Show Notes
We kick off 2026 with an interview with the Entomological Society of New Zealand’s Morgane Merien about Bug of the Year. Then Tom and Adrian discuss facts and the probabilistic worldview, before welcoming back Amit Sarkar for another discussion about artificial intelligence. Amit and Ara lecturer Selena Chan discuss AI as it pertains to the classroom and lecture hall, including topics such as data sovereignty and the digital divide.
More from Kia Pākiki Canterbury
Emma Maurice (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga) returns to discuss her work at the University of Canterbury on 19th Century Ngāi Tahu letters to the editor. Then Tom sits down with University of Canterbury legal scholar Marozane Spamers to discuss her book, Mental Health and Criminal Justice: A New Zealand Guide.
In this extended discussion with Lincoln University agricultural scientist Pablo Gregorini, Adrian and Pablo go into more depth about the concept of foodscapes and talk about Pablo's work with the United Nations.
Tom talks to Lincoln University bioengineer Rachel Bennie about her work on lab-grown meat. Then Joya Kemper from the University of Canterbury talks about her work with early career researchers (ECRs) and about using marketing to change the way we live and eat. Last Adrian talks to Lincoln University agricultural scientist Pablo Gregorini about food philosophy and his work in foodscapes.
We talk to Lincoln University soil ecologist and macrophotographer Frank Ashwood about his book The World Beneath Our Feet: The Hidden Life of Soil and Why It Matters to Us All. Then Charlotte Alster, also from Lincoln University, discusses soil microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. Finally, Tom and Adrian talk about boardgames that feature science.
Shea Esterling from Canterbury University discusses her work researching indigenous rights and dark sky sites in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. An edited version of this interview appears in Episode 10.