The Random Sample

Mathematics is often used to model how diseases spread. But what about the spread of information – or misinformation – about those diseases and their vaccines? Professor Stacey Smith? from the University of Ottawa is a trans mathematician whose research focuses on modelling infectious diseases. Increasingly, her work has turned to the social and behavioural dynamics that shape anti‑vaccination sentiment. In this conversation, we explore how mathematical approaches can help make sense of attitudes ranging from vaccine hesitancy to outright resistance, and why understanding these dynamics is critical for effective public health responses. The episode is hosted by Eva Stadler, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Infection Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. Together, Eva and Stacey discuss how tools from the mathematical sciences can be applied well beyond traditional epidemiology, intersecting with psychology, sociology, and communication science. This episode is part of a special two‑part series released to coincide with Women in Mathematics Day (12 May), celebrating the contributions of women – and those who identify as women – in the mathematical sciences worldwide. The other episode in the series explores how the mathematical sciences are playing an increasingly important role in understanding women’s health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mathematics is not often associated with women’s health, yet the mathematical sciences are playing an increasingly important role in understanding pregnancy, reproductive health, and chronic conditions that disproportionately affect women. Professor Alys Clark and Dr Claire Miller, both from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland, use mathematics to shed light on complex health challenges faced by women, including pregnancy and endometriosis. In this episode, they highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between mathematicians, biologists, and clinicians. In a twist on our usual format, Alys and Claire interview each other, offering a candid and engaging look at their research, their collaborations, and what it’s like to work at the interface of mathematics and medicine. This episode is part of a special two‑part series released to coincide with Women in Mathematics Day (12 May), celebrating the contributions of women – and those who identify as women – in the mathematical sciences worldwide.  The other episode explores how mathematics can help us understand the growing challenge of anti‑vaccination sentiment. Episode webpage:   https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/maths-womens-health/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Program recognises a small number of exceptional female early‑career researchers in Australia and New Zealand with a prestigious fellowship. In 2025, for the first time since the program began in 2007, the award went to a mathematician: Dr Maria Kleshnina from QUT’s School of Mathematical Sciences. Maria’s research is in game theory – an interdisciplinary field grounded in the mathematical sciences that studies how people make decisions when their outcomes depend on the actions of others. In this episode, we explore why game theory matters, the kinds of real‑world problems it is designed to tackle, and how it has become a powerful way of thinking across economics, politics, and – in Maria’s area of interest – conservation. Maria is a Senior Lecturer at QUT, an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, and a Chief Investigator with the Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future initiative. We spoke with her about her research, her career journey, and what it means to be awarded a L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship. Our host is Dr James Nichols. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/game-theory/ ‎See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kalman filter is a hidden mathematical tool with an enormous impact on our daily lives. Most people have never heard of it – yet it quietly powers everything from spaceflight and aviation to our GPS, smartphones, and wearable devices. Developed in the late 1950s and early 60s, the Kalman filter provides the optimal solution to this problem: If you have an imperfect prediction of where something should be…and a noisy measurement of where it seems to be…what’s the best estimate of where it actually is? And more remarkably – it lets you answer that question over and over again, in real time. In this episode, we explore the origins, ideas, and lasting influence of the Kalman filter with two world‑leading experts, Laureate Professor Emeritus Rob Evans and Professor Bill Moran from The University of Melbourne. Along the way, we unpack concepts like least squares, minimum mean square error, and even dip into probability and statistics, including Bayes’ Theorem. But don’t let that scare you off – because this is a story about powerful mathematics hiding in plain sight – and quietly shaping the technology we rely on every day. Our host for this episode is Dr Tom Kimpson, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with MACSYS at The University of Melbourne. The episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/kalman-filter/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists are generating more biological data than ever before, and new technologies now allow us to peer inside the cell in ways we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.  But even the most advanced tools can’t explain how a living cell actually works as a complete system. That’s the challenge at the heart of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS). The Centre brings mathematicians and computational scientists together with biologists to pursue a bold goal: building a predictive, fully computational model of a living cell. This is the second episode of our two-part series on MACSYS.  Our guests are the leaders of MACSYS - Centre Director Professor Trevor Lithgow and Deputy Director Professor Jennifer Flegg. Together, they explore what a whole‑cell model is, why it matters, and how bridging wet‑lab and dry‑lab science is essential to tackling one of the most ambitious challenges in modern biology. Our host for this episode is Dr Haripriya Sridharan – a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with MACSYS at The University of Melbourne. