Ee Ting Choo is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of ConnectingDNA. Join us as Ee Ting shares her journey of technology transfer and entrepreneurship, and looking at health through a whole system lens.

About Ee Ting Choo

Choo Ee Ting is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of ConnectingDNA, a wellness-genomics platform that helps individuals, families, and organisations translate DNA insights into actionable nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle strategies.

With over 20 years of experience across healthtech, diagnostics, and wellness ecosystems, Ee Ting specialises in bridging complex science with real-world application. Her work spans individual wellness, corporate wellbeing programs, and the curation of multidisciplinary experts across nutrition, fitness, therapy, and preventive health.

Beyond titles, Ee Ting is known for her grounded leadership style — balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and long-term thinking — and for helping others make sense of complexity without fear, hype, or overwhelm.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:10] Ee Ting's medical aspirations before chemical engineering

[00:02:10] The perceived prestige of chemical engineering

[00:02:55] The health benefits of semiconductors when you have respiratory issues

[00:04:44] The art of technology transfer

[00:08:52] The importance of EQ in management

[00:09:59] Be good to your people, be good to your vendors

[00:11:51] The marathon interview for Illumina

[00:15:47] Thriving as a generalist

[00:21:26] Fulfilment looks different for everyone

[00:23:27] Leaving a secure career for entrepreneurship

[00:25:39] Overcoming the fear of the unknown

[00:31:52] Building ConnectingDNA for holistic health solutions

[00:37:48] Ee Ting's personal health transformation through lifestyle changes

[00:44:49] Finding out more about Ee Ting and ConnectingDNA

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Chaundria Singleton is a radiologic technologist, author, speaker, and host of the podcast A Couple of Rad Techs. Join us as we speak about Chaundria's journey in radiologic technology, the breadth of scope of these careers, and how medical imaging science communication empowers both practitioners and patients for better outcomes.

About Chaundria Singleton

Chaundria Singleton is a nationally recognised radiologic technologist, educator, and content creator with over 20 years of experience in medical imaging. A graduate of Emory University School of Medicine's Medical Imaging Program, she holds certifications from ARRT in Radiography, MRI, and CT, and completed mammography training through MTMI.

Her career spans clinical care, college MRI educator, management, travel tech, and Imaging business ownership. She has trained hundreds of students and mentored aspiring technologists, while helping healthcare brands and institutions bring visibility to imaging professionals.

Chaundria is the founder and host of A Couple of Rad Techs Podcast, ranked in the top 5% globally, and author of "Rachel the Radiographer"—one of the first children's books to introduce radiologic technology as a STEM career to young readers. Known for blending clinical topics with fun, educational, and relatable storytelling, she is on a mission to let everyone know that “Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy isn’t a side hustle in healthcare.” She educates, inspires, and partners with companies who want to connect meaningfully with the medical imaging community.

She has been featured in The Washington Post, NBC ATL&Co, Meditech Today, and has spoken for Siemens Healthineers, imaging societies, and national education conferences. Her platform reaches over 85K individuals through social media, newsletters, and more—bridging the gap between healthcare careers and human connection.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:04] The evolution of Chaundria's science communication.

[00:01:47] Chaundria's journey to radiologic technology.

[00:05:01] The scope of medical imaging careers.

[00:12:51] Informatics and IT in healthcare.

[00:16:18] Why medical imaging is a STEMM field.

[00:19:27] Entrepreneurship in radiologic technology.

[00:23:48] The misconceptions of radiologic technology and medical imaging as a career.

[00:31:54] A Couple of Rad Techs.

[00:34:49] Patient advocacy and safety.

[00:40:18] Inspiring the next generation with "Rachel the Radiographer".

[00:47:56] What advice would you give someone who wanted to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

[00:52:40] How to find out more.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Dr Hayley Passmore is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Western Australia Law School and a justice health researcher. Join us as we speak about Hayley's journey to justice health, reframing how we support youth and neurodisability in our communities, and how these human-centred approaches create better outcomes for everyone.

About Dr Hayley Passmore 

Dr Hayley Passmore (she/her) is based in Boorloo (Perth) on Whadjuk Noongar land. She is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Western Australia Law School and a justice health researcher. She is also an independent panel member on the ACT Government’s Therapeutic Support Panel - an Australian-first initiative as part of ACT's move to raise the minimum age of criminology responsibility.

Hayley has qualifications in child health, criminology and psychology, and over 13 years experience working in adult corrections and youth justice facilities. In 2019, she completed her PhD focusing on the workforce development component of the internationally recognised Banksia Hill Detention Centre study; the first Australian study to explore the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder among justice-involved young people. Hayley pioneered Reframe Training; an evidence-based program educating frontline staff on the management and support of young people with neurodisability which has been delivered in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. Hayley has received international recognition for her research and its impact, including receiving a Churchill Fellowship completed in 2023, being named a 2021 AMP Foundation Tomorrow Maker and a 2022 WA Finalist for Young Australian of the Year.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:05] Hayley's journey stemming from an interest in law enforcement.

[00:02:54] An unexpected entry into the health space.

[00:04:16] The broad impact of health in society.

[00:05:37] The need to recognise and support neurodisability earlier in development.

[00:06:52] The prevalence of neurodisability in the justice system.

[00:07:24] Root causes and what early intervention through meeting needs can look like.

[00:10:28] The benefits of justice reinvestment models.

[00:11:12] Tailoring for communities with proactive and not punitive methods.

[00:11:57] Giving people choices and alternatives but also recognising the privilege and systemic bias that can hinder them.

[00:14:18] Reframe Training.

[00:18:46] Filling the gaps in knowledge and training.

[00:19:53] The unsupported overlap between justice and community health.

[00:23:03] Making space for questions to cultivate understanding.

[00:24:30] Recognising and sharing the ways supports and accommodations are being made in different spaces.

[00:26:33] Ensuring people are equipped for their roles in consultation with those who will be supported.

[00:28:34] Evolution of policy and practice as a result of the research.

[00:31:47] Prison health is public health.

[00:33:51] Economic and not just moral benefits to being proactive.

[00:35:24] Stay curious and critical of political and media messaging around crime and punitive measures.

[00:36:56] Ways to stay independently informed.

[00:37:50] Being mindful of sensationalism and rhetoric that obscures the reality.

[00:39:51] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what should they ignore?

[00:40:56] Systemic change takes time. Don't get disillusioned and celebrate the wins.

[00:43:23] Support and education have always been part of indigenous culture.

[00:44:46] How to find out more.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Asha Stabback is Translation and Impact Manager at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Join us as we speak about cultivating transferable skills, embracing your network, and how working with the skies above supports the land below.

About Asha Stabback 

Asha Stabback is the Translation and Impact Manager at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) at the University of Western Australia in Perth. This role enables the knowledge and expertise to flow between industry and academia. Before entering the university sector, Asha spent 15 years working in the mining industry leading organisational development programs and also had a stint in a start-up called Bubdesk offering a work space with a creche for working parents. Throughout her career, she came to appreciate the gender imbalance and the broader systemic barriers to enabling equity and she brings this background and personal experience to the role of Chair of the DEI Committee for the UWA node of ICRAR.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:19] Cultivating a career around community and engagement.

[00:03:34] The holy trinity: cultivate your interests, transferable skills, and network to shape your career

[00:04:29] Recentring when life happens

[00:05:09] Learning to embrace (and harness) the power of your networks

[00:06:41] BubDesk and building support and community for working parents

[00:07:56] Tapping into potential by knowing your skills and identifying the skills of others

[00:08:55] You are more than what you do.

[00:12:09] The beginnings of ICRAR and hiring with couples in mind

[00:15:45] Inclusive environments support everyone and their circumstances

[00:19:35] The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

[00:20:39] The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)

[00:22:37] The broader economic and community impact of investment in space and astronomy

[00:26:08] Translation and impact and finding happy places

[00:30:56] Space Situational Awareness and looking after the skies above

[00:34:14] There's a place for everyone in Space

[00:35:40] Thinking about responsible deployment of technology

[00:38:28] What the space sector is and finding your space in space

[00:42:10] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Sally Coleman is a musician and creative director of the science fiction virtual band Big Sand. Join us as we speak with Sally about her journey to developing Big Sand, creating engaging virtual music experiences, and the role of emerging technologies in the creative industries.

About Sally Coleman 

Sally Coleman is a musician, radio personality and the creative director of a new science fiction virtual band called Big Sand. 

Big Sand is an animated band that sees Sally using motion capture and Unreal Engine to bring the characters to life. Set on a beautiful but harsh desert planet, the project is a playful expedition into the world of emerging technology and different ways of envisioning the future music industry.

Sally is undertaking a PhD in motion capture for live music performance at UTS, where she is continuing the research and development of Big Sand’s world-first live show. Big Sand’s live performance involves Sally appearing as an avatar in real time, to interact with an audience in a remote venue. 

Big Sand's most recent show was part of SXSW Sydney.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:55] Sally's beginnings with communication studies

[00:02:07] Music has always been part of Sally's creative life.

[00:03:02] Evolving within the music industry.

[00:04:52] Competition, exploitation, and compromise when the lines are blurred between passion and occupation.

[00:07:41] Remembering that you're a business as well.

[00:09:23] Exploring virtualised bands and alternative methods of audience engagement.

[00:11:53] Discovering that live performance might be possible in this medium.

[00:14:14] Finding community with others who are also doing their form of R&D.

[00:15:37] Avant Hard Drive, a community of creatives in emerging technologies.

[00:17:24] Prior art in virtual concept bands like Gorillaz and Hatsune Miku.

[00:20:37] The challenges of developing with emerging technologies and building cars for roads that don't exist yet

[00:23:05] Feeling authentic in your own medium.

[00:26:06] The changing landscape of events and recreation.

[00:28:48] Unreal Engine and virtual production.

[00:31:32] The technology is more than just a tool, it's now part of the creative process.

[00:33:21] Technology facilitating immersive art.

[00:35:23] Big Sand as a live performance with audience engagement in a virtualised environment.

[00:40:30] The future for Big Sand.

[00:41:51] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Sabine Bellstedt is an astronomer working on the epidemiology of space and on large scale projects with international teams not only to understand the universe, but how we understand the universe. Join us as we speak with Sabine about her journey to astrophysics, space epidemiology, and the impact of astronomical innovation.

About Sabine Bellstedt 

Sabine Bellstedt is an astronomer who works with enormous galaxy surveys. These are large international projects that collect data for millions of galaxies, with the goal of piecing together the evolution of galaxies and the Universe more broadly across almost 14 billion years of cosmic time. Sabine likes to work with intricate new software and tools to interpret and understand these data, to extract new information about galaxies and the stars within them.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:06] Sabine's journey to astronomy.

[00:02:41] Astronomic serendipity.

[00:04:14] Where Sabine thought the future would take her.

[00:05:34] The epidemiology of space.

[00:08:22] The problem of determining which bits of data are important.

[00:09:55] The significance and impact of large-scale infrastructure projects.

[00:11:40] The societal benefit we receive from large-scale research and development.

[00:15:04] Curiosity-driven development is valuable.

[00:15:44] What we can learn from galactic and extra-galactic surveys.

[00:18:06] Galaxies as a tracer.

[00:18:39] Tracing the paths of celestial bodies.

[00:20:59] Learning about how we learn about the universe.

[00:24:06] The sticky problem of finding just the right amount of complexity.

[00:25:47] The also sticky problem of the carbon footprint of astronomy.

[00:31:49] How women and diversity contributes to the sciences.

[00:35:00] The nuances of "You can't be what you can't see".

[00:37:01] Balancing criteria with the intangibles that only you can bring to a role.

[00:40:29] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

[00:43:10] Find out more about Sabine and astronomy.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Sheena Lagat is a wee wee nurse. Specifically, a continence and urogynaecology clinical nurse consultant. Join us as we speak about Sheena's journey to urology and continence nursing, why we should care more about our plumbing, and the personal, economic, and environmental impact of incontinence.

About Sheena Lagat 

Sheena Lagat is a Continence & UroGynaecology Clinical Nurse Consultant at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, with a strong commitment to advancing clinical practice and patient-centred care. An active leader in urology and continence nursing, she holds multiple post-graduate qualifications and roles within the Australia & New Zealand Urological Nurses Society (ANZUNS) and the Special Interest Group of the European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN), focusing on professional development, staff upskilling, and patient empowerment. Her guiding motto is, "Make every moment count by giving back and inspiring others."

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:13] When your family hosts an intervention about your choice of career.

[00:04:10] The transition to urology nursing.

[00:05:55] How experiences and perspectives support different ways to care in healthcare.

[00:09:22] The need for advocacy in certain areas of healthcare.

[00:11:39] The stereotypes and stigma around urology and continence care.

[00:16:36] Don't limit your healthcare by thinking "I'm just getting old".

[00:16:57] The state of preventative and rehabilitative treatment.

[00:19:21] Personal training for your pelvic area.

[00:23:28] The economic and environmental impact of continence and incontinence.

[00:28:16] The psychological and social impact of continence and incontinence.

[00:29:26] The social inequity and accessibility issues of continence and incontinence.

[00:32:38] Redefining continence nursing.

[00:38:11] Healthy habits to look after your bladder and bowel.

[00:47:11] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Jayashree Srinivasan is a microbiologist specialising in biotechnology and microbial research. Join us as we speak about Jaya's journey to cultivating cultures, the intersectionality of culture and identity, and the complementary nature of being both scientist and pastry chef.

About Jayashree Srinivasan 

Jayashree Srinivasan is a microbiologist at CSIRO, where she applies her expertise in biotechnology and microbial research. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology in India and completed a Master of Science by Research at RMIT in collaboration with CSIRO. In addition to her scientific career, Jayashree is a qualified pastry chef and co-owns a cake decorating business with her best friend. She proudly identifies as a lesbian of colour and is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:10] The immersive pressure to pursue science and biology.

[00:04:06] Taking advantage of the opportunities available. It was… a lot.

[00:05:30] There's the 'obvious' next step, and there's following your bliss to become a pastry chef.

[00:07:01] Hearing the call back to science.

[00:08:09] Jaya's interest in the translational space of science.

[00:08:56] The benefit of an expectation circuit breaker.

[00:10:11] Looking for something more and the return to sciences.

[00:12:15] Industrial biotechnology and production processes.

[00:15:38] Every day looks a bit different.

[00:16:57] The applications of industrial biotechnology and microbiology.

[00:18:16] A day in the life of a cultivating cultures.

[00:20:42] The importance of using a baseline in cell cultures.

[00:23:00] Testing developmental antibiotics against known pathogens.

[00:24:40] Watch as Michele is mentally overcome with questions about pathogens.

[00:25:14] Protocols for culturing pathogens.

[00:27:22] On Indian, queer, and migrant identity.

[00:32:25] Perceptions, stereotypes, and expectation management.

[00:34:48] Queerness and the Westernisation of identity.

[00:38:28] Life hack: Have you considered having your coming out peer reviewed?

[00:40:35] You can't learn who you are if you don't have the space to be who you are.

[00:45:42] Balancing being both microbiologist and pastry chef.

[00:49:41] The transferable skills between Jaya's skill sets.

[00:51:05] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Zaneta Mascarenhas is Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Swan. Join us as we speak about Zaneta's journey through engineering and resources, climate action, and politics -- and hear about how community and impact ties all of that together.

