/environmental-science/
β The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity - https://www.doherty.edu.au/
β Indigenous STEM Education Project - https://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Programs/Indigenous-STEM
β Sisters in Science - https://www.sistersinscience.net/
β To explore the range of STEM courses UniMelb has on offer, see: study.unimelb.edu.au
CREDITS
Guest Host: Amy Shepherd
Episode Host/Producer/Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr. Andi Horvath
Assistant Producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT
[email protected] -
So, you’re near the end of high school and you’ve started to look at options for tertiary STEM study. A natural step is to attend a university open day. But how are you going to make the most of your time? And what if your parents are pushing you in a different direction?
In this episode, you will hear from students and parents who are getting ready to navigate the next university open day, or have already been there, done it, and bought the postcard. You’ll also get some insider tips on navigating your open day.
So no matter which university you’re choosing, this episode is not one to miss - especially if you’re the parents of children interested in STEM!
Also in this episode: University of Melbourne Engineering student Rebecca Vincent explains noise-cancelling headphones.
GUESTS:
Rebecca Vincent, an Engineering student at the University of Melbourne.
Grace McKee, a student of the Bachelor of Science Advanced Global Challenges at Monash University, and founder of Sisters in Science.
Jennifer, April, and Rose Henry, a STEM-oriented family from Melbourne.
Barney Wray, University of Melbourne student recruitment officer.
LINKS:
University of Melbourne Open Day: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/openday
Study Engineering at the University of Melbourne: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/interests/engineering/
Sisters in Science: https://www.sistersinscience.net/
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Amy Shepherd
Episode Host/Producer/Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Supervising Producer/Science Advisor: Dr Andi Horvath
Assistant Producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional Editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT
[email protected] -
STEM is a multidisciplinary pursuit. The truth is you can’t separate the Arts and Humanities from the Sciences, nor the Sciences from the Arts. It’s particularly exciting to see the Arts and Sciences collide.
In this episode, you will meet women using both the science and the arts to weave together fascinating careers. You’ll discover that when multidisciplinary teams work together, they come up with extraordinary things.
It's very likely if you work as a scientist you will work with artsy types and vice versa.
We almost called this podcast episode The Secret life of STEAM because STEM is really STEAM and that would have been a SmART title.
Also, in this episode: Danielle Goulopoulos, a University of Melbourne Arts student explores home assistants in the Reverse Engineering segment.
GUESTS:
Dr Leah Heiss, Designer and Academic, Wearable Health Technology & Human Centred Design, RMIT University
Dr Mary Mathias, Community Manager for EngineerGirl and the Online Ethics Center, National Academy of Engineering, USA.
Dr Nicki Cranna, Scientific Education Coordinator, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
LINKS:
Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/undergraduate/bachelor-of-science/
Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/undergraduate/bachelor-of-biomedicine/
Careers and Employability at the University of Melbourne https://students.unimelb.edu.au/careers
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Danielle Goulopoulos
Episode host, Supervising Producer, Science advisor: Dr Andi Horvath
Producer, Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Assistant producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT
[email protected] -
What if you like science subjects but are not too sure you are the lab science type?
The ‘future you’ may take a path like one of the guests in this episode. They have one thing in common, they started in science but changed gear and completely reinvented their careers.
One thing is for sure a STEM background was key to their new adventures in law, business, politics and journalism.
Studying STEM allows you to combine it with your other interests for jobs that probably haven't been invented yet.
Career reinvention is the norm whether it's by chance or design. Listen to how these career reinventors rediscovered a new career. So hang in there and follow your instinct.
Also in this episode: Erin Grant, a PhD student in Physics, explores Wireless Charging in Reverse Engineering.
GUESTS:
Kate Ravilious, Science journalist in the UK.
Dr Martin Elhay, Senior Business Development officer, University of Melbourne
Dr Leon Wong, Patent and Trade Marks Attorney
Ellen Sandell, Australian Politician, State Member of Parliament, Melbourne
LINKS:
Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/undergraduate/bachelor-of-science/
Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/undergraduate/bachelor-of-biomedicine/
Careers and Employability at the University of Melbourne https://students.unimelb.edu.au/careers
CREDITS:
Guest Host: Erin Grant
Episode host, Co-Producer, Science advisor: Dr Andi Horvath
Producer, Editor: Buffy Gorrilla
Assistant producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional editing: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT
[email protected] -
Episode Two: Future proof your career
The Future is STEM. Find out if it’s true.