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/macsys-pt2/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Understanding a living cell is one of the biggest challenges in modern science. Cells carry out an extraordinary number of tasks every second and understanding how all those processes fit together is central to biology. But even with advanced experiments and mountains of data, scientists still don’t have a complete picture of what a cell does – or how it might respond to new conditions or interventions. The ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems – or MACSYS – aims to change that. MACSYS brings together mathematicians and computational scientists to work alongside biologists toward a bold goal: creating a predictive, fully computational model of a cell. The Random Sample is excited to partner with MACSYS as our principal new partner organisation. To introduce you to the Centre’s work, we’re bringing you a two-part series. This first episode takes a mathematical lens, featuring two of the Centre’s mathematical modellers and Chief investigators: UNSW Professor Adelle Coster and QUT Professor Mat Simpson. Together, we explore how modelling helps make sense of biological data, how collaboration across disciplines pushes science forward, and why whole‑cell modelling demands both mathematical insight and biological intuition. Our host is Tim Macuga. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/macsys-pt1/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology is transforming how we understand society. For decades, researchers relied on surveys to learn about populations. But today, data comes from everywhere - administrative records, social media, and even fitness trackers. In this episode, we explore this shift with Professor Frauke Kreuter - a global leader in social data science. She explains how combining traditional survey methods with diverse data sources can help answer critical questions about health, education, and public policy, while also revealing the challenges of bias in digital data. Recently, Frauke has made a bold move into artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs). She shares why this transition matters, how AI is reshaping social research, and what the future holds for data-driven insights. Our host is Cynthia Huang. Episode page: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/social-data-science/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, surveys have been the backbone of official statistics - helping us measure everything from population trends to economic activity. But response rates have been falling dramatically across the world for the past few decades. This decline is forcing statistical agencies to rethink how they collect the data we all rely on. In this episode, we explore the shift toward multi-source data with our special guest, Dr Anders Holmberg, General Manager and Chief Methodologist for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). What is multi-source data, how is it collected, and what are the challenges for official statistics agencies as they move to these new data sources? Our host is Professor James Brown, Professor of Official Statistics and current head of discipline for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/multi-source-data-abs/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Modern slavery is often hidden in corporate supply chains, making it hard to detect and eliminate. Countries like Australia now require companies to publish annual reports on their efforts to combat slavery - but with thousands of reports, no government can read them all. That’s where Project AIMS comes in. Led by Adriana Bora at the QUT Centre for Data Science, Project AIMS explores how cutting-edge AI can be used to compare thousands of these reports. To push this work further, Adriana helped organise a global hackathon, bringing together teams from around the world to develop innovative solutions. In this episode of The Random Sample, we meet Adriana and members of the winning hackathon teams – from South Africa, Cameroon, and Australia – who share how data science can make the invisible visible and why technology can play a vital role in ending modern slavery. Our host is Tim Macuga. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/aims-hackathon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We recently celebrated World Statistics Day on 20 October. To mark the occasion, the Statistical Society teamed up with the Australian Data Science Network for a lively online panel discussion on a topic of growing importance: trust in data. The expert panel brought together a wealth of experience from government, academia, and industry to explore the real-world challenges of building and maintaining trust in data. Since both the Statistical Society and the Australian Data Science Network are partner organisations of The Random Sample, we’re excited to share that discussion with you here. The discussion was moderated by Lynne Giles, an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at The University of Adelaide and President of the Statistical Society of Australia. The panellists are: Dr Lucy Farrell is Director of Data Strategy in the Australian Centre for Disease Control Establishment Strategy Branch at the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.  Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths is a Yawuru woman living and working on Larrakia Country. She is an epidemiologist and the Director of Poche SA+NT at Flinders University. Dr Ben Harrap is Vice President of the Statistical Society of Australia and a biostatistician who loves all things data.  Simon Jackman is a leading analyst of public opinion, elections and electoral systems and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney.  Dr Sue Keay is Director of the UNSW AI Institute and an expert in robotics, AI, and automation. Dr Aaron Snoswell is a senior research fellow in AI accountability at the QUT Generative AI Lab. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/data-we-can-trust/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coral reefs are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth – but they’re also among the most vulnerable. Thanks to climate change, pollution, and other human impacts – coral reefs are in crisis.  