Nicholas Johnson

Elsie Wright

Nicholas J. Johnson is an author, a magician and collector of scams. He exposes tricks and inspires audiences to think critically and never be swindled again. After two decades entertaining and educating audiences, He’s realised there is much we can learn about persuasion, deception and influence from the world of the professional swindler.Just don’t trust him with a deck of cards.

Nicholas J. Johnson is an author, a magician and collector of scams. He exposes tricks and inspires audiences to think critically and never be swindled again. After two decades entertaining and educating audiences, He’s realised there is much we can learn about persuasion, deception and influence from the world of the professional swindler. Just don’t trust him with a deck of cards.

Nicholas Johnson on Elsie Wright

Eli Mrkusich

Eli Mrkusich works for Illumina, the world’s leading genomics (DNA information) company. When Illumina entered the DNA sequencing market a genome (compete DNA sequence) cost $10 million dollars in 2014 Illumina launched the $1,000 genome. Illumina’s technology powers 23andMe and AncestryDNA. Illumina’s mission to unlock the power of the genome to improve human health.Eli joined Illumina in 2015 and is a Senior Applied Genomics Segment Manager for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) and is based on the Mornington Peninsula. Eli is responsible for market development and outbound marketing activities for the Applied Genomics business across APJ.  Eli completed his PhD in neuroscience and molecular biology in 2004 and had six years post-doctoral experience at the University of Melbourne. Eli worked for Bio-Rad for five years in an application support role, most recently as a Global Digital Applications Specialist for Bio-Rad supporting Drop-let Digital PCR, based out of Pleasanton, California.

Eli Mrkusich works for Illumina, the world’s leading genomics (DNA information) company. When Illumina entered the DNA sequencing market a genome (compete DNA sequence) cost $10 million dollars in 2014 Illumina launched the $1,000 genome. Illumina’s technology powers 23andMe and AncestryDNA. Illumina’s mission to unlock the power of the genome to improve human health. Eli joined Illumina in 2015 and is a Senior Applied Genomics Segment Manager for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) and is based on the Mornington Peninsula. Eli is responsible for market development and outbound marketing activities for the Applied Genomics business across APJ. Eli completed his PhD in neuroscience and molecular biology in 2004 and had six years post-doctoral experience at the University of Melbourne. Eli worked for Bio-Rad for five years in an application support role, most recently as a Global Digital Applications Specialist for Bio-Rad supporting Drop-let Digital PCR, based out of Pleasanton, California.

Eli Mrkusich on Eugenics

Maria Roitman

Wilhelm Reich

With a background in stress neuroscience and shocking mice in the name of research, Maria is well-placed to speak at the Halloween edition of Laborastory. Although her latest scientific manuscript explores the mechanism of human pain (muahaha), Maria’s interest in psychiatry, crossed with her villainous mind and crass sense of humour, brings a special kind of science villain to the event - not unlike his predecessor, a psychoanalyst gone a bit rogue in his study of orgonomy, aka “the energy of sexual orgasm”.

Maria Roitman on Wilhelm Reich

Gary Hime

Giovanni Aldini

Gary Hime completed his PhD at the University of Adelaide before working as a research scientist at Stanford University and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute. He is currently a professor and acting Head in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the University of Melbourne where his work is focused on understanding the genetic regulation of stem cells in development and disease.

Dr. Gary Hime on Giovanni Aldini

Richard MacEwan

Richard is recently retired and is now enjoying a life of travel, music, gardening and wine making unfettered by daily obligations to office, government department machinations and fickle funding. His career encompassed estate management in Scotland, educating university aspirants in land rehabilitation and researching soils and land management for the Victorian government. He has now nearly forgotten everything he ever pretended to know about science but has accepted the challenge to explore the nature of science villainy and share his thoughts with you tonight.

Richard MacEwan on The Nature Of Villainy

Pam is from the eastern shores of icy Canada, is a medical doctor, a comedian and a passionate environmentalist. She's presented her solo show 'Kim Kardashian is bad for the environment' and her duo show 'Meat Bags' at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Dr Pam Rana on Perfection

Ella Loeffler

Sylvia Earle

Ella Loeffler holds a Bachelors degree in zoology and literature, and is currently completing her honours in wildlife conservation. This means she spends more time than she would like to admit looking at bandicoot poo. She is a mediator at the Science Gallery Melbourne and loves scuba-diving, hiking and reading.

Ella Loeffler on Sylvia Earle

Ryan Jefferies

Ryan is Head of Programs at Science Gallery Melbourne at The University of Melbourne and curator of the PERFECTION and BLOOD exhibitions. He is a passionate advocate of art and science in equal measures, a champion of creative science communication and is a sometimes taxidermist. Ryan has a PhD in infectious disease research and spent many years studying somewhat terrifying parasites that will happily live in your blood.

