Fuzzy Logic Science Show

How often have you heard the word 'sustainable' this week? We've been living with this language for so long, it's become almost meaningless. And yet there is possibly no more important concept today as the world plunges into environmental chaos. In this interview we talk to a world expert on why economics is central to this problem. Professor Steve Keen reveals the astonishing incompetence embedded in the IPCC economics analysis. The impacts of neoclassical economics are profound and ongoing. Prof Keen is one of the emminent authors in this new Springer book that examines this topic in depth. He is also a senate candidate for The New Liberals in the election this year. Interview by Rod who is co-editor of the Springer book. www.profstevekeen.com

Where do you go to get your food you're stuck during lockdown or bushfire smoke? And what does it mean to see empty shelves in the supermarket? That can be hard enough for most people, but even harder if you're not mobile. Sathiyakumar Rahanan is researching for his PhD with the University of Canberra where he is looking at the role of local shops. If you're a small shop owner, you can help by being part of his study fooduc@gmail.com (or 0475 614 047). In this episode Rod also interviews documentary maker Derek Muller, who produced Vitamania, on SBS.

This epsiode Fuzzy Logic celebrates Earth Science Week with Geoscience Australia dishing the dirt on how soil is solving crimes around Australia. Dr Patrice de Caritat starts the episode by sharing how researchers in Canberra trialled a new method of tracking criminals using soil. Next up, Natalie Schroeder takes us back in time to share how Australia's first female Commonwealth palaeontologist helped to solve a crime in 1952 using her knowledge of fossils. Finally, Dr Keith Sircombe explains how a machine that uses radioactivity to date ancient rocks was used to match gunshot residue. A show full of ground-breaking research. Special thanks to Geoscience Australia for access to these amazing earth scientists.

The climate change problem is immense and it can feel like we're helpless. Yet in our own way there is a lot we can do. Today on Fuzzy Logic we met people from different backgrounds who demonstrate their own approaches to the problem. Mark Butler, former federal shadow minister for Climate and Energy Andrew Bray https://www.re-alliance.org.au/ Andew Pepar https://www.co2efficient.com.au/home Millie Boehm https://au.citizensclimatelobby.org/ Interviews by Rod via zoom.

This week Broderick dives into the quirky world of the Ignobel Prizes. With talking cats, old chewing gum and beard research we hope this episode will make you laugh and make you think!

In this National Science Week episode of Fuzzy Logic, Broderick explores the geological journey that has occurred to bring food to our plate. Joined by expert scientists from Geoscience Australia, this episode highlights how closely linked our food is to the geology that surrounds us. Guests include Dr Steve Hill, Chief Scientist at Geoscience Australia, Dr Claire Phillips, a remote sensing scientist, and Amy Peterson, Team Lead for the Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

Michael Jennnions is a evolutionary/behavioural ecologist from the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University (ANU).  We discuss what it is to be a behavioural ecologist, some of his work on mosquito fish and his thoughts on how to improve the incentives and process of science publication.   Interviewed by Tom 

Taryn Laubenstein from Future Earth Australia discusses her journey into science, adaptations of sneaky corsican fish and her current work on bringing together scientists, community and industry to develop a vision for the future of Australia's coastal and offshore marine ecosystems. You can hear more from Taryn on her monthly comedy podcast 'The Uncertainty Principle'   Interviewed by Tom

From The Garden of Eden until today, gardens have a special place. There's a special joy, the quiet contemplation of connecting with a small plot of nature. Each week on radio 1RPH, Camilla presents her gardening program. On this occasion she talks to Rod about his book Ten Journeys on a Fragile Planet.

Reducing the environmental footprint of a city is an enormous job, with many threads and engaging many people from diverse backgrounds. While Canberra has shown itself to be a world leader, there's still a very long way to go. How do we get there? In this wide ranging discussion, ACT Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti and Dr Ann Hill from the University of Canberra share their thoughts with Rod. In this conversation we mention an online event at 3pm 5 August with themes around Ten Journeys on a Fragile Planet. More details soon via Twitter @FuzzyLogicSci.