The need for fast, coordinated action has never been greater. One of the biggest challenges is getting accurate, up-to-date data, especially from remote or isolated reef systems. Without that data, it’s hard to know where the damage is happening, how fast it’s progressing, or what actions might help. That’s where ReefCloud comes in. ReefCloud is a digital platform that brings together the world’s coral reef monitoring community. It combines artificial intelligence, statistical analysis, and data visualisation to help scientists and decision makers to understand reef changes and respond to them faster and more effectively. In this episode, we talk to Dr Manuel Gonzalez-Rivero, a Research Team Leader with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). He also leads ReefCloud. Our host is Dr Julie Vercelloni, a research scientist at AIMS. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/reefcloud/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The art of engagement for the Australian Bureau of Statistics  How do you make statistics and complex data not just understandable - but engaging? For the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the answer is simple: meet people where they are - on social media. From pop culture and sports to quirky factoids, the ABS social media team uses fun, relatable content to build a massive following. How massive? We’re talking hundreds of thousands of followers across multiple platforms. Once they’ve got your attention, they make sure the important ABS material is right there in the mix - explained clearly and accessibly. In this episode, we speak with Heather Lansdowne, the leader of the ABS social media team, about how they’re changing the way people connect with statistics. Our host is Tim Macuga. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/abs-social-media/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it really mean for something to be complex - and how can mathematics help us make sense of it? In this episode of The Random Sample, our guest is Professor Michael Small, leader of the Complex Systems Group at the University of Western Australia. Michael’s research uses mathematics to uncover hidden patterns in the chaos of the world around us - from social networks and pandemics to psychiatric illness and engineering problems. Michael also shares candid thoughts on the pressures of academic publishing. Plus, we also dive into the rise of artificial intelligence, where Michael argues AI won’t replace mathematics - but it will change it. It’s a wide-ranging discussion – hosted by Dr Mehwish Nasim, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Western Australia. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/complex-systems-michael-small/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s data-driven world, questions around who controls data, how it’s used, and who benefits from it are more pressing than ever. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, these questions carry even deeper significance—rooted in histories of exclusion, marginalisation, and misrepresentation. In this episode, we explore the vital issue of Indigenous data governance and sovereignty with Levi-Craig Murray, an Aboriginal man of Wakka Wakka and Kubi Kubi descent. Levi brings deep insight to this conversation, drawing on his experience as the former Strategic Manager of Indigenous Data with the Indigenous Studies Unit at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. Now undertaking full-time postgraduate study, he continues to advocate for reshaping how Indigenous data is understood, governed, and respected. Released during NAIDOC Week 2025, this episode invites listeners to reflect on the role of data in shaping futures—and how we can all contribute to more inclusive and culturally informed data practices. Our host is Dr Bernadette Hyland-Wood from the QUT Centre for Data Science. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/indigenous-data/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Random Sample steps into the dynamic world of interdisciplinary research—viewed through the lens of data science and statistics. Our guest is a true leader in collaborative science: Professor Galit Shmueli. Galit is the Tsing Hua Chair Professor at the Institute of Service Science at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, the inaugural editor-in-chief of the INFORMS Journal on Data Science, and a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. In this episode, she shares her insights on building meaningful connections across disciplines — and reflects on the role of artificial intelligence and large language models in shaping the future of research. Our host is Cynthia Huang. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/interdisciplinar…ch-galit-shmueli/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few short years ago, it was one of the most hyped technology fields around. But after all that excitement, where are we now with autonomous vehicles — or driverless cars? In this episode, we go under the hood to explore how AVs gather and use data, and the complex mathematics that helps them navigate a messy, unpredictable world. What are the challenges still standing in the way? And how close are we, really, to letting go of the wheel? Our guest is Professor Michael Milford, Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics – and someone who’s been working on this problem for much of his career. Our host is Dr James Nichols. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/autonomous-vehicles/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re diving into the design and development of the tools that have transformed data science and statistical programming — with none other than Dr Hadley Wickham. Hadley is the Chief Scientist at Posit (formerly RStudio), where he leads the Tidyverse team. This team is behind some of the most widely used open-source packages in the R programming language — including dplyr and ggplot2. These tools have empowered thousands of data scientists and researchers to explore complex datasets and communicate insights through compelling visualisations. In this episode,  Hadley shares key lessons he’s learnt from over two decades of building and maintaining open-source software. We also look ahead, as he discusses where he sees data science tooling headed — and the principles that will shape its future. Our host is Cynthia Huang. Episode webpage: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/hadley-wickham/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers and decision-makers face a familiar challenge: data exists, but it’s often locked away. Once research is published, the underlying data and analysis frequently vanish into private repositories—accessible only through time-consuming permissions or technical expertise. For those working on urgent issues like climate change and public health, these data silos slow progress and limit impact. In this episode, we look at AusEnHealth, a project aiming to change that. As Australia’s first national digital environmental health decision support platform, AusEnHealth is being designed to bring together fragmented datasets and make them easier to access, explore, and use. The goal is to offer interactive visualisations and built-in analytics that deliver rapid insights—even for those without the time, tools, or training to process complex data on their own. Our guest for this episode is Dr Aiden Price, a Senior Research Fellow with the QUT Centre for Data Science and one of the lead researchers in this project. Our host is Tanya Dodgen, a PhD Candidate at QUT. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/ausenhealth/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is no longer a futuristic concept.  It’s here, embedded in almost every technology we use. It’s one of the most transformative forces of our time, and in this episode, we’re unpacking what that means, focusing on the powerful engines behind it: large language models, or LLM’s. A year and a half ago, The Random Sample did an episode exploring the science behind ChatGPT and its groundbreaking use of LLM’s.  Fast forward to now, and the A-I landscape has already shifted dramatically. The pace of innovation is staggering. Today, we’re bringing back our guest from that previous episode. Simon Angus is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Monash University. Simon is also a Principal Investigator with SoDa Labs at Monash Business School, a research lab that applies new tools from data science and machine learning to answer social science questions. Simon will help us navigate what’s new, and what we should be thinking about as AI continues to reshape the world. Whether you’re new to AI and unsure where to start, or already exploring how it can transform your work or life, this episode has something for you. Understanding this transformative technology isn’t optional. It’s essential – and Simon is here to break it all down in a way that’s clear, approachable, and practical. Our host is Pranita Shrestha, a PhD Candidate at the Action Lab in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University. Episode webpage with links:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/beyond-chatgpt-ai-landscape/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the second part of our special two-part series, where we dive into the surprising and unexpected ways artificial intelligence, or AI, and the law intersect. This episode takes a closer look at the evolving efforts to regulate AI—an urgent issue that governments and leaders across Australia and around the world are tackling right now. We delve into the complexities of assigning responsibility and managing risks in AI systems—especially when so many hands contribute to their creation. How do you hold a system accountable when its impacts can be so widespread and unpredictable? Our guest is Dr. Henry Fraser, a Research Fellow in Law, Accountability, and Data Science at QUT and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society. His research focuses on developing laws that encourage responsible automated decision-making. Our host for this series is Dr. Aaron Snoswell, a senior research fellow in A-I accountability at the QUT Generative AI Lab, and co-lead of the Responsible Data Science and A-I program at the QUT Centre for Data Science. There is more information and links to some of Dr Fraser's work on our website: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/ai-law-part-2/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first of our two-part series on a topic that’s sweeping the headlines: Artificial Intelligence or A-I. But we’re taking a different angle, one that many in the data and mathematical sciences might not consider often, but absolutely should. We’re talking about the law! This series will dig into the surprising intersections between A-I and legal frameworks—and the ways in which they’re increasingly intertwined. This episode gets into the here and now – how A-I is already impacting legal practice and policy. Our guest, Associate Professor Michael Guihot from QUT’s School of Law, is an expert on the intricate connections between emerging technologies and the legal system. He studies the societal impacts of innovations like A-I and how they challenge traditional legal frameworks. Guihot also brings A-I into his classroom, giving future legal minds hands-on experience with the technology that will shape their field. Our host for this series is Dr. Aaron Snoswell, a senior research fellow in A-I accountability at the QUT Generative AI Lab, and co-lead of the Responsible Data Science and A-I program at the QUT Centre for Data Science.  Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/ai-law-part-1/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High school mathematics in Australia is often driven by one thing: those high-stakes Year 12 exams. In this episode, we take a fresh look at how high school maths is taught. We’re joined by someone who’s making waves in education: Donna Buckley, a mathematics and cybersecurity teacher from John Curtin College of the Arts in Western Australia. In 2023, Donna received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools, recognised for inspiring students of all backgrounds to see the power of maths beyond the classroom and even opening their eyes to careers in STEM. Donna brings a unique perspective on the gap between what mathematicians do and what high school maths has become.  