In this episode of The Secret Life of STEM, you’ll hear from creative robotics students at the Los Angeles-based Marlborough School.
Listen in if you’re curious about prerequisites and flexibility in university courses, and discover how university can offer experiences (like volunteering) to fine-tune your communication and leadership skills. These are all assets for future you!
Sure, you can plan a solid career direction, but what about unexpected surprises? Should you guard yourself against them, or throw caution to the wind?
It’s very likely you will work in many different jobs, and have career changes that will definitely not go to waste. Our advice? Be comfortable with the chaos of career development. Oh, and pick up some mentors along the way to help make sense of things!
Also in this episode: Josh Cake, a recent science graduate, explores irrational numbers in Reverse Engineering.
GUESTS:
· Staff and students from the Marlborough School in Los Angeles
· Dr Maddy Yewers, Ecologist and member of the In2Science Team at the University of Melbourne
· Steph Wilson, recruitment officer at the University of Melbourne
· Warren Frehse, Senior Advisor in Careers and Employability at the University of Melbourne
· Amy Shepherd, Neuroscientist
· Dale Baum, Laboratory manager
· Dr Georgia Atkin-Smith, a.k.a Some Blonde Scientist, science communicator
LINKS:
· Josh Cake https://www.joshcake.com/
· In2Science http://in2science.org.au/
· Marlborough School’s STEM+ Program http://stem.marlborough.org/blog/
· Engineers Australia https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/
· Science and Technology Australia https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/
· Onshape https://www.onshape.com/
· Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/undergraduate/bachelor-of-science/
· Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/undergraduate/bachelor-of-biomedicine/
· Careers and Employability at the University of Melbourne https://students.unimelb.edu.au/careers
· Some Blonde Scientist: https://someblondescientist.com/
CREDITS:
Host and producer: Buffy Gorrilla
Guest Host: Rebecca Vincent
Supervising Co-producer: Dr Andi Horvath
Assistant producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional editing support: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT
[email protected] -
STEM careers can take you around the world and back again. Find out why these people have ventured to extraordinary places.
Like most things in life, careers don’t always have a clear and straightforward path. Meet Frances Separovic who was from a poor migrant family, dropped out of uni for a while, but retained her curiosity and keenness to learn. Time jump to now, and she’s professor of a chemistry department.
You just never really know what you are capable of, and sometimes you have to follow your nose and just take the opportunities as they happen.
Also in this episode: software engineering student Yu Ting Lin explains skin pigments in Reverse Engineering.
Maybe one day outer space will be just another workplace destination - but before you reach the stars, you’ll need to STEM up.
Explore the range of STEM courses we have on offer by visiting study.unimelb.edu.au.
GUESTS
Dr Helen Wade, Marine ecologist and Homeward Bound participant.
Dr Sarah Hanieh, Paediatrician working in global health and for Médecins Sans Frontières.
Dr Theresa Jones, Ecologist who studies insects in exotic places around the world.
Professor Frances Separovic, Deputy Director Bio21 Institute, and former Head of School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne.
Amy Shepherd, Neuroscientist.
Dr David Gonsalvez, Early Career Research Fellow at the NHMRC.
Yu Ting Lin, Software engineering student.
LINKS
Homeward Bound: https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity: https://www.doherty.edu.au/
Médecins Sans Frontières: https://www.msf.org.au/
School of BioSciences at the University of Melbourne: https://biosciences.unimelb.edu.au/home
School of Chemistry at the University or Melbourne: https://chemistry.unimelb.edu.au/home
National Health and Medical Research Council:https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/
CREDITS
Host and Producer: Buffy Gorrilla
Guest Host: Josh Cake
Supervising Co-producer: Dr Andi Horvath
Assistant producer: Silvi Vann-Wall
Additional editing support: Arch Cuthbertson
CONTACT
[email protected] -
Can I future proof my career? Can I blend arts and sciences? Some of it’s luck, right?
If you are looking for answers, this podcast from The University of Melbourne can help. It's full of engaging stories about STEM-related study and careers.
Explore the range of STEM courses we have on offer by visiting study.unimelb.edu.au.
