Up Close Research Talk Show

#247: Giving off gas: Agriculture's role in greenhouse emissions

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Biogeochemist Prof William Horwath explains the impact that modern agriculture has on greenhouse gas emissions from the soil. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#246: Where's your compassion? Generation Y and the new empathy deficit

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Social psychologist Dr Sara Konrath discusses intergenerational differences in empathy, and how this important social attribute seems to be diminishing in Generation Y. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#245: Inventing romance: A tangled history of love and desire

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Medieval historian Prof William Reddy examines the conditions in Europe that led to the notion of romantic love. He also looks at the early constructs of love and desire in India and Japan. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#244: The dragon's tango: China's growing engagement in Latin America

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

International relations scholar Assoc Prof Kevin P. Gallagher examines the growing influence in Latin America of a resource-hungry China, and the benefits and risks resulting from Chinese economic activity in the region. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#243: Carrots that stick: Rethinking pleasure and pain as human motivators

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Social psychologist Prof E. Tory Higgins discusses his model of how humans interpret and appreciate reward and punishment, and offers unusual approaches to motivate people to action. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#242: Peak performance: Should elite athletes train at high altitudes?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Exercise physiologist Prof Jerome Dempsey discusses how the human body responds to lower oxygen concentrations at high altitudes and whether elite athletes really benefit from training under such conditions. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#241: Raising emperors: The social cost of China's one-child policy

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Behavioral economists Prof Lisa Cameron and Assoc Prof Nisvan Erkal examine the effects of China’s one child policy on the interpersonal skills of a generation of only children. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#240: Mass nebulous: Our evolving understanding of dark matter

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Cosmologist Dr Katherine Mack delves into the mysteries of dark matter, examining the evidence and scrutinizing current explanations of the phenomenon. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#239: Enquiry on exhibit: Enlisting art to help communicate science

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Science historian and Science Gallery director Dr Michael John Gorman talks about how we can do better in communicating science to the public. He also describes how the Science Gallery, based at Trinity College Dublin, attracts a diverse audience by bringing together art and science. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#238: Rice futures: Biofortifying food crops for better nutrition

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Plant molecular biologist Dr Alex Johnson explains how genetic engineering of rice grain could help to stave off malnutrition in the developing world. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#237: Maps and minds: Making car and mobile navigation systems people friendly

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Geospatial scientist Professor Stephan Winter explains the intelligence behind car navigation systems and the challenges of digitising map data. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#236: Mercury rising: The impact of distant human activity on Antarctica

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Atmospheric chemist Dr Robyn Schofield discusses how industrial pollution makes its way to the pristine Antarctic continent, and explains the chemistry behind the resulting annual mercury deposition events. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#235: Tight-lipped transactions: Degrees of transparency in sovereign wealth funds

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Political economist Assoc Prof Christopher Balding examines the rapid rise of sovereign wealth funds in global finance, and focuses on issues of transparency and governance. He also discusses the impact that such large sums of money have on domestic and international politics. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#234: It's alimentary: The brain, the gut's nervous system, and links to autism

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Neuroscientist Dr Elisa Hill and Gastroenterologist Dr Kent Williams discuss the complex interactions between our brain and neurons found in the gut, and consider the over-representation of gastrointestinal disorders in children with autism. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#233: Vested interests: What conditions create suicide bombers?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Sociologist Professor Riaz Hassan discusses the social and political environment that motivates some people to become suicide bombers. Riaz also explores whether there is a relationship between Islamism and terrorism. Presented by Jacky Angus.

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#232: Going the distance: Lessons in staying motivated on long-term projects

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Management expert and sociologist Prof Bruce Barry discusses the behaviors and mindsets of those who persevere with long-term -- and very long-term -- projects. Bruce also explains how some businesses can benefit from adopting a longer term view. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#231: Prizes and pitfalls: What foreign firms encounter when partnering with China

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Innovation management expert Prof Elisabeth Mueller discusses the roles that research and the creation of intellectual property (IP) play in increasing productivity of China's corporations. She also examines the benefits and risks facing foreign businesses who venture into China's enormous market. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#230: Sweet and sour: China in Africa, beyond the headlines

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Sino-African relations expert Prof Deborah Brautigam examines China’s involvement and investments in Africa, and highlights the nuances in relations that the news media often glosses over. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#229: Less than us: Are people hardwired to dehumanize others?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Social psychologist Prof Nick Haslam explains what it means to be dehumanised, and how people are capable of viewing and treating their fellow human beings as less than themselves. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#228: Show us your mutations: Curating genetic variation in human populations

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Geneticist Prof Richard Cotton discusses the Human Variome Project, a global initiative to collect and curate all human genetic variation affecting human health.

