In each episode of Science with Benefits, a different STEMM sector insider shares insights, perspectives and personal stories from their career and life experience.
In conversation with OG science communicator Dr Rod Lamberts*, guests aren't always "the usual suspects" in STEMM, but they all share one thing: a unique perspective on the sector you haven't heard before.
Whether you're en experienced insider or at the beginning of your STEMM career, there's always something interesting on Science with Benefits.
*Rod has been a science communication academic and practitioner for nearly 30 years. Check out his much more NSFW podcast "A Little Bit of Science" wherever you get your podcasts. And stay tuned for a new one coming in late 2026!
Mark Hutchinson - Pro Vice Chancellor, Research Performance at Adelaide University
Keywords Mark Hutchinson, research performance, interdisciplinary collaboration, pain research, communication in science, misinformation in healthcare, research impact, leadership in academia, imposter syndrome, work-life balance Summary In this conversation, Rod Lamberts speaks with Prof Mark Hutchinson, the Pro Vice Chancellor of Research Performance at Adelaide University . They discuss Hutchinson's journey to his current role, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in research...
30 Sept 2026
Liam Smith - Co-founder and Director, BehaviourWorks Australia
Keywords Behaviour Works Australia, Behaviour Change, Public Good, Social Good, Trust, Ethics, Team Dynamics, Interventions, Challenges, Sustainable Development Goals Summary In this conversation, Liam Smith talks with Rod Lamberts about the work of Behaviour Works Australia, focusing on the importance of understanding behaviour change, the dynamics of team collaboration in behavioural science, and the ethical considerations involved in interventions aimed at public good. The dialogue explor...
23 Sept 2026
Kate Delmo - Head of Discipline for Strategic Communication in the School of Communication @ UTS
Keywords strategic communication, public relations, crisis communication, risk communication, trust, uncertainty, higher education, stakeholder relationships, organizational communication, COVID-19 crisis communication, trust, uncertainty, academia, interdisciplinary, personal growth, communication strategies, public relations, impact, decision making Summary In this engaging conversation, Kate Delmo, head of discipline for strategic communication at the University of Technology Sydney...
16 Sept 2026
David Waugh - Dean of Health Innovation, Precincts & Partnerships - Adelaide University
Keywords health research, consumer engagement, university partnerships, impact measurement, science communication, trust in science, cancer research, health literacy, clinical trials, innovation Summary In this conversation, David Waugh discusses his role in building health research ecosystems at Adelaide University, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, consumer engagement, and effective communication in health research. He reflects on the impact of consumer involvement in resea...
9 Sept 2026
James Harland - Director, STEMM Digital Innovation Hub (HuDINi) @ RMIT
Rod Lamberts speaks with James Harland, professor of computational logic and director of the STEM hub for digital innovation (HuDIni) at RMIT, about how technologists are at their best when they’re thinking beyond just new-and-shiny tools and focusing on real-world problems. They cover practical uses of virtual reality, mixed reality, robotics, and AI, plus why collaboration with designers, educators, and other specialists matters more than tech evangelism. Key topics In this episode, James H...
2 Sept 2026
Elanor Huntington - Deputy Chief Exec, Commonwealth Industrial, Scientific and Research Organisation
Keywords Elanor Huntington, quantum optics, STEM, leadership, impact, accountability, trust in science, research, engineering, CSIRO STEM, diversity, education, engineering, trust in science, imposter syndrome, cultural challenges, personal growth, safe spaces, community engagement Summary In this engaging conversation, Elanor Huntington discusses her journey from a PhD in experimental quantum optics to becoming a leader in STEM at CSIRO. She emphasizes the importance of practical application...
26 Aug 2026
Fabien Medvecky - President, Public Communication of Science & Technology Network (PCST)
Rod Lamberts speaks with Fabien Medvecky, Associate Professor at the Australian National University and president of the PCST network, about the real work of science communication. They dig into why policy influence is often less about formal submissions and more about relationships, why “trust in science” is a slippery phrase, and how impact can show up in unexpected places. They discuss the difference between science as a field and science as a public debate, the policy “mating ritual” that...