Back in 1980 Alvin Toffler introduced the idea that we are entering the Third Wave, the Information Age. Now see how that has progressed forty years on. The rate of change has been stupendous and the implications deep. It has profoundly changed society in ways we did not predict. With our guest, Tom Worthington, we talk about how we are dependent on working system. What happens, and why do they sometimes fail? Tom Worthington is an independent computer professional, educational design consultant and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing at the Australian National University.  Interview by Rod

Sally-Anne Buck a plant microbiologist from the Australian National University (ANU) joins Tom and Annie to discuss her work.

One of the biggest challenges facing us today is how to source the energy that drives our economy and our society. Where do we get the energy to replace dirty fossil fuels? While renewables are clearly the future, it's crucial to fill the gaps in variable demand. That's where batteries and pumped hydro step in, but are they enough? Tony Irwin is Associate Professor at the ANU and Technical Director at SMR Technology. For a slice of nuclear history, our earlier Fuzzy Logic begins with an interview by Professor Robert Street. His is a remarkable story, having worked on the first nuclear reactor at Harwell, UK. Interview by Rod

Does your lifestyle matter if you're going to have kids? Through the emerging field of epigenetics we are learning that the health of parents affects the health of their children. And surprisingly, this applies to the father as well as the mother. Lamarkian theories aside, this notion goes back to the Dutch Famine of 1944-45 that revealed how nutrition can be linked to offspring. Sundus Nizamani is a PhD researcher at the Faculty of Health, University of Canberra. You get involved with her study via her Facebook page www.facebook.com/Fit4Fertility. Fun, informative and an opportunity to learn about heath. Interview by Rod

This week on Fuzzy Logic, Pint of Science has taken over! Broderick discusses emotions and robots with two local scientists from the University of Canberra who join us thanks to the 2021 Pint of Science Festival. Associate Professor Damith Herath shares what it means to be a roboticist while PhD candidate Keira Bai shares how she's using AI to detect microemotions. For more online Pint of Science events in 2021, further information and registration can be found at  - https://pintofscience.com.au/festival/2021  

Back in 2013 we interviewed Nicole Foss who presents a big picture, systems view of the human future. To do this she fuses an impressive range of topics, from politics, economics, climate change to psychology and energy. She offers a multi-faceted view of our current predicament and, listening to her now, she is as relevant she was then. Interview by Rod

This week on Fuzzy Logic, Broderick interviews engineer James O'Grady from Mainmark Australia to discuss subsidence, what it means for our buildings and how we can keep an eye for it around our house. On top of this, we also share the latest science news for the week including a special Anzac Day piece on the Lone Pine.

While Austalia dithers on tackling climate, the rest of the world moves on. Developments in the US, Europe and Asia put the nation at risk - not just environmentally, but economically. Workers in fossil industries need support to transition to the new economy. Coal and gas threaten water supply and productive farming land. The people who are seeing this directly, are farmers. Huge opportunities are waiting for a government willing to act.   Charlie Prell is chair of Farmers for Climate Action and features in the recent book Ten Journeys on a Fragile Planet. Interview by Rod.

Our guest today has a remarkable story. She's researched cousins marrying, the geographic dispersal of families...and worked in a New Delhi slum. How do you trace your ancestry? Are e-cigarettes a healthy alternative? Just some of the wide ranging topics we discussed. Dr Cathy Day is a biological anthropologist at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the ANU   Interview by Rod    

How do we care for our rivers? How do we turn mountains of foodwaste into animal feed? And more more importantly, how do we tap into the energy that people have to achieve great things? Declan O'Connell from 2xx Rebel Chorus interviews author, Rod Taylor and two people from his new book Ten Journeys on a Fragile Planet. Dr Siwan Lovett is with the Australian River Restoration Centre and Olympia Yarger is founder of Goterra. More on Facebook www.facebook.com/TenJourneysFragilePlanet Ten Journeys on a Fragile Planet