Three presenters share a topic they are NERDY about while the audience shares a drink. Join Doc of Sociology - Paul Bowell, budding Immunologist - Jay Laws and Evolutionary Biologist Jenna Crowe-Riddell as we discuss everything from space invaders, snakes, T cells and Taylor Swift! Be there. Be square.

Paul Bowell

The Power of Nonhumans, Space Invaders and Taylor Swift

Description: Are you brave enough to take the red pill and find out the power of nonhumans?  Social constructions: taken-for-granted ways of thinking and doing, like gender, are nonhuman objects that impact people—often limiting access and opportunity. “Are you ready for it? Let the games begin!” This talk will stress that the over-the-top media scrutiny and discourses aimed at Taylor Swift illustrate the power of nonhuman things like gender constructions. Through these nonhuman powers, Swift is positioned as a space invader in the music and entertainment industry. Understanding the power of nonhuman things is the first step in changing them. Reshaping gendered beliefs means young girls are not questioned if they want to play sports or be engineers. The alternative is that “you’re on your own, kid”!

Bio: A lot has changed for Paul. Starting as a chef running kitchens across Australia, Paul would have moments in this role asking himself questions like: “What motivates that person to act like that?” Unbeknownst to Paul, he was activating his sociological imagination. Fast forward 15 years, Paul is a Doctor of Sociology. Paul is passionate about understanding technology's unintended impacts on people. Paul is also an avid advocate for supporting diversity and inclusion in sport. Bringing these two passions together, Paul has spent time with women Australian Rules footballers, understanding how they experience using smartwatches to track their exercise.

Socials: @PaulGB77 (Twitter/X)

Jay Laws

Fighting viruses with fat????

Description: Jay has always been passionate about immunology, and understanding how we can manipulate our immune response to destroy viruses at their own game. Throughout his PhD, he has discovered that teeny tiny fatty soldiers in our cells might do just this, providing additional immunity for our cells! By helping these cellular fatty soldiers we can keep healthy(ish) and keep sick days to a minimum. 

Bio: Working at Best and Less since he was 17 has taught Jay one thing: that people are severely misinformed when it comes to viral infection. From injecting bleach to gargling charcoal, there are more absurd ‘treatments’ for viral infections than you can shake a T cell at. To tackle this toxic combination of miscommunication and snake oil, Jay has committed the last 4 years of his life to a PhD picking apart how the immune system works. With the end of his PhD now in sight, hopefully, that means a new job developing antiviral drugs, and the end to his illustrious career at Best & Less.

Socials: @JayLaws15   (Twitter/X)

Jenna Crowe-Riddell

The touchy-feely world of snakes

Description: Ever wondered, can that snake see me? Can snakes feel? What do snakes feel? Are snakes just tubes? Are they long, feely, sensitive tubes?  And what’s with the tongue flicking? All these questions (and more) will be answered in this talk as we dive into the weird and wonderful world of snake senses and the scientists that study them. Particular topics of interest: sea snakes (snakes that live in the sea), snake sex (how is it done?), and snakes with eyes in their tails (I don’t even know what to say about this).

Bio: Jenna is an evolutionary biologist fascinated by how snakes sense the world. Jenna studied sea snake senses for her PhD and now studies snakes professionally, as a career, no really, she is a Dr snake botherer. Jenna had a brief jaunt as a stand-up comedian. Jenna professes that she’s ‘not a snake lady’ even as she is google imaging pictures of snakes right now. Jenna is writing this in third person.

Socials: @jcroweriddell (Twitter)