19 Aug 2026
Carissa Bonner - Deputy Director of the Sydney Health Literacy Lab
Keywords health literacy, risk communication, heuristics, COVID-19, trust in science, implementation science, public health, nudges, shared decision making, health awareness Summary In this conversation, Rod Lamberts speaks with A/Prof Carissa Bonner about the complexities of health literacy and risk communication, particularly in the context of COVID-19. They explore the role of heuristics and biases in decision-making, the importance of building trust in health communication, an...
12 Aug 2026
Susannah Eliott - CEO Australian Science Media Centre
Keywords science communication, misinformation, disinformation, media relations, public understanding, uncertainty, science media centres, symposium, evidence-based reporting, public health health misinformation, science communication, trust in science, misinformation solutions, AI in science, public understanding of science, media literacy, combating disinformation, evidence-based research, science literacy Summary In this conversation, Rod Lamberts speaks with Susannah Eliott, CEO of...
5 Aug 2026
Frank Bongiorno - Director of the Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas at the University of Canberra
Keywords Public Ideas, Applied History, STEM communication, audience engagement, Historical Context, Humanities, Social Sciences, Uncertainty, Policy, Historical Knowledge, Humanism, Quantitative History persuasion, influence, academia, public engagement, humanities, social sciences, audience, storytelling, success measurement, political agenda Summary In this conversation, Rod Lamberts speaks with Frank Bongiorno about the establishment of the Vice Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas ...
29 Jul 2026
Ben Newell - Director of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response
Keywords climate risk, interdisciplinary research, climate science, behavioral science, policy impact, communication, economic analysis, environmental policy, decision-making, climate response climate change, trust in science, communication, uncertainty, public perception, research advice, interdisciplinary, personal balance Summary In this conversation, Ben Newell discusses his role as the director of the New South Wales Institute for Climate Risk and Response, emphasizing the importa...
22 Jul 2026
Sarah Keenihan - Legendary science communicator, writer and editor
Keywords science communication, freelancing, environmental crisis, academia, qualitative research, writing, editing, academic publishing, communication strategies, public engagement trust in science, imposter syndrome, science communication, advice for writers, navigating disagreement Summary In this conversation, Sarah Keenihan discusses her journey back to academia as a postgraduate student in science communication, triggered by an environmental crisis in South Australia. She reflects on he...
15 Jul 2026
Dan Angus - Director of Queensland University Technology’s Digital Media Research Centre
Keywords Computational Social Science, Data Donation, Ethics, Self-Reporting, Digital Media, Research Methods, Advertising, Social Science, Algorithms, Data Privacy advertising, data donors, participant bias, subjective experience, research challenges, academic success, aspiring researchers, work-life balance Summary In this conversation, Rod Lamberts and Dan Angus delve into the emerging field of computational social science, discussing its significance, methodologies, and ethical considera...
15 Jul 2026
Kylie Walker - STEMM sector peak body CEO extraordinaire
Keywords STEM, diversity, leadership, policy, research funding, innovation, education, technology, engineering, Australia geopolitical shifts, research opportunities, philanthropy, investment, R&D, imposter syndrome, trust in science, indigenous knowledge systems, future perspectives, Australia Summary In this conversation, Kylie Walker, CEO of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, discusses her role in promoting STEM across diverse sectors, the importan...
15 Jul 2026
Ryan Winn - CEO, Science & Technology Australia
Summary In this conversation, Ryan Winn discusses his role in connecting the science sector with public servants and politicians, emphasizing the importance of communication and collaboration. He shares insights on the challenges of advocacy, the need for science literacy, and the significance of building trusted relationships in policymaking. The discussion highlights the value of celebrating small wins in science communication and the ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between science and so...
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