The Science Notes Podcast

Welcome to The Science Notes Podcast, brought to you by the Science Division at the University of Otago and hosted by Dr Dave McMorran. Dive into the fascinating world of scientific research as Dave chats with graduate students about their work and journey into postgraduate study, their love for science, and the music that fuels their creativity. Join us every second Thursday at 6:30 PM on OAR FM Dunedin. You can also visit the Science Notes blog at sciencenotesotago.wordpress.com.

Alzheimer's Stinks with Andrew Wilson

Andrew Wilson, a PhD student in Chemistry, talks about how to make a sensor to detect Alzheimer's disease on someone's breath Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

12-11
26:07

Is that a bee? with Connal McLean

Connal McLean talks about his research into how native bee populations in New Zealand are affected by introduced bees and also about his work in raising the profile of NZ's native bees in the community. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

11-27
25:01

Building Biodiversity into Building with Jacqueline Theis

Jacqueline Theis talks about why we should encourage a consideration of biodiversity when developing urban areas and about a new tool to help with this. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

11-13
24:31

Aging things with Lichens with Kasey Hutchison

Kasey Hutchison, a Master student in Botany, talks about how lichens can help us work out how old something is. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

10-30
26:28

Pursuing Parasites in New Zealand's Birds with Katie Buchang

Katie Buschang, a PhD student in Zoology, studies the impact of the parasite Toxoplasma on the birds of New Zealand Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

10-16
23:32

Measuring the Effects of Pain with Ashlee Berryman

Ashlee Berryman, a PhD student in Neuroscience, talks about how to evaluate the consequences of the pain felt by women with endometriosis. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

10-02
23:50

Finding out about Fossil Fish with Charlie Boocock-Yee

Charlie Boocock-Yee, a Masters student in Zoology, studies the ear bones of fossilised fish to find out about their lives. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

09-18
24:36

Finishing your meal with Elena Piere

PhD student Elena Piere talks about the issues around food waste in aged care facilities in New Zealand and the development of tools to try to reduce this. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

09-04
22:02

Understanding the side-effects of Parkinson's treatment with Lily Bentall

Lily Bentall, a PhD student in Neuroscience, talks about her research into trying to understand levodopa-induced dyskinesia, a widespread side effect of the use of levodopa to treat Parkinsons disease Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

08-21
25:51

Coping with the pressure with Panos Lakeas

Panos Lakeas talks about his PhD research into measuring intercranial pressure in healthy people to try to understand how this is affected by, and can affect, performance in athletes. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

08-07
25:41

Towards Hydrogen Storage with Sand with Alex Haack

Towards Hydrogen Storage with Sand - Alex Haack, a PhD student in Chemistry, talks about his research into transforming sand into a material that can store Hydrogen gas. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

07-24
24:01

Pasifika Understandings of Physical Literacy - Katrina Sharlott

Katrina Sharlott talks about her work in exploring the relationships between health and physical activity in communities in the Cook Islands Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

07-10
23:25

The Science Notes Podcast - Replay - Studying Sea Lions - Hanna Ravn

Please enjoy this replay of Hanna Ravn, a Masters student in Marine Science, talks about her work with the sea lions around Dunedin - how their diets are changing and how they are becoming part of the community. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

05-15
22:17

The Science Notes Podcast - Can sand help run your car? - Lekshmi Dinachandran

Lekshmi Dinachandran talks about her research into how black sand minerals might be used to absorb hydrogen gas for use in engines. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

05-01
23:44

The Science Notes Podcast - Replay - Reducing farts with seaweed - Lily Heidmann

Please enjoy this replay of Lily Heidmann, a MSc student in Marine Science, talking about her studies on how seaweed can reduce methane emissions from livestock. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

04-17
23:59

The Science Notes Podcast - Replay - Studying Seaweed in Otago - Nam Chand

Nam Chand, a PhD student in Marine Science, talks about her research into the unique seaweeds that live in the Otago Harbour. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

04-03
22:24

The Science Notes Podcast - Electrically Extracting Proteins - Jervee Punzalan

Jervee Punzalan, a PhD student in chemistry, talks about her research in using pulsed electric fields to extract proteins, and how this process can affect their properties, and even their taste. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

03-20
22:24

The Science Notes Podcast - Studying Sea Lions - Hanna Ravn

Hanna Ravn, a Masters student in Marine Science, talks about her work with the sea lions around Dunedin - how their diets are changing and how they are becoming part of the community. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

03-06
22:31

Science Notes - 20-02-2025 - Understanding algae communities in rivers - Daniel Zamorano

Daniel Zamorano. a PhD student in Zoology, talks about his research on how algal communities grow and live in rivers. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

02-20
23:47

Science Notes - 09-01-2025 - Atomic-scale Orienteering - Elouan Hay-Fourmond

Elouan Hay-Fourmond, a PhD student in Chemistry, talks about how he is using Machine Learning to explore the energy terrain of tiny clusters of atoms, work which will lead to a better understanding of how they can be used as catalysts. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

01-09
22:24

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