Marine Biodiversity | Prof Fred Wells & Prof Monique Gagnon

The cane toads are coming. Can a simple, but clever plan stop them from fully invading Western Australia and causing catastrophic damage?Join our host David as he talks with Professor Ben Phillips about the project he's leading, the Toad Containment Zone (TCZ). A collaborative effort between community, rangers and scientists, the TCZ is the last line of defence against the cane toad invasion of Western Australia. If not stopped, the cane toad will have devastating wildlife and cultural impacts.How cane toads came to Australia (01:15)Ecological fallout of toads (06:38)“Put them in the freezer”: efforts to control toads (12:11)The Toad Containment Zone (TCZ): what it is and how it will work (14:14)Charismatic species set to disappear (23:08)How soon can we gauge success? (26:11)Learn moreThe Toad Containment ZoneHope for Pilbara: Containment zone offers chance against cane toads in WAThe $12m ‘waterless barrier’ plan stops cane toads marching into the PilbaraToad-ally awesome project to halt cane toad invasion of the PilbaraConnect with our guestsProfessor Ben PhillipsProfessor Ben Phillips is a population biologist and a Premier Science Fellow at Curtin University, where he conducts biosecurity research in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences. He has worked extensively across the Northern Territory and Western Australia on cane toad biology, ecology and evolution, and on how to control and reduce the impacts of cane toads on vulnerable native species, including northern quolls. Ben’s modelling work has identified where the Toad Containment Zone should be placed and how large it should be to stop the toad invasion to the Pilbara.  You can find Ben on:LinkedInXJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInXTranscriptRead the transcript.Behind the scenesHost: David KarstenProducer:Emilia JolakoskaEpisode researcher:Zoe TaylorFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges all First Nations of this place we call Australia and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with all Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

A new discovery brings us closer to understanding one of the world's greatest mysteries ... or does it? In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Curtin University Research Associate Anthony Clarke and Professor Chris Kirkland, to discuss their discovery about the origins of Stonehenge’s Altar Stone and its wide-reaching implications. What is Stonehenge and why is it so fascinating? [01:11]The final piece of the provenance puzzle: the Altar Stone [01:23]How did we get here? Cross-continental journeys and big ideas [04:40]Drilling into the research: samples, spectrometers, Stonehenge and Scotland [07:26]A new understanding of communities, technologies and societies of the past [09:33]From conspiracy theories to deep time history, are we any closer to solving the mystery of Stonehenge? [18:20]What this discovery means to our guests and where it leads us [25:25]Learn moreGreat Scott! Stonehenge’s Altar Stone origins reveal advanced ancient BritainStonehenge’s altar stone was carried all the way from north-east Scotland. But how?Stonehenge tale gets weirder as Orkney is ruled out as altar stone origin.Stonehenge.Timescales of Mineral Systems Group.John de Laeter Research Centre.Connect with our guestsMr Anthony Clarke, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin UniversityMr Anthony Clarke is a Research Associate at Curtin University, investigating the versatility of accessory mineral geochronology in addressing the age and provenance of geological material. In 2024, Anthony gained a PhD in applied geology at Curtin University, publishing A Scottish provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge (DOI: 10.1038/S41586-024-07652-1).LinkedinStaff profileProfessor Chris Kirkland, Professor, Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin UniversityProfessor Chris Kirkland is an accomplished academic and geoscience professional with over 10 years of experience teaching and researching at Curtin University, and a further 10 years of laboratory experience. Chris is a Professor at Curtin University and leads the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group. Chris co-authored A Scottish provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge (DOI: 10.1038/S41586-024-07652-1).ProfileStaff ProfileJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaXFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInBehind the scenesHost: David KarstenContent Creator and recordist: Caitlin CrowleySocial Media: Celeste FourieProducer: Emilia JolakoskaExecutive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew SykesFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges all First Nations of this place we call Australia and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with all Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

To unlock a more sustainable future, graphite is key. The issue: there’s a $14 billion shortage of the crucial resource on the horizon. In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Dr Jason Fogg from the Curtin Carbon Group to explore how his innovation, RapidGraphite, can turn carbon into battery-grade graphite within seconds.What is graphite and why is it important? [00:09]Pioneering a game-changing approach to graphite production [02:34]Projections of growth: meeting the demands of the graphite market [06:38]Sustainable production methods: flipping the script on traditional mining and manufacturing processes [9:23]What RapidGraphite means for the green energy transition [14:30]RapidGraphite research and production: Where to from here? [16:24]Learn moreSerendipity broadens the scope for making graphiteCurtin Carbon GroupCurtin Venture StudioA decade of innovation: Unveiling Curtin’s 2024 Accelerate trailblazersNew tech that turns waste into battery-grade graphite lands supportConnect with our guestsDr Jason Fogg is a researcher in the Curtin Carbon Group carbon and the co-developer of RapidGraphite. Dr Fogg is a specialist in materials science, conducting experiments at ultra-high temperatures up to 3000˚C. Fogg has innovated new furnace techniques to access extreme temperatures and study advanced carbon materials for decarbonisation.LinkedInJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationCurtin Venture StudioGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaXFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTranscriptRead the transcript. Behind the scenesHost: David KarstenContent Creator: Karen GreenRecordist: Jayden McLeanExecutive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew SykesFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges all First Nations of this place we call Australia and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with all Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