About Zaneta Mascarenhas MP 

Zaneta Mascarenhas MP is the Federal Member for Swan and sits in the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament. Zaneta, a chemical engineer, was elected to Parliament in 2022 and serves on the Industry, Science and Resources Standing Committee, the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water Standing Committee, and the Joint Statutory Committee on Corporations and Financial Services.

Prior to her election, Zaneta managed the West Australian team for Energetics, Australia’s leading carbon and energy consultancy, where she provided energy efficiency and climate change advice to the resources industry and various WA ASX200 companies, access to the Emissions Reduction Fund, and the development of emissions inventories and audits. She was selected to be trained by Al Gore to deliver Climate Reality Project presentations in 2009 and has also worked for the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Community Led Total Sanitation as part of AusAid’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program. Zaneta has a strong track record in not-for-profit governance, having served six different boards including education institutions and a community legal centre.

As the first engineer elected as the Member for Swan and the 28th in the Parliament of Australia, Zaneta applies her planning and problem-solving skills to developing policy, including the transition to a less carbon intensive economy and developing Australia’s high tech industrial capacity.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:48] Zaneta's childhood experiences and exposure to sciences and the world around her.

[00:04:00] How your environment shapes your perceptions of an industry.

[00:07:27] The evolution of culture and safety in the workplace in the mining industry.

[00:12:04] Observations about organisational culture in an organically culturally diverse industry.

[00:14:48] The impetus and shift to climate change.

[00:18:16] Working in the climate change space and perspectives of impact and timescales.

[00:23:49] Policy and politics.

[00:26:33] Working not just for now, but for the future.

[00:31:19] Systems thinking and transferrable experience.

[00:38:28] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Jennifer Payne is a research scientist in the area of antimicrobial resistance and founder of STEMPals, an initiative that connects kids with STEM professionals. Join us as we chat about Jen's journey to microbiology, superbugs, and how having a penpal can create connection and change lives through a mutual love of Pokémon, being a Swifty, and STEM.

About Dr Jennifer Payne 

Have you ever wondered how we can outsmart infections that resist even our most potent drugs? Dr Jennifer Payne delves into this challenge daily as a research scientist. Growing up in a small country town, she had no idea what a scientist was. Today, she’s tackling antimicrobial resistance, a global problem by unraveling the complex interactions between our immune system, microbes, and antimicrobials.

Jen’s groundbreaking work includes fellowships at Harvard University, where she used “infections on a chip” to observe the real-time battle between superbugs and our immune defenses. Passionate about STEM literacy for all, she founded a not-for-profit that runs STEMpals—a pen pal program inspired by her upbringing, ensuring the next generation can see who they can become. When not battling microbes, and inspiring the next STEM generation, Jen fosters greyhounds and has represented Australia in ultimate frisbee on the world stage.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:16] The story of Little Jen.

[00:03:44] What did Michele want to be when she grew up?

[00:06:04] From microbes to immune systems.

[00:08:22] The diabolical beauty of golden staph and how to combat it.

[00:10:47] Putting golden staph up in neon lights.

[00:14:23] The complexity of drug research and development and getting solutions from bench to bedside.

[00:17:54] Perspectives on the value of medicines and the cost to keep them available.

[00:21:49] Jen and Michele: wearers of many hats.

[00:24:18] Keeping momentum and balance.

[00:28:28] All about STEMpals.

[00:32:01] The engagement, outcomes, and experience of being part of STEMpals.

[00:37:43] Getting a STEMpal.

[00:40:16] Cultivating positive STEM experiences and scientific literacy in 10-13 year olds for their futures.

[00:42:52] Who can be STEMpals and the breadth of scope of STEM.

[00:46:09] How the community can support STEMpals.

[00:47:12] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Ellen Yeo is a Clinical Nurse Consultant specialising in Renal Medicine and Kidney Transplantation Clinical Trials. She's also a nursing education and career pathway advocate. Join us as we speak about Ellen's journey to clinical trial nursing, supporting professional and career development of nurses, and the STEMM of nursing.

About Ellen Yeo 

Ellen Yeo (BN, MPH, MHM) is a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) in Renal Medicine and Kidney Transplant Research at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney. With over a decade of nursing experience in both private and public sectors, her recent focus has been on addressing critical gaps in standardised education, workforce engagement, and career progression within the clinical trials nursing specialty.

Emphasising the belief that "it takes a village" to enact systemic change, she has brought the community together within the Sydney Local Health District to develop practical solutions to these challenges.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:27] Ellen's path to nursing.

[00:03:50] Taking a career 'leap year' to travel around her field.

[00:05:10] Exploring beyond specialty knowledge and job criteria.

[00:07:29] Ellen's road to renal medicine and a chance appointment.

[00:09:50] The difference between ward nursing and clinical trials nursing.

[00:12:08] The pathway from ward nursing to clinical trials nursing.

[00:14:09] The clinical trial nursing environment.

[00:15:55] The misconceptions around the role of nurses in clinical trials.

[00:19:04] Developing a program to smooth the transition.

[00:21:54] Research and nursing go hand in hand.

[00:24:04] The opportunity to see how education in healthcare works in other countries.

[00:25:39] Educational placement opportunities in nursing.

[00:26:29] The roles in clinical research nursing.

[00:28:29] Specialis ations, remuneration, and industry recognition in nursing.

[00:31:54] Formalising the pathway to clinical trials nursing benefits nurses and patients.

[00:35:10] Commonality in clinical trials nursing practice.

[00:36:47] The wish to be able to provide the best care for clinical trial patients who are helping to advance treatments for others like them.

[00:37:36] Nursing is STEM.

[00:41:18] Ellen the artist and composer.

[00:43:50] What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Rumee Singh is the CEO and co-founder of Rahat and a Tech Entrepreneur. Join us as Rumee shares the full-circle journey that brought her home, and building solutions that make an impact in her community.

About Rumee Singh 

Rumee Singh, CEO of a UNICEF Innovation Fund portfolio startup, leads Rahat, a financial access platform addressing climate impact and fostering inclusion for the most vulnerable. Rumee started her entrepreneurial journey after moving back to Nepal in 2018. With over 20 years of global leadership, Rumee Singh is celebrated among Nepal's leading women in tech; a 2023 MIT Solver and is featured in the Women for Change 2024 global campaign.

Rumee's work through Rahat has positively impacted 20,000+ beneficiaries. As a GSMA Innovation Fund grantee, her team is currently working to streamline efforts for timely humanitarian responses for vulnerable households in flood-prone regions. Rumee also founded a non-profit addressing the stress of blood management in Nepal, and her initiative has saved over 23,000 lives.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:03] Following the familial STEM path.

[00:03:12] The concern that it felt 'wrong' to not know your direction in life.

[00:03:57] The pivot to journalism and communications.

[00:05:12] The journey home and connecting with community.

[00:07:14] So, what now? Deciding what comes next.

[00:07:51] A reminder of what has always been important to her.

[00:08:44] Hamro Lifebank and the digital transformation of blood management.

[00:14:11] Rumsan, and leveraging technology for social impact.

[00:15:15] Exploring blockchain as a tool.

[00:15:40] Rahat, to support transparency in tracking humanitarian aid and reaching the underbanked.

[00:17:08] The challenges of pioneering with new technology and the value of industry support.

[00:18:30] Anticipatory Action (AA) in disaster response.

[00:19:33] Direct financial access support and building community resilience.

[00:20:06] Supporting digital and financial literacy in underserved populations to reduce the digital divide.

[00:21:18] Technology is just a tool. The end-user doesn't and shouldn't have to know how their problem is solved.

[00:23:08] Technological leapfrogging and the challenges with all forms of literacy.

[00:24:26] You will always need people in the field, but tech can shoulder some of the load.

[00:27:27] The challenge of balancing expanding support opportunities and scope creep.

[00:31:36] Societal and humanitarian issues are multifaceted.

[00:33:52] The challenges of making impact sustainable.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer, and director with a background in nuclear medicine. Join us as we speak about attitudes towards trust and failure between STEMM and the creative industries, representation and stealth politics in film and television, and finding a balance with AI tools and the creative process.

About Joanna Beveridge 

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer, and director based in Western Sydney. She has a double degree in Nuclear Medicine and Digital Media, and has worked as a Creative Producer/Editor for companies such as Network Ten, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. and ITV Studios.

In 2020, Jo was selected for Screen NSW’s Emerging Producer Placement and Screen Producers Australia ‘Ones to Watch’. She’s produced two Screen Australia funded romcom digital series -- NO ORDINARY LOVE and SHIPPERS. She created the award-winning web series SYDNEY SLEUTHERS. She produced the Screen NSW Screenability funded short film MAGNETIC, which premiered at Sydney Film Festival. And Jo wrote and directed the award-winning short film THE TAKEDOWN OF MELANIE SPROTTLE.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:24] Joanna's path to nuclear medicine coming from a STEMM family

[00:02:52] The almost movie-plot level reason for pivoting (despite actually being good at nuclear medicine)

[00:05:15] Finding her space and learning by doing

[00:09:03] Trust in STEM vs the creative industries

[00:11:21] The incongruity of entry-level positions that require experience with few opportunities for training

[00:12:59] The career pipeline problem

[00:15:11] The importance of and barriers to networking

[00:16:48] The value of proofs of concept - someone has to be first

[00:17:26] Bringing back the eight-hour day in the film industry

[00:19:34] 'AI in the TV and movie creation value chain'

[00:20:29] Segue: What is art? Why is art?

[00:24:08] The history and popularity of Schitt's Creek

[00:24:54] Stealth politics and audience psychology

[00:27:57] The PR of science and STEM in the media

[00:30:17] We love tropes (also, I said CSI when I meant NCIS)

[00:31:52] The Scully Effect and how the media shows us that we have the capacity for change

[00:34:56] What is the nature of the work we are asking AI to replace?

[00:38:54] What is scut work and what contributes to making you better at your craft?

[00:44:54] Moving the needle for representation and the power of narrative

[00:48:55] Our favourite sci-fis

[00:53:05] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak about her winding path to User Experience Design and design thinking as it grew as a space, building compassionate tech, and advocating for diverse voices no matter what industry you're in.

About Bec Nguyen 

Bec Nguyen is the Founder and Director of Upbeat Digital, a Perth, Western Australian-based consultancy business specialising in digital project and product management; UX/UX design and community engagement in social impact issues using an innovative, human-centred approach. As an advocate for women of colour, Bec leads an inclusive work approach to ensure community members who are under-represented, including disadvantaged and ethnic minorities, have a voice in the process.

Upbeat Digital has collaborated with state and national organisations within Australia to support the translation of evidence-based resources to the wider community through digital solutions, such The Wilderness Society, Nature Play WA, CSIRO and Telethon Kids Institute.

In recent years, Bec has been a recipient of a number awards, recognising and acknowledging her contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the community, and impact in the technology and innovation for which she is honoured and continues to strive at an exceptional level to work and volunteer her time to give back to the community and help improve the health and well-being of the community.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:59] The path from commerce and information systems and falling out, then in, of like with tech.

[00:04:03] Entering the health space and building apps with Telethon Kids Institute.

[00:05:47] Being introduced to UX design thinking and building Image Up.

[00:11:09] Formalising that experience-based learning.

[00:11:48] Discovering that there really is a place in tech for everyone.

[00:12:30] Taking the your user research to prototype.

[00:13:42] Striking out on her own and expanding into the social impact space.

[00:14:13] The evolution of systems analysis and requirements gathering as a human-centred process.

[00:15:39] The evolving landscape of our roles and responsibilities.

[00:18:29] Integrating UX and healthcare.

[00:19:11] Working with kids with cystic fibrosis.

[00:27:27] Being able to demonstrate the scientific method behind your work.

[00:29:37] Putting more focus on social impact with Upbeat Digital.

[00:30:31] Representation in tech and supporting less heard voices.

[00:34:12] Encouraging diversity in your organisations.

[00:38:20] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak with Gretchen about her journey to astrogeology, discovering how the solar system evolved, and the Desert Fireball Network.

About Professor Gretchen Benedix 

Gretchen Benedix is a Professor (and former Australian Research Council Future Fellow) in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University. She is also a member of the Space Science and Technology Centre, the largest research group dedicated to Planetary Science in the southern hemisphere.

She is a fierce STEM and Women in Science advocate and takes her responsibility as a role model very seriously. She uses her work to inspire young people and pass along her passion for understanding our Solar System.

Gretchen's research interests lie in the study of meteorites to understand and unravel the evolution of the Solar System. She and her team are currently interested in using machine learning techniques to extend our ability to interact with big datasets, specifically looking at the numbers of craters on other planetary surfaces.

Gretchen wants to understand how the Earth fits into the history of the Solar System.

… And also, she loves rocks…

Gretchen has a broad educational background in Geology, Engineering, and Physics, which lets her pull together multidisciplinary ideas to unravel the mysteries of the rocks.

She also loves science communication and has had the opportunity to work at two world-class museums as a planetary scientist, cosmic mineralogist, and astro-geologist, where Gretchen had the pleasure of sharing what she does --- It's just one of the many aspects of her job that she loves - to be able to get other people, especially young folks, excited about studying our solar system and our place in it.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:38] How one gets an asteroid named after them.

[00:04:56] Gretchen's journey began in psychology.

[00:06:52] The transition from psychology to physics was not smooth sailing.

[00:08:29] The slow drift into space and getting hooked on rocks.

[00:11:35] The beauty of geology.

[00:16:19] Being flexible gives you the space to be open to opportunities.

[00:18:34] Looking to space because you can't look inside the Earth.

[00:22:41] Comparative planetology and looking at our system in context.

[00:26:49] Context and time scales.

[00:28:59] The engineering in space travel.

[00:32:48] The Desert Fireball Network. 

[00:36:42] Location, location, location.

[00:38:31] Tying it back to their origins and the solar system.

[00:40:35] Meteorite families.

[00:43:47] Surprising learnings so far.

[00:46:47] The two-body problem.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak with Dr Lydia Pethick, veterinarian, motivational speaker, and television presenter about working in policy and biosecurity as a vet, the state of mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary industry, and the actionable things we can do to positively impact our mindset and prevent burnout.

Note: This episode contains a content warning. Please see the show notes below for more information.

About Dr Lydia Pethick 

Dr Lydia Pethick is a policy veterinarian at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in Western Australia where she works in the area of Biosecurity and Sustainability, to grow and protect WA's agriculture and food sector.

She is passionate about increasing wellbeing, resilience, collaboration, and camaraderie within the Veterinary profession, raising awareness of mental health struggles in the wider community, and journeying from a place of judgement to joy. She uses her veterinary, permaculture, and wellness training to holistically, creatively, and practically integrate animal husbandry, therapeutic horticulture, and regenerative practices to build resilience within self, family, our communities and beyond.

Lydia is a speaker at national and international conferences, where she shares her passion about the exciting work in the veterinary industry to improve the health and lives of animals and humans, and is also a TV presenter on Garden Gurus.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:27] Lydia's journey to veterinary science.

[00:02:12] Biosecurity through veterinary science.

[00:03:10] What biosecurity policy entails.

[00:05:56] Mental health and well-being in the vet space (Content warning: mentions of suicide, emotional blackmail)

[00:08:41] The initiatives to raise awareness and support vets and their communities.

[00:11:24] Bringing in broader professional skills and support at the university level for future vets.

[00:13:20] Support at the industry board level in this capacity across multiple sectors.

[00:15:10] SMART, and strategies for managing individual well-being.

[00:15:44] 'S' is for self-acceptance, state of mind, and self-care.

