Energy too cheap to meter! So claims Italian inventer and entrepreneur Andrea Rossi for his invention of the E-Cat Energy Catalyser power generator, which he claims combines hydrogen and nickel with a secret catalyst to make heat and copper.
Ian Bryce is an aerospace engineer, and Chief Investigator for the Australian Skeptics. I spoke with him about his experiences with the Australian investment agent for Rossi's "cold fusion power generator".
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Imagine designing molecules on paper and then making them in the lab. Dr Andrew McDonagh of the School of Chemistry and Forensic Sciences and the Institute of Nanoscale Technologies at the University of Technology, Sydney. He's been working on dye sensitised solar cells. I asked him what he's been synthesizing.
As the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP17
finished this weekend, climate change is on everyone's mind.
Professor Ann Henderson-Sellers from Macquarie University wants you to show her what to do about it.
I asked her to explain about the Climate Fix Flicks.
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Galit Segev is a chef and biochemist, combining her love of food and science, in public talks on the science of food. Galit is a volunteer for Vision Australia creating recipes and cooking classes for people with vision impairment. At the Ultimo Science Festival she spoke to me about her love of food, her love of chocolate, and the science of making chocolate.
Meadows under the sea feed the world and clean the air. Marine Ecologist Dr Peter Macreadie is a Chancellor's post-doctoral research fellow in the School of the Environment in the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Dr Macreadie has been nominated for the 2011 Eureka Prize awarded each year by the Australian Museum, for his research into seagrass. Ian Woolf asked him to explain the role of seagrasses in marine ecology, and their role in preventing global warming.
PhD student Phobe Peters at the Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases explores the role of proteins in the surprisingly complex mechanism of bacterial cell division.
Les Kirkup is researching ways of making laboratory learning a better experience - using science. Associate Professor Les Kirkup from the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology, Sydney spoke to Ian Woolf about his being awarded the National Teaching Fellowship from the Australian Teaching and Learning Council. I began by asking him to explain what the National Teaching Fellowship is about. Inquiry-oriented learning in science: transforming practice through forging new partnerships and perspectives
On April 12th 2011 a rally to protest against proposed medical research budget cuts by the Australian government was held around the country. I attended the Sydney protest in Belmore Park and interviewed:
Bettina Arndt, Bill Ferris, Judy Black, and Andrea MacFarland.
Balint Seeber is an inventor, innovator and maker. He's been mashing up radio frequency information with google maps. He spoke to Ian Woolf about his mash-ups. Check them out at http://spench.net
Kate Grimwood is a PhD student researching the chemical forensics of fire in the Science faculty at the University of Technology, Sydney. She spoke to me about her research into flash-over, the source and nature of toxic fumes, and burning down houses for science.
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I interviewed Marianne Menictas about her Tsunami warning research. Marianne Menictas has been creating a mathematical model that shows how to save the lives of the most people possible from a Tsunami disaster for the least amount of money. Marianne is a final year student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Technology, Sydney
Mathematical models can save lives! Marianne Menictas has just finished her degree in Mathematics and Statistics. She's 20 years old and is looking forward to doing new research in her honours year at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Are you a Cosmist or a Terran? Beware the anti-robot-overlord future and listen to the 3rd and final part of my interview with Hugo De Garis about the implications of being able to build god-like massively super-intelligent machines at the Singularity Summit Australia in Melbourne, 2010.
This is part 2 of my interview with Hugo De Garis about the implications of being able to build god-like massively super-intelligent machines at the Singularity Summit Australia in Melbourne, 2010. He predicts a massive pogrom and witch-hunt as those against the building of god-like machines attempt to wipe out everyone who wants to build them, and all of the people who might be even faintly of use to them - all in the interests of preserving the human species at all costs. This is part 2 of a 3 part interview.
I spoke to Hugo De Garis about the implications of being able to build god-like massively super-intelligent machines at the Singularity Summit Australia in Melbourne, 2010. This is part 1 of a 3 part interview.
Dr Michael Georgeff spoke to Ian Woolf about how Rational Artificial Intelligence relies on using one's own Beliefs, Desires and Intent, and being able to understand the Beliefs, Desires and Intent of others. He spoke at the Singularity Summit Australia.
Last week I visited Dorkbot Sydney at their Serial Space headquarters in Chipendale to see people doing strange things with electricity. Dorkbot has branches in cities all over the world. Technological artist Fred Rodrigues has created a musical instrument out of power tools, computer and an electronic keyboard.
I spoke with Fred Rodrigues at the Dorkbot meeting and recorded some of his demonstration and performance.
International artist Ian Burns ran a six week workshop in interactive sculpture as artist-in-residence with Ashfield Council. I participated in the workshop and interviewed Ian Burns and the other artists on the day of the exhibition of our artwork in Ashfield Mall. You can see the videos and photo gallery elsewhere on the site.
Liz's sculpture Julie with her breathing doll Neil with his aliens Bharti with her quilt Ian Burns on the left, with most of the worskshop
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What is the process of making a decision? Dr Steve Bush is a lecturer in the department of mathematical sciences and researcher at the Centre for the study of choice. He chooses to explain the science of choice to Ian Woolf. What is the study of choice?
Dr Steven Bush studied a bachelors in mathematics and finance, then a bachelor of science honours degree statistics major, then after some time in industry, he completed a PhD in Mathematics. He now works at the Centre for the study of choice at the University of Technology, Sydney.
(I ask different questions than Shannon Jones in the video interview)
What is the process of making a decision? Dr Steve Bush is a lecturer in the department of mathematical sciences and researcher at the Centre for the study of choice. He chooses to explain the science of choice to Shannon Jones. What is the study of choice?
Dr Steven Bush studied a bachelors in mathematics and finance, then a bachelor of science honours degree statistics major, then after some time in industry, he completed a PhD in Mathematics. He now works at the Centre for the study of choice at the University of Technology, Sydney.
(Shannon asks different questions than I do in my audio interview)
What is freelancing?
How do you get started as a freelance writer?
How do you approach publishers?
What is a pitch letter?
Can you make a living as a freelance writer?
Is freelance science writing different to other writing?
How do you run your own business?
How do you negotiate rates of pay?
How do you get paid?
Should you ever write for free?
What is the market for freelance science journalism?
How does freelance broadcasting work?
Our panellists will explain how to be a successful freelance science
communicator:
Valerie Khoo is a journalist, author, entrepreneur, podcaster, and
founder of the Sydney Writers' Centre where people learn to start their
own business as freelance writers. http://www.valeriekhoo.com
Bianca Nogrady
is a freelance science and medical writer, and
broadcaster who has written
for New Scientist, Scientific American, The Australian,
G Magazine and many other publications. http://www.biancanogrady.com http://www.sixthwave.org
As the globe warms, the glaciers are melting and the oceans are rising. The human consequence of this is that people living on Pacific Islands are watching their homes disappear under the sea. They can only move inland so far before their whole island is flooded. Melissa Neighbour is Media Director of Project Survival Pacific an initiative of the Australian Youth climate coalition to help the people of the Pacific Islands make their voices heard, and deal with the watery doom threatening their way of life.
She spoke to me about how to help the people of the Pacific Islands survive the flooding of their homes by the rising seas. You can support Project Survival Pacific at http://youthprojectsurvival.org/
Janine Cahill from Future Journeys spoke with me about how people imagine the future, how this affects their ability to change the future, and how this has changed over the years.
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