The world's tallest timber building, digital twinning and biophilic design. Discover how sustainable architecture is revolutionising the places we live and work in. In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Zaid Osama, who shares insights into how buildings are being designed to reduce their environmental impact, including Perth’s ground-breaking plan that will have us rethinking the materials we build with. The impact of architecture on sustainability [00:01:40]Sustainable development goals in architecture [00:07:06]Dynamic architecture: The Edge in Amsterdam [00:10:18]C6: The world's tallest timber building in Perth [00:13:45]‘Small-scale’ sustainability: Curtin’s Living Legacy Lab [00:19:13]Digital twinning in architecture [00:21:16]What we can learn from Curtin’s digital campus twin [00:30:59]Learn moreCurtin’s research in sustainable developmentThe Edge in AmsterdamCurtin’s Legacy Living LabWorld’s tallest timber building to be built in PerthZaid’s research: AI and optimisation methods in construction industryHow digital twin technology can help solve Australia's construction industry challengesArchitecture 2030: why the built environment?Connect with our guestsZaid Osama, Lecturer in Architecture and Construction, School of Design and Built Environment, Curtin UniversityZaid is a lecturer at Curtin University, specialising in architecture and construction. He is a Ph.D. candidate and the director of AFB Architects. His research interests include digital twins, user-centred architecture, data-driven built environment, architectural design and technology, construction systems and materials and infrastructure design and engineering.LinkedInStaff profileAFB ArchitectsORCiD profileJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaXFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedIn

In 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 serious bacteria infection, recurrent clostridioides dificile.• [17:42 – 18:05] The potential for treating neurological diseases via gut health.Learn moreMedia releaseConnect with our guestsDr. Hani Al-SalamiDr Hani Al-Salami is an AHPRA registered Australian and New Zealand pharmacist, a clinician, an academic, and a Program Lead in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Curtin Medical School and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute. Dr Al-Salami’s research focuses on using bile acids as a bio-nano platform for therapeutic delivery, which is aligned with worldwide regulatory approvals, for commercialisation purposes in humans.Dr. Armin MooranianDr Mooranian is a clinical consultant pharmacist and lecturer at Curtin Medical School. He is registered with AHPRA-Pharmacy of Board of Australia and also holds New Zealand registration with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand. Dr Mooranian's research at Curtin University has led to a significant advancement of knowledge in the field of quantum medicine, biotechnology and nanoengieering of advanced gene-based therapeutic delivery systems for the treatment of neurosensory disorders and cognitive dysfunction.  Join Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaXFacebookInstagramYouTubehref="https://www.linkedin.com/school/curtinuniversity/">LinkedInTranscriptRead the transcriptBehind the scenesHost: Sarah TaillierContent creator: Anita Shore and Alex FootProducer: Emilia JolakoskaRecordist: Emilia JolakoskaSocial Media: Celeste FourieExecutive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew SykesFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech.

Can MS be slowed down or even reversed? In this episode, host Alex Foot is joined by Dr. Virginie Lam to discuss a revolutionary new treatment that aims to slow down or potentially stop the cycles of attack and remission in many MS cases.What is multiple sclerosis (MS) and how does it effect the body? [00:46]• What is relapse-remitting MS and what challenges does it present [02:57]• How new myelin targeting treatments are offering new hope for MS treatment [08:56]• What inspired Dr. Lam to research MS [15:05]Learn moreMS Awareness Month: Australia’s advanced imaging technology takes aim at multiple sclerosis (ANIF)Connect with our guestsDr. Virginie LamNHMRC Early Career Research Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin UniversityDr. Virginie Lam specialises in neuroscience and myelin repair strategies for Multiple Sclerosis. Her work focuses on lipid-based therapies and the utilisation of advanced MRI technology to track and potentially reverse MS progression.  LinkedInCurtin Staff ProfileJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTranscriptRead the transcriptBehind the scenesHost and Content Creator: Alex FootProducer and recordist: Emilia JolakoskaSocial Media: Celeste FourieExecutive Producers: Matthew Sykes and Anita ShoreFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

How do we overcome barriers to education in Australia? ‘In this episode, Alex Foot is joined by Professor Ian Li, Director of the Research and Policy Program at the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES), to discuss the equity landscape in Australian higher education, and how things are moving towards a more accessible system. What is equity in education and why’s it important [01:35]How does Australia compare globally in educational equity [04:14]How primary and high school impact the equity of higher education [07:23]The TAFE system [17:35]What ‘good’ looks like in the future [23:30]Learn moreAustralian Centre for Student Equity and Sucess -  ACSES (formally National Centre for Student Equity)Connect with our guestsProfessor Ian Li Director of the Research and Policy Program at the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES)With a background in health and labour market economics, Professor Ian Li is the Research and Policy program at the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, where he heads up efforts to find out ‘what works’ in creating a more equitable higher education system in Australia. LinkedInCurtin Staff PageJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTranscriptRead the transcript Behind the scenesHost and content creator:: Alex Foot Producer and Recordist: Emilia JolakoskaSocial Media: Celeste Fourie Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew SykesFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