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#227: Contentedly caged? Researching the behavior of animals in captivity

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Doctoral students Sally Sherwen and Megan Verdon describe their investigations of animal behaviour in enclosures, from animals on display at the zoo, to pigs being bred for food. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#226: Early enrichment: Giving indigenous children a head start

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Early childhood researcher Prof Collette Tayler explains how the Abecedarian approach, a behavioral and social conditioning program originally developed in the United States to give at-risk toddlers a head start in life, is being adapted to help very young children of remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#225: Susan Greenfield: Fifty shades of grey matter

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Neuroscientist and synaptic pharmacologist Prof Baroness Susan Greenfield discusses how neuroscience sheds light on our understanding of consciousness. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#224: Radicals in the gallery: Scientists contend with nature's art vandals

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Chemistry professor Carl Schiesser and art conservator Caroline Kyi discuss how understanding the effect of free radicals on pigment helps art galleries and museums preserve important works of art. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#223: Mild to severe: What's behind the rise in food allergies in children?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Childhood allergy expert Prof Katie Allen discusses the emerging epidemic of food allergies in children and its causes. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#222: Ready or not: International students, language barriers, and cultural fit

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Higher education researchers Assoc Prof Sophia Arkoudis and Dr Chi Baik examine how and why international university students in English-speaking countries grapple with the language, and suggest solutions. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#221: Pump it up: Exercise, your muscles, and type 2 diabetes

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Cell biologist and sports physiologist Prof Mark Febbraio discusses research that uncovers the relationship amongst exercise, muscular activity, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#220: The new gilded age: How consumerism and grandiosity have pervaded post-affluent societies

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:02:58 +0000

Organizational theorist Prof Mats Alvesson takes a critical look at the pervasive cultures of consumerism and status elevation in the 21st century. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#219: Lifting the baseline: Tackling healthcare challenges in developing economies

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:59:53 +0000

Paediatrician and public health researcher Dr David Hipgrave discusses the challenges to the provision of healthcare in developing economies. He also takes a close look at infant mortality and child health in these countries. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#218: When silence is golden: What is said and left unsaid between friends in China and Taiwan

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:49:19 +0000

Assoc Prof Sun Shaojing discusses how the cultural and political context shapes interpersonal communication in China and Taiwan. Shaojing also gets up close to Chinese and Taiwanese societies through the linguistic lens of topic avoidance.

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#217: Joint resolution: Interrogating muscle and bone for better surgical outcomes

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Biomedical engineer Marcus Pandy and orthopaedic surgeon Peter Choong discuss how modern imaging technology is shedding light on human locomotion, particularly in knees and other joints. They also explain how this new found knowledge is used to improve surgical outcomes for patients. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#216: Tailings tidy up: How bioremediation can repair the damage done by mining

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Biogeochemist Dr John Moreau and botanist Dr Augustine Doronila discuss how contaminated mining sites can be rehabilitated with the help of a biological approach using plants and bacteria. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#215: Working stiffs: Corporatism and its impact on our jobs and lives

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 04:38:53 +0000

Organizational theorist Prof Peter Fleming examines how corporatism pervades virtually every aspect of the lives of the modern worker and suggests ways in which we can regain work-life balance. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#214: Toxic titbits? The effects of nanoparticles on our health

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Bio-nanoscience investigator Prof Kenneth Dawson discusses current research into nanoparticles and their potential effects on our health. With host Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#213: Becoming Brazilian: The making of national identity in the South American giant

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Historian Prof Marshall Eakin takes us beyond Brazil’s emblematic moments of Carnaval and World Cup victories to examine the country’s long path to a national consensus on what it means to be Brazilian. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#212: Tender truths: The real costs of letting the private sector deliver public services

