Episodes
Wednesday Jun 26, 2019
Wednesday Jun 26, 2019
SPEAKERS: Gavin McIntyre, Brian Pickles, Alison Pouliot and Mike Hornblow
HOST: Robyn Williams
Fungi preceded trees and animals on the Earth by hundreds of millions of years, and they’ll be cleaning humanity’s mess long after we’re gone. But can the humble ‘shroom help us save the planet right now? Bioneer Gavin McIntyre from ground breaking New York biofabrication company Ecovative Design, mycologists Brian Pickles and Alison Pouliot, and interdisciplinary designer Mike Hornblow are certain they can.
Fungi are saving the planet daily by energy cycling ecosystems, decomposing organic matter and feeding plants and animals. Now, scientists are also harnessing their mycelium – the root structure of mushrooms – to save the planet. They’re growing incredible sustainable materials to replace the use of wood, foam, bricks, leather, and plastics. They’ve even discovered fungi that eat plastic, clean up petrochemicals, absorb radiation, filter wastewater and treat a range of illnesses and immune-mediated conditions! Here’s to a fungi future.
Friday Aug 24, 2018
Friday Aug 24, 2018
Speakers: Vaughan Levitzke, Vivian Sim, and Anne Sharp
Host: Deb Tribe
An estimated five trillion plastic items - mostly less than five millimetres in size - are currently circulating the surface of the world's oceans and scientists cite microplastics (particles less than 5mm) entering our food chain as a potential toxic ticking time bomb. Let that sink in for a minute... ('scuse the pun).
Three experts in waste, microplastic contamination research and consumer behaviour, Vaughan Levitzke, Vivian Sim, and Anne Sharp sit down with the ABCs Deb Tribe to discuss the scale of the world's addiction to plastic and the possible solutions.
Friday May 19, 2017
2017 WOMADelaide Planet Talks - "Do Something"
Friday May 19, 2017
Friday May 19, 2017
Speakers: Karen O'Brien | Jon Dee | Erin Rhoads | Vanessa Morrish
Host: Sonya Feldhoff
Just because you can't do everything it doesn't mean you shouldn't do something. Do we view climate change as a problem for Governments, scientists, environmentalists and economists to sort out or is our role as individuals more important? Join Karen, Jon, Erin and Vanessa as they chat about their work focusing on the “I” in climate change, how people see themselves making changes and how we can empower everyone to “do something”.
Friday May 19, 2017
2017 WOMADelaide Planet Talks - Redefining Resources and the Right To Repair
Friday May 19, 2017
Friday May 19, 2017
Speakers: Kyle Wiens | Veena Sahajwalla | Nicholas Chileshe
Host: Robyn Williams
We’re running out of resources but according to this panel, we’re going to be ok. Can we compete with the convenience of the garbage dump and the latest iPhone? Are tech companies taking away our right to extend the life of products? Is a waste-free economy possible? iFixit founder Kyle Wiens, UNSW’s Scientia Professor of Materials Science, Veena Sahajwalla and UniSA’s reverse logistics expert Nicholas Chileshe know a thing or two about delaying entropy, so let’s ask them.