Dr. Ryan Jefferies on Leonardo Da Vinci

Connor McMahon

Clement Wragge

Connor is a second year science student at the University of Melbourne. As a Melbournian, Connor was a natural at having no idea what weather would come next. However, his curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to major in Climate and Weather to gain a better understanding of the world around him. A passionate science communicator, Connor has been involved in several science outreach programs, including the National Youth Science Forum, the Young Scientists of Australia, and is currently on the mediator team with Science Gallery Melbourne.

Connor McMahon on Clement Wragge

Chris Lassig

Dr Chris Lassig is a particle physicist and broadcaster, who has recently acquired the delusion of being a comedian. His show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival told the story of his journey from obscurity in Bundaberg, Queensland, to obscurity as a former research physicist. But he eventually learnt to write, and now calls himself a science communicator.Since 2011, Chris has been one of the hosts of the long-running community radio program and podcast "Lost in Science". In fact, he likes podcasts so much that he produces another one in his day job for the Stroke Foundation, where he also translates medical science for use by clinicians and stroke survivors. He is currently working on a graphic novel about Isaac Newton's niece, and would like you to ask him about it.

Dr Chris Lassig is a particle physicist and broadcaster, who has recently acquired the delusion of being a comedian. His show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival told the story of his journey from obscurity in Bundaberg, Queensland, to obscurity as a former research physicist. But he eventually learnt to write, and now calls himself a science communicator. Since 2011, Chris has been one of the hosts of the long-running community radio program and podcast "Lost in Science". In fact, he likes podcasts so much that he produces another one in his day job for the Stroke Foundation, where he also translates medical science for use by clinicians and stroke survivors. He is currently working on a graphic novel about Isaac Newton's niece, and would like you to ask him about it.

Dr Chris Lassig on Chien - Shiung Wu

Each month The Laborastory brings together five scientists from diverse backgrounds to share the story of their science hero.Hear the tragedies and triumphs of the men and women who made science their passion and left legacies that inspire the scientists of today.

Each month The Laborastory brings together five scientists from diverse backgrounds to share the story of their science hero. Hear the tragedies and triumphs of the men and women who made science their passion and left legacies that inspire the scientists of today.

The Laborastory

Nick Beaton

Paul Erdős

Dr Nick Beaton is a research fellow in mathematics at the University of Melbourne. Unlike most mathematicians, his research really does just involve adding numbers to count things. You can follow him on Twitter @nrbeaton. He tells the story of the Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős.

Dr Nick Beaton on Paul Erdős

Hossein Mokhtarzadeh

Dr. Hossein Mokhtarzadeh received his PhD from the University of Melbourne in Mechanical Engineering specialising in Biomechanics in 2014. He studied ACL injury and its mechanism during high-risk movements using in vitro and in vivo modelling approaches and received several prizes for his research. He explains the difference between being a research manager and being a research leader.

Dr. Hossein Mokhtarzadeh on leaders vs managers

Dave Kaplan

Dave Kaplan is a neuroscience PhD student researching electrophysiology. He introduces us to Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley, who investigated the excitation of nerves and transmission of neural signals.The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy http://thelaborastory.com.

Dave Kaplan is a neuroscience PhD student researching electrophysiology. He introduces us to Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley, who investigated the excitation of nerves and transmission of neural signals. The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy <a href="http://thelaborastory.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://thelaborastory.com</a>.

Dave Kaplan on Hodgkin & Huxley

Alan Duffy

Dr Alan Duffy is a research fellow at Swinburne University of Technology, creating baby universes with supercomputers and watching galaxies from inside them. His website is http://www.alanrduffy.com and you can follow him on Twitter @astroduff. He tells the story of the 18th century French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil.

Dr Alan Duffy is a research fellow at Swinburne University of Technology, creating baby universes with supercomputers and watching galaxies from inside them. His website is <a href="http://www.alanrduffy.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.alanrduffy.com</a> and you can follow him on Twitter @astroduff. He tells the story of the 18th century French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil.

Dr Alan Duffy on Guillaume Le Gentil

Burkard Polster

Martin Gardner

Burkard Polster is a maths lecturer and Monash University's resident mathemagician. Together with his colleague Marty Ross he writes the weekly Maths Masters column for The Age. He tells the story of recreational mathematician Martin Gardner.

