Afternoons for Wednesday 29 June 2022

 

1:15 Quake brain does fade

First today, some positive news out of the University of Otago about our brain's ability to overcome a phenomenon known as "quake brain" over time.

Now our Cantabrian listeners will know what quake brain is far too well, that fogginess or memory impairment caused by stress associated with the earthquakes.

Two to three years after the quakes, researchers put a group of otherwise healthy Cantabrians who had been exposed to quake trauma through a myriad of brain functioning tests.

Many were still experiencing issues cognitive functioning, emotion processing etc, but amazingly this same group  8 years post-quake, seem to have overcome those issues.

Lead researcher Dr Katie Douglas talks to Jesse.

1:25  Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Science and Design Fair

Te Arawa Lakes Trust is running it's first Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Science and Design Fair from tomorrow.

It has exhibits from tamariki and rangatahi, focused on blending mātauranga Māori and western science to tackle environmental issues facing Aotearoa.

It'll be on from tomorrow till Saturday in Rotorua. And helping organise it is William Anaru, Operations Manager for Biosecurity at Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

1:35 Campaign to stop consent being granted for more mining in Waihi

Mining company OceanaGold Waihi have just applied to set up a new underground mine just north of Waihi.

The mine would be under forest park Wharekirauponga, which is administered by the Department of Conservation.

Pushing back on mining in the Coromandel and Hauraki, is Coromandel Watchdog Chairperson, Catherine Delahunty.

She talks to Jesse about their push back campaign and what other issues they are dealing with in the Coromandel.

1:50 Sand sifter invented to remove microplastics from our beaches

Cantabrian Kenny Paton spends a lot of time in his garage making wacky and wonderful inventions, but he's hoping his latest machine could be developed to clean plastic from our beaches.

Under the name Paton Machines, Kenny is a hit on the social media platform TikTok, with more than 50 thousand followers watching him have fun with his motorbike made from a jerrycan and motorising every day objects such as roller skates, wheelbarrows and tool carts.

But his new creation- a sand sifter, made from an office rubbish bin has got him thinking he could use his mechanical skills for the environment. Kenny talks to Jesse about his love of inventing.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Justine Murray

Today Justine Murray talks about podcasts, Nappy Boy Radio with T-Pain and The Teachers Trial.

2:25 Bookmarks with Vanessa Sorenson

Today's guest for Bookmarks is undoubtedly one of New Zealand's leading businesswomen.

Vanessa Sorenson has risen through the ranks of the tech industry to become the managing director of Microsoft NZ.

However, her path to that role has been unconventional to say the least.

So, to learn more about her rise, as well as some of her favourite things, she takes part in Bookmarks.

3:10 Using technology to give voices back to ALS sufferers

Hello World. Those two words were tweeted by a man paralyzed with ALS using only his thoughts. Implantable technology that links the brain to a computer holds so much promise for the disabled community.  We'll talk to Neurotech entrepreneur Dr Tom Oxley who is leading the charge to restore talk, touch and dignity to the disabled.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Combining mātauranga Māori and marine science will inform PhD student Kiamaia Ellis’s research into the resilience of baby crayfish.  

On Our Changing World  Justine Murray finds out more.

3:45 The Panel with Sue Bradford and Dean Hall