1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: We are two incredible scientists are taking hands on science 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: into some of the northern territories, most remote corners. And 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: doctor Sanou your Dove the Northern Territories twenty twenty five 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: superstar of Stem Stem and Molecular Scientists, Doctor Asher Tonkin 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: reeves they've already delivered more than twenty five workshops across 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: the top end wa as Well and far North Queensland. 7 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: Now joining me in the studio right now is doctor 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: Sanou your dove. 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Good morning, thanks for having me. 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: It is lovely to have you in the studio. Now 11 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: you have been into as I understand it, eighteen remote 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: schools already Tell me a little bit more about what 13 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: you do when you get out to the schools. 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: There's a lot we do and it keeps changing wherever 15 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 2: we are. Like every school is different, in every classroom 16 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: is different, yep. But we go out to these very 17 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 2: remote regional schools. We contact the school teachers and then 18 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: we contact First Nations, you know, engagement officers and indigenous 19 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 2: rangers and there's elders in the classroom as well, so 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 2: like everyone comes together and then we set up our 21 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: science experiments so students get to do like their hands 22 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 2: on activities and science experiments. So it's a lot that 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 2: we do, and it keeps changing where we are and 24 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 2: what year we are working with. So we worked with 25 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: year two to year twelve now, so every time and 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: we are there, we just see what the students are 27 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: interested in, and then we modify the activities. 28 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: Yeeh, I's going to say, you'd have to change it 29 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,559 Speaker 1: as well based on their ages, wouldn't you what they're 30 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: interested in? 31 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. So we do have like a kind 32 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 2: of common workflow. So like when we go out in 33 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: the school, we talk about like what bisecurity is, why 34 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: it's important to protect the country, and like you know, 35 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 2: why we have to talk about invasive species and why 36 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: we have to detect them, and then we like straight 37 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: into jump into like you know, the hands on activities. 38 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: They go out and they set up some traps and 39 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: they bring insects back, and then we have microscopes in 40 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: the room, so there are lots of microscopes and they 41 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: put their insects there and they just watch insects under 42 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: that and they're like always fascinated, like how big the 43 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: eyes look, yeah, how cool the wings are yep? And 44 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: then we talk about DNA and you know why DNA 45 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: is important and how it helps to understand and identify 46 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: the species. Yeah, and then we do a bit of 47 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: like hands on DNA extraction demonstrations, so they get to 48 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: wear the lab coats and like the glass and they 49 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: get super excited. Yeah, and then we visualize DNA with them. 50 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's a lot of different things that we do. 51 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: Awesome. I love that, Like I love that real hands 52 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: on learning, and I think that it's such a great 53 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: way for young people and older people to learn. Like 54 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: I know, I'm much more engaged if it's a hands 55 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: on approach And I would imagine that the students absolutely 56 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: love you guys going into their communities and teaching them 57 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: all about this. 58 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh absolutely. I mean when we are there, the 59 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 2: classroom's environment is like super inclusive, you know, it's super fun. 60 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 2: Everyone's there to learn and do something. And the reaction 61 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: I get from students is just like so over overwhelopingly positive. 62 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: They come to me and they're like, oh so like 63 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 2: ce miss, this is like the wing, Miss, this is 64 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 2: the DNA, and like my DNA is more than this DNA. 65 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 2: Like they becoming comfort and they're like, are you going 66 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: to come back and like you know, how are you 67 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: going to do this? And like how can we become 68 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 2: a scientist? And it's just so much fun and then 69 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,519 Speaker 2: it's just like very you know, and everyone want to 70 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: learn and do something. 71 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, tell me which like what areas have you been to? 72 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: What communities have you been to? 73 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 2: Uh So, Yeah, we've we've been to Final with Queensland 74 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: and also like Totters Straits. We've there are lots of 75 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: different names that at the stop of my mind is 76 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 2: just like you know, we've been to lock Up River Raccoon, 77 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 2: We've been to Kenes and areas around knes Uh. We've 78 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: been to like in Northern Territory. We've been to like 79 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: Nolan Bay, We've been to Non Marianga. We've been to 80 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 2: like Tea Islands and also in West in Australia as 81 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: we've been to Kimberlear area, Halls Creek. Just last two 82 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: weeks ago we were in Hall's Creek and Fitzer Cross 83 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: and just last week we were on TV Island. So 84 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: and next week we are going to Alice Springs and 85 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: we hope to engage with like hundreds of students there. 86 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: How did this program come about? 87 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 2: It. 88 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: I mean, you've how long have you been working on it? 89 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 2: Since last year? But it's been in like you know 90 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 2: that It's been brewing in my mind for a long 91 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: long time. Yeah, because I'm really like, I'm really interested 92 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: in talking about STEM and science communication. So when I 93 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: moved to Dowwin almost like four years ago, I was like, 94 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: you know, I need to do something around the schools 95 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: and things like that. So you know, it's been brewing 96 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: in my mind for so long. And then just last 97 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: year I had like some funding support and then I 98 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: was just like, yeah, this is the time, let's do it. 99 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: And so what's it been like for you? 100 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: Then? 101 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: For you and Asha to be able to get out 102 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: there into the communities and see this idea come to fruition. 103 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: To be honest, like every time we're there, we feel 104 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: so grateful that we get to do something we love doing. 