Designing the Tools that Shape Data Science - with Dr Hadley Wickham

We’re diving into the design and development of the tools that have transformed data science and statistical programming — with none other than Dr Hadley Wickham. Hadley is the Chief Scientist at Posit (formerly RStudio), where he leads the Tidyverse team. This team is behind some of the most wide…

From Silo to Solution: Unlocking climate & social data that can drive change

Researchers and decision-makers face a familiar challenge: data exists, but it’s often locked away. Once research is published, the underlying data and analysis frequently vanish into private repositories—accessible only through time-consuming permissions or technical expertise. For those working o…

Beyond ChatGPT: The Rapidly Evolving Landscape of AI - with Professor Simon Angus

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is no longer a futuristic concept.  It’s here, embedded in almost every technology we use. It’s one of the most transformative forces of our time, and in this episode, we’re unpacking what that means, focusing on the powerful engines behind it: large language models,…

The Many Hands of AI: Responsibility and Regulation - with Dr Henry Fraser

This is the second part of our special two-part series, where we dive into the surprising and unexpected ways artificial intelligence, or AI, and the law intersect. This episode takes a closer look at the evolving efforts to regulate AI—an urgent issue that governments and leaders across Australia…

The New Reality of AI and the Law - with A/Prof Michael Guihot

This is the first of our two-part series on a topic that’s sweeping the headlines: Artificial Intelligence or A-I. But we’re taking a different angle, one that many in the data and mathematical sciences might not consider often, but absolutely should. We’re talking about the law! This series will d…

Mathematics, creativity & connection: Rethinking maths education in Australia

High school mathematics in Australia is often driven by one thing: those high-stakes Year 12 exams. In this episode, we take a fresh look at how high school maths is taught. We’re joined by someone who’s making waves in education: Donna Buckley, a mathematics and cybersecurity teacher from John Cur…

Maths Models Shed New Light on Hidden Heart Risks – with Professors Helen Byrne & Mary Myerscough

Atherosclerosis is a silent but deadly condition. It happens when your arteries get clogged with plaque, restricting blood flow and putting you at serious risk for heart attacks and strokes. But here’s the fascinating part: maths is stepping up to help doctors and scientists understand how this con…

Shaping the Equation: The 2024 WIMSIG Conference

The 2024 WIMSIG Conference celebrates the achievements of women, trans and gender diverse people in the mathematical sciences. WIMSIG stands for the Women in Mathematics Special Interest Group. The group is a part of the Australian Mathematical Society. WIMSIG just wrapped up its third-ever confe…

The Publication Puzzle: Navigating the World of Academic Publishing - Pt 3

The Perils of "Publish or Perish". This episode of The Random Sample is the final instalment in our special three-part series on navigating the world of academic and scientific publishing. In it, we dive deep into the dilemma - and what many see as the pervasive mindset - known simply as publish …

The Publication Puzzle: Navigating the World of Academic Publishing - Pt 2

The Challenges of Publishing Interdisciplinary Research. This episode of The Random Sample is the second instalment in our special three-part series into the world of academic and scientific publishing. In it, we delve into the challenges of publishing interdisciplinary research with special gues…