Shows
What's Sociology Got to do with it?Merrilyn Crichton talks Social Isolation and Mental Health in Rural CommunitiesMerrilyn Crichton knows that her research touches on economics, hard science, sustainability, psychology and sociology--and she is the first to argue that to examine social isolation and mental health in Australia’s rural communities, all these fields are needed.
In this episode of What’s Sociology Got To Do With It?, Merrilyn speaks about the disparate spread of resources between the city and the country. In her work studying Australia’s rural communities, Merrilyn has realised that rural Australians face a unique set of challenges in building and maintaining their support networks than city Australians do. And while...2020-09-0417 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Sosheel Godfrey talks middlemen in Pakistan's Dairy IndustrySosheel Godfrey warns against making a bogeyman out of an alternative banking system. That is, he doesn’t see the so-called ‘middlemen’ of Pakistan's dairy industry as evil collectors that rob farmers of profit, rob the chance to sell milk urban consumers. Rather, he sees them as a part of the community, investing back into their communities through the farmers. Living alongside the local farmers, they extend cash advances to farmers, sometimes providing loans to small hold farmers. And so, their motives are not just making a profit, but rather helping other members of their community to survive and thrive...2020-09-0416 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Nicola Wunderlich talks Cultural Sensitivity in Para-veterinary trainingNicola Wunderlich, in her work in capacity building, is the first person to advocate for tailoring your content to your audience. In other words, Nicola calls on scientists and researchers to personalise their content to their audience, and how their audience is most likely to absorb (and use) the information.
In this episode of What’s Sociology Got To Do With It?, Nicola argues that if the local community and its norms aren’t considered, then any recommendations will simply fall on deaf ears. She argues that, as a result, folks in roles like social scientists and scie...2020-09-0417 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Sarah Redshaw and focusing on our community responsibility for each otherSarah Redshaw thinks our healthcare model is sometimes too focused on disease.
On the surface, this seems like a weird thing to say, given how we go to doctors when we’re ill; we expect them to make it about disease and illness. But Sarah argues that this approach can divorce the individual from any financial, social and cultural pressures they’re is facing outside the consultation room. In other words, the individual is separated from their lives outside the hospital, which can lead to an incomplete picture of the individual’s life and times.
On thi...2020-09-0421 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Monica Short and the Anglican Church community in rural AustraliaFor many towns in rural and regional Australia, it’s normal to see a church on the corner. You drive by, maybe slow down to take a look. But to Monica Short, the role of religion in Australia’s rural communities goes much beyond old buildings.
In her work on the Anglican Church in rural Australian communities, Monica sees religion as a force that provides a sense of belonging and community. And more than that, she argues that these seemingly abstract concepts–community, social wellbeing, belonging–can and do influence an individual. And so, in times of hardship...2020-09-0423 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Vaughan Higgins and Farmers adopting technologiesEver thought about how your food makes it way to your plate?
In his work as a sociologist, Vaughan Higgins studies the local, national and international forces that impact on farmers. That’s a fancy way of saying that he looks at why or why not farmers adopt certain technologies or change practices. But to Vaughan, this work cannot be done without thinking of the realities facing farmers. Adopting new technologies goes beyond simply knowing the technology exists, he argues--the farmers must know how it will benefit them and their farms and believe in its potential.
...2020-09-0417 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Larissa Bamberry and Donna Bridges explain Women in TradeTo Larissa Bamberry and Donna Bridges, asking why more women don’t move into male–dominated fields is much more complicated that it seems. On this episode of What’s Sociology Got To Do With It?, Larissa and Donna argue that rural Australian women face attacks from two sides: judged for leaving their communities yet often facing limited opportunities and strict gender roles if they remain.
Larissa argues that there is a social and cultural element that shapes what fields we go into and how others respond to our career decisions. In other words, if you’ve ever jud...2020-09-0422 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Jennifer Manyweathers and how humanity is connected to the natural worldJennifer Manyweathers can see a problem. It’s the problem of how, in her work on foot and mouth disease, she’s seen the assumption that if someone is included in policy guidelines or if people are told by experts to do something, they’ll do it.
In this episode of What’s Sociology Got To Do With It?, Manyweathers calls on policymakers, researchers and scientists to remember that raising awareness or issuing guidelines doesn’t equate automatically to action. For Manyweathers, there needs to be a baseline understanding of how even the most well-intentioned people can be waylaid...2020-08-3015 min
What's Sociology Got to do with it?Kellie Thomas, mental shortcuts and antibiotic resistanceEver wondered why your work friend always takes short-cuts at work, saying she’s saving time by doing so? Wondered why so many interventions and programs seem like they’ll work in a boardroom but have massive failures when implemented?
That’s a question Kellie Thomas, a pHD candidate at Charles Sturt University, is making sure to focus on in her work. Studying antibiotic resistance may seem like a hard science topic, something that’s just data and chemicals, but she says that it is critical that the human element--that is, the people--are considered in academic research.
On...2020-08-3013 minWhat's Sociology Got to do with it?Wes Ward and the challenges facing Australian FarmersFor Wes Ward, adjunct research fellow at Charles Sturt University, researchers must move beyond the idea they’re separate from the individuals and communities they are studying.
In this episode of What’s Sociology Got To Do With It?, Ward challenges researchers to recognise the web of individuals involved in agricultural systems. That is, he challenges them to think of the shearers, the contract workers, the farm managers and everyone else involved in running a farm. He says that this ‘thinking of the big picture’ is the only way organisations, researchers and farmers can move towards shared goals, b...2020-08-3015 min