Ockham’s Razor

Looking at a maths equation, do you see numbers or characters in a story?If you're thinking of numbers, there might be another way to see the full picture. Today, Associate Professor Amie Albrecht explores the unexpected combination of maths and storytelling. Speaker:Amie AlbrechtAssociate Professor of MathematicsInterim Dean of Programs (Education Futures)University of South AustraliaHost:Tegan TaylorProducer:Tegan Taylor, Rose Kerr

This episode was first released in June 2022. What does a natural landscape look like to you? Maybe you think of a dense forest, or a sparkling body of water. Somewhere untouched by humans, right? Maybe the word "wilderness" comes to mind.Today we're hearing from someone who wants you to think twice about this idea of wilderness.Michael-Shawn Fletcher is a geographer and a descendant of the Wiradjuri – and he wants to challenge the idea that country that's untouched by humans is a good thing.Guest:Associate Professor Michael-Shawn FletcherGeographer, University of MelbournePresenter:Tegan TaylorProducer:Tegan Taylor, James Bullen

When you're tired, are you grumpy? Maybe stressed? Feel like you can't socialise? We know we need to get good sleep for our own health, but it's also really important in our social lives.Today, Joel Raymond explores what happens in our relationships when we don't get enough sleep. Speaker:Joel RaymondPhD candidate, School of Psychology and Brain and Mind CentreThe University of SydneyHost:Tegan TaylorProducer:Tegan Taylor, Gemma ConroyNext live show:The next live Ockham's Razor event is coming up soon! If you're in Adelaide on the 24th of November and want to join the audience, you can find tickets here

How many times do you think you've heard the words "anti-vax" in the last 3 years? What about, "vaccine hesitant"?It would probably be countless.But are these terms actually helpful in communicating the need for vaccines?Associate Professor Holly Seale explores how language and listening are essential in having meaningful conversations about vaccination.Speaker:Associate Professor Holly SealeSchool of Population HealthUniversity of New South WalesHost:Tegan TaylorProducer:Tegan Taylor, Gemma ConroyNext live show:We've got another live Ockham's Razor event coming up very soon! The show is coming to Adelaide on the 24th of November. Find tickets here

Eating disorders are extremely complicated to treat, leaving people potentially struggling for decades. But there's a new contender in the treatment field: psychedelic drugs.Sarah-Catherine Rodan talks us through how the active ingredient in magic mushrooms – used in a very particular way – could help people with anorexia.The nature of this talk means we're going to be hearing about eating disorders, so if that's not going to be helpful for you, feel free to skip this episode.Speaker:Sarah-Catherine Rodan, PhD CandidateInsideOut Institute and Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid TherapeuticsUniversity of SydneyHost:Tegan TaylorProducer:Tegan Taylor, Gemma ConroyNext live show:Ockham's Razor is coming to Adelaide on the 24th of November so if you're in the neighbourhood, you can find tickets here

Conserving native species and landscapes is one of the biggest challenges scientists face in our future.But what does conservation actually mean?Graheme Webb has been working with crocodile populations for decades.He's been pondering the big conservation question and says part of the challenge we face is understanding what we mean by the word itself.Speaker: Professor Graheme WebbManaging director of Wildlife Management InternationalHost: Tegan TaylorProducer:Tegan Taylor, James Bullen

Have you been unlucky in love?Keep swiping right on the wrong ones?Well just remember it could be worse. You could be a male spider.Let's get empathetic for these arachnids who live in constant fear their partner's going to bite their head off – literally.Guest: Anastasia ShavrovaPhD candidate, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Science, UNSW SydneyHost:Tegan TaylorProducer:Gemma Conroy, Tegan Taylor

When you're feeling down, are you someone who needs to hear a sad song to let your emotions out, or do you seek out an upbeat track to pump up your mood?

Do you think we're alone in the universe? Could there be other life out there?And, whether there is or isn't, how does life come to be, anyway?(Is this sounding a little like your mate on a camping trip getting a bit too deep while looking up at all those stars?)Well, this time we're hearing from someone who's trying to unpick the origins of life — here on Earth, and maybe other places too.

Discover the fascinating use of radar beyond weather watching, including tracking birds and bats with weather radar, addressing light pollution during bird migration, and preventing bird strikes at airports.