Donna also shares how she is shaking things up in the classroom, inspiring creativity, and connecting maths to her students’ interests – whether it’s the geometry of fashion, the patterns in textiles, or even using Dr. Seuss to introduce concepts in AI and chatbots. This episode covers a lot of ground on the perceptions of maths and how it’s taught, so get ready for an eye-opening discussion.Our host for this episode is Rose Crocker, an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.  You can find links to what Donna talked in the episode on our website: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/maths-education-donna-buckley/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atherosclerosis is a silent but deadly condition. It happens when your arteries get clogged with plaque, restricting blood flow and putting you at serious risk for heart attacks and strokes. But here’s the fascinating part: maths is stepping up to help doctors and scientists understand how this condition develops and progresses. In this episode, we’re joined by two brilliant minds who organised a recent research program at MATRIX, Australia’s residential institute for the mathematical sciences. University of Oxford Professor Helen Byrne sits down with the University of Sydney’s Professor Mary Myerscough. Together, they unpack the complexities of using maths to model biological conditions like atherosclerosis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 WIMSIG Conference celebrates the achievements of women, trans and gender diverse people in the mathematical sciences. WIMSIG stands for the Women in Mathematics Special Interest Group. The group is a part of the Australian Mathematical Society. WIMSIG just wrapped up its third-ever conference with a big gathering in Sydney. In this episode, we’ll explore how WIMSIG came into being, why it’s so important, and what it means for all those who attend a WIMSIG conference. Our guests are: Professor Jennifer Flegg – The University of Melbourne and Chair of the WIMSIG Executive Committee Professor Jessica Purcell – Monash University and President of the Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS)  Professor Lesley Ward – University of South Australia and Chair of the 1st WIMSIG Conference The host is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi, a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO. Episode link: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/wimsig-conference/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Perils of "Publish or Perish". This episode of The Random Sample is the final instalment in our special three-part series on navigating the world of academic and scientific publishing. In it, we dive deep into the dilemma - and what many see as the pervasive mindset - known simply as publish or perish. Our guest is QUT statistician Professor Adrian Barnett. As part of all the research he does, Adrian uses the power of statistics to reveal the pressures and pitfalls of the current system. Plus, we explore questions like: Can things change? Should they? What can academics and journals do to make the system better? Our host for this episode is Dr James Nichols, a mathematician and Lecturer at the Australian National University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Challenges of Publishing Interdisciplinary Research. This episode of The Random Sample is the second instalment in our special three-part series into the world of academic and scientific publishing. In it, we delve into the challenges of publishing interdisciplinary research with special guest, Professor Xiao-Li Meng, founding editor-in-chief of the Harvard Data Science Review. We explore: How to choose a journal when the research crosses disciplinary boundaries The important role researchers in the mathematical and data sciences can play in this type of research The challenges editors and reviewers face with interdisciplinary research Plus, Professor Meng discusses his motivation for creating the Harvard Data Science Review, and what he does to challenge researchers to communicate their research more broadly. Our host for this episode is Cynthia Huang, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University. Episode webpage:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/the-publication-puzzle-part-2/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all heard the saying, “publish or perish”. But what does that really mean in today’s world of academic publishing? Scientific publishing has been shaping knowledge since the 17th century. Today, it's bigger, and more complex, than ever. Yet, for many inside the world of science, it remains a maze of confusion. For those outside of it, it’s practically a black box. In a special three-part series, The Random Sample will take you behind the scenes to explore the realities of the publication process. This episode is the first in this series. We’ll begin by answering some fundamental questions: How does academic publishing really work? What factors influence the decision on where to publish? And what happens when a journal reviews a submitted paper? Our guest is University of Melbourne mathematician Distinguished Professor Peter Taylor, who shares his perspective as both an Academic and editor-in-chief of two applied probability journals. Our host is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi, a Senior Research Scientist with CSIRO. Episode page:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/the-publication-puzzle-part-1/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting Wednesday, 28 August, The Random Sample will bring you a special three-part series exploring the world of academic publishing. Listen to this short trailer so you know what to expect!