[00:18:26] 'M' is for mood boosters like morning sun, movement, and music.

[00:22:23] 'A' is for awareness.

[00:23:38] 'R' is for relationships.

[00:24:25] 'T' is for treasure hunting.

[00:26:16] Take things a little at a time to improve yourself or your situation.

[00:27:31] Lydia's own experiences with burnout and a desire for change.

[00:28:44] The stigma and loneliness of personal struggles and wanting people to know they're not alone.

[00:30:31] Horticultural therapy in Lydia's life and work.

[00:34:55] Finding coaches for your own direction finding.

[00:35:51] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Eleonora Moratto is the Biology Ballerina. She is a freelance professional ballet dancer, and is currently completing her PhD in plant pathogen interactions. Join us as we speak about Eleonora’s work exploring electrical fields and plant immune systems, and her journey as a sciartist.

About Eleonora Moratto 

Eleonora Moratto is The Biology Ballerina. She is completing her PhD in plant pathogen interactions at Imperial College, London. She is a freelance professional ballet dancer currently working with the Ballet Dream Arts company and is involved in SciArt projects, women in STEAM activities, long hair modelling, and historical reenactment.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:08] Eleonora's path to biology.

[00:03:30] Researching plant pathogen interactions, specifically Phytophthora palmivora.

[00:05:22] Looking for novel solutions that prevent the spread.

[00:07:33] Exploring electric fields around plants and pathogens.

[00:11:47] Looking to her future in academia and biological interactions.

[00:13:52] The wider applications of research in interactions and electrical fields.

[00:15:17] The Biology Ballerina.

[00:17:02] A SciArtist's dream.

[00:19:00] The balance of the arts and sciences for Eleonora.

[00:22:41] Freelancing as a ballerina.

[00:25:15] SciArts in the wild.

[00:28:37] Encourage the polymaths and multihyphenates.

[00:30:25] Passion is interesting.

[00:31:45] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

[00:34:05] Find out more about Eleonora and her work.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us in our conversation with Dr Sandy Chong, founding member of the Sustainable Development Goals Forum in WA, former president of the United Nations Association of WA, and member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network. We speak about the impact of digital inclusion and how the UN Sustainable Development Goals benefit us all, and are for now, not later.

About Dr Sandy Chong 

A Harvard Alumna and Principal of Verity Consulting, Dr Sandy Chong is an award-winning Executive of the Year, Asia's Top Sustainability Women of the Year, and Singapore Management Consultant of the Year. The former President of the United Nations Association and the Founding Chair of the UN SDGs Business Forums in Western Australia, Sandy has chaired international forums that promote digital and energy transition. These include the inaugural Web3 for Sustainability Conference, the Intercity Hydrogen delegation between Singapore and Australia, and the upcoming AI & Data Science of Business Conference in Singapore. She was recently invited to speak on Digital Inclusion and the Impact of AI in International Trade convened by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva. With over 20 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary projects, advising trade agencies and industry councils, Sandy currently serves on public-listed board and is the Chair of the ASEAN Business Alliance. Earning a Ph.D. in Digital Commerce in 2003 and appointed Adjunct Professor of Curtin University, Sandy has published peer-reviewed journals on international business, innovation adoption and sustainability since 2005.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:09] Sandy's journey from marketing and management information systems.

[00:02:50] The cycles of growth in technology.

[00:04:06] The anthropological view of technology in society.

[00:05:58] Technological transformation and change management.

[00:08:19] Starting clients on the path to digital adoption.

[00:13:34] Bringing about cultural change within an organisation.

[00:15:35] Play to the strengths of your people, and help them thrive.

[00:18:30] The risks behind digital adoption accelerating past digital literacy.

[00:20:38] Closing the gap on digital literacy of new technologies.

[00:24:48] The ethics of technology and how we use it.

[00:26:42] Building (and keeping) trust.

[00:28:53] Transparency and authenticity in your leadership.

[00:32:37] Sandy's work with the UN Association of Australia and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[00:34:22] Change can only be made when ideas leave the activism space.

[00:38:46] Australia's ranking for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

[00:41:01] The pragmatic reasons for taking action.

[00:43:08] How private enterprise and communities measure their performance with the SDGs.

[00:47:13] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak with Sirisha Kuchimanchi, entrepreneur, speaker, and former engineering and manufacturing executive, about navigating her career through economic downturns, and how the different aspects of your personal worth give you more options.

About Dr Sirisha Kuchimanchi 

Dr Sirisha Kuchimanchi is the Founder of "Sahita", a Global Community for South Asian Women for Career & Financial Empowerment. She is an active investor supporting Women funded businesses.

Her aim is to promote gender equity by empowering more women to take control of their careers and finances. Sirisha is a Former Engineering & Manufacturing Executive with over 17 years of experience at Texas Instruments (Fortune 200) a Semiconductor Design and Manufacturing Company. She co-chaired the Technology & Manufacturing Women’s ERG which supported over 500 women across 3 continents and 8 countries.

Sirisha hosts the podcast "Women, Career & Life", ranked at the top 30% on Spotify, where she provides practical ideas and resources for women to further their career & life goals. She also hosts a weekly Live Radio Talk Show "Life Beats with Sirisha" on 104.1 FM which has a reach of over half a million listeners from the South Asian Community. She strives to create a platform for diverse voices and perspectives to be heard, so listeners can succeed both personally and professionally while building a stronger community.

Sirisha is on the elected Board of Governors of The Podcast Academy which supports podcast makers and globally advances the cultural merit of the medium. Sirisha successfully traversed her return to work after getting laid off less than a year after entering the corporate world. A few years later, Sirisha made a conscious decision to be a stay-at-home mum during which time Sirisha earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:05] Sirisha's beginnings in physics.

[00:02:43] The transition to material science and engineering.

[00:04:24] The value of being able to explore the industry while pursuing higher studies.

[00:05:34] We all leave social breadcrumbs and create networks through our interactions.

[00:07:13] The experience of layoffs.

[00:09:40] The contrast of working as a contractor vs a permanent employee.

[00:10:33] Sirisha's second career break and the decision to return to school.

[00:14:25] Sometimes the market makes the decision for you.

[00:15:25] Financial literacy and preparation gives you choices and flexibility.

[00:16:37] Looking after our financial futures because work shouldn't dictate our lives.

[00:21:04] The stigma attached to speaking about money or death matters.

[00:23:31] Risk management and your priorities.

[00:25:44] Everyone is a potential candidate for an information interview.

[00:28:23] The grass is always greener. But you don't know unless you try.

[00:30:36] Your background and culture in a work context as an asset or liability.

[00:34:06] Ask for what you want, but you have to know what you want first.

[00:35:29] Considerations as a woman or POC in leadership.

[00:37:29] Leveraging what you know and building relationships with people.

[00:40:51] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Evelyn Lee is Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, and Founder of Practice of Architecture. Join us as we speak about the Evelyn's journey through architecture and tech, the future of architecture, and systems thinking in physical and organisational environments.

About Evelyn Lee 

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, is the first-ever Global Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, Founder of the Practice of Architecture, and Co-Host of the Podcast, Practice Disrupted. Lee integrates her business and architecture background with a qualitative and quantitative focus to build better experiences for the organisation's employees, clients, and guests.

She is widely published, wrote a monthly column for Contract magazine for over three years, and is now a frequent contributor to Architect Magazine. Evelyn has received numerous industry awards, including 2016 40 Under 40 award for Building Design + Construction and the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award. She recently served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:07] What drew Evelyn to architecture?

[00:03:46] How Evelyn envisaged a career in architecture.

[00:06:24] What does the average career in architecture look like?

[00:09:40] Attrition in the architecture industry.

[00:12:07] The need for business education as part of architecture programs.

[00:15:37] The culture of the industry. Having to earn your way before you are welcome.

[00:17:23] The sense of prestige of the profession vs the tangible value that architects offer.

[00:19:07] What can we change that will provide more value to the industry?

[00:21:48] The innovations in the architecture space.

[00:23:57] Evolving the role of firms and the client experience.

[00:26:08] Evelyn's architecture journey and the desire to stay involved with the architecture industry.

[00:28:25] The Practice of Architecture.

[00:32:01] Evelyn's journey to tech.

[00:33:47] Applied workplace strategy and operation processes.

[00:36:52] A change in space requires cultural change management as well.

[00:38:10] Architects are systems thinkers.

[00:40:08] Evelyn's future in architecture and systems thinking.

[00:43:52] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

About Laura Langdon 

Laura Langdon is a Developer Advocate at Suborbital Software Systems, where she manages documentation and participates in outreach activities, especially around the intersections data science, Python, and extensibility. Previously a math lecturer at CSU East Bay, Laura is devoted to issues in pedagogy, neurodivergence, and social responsibility in tech. In her free time, she enjoys recreational research, optimising all the things, and not trying to think of a third thing with which to end this sentence.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:53] Laura opting out of high school and going through community college instead.

[00:04:33] Why college was a better fit for Laura.

[00:07:04] The path of human experience.

[00:11:48] Coming to settle her explorations with mathematics.

[00:14:00] Laura's epiphany with mathematics.

[00:17:35] Practical considerations when it comes to choosing your path.

[00:22:59] The beauty of pure mathematics that we miss out on at school.

[00:23:31] Sometimes material is hard. But sometimes it's hard because people have different modes of learning.

[00:25:25] Resources can be crutches. What do you want to get out of this?

[00:26:31] Speak to course advisors and coordinators. There may be options you weren't aware of.

[00:29:25] Why homeschooling.

[00:32:20] The Montessori method

[00:36:12] AI, Reinforcement Learning, and DeepMind.

[00:38:20] Finding her way to technical writing.

[00:43:48] Ethics, algorithms, and society.

[00:47:39] A day in the life of developer relations.

[00:49:01] Bringing all those accumulated skills together.

[00:51:15] What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do? And what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak about April's journey through technology, finding purpose with compassionate coding, and putting the humanity back into technology.

About April Wensel 

April Wensel is an international keynote speaker and the founder of Compassionate Coding, a conscious business that provides communication skills training to technology professionals. Prior to starting Compassionate Coding, she spent a decade as a software engineer and technical leader at various startups in Silicon Valley, building products in such fields as healthcare, gaming, education, and user research. Away from the keyboard, she enjoys gleaning fruit, running ultramarathons, and experimenting with vegan recipes.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:09] Studying Computer Science at a liberal arts college.

[00:02:54] Where April saw her future in computing.

[00:03:46] The path to Compassionate Coding.

[00:08:54] Teaching emotional intelligence to tech.

[00:10:35] Relating to the need to develop emotional intelligence from her own experiences.

[00:13:28] When you faced with a culture that has to change.

[00:15:41] Reflecting on how April's liberal arts background informs her work now.

[00:17:12] April's observations in the course of her work.

[00:18:42] The two sides of compassion.

[00:19:44] Feedback as a compassionate skill.

[00:21:28] April's reflections on her own journey with emotion intelligence.

[00:23:03] April's personal journey approaching burnout and the impetus for change towards compassion.

[00:25:02] The rate of burnout in these fields and how compassion can help.

[00:27:36] The shift towards compassion in other technical fields.

[00:30:20] Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[00:31:56] What advice would you like to give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

We speak about Helen's love of maps and how we can use geospatial analysis to elegantly give us more meaning to the way we live in the world around us and keep our societies ticking away.

About Helen McKenzie 

Helen McKenzie is a Geospatial Advocate which means her job is to get people excited about all things geospatial! She has been working in the geospatial industry for around 10 years and has recently made the move from consultancy to technical marketing, whether that's through running live workshops or writing blogs about using GIS to choose the best venue for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:32] How Helen found her way to geography and GIS.

[00:05:04] Helen's dissertation combining Jane Austen and GIS.

[00:08:57] What does work in geospatial sciences look like?

[00:12:04] The depth of detail in understanding our communities.

[00:15:19] Michele talks about warm data again because warm data is cool.

[00:17:06] GIS is about engagement with the data and making those connections.

[00:21:00] Becoming a geospatial advocate.

[00:27:20] Understanding from geospatial data and its value to businesses.

[00:29:25] The cost and factors involved in opening a new store branch.

[00:32:29] Michele has too many bubble tea shops nearby. Her local area could have benefitted from some geospatial data.

[00:34:14] What does a geospatial advocate do?

[00:39:55] Finding your audience.

[00:41:46] What Helen doesn't like about her work.

[00:42:48] The challenges of public speaking.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Lan Tran is a powerhouse in sales and marketing is no stranger to this concept. She has seen the decline of the paper business directory with the advent of Google ads, the challenges of returning to work after raising a family, and the devastating impact of crypto on a local metaverse game studio.

We speak about approaching reinvention with humility, and Lan's observations about innovation and entrepreneurship in tech and Western Australia.

About Lan Tran 

Lan Tran's career commenced in sales with Yellow Pages. She found her calling and thrived in facilitating businesses, corporates and government agencies around Australia to brand, market, and advertise themselves. Her time at Yellow Pages set her up with a strong foundation in Account Management, PR and Stakeholder Management. As the top 2% Sales Executive of the 900+ sales team across Australia, Lan was integral to her company's annual strategic sales and marketing planning with senior leadership. Lan has worked across Australia and Asia leading sales teams and brings with her a wealth of contacts and proven strategies that lift an organisation to the next level.

Sales and marketing is a craft and an art form that continue to lead her into different businesses over the years that suited her lifestyle, which has included living and working overseas, a stint in recruitment, and a couple of years home-schooling her child prodigy.

As a skilled communicator that builds genuine and lasting relationships with ease, Lan joined Ninja Software and was responsible for quadrupling the revenue through strategic lead generation and securing industry partnerships. In the last 12 months, with Ninja's pivot into a Web3 game studio, Lan quickly became the evangelist for metaverse possibilities and connections.

She is known in the tech industry as an absolute powerhouse in all aspects of sales, relationship building and marketing.

Unfortunately, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances (crypto winter and FTX crash) the company she was with went into administration a week before last Christmas. This is a raw conversation with Lan about what it means to be a woman in tech, and how she navigates through changes.

Lan has since been appointed as Chief Sales Officer at EXTAG.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:40] Lan's beginnings with communication studies.

[00:02:12] Finding her way to sales.

[00:03:24] Yellow Pages vs Google Ads: Embracing new technology.

[00:08:46] Before: the dangers of moving too slowly; Now: the risk of moving too quickly.

[00:10:44] Reinvention leads to progress. 

[00:12:01] Reinvention requires humility.

[00:13:01] Reinvention after returning to the workforce after raising a child.

[00:15:34] Meeting Ninja Software.

[00:17:50] The attraction of a metaverse project.

[00:19:27] The frustration with the hype around NFT and wanting a product with real utility.

[00:20:36] The challenges of getting funding in tech in Western Australia. 

[00:21:32] Pivoting the entire business model of a company.

[00:24:07] The opportunity to cultivate a pipeline for new industries locally.

[00:27:13] We need to bang the drum for innovators out there to encourage growth in these sectors.

[00:31:38] Don't let 'tall poppy syndrome' stop you.

[00:35:29] The greatest loss is that of the potential to build a local communiy of talent and a pipeline for this industry.

[00:37:16] Bonus Question: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[00:39:01] Bonus Question: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak with Moira about her journey in medical research, and developing a holistic and comprehensive approach to cancer treatment.