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Public policy experts Prof John Alford and Assoc Prof Janine O’Flynn discuss the hidden costs and long-term effects of outsourcing important public services to for-profit firms in the private sector. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#211: Sexing the wallaby: Marsupial reproduction and what it says about us

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:04:37 +0000

Biologist Prof Geoff Shaw discusses research into the reproductive cycle of Australia’s Tammar Wallaby, how it contributes to our understanding of developmental biology, and the insights it provides into sex determination in humans. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#210: Not just the King's speech: Stuttering and its causes

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Speech pathology researcher Prof Nan Bernstein Ratner discusses the condition of stuttering, how research into stuttering informs models of language acquisition, and possible therapies for the condition. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#209: Ageing's all the rage: The science behind growing old

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

In a wide ranging discussion on ageing, Professor Dame Linda Partridge delves into the research findings on longevity in humans and animals, and ponders evolutionary perspectives on the ageing process. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#208: Stem cell therapy: The hope and the hype

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Pioneering stem cell researcher Prof Martin Pera discusses where stem cell research has been and where it’s going, the therapeutic potential of stem cell technologies, and what we should and shouldn’t expect from this fast-developing research field. With host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#207: Happiness beyond retail therapy: A philosopher's view

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Philosopher Prof Dan Russell discusses the meaning of a good life and explores ways of achieving such a life. With host Jennifer Martin.

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#206: Bionic eyes: Emerging technologies in the battle to restore vision

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Optometrist Dr Lauren Ayton discusses the biology of vision, and how we’re trying to combat blindness through the development of bionic eyes. Lauren also discusses the research and development pathways that must be traversed before these devices become widely available. With science host Shane Huntington.

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#205: Someone's following me: Stalking, stalkers and their victims

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Forensic psychologist Rosemary Purcell discusses stalking, the different types of stalkers, and suggests ways for victims to deal with unwanted attention. Presented by Jennifer Martin.

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#204: Particles of doubt: What if it wasn't the Higgs boson?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Physicists Dr Serguei Ganjour and Dr Martin White delve into the details around the "likely" discovery of the Higgs boson and discuss the uncertainties that still surround the newly observed particle. They ask what it means for our understanding of the universe and of physics if it turns out not to be the Higgs. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#203: How we respond to music: Cultural construct or hardwired into the brain?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Behavioral scientist and musician Assoc Prof Neil McLachlan brings a scientific understanding of sound to his research on our emotional responses to music. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#202: China life: Managing cultural taboos in your marketing strategy

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Sociologist Associate Professor Cheris Chan recounts the expensive lessons foreign insurance firms have had to learn in China and other ethnically Chinese countries when encountering cultural taboos and superstitions that directly impact on business success. With host Jennifer Cook.

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#201: The naked entrepreneur: Deconstructing the modern business icon

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Organizational theorist Prof Andre Spicer peers behind the myths surrounding “entrepreneurs” and “entrepreneurship”, and exposes the reality of these oft-heard terms. With host Jennifer Cook.

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#200: Face to the world: What drives China's foreign policy?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:00:00 +0000

China historian Prof Richard Rigby and political scientist Dr Pradeep Taneja discuss how a newly powerful China fares in promoting and protecting its interests in its dealings with the rest of the world. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#199: Catching evolution in the act: Bird color and the making of new species

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Evolutionary biologist Dr Devi Stuart-Fox explains how bird species in which plumage color form varies from member to member evolve into new species at a faster rate than species of a uniform plumage color form -- confirming a half century-old evolutionary theory. Presented by Dr Shane Huntington.

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#198: Power shift: A Chinese view of China - U.S. relations

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:00:00 +0000

International relations expert Prof Han Zhaoying gives his views on the potentially disrupting factors that threaten the China - United States relationship, and suggests how the two governments might find ways to quell their mutual distrust and seek out ways of working together. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#197: Predicting and preventing epileptic seizures with neural implants

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Prof Mark Cook and Assoc Prof David Grayden discuss new lines of research in neural implants and the associated computational models that allow epilepsy patients to be forewarned of impending seizures. They also discuss nascent technologies that may prevent seizures from occurring. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#196: Written in the sand: al-Qaeda and its prospects in the new Middle East

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Middle East security expert Dr Norman Cigar explains how al-Qaeda’s strategic goals and military posturing are communicated within the organization through its own publications. He also speaks on the challenges al-Qaeda faces in a fast evolving Middle East. With host Jacky Angus.