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s something to toast to. Australia’s wine industry is leading the way when it comes to a very important issue: sustainability. And Data Science is helping the industry do that! In this episode, we explore the Data Science project being carried out by the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), how and why it started, and how grape growers and wine makers are coming to embrace these new data-driven efforts. Our guests are Mardi Longbottom, General Manager for Industry Development and Support at the AWRI, and Bryce Polley, a PhD Candidate at the QUT Centre for Data Science and the University of Adelaide working with AWRI. Our host is Tim Macuga, Senior Project Officer for the QUT Centre for Data Science and the Australian Data Science Network. Website link: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/data-for-sustainable-winemaking/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you heard of, or are you experiencing, eco-grief or climate anxiety? For many STEM researchers, including those in the mathematical and data sciences, this is becoming a very real thing as they explore and tackle problems and questions about the environment and climate. But just how serious of a problem is this for the STEM community? A group of women, who met as part of their involvement with the Homeward Bound project, have decided to team up and find out. They just completed of survey of researchers to find out how climate change is affecting the people who study it. In this episode, we explore some of what they have already uncovered. Plus, some tools and some messages of hope they have for anyone who might be experiencing these feelings. Our guest is Dr Alexandra Knight, an Ecologist and Environmental Sociologist at Charles Sturt University. Our host for this episode is Rose Crocker, an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.  NOTE: We understand this discussion may affect some of you. If so, head to our webpage for this episode. We have provided a list of contacts and resources for climate anxiety and eco-grief support: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/climate-anxiety-alexandra-knight/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People love stories. That simple fact all too often gets lost by scientists when it comes to communicating research. In this episode, we chat to someone who helps researchers tell their stories. Not with words. But visually, using graphic design. Dr Jess Hopf decided to combine her two passions, science and graphic design, into a business where she helps researchers communicate their work by incorporating visual components. Our host is Cynthia Huang, a PhD Candidate at Monash University in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics.  Episode website:  https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/scientific-graphic-design/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s only been a few short years since we witnessed the power of bushfires here in Australia. The summer of 2019 and 2020 brought us Australia’s most catastrophic bushfire season ever. The 2019-20 bushfires destroyed more than 3,000 homes, killed more than 30 people, and torched tens of millions of hectares of land and forest. With the effects of climate change, it’s more important than ever that we understand how bushfires move and grow. Our guest for this episode is Jason Sharples, a Professor of Bushfire Dynamics at UNSW Canberra – and Director of the UNSW Bushfire Research Group. In this episode, we explore how Jason uses mathematics to model bushfires to better understand the complex interactions between bushfires, different terrains, and atmospheric conditions. Our host for this episode is Dr James Nichols, a mathematician and Lecturer at the Australian National University.  Episode webpage linkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do some people struggle with maths? In this episode, we chat with Dr Jacob Paul from The University of Melbourne’s School of Psychological Sciences, where he leads the Maths at Human Scale Lab. The focus of his research is to understand maths learning disorders, including something called dyscalculia. Jacob tells us what it means for children and adults with dyscalculia and what that looks like in their lives. Plus, what he’s doing to raise awareness and improve support for people who struggle with it. Our host is Cynthia Huang, a PhD Candidate at Monash University in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of The Random Sample gives you a glimpse into some of the mathematics and physics that is used to understand the building blocks of the universe. A research program at the MATRIX mathematical research institute earlier this year explored the deep connections between mathematics, quantum field theory, and string theory. One of the organisers of that research program was Professor Alessandro Sfondrini from the University of Padua in Italy. In this episode, he gives us a taste of the theoretical and highly advanced mathematics work that he does. Plus, he tells us what he does to communicate it to broader audiences. We have a special guest host. Dr Gabriele Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli is an ARC Future Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. He was also one of the organisers for the MATRIX research program featured in this episode. https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/building-blocks-of-universe/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We admit it - even The Random Sample can't resist the hype around the world's biggest music star - Taylor Swift. Almost on a dare from his wife - and to make a point with his students - Griffith University's Dr Nathan Garland decided to open up his mathematical toolkit and explore the music of Taylor Swift. In this episode, Nathan tells us what he used from his mathematical toolkit and what he uncovered about Taylor Swift's music. Our host for this episode is Rose Crocker, an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Episode page: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/taylor-swift-music/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, The Random Sample switches things up a bit. The people who usually ask the questions on this podcast, our hosts, are actually our guests.We explore why these researchers wanted to also become podcasters and what they’ve learnt along the way by hosting this podcast. Our hosts turned guests for this episode are: Rose Crocker is an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science; Cynthia Huang is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University; Dr James Nichols is a mathematician and lecturer at the Australian National University; Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO.  