About Professor Moira Clay 

Professor Moira Clay is one of Australia’s foremost experts in research strategy. She is a transformational leader and a highly experienced facilitator, with an extensive knowledge of the changing research agenda. She has a reputation for professionalism and integrity and is known for her collaborative and inclusive approach. Moira has extensive senior executive experience in research institutes in Victoria, NSW and WA - including 6 months as Acting Director of the Telethon Kids Institute. She was President of two peak bodies – the Australian Society for Medical Research (2003) and Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) (2013), leading significant public, political and scientific advocacy initiatives. In 2018, she was nominated as a Fellow of ARMS, acknowledging her enduring and substantial contributions to research management, and her active philanthropic involvement was profiled in a TEDx Fremantle talk. In 2011, she completed the Eureka Institute International Certificate in Translational Medicine. She is currently the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Menzies Institute.

Moira founded Moira Clay Consulting in 2013, propelled by her drive to help Australian health and medical research leaders achieve transformative health benefits for the community. MCC has built a strong reputation for adding value to health and medical research organisations (including medical research institute's; hospitals, funding bodies; universities; peak bodies and major initiatives) across Australia.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:45] Moira's beginnings in biochemistry.

[00:01:51] Developing the foundations for the work Moira does now during her PhD.

[00:03:21] Exploring the world through postdoctoral research.

[00:04:17] Moira's career crisis that led her to think bigger.

[00:05:40] How does one become Prime Minister?

[00:08:32] We ultimately want to make things better.

[00:10:28] Co-design, and how medical research strategy can make an impact.

[00:16:49] A stretched workforce needs greater collaboration.

[00:19:29] The shift to cancer research.

[00:22:25] Starting a consultancy.

[00:23:23] The Pirate Ship Foundation.

[00:24:16] West Australian Comprehensive Cancer Centre: The need for comprehensive cancer care.

[00:30:45] Honeybee Venom Research by Dr Pilar Blancafort and Dr Ciara Duffy.

[00:32:09] West Australian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

[00:33:56] Exercise for reduction of cancer risk and treatment efficacy.

[00:38:18] What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Shamini is an award-winning filmmaker, a writer, and a journalist, working on the Nature YouTube channel, podcast, and magazine online. She is also one of the members of RPGeeks, combining Dungeons and Dragons with science.

Join us as we speak about Shamini's journey through science and science media production, her introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, and applying her broad skillset to both science communication and creative arts.

About Shamini Bundell 

Shamini is a science-film maker and video journalist for the journal Nature. She studied Zoology at undergrad followed by a Science Media Production MSc and then worked in TV for several years before ending up at Nature. In her spare time she combines science communication with Dungeons & Dragons as part of the 'RPGeeks' including running live shows at evens like New Scientist Live and Natural History Museum Lates.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:17] Delving into the natural sciences.

[00:02:24] The transition into science media production and science communication.

[00:04:37] Shamini's long history with filmmaking.

[00:07:00] Science filmmaking for Nature.

[00:07:24] The creative process for science filmmaking.

[00:10:01] The making of Sandcastle film.

[00:12:49] Project managing the filmmaking process.

[00:13:48] How do you decide where to stop when making a video?

[00:18:12] On discovering Dungeons & Dragons.

[00:19:24] So, pantomime.

[00:20:09] Drunken bus stop D&D.

[00:22:37] The origins of RPGeeks.

[00:24:55] Magic is just the science we haven't justified yet.

[00:25:36] Segue: That world building thing.

[00:27:31] On being a Dungeon Master / Game Master.

[00:29:32] Making the science work.

[00:31:42] The morally grey areas of science and magic.

[00:34:08] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[00:35:08] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[00:40:07] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak with Ari Krzyzek, CEO and Head of Strategy of Chykalophia about Ari's journey to creating her own brand agency, the potential of FemTech to change the narrative around women's health, and why knowing your 'why' can help you to succeed.

About Ari Krzyzek 

CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia (read: see-ka-lo-fia), Ari Krzyzek helps FemTech, DTC, and women-led brands transform their website into a platform that unlocks business opportunities. She is co-author of one of the Top 3 Best Sellers book in web design, Made to Sell: Creating Websites that Convert. She serves as a branding, UX consultant, and professional peer in support of fellow female entrepreneurs through the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world, 1871 Chicago, and Chicago’s global healthcare startup incubator, MATTER. She’s the co-host of Halo Femtech Podcast, a podcast that honors disruptive innovators and change-makers advancing women’s health.

Furthermore, she helps women in tech and design break into the industry and succeeds in it by mentoring them for personal branding, career advancement, and entrepreneurship through Interaction Design Foundation, Chicago Innovation and ADP list.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:57] Ari's journey to visual communication design.

[00:03:00] The gap between design and business strategy.

[00:06:29] The superficial way in which we view branding.

[00:07:25] On your mission and culture.

[00:09:05] Ari's motivations for starting her agency.

[00:10:09] Business identity vs individual identity.

[00:13:13] Starting a business is a journey of self-discovery.

[00:14:11] Everyone should have a personal philosophy.

[00:15:46] What is your 'why'?

[00:16:59] Giving back because of the support she received.

[00:18:25] There's so much available to help you to succeed.

[00:20:13] How to find your niche.

[00:21:42] The focus on tech and FemTech.

[00:24:05] Trends in FemTech beyond medical.

[00:24:49] Awkward Essentials - Dripstick (Content Warning: Sexual health, may be TMI for some).

[00:25:33] The burgeoning space of FemTech in lifestyle and wellness.

[00:26:33] Solutions for quality of life as well as sustainability, because women's bodies and our needs are always changing.

[00:27:55] The point of connection.

[00:30:23] The significance of building connection in FemTech.

[00:32:09] The challenges of marketing FemTech begin with education (or a lack thereof).

[00:34:50] The potential scope of FemTech's role in public education.

[00:37:45] Women can thrive in tech.

[00:39:47] How to position yourself as the solution.

[00:42:10] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[00:43:36] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[00:44:43] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Join us as we speak with Raksha Kumar, an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker with a focus on land, forest, and human rights issues. We speak about Raksha's investigative work into the layered and complex issues of caste and sexism in India's tech industry, and elsewhere too.

About Raksha Kumar 

Raksha Kumar is an award-winning journalist, with a focus on land and forest rights. Her work highlights human rights abuses by the State, thereby holding the powerful to account. Since 2011, she has reported from twelve countries across the world and a hundred districts in India for The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, among others. Additionally, Kumar studied media freedoms in India in great detail and wrote reports for the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists, and PEN International.

Raksha graduated from the Journalism School, Columbia University, and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law. She is also a documentary filmmaker and a Chevening Fellow and has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for Leadership Development.

Show Notes (link)

(00:02:11) Raksha's focus on human rights in journalism.

(00:02:39) People are interesting, and each person matters.

(00:05:03) The impetus for writing about sexism in India's tech industry.

(00:05:11) Writing about caste in India.

(00:05:47) India's caste system.

(00:06:33) A court case in the US raising outside awareness to caste discrimination.

(00:07:08) Equality Labs.

(00:07:35) The case was covered in India, but there was no discourse around caste in the Indian tech industry.

(00:09:22) When discrimination was raised in the investigation, gender kept coming up.

(00:10:24) Everyone talks about gender discrimination in tech. What makes India different?

(00:12:40) "Tech came with a promise of a flatter world."

(00:13:12) The privilege of being blind to discrimination.

(00:14:09) The implicit threat to remain silent for fear of repercussion.

(00:15:14) The varied reasons for remaining silent, and the individual interpretations of discrimination.

(00:16:52) Privilege and discrimination are not mutually exclusive.

(00:18:19) Awareness of our individual privileges and the affect of our intersectionality.

(00:20:50) Observations: There hasn't been any research in caste discrimination in the Indian tech sector, and the more you delve into gender discrimination the more layers there are to investigate.

(00:23:56) The drivers behind a high percentage of women in tech in India.

(00:25:03) An open economy and upward mobility.

(00:28:45) The subconscious awareness of your career 'expiry' as a woman.

(00:29:41) The two-body problem in a different context.

(00:30:57) The issues aren't unique to tech, but the way they manifest can be.

(00:32:40) Intense, and potentially exploitative, work environments.

(00:32:51) Wrong paper, I meant: Becker, SO., Fernandes, A., Weichselbaumer, D., 'Discrimination in hiring based on potential and realized fertility: Evidence from a large-scale field experiment', Labour Economics, vol 59, 2019, pp 139-152.

(00:34:10) What makes some of these issues uniquely tech.

(00:37:22) Women's visibility.

(00:38:56) The support structure around women and careers.

(00:41:06) The need for bi-directional support.

(00:43:04) Do you know how much work it takes to make something look effortless?

(00:44:01) Well meaning policies which become unintentionally discriminatory.

(00:46:12) Law needs to take culture into consideration.

(00:49:01) The need to incorporate the humanities into science and technology education.

(00:51:45) Science is about questioning. The questioning should be about all aspects of the work, not just the science.

(00:55:18) Raksha's observations from her investigations.

(00:58:21) The journey between knowledge and realisation.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

About Krithika Chandramouli 

Krithika Chandramouli is a Software Engineer at Meta. She comes with over 8 years of experience working in a range of industries like video streaming services, fintech, and social media. She is an expert on JS and full stack engineering, and is a technical and thought leader. She thrives when she is working on solving complex people problems that lead to innovation in products. She mentors young professionals, especially women, in the areas of career development in the tech industry. Outside work, Krithika is a runner, rows crew, practices Vipassana for mindfulness, a Veena player and an aspiring writer!

Show Notes (link)

(00:00:56) Biomedical engineering is the sweet spot between health sciences and technology when deciding whether to pursue med or tech.

(00:03:30) The opportunity to study a broad range of subjects.

(00:04:33) Bioengineering and nano drug delivery.

(00:06:28) Being drawn to wearable medical technology.

(00:09:05) Krithika's path to computer science through wearables.

(00:09:50) Crowdsourced labelling and gamification of medical images.

(00:11:38) Observations of the human element of crowdsourcing data.

(00:14:10) A desire to use her skills to give back to the community.

(00:16:16) Building tools to help build communities at Meta.

(00:18:58) Buy Nothing groups and the importance of community in times of crisis.

(00:21:26) Krithika's passion for mentoring and career development. Wanting to pay it forward.

(00:22:43) Finding mentors.

(00:26:59) Nerdy Girl Success.

(00:27:43) Becoming a mentor or advisor in organisations like Nerdy Girl Success.

(00:31:34) Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

(00:31:38) Running and marathons.

(00:34:39) With a love/hate relationship with running, why a half-marathon?

(00:38:02) Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

(00:38:14) "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini and reflections on who and where we are in this world.

(00:40:53) Kumar, R. (2022, Nov 1). The enduring sexism of India’s tech industry. Rest of World.

(00:42:58) Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

(00:43:03) Advice for Life: Be bold.

(00:45:08) Reflect on your own qualities, skills, and objectives, and be intentional about it.

(00:49:56) Finding out more about Krithika.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

About Leah Elson 

Leah Elson is an academically-published clinical development scientist, public science communicator, and non-fiction author. Her research career in human medicine has included the fields of orthopedics, oncology, and neuroscience.

Show Notes (link)

(00:01:06) Sportscasting in college.

(00:02:24) Adventures in pre-med.

(00:03:01) Leah's early interest in surgery, but realising she could do more upstream.

(00:04:43) Research is playing the long game.

(00:05:44) Leah's current work with peripheral nerve repair and its compassionate applications.

(00:08:43) Taking a more holistic view of patient outcomes.

(00:10:28) Allowing researchers to actually see the impact of their work.

(00:11:18) STEMM can be a social equaliser because you're working towards the same goal of humanity.

(00:12:30) How Leah determines the direction of her research focus.

(00:14:59) The beauty of research rabbitholes. The best discoveries are accidental.

(00:15:51) The importance of maintaining connections and networks. You never know where you'll find convergence across fields.

(00:18:15) Hyperspecialisation and the globaliser that was COVID.

(00:20:45) The future is in unpacking genetics.

(00:24:58) The science that divides advances us.

(00:26:01) The impact of market (and climate) forces and the reminder that humans are creative and resilient.

(00:29:27) '60 Seconds of Science' and the importance of supporting the voices that inform.

(00:32:35) Science doesn't have an alignment, it's what we do with it.

(00:35:01) Science is fluid and has so much scope.

(00:36:43) Fake science and the narrative around it is evocative.

(00:38:13) Science fiction into science fact.

(00:39:05) Writing 'There Are (No) Stupid Questions … in Science'.

(00:42:05) Making people excited about science again.

(00:45:39) The accessible nature of a book like this.

(00:47:10) Being selective about what community questions to answer.

(00:48:11) Randall Munroe (xkcd).

(00:49:35) Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

(00:50:18) Powerlifting is complementary to Leah's optimal workflow.

(00:51:35) Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

(00:52:51) Michele's favourite childhood book.

(00:54:10) 'Where's Waldo?'

(00:55:18) Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

(00:58:54) Finding out more about Leah and their work.

Listen to our conversation about Operating With Repect with Assoc Prof Rhea Liang.

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Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Before joining UC Riverside, she was a Provost postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed procedures for synthesising heterogeneous catalysts using atomic layer deposition. She has also worked previously as a Forensic scientist for the Philadelphia police department and as a Refinery chemist at Sunoco Chemicals in Philadelphia after receiving a B.S. in Chemistry from Temple University.

Her research group develops sustainable catalytic processes using an interdisciplinary toolset from environmental, materials and chemical engineering for sustainable applications.  

In our conversation, we talk about science entrepreneurship and circular solutions that put waste to good use.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/kandis-leslie-abdul-aziz

[00:00:51] Leslie's introduction to chemistry.

[00:01:46] Where Leslie saw her future with chemistry.

[00:02:55] Working in forensics.

[00:04:07] The novelty and then the tedium of working with drugs.

[00:05:20] Developing protocols for new drugs.

[00:06:33] Inventing a sensor for drug detection.

[00:10:13] The challenges of bringing new technology to market.

[00:12:14] Alternate paths to science entrepreneurship.

[00:13:47] The path to The Sustainable Lab.

[00:16:05] The transition to an engineering role in chemistry.

[00:19:47] The types of problems The Sustainable Lab means to solve.

[00:20:04] Replacing fossil fuels with renewables or waste.

[00:21:58] The applications for converting CO2 and methane into biofuels and other materials.

[00:24:28] Applying chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering to the optimisation of chemical processes.

[00:25:39] Repurposing agricultural and plastic waste.

[00:26:18] Investigating alternative approaches to recycling and the return to science entrepreneurship.

[00:28:56] Working on the methane problem from all ends: Dr Parwinder Kaur's past work on clovers.

[00:29:54] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[00:30:53] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[00:31:43] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[00:33:59] The experience of transitioning back into research after working in industry.

[00:36:20] Learning to become a science entrepreneur.

[00:40:34] Finding out more about Leslie and The Sustainable Lab. 