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#195: Contenders cum laude: Universities competing in the global rankings game

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

International higher education expert Professor Simon Marginson discusses the increasingly influential phenomenon of global ranking of universities, and what it means for students, governments, researchers, and the business of running institutions of higher learning. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#194: Degrees of uncertainty: Modeling the climate impact of greenhouse gases

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Senior climate impact researcher Dr. Malte Meinshausen explains how climate change is modeled, and estimates the effect of timely mitigation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#193: Freer and fairer: Nurturing political transparency in the Middle East

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Charles W. Dunne, Director of Middle East and North Africa Programs for Freedom House, speaks about the efforts of his organisation and others like it to provide political education and training on the ground in the Middle East. With host Jacky Angus.

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#192: Diagnostics overkill: Are we screening for cancer too frequently?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Epidemiologist Professor James Hanley scrutinizes the now standard practice of frequent screening for many types of cancer, and suggests optimal testing intervals may mean less screening overall. Presented by science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#191: Blame it on their youth: Generational forces in an evolving Middle East

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Political economist Professor Emma Murphy examines the social conditions that confront young Arabs in the Middle East, and argues that the youth of today will ultimately remake and redefine the region. Presented by Jacky Angus.

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#190: Germline confidential: Hunting down genes linked to breast cancer

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Genetics researchers Prof Melissa Southey and Prof David Goldgar discuss the enterprise of tracking down genes that make one susceptible to breast cancer. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#189: Easy to say, easy to like: People's names and the impressions they make

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Social psychologist Dr Simon Laham discusses his research linking the pronounceability of a person’s name with perceptions of likeability, and what this might mean for a person’s access to opportunities.

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#188: Exiting autocracy: Democratic prospects and prerequisites in the new Middle East

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Cambridge political scientist Professor George Joffé weighs the chances of representative government emerging in the Middle East, post "Arab Spring". With host Jacky Angus.

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#187: Damned if you do: How gender colors perceptions in negotiations

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Professor of Management Mara Olekalns discusses the complicated effects of gender in negotiations, how women can be disadvantaged when negotiating on their own behalf, and what they can do about it. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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#186: I'm all ears: Improving your organization through active listening

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Human resources management expert Associate Professor Avraham Kluger explains what's wrong with conventional employee appraisal methods in the corporate world, and posits that truly listening to one's workers is good for business. Presented by Jennifer Cook.

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#185: Defending the indefensible: War criminals and the right to a fair trial

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

International criminal law expert Dr Kevin Heller discusses the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and argues why even the worst of war criminals are entitled to the best defense. With host Jacky Angus.

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#184: Double the value: How researching twins benefits everyone

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Epidemiologist Prof John Hopper explains the unique advantages of medical research focusing on twins, and how findings from twins studies enormously benefit the rest of humanity. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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#183: For show only? The language of human rights in national constitutions

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Sociologist Associate Professor Gili Drori explains how the vocabulary of human rights is making its way into the constitutions of nation states, and the degree to which societies actually honour the words in their own national charters.

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#182: Greener revs: Squeezing more efficiency out of gasoline engines

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Control engineer Associate Professor Chris Manzie makes the case that there's a lot of life left in the internal combustion engine, and that petrol engine technology will continue to evolve alongside its hybrid and electric counterparts. With host Dr. Shane Huntington.

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#181: Mirages of influence: The US in the Middle East, post "Arab Spring"

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Political scientist Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh joins host Jacky Angus to talk about the changing geo-political environment confronting the United States in the Middle East, post "Arab Spring".

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#180: Diamond data mining: Quantum computing and the materials that make it possible

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Physicist Professor David Awschalom discusses the powerful potential of quantum computing, and how materials such as diamond play a crucial role in the development of this emerging technology. With host Dr. Shane Huntington.

