Episode 292: Modelling Nature’s Complexity

How do you track the invisible spread of disease or predict the risks of invasive species? In this episode, we speak with ecological modeller, Nick Beeton, who uses maths, stats and a whole lot of code to make sense of complex environmental challenges. Nick shares his journey from growing up in Tasmania to working at CSIRO, where his projects have included modelling for wildlife disease like Devil Facial Tumor Disease on Tasmanian devils to genetically engineered mosquitoes for malaria prevention. It’s a fascinating dive into how numbers help us make better decisions for the planet. Show theme music: Kevin MacLeod Thank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! Host: Dr Olly Dove (Insta: ols_dove) Co-Host: Zi Yi Kho (‪@ziyikho.bsky.social) Production: Dr Simin Salarpour Media & Promotion: Zi Yi Kho