105 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 2: So this is like you know with scientists and you know, 106 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: we just love to talk about science. And then when 107 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: we are there and we see students enjoying it a 108 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: lot and asking us those really amazing questions and like 109 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 2: exploring things, they take their own like you know those 110 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 2: lenses like the microscope lenses, and they go out and 111 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 2: and they just look at those different things and they 112 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: talk to us about all these different things. So it's 113 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 2: a very it's a you know, it's just transformative for everyone. Yeah, 114 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 2: wonderful And yeah, it's it's such a great feeling when 115 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: we're there and learn as well. Like for us as well, 116 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: it's been a very big learning experiences. 117 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, and what why why has it been a 118 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: learning experience for you? 119 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: Because you know, nothing, like it's not one thing that 120 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: works everywhere. 121 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, you have. 122 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: To modify sometimes, you have to like you know, do 123 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: very rapid changes. Like we just feel how the environment 124 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 2: is and how what students might want to do next, 125 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: So we kind of have to improvise on the spot 126 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 2: a lot. And then with times as well, sometimes we 127 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 2: have short duration, longer duration. Sometimes we need like you know, 128 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 2: a bit more time to do one thing, so they 129 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: keep doing one thing longer. Then we have to like 130 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: you know, at just the net help adjusted. So we 131 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 2: go with the flow, and that's something we had to 132 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 2: like kind of learn as we as we go. 133 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: And what's it like for you? And also you know, 134 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: also for doctor Tonkin Raves to be able to get 135 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: out into those communities and then see how excited the 136 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: people in the communities, particularly the kids are when they 137 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: get to use things like microscopes and when they're learning 138 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: about DNA. What's it like for you then, as a 139 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: scientist to be able to share that, Oh, it's. 140 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: Just it's just it's just an amazing feeling, like this 141 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 2: is something I never got to do when I was 142 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: growing up, Like, you know, I didn't know what I 143 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 2: wanted to do, and I just didn't know how science 144 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: looks like. And you know, it's just getting to do 145 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: those handsome experience and like those experiments and talking to 146 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 2: like even just it sounds like a simple thing, but 147 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: talking to a scientists like, you know, for me, it 148 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: was a big deal. So every time when I'm there 149 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 2: and I see students doing these things and getting excited 150 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: about it, and I feel hopeful. But I feel really 151 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: hopeful that there's there's a lot of scientists in like 152 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: come in in next generation and they are really there 153 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 2: and they enjoy science as much as everyone else in 154 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: this world, and and they're very keen to learn and 155 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: do things. 156 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, well that was going to be my 157 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: next question. Do you hope that you sort of ignite 158 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: this spark in the kids that you know that they 159 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: might think to themselves, well, I want to study science. 160 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: I hope so like because you know, every time I 161 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: go there, there are there are a couple of students 162 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: and they like, you know, ask me. So I get 163 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: asked by like, you know, students like how do I become, 164 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 2: for example, like a molecular scientist? Or how do I 165 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: become a marine scientist? You know, I really because you know, 166 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: sometimes there's there's the seas right there, and there's a 167 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 2: lot of strong connection to like the sea. So students 168 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 2: come and they just asked like, oh, how do we 169 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 2: how do we become marine scientists? And how do we 170 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: do this? And how does it all work? And you're 171 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: just asking those curious questions. Uh, and I feel really 172 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: happy and excited and people that you know, there's some 173 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: bit of that conversation you know on So Yeah, it's 174 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: it's crazy. 175 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: It sounds like such a great, great program. Now what's 176 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: next for the community science project? And if like you know, 177 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: I ask our other schools able to get involved. 178 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we received quite like you know a lot 179 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 2: of interest from schools and like it's always like schools 180 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: and the curriculum and everything is too tight and everyone 181 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 2: is like, you know, busy, but school's been like so 182 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: generous welcoming us and you know, have their time. So 183 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: the next thing is like, you know, go and engage 184 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: with more and more schools. We've done some activities in 185 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 2: urban areas as well, like you know in Darwin, so 186 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: we want to do like expand it to a lot 187 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 2: more areas, a lot more schools and engage with a 188 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: lot more students everywhere, like not just not just in 189 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: this area, but across the north. 190 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, how wonderful. Well, doctor Sonu, your dove superstar 191 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: of STEM and Molecular Biosecurity scientist. It has been lovely 192 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: to speak to you this morning. I really love speaking 193 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: to people who are passionate about what they do. And 194 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: I can tell you know from the moment you started 195 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: talking about this program, you love your job and that 196 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 1: is such a wonderful thing to see. How great for 197 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 1: all of those students that you come into contact with. 198 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Yeah, you know, it's just it's 199 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: just amazing experience for everything everyone and I love science, 200 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 2: so you know, it's just it's just like I love 201 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: talking about science and doing science. It's a dream come true. 202 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: It is all. It's so lovely to speak to you 203 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: this morning. Thank you for coming in and thanks for 204 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: bringing your positivity. I really love it. It's been wonderful 205 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: to talk to you. 206 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 207 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much.