Dr Olly Dove

Living up to her bird name, Dr Olly Dove has recently completed a PhD on the foraging behaviour of little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters. Olly’s favourite part of working in zoology is undoubtedly the adventures of fieldwork it leads her to, and she loves sharing stories about the natural world with others. When not hanging out with critters, Olly spends her free time by running around footy ovals and escaping into creative writing. Within the TWICS team, Olly is the weekly host of the show, as well as the content manager and one of the team’s editors.

Dr Kate Johnson

Kate grew up on the beautiful northwest coast of lutruwita/Tasmania. Currently a plant scientist at the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) in Barcelona, Spain, Kate researches how climatic extremes like drought and freezing affect plants across the world. Kate loves rock-hopping, tree climbing and running around in the bush. She also loves art and literature, especially poetry and painting. At TWICS Kate is a co-manager specialising in funding and a roving host, recording episodes from the coasts of Tassie to 3,500 metres in the Rocky Mountains. With a love of words, images and stories, Kate loves learning and chatting with others about the magic of STEMM and nature!

Anna Abela

Anna is a founding member of the TWICS team; at the time, she worked in ICT and Digital Design. Her episodes focused on technology and environmentalism. Several years and a career change later, she re-joined TWICS as the Social Media Team Manager. She works behind the scenes to keep our systems and not-for-profit running. Anna has a vocational education background in technology and completed a Graduate Certificate in Communications. She has a special interest in accessible communications and disability. She loves working in the community and her work has spanned early education to college, disability, and aged care.

Ryan Smith

Ryan is a medical student, currently studying in Burnie in the beautiful North-West region of lutruwita/Tasmania. Growing up on a farm he was always interested in plants, and for a brief stint of time worked in an industry job writing algae management plans. However, after committing some time to a research project looking at blood pressure management for his Honours degree, Ryan decided that he would follow his newfound interest in medicine and apply to medical school! He managed to get in and hasn’t looked back since. He hopes to be a Rural Generalist one day and continue to learn and teach others about both science and medicine.

Meredith Castles

Meredith Castles is a technologist and human-computer interaction specialist. Her research seeks to design better technology by studying the increasingly complex relationship that people (and animals!) have with technology, exploring concepts of gamification and user interface physics, with this transdisciplinary research approach potentially having wide-reaching impact in fields such as information behaviour, physics, and psychology. Outside of research Meredith is a passionate science communicator, always looking for ways to have that one conversation with people that really humanises science for them. She spends her (limited!) spare time live streaming science to the masses, scripting theatre shows, acting in various things, and generally making nerd culture cool.

Hannah Moore

With the nickname of ‘The Messiah of Fire,’ Dr. Hannah Moore is a volcanologist who specialised in the 1886 eruption of Mt. Tarawera—New Zealand’s most devastating historical eruption—for her PhD. She recently completed her doctorate at UTAS and is now an Educator for Australian Earth Science Education, leading school-based outreach programs across Western Australia. Passionate about science communication, she is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of geoscientists! Hannah is also an editor, co-host, and diversity & inclusion coordinator for TWICS.

Katya Bandow

Katya is a botanist who loves absolutely everything about plants. She is currently undertaking a PhD investigating the evolution, anatomy, and physiology of Gondwanan conifers. In the past, she has worked with fossil plants, eucalypt forests, native grasslands, and a short stint as a consultant ecologist. Katya is passionate about science communication and hopes to bring more people to enjoy the wonderful world of botany. In her free time, you will find her looking for rare and unique endemic plants in the Tasmanian wilderness or snuggling her rescue greyhound.

Simin Salarpour

Simin, the Stargazer of the Desert, holds a PhD in astrophysics and a master's degree in cosmology. While her fascination with the universe's evolution and the secrets of black holes persists, she has transitioned her career towards the renewable energy industry, driven by her deep care for our planet. As a science communicator, Simin translates complex scientific concepts into engaging narratives for diverse audiences. Beyond her love for astronomy, she finds joy in dancing, watching movies, and helping others. Simin's editorial and co-hosting roles for TWICS, including the space mini-series, showcase her dedication to expanding scientific knowledge and empowering a new generation of aspiring astronomers to reach for the stars.

Georgia Stewart

Georgia loves all things space! She is currently a PhD candidate in theoretical astrophysics where she studies some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, Active Galactic Nuclei. Georgia is passionate about inspiring others to pursue their interests in physics and astronomy and through her science communication, aims to make astro-related topics accessible to all. Outside of her scientific pursuits, she enjoys playing and refereeing rugby union, and following more artistic ventures. Within the TWICS team, Georgia helps out with social media and co-hosts episodes related to physics and maths.

Emma Hamasaki

Emma is an up-and-coming social scientist and science communicator. With a background in music, art, and social media. She explores the way science can be communicated in captivating ways, from creative mediums to engaging chats with people. Emma loves delving into different perspectives, uncovering the wonders of the world through deep conversations and will always be up for a craft nights with big cups of tea.

Sarah Lyden

Sarah is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Power Engineering with the School of Engineering at UTAS. Sarah’s research focuses on renewable energies and their integration into the grid. She also has a strong interest in sustainability and has been teaching the Engineers without Borders (EWB) challenge to year 1 students at UTAS since 2018. She has also travelled to Nepal with EWB as an academic facilitator on the humanitarian design summits program. Sarah joined the TWICS team in late 2019 as a co-host bringing engineering content to the program and has recently joined the production team. She is passionate about introducing listeners to the incredibly diverse world of engineering and changing the perception of the engineering profession.

Ella Burgun is a Master of Marine and Antarctic Science student at the University of Tasmania, where she is focusing on marine conservation and research. Her thesis research aims to detect shark species in liver oil using molecular approaches, developing protocols for extracting DNA from liver oil products to enhance traceability and management in liver oil fisheries. Ella's work addresses the significant issue of the international trade in shark liver oil, particularly targeting threatened species like the gulper sharks. As a recipient of the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship, Ella is recognised for her academic excellence, leadership potential, and dedication to sustainability in marine conservation. Her broader work includes science communication, education, and collaborative research initiatives, including an internship with Ocean100 and CSIRO. She is passionate about promoting sustainability and protecting marine ecosystems.

Richard Siu

I am a Networks Engineer at the University of Tasmania, a volunteer firefighter with the Tasmanian Fire Service, and a wildlife rescuer with Bonorong, with a special interest in conservation and sustainability, and a passion for getting more people into STEMM. I believe that quality scientific knowledge should be available to everyone regardless of their background or any other factors. This passion forms the impetus for me to join the TWICS team, whose mission is to provide a platform to talk about STEMM.

Elise Tuuri

Hello, my name is Elise and I’m a marine biologist and PhD candidate at Flinders University. My research focuses on the sources, fates, and food-web impacts of (micro)plastic pollution in Australian oceans. Driven by a passion for preserving our marine ecosystems, I aim to make science accessible and relatable, believing that sharing these insights can spark change. Joining TWICS is an exciting opportunity for me to help amplify diverse voices in STEMM and bring awareness to critical environmental issues, inspiring a broader understanding and appreciation of science in our community.

Zi Yi Kho

Ziyi relocated to Hobart from Singapore after spending several years in Hong Kong working with a Marine Science Lab. With a love for nature and environmental conservation, Ziyi has been involved in community clean-up events and various initiatives aimed at protecting natural habitats. Through this platform, Ziyi hopes to highlight the impactful work being done in STEMM, showcase ongoing community efforts, and inspire others to engage in and support these important initiatives.