Our host for this episode is Peter Taylor, a Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at The University of Melbourne.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to imagine a time before Wi-Fi – or what we’d do without it. Especially, if you’re under the age of 25. But thanks to the work of some brilliant Australian scientists, wireless internet is a part of our everyday lives. Our guest for this episode is Professor David Skellern, one of the Australian scientists who won the race in the late 1990’s to get functioning wireless technology to market. In their words, they had cut the wires that computers needed to talk to each other. Professor David Skellern shares his research and life journey with us, taking us back to his early days working in radio astronomy. Then, how he combined that experience with his love of mathematics, and his background as an electronic engineer, to eventually get to a point where he knew Wi-Fi was possible. Finally, how he helped bring that idea to fruition. It’s a fascinating journey!  Our host for this episode is Dr James Nichols, a mathematician and Lecturer at the Australian National University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of The Random Sample introduces you to three brilliant statisticians! The three have been selected to present the inaugural Horizon Lectures at the upcoming Australian Statistical Conference next month. The Statistical Society of Australia established the Horizon Lecture awards for this year’s conference to recognise emerging leaders in Australia’s statistics community, and their contributions to advancing statistical practice. The three awardees are Dr Marijke Welvaert with the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Assoc. Professor Andrew Zammit Mangion from the University of Wollongong, and Assoc. Prof Margarita Moreno-Betancur with the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. It’s a fascinating discussion about the importance of statisticians, the communication of statistics, and how statistics is evolving with the emergence of data science, machine learning and AI. Our host for this episode is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi, a Senior Research Scientist with CSIRO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is still a lot of work to do before Australian girls and women have an equal opportunity to learn, work and engage in STEM. So says the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The Department’s 2023 STEM Equity Monitor shows that: Women make up 37% of enrolments in university STEM courses. Only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs are held by women. Only 23% of senior management and 8% of CEOs in STEM-qualified industries are women. To tackle the serious issue of gender equity in STEM, Science and Technology Australia (STA) created the Superstars of STEM program in 2017. Its aim is to break the stereotypes about who can – and already does - work in STEM. In this episode, STA CEO Misha Schubert tells how the Superstars of STEM program equips brilliant diverse STEM experts with advanced communication skills and opportunities so they can be role models and media experts for others to see. We also talk to a current and past Superstar of STEM about what the program has meant to them. They are: Dr Muneera Bano, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO’s Data 61. Dr Melissa Humphries, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer and Mathematical sciences at the University of Adelaide. Our host is Rose Crocker, an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, October 14th, Australians head to the polls to decide the Voice to Parliament Referendum. In this episode, we’re not looking at the referendum, but rather the polling around it. Plus, what makes referendum polling different to polling in a regular election. Our guest is Professor Simon Jackman from the University of Sydney. Professor Jackman has three decades of experience researching, teaching, and communicating about political science and data science in the United States and Australia. Until last year, Simon led the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Before that, he spent 20 years at Stanford University.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Society for Political Methodology. Our host is Cynthia Huang, a PhD Candidate at Monash University in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever seen something on the news or in your social media feed and think, what are the odds of that happening? University of Toronto Professor Jeffrey Rosenthal is the author of the book, “Struck by Lightning – the Curious World of Probabilities”. In it, he explores how we should look at the randomness all around us and in the world, and why we overestimate the chance of some things happening, while underestimating others. Plus, he talks about the challenge of communicating these statistical and mathematical ideas to a broader audience. Our hosts are Cynthia Huang and Tim Macuga.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many of us, we rely on social media to get a lot of the information we’re interested in. But how does all that information move across these different platforms? It’s a question that researchers in the data and mathematical sciences at The University of Adelaide have been studying for years. Included in that research is the study of how misinformation and disinformation spreads on social media. Our guests for this episode are Professor Lewis Mitchell, Director of the Adelaide Data Science Centre, and Bridget Smart, who recently completed a Masters at The University of Adelaide. As part of her research, she worked to understand and model the processes behind malicious activity in our online social networks. They also talk about some of their latest research, which includes the spread of disinformation in the Russia-Ukraine war. Plus, why the mathematical and data sciences are so important in examining this problem, and how recent changes to social media, specifically, Twitter, could change that research. Our host is Rose Crocker, an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s something weird to think about. Can fluids