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In our conversation, we talk about Shirley's journey from computer science to entrepreneurism, her creative process, and building communities with our collections.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/shirley-yu

[00:01:17] Shirley's beginnings in computer science. [00:01:29] Shirley's family is heavily STEMM leaning. [00:02:55] With a creative background, computer science seemed like a good balance between technical and creativity. [00:04:15] Algorithms to 3D print sculptures. The intersection of creativity and technology. There's an intentionality and logic to the universe. [00:05:37] Shirley's pursuit of photography. [00:05:52] The creative problem solving of photography and bringing a vision to life. [00:07:45] Seeking a creative outlet and discovering the scope of photography. [00:10:27] Renting a studio to develop her skills in parallel with school. [00:11:38] Being nominated for awards and having commissions and realising that photography would be a viable career path.[00:13:51] Steve Giralt and being motivated to be in that world where she could innovate creatively. [00:15:20] Graduating from computer science and building her studio. [00:15:53] Developing client work, but also personal projects to explore what you're capable of creatively. [00:17:07] Being passively creative and pulling from both her technical and creative experiences. [00:19:32] Creating Choosii for collectors inspired by her own experience. [00:20:57] Creating experiences from interactions. [00:25:48] The experience doesn't end with the transaction. [00:30:39] The emotional satisfaction of knowing something you care about has gone to someone who will care about it as well. [00:34:42] Shirley made Choosii for people like her. [00:36:36] On Shirley's COVID experience and reflecting on care packages and contact. [00:42:15] The evolution of shopping habits and the trend toward supporting local businesses and responsible capitalism. [00:46:52] Creating networks from which to buy also gives provenance and builds trust. [00:47:28] Shirley's breadth of experience and interactions inform the wholistic view of how she creates. [00:50:05] Shirley's process in portraiture and capturing her subject and their environment. [00:58:42] All of Shirley's experiences and people she has met through her creative work now informs her own journey as an entrepreneur. [00:59:11] Curating her projects to reflect her own values and cultivate her journey. [01:01:08] Finding mentorship when your growth is across multiple spaces. [01:01:49] Show up. Know [01:03:42] FounderCafe. [01:04:38] Launch House. [01:05:08] Finding like-minded people and organically grow the relationships. Create new connections and reengage with old connections. [01:09:53] What it means to Shirley to be good at business. [01:12:01] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:14:13] Loving what you do takes work, risk, and perseverance. [01:19:50] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:21:16] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:21:26] Diversify. Always keep learning and exploring. 

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In our conversation, we talk about biotechnology and genetics for conservation, and creating sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary innovation.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/parwinder-kaur

[00:01:11] Parwinder's journey to molecular biology and the study of DNA. [00:02:10] Growing up surrounded by different cultures and faiths. [00:03:23] Parwinder's chemistry teacher opening the door to science as an avenue to answer her questions. [00:04:28] Changing perspectives over time. The relationship between Ayurveda and epigenetics. [00:06:16] Tools don't make the science, but they sure can make things go faster. [00:06:47] Work that took Parwinder 7 years, now can be done in 7 days, because of tools. [00:08:00] The knowledge needs to progress and we can help that along by making it more accessible to get a wider range of perspectives. [00:08:38] Diversity is an important factor in innovation. [00:11:07] How Parwinder's cultural and religious background inspires her science. [00:13:18] There is enough old knowledge validated with science to suggest that we just need better tools or methods to get there as well. [00:13:47] Investigating different faiths revealed to her that there are many common beliefs about the origin of life. [00:14:35] Epigenetics. It's all connected. [00:15:13] The road to understanding DNA in a three-dimensional space. [00:19:35] We need to think bigger as well. Many of the problems we're trying to solve globally also must be viewed in multiple dimensions. [00:24:32] Parwinder's work touches on so many different areas, what has been achieved could not have been done without multidisciplinary collaboration. [00:25:53] Comparatively, Australia is less restrictive than India with respect to disciplinary boundaries. [00:28:14] The system doesn't favour multidisciplinary approaches that may take longer. [00:28:58] It's hard to inspire students to solve the problems around us if we can't allow them to explore a broader range of disciplines to find the solutions. [00:33:17] Funding and KPIs can be bound to a limited scope. [00:33:28] Obstacles to remote collaboration, and being a scientist in the most isolated city in the world. [00:37:49] Remote collaboration with a medicine lab outside KPIs has lead to initiatives like DNA Zoo. [00:41:55] Promoting Australia for its biodiversity and Perth for its Pawsey supercomputer. [00:45:38] DNA Zoo. [00:45:57] What can we learn about the superpowers of other species. [00:47:24] Conservation has to factor in genetics as well as environment. [00:48:47] The rate of innovation in genetics just for humans. Why not also for animals? [00:49:36] With technological advancements, sequencing costs are significantly more accessible. [00:52:55] It's about helping people connect the dots. Making the content public domain because this is bigger than just publishing papers. [00:55:22] Open data because not having access to the knowledge is inefficient and making it accessible allows more people to take a shot at it. [00:56:57] Data is our next bio-economy. [00:58:21] Methane from cows. [00:59:54] The factors that contribution to methane emission. [01:00:22] "You are what you eat". Let's look at diet. [01:00:49] Clovers and their simplicity and impact, and secondary discoveries in science.  [01:03:00] Japanese research on red clovers and their applications. [01:04:27] A serendipitous conversation about kombucha. [01:05:44] From a joke to a commercial opportunity in synthetic biology. [01:07:29] Giving her students another option for a career path in entrepreneurism. [01:10:57] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:12:41] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you [01:15:17] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about the multidisciplinary nature of geography, fire, agriculture, and the two-body problem.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/jessica-mccarty

[00:01:02] Jessica's journey to public policy. [00:01:30] Being willing to say yes to some seemingly odd requests. [00:02:14] Mapping human-caused fire across the lower 48 states of the US. [00:03:09] Being asked to do similar for Europe / Eurasia and IIASA. [00:04:26] The importance of international conferences and being exposed to the policy side of the work. [00:05:13] Understanding diplomacy and cross-cultural communication in a global space. [00:07:24] Fire and agriculture are male dominated areas. [00:10:16] Be willing to say 'yes', but recognise when you're not the right fit for the opportunity. Pay it forward. [00:12:28] Get to know who your civil servants are because science is closely tied to the factors that make up our society. [00:14:00] Scientists and policy-makers work together to find solutions. [00:16:52] Sometimes the reality is hard to hear. But it's necessary. [00:17:19] The private sector is becoming more directly interested in building resilience into their business model. [00:18:29] Academia and research is not the only path, use your expertise to create that bridge to industry as well. [00:20:23] If you're here, and you want to be here, this is where you belong. [00:21:35] What drew Jessica to fire and agriculture. [00:21:52] Jessica's upbringing around farms, national forests, and living off the land. [00:22:33] Living with the reality of wildfires and prescribed burning. [00:23:01] Learning and loving about satellites and GIS. [00:23:49] Realising she could combine technology and the knowledge she was raised with. [00:24:58] Geography is about the land as well as the people. [00:27:10] Researching fire regimes in the arctic and boreal regions. What is burning and why? [00:28:44] Prescribed burning and investigating (over) managing the land. [00:30:16] Understanding the transition between the boreal and the artic and the impact of fire in these areas. [00:30:41] Quantifying the benefits and impact of prescribed fire and cultural burning. [00:31:48] Short‑lived climate forcers (SLCFs) and the albedo effect. [00:33:18] Trying to ensure that all participants are compensated for their contributions. You pay your experts. [00:34:44] Working with the commercial satellite data to understand how much human-caused burning is happening in Northern America. [00:35:50] Working with a NASA-led team on how near-term climate futures impacts food security and food systems. Multi-factor including social systems and infrastructure. [00:37:12] Building up global scientists. We don't want to do 'parachute science' and leave anyone behind. [00:39:22] The land is also the relationship that people have with it. [00:39:53] The mission is to understand the universe, and the earth is part of it. [00:40:18] The transition to making knowledge and technology accessible to encourage collaboration and innovation. [00:41:23] Open data can lead to more applications and use cases. [00:42:40] NASA transitioning to open-source science. [00:43:20] How fire in the southern hemisphere is connected to the northern hemisphere. [00:46:20] Satellite imagery and visualisation exposing the connections between these global systems. [00:47:51] We're all connected. [00:51:27] Geography trains you very quickly to see the connections. [00:53:00] Do you know the difference between moose and elk? [00:54:45] Geography is the study of home. It's home economics on a global scale. [00:56:31] Deep time / Deep ecology. There is permafrost older than our species. Getting some perspective. [00:58:12] A point of reflection. Humans don't do well with uncertainty. We are in a moment of pause. But it's a time of opportunity. [01:01:40] The opportunities to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion by using technology to make science and knowledge more accessible. [01:02:47] Michele's not-COVID project. [01:04:43] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:07:50] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:11:19] Children and developing a sense of justice or injustice. [01:16:14] Bonus Question 3: What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:16:18] You don't have to pursue graduate studies immediately. You can take your time. [01:18:22] Make sure you get out what you put in in terms of your work and respect. You need to be able to thrive. [01:20:26] The two-body problem and balancing careers, relationships, and identity. [01:29:04] The freedom to have the choice to live our lives the way we feel works for us. [01:35:04] Find out more about Jessica and their work. 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about inquiry based learning, and how we can guide students through their curiosity, and help them to succeed.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/anna-ritzema

[00:01:00] What drew Anna to education. [00:02:14] The relationships that we build as teachers and the impact that it has. [00:03:51] Encouraging and cultivating engagement and instilling self-believe and confidence. [00:05:17] Balancing passion for STEM subjects and the fear of getting it wrong. [00:08:42] Making teaching STEM about the journey and not just hitting the objectives. [00:10:52] Peer learning and learning to teach is important at all ages. [00:14:08] Incorporate mindfulness in the teaching and learning experience. [00:14:56] Education systems, modes of learning, and developmental stages. [00:18:14] Empowering teachers to be flexible within the system and in the context of individual development. [00:20:06] KPIs of the teachers don't always correspond to the intrinsic value of the experiences and learning development of the students. [00:22:58] Anna's journey and initial reluctance to enter STEM. [00:23:54] Discovering a love for the analytical side of linguistics. [00:24:38] Teaching at Dragon School and having the opportunity to hone her craft. [00:26:17] Taking a position as a science teacher and finding she actually enjoyed this. [00:27:17] Science is magic. [00:32:23] Teachers provide direction and can help keep dreams alive even when there isn't an obvious path. [00:34:03] The privilege of being able to see your potential right in front of you. [00:34:55] Providing opportunities to connect with possible industries and futures. [00:37:37] Virtual STEM academies and the technology to bring the wider world closer to home. [00:43:46] Enquiry-based learning. [00:47:49] Polly Farmer Foundation and their programs empowering indigenous students and incorporating the knowledge of the First Scientists into what we do now. [00:51:15] On problem solving and learning about failure. [00:54:59] Crafting learning narrative, connecting to the emotion and being able to reflect on the process. [00:56:30] Building that relationship so the rest will follow. [00:58:24] Learning that indirect routes can be fun and just as rewarding. [01:00:09] Not being "the sage on the stage, but being the guide from the side". [01:01:17] Anna's key observations teaching in such a wide variety of environments. [01:01:48] "Every child will make progress in my care… I am proud to be their teacher, and every child has impacted my journey." [01:06:18] Always looking for what a child can do. [01:07:40] Believing in yourself and each other is powerful. [01:09:53] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:12:21] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:14:35] Perspective on others' experiences. [01:17:59] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:18:07] It's about passion. [01:19:03] Do not doubt your power as an educator. 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

When it came to choosing a career, Gry only had a couple of criteria…

Firstly, she wanted to help people solve problems and create a better world. Secondly, she wanted to prove that girls were as capable as boys. Given her proficiency in maths and science, information technology (IT) was a very real option, and when she realised that IT was likely to be a key component and foundation for solving pervasive problems across industries globally, the choice was easy. She started her career with a BSc(Hon) of Computation in Manchester, England in the late eighties and has built on that ever since.

Through her career, Gry has had the opportunity to design and deliver solutions across many industries, creating the right mix of people, systems, processes and culture. She has been fortunate to work across all continents and is as at home in early stage startups as she is in global conglomerates.

Often the only woman in the room, she has a unique perspective on IT, the people in IT, and what we need to do to create diverse and inclusive cultures where people feel they belong. She is driven to ensure that we create meaningful technology and are ethical in our considerations.

Gry loves the expression "same same but different", and lives to engage, empower and inspire people to find their place in a digital world.

As an original "IT Girl" from the 80s who studied Computer Science and started out as programmer at a time when there were 35-40% women in key roles, she has loved working across continents in customer obsessed roles, and is equally at home in conceptual stage startups as she is in global conglomerates. She is deeply concerned with the downward trend of women in tech, especially as tech creators and inventors, and is on a mission to encourage, enable, empower and inspire more women, girls and other underrepresented people to step into IT! 

The IT Girls Rock community is part of that mission, as are the projects and initiatives across education, corporate and technology that she designs, develops and delivers through her social enterprise STEAM Engine Global.  

In our conversation, we talk about Gry's journey to computing, being an IT Girl, and building an ecosystem that cultivates and nurtures careers in tech for women.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/gry-stene

[00:01:11] Gry's worldly early years. [00:02:33] Academic proficiency leading towards mathematics and sciences. [00:03:45] Pursuing sciences further in high school. [00:05:20] Returning and readjusting back to Norway. [00:06:05] Choosing a career path. [00:09:30] Applying 'ikigai' and f inding your purpose. [00:10:05] Gry's motivations for pursuing computation. [00:11:37] Entering the workforce and growing her understanding of the scope of technical work. [00:13:31] Learning you can't be a dev in isolation. [00:15:22] Dame Stephanie Shirley. [00:16:18] #DevThings Segue: Technical Debt. [00:18:24] The need to cultivate diversity in teams. [00:22:46] Observations about gravitating towards roles which accommodate our other aspects. [00:26:49] Prioritisation habits of high performing women. [00:31:29] Standards. [00:35:06] Finding a place for everyone's unique skillsets. [00:36:58] Solving the right problems. [00:40:25] Expanding your thinking about what others' experiences are. [00:58:23] STEAM Engine Global. [00:58:31] Cultivating spaces in the pipeline for creating belonging and nurturing talent. [01:06:15] Following her north star. [01:08:14] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:13:24] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you [01:14:27] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about Erin's journey through academia, industry, and entertainment, learning to celebrate little wins, and Erin's love of teaching and sharing science to inspire the next generation.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/erin-macdonald

[00:00:59] Television and film leading Erin down the path to astrophysics. [00:01:51] Having a passion but not exactly a plan. [00:02:45] Exploring academia. [00:03:05] The challenges of academic life. [00:03:38] Taking the advice of getting some distance from her PhD before making any career decisions. [00:04:51] Transitioning into industry. [00:05:01] Working multiple jobs to pay the bills. [00:05:30] Discovering her transferable skills. [00:06:26] The value of being able to communicate the science. [00:08:54] Finding a space in the con circuit. [00:10:01] Pop culture gives people a reference point for the science. [00:13:42] The path to becoming a science advisor. [00:13:56] Discovering that 'science advisors' exist planted a seed. [00:15:06] Networking and learning more about the process. [00:16:04] Getting on the Star Trek radar. [00:17:20] Science advising is about "yes, and". [00:18:04] The day-to-day. [00:20:31] The story comes first. [00:22:16] The cyclical nature of science, invention and science fiction. [00:24:42] Writing, producing, and looking to the future. [00:25:38] Speaking to those who had come before. [00:26:41] Pros and cons working in this space in the 90s and now. [00:27:43] Starting to write. [00:28:43] Producing a film: Every Morning. [00:32:14] Finding a purpose and a place. [00:33:39] Finding a space where you want it enough and feel that you can make a difference. [00:34:16] Carving out a space for representation in media in various capacities. [00:35:59] "Luck is hard work and knowing what is an opportunity and what's not." - Lucille Ball [00:37:01] The pros and cons of working in academia, industry, and entertainment [00:37:39] The pros of academia. [00:38:24] The cons of academia. [00:39:47] The pros and cons of industry. [00:41:59] Cons of entertainment. [00:42:26] Pros of entertainment. [00:43:17] Celebrate little wins. [00:45:08] Observations about the misconceptions about each of these industries. [00:47:03] The rejection economy, finding ways and reasons to persevere. [00:49:20] Finding mentorship and role models who can guide you. [00:52:24] For academics looking to get out of academia, there are paths for you. [00:53:59] If you're starting a new career, don't be too hard on yourself. You will need time to get up to speed. [00:55:45] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [00:59:21] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:00:48] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:01:01] Get experience in science communication. The skills will benefit you throughout your career(s). [01:02:13] Explore the creative side of your hard science. [01:03:13] Improv and creative thinking provides tools for better and more flexible communication. 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about Kira's journey to genetics, genetic counselling, and what we can and can't learn from DNA testing kits.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/kira-dineen

[00:01:27] Kira's affinity for the field of genetics. [00:04:19] Where Kira saw herself in the field. [00:04:52] Labs are not the only career path in genetics. [00:07:11] The value of shadowing. [00:08:11] Hear from or speak to people in the field and ask questions. [00:08:52] We need a career speed-dating service. [00:10:03] What is genetic counselling? [00:13:42] When would you start the process of speaking with a genetic counsellor? [00:16:41] The two general categories of genetic conditions. [00:21:15] How Direct-to-Consumer DNA testing kits work. [00:24:14] Individual hotspots vs polygenic risk scores. [00:26:46] Our understanding will become more refined as we gather more data. [00:30:04] Kira's podcasting journey. [00:36:26] Podcasting opens doors and creates connection. [00:39:53] Why science communication is important to Kira. [00:46:39] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is least related to your field of work? [00:47:30] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [00:48:47] Bonus Question 3: What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do? And what advice should they ignore? 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

Ms. Wiener leads business development and marketing efforts for Get Real Health, leveraging her outstanding people skills and a large network of contacts to identify opportunities and close sales. She also cultivates the company's growing list of strategic partnerships around the world.