Dr Burkard Polster on Martin Gardner

Alvin Roth

Joe Dreyfus

Joe Dreyfus has completed a Masters of Economics at Utrecht University. He currently works at Nous Group and is interested in markets of kidneys and wives.The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy http://thelaborastory.com

Joe Dreyfus has completed a Masters of Economics at Utrecht University. He currently works at Nous Group and is interested in markets of kidneys and wives. The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy <a href="http://thelaborastory.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://thelaborastory.com</a>

Joe Dreyfus on Professor Alvin Roth

Jess Moir

Ruth Benedict

Jess Moir is a Melbourne comedian who regularly performs at the Brunswick Green.  She has two kids and lets them mix bi-carb soda with vinegar whenever they want. Jess has lived overseas, including in Nigeria, where she learned more than she wanted to about Ebola.

Jess Moir on Ruth Benedict

Prasanna Sritharan

Eadweard Muybridge

Prasanna Sritharan is a PhD student in biomechanical engineering at the University of Melbourne studying the relationship between musculoskeletal biomechanics and knee osteoarthritis. He tells the story of the English photographer Eadweard Muybridge.

Prasanna Sritharan on Eadweard Muybridge

Dave Gonsalvez

Dave Gonsalvez is a postdoc at the Melbourne Brain Centre in the a division of the Melbourne Neuroscience Institute. He tells the story of Mondino de Liuzzi, the “restorer of anatomy”.

Dr Dave Gonsalvez on Mondino de Liuzzi

Megan Munsie

Over the course of her 20 year career in stem cell research Associate Professor Megan Munsie has combined her scientific expertise – gained through working in academia and industry – with a deep understanding of the issues associated stem cell research and its clinical translation. She has co-authored numerous educational resources for the public, health and educational professionals; contributed to the development of policy at a domestic and international level; and regularly provides advice and information to Australian patient advocacy groups and community members on stem cell science and associated issues. Megan is based at The University of Melbourne where she is Deputy Director of the Centre for Stem Cell Systems and also heads of the Engagement, Ethics and Policy Program of the Australian Government funded Stem Cells Australia initiative. During her PhD Megan published the first proof-of-principle for therapeutic cloning and prior to working in the stem cell field worked for over ten years as a clinical embryologist in Australian IVF clinics.

Associate Professor Megan Munsie on Sir John Gurdon

Tim Young

Tim Young is an astrophysicist, and passionate science communicator. In his spare time he runs podcasts focused on science and gaming respectively. He is also an adventurous rock climber.

Tim Young on Niels Bohr and the Disappearing Nobel Prize

Graham Farr

William Thomas

Professor Graham Farr's day job is Professor and Head of the Clayton School of IT at Monash University. He moonlights as a guide at Melbourne Observatory.The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy http://thelaborastory.com.

Professor Graham Farr's day job is Professor and Head of the Clayton School of IT at Monash University. He moonlights as a guide at Melbourne Observatory. The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy <a href="http://thelaborastory.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://thelaborastory.com</a>.

Professor Graham Farr on William Thomas Tutte

Alex Dunn

Lionel Logue

Dr Alex Dunn was a Monash medical school undergraduate, who after a few years working in South Australia has returned to physician training at Monash Health. He tells the story of Australian speech and language therapist Lionel Logue.

Dr Alex Dunn on Lionel Logue

Ben Mackenzie

Veronica Megler

Ben Mackenzie is a performer, writer, game designer and nerd for all seasons. He’s written and performed stand-up, sketch comedy, theatre and late night museum tours. He’s part of the team behind the award-winning time travel comedy Night Terrace, and currently co-hosts the Terry Pratchett book club podcast Pratchat. His games include the hit live bank heist adventure Small Time Criminals, and (as lead writer) Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown, a PlayStation VR game from Tin Man Games releasing in early 2019. His favourite dinosaur is Stegosaurus. Follow him on Twitter at @McKenzie_Ben.

Ben Mackenzie on Veronica Megler

James Carter

Graeme Clark

Dr James Carter is a paediatric registrar at the Royal Children’s Hospital and is contented in paediatrics as it affords him the opportunity to work with a patient group who can communicate at his level. James completed a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Brain Imaging &amp; Analysis Centre of Duke University. His hero of science tonight is Professor Graeme Clark.

Dr James Carter on Graeme Clark

Rachel Neumann

John Maynard Keynes

Rachel Neumann is an economics teacher and graduate student, writing Economics Haikus in her spare time. She goes back to basics with a talk on the giant, John Maynard Keynes.The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy http://thelaborastory.com.

Rachel Neumann is an economics teacher and graduate student, writing Economics Haikus in her spare time. She goes back to basics with a talk on the giant, John Maynard Keynes. The Laborastory is held on the first Monday of each month at Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy <a href="http://thelaborastory.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://thelaborastory.com</a>.

Rachel Neumann on John Maynard Keynes

Sarah Nagorcka

Gertrude Elion

Sarah Nagorcka is a pharmacist, writer and musician. She is passionate about translating science, particularly medical science into live performance. She tells the story of 1988 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Gertrude Elion.

Sarah Nagorcka on Gertrude Elion

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