Afternoons for Wednesday 17 August 2022

Be part of our competition to create the best tracks using the Animal Tracks on HEIHEI Tākaro. It's a children's game, but we encourage all to take part and win a Critter of the Week tote bag from Joya along with some of their Common Good coffee. You can find the link below to create your beat. Please send your final tracks to jesse@rnz.co.nz

https://www.heihei.nz/game/179/animal-tracks

1:15 Fish passage tool devised to help travelling fresh water fish species

Eels are amazing creatures. They can slither and climb waterfalls up to 20 meters, and migrate thousands of kilometers to breed in the Pacific islands.

But in-stream structures can restrict movement of freshwater species that migrate, like eels and whitebait.

This can reduce their abundance and distribution and we don't really know how much of an impact this has.

A new tool has been devised to help keep tabs on travelling freshwater species in our neighbourhoods. Fresh water ecologist Dr Tanya Blakely explains all to Jesse.

1:25 Opera Gala to celebrate Aotearoa singers before they head to international stages.

New Zealand's famous opera singers are performing together before they head overseas for international stages.

It's called the Auckland Opera Studio Annual Gala - and it's on this Sunday at the Auckland Town Hall.

Soprano Amelia Berry is performing, she's studied in Manhattan as well as New Zealand before singing across Australasia, the US, and Asia.

She talks to Jesse.

1:35 Maths Craft in a box designed to help a love of mathematics

A new free classroom resource has been designed to help children see the more creative and playful side of maths.

Launched today and the first of its kind in Aotearoa, the self contained box is aimed at students from year 7 to 13.

It's been a project co-created by University of Canterbury Senior Lecturer Dr Jeanette McLeod and her fellow mathematician and Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Statistics Dr Phil Wilson.

Dr McLeod joins Jesse to explain how the box is going to inject a bit of fun into maths for students.

1:45 Escaping collapsing Kabul to Aotearoa

This week marks one year since Kabul was captured by the Taliban. 

The images of Taliban fighters in the Presidential Palace, holding AK47's behind the desk of former President Ashraf Ghani, were striking. 

Reza Hakimyar is a 25 year old software engineer in Wellington. He fled Afghanistan during the chaos and is now the founder and CEO of SpotTech in Aoteaora.  

Reza talks to Jesse about his experience.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Alex Barnes

Today educational researcher and evaluator from Te Awamutu, Alex Barnes, talks to Jesse about the podcasts he's been listening to.

He gives his verdict on Taringa by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and The Longform Podcast by Vox.

2:25 Bookmarks with Jack Trolove

Today's bookmarks guest we spoke to recently about his exhibition at Pataka art gallery - thresholding.

But we thought he had such an interesting life story, that we'd love to hear more about some of his favourite things.

Jack's song choices:

Angelios Negros - Roberta Flack; Good As Hell - Lizzo; E Kore Rawa E Wehe - TEEKS; Higher Love - James Vincent McMorrow; Like Water, Aotearoa - Stan Walker ft. Ria Hall, Troy Kingi & Maisey Rika; Sweet Architect - Emeli Sande; Like Water - Ladi6

3:10 Old dogs teaching humans new tricks, The Dog Aging Project

Maybe old dogs can teach us some new tricks. Thousands of pet dogs are part of a citizen science project to understand memory and cognition in old age. Dr Matt Kaeberlein leads the Dog Aging Project, and says his longevity research on dogs, may unlock some key mysteries about the biology of aging and what we can do about it.  The project started 8 years ago, collecting data over the course of a dog's life. We'll talk to Dr Kaeberlein about the patterns that are already emerging about lifestyle, environment, habits and longevity in our furry companions.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Coming up on Our Changing World, Claire Concannon speaks to researchers investigating virus diversity, how viruses evolve, and what might be causing some diseases affecting our native wildlife.

3:45 The Panel with Michelle Langstone and James Elliot