think? No, we’re not talking about a liquid metal shape-shifting creature like what we saw in Terminator 2. We’re asking, can fluid systems make computations? In this episode, we chat with Professor Eva Miranda, head of the Laboratory of Geometry and Dynamical Systems at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain. She’s on a mission exploring one of math’s most famous open problems – the existence of solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation, which governs the flow of fluids such as water and air. Since the 1800’s, researchers interested in how fluids flow have turned to Navier-Stokes. To investigate Navier-Stokes, Eva and her colleagues have constructed an abstract mathematical machine, a theoretical fluid computer, if you will. In this podcast, Professor Miranda tells us how a post from Australian Mathematician Terrence Tao inspired her, how she used geometry to construct her fluid computer, and why she believes that Navier-Stokes might not always be physically valid. Our host for this episode is Dr James Nichols.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes interesting research starts with a question faced by industry. That question may lead to other questions – and maybe even shine light on a broader research problem not specific to that industry. Collaboration between academia and industry allows researchers to identify and explore these new and interesting problems. One way that’s being done is through Industry PhDs. In this podcast, we explore what an industry PhD is, how it’s different than a traditional PhD, and what it’s like to collaborate with industry partners as you pursue a PhD. Our host is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi, a Senior Research Scientist with CSIRO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a special edition of The Random Sample! We’re on the road at the World Statistics Congress taking place from 15-20 July in Ottawa, Canada. The Congress is put on by International Statistical Institute (ISI) and is the largest congress worldwide for statisticians and data scientists. In this podcast, we hear from Stephen Penneck, ISI President; Kerrie Mengersen, ISI Vice President; Anil Arora, Chief Statistician for Statistics Canada; Eric Rancourt, Asst. Chief Statistician & Chief Data Officer for Statistics Canada; and John Bailer, former ISI President and host of the “Stats & Stories” podcast. Our host for this episode is Tim Macuga, Senior Project Officer for the QUT Centre for Data Science and the Australian Data Science Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest is Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel, a Professor in the Department of Statistical Science at Duke University in the United States. Mine’s work is so much more than just educating students about statistics and data science. She’s a big proponent of what she calls ‘open education’, the open source sharing of how stats and data science are taught, and innovating the pedagogy. In this episode, we explore how Mine is doing this, and why this type of work is so important. Our host is Cynthia Huang, a PhD Candidate at Monash University in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For three decades, University of Queensland Professor Hugh Possingham has combined his two passions – mathematics and nature – into a career dedicated to making an impact with conservation efforts around the world. Hugh recently completed a two-year term as Queensland’s Chief Scientist. He served as Chief Scientist of the Nature Conservancy, is the former director of four national research centres, and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. His conservation efforts include his lab’s development of Marxan which was used to underpin the rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef. Marxan is now the most widely used conservation planning software in the world. In this episode, we explore the importance of mathematics in the field of conservation and the challenges of communicating the maths and science to decision-makers. Our host is Rose Crocker, an applied mathematician with the Australian Institute of Marine Science. BONUS MATERIAL, including a clip where Prof Possingham talks about mentoring: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/hugh-possingham/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever watch a TV courtroom drama where they question an expert witness? Chances are, you’ve never seen an actor portray an expert witness who is a statistician. But statisticians can have a big impact inside real courtrooms. Our guest is Professor Ian Gordon, Director of the Statistical Consulting Centre at The University of Melbourne. Among the consulting work he does includes being an expert witness in legal cases. In this episode, we explore how statisticians get involved in legal cases, what that legal work looks like, and we look at some of the big cases Ian has worked on. Our host is Cynthia Huang, a PhD Candidate at Monash University in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics. Links & bonus material: https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/statisticians-in-legal-cases/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

100 years after Albert Einstein predicted their existence, scientists in 2015 detected gravitational waves for the first time ever. The historic discovery was the culmination of decades of research and hard work. In this episode, we explore the importance of gravitational waves and the theoretical and technological efforts that allowed researchers to finally detect them. Our guest is Distinguished Professor Susan Scott, from The Australian National University, and a senior member of the gravitational wave detection team. Our host is Dr James Nichols, a mathematician and Lecturer at ANU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the field of discrete optimisation and how industries and companies use it to make decisions for complex problems. Our guest is Monash University Professor Peter Stuckey, a pioneer in constraint programming (CP) which is a powerful approach to solving discrete optimisation problems. Professor Stuckey explains why he believes optimisation is the intelligence behind AI. Our host is Dr Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.