Ms. Wiener has an innate knack for identifying the skill sets integral to a successful team. Her corporate leadership abilities are evidenced by Get Real Health's impressive employee retention rate and the staff’s unwavering commitment to the company’s success.  

In our conversation, we talk about Get Real Health's digital front door, putting people first in healthcare and business, and finding your path.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/robin-wiener

[00:01:14] Robin's journey from fashion to health IT [00:01:38] A love for bringing the right people together and the shift to human resources in tech. [00:02:57] Human resources from a technical engineering perspective in the dot-com era. [00:04:33] Pivoting out of the dot-com crash. [00:05:47] The importance of the people side of business and tech. Empower and respect your people. [00:10:26] The origins of Get Real Health and their digital front door. [00:11:18] Building an app that connected to Microsoft HealthVault. [00:11:49] Hurricane Katrina was the impetus for change in health record management. [00:13:49] Building the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society a patient portal and realising there is a product there. [00:17:28] Incorporating a digital front door for integrated patient services. [00:18:57] Overcoming the challenges of integration with disparate systems and standardisation practices. [00:19:52] FHIR standard and Meaningful Use. [00:21:14] Standardisation facilitates AI on the data (with patient-controlled consent) which allows patients who wouldn't otherwise have access to participate in clinical studies to be considered. [00:22:16] Naturally facilitating telehealth during COVID providing access to healthcare providers and providers access to health records for treatment. [00:22:42] The portability of the platform internationally. [00:22:55] Standards and many of the large EMR companies being multinational helps. [00:25:27] My Health Record (Australia). [00:26:37] Digital health systems should be patient-focussed. It should be innovative but uncomplicated. [00:27:56] Working with Telstra Health (Australia) and Spark Health (NZ). [00:29:39] Communicating safety and privacy for health records, keeping public trust. [00:30:48] Granular patient-controlled consent and supporting irregularties such as region-based age of majority and emergency access. [00:35:41] Alerts for physical and mental health crises. [00:36:48] It's not just information, it's tools that empower you to be able to manage your personal health. [00:37:47] Resources to manage your own healthcare allows for timely care and early intervention. [00:40:34] We're learning that telehealth and tools that facilitate it works. [00:42:17] Geographic limitations to the platform. Legal and privacy issues. [00:45:06] How granular we can get with access control. [00:48:42] Robin's experiences with a strong support network and her passion for helping people achieve their potential. [00:51:51] Strategies to stay the course when following your path. [00:59:59] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:00:47] Robin's early theatre and performance experience. [01:02:37] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:05:14] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:05:21] As a leader you need to know the pieces that make up the puzzle. [01:06:43] Build the team around you. [01:08:39] 'It's not a sprint, it's a journey.' [01:10:03] On grit and moxie. [01:12:20] On balancing operational and strategic skills. [01:14:31] Don't forget the users and the human side of your business. [01:16:06] The full STEAM of healthcare. 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about Kate's journey to STEMM, She Codes, and building community in tech.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/kate-kirwin

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about Kari's journey to forensic science, working with physical evidence, and how it's not quite like CSI.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/kari-pitts

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

Nicole works with her clients improve their collaboration and communication skills so their work gets the momentum and recognition it deserves. She also helps construct ways of working that reduce stress, increase motivation and engagement, and deliver results.

Nicole lives in Hamburg, Germany, holds a PhD in chemistry and is trained in coaching, positive psychology, change management, and advanced problem-solving.

When she’s not buried in research papers and books you can find her taking long hikes in the German countryside or mesmerised by Mary Poppins on the screen.  

In our conversation, we talk about Nicole's STEM journey, sustainable mental health in the workplace, and how we can do better work.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/nicole-tschierske

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about Florence Nightingale's intriguing story, and how she used data visualisation in her campaign for sanitary reform.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/rj-andrews/

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

Jocelyn lives in Manhattan with her 12-year-old Italian greyhound Florence, who rules the household despite not contributing to rent.  

In our conversation, we talk about Jocelyn's indirect path to software engineering, improving the tech interview experience, and how remote work promotes inclusivity.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/jocelyn-james/

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about developer education and preparing for your next role.

Show Notes: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/rachel-lee-nabors/

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

History Detective is a podcast for teachers, students and lovers of history. It delves into stories from the past that don't always get told in the textbooks.

This episode is about Janine Haines. Janine Haines was a teacher with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and Mathematics. She was a passionate advocate for girls to study mathematics and the sciences, and went on to pursue a career in politics becoming party leader of the Australian Democrats.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to the History Detective podcast, and if you're a teacher, every History Detective episode has resources that are aligned to the Australian Curriculum. Enjoy!

In her highly illuminating presentations, Dr Beekhuyzen discusses her vision for Australia's future in technology, including the changes that will prove critical in helping leaders break traditional approaches that currently hold us back. More importantly, she proposes practical solutions that can mobilise a new generation of leaders and innovators who are committed to solving real-world problems with technology.

In our conversation, we talk about the Foundation, cultivating an interest in STEMM, and teaching young girls life skills through entrepreneurship.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:55] Jenine's journey to business and software engineering. [00:01:05] From vocational education to universiy. [00:03:56] Finding her space in advocacy and the Tech Girls Movement Foundation. [00:04:08] Jenine's research work leading to a desire to solve this known problem in industry. [00:05:23] The issues around the career pipeline for women in STEM. [00:06:54] How we engage children as young as 6 years old in STEM. [00:07:53] AEIOU. [00:11:28] Dr Stephanie Ryan's STEMM in your day-to-day. [00:12:30] Teaching kids to be problem solvers. [00:13:17] Allowing kids to take ownership of problems they want to solve. [00:13:36] Giving people a safe space to create. [00:15:21] How Tech Girls Movement Foundation creates environments and safe spaces to learn and create. [00:15:31] The Tech Girls competition and 12 week entrepreneurship program. [00:17:54] The opportunity to pitch in Silicon Valley. [00:18:24] 2021's winners created a 91 page business plan (!!) [00:18:53] Developing skills that we use in adulthood and the workforce. [00:19:21] Changing attitudes towards mathematics: Demonstrable real world applications. [00:21:25] Finance is more than money. It's about understanding the value of your work. [00:24:14] The trend towards well-being. [00:25:00] Reflections on your views as a mentor. [00:28:06] Mentorship is an exercise for the mentor as much as it is for the mentees. [00:30:18] Jenine's research work. [00:30:26] The low numbers of women in STEM. [00:31:09] Outreach on youth perceptions of STEM. [00:31:38] The state of the digital divide. [00:32:05] Cultural and linguistic diversity in STEM. [00:33:45] The challenges of isolation and remote work. [00:35:53] Communication and behavioural substitution. [00:37:47] Next steps in encouraging women to STEM and career longevity. [00:38:23] Valuing the voices of the younger generation. [00:38:54] Valuing the contributions of women in industry. [00:39:40] Achieving critical mass of women in industry. [00:40:04] Getting more women in positions where they can affect structural change. [00:40:52] Rising homelessness in women over 55. [00:41:37] The wider impact of inequity. [00:43:06] Novel solutions to systemic issues. [00:43:38] Pandemic of loneliness. [00:44:35] The growth area for communities and connection arising from the pandemic. [00:46:16] Tech Girls cultivating a network and community of likeminded individuals. [00:49:14] Failure is part of the process. [00:50:52] Not self-rejecting. [00:51:07] Inviting people into spaces they would otherwise not have considered. [00:53:45] The mindset of recognising your own abilities and experience. [00:54:57] Having champions as well as mentors. [00:55:48] Parenthood is part of your professional skillset. [00:57:02] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [00:57:06] Artistic problem-solving and mosaics. [00:58:29] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [00:58:55] Judy Blume and adventure. [00:59:12] Elizabeth Gilbert. [00:59:22] Supporting female authors and female voices. [01:00:12] The subtle differences between books with female vs male protagonists. [01:02:51] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:03:30] The 80% Rule. [01:05:30] The efficacy or lack thereof of gendered campaigns. [01:06:10] Be okay with not being good at everything, but try it anyway. [01:06:46] Redefining failure. [01:07:48] Finding out more about Jenine's work.

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In our conversation, we talk about epidemiology, leadership, and the art in scientific enquiry.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:49] Naomi's journey to biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. [00:01:27] Exploring veterinary sciences. [00:02:11] Seeing the movie "Outbreak" and becoming fascinated by the field. [00:03:21] Restructuring her course to change trajectory. [00:03:59] PhD in Campylobacter jejuni. [00:04:21] Moving from animal health to public health. [00:04:37] Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) course by the CDC and EPIET programs. [00:05:39] Opportunity knocks, but you have to create the doors. [00:06:25] Experiencing different public health systems in the context of public health globally.[00:08:05] Working on surveillance systems and investigations for public health concerns. [00:09:26] How surveillance systems work for diseases and pathogens. [00:12:33] Transitioning to pharmacoepidemiology. [00:14:04] The varied paths to epidemiology. [00:15:56] Delving with your sense of curiosity to find answers. [00:18:05] Moving to pharmacoepidemiology. [00:18:16] Wanting to head towards the leadership path but utilise what she has learned in the course of her career. [00:20:25] How to transition towards leadership roles. [00:20:47] Lead by letting go. [00:21:26] Teaching and guiding as a leader. [00:23:55] Being able to share from your of wealth of experience. [00:24:32] It's valuable for the leaders to also understand the experience of working at the coal-face. [00:25:48] What surprises Naomi in the field. [00:26:24] Developing more women in leadership. [00:27:44] Equal maternity and paternity leave entitlements. [00:28:38] Research and analysis should be split by biological sex. [00:30:13] You won't know the answers if you don't ask the questions. [00:31:45] Both clinical trials and real world data can provide data for observational studies [00:33:49] Finding ways to enrich the data we have in observational studies. [00:34:55] Interlocution and context. [00:36:52] Patient centricity, information sources, and what to query. [00:39:07] How we stigmatise health. [00:39:44] You shouldn't have to be on the receiving end to think about perspective. [00:41:40] Taking your own context for granted. [00:42:25] The negative perception around not being at full health. [00:43:16] Say we're putting people first, and mean it. [00:44:26] Social structures need to support recovery and community health. [00:45:43] The challenges for policy makers. [00:47:44] We don't exist in a vacuum. [00:48:20] The power of microorganisms. [00:51:06] Bringing the humanities to the sciences. [00:55:19] Communication of public health policy through theatre and plays. [00:57:07] Using data visualisation to communicate data in an accessible and meaningful way. [00:58:30] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [00:59:09] Music. [00:59:29] Photography. [00:59:51] Sewing. [01:02:22] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:04:10] Naomi's novel. [01:06:58] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:08:06] There is more to epidemiology than just numbers. [01:11:24] Finding out more about Naomi and her work.

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

She focuses on embedding sustainable business processes while generating and maintaining relationships, is dependable and a structured thinker who thrives on solving problems in challenging, fast paced and pressurised environments.

Gabriella actively participates in a number of programs which promote a healthier STEM pipeline, always curious on how she can further broaden her impact.

In our conversation, we talk about mechanical engineering, mentorship, mental health, and aquascaping.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:50] Gabriella's journey to mechanical engineering.

[00:02:09] Finding a good fit for learning and teaching styles.

[00:02:18] Being given a set path, and a first generation university student.

[00:05:17] The benefit of hindsight and the desire to help others find their way.

[00:06:30] Where Gabriella saw her future in mechanical engineering.

[00:06:51] Wanting to explore the full range of what mechanical engineering has to offer.

[00:07:37] The scope of mechanical engineering.

[00:08:58] The discipline allows you to be flexible and branch into other areas.

[00:09:57] The growing range of industries in Western Australia.

[00:10:30] Joining FirstMode.

[00:11:27] About FirstMode.

[00:12:52] Misconceptions about what the industries involve.

[00:13:38] How to approach projects of this scale.

[00:15:45] The similarities between operational and project settings.

[00:16:25] You can't be formulaic in your processes with creative engineering.

[00:17:09] Governance in mining and engineering.

[00:19:11] The joys of Classified Plant.

[00:21:13] Both project management and governance are working with people to solve problems.

[00:22:25] It's about problem-solving and affecting change in the industry in various ways.

[00:24:26] This is not the career Gabriella imagined she would have so far.

[00:25:20] The mistaken belief that we have one chance to choose our path.

[00:25:50] Using herself as an example of the indirect path.

[00:26:09] Don't have regrets. Everything that happens is part of your journey.

[00:26:28] Living with anxiety and depression and having a breakdown that became a pivot point for her life and career.

[00:28:01] The stigma that still exists around mental health.

[00:28:31] Being more open about her own experiences.

[00:29:37] The changes that resulted after her breakdown, and being more conscious of self-care.

[00:32:38] Finding methods that work for you.

[00:33:03] Writing and reflection journals.

[00:38:46] Motivated to mentor.

[00:41:46] Experiences as a mentee.

[00:42:18] To MBA, or not to MBA.

[00:44:41] The opportunities we have to explore other facets of our fields.

[00:48:31] Common first years at university.

[00:49:10] How to juggle a heavy mentoring load and other commitments.

[00:49:25] Calendar all the things.

[00:50:08] A FIFO lifestyle teaches you to manage your time.

[00:52:25] You perform better when you look after yourself.

