Education Archives - Science Queeries

Mind the gap: from science capital to “gendered” brains

catriona.nguyen-robertson — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 09:01:32 +0000

We’re getting very meta: communicating about science communication.

Why do some people have more of a “head start” when it comes to pursuing STEM? Shanii Phillips teaches us how to make some serious capital gains – science capital gains that is – and boost your interest in STEM.

Shanii is a PhD student at the Australian National University and based SciTech exploring the idea of “science capital” and how science centres and science communication can help everyone feel at home in STEM. We explore how science capital can make or break someone’s sense of scientific identity.

Then, Dr Cat dives into the science behind the so-called “male” and “female” brain and how that myth that they’re different led to neurosexism. This episode all about belonging — in science centres, in STEM careers, and even inside your own head.

Originally aired 11th November, 2025.

The post Mind the gap: from science capital to “gendered” brains appeared first on Science Queeries.

Bias binding

vaughan.mccarthy — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 01:48:53 +0000

This episode is trending – it’s about data trends and biases. Dr Cat chats to the wonderful Tamzyn of JOY Breakfast, Big Bi+ Questions, and Geeks Out about how bias sneaks into data and they decode its real-world impact. From Tamzyn’s binary code tattoo to where to buy the best BBQ chicken, there’s data everywhere we look. But are things always as they seem?

This episode originally aired 25th March, 2025.

The post Bias binding appeared first on Science Queeries.

Running up that hill

vaughan.mccarthy — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 02:33:25 +0000

Dr Cat and Kade Huckstep talk about athletes and sex. They sprint through the facts, hurdle over the controversies, and dive into the heart of the discriminatory practice of sex...

LEARN MORE

The post Running up that hill appeared first on Science Queeries.

Noggin’ ourselves out

vaughan.mccarthy — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:18:27 +0000

Dr Cat and Dr Elyas Arvell discuss the basics of communication in the brain; when things go wrong in Parkinson’s Disease; the link between queerness and neurodiversity; and what’s going on in the brain with rituals.

Dr Elyas Arvell completed their PhD in neuroscience at the Florey Institute. Now they are the Laboratory Manager at GTAC, one of the six science and mathematics specialist centres that provides educational programs to students across Victoria.

The post Noggin’ ourselves out appeared first on Science Queeries.

Electrifying material facts

vaughan.mccarthy — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 04:42:51 +0000

Dr Cat has a solid chat with Dr Mike Wilson about the building blocks of our world. She’s a Material Girl, and they’re a material scientist-turned-educator. Can fabric generate electricity from our body heat? Can we make DNA-like nano-particles to deliver drugs to tumors? Is everything actually “plastic”? Life IS plastic, and it’s fantastic.

The post Electrifying material facts appeared first on Science Queeries.

The gene-ius of (Wol)bach(ia)

vaughan.mccarthy — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:51:39 +0000

Dr Cat chats to geneticist Dr Haylo Roberts, who studies the DNA traces that animals shed into the environment or leave behind. These tiny traces of genetic material can tell us big stories about our ecosystems – you might gain a (DN)Appreciation for how it helps us monitor biodiversity. There’s also some paw-some conservation work going on to seek out endangered animals with the help of detection dogs.

The post The gene-ius of (Wol)bach(ia) appeared first on Science Queeries.

Why we should Excel in the field

vaughan.mccarthy — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:38:06 +0000

Dr Cat chats to data scientist and educator, Dr Linda McIver. What is data science and why do we need to be data literate? (Spoiler: because we’re generating so much data and generative AI will straight up just make things up, and it’s important to be able to think critically and filter it yourself.) Listen to Dr Cat and Dr Linda’s data-lightful conversation about data and byte-sized wonders.

Science Queeries is hosted by Dr. Cat Nguyen-Robertson on JOY Media. This episode originally aired on 23rd July, 2024. This podcast episode was edited by Vaughan McCarthy.

The post Why we should Excel in the field appeared first on Science Queeries.

Gettin’ diggy with it

vaughan.mccarthy — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 08:38:54 +0000

Dr. Cat chats with palaeontologist, Astrid O’Connor. They dig deep into the past, unearthing a bone-anza of facts about the ancient plants and creatures that once roamed our planet – from dinosaurs with features and giant wombats, to fossilised pollen that reveals climate. It’s a trex-cellent exploration of palaeontology.

Science Queeries is hosted by Dr. Cat Nguyen-Robertson on JOY Media. This episode originally aired on 23rd July, 2024. This podcast episode was edited by Vaughan McCarthy.

The post Gettin’ diggy with it appeared first on Science Queeries.

Shooting the breeze about the weather

vaughan.mccarthy — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:56:41 +0000

Dr Cat chats to Clayton Wimshurst, a science teacher who sparks joy in their students. Join their whirlwind tour through wild weather and whacky ways we can harness it. Can we generate electricity from humidity in the air? Can we harness the power of lightning? They make science a breeze!

Science Queeries is hosted by Dr. Cat Nguyen-Robertson on JOY Media. This episode originally aired on 16th July, 2024. This podcast episode was edited by Vaughan McCarthy.

The post Shooting the breeze about the weather appeared first on Science Queeries.

The hoppy world of marsupial reproduction

vaughan.mccarthy — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 04:17:30 +0000

Dr Cat chats to animal lover, Ingrid Crossing, about marsupial reproduction. From the male yapok that has a pouch to tuck his testes in before he goes swimming, to the kangaroos that have not one, but three vaginas and two uteri! Dr Cat and Ingrid hop through the way marsupials bring life into the world. It’s a real joey-ride with pouchfuls of interesting facts.

Science Queeries is hosted by Dr. Cat Nguyen-Robertson on JOY Media. This episode originally aired on 9th July, 2024. This podcast episode was edited by Vaughan McCarthy.

The post The hoppy world of marsupial reproduction appeared first on Science Queeries.