Shows
The Future OfGut Health | Dr Hani Al Salami & Dr Armin MooranianIn this episode, host Sarah Taillier is joined by Dr. Hani Al-Salami and Dr. Armin Mooranian, both registered pharmacists from Curtin Medical School and CHIRI. Together, Dr Al-Salami and Dr Mooranian are leading a project to develop a prototype for faecal capsules. Such capsules offer new hope to patients battling resistant infections that don’t respond to standard therapies.• [00:25 – 01:04] How faecal transplant capsules show promise for gut health in a novel trial.• [02:06 – 02:30] How gut bacteria is crucial for gut health.• [04:36 – 04:50] Does a capsule approach improve the ease of treatment?• [08:09 – 08:39] How the capsule provides a non-invasive treatment for the...2024-04-0930 min
The Future OfBrain Trauma and Sports | Dr Sarah HellewellTraumatic brain injuries are becoming more widely discussed, with more sports stars revealing their health issues after repeated episodes of concussion. But what about the lesser injuries, which cumulatively may have a profound effect on the brain? In this episode, host Sarah Taillier chatted with Dr Sarah Hellewell, a leading international expert in the area of traumatic brain injury who is based at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science at Curtin University. They discussed the causes of brain trauma from sports, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on the brain, and progress on new treatments to...2023-09-1925 min
The Future OfLegalising Cannabis (Re-Release) | Prof Simon LentonCould Australia legalise recreational cannabis use while avoiding the same profit-driven pitfalls that have occurred with tobacco and alcohol? In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Simon Lenton from the National Drug Research Institute to explore how Australia may go about legalising the recreational use of cannabis, learning from the commercial models seen in North America.Highs and lows of commercialising cannabis [05:17]Cannabis social clubs [08:15]The cannabis profit playbook [11:49]Reducing the risk of drug driving [14:40]Cannabis law in Australia right now [17:10]Finding the middle ground for legalisation [19:30]‘Things are...2023-07-1225 min
The Future OfTikTok | Prof Crystal AbidinWhether you love it, hate it, don’t get it or your grandma’s trending on it, TikTok is a cultural phenomenon. But how did it become so popular and should we be worried by its reach?Join our host Sarah Taillier as she chats with Crystal Abidin, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University and Founder of the TikTok Cultures Research Network. They explore why TikTok is so popular, how its algorithms might work and its influence on society, now and into the future. Why is TikTok so popular? [00:52]Activism is trending on TikTok...2023-05-1530 min
The Future OfTwitter | Prof Tama LeaverWill Twitter ever be the same since Elon Musk’s takeover? And what impact will his changes have on users, free speech and (dis)information? Twitter is one of the most influential speech platforms in the world – as of 2022, it had approximately 450million monthly active users. But its takeover by Elon Musk has sparked concerns about social media regulation and Twitter’s ability to remain a ‘proxy for public opinion’. To explore this topic, Sarah is joined by Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University. Why does Twitter matter? [00:48]Elon rewinds content regulation [06...2023-02-2123 min
The Future OfResearch | Prof Chris Moran & Prof Fran AckermannIn this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Chris Moran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Curtin University and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Fran Ackermann, to discuss the future of university research.Current challenges for Australian universities [02:07]The future of universities is around integration between disciplines [06:32]What does the fight for research dollars mean for universities? [08:36]Is the physical (university) campus a finished thing with online education? [14:45]How important is the link between teaching and research? [17:40]What can we do to retain and build (Australia’s) research capacity? (20:34)Learn moreCurtin University ResearchConnect with ou...2023-02-0736 min
The Future OfSynthetic Milk | Professor Dora MarinovaWould you drink milk that came from a laboratory instead of a cow? Synthetic milk is set to shake up the dairy industry, boasting a similar look, taste and nutrition profile to cow’s milk, but with a smaller carbon footprint. In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Dora Marinova from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute. They discuss how synthetic milk is made, why we need another dairy alternative and the possible benefits and impact of fake milk on the dairy industry and consumers. I can’t believe it’s not milk! [01:02]What is syntheti...2022-12-1328 min
The Future OfNeuromarketing | Dr Billy SungWhat exactly is ‘neuromarketing’ and how does it help companies hone their product marketing?How do consumer neuroscience technologies like eye-tracking devices reveal what people really think of advertisements?Innovations in neuromarketing, such as eye tracking devices and biometric wristbands, are helping reveal what viewers really think of advertisements. In this episode, Sarah discusses the cutting-edge area of neuromarketing with Associate Professor Billy Sung. Dr Sung leads a research team at The Consumer Research Lab at Curtin University, and specialises in digital marketing and consumer psychology.What is neuromarketing? [01:00]Who’s using neuromarketing at the mo...2022-11-1525 min
The Future OfE-waste | Dr Elsayed OrabyWorried about the ever-increasing amount of e-waste going to landfill? Find out how e-waste is being recycled to remove the rare metals that are worth a fortune.In this episode, Sarah is joined by Associate Professor Elsayed Oraby, a researcher at the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, to discuss how and why e-waste is recycled.What exactly is e-waste? (00:50)It's obviously a far more environmentally friendly process leaching process that you have helped to develop. How does it compare to the cost of the traditional leaching method? (04:27)What are some of the ba...2022-11-0115 min
The Future OfSkinks | Dr Holly BradleyLove lizards? Learn all about the Western Spiny-tailed Skink, a punkish reptile with a penchant for living in log castles. Sarah is joined by Dr Holly Bradley from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, who shares her research of an elusive skink that’s found nowhere else on Earth except Western Australia. She talks about how a novel use of light technology is helping conservationists to understand the skink’s habitat needs and ensure its ongoing survival. A world-first for LIDAR tech [02:23]A skink’s home is his castle [03:27]Translocation for homeless lizards [05:38]Managing predators...2022-10-0421 min
The Future OfVitamin D | Dr Eleanor DunlopNine out of 10 Aussies have low vitamin D intakes, but why do we need vitamin D and why aren’t we getting enough of it? In this episode, Sarah is joined by Dr Eleanor Dunlop to talk about the role vitamin D plays in our bodies and why some of us are vitamin D deficient. Dr Dunlop also discusses how her research could help inform nutrition policy in Australia and increase our intake of the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Why Aussies are vitamin D deficient [04:17]Factors that impact vitamin D uptake [07:14]Australia’s first vitamin D database [08:40]Vitamin D-fortifie...2022-09-2021 min
The Future OfTransgender Inclusion | A. Prof Sam WinterWhat does it mean to be a trans person? How included do they feel in society, and why are some of us afraid of people who are different? In this episode Sarah is joined by Associate Professor Sam Winter, who shares their insight into what it means to be a trans person, how society can be more inclusive of people who are gender diverse and where traditional notions of gender may still be relevant. What defines a trans person? [02:55]Accessing gender affirming healthcare [05:19]Birth certificates for trans people [06:40]Empathy leads to equity [09:16]Legislation as education [11:07]Why is...2022-09-0634 min
The Future OfLegalising Cannabis | Prof Simon LentonCould Australia legalise recreational cannabis use while avoiding the same profit-driven pitfalls that have occurred with tobacco and alcohol? In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Simon Lenton from the National Drug Research Institute to explore how Australia may go about legalising the recreational use of cannabis, learning from the commercial models seen in North America. Highs and lows of commercialising cannabis [04:31]Cannabis social clubs [07:44]The cannabis profit playbook [11:09]Reducing the risk of drug driving [13:58]Cannabis law in Australia right now [16:31]Finding the middle ground for legalisation [19:00]‘Things are wrong with the system’ [21:51]Learn more2022-08-0924 min