The wonder of science with palaeontologist Dr Kaylene Cooper

Welcome to the Science Write Now podcast! This week we chat with palaeontologist and award-winning STEM educator Dr Kaylene Cooper about her passion for science communication and the work she does with the team at Wonder of Science. Plus, we dig into the fascinating world of fossils and "Fangaroos", aka prehistoric kangaroos!In this episode, Kaylene shares what sparked her passion and curiosity for science, and in particular, palaeontology: the study of prehistoric life forms (fossils) preserved in rocks and ancient sediments, and the evolution of life on Earth. So, what led Kaylene as a PhD student to study Riversleigh, a region west of Mount Isa in North Queensland, and what exactly is a "Fangaroo"? You'll have to listen to find out!Kaylene also speaks about transitioning from being a scientist in the field to a STEM educator and the leader of The University of Queensland's Wonder of Science program. She gives an insight into how STEM educators collaborate with scientists, schools and science-based organisations, including the innovative "Flying Scientists" program. Kaylene shares her best tips for those navigating a career between science and the arts (why not both?) and what she's most excited about in the wonderous world of science at the moment.Outside of her work, Kaylene has a very niche, very cool creative outlet involving fossils and 3-D modelling. She speaks to the artistic merits of the design process, the scientific method and how art and science can mesh together to create some truly awe-inspiring and practical solutions when it comes to palaeontology.Full show notes: further links and resources are available on the SWN website.Enjoyed this episode? Share the SWN love!If you liked this episode, leave us a review and share it far and wide. Science Write Now is dedicated to accessibility, connectivity, inspiration and collaboration across disciplines. Our content is free to access and we want to keep it that way, so if you’re keen to be part of this growing community of creative writing inspired by science, hit subscribe!We’ll be back with another episode soon, and more conversations inspired by science and creativity to come!We acknowledge the Jaegara and Turrbal People, Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is created, and the unceded cultural lands on which our guests live and continue to make and tell stories.