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#179: Reaping what we sow: Agriculture's role in climate change

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Assoc Prof Richard Eckard examines how modern agriculture contributes to global warming and discusses ways of mitigating the problem. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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#178: Justifying the means: The law as accomplice in crimes against humanity

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Criminologist and lawyer Dr Jennifer Balint discusses how nation-states seek to use the law in support of genocidal practices and other crimes against humanity. She also examines how, conversely, the law is also called upon to bring about reconciliation after regime change. With host Jennifer Cook.

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#177: Delusions of certainty: Regulation through an ethical lens

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Social scientists Assoc Prof Fiona Haines and Prof Nancy Reichman discuss the myths and implications behind authorities’ implementation of regulations, particularly in the wake of a disaster. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 176: Conditions of affluence and aging: fatty liver disease, macular degeneration

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Physicians and doctoral students Dr Chris Leung and Dr Madeleine Adams discuss their research into unravelling the causative factors behind fatty liver disease and macular degeneration, respectively. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

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Episode 175: Healthy moves: Exercise for cancer patients, and insights into arthritis

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Physiotherapist Catherine Granger talks about whether exercise is beneficial to lung cancer sufferers, and Tommy Liu explains how mice are generating insights into arthritis in humans. With science host Dr Dyani Lewis.

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Episode 174: Peak fish: Rising human consumption of seafood, and its implications

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Fisheries scientists Dr Tim Dempster and Dr Reg Watson discuss the pressures on wild fish stocks and debate the role of aquaculture in feeding an increasingly populous world. With science host Dr Dyani Lewis.

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Episode 173: The Sea, the Selves: Poets on Poetry 2

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Australian poets Jennifer Harrison and Philip Salom read from their works, discuss how their perceptions of the world shape their poetry, and how poetry shapes their worlds. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 172: Natural and synthetic: What we're still discovering about polymers

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Polymer scientist Professor Dame Julia Higgins discusses neutron scattering and other techniques used in researching polymers, the large molecules found in nature and synthesised in the manufacture of materials such as nylon and silicon. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 171: In the name of the planet: Armed intervention to protect the environment

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Political scientist Professor Robyn Eckersley proposes a framework for protecting the environment that allows for armed intervention. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 170: Something in the air: Chemical communication via pheromones

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Evolutionary biologist Professor Mark Elgar talks about the hidden smells that surround us – what they communicate to the animals who produce and detect them, and how this sophisticated natural messaging system evolved. With science guest host Dr Dyani Lewis.

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Episode 169: Waves of influence: Television drama as an instrument of soft power in Asia

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Sociologist Professor Chua Beng Huat explains how serial TV dramas have become a soft power currency traded among China, Korea, Japan and other countries in Asia. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 168: Lost generation: Governance gone missing in global energy security

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Energy security and global governance analyst Professor Ann Florini explains the urgent need for global coordination of energy resources, and why existing institutions such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) are not up to the task. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 167: Radically new: Team values, market intelligence and creating innovative products

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Technology management analyst Professor Chris L. Tucci unpacks the interaction between market intelligence and team ideology in companies that create innovative products. Presented by Eric van Bemmel.

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Episode 166: Good dog, bad dog: Dispelling myths about pet behavior

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Animal behaviourist Dr Gabrielle Carter explains how dogs and other pets can be made to acquire desirable behaviors and extinguish undesirable ones. With Science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 165: Early dating techniques: Determining the age of Australopithecus sediba

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Australopithecus sediba, discovered in 2008 in southern Africa, is the most significant paleo-archeological find in recent years. These fossilized specimens have anatomical features lying somewhere between those found in Australopithecus africanus and Homo erectus. Geochemist Dr Robyn Pickering discusses the significance of the find, and how the age of A. sediba was determined. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 164: Secularism, applied religiously: Harmonizing a hyper-diverse India

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Senior journalist and political commentator Dr Swapan Dasgupta explains how secularism is defined and applied in ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse India. And how a sense of harmony -- and occasional lack thereof -- is wrapped up in India's unique take on being secular. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 163: It's our turn now: India's changing take on the English language

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Professor of Literature Alok Rai discusses the many roles played by the English language in contemporary India - as an instrument of mobility, as a marker of privilege, as a badge of identity, and as a forge of a new caste system. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 162: Worming their way: Parasites, their larvae, and your brain

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Parasitologist Professor Marshall Lightowlers explains the risk to animal and human health posed by parasitic flatworms, and how even neurological disorders like epilepsy can result from exposure to tapeworm larvae. With host Dr Dyani Lewis.