[00:53:55] Taking time to reflect on who you are and who you want to be.

[00:56:04] Seeing the shift in being able to have open conersations about self.

[00:58:26] Just as we innovate at work, we need to innovate how we treat ourselves.

[01:01:52] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[01:01:58] Aquascaping.

[01:04:48] It's nice to work with your hands.

[01:06:42] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[01:07:53] Not really into books, K'Nex was where it's at.

[01:08:52] LEGO Technic.

[01:10:59] Zoom calls connecting people in more ways than one.

[01:11:54] Travelling to North Korea.

[01:13:49] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[01:13:53] "Why don't I give it a try?"

[01:15:46] Advice may not take your capabilities and experience into account. Be discerning.

[01:20:13] There's an art to giving and receiving feedback.

[01:22:28] Finding out more about Gabriella and her work.

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A member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network for the Future of Digital Economy and Society, Civic Participation and the Future of Government, Audrey is passionate about how technology may be designed for better government and societal outcomes.

Previously a Senior Policy Advisor for the Australian Treasury, Audrey has worked for over a decade in areas relating to Australia’s labour market, taxation and social policy.

A long-standing advocate of Open Source Models in Government, Audrey is deeply interested in how information evolves and flows within society. She is also a Cybernetics enthusiast and a student of human sense-making.

In our conversation, we talk about context and resilience, and how we approach living systems.

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In our conversation, we talk about Anika's journey and passion for communicating agroecology and climate change awareness.

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In our conversation, we talk about Cairo's indirect journey to cyber security, and what cyber security entails from policy to supply chain cyber security and social engineering.

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In our conversation, we talk about Australian native bees, bee conservation, and biological taxonomy.

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Pia is currently the Digital Lead and Special Advisor for the Benefits Delivery Modernization program at Service Canada (ESDC) in Ottawa, Canada. There she is helping design and deliver a holistic and modern digital channel for the Canadian Government to deliver a delightful, dignified, user-centric, responsive and integrated digital journey that motivates and empowers people to help themselves.

In our conversation, we talk about digital commons, public policy, and Pia's dream of an optimistic future.

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[1] Pia has also studied martial arts since 1990, so she is more qualified than most to this title 😉

PS. I'm sorry about the noise, old house, tin roof, heavy rain. :(

In our conversation, we talk about Jesslyn's past life in Augmented and Virtual Reality, tech communities and democratisation, and reflecting on attending women's educational institutions..

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In our conversation, we talk about Marsha's engineering journey, Putney's World, and underwater hockey.

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Although an academic at heart, Dr Stephanie is passionate about learning through play. She can be found helping young kids explore the fascinating world around them.

Over the years, Dr Stephanie has taught science to all age groups, both in and out of the classroom, helping toddlers learn about their world and college students define theirs. She is an active member of the chemistry education community and is currently a committee member of the International Activities Committee for the Division of Chemical Education.

Dr Stephanie earned her Ph.D. in the Learning Sciences and her M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Saint Mary’s College.

For great learning activities in the sciences, book recommendations, and more, follow Dr Stephanie on Instagram at @letslearnaboutscience.

In our conversation, we talk about learning sciences, education, and Stephanie's book Let's Learn about Chemistry.

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In our conversation, we talk about microbial ecology, seahorses, whales, and working in Antarctica.

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In our conversation, we talk about planetary sciences, icy worlds, and the upcoming NASA Lucy Mission.

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In our conversation, we talk about indirect paths to tech, entrepreneurship, and Co.Lab.

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Dr Lesher has authored of over 55 scientific publications which focus on understanding the structure of nuclei in journals such as Physical Review C, Physical Review Letters, and Nuclear Physics A. She is also interested in the intersection of physics and human rights and has served as the chair of the American Physical Society’s Committee on International Freedom of Scientists.

At an undergraduate institution, she works on developing the next generation of scientists and educating non-science majors in nuclear issues which includes developing and hosting a podcast on the intersection of nuclear science and society called My Nuclear Life available to the general public. Serving as the Director of the Division of Nuclear Physics Conference Experience for Undergraduate (CEU) program she arranges for undergraduate students to attend a national nuclear physics conference to present their research.

She has held postdoctoral fellowships at the Katholiek Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Her scientific research is funded by the National Science Foundation. Some recent honors include Fellowship at the American Physical Society and the Yale Presidential Visiting Scholar.

In our conversation, we talk about how nuclear sciences impacts our world, and Shelly's love of shoes.

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This led her to the field of science communication where she has stayed ever since, working in a range of roles and countries. Merryn enjoys the diverse issues science communication allows her to explore, applying her innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Merryn has worked and conducted qualitative and quantitative research nationally and internationally, in both non-academic and academic roles. She regularly contributes to ABC Radio on ABC Sydney's Nightlife and Radio National's Research Filter, talking about interesting science from around the world. Merryn designs and delivers science communication workshops, as well as workshops specifically for women in STEM.

Merryn's research contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between science, media and publics. She conducts research which explores why publics react and respond to scientific issues the way they do in a variety of different disciplines including public health and conservation science. She is actively building a research program exploring the influence of equity, inclusion and intersectionality in STEM, especially STEM communication.

In our conversation, we talk about science communication research and perceptions of women STEM communicators.

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Dani is a Lecturer in the School of Population and Global Health at The University of Western Australia and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is also a Visiting Lecturer in Water, Sanitation and Health within the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Leeds and an Honorary Fellow within the School of Public Health at The University of Queensland.

In our conversation, we talk about water and sanitation systems, WASH Failures, and pantomime.

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From 2018 - 2019 Natasha  was in the field collecting dietary and social data in conjunction with faecal samples and habitat surveys to allow her to identify not only the composition of the chimpanzee’s gut microbial communities, but also the potential mechanisms by which habitat fragmentation can act upon it. With more and more evidence linking the gut microbiome to health, this research is an important piece of the puzzle in understanding how changes in habitat can influence the long-term health and viability of endangered chimp populations. Ultimately she hopes her work will make a meaningful contribution to the conservation of chimpanzees by informing management decisions that promote preserving intact habitats and reconnecting isolated fragments.

Natasha holds a Bachelor of Biological Science (Advanced) from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Anatomy & Human Biology from UWA.

In addition to her PhD research, Natasha is also the Africa Programs & Conservation Campaigns Manager with the Jane Goodall Institute Australia. In this role she oversees the administration and implementation of the projects JGIA supports including The Girls Empowerment Project in Uganda, Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, and Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in Republic of Congo.

In our conversation, we talk about habitat fragmentation, developing a chimpanzee superhighway, and how empowering girls can lead to better economic, social, and ecological outcomes.

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In our conversation, we talk about stellar evolution, kilonovae, and roller derby.

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During her time at Ohio State, she founded and presided over student organisation Code 4 Community (C4C) for three years. C4C is designed to demonstrate and implement the benefits of computer science in a humanitarian way, including a long-term project of building a website to help adolescents struggling with mental health and outreach to local grade schools to generate interest in computer science. She is passionate about sharing STEM with underrepresented communities, including women, minorities, and rural areas.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading and creative fiction writing, fitness, and taking care of houseplants.

In our conversation, we talk about technical program management and Code 4 Community.

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Ms. Hester is a member of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council. She served as a senior advisor to the Deputy Minister of the Government of Alberta, Canada and as a policy team member of Alberta’s Premier Alison Redford Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta leadership campaign. She was the founding director of the Latin American Research Centre at the University of Calgary, and a faculty member of the University of Calgary Haskayne Global Energy EMBA. Ms. Hester has extensive experience as a data and energy sector consultant for leading companies, governments, and multilateral institutions in several countries of the Americas.

Ms. Hester has a master’s degree in economics and has written for a variety of multilateral institutions, academic publications and think-tanks. She was a frequent contributor to Oxford Analytica and has authored numerous articles in policy and energy journals.

In our conversation, we talk about data visualisation and Annette's unique journey to data sciences.

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In our conversation, we talk about entrepreneurship, mentoring, and diversity.

Show Notes (link)

[01:08] Emily's interest in science and technology.

[06:25] Growing a business internationally.

[07:48] Kenichi Ohmae's 3Cs model.

[09:12] Case Example: Volograms volumetric holograms.

[11:44] Getting involved with SXSW Pitch.

[12:06] Founding SportsTech Ireland.

[13:40] What being on a VC/investor advisory board entails.

[14:36] Giving back through mentoring.

[15:22] On mentoring relationships.

[19:26] "What We Can Learn from Lobster About Stress" - Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski

[20:31] Rowing, and learning resilience.

[21:18] On the qualities of a mentee.

[24:09] "No Assholes, Money Doesn't Actually Matter".

[24:47] Filtering the wheat from the chaff in pitches.

[25:55] The human element of success in business.

[26:53] The importance of diversity in teams.

[27:44] Teams and Problem Solving: Key logs and logjams.

[31:02] Goals for this year.

[31:58] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[33:14] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[34:34] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[36:11] The importance of diverse skillsets in the future.

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Kids Connecting Nature is balanced with her other role, as the General Manager of Roots and Shoots (The Jane Goodall Institute Australia), a program designed to inspire youth to identify local proactive solutions to the issues impacting biodiversity and humanity worldwide.

Abbie’s book ‘A Hollow is a Home’ (CSIRO) explains complex conservation issues and scientific concepts by introducing young readers to the fascinating lives of over 340 Australian animals - united in their need for a tree hollow. The primary aim of the book is to provide that ‘penny drop moment’ about animal behaviour, their needs, interconnectedness, and the vital need to foster a sustainable environment. It was shortlisted for the Environmental Book of the Year 2020 (Wilderness Society), and the Children’s Book of the Year, Eve Pownall Award 2020 (Children’s Book Council Australia). Abbie’s passion as an educator is deeply influenced by her bushland upbringing and she strives to empower people to understand, celebrate and foster biodiversity.

In our conversation, we talk about environmental education and tree hollows for wildlife.

Show Notes (link)

[01:12] Coming from film and television to science.

[03:51] Attunement with the bush driving the passion for environmental education.

[06:13] The focus on tree hollows for 'A Hollow is a Home'.

[06:44] The diverse range of animals that depend on tree hollows.

[08:32] Developing the themes for the book around the needs of the animals.

[10:40] The reason for a lot of tree hollow research based in Australia.

[13:50] How we mitigate the loss of tree hollows habitats.

[15:31] Conveying the ideas of preservation to the younger generation.

[18:02] The Jane Goodall Institute Roots & Shoots Program.

[19:40] Community Project: Welcoming wombats at school.

[21:27] Service to the community.

[22:08] How the ideas for Roots & Shoots projects come about.

[23:46] The National Youth Leadership Council.

[27:06] Eco-anxiety and how to combat it.

[31:19] Thinking about our impact.

[33:39] The need to know the negatives as well as what is being done to change them.

[35:10] The opportunities to incorporate environmental sustainability in the school curriculum.

[35:47] Small changes with a greater effect.

[37:31] The joy of introducing nature to kids.

[39:49] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[39:55] Painting landscapes and nature.

[40:08] Hand-raising a magpie.

[44:22] Making models.

[47:34] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[49:32] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[54:24] Reaching out to Abbie.

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Blake has a major focus on taking the time to understand an audience: what drives them and what they find interesting and important, then developing clever and creative ways to engage with and educate those audiences on relevant scientific topics. Blake operates her own science communication business, which focuses predominantly on grant and report writing, but she also has a passion for sharks, and for promoting better education and understanding of these animals.

She has published two books Shark Attacks: Myths, Misunderstandings and Human Fear; Ocean Animals: The Weirdest, Smartest and Sneakiest Sea Creatures and a wide variety of other publications, and is an experienced public speaker. She loves developing education packages for kids, in particular, and endeavours to help create a world where sharks are respected more than feared.

In our conversation, we talk about sharks, shark attacks, and Blake's enthusiasm for science communication.

Show Notes (link)

[00:58] The attraction of marine biology.

[02:51] Where Blake saw herself after getting her qualifications.

[05:33] The decision to pursue shark neuroscience and shark vision.

[09:07] Shark camouflage wetsuits.

[13:12] The current state of research in the area.

[15:07] The complexities of oceanic research.

[15:58] Working as an independent researcher and communicator.

[18:18] On writing 'Shark Attacks'.

[20:59] Wanting to understand the fear.

[25:12] The impact of communicating with victims of shark attack.

[27:02] How we shift from a position of fear.

[31:10] Approaching education for adults.

[34:02] Traditional and new approaches to regional management of sharks.

[35:13] SMART drum lines and Reunion Island's management strategies.

[36:57] Drones.

[41:29] Getting KISS to play for sharks.

[47:51] On writing 'Ocean Animals'.

[50:52] Deciding on which animals to include.

[52:26] The process of writing for children and for adults.

[56:03] Blake's work assisting others with their science communication.

[59:28] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[03:01] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[05:04] Bonus Question 3: What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what should they ignore?

[10:07] Reaching out to Blake.

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While working there, she gained extensive experience in neuropsychological testing of clinical study participants in addition to continuing some laboratory work alongside. Sabine ultimately completed her PhD in Neurosciences within the same research group through the University of Western Australia in Perth.

Sabine has a true passion for learning about scientific matters, which includes reading and learning about a broad spectrum of fields, and does not reject an opportunity that helps her expand her horizons, provides a challenge, or gives new thinking tools to apply to all situations in life.

In our conversation, we talk about STEM education and communication, Alzheimer's research, and endurance cycling.

Show Notes (link)

[00:50] Sabine's journey from biology to neuroscience.

[01:37] The European practice of working in your field of study while you complete your studies.

[02:02] Completing her studies in Ireland.

[04:02] Taking a 'gap year' to... study more.

[05:11] The factors that contribute to Europe having better access to applicable part-time jobs while studying.

[05:43] The ABC region.

[07:25] Observations on the density and support of similar industries in Perth and Australia.

[08:16] Diversity of experience and backgrounds expands our thinking and leads to more advances.

[10:52] Cultivating educational support for the young.

[13:06] Counter the geographic isolation of Australia with more opportunities for international exchange.

[14:07] Sabine's experiences with science communication at schools.

[14:32] Observations about home economics as a subject at school.

[16:07] Speculating on curriculum changes.

[17:47] What is science anyway?

[20:14] The breadth of scope of science and opening your mind to possibilities.

[22:49] From biological sciences to Alzheimer's research.

[25:46] Science is a team sport.

[29:48] Sabine's PhD topic.

[31:38] The relationship between Sabine's endurance cycling and her research.

[34:50] The kinds of experiences and opportunities a background in science can lead to.

[39:27] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[41:11] How Sabine found her way to endurance cycling.

[42:28] Sabine's achievements in endurance cycling.

[44:47] The effects of sleep deprivation.

[46:17] Training for an event like the Race Across America.

[48:39] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[51:49] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[56:46] Reaching out to Sabine.

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In our conversation, we talk about probiotic durian beer, food science, and bubble tea.

Show Notes (link)

[01:00] Kriza's interest in Food and Nutrition Sciences.

[01:53] Pursuing a career in academia.

[02:18] Kriza's focus on probiotics and her Masters research.

[03:06] The untapped potential of probiotics.

[03:42] Exploration of non-dairy probiotic options.

[04:35] Kriza's research using durian rind to develop probiotic beer.

[05:55] Trying her hand at homebrew.

[07:13] Learning that durian rind had a preservative effect on bacteria.

[08:28] The wives' tale about consumption of durian with alcohol.

