[spp-player]
In this episode, Dr. Peter Dalmaris talks with Dr. Rebecca Johnson.
Dr. Johnson is Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, a Wildlife Forensic Scientist, a Conservation Geneticist and co-chief investigator of the Koala Genome Consortium.
Rebecca is the first female science director in the Museum’s 190-year history and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. She and her team were instrumental in establishing the Museum as a global leader in the field of wildlife forensics and applied conservation genomics including developing strong translational research with direct links to industry.
She is a member of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences and represents the Museum on more than 14 government and industry committees.
Of Rebecca’s many achievements, one that stands out is being one of the inaugural 30 “SuperStars of STEM.” This is a group of some of Australia’s most dynamic scientists and technologists whose mission is to create role models for young women and girls and working towards equal representation in the media of men and women in STEM.
This is Stemiverse Podcast episode 41.
Stemiverse podcast is brought to you by Tech Explorations, a leading provider of educational resources for Makers, STEM students, and teachers. Go to techexplorations.com to see a complete list of our books and courses covering the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and electronics.
Show Notes
- [spp-timestamp time=”00:00″] Introduction – Introducing Dr. Rebecca Johnson
- [spp-timestamp time=”03:19″] Rebecca talks about her background, her love of reading as a child, her favorite book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, and how it lead to her decision to become a scientist
- [spp-timestamp time=”09:11″] Rebecca talks about her Professors of Genetics at the University of Sydney and her work on Queensland fruit flies
- [spp-timestamp time=”10:02″] Being drawn to big problems
- [spp-timestamp time=”11:27″] Rebecca as the first female director of the Australian Museum Research Institute
- [spp-timestamp time=”12:22″] The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the oldest scientific institute in Australia
- [spp-timestamp time=”13:45″] Kim McKay, Director & CEO of the Australian Museum
- [spp-timestamp time=”14:05″] Why did it take so long to appoint female directors?
- [spp-timestamp time=”17:40″] Causes of female under-representation in STEM and possible solutions
- [spp-timestamp time=”21:42″] Science & Technology Australia – Superstars of STEM
- [spp-timestamp time=”22:44″] Rebecca walks us through her typical day at work
- [spp-timestamp time=”28:27″] What is Wildlife Forensics…
- [spp-timestamp time=”33:06″] …and Conservation Genomics?
- [spp-timestamp time=”36:59″] Rebecca’s productivity habits
- [spp-timestamp time=”39:11″] Isn’t science mostly dealing with failure?
- [spp-timestamp time=”42:13″] Exposing yourself to a lot of different things during your early years in school helps you find what you love doing
- [spp-timestamp time=”44:01″] Being a List person
- [spp-timestamp time=”45:25″] Professor Tim Flannery
- [spp-timestamp time=”46:03″] How Rebecca sharpens the saw
- [spp-timestamp time=”48:11″] Rebecca’s Book Recommendations:
- Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—and the New Research That’s Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini
- How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of de-Extinction by Beth Shapiro
- The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
- The Harry Potter Book Series by J.K. Rowling
- [spp-timestamp time=”54:45″] Rebecca’s advice to her 12-year-old self: Develop Self-Confidence
- [spp-timestamp time=”01:00:52″] Rebecca’s Contact Information: Twitter: @DrRebeccaJ, Instagram: drrebeccaj