How did a simple molecule found in smoke change the way we regenerate native plants? Find out in this episode of #TheFutureOf In this episode, Professor Kingsley Dixon joins host David Karsten to discuss the critical role smoke plays in seed germination, the evolution of plant conservation and restoration practices, and how these insights are being applied to revitalise Western Australia's unique biodiversity.How Prof Dixon’s career started [01:32]Biodiversity regeneration efforts in Kings Park, WA [12:21]How smoke can help with ecologic regeneration [11:23]How Prof Dixon’s discovery impacted the nursery industry [21:04]Discussion on cryogenics history and potential [31:4]Learn moreBushland conservation and restorationKing’s Birthday Honours: Passion for natural world drives acclaimed botanist Kingsley Dixon (The West Australian)Connect with our guestsProfessor Kingsley Dixon Professor Dixon has led transformational research in plant conservation and restoration. As Foundation Director at Kings Park, he built a team of over 50, pioneering 'science-into-practice' approaches with $24M in industry funding. His work has positioned WA as a global leader in environmental restoration, securing $7.6M in competitive funding and establishing significant science partnerships.Join Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTranscriptRead the transcript Behind the scenesHost: David KarstenContent creator: Alex FootProducer and Recordist: Emilia Jolakoska Social Media: Celeste Fourie Executive Producers: Matthew SykesFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

From BTS to Busan's Film Festivals, how has Korea's cultural influence spread across the globe? Find out in this episode of #TheFutureOf.What is the Korean Wave or ‘Hallyu’ [00:50]• How the government encouraged a cultural push of Hallyu [14:14]• Korean Cultures spread to Australia [21:23]• How the spread of Korean culture impacts life in South Korea itself [39:23]  Learn more• Curtin Korean Studies Major• Korean Research Centre WAConnect with our guestsAssociate Professor Jo Elfving-HwangJo Elfving-Hwang is an Associate Professor of Korean Society and Culture in the School of Media Creative Arts and Social Inquiry (MCASI) at Curtin University. She is also Dean Global, Korea, with the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor Global, Director of the Korea Research & Engagement Centre at Curtin University and Major Coordinator of the Korean Studies program at Curtin.• LinkedIn• Curtin Staff PageJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTranscriptRead the transcript Behind the scenesHost: David KarstenContent creator: Alex FootProducer and Recordist: Emilia JolakoskaSocial Media: Celeste FourieExecutive Producers: Anita ShoreFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

In this episode, David Karsten is joined by Professor Fred Wells and Professor Monique Gagnon to discuss the impact of rising sea temperatures and oil spills on aquatic life. Significant changes in marine fauna along Perth’s coastline (00:01:02:03)Impact of 2011 heatwave on the west end of Rottnest (00:04:12:12)How fish fingerprints are helping identify oil pollutants (00:09:23:04)Recovery of marine populations after the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea (00:19:54:22)Positive trends in pollution reduction (00:21:26:23)Learn moreMarine heatwaves decimate sea urchins, molluscs and more at RottnestFish Fingerprinting: Identifying Crude Oil Pollutants using Bicyclic Sesquiterpanes (Bicyclanes) in the Tissues of Exposed FishConnect with our guestsProfessor Fred Wells, Adjunct Professor, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin UniversityAs senior curator of aquatic zoology at the Western Australian Museum for many years, Professor Wells developed a keen interest in tropical marine ecosystems and Western Australian marine habitats. He later moved to the WA Department of Fisheries where he led a research project on introduced marine pests. His research has included all major habitat types in the Western Pacific, with a particular focus on coral reefs and mangroves, and documenting molluscan assemblages in marine areas not previously investigated by scientists. He is the former President and a Lifetime Member of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, The World Scientific Society for Molluscs, and the Australasian Mollusc Society.  Staff ProfileLinkedInProfessor Monique Gagnon, Discipline lead, Ecology, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin UniversityA prominent researcher in ecotoxicology, Professor Gagnon has led major research projects for industry, government and the Australian Research Council.  Her research focuses on the impact of accidental oil spills, petroleum exploration and production on fish health, endocrine disruptors, sewage treatment plants and urban runoffs, and the toxicity of drilling muds used in the petroleum exploration industry. She provides advice on drilling programs in sensitive marine areas like Botany Bay and Barrow Island. She also monitors the effects of anti-fouling chemicals on vertebrates and invertebrate populations. Professor Gagnon is an associate editor for the international peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Toxicology.Staff profileLinkedInGoogle ScholarJoin Curtin UniversityThis podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.Work with usStudy a research degreeStart postgraduate educationGot any questions, or suggestions for future topics?Email [email protected] mediaTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTranscriptRead the transcriptBehind the scenesHost: David KarstenContent creator: Anne Griffin-AppadooProducer: Emilia JolakoskaSocial Media: Amy HoskingExecutive Producers: Anita Shore and Matthew SykesFirst Nations AcknowledgementCurtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.MusicOKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.