Life and people recordings

In this masterclass, Dr Veronique Paris will explore how mosquitoes spread disease and why they remain one of the world’s most challenging public health threats. From locally widespread viruses like Ross River and Barmah Forest to global diseases such as dengue and malaria, discover how these insects affect communities in Australia and beyond. Drawing on advanced genomics and field-based research, Veronique reveals innovative, sustainable approaches to mosquito control—and how science is helping curb the spread of disease.

Join Dr Danica Parnell live from the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus for a fun experience to understand how animal behaviour data can be used in agriculture. Using non-invasive, remote sensing and tracking technology, we can study how animals explore and interact with their environment, and how they relate and respond to each other. Discover how cutting-edge technology is transforming farming, animal management practices, agricultural research, to help farmers improve both livestock wellbeing and overall productivity.

Over-use and misuse of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals is accelerating the evolution of resistance to these drugs in microbes, creating dangerous “superbugs” – including some that can pass between animals and people. How can we help vets, doctors, and other healthcare professionals prevent antimicrobial resistance, avoid cross-species infection, and save lives? To find out, join Dr Laura Hardefeldt, an emerging international leader in antimicrobial stewardship, live from the University’s Werribee campus – home of the Melbourne Veterinary School.

Despite their tiny brains, birds are amazing architects, and we can learn a lot from their nest designs – including domes, cups and pendants. How did nest building evolve? Why are nests so diverse? Will birds successfully adapt their nests as the climate warms? To find out, Dr Iliana Medina Guzman has analysed hundreds of nests from around the world, in museums and in the wild. Join her interactive exploration of these beautiful and innovative constructions, live from the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus.

There are approximately 6,500 known mammal species and around 20 new species are discovered every year. Mammalogist Dr Tyrone Lavery worked with local people to document a new species of giant rat in the Solomon Islands. With detective work, persistence and luck, they finally found what they were searching for.

How do you sequence the genome of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger? And can you use this to bring it back to life? Join Professor Andrew Pask in this exciting short lecture as he describes the process of sequencing the extinct Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) genome.

Monotremes are one of the first mammal groups to evolve; they’re a great model for understanding how the first mammals reproduced. But it has also given them a very weird combination of mammalian and reptilian features. So much so that the first Europeans to study them thought they were a hoax!

Long-distance whale migration is a spectacular phenomenon! Every year many species travel huge distances from feeding grounds near the planet’s poles to breeding grounds in warmer waters. Some animals rely on navigational cues such as the magnetic field and celestial information to orient themselves. Frequently, migration occurs as a group, and this “wisdom of the crowd” improves navigation performance. However, this requires communication between the whales, and increasing human-created noise is having a big impact on the whale’s ability to “hear” each other. Join Dr Stuart Johnson for this Mid-Afternoon Masterclass as we decipher the mathematical modelling used to understand how human activity affects whale migration.

Vaccines are simply amazing; they reduce the chances of you becoming seriously ill and have even eradicated diseases like polio and smallpox. But how are they made and how did we manage to create one for COVID-19 in little under a year? Join Dr Jennifer Juno from the Doherty Institute to discover the history and science behind this life-saving research.

Is your dog stressed, bored, or lonely? Discover how interdisciplinary animal welfare research is helping dogs to live their happiest lives, alongside their humans. Delve into fascinating science and technology that’s making tails wag.

Did you know that chickens can sneeze? Just like humans, chickens can suffer from respiratory diseases like the cold and flu, causing huge economic losses for egg and poultry industries. Learn how we are improving diagnostic methods to help keep Australian chickens healthy and support farmers.