Science with Benefits
In each episode of Science with Benefits, a different STEMM sector insider shares insights, perspectives and personal stories from their career and life experience.
In conversation with OG science communicator Dr Rod Lamberts*, guests aren't always "the usual suspects" in STEMM, but they all share one thing: a unique perspective on the sector you haven't heard before.
Whether you're en experienced insider or at the beginning of your STEMM career, there's always something interesting on Science with Benefits.
*Rod has been a science communication academic and practitioner for nearly 30 years. Check out his much more NSFW podcast "A Little Bit of Science" wherever you get your podcasts. And stay tuned for a new one coming in late 2026!
Episodes
12 episodes
David Waugh - Dean of Health Innovation, Precincts & Partnerships - Adelaide University
Keywordshealth research, consumer engagement, university partnerships, impact measurement, science communication, trust in science, cancer research, health literacy, clinical trials, innovation SummaryIn this co...
James Harland - Director, STEMM Digital Innovation Hub (HuDINi) @ RMIT
Rod Lamberts speaks with James Harland, professor of computational logic and director of the STEM hub for digital innovation (HuDIni) at RMIT, about how technologists are at their best when they’re thinking beyond just new-and-shiny tools and f...
Elanor Huntington - Deputy Chief Exec, Commonwealth Industrial, Scientific and Research Organisation
KeywordsElanor Huntington, quantum optics, STEM, leadership, impact, accountability, trust in science, research, engineering, CSIRO STEM, diversity, education, engineering, trust in science, imposter syndrome, cultural challenges, person...
Fabien Medvecky - President, Public Communication of Science & Technology Network (PCST)
Rod Lamberts speaks with Fabien Medvecky, Associate Professor at the Australian National University and president of the PCST network, about the real work of science communication. They dig into why policy influence is often less about formal s...
Carissa Bonner - Deputy Director of the Sydney Health Literacy Lab
Keywordshealth literacy, risk communication, heuristics, COVID-19, trust in science, implementation science, public health, nudges, shared decision making, health awareness SummaryIn this conversation, Rod Lamber...
Susannah Eliott - CEO Australian Science Media Centre
Keywordsscience communication, misinformation, disinformation, media relations, public understanding, uncertainty, science media centres, symposium, evidence-based reporting, public health health misinformation, science communication, tr...
Frank Bongiorno - Director of the Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas at the University of Canberra
KeywordsPublic Ideas, Applied History, STEM communication, audience engagement, Historical Context, Humanities, Social Sciences, Uncertainty, Policy, Historical Knowledge, Humanism, Quantitative History persuasion, influence, academia, p...
Ben Newell - Director of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response
Keywordsclimate risk, interdisciplinary research, climate science, behavioral science, policy impact, communication, economic analysis, environmental policy, decision-making, climate response climate change, trust in science, communicati...
Sarah Keenihan - Legendary science communicator, writer and editor
Keywordsscience communication, freelancing, environmental crisis, academia, qualitative research, writing, editing, academic publishing, communication strategies, public engagement trust in science, imposter syndrome, science communicati...
Ryan Winn - CEO, Science & Technology Australia
SummaryIn this conversation, Ryan Winn discusses his role in connecting the science sector with public servants and politicians, emphasizing the importance of communication and collaboration. He shares insights on the challenges of a...
Dan Angus - Director of Queensland University Technology’s Digital Media Research Centre
KeywordsComputational Social Science, Data Donation, Ethics, Self-Reporting, Digital Media, Research Methods, Advertising, Social Science, Algorithms, Data Privacy advertising, data donors, participant bias, subjective experience, re...
Kylie Walker - STEMM sector peak body CEO extraordinaire
KeywordsSTEM, diversity, leadership, policy, research funding, innovation, education, technology, engineering, Australia geopolitical shifts, research opportunities, philanthropy, investment, R&D, imposter syndrome, trust in s...