Sharn Milliken, who is studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Science through Otago University’s Ecology Department, talks about her research into the possible effects of microplastics on the health of Cockles.

Mateus Detoni, a PhD student in the Department of Zoology, talks about his research on aggressiveness in wasps and how we might sometimes misjudge them unfairly.

Ruchita Rao Kavle, a PhD student in the Department of Food Science at Otago University, talks about her research on the protein composition of edible insects.

Ruth Warren, a PhD student in Science Communication and Bioanthropology, talks about how a job in London and the COVID-19 pandemic led her to developing a virtual tour of the Anatomy Museum at Otago University. To visit the site, and complete Ruth’s survey, head to: http://bit.ly/visitor-study

Ioan Fuller, a PhD student in the Chemistry Department, talks about lipids: what they are, why we should care, and how he is exploring what lipids there are in New Zealand’s native shellfish.

Charlie Ruffman, a PhD student in chemistry at Otago University, talks about how he is using computers to explore new types of catalysts for making hydrogen, a simple molecule which may have an important role to play as we move away from fossil fuels.

In this, the 2020 Christmas episode of Science Notes, host Dave McMorran looks at the scientific basis for Rudolph actually having glowing red nose.

Lynn Lisboa, a PhD student in the Chemistry Department at Otago University, describes her research into making molecule-sized containers who contents, which could include chemotherapy drugs, can be released on demand by a unique switching process.

Rebecka Raymond, an MSc student in Anatomy of Otago University, talks about her research into a new way to potentially detect Alzheimer’s Disease in patients much earlier than is currently possible.

Host Dave McMorran talks about the life and work of Frederick Soddy, whose research into the makeup of the atom won him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921.