[09:18] The unexpected popularity of her research.

[10:24] Kriza's new probiotic bubble tea venture.

[12:08] How probiotics can reduce sugar levels in bubble tea.

[12:53] Juggling an academic career with a startup.

[14:39] Marker 25

[14:58] Starting a new business during a pandemic.

[16:28] Kriza's research into indigenous vegetable consumption.

[18:54] The importance of local food industry related research.

[20:29] The affects of globalisation on local diets.

[21:33] Other regional academic efforts in this area.

[21:53] Supporting local through her own business.

[23:02] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[25:02] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[25:18] "The Purpose Driven Life".

[26:23] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[27:41] Reaching out to Kriza.

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In our conversation, we talk about Mars Rovers, Star Wars, and cake decorating.

Show Notes (link)

[00:37] Keri's pursuit of meteorology.

[01:50] Astronomy as a potential path.

[02:12] Possible career paths in space.

[02:44] Her introduction to Space Weather

[03:35] Keri's first experiences with the rover missions.

[03:54] Spirit and Opportunity Rovers.

[04:51] Phoenix Mars Lander.

[05:54] Applying her meteorology studies to her rover mission experiences.

[06:33] Curiosity Rover.

[06:50] Keri's path to JPL.

[08:58] Dawn Mission.

[09:55] Filling the gaps in knowledge between her meteorology background and her work.

[10:36] Test beds.

[11:44] Building her own R2-D2.

[14:28] On becoming a Rover Planner.

[16:03] The process for certifying to be a Rover Planner.

[18:42] Certifying for individual Rovers.

[19:10] Her role as a Helicopter Integration Engineer on the Perseverance Rover drone, Ingenuity.

[20:11] Earth-side duplicate and testing of the drone.

[21:39] A day in the life of Keri.

[22:56] Working remotely.

[26:22] Coming up next for Curiosity and Perseverance.

[26:34] Curiosity: Wet Chemistry Experiment.

[27:28] Perseverance: Landing Day.

[27:59] Preparations for Landing Day.

[29:03] Flight software transitions.

[30:54] Handling the unexpected.

[32:14] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?

[34:07] Keri's cosplay.

[36:46] Porgs and PORGs.

[40:27] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?

[42:04] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

[43:03] Exploring other topics if they are of interest.

[43:21] Gaining astronomy experience with the HUBBLE

[45:38] Reaching out to Keri.

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In our conversation, we talk about the SKA, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), and her love of cycling.

Show Notes (link)

[01:08] Rebecca's journey to the SKA. [03:39] What drew Rebecca to the SKA Telescope project. [06:47] Project management is a transferrable skill. [07:25] Western Australia's Radio Quiet Zone. [08:22] The current state of the infrastructure. [09:23] The applications of the SKA. [11:01] The state of technology for this scale. [12:02] Moore's Law. [13:05] Rebecca's role as Site Entity Leader. [15:09] Managing the radio quiet zone. [16:54] Coordinating participation between 15 countries. [17:59] The structure of the SKA Organisation. [19:39] Design and infrastructure considerations. [22:31] Taking a unit in astrophysics. [24:49] Rebecca and her Amstrad. [27:45] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [28:32] Getting into track cycling. [30:26] Rebecca's interest in the competitive side of cycling. [32:32] Juggling work and the training required for competition. [34:47] At Rebecca's competitive level, where to from here? [37:11] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [38:42] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [41:20] Reaching out to Rebecca and the SKA.

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

She loves to study and accidentally ended up with a Bachelor of Arts as well as the intended Bachelor of Science. She couldn’t help but go on to postgraduate study in writing and marketing. This blend of different interests and skills have all been channelled into her work at CSIRO, in various roles, over the past 15 years.

Jasmine loves to sing and plays ukulele, cello and piano (and anything else she can get her hands on). She has recently begun performing her own original songs.

In our conversation, we talk about Double Helix, music, and CSIRO Publishing’s new book, More Hands-On Science.

Show Notes (link)

[01:01] Jasmine's academic explorations [01:22] The importance of a balance between science and the arts. [02:03] Wanting to understand her relationship with the world around her. [02:33] Adding the Arts to her coursework. [03:23] Choosing to study the Philosophy of Science for her Honours. [04:12] Where Jasmine envisaged her path would lie. [07:12] How she found her way to becoming Editor of Double Helix. [07:55] On presenting hands-on science shows in the Northern Territory. [08:10] What editorial work at Double Helix involves. [09:17] The focus group of children consulted for the magazine. [09:37] The Double Helix Magazine. [10:32] The production process for an issue. [12:02] Communicating concepts for a wide age range. [14:06] A typical day. [16:02] Tying in the online content. [17:59] Hooping for Helix. [19:13] Early Helixes and how times have changed. [22:12] How Jasmine's role and the work her team does changed over the years. [23:16] Starting to encourage critical thinking early through science-fiction. [25:03] Creating a framework for children to ask more questions. [26:49] Science communication at different levels. [29:24] "More Hands-On Science" [30:07] Developing the activities for the book. [32:02] The target audience for the book. [33:05] The safety and environmental considerations of the activities. [34:43] Gauging content for inclusion and inclusiveness in the publication. [36:09] Diversity in publications. [37:55] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [38:01] Music for connection, community, and relaxation. [43:39] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [44:34] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [46:22] Working on the roadshows. [47:53] Reflections on her path. [48:29] Reaching out to Jasmine.

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

A change of lifestyle when she and her family moved to Canada resulted in her first novel, AfterZoe. Living down the road from the SARS outbreak also provided the seed for her next novel, An Ordinary Epidemic, released by MidnightSun Publishing in May 2015.

The novel was released in the US and UK under the title Before This Is Over.

Amanda lives a pleasant stroll from Coogee Beach in Sydney with her two computer oriented sons and husband and two non-computer oriented cats.

In our conversation, we talk about her novel Before This Is Over/An Ordinary Epidemic, volunteering with FIRST Robotics Australia, and bookbinding.

Show Notes (link)

[00:53] Amanda's beginnings in computer science. [01:31] What initially sparked Amanda's interest in the field. [02:16] What it was like studying computer science in the 80s. [03:03] Amanda's thoughts on the gender distribution and completion rate of women in the program. [04:21] Thinking about the shape of your life. [05:47] The more things change the more things stay the same. [06:34] Where Amanda saw herself after completing computer science. [07:20] Coming to the realisation the field as it was then was not for her. [08:01] Getting into technical writing. [09:08] The desire to be a writer. [09:40] The transition to writing as a profession. [10:25] How one becomes a writer. [11:00] Getting published. [11:51] The re-release of Amanda's novel Before This Is Over. [12:31] Releasing a book under different titles. [13:52] Basing the novel on her experiences during the SARS outbreak in Canada. [15:54] Reflecting on her writing in light of the current epidemic. [18:47] Musing on the reviews the novel received on GoodReads. [19:36] Volunteering with FIRST Robotics. [20:41] What the volunteer work entails. [21:50] "Coopetition" [24:09] Being able to watch the kids develop with their teams. [25:39] The value of role-models. [26:30] Women in FIRST. [28:15] The difference in technological and information accessibility then and now. [30:02] Amanda's coding experiences since. [31:50] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [32:49] What drew Amanda's interest into bookbinding. [34:05] We start waxing lyrical and romanticising books. [36:03] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [38:32] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [41:19] How to be motivated to persevere. [45:41] Reaching out to Amanda

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

Show Notes (link)

[00:35] Michelle's beginnings in chemistry. [01:37] The rebellious act of studying law. [02:26] Deciding to do the Honours degree that would lead her into higher chemistry. [03:21] Project Topic: Making cyclic peptides. [04:25] Where Michelle saw her degree taking her. [04:31] Deciding academia wasn't for her. [05:03] Potentially combining her legal and science backgrounds. [05:51] Taking up blogging about beauty science during her PhD. [06:04] Michelle's interest in beauty products and curiosity over their claims. [07:12] Developing foundations in science communication. [08:15] The applications of cyclic peptides. [09:04] What is supramolecular chemistry? [09:31] Amine receptor binding. [10:11] Making an enzyme mimic. [10:45] The applications of the mimic. [11:33] Keeping up with the new science for Lab Muffin. [12:45] How much debunking still needs to be done? [13:02] The "blue light" protection trend. [13:50] The issues behind consumer lead product development. [14:33] Helping the scientists with their cognitive dissonance. [14:58] The concept of "clean beauty" as a marketing tool. [16:35] Discerning how much concern is warranted in the context of cosmetic exposure. [17:28] Empathy in science communication. [18:00] Michelle's work as a science educator. [18:47] The satisfaction of making an impact as a science communicator. [20:12] Joining a tutoring company after completing her PhD. [20:51] Matching her communication to the scientific literacy of the general population. [21:15] The Panadol analogy for poison dosage. [21:53] Juggling a day job and Lab Muffin. [21:57] Michelle's disciplined work routine. [26:02] The most interesting thing Michelle has learned in the course of her work with Lab Muffin. [27:29] The state of science communication and Asian representation in Australia. [30:01] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [33:25] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [34:27] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to study chemistry, or do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [37:18] Reaching out to Michelle. Connect with STEAM Powered:

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

Her work focuses on spatial point process methodology and she is the author of “Statistical Analysis and Modelling of Spatial Point Patterns” (Wiley, 2008), which has become a standard work on point process modelling since its publication. Her research profile focuses on the development of modern, realistically complex, spatial statistical methodology that is both computationally feasible and relevant to end-users. She has taken spatial point processes from the theoretical literature into the real world and encouraging statistical development by fostering strong relationships with the user community.

Her research has impacted on spatial modelling and biodiversity research in the context of ecology, and she has diversified to applications in crime modelling, earthquake forecasting, environmental modelling and terrorism studies.

In our conversation, we talk about spatial point modelling and its applications in the areas of ecology, orangutan populations, and COVID.

Show Notes (link)

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In her research, Evelyne uses Australia’s largest supercomputers as well as lab-based experiments to understand how small molecules interact with the surface of cells. This includes studying how chemical compounds found in venomous animals, plants, or honey interacts with cell membranes. The knowledge from her research helps other scientists to develop new pharmaceuticals or understand how drugs enter cells.

Apart from her research, she is passionate about supporting diversity and equity in STEM and teaching the next generation of scientists to be 'critical thinkers'. She also tries to integrate her yoga practice of kindness and gratitude into how she leads her research team.

In our conversation, we talk about her journey to computational chemistry, her research on honey and spider venoms in membrane biophysics, academic career development, and yoga.

Show Notes (link)

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about morality in games, board game accessibility, and parkrun.

Show Notes (link)

[00:40] What drew Pauline to game design, computer ethics, and accessibility [01:06] Pauline's background and exposure to computers [01:42] From biology and sociology to computer science [02:49] Developing the HNC and HND Computer Games Development qualification [04:14] Where that qualification can lead [04:40] Setting up teams and incubators during the program [06:38] Pauline's interest in computer ethics [07:21] Teaching ethics through the case study "Scandal in Academia" [08:47] Student reception to learning ethics in computing [09:35] The lessons behind the lesson [10:38] Also, PhDs: Beware of what you're getting into [11:18] The potential for exploitation in academia [13:25] On independent research and publishing [14:24] Teaching ethics to both computing students and police officers [15:13] How to assess an ethics unit [16:25] Morality in games [17:40] Morality systems in the "Fallout" (VG) series [19:14] The "Magic Circle” concept [20:29] Empathy as a mechanic in "Life is Strange" (VG) [22:02] The politics of story crafting in games [22:24] The analogy to slavery in "Detroit: Become Human" (VG) [22:56] Ethics and morality as a mechanic in games [23:40] "Papers, Please" (VG) [26:47] How they found a niche in board game accessibility [27:35] Social benefits of board games [29:01] Board game community feedback to their accessibility work [30:50] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [31:19] parkrun [33:52] Starting her own local chapter [36:22] The Swedish parkrun community [38:07] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [39:49] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [39:56] On knowing your worth [40:39] On applying for jobs [41:19] On networking [41:36] Mark Granovetter’s "The Strength of Weak Ties" [41:57] On maintaining connections [43:49] On impostor syndrome [44:52] On "fake it 'til you make it" [45:28] On shaping your work [47:56] Anders Ericsson's "Deliberate Practice" [49:39] Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "Flow"

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

As an undergrad, Stephanie developed improvements to geological dating techniques which lead to the discovery of the age of the oldest land breathing animal.

In our conversation, we talk about being a first-generation college student, make-up, geological dating techniques, and Mars volcanism.

Show Notes (link)

[00:48] What is geochronology? [02:34] The questions that geochronology can answer. [04:04] The accuracy and precision of dating materials. [07:00] Getting retweeted by Chris Hadfield [07:39] What drew Stephanie to the field of geology. [10:39] How minerology connects back to Stephanie's experience with chemistry [10:52] On developing the technique that helped to identify age of the 425-million-year-old millipede fossil from the Scottish island of Kerrera [13:49] On being a first-generation college student. [16:09] How Stephanie stayed focussed and motivated during tough times. [17:36] Finding support at college. [21:04] What learning about Mars volcanism teaches us. [23:44] Stephanie's PhD Mars research [26:12] The volcanic plumbing of Mars [27:32] The techniques used for dating materials from Mars [29:54] On choosing to do a Masters before embarking on a PhD [31:04] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [33:31] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [34:59] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [37:11] Finding the 'good people' on your journey [38:44] Reach out to Stephanie

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about dance fitness, water governance, and the Global Water Forum.

Show Notes (link)

[00:49] Why environmental science [01:46] Working towards a focus on water and water policy [02:47] The importance of water [04:24] The scope of water governance [05:14] The scope and context of water issues globally vs locally [06:18] Australian specific water issues [07:42] The Global Water Forum [09:09] Who the Global Water Forum is for [11:22] The need to draw public attention to a broader range of topics and innovations surrounding water governance [12:15] Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council [14:00] What being managing editor at the Global Water Forum involves [15:08] About the GWF podcast [15:47] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [16:55] About Funk n Fit [18:53] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [20:15] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [25:19] The importance of mentors in career development

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

In our conversation, we talk about her interest in art, the London Cycle Hire Scheme, and renewable energy in agriculture.

Show Notes (link)

[00:47] Studying Environmental Science and Sustainable Development [01:53] Working in sustainable transport [02:53] The London Cycle Hire Scheme [04:27] What coordinating the program entails [06:19] The effect of bike helmet laws on cycle hire programs [08:42] Transitioning to renewables in agriculture [09:36] Introduction to solar in irrigation [11:03] About their Narromine cotton farm [11:42] The controversy around cotton [13:09] Operating costs of diesel pumps [13:28] Installation of the largest hybrid solar / diesel pump system in Australia [14:26] Reduction of carbon emissions [15:10] Other farms setting up similar systems [15:43] Founding the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference [17:24] Interstate participants [18:00] Leasing energy as a secondary income [19:00] The controversy behind the use of ag land [20:07] Agrivoltaics [21:02] Other agriculture businesses taking up renewables [22:07] What is involved in leasing land for energy production [23:11] About Reaqua and solar irrigation [25:15] What's next for the conference [25:39] Sample of the speakers for the next event [26:48] Sharing of new developments in alternative energy solutions [28:11] Support for agricultural renewables in other Australian states [29:03] AgZero2030 [29:29] The impracticality of remote conferences for regional areas [30:10] Moving towards a renewables led recovery [30:55] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [32:32] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [34:36] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?

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