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Episode 161: Stretch and squeeze: Sustainability vs. sprawl in crowded Asian cities

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Dr Sidh Sintusingha discusses the phenomenon of urban sprawl and approaches to enabling sustainability in increasingly crowded Southeast Asian urban corridors. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 160: Delusions of development: Pro-market forces at work in the do-good industry

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Dr Toby Carroll discusses the evolution of development programs by institutions such as the World Bank and its subsidiary the International Finance Corporation, and scrutinizes the outcomes of recent strategies involving public-private partnerships and explicitly pro-market approaches. With host Elizabeth Lopez.

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Episode 159: Lawrence M. Krauss: Before and after the Universe

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Theoretical physicist Professor Lawrence M. Krauss discusses how investigating dark matter can shed light on the geometry of our universe, and what this means for our understanding of its origins and demise. With Science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 158: X-ray renaissance: The potential and promise of coherent X-ray optics

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Professor Keith Nugent explains the physics behind X-rays and crystallography, and how new research into the development of X-ray lasers could provide medical scientists with radically new insights into the structure of proteins. With Science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 157: Putting employees first: The new war for talent in knowledge industries

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Human resources expert Prof Ian Williamson explains how the increasing mobility of workers in knowledge industries is creating challenges for employers desperate to maintain their skilled workforce. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 156: Guanxi: Telling apart gifts from bribes when doing business in Asia

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Associate Professor Peter Verhezen explains how cultural understandings of gift giving practices differs across regions, and that Western companies and people doing business in Asian countries need to be aware of the grey area that lies between the offering of gifts and the offering of bribes.

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Episode 155: Endangered animal species: Captive breeding and genetic rescue

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Geneticist Dr Andrew Weeks and animal behaviourist Dr Michael Magrath discuss diverse ways of dealing with threatened animal populations. Australia's Mountain Pygmy Possum is one such endangered species for which a combination of genetic and breeding solutions are being tried. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 154: Keeping it creative: What happens to productivity when innovative firms are acquired?

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Can we predict how a firm's creators and innovators will fare when their firm is swallowed up by another company? Through the lenses of knowledge-based and incentive-based theories of business corporations, strategic management guru Assoc. Prof. Kwanghui Lim discusses what happens to inventors' productivity when there's a change of paymaster. With host Eric van Bemmel.

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Episode 153: Mosquito bytes: Fighting malaria with computational science

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Parasitologist Dr Stuart Ralph explains malaria and how computational modelling developed to better understand the disease will aid the global effort to eradicate it. With host Dr Dyani Lewis.

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Episode 152: Be not afraid of greatness: Shakespeare's vital role in the 21C classroom

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:51:41 +0000

Professor of education Jonothan Neelands explains why the plays of the Bard are as relevant and stimulating as e'er they were to students of all ages today. With host Jennifer Cook.

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Episode 151: Fortune and fortitude: Stories of the Chinese diaspora

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Social scientist Prof. Pookong Kee looks at the successive waves of migration from China and how Chinese identity has evolved among ethnic Chinese in their adopted homelands. With host Jennfier Cook.

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Episode 150: Upwardly mobile: How the cell phone is changing life in India

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Media historian Professor Robin Jeffrey explains how the cell or mobile phone has hugely advanced India‘s economic development and is changing the very fabric of its society. With host Elizabeth Lopez.

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Episode 149: Out of Africa: What human genomics is revealing about us

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Professor of genomic medicine Vanessa M. Hayes discusses our African genomic origins and how exploring global genetic diversity can help us understand and address human disease. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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Episode 148: Targeted delivery: The promise of nanotherapies in treating cancer

up-close@unimelb.edu.au (University of Melbourne) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Chemistry Associate Professor Eva Harth and Chemical Engineer Dr Angus Johnston discuss how cancer treatments may be vastly improved through drug delivery at the nanoscale. With science host Dr Shane Huntington.

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