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2021 Let's Torque Grand Final

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Amidst the excitement of Science Week, Let’s Torque held their annual STEM public-speaking competition.

We were honoured to witness the sharp and engaging presentations from some of the finest undergraduate science communicators!

 
 

Our fantastic judging panel featured esteemed science communicators: Catriona Nguyen-Robertson (@CatrionaNR), Dr Leonie Walsh (@lkw_sci) and Dr Shane Huntington (@DrShaneRRR).

The keynote address from Zoos Victoria’s wonderful Dr Marissa Parrott (@drmparrott) discussed the need for effective science communication to tackle misinformation and spark environmental protection.

It was inspiring to learn about the widespread impact of campaigns such as “When Balloons Fly, Seabirds Die”. Although this began as a call-to-action initiative discouraging plastic balloon use, the campaign succeeded with the recent statewide balloon ban.

Moving on to the competition. Another special thanks to each of the grand finalists for your enthusiasm and diligence behind the scenes. We are deeply grateful for your swift adaptation to the online transition of competition.

Fourth-place finalist, Luke Antzoulatos provided an insightful introduction into the novel application of nanoparticles against bacterial infection. Will a “cocktail” of nanoparticles become a remedy in the near future?

 

Nano-Terminators - Luke Antzoulatos

 

Sticking to the theme of a small-scale concept catapulting into far-reaching effects, audience favourite, Georgina Aiuto pondered how a snappy second affects GPS accuracy. Following the 2019-2020 bushfires, conservation of native animal populations may depend on how we define a “second”…

 

Take a Second for the Future - Georgina Aiuto

 

Just narrowly short of first-prize, Sanjeeban Chattopadhyay’s impactful delivery addressed a fresh solution to urban flooding. To keep your stroll in the streets flood-free, permeable pavements can absorb and redirect excess rainwater.

 

Permeable Pavements: A Key Design for a Water-sensitive Future - Sanjeeban Chattopadhyay

 

Finally (drum roll please), our first-place winner, Joshua Nicholls glimpses into the technical advancement of the bionic eye. Although replicating an organ is its own feat, it will have profound benefits for the visually impaired community.

 

Bionics: Seeing into the Future - Joshua Nicholls

 

Deepest gratitudes to RSV and our advisory board, as well as the Let’s Torque team for pulling this event together.

Missed the livestream? Don’t fret! Watch the 2021 Grand Final here.

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2021 Semi-Finals

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In the lead up to the exciting GRAND FINAL, let’s look back on our semi-final.

 
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As well as the Olympics, early August held another spectacular competition.

Let’s Torque had the chance to meet our talented semi-finalists and listen to their stunning presentations.

Topics ranged from the recycling of cells from umbilical cords for medical application to the novel use of nanoparticles to fight against bacterial infection!

Although our fierce competitors were behind monitors, their charisma and passion were received loud and clear.

The snappy 4-minute time-limit definitely proved to be a challenge. However, our semi-finalists successfully assured us of a fascinating future for STEM ahead.

A warm congratulations to our semi-finalists, we’re incredibly proud of you all!

 
 
2021 Grand Final Poster.png
 

Get into the spirit of Science Week and join us this Saturday (20 August) for our GRAND FINAL from the comfort of your own home.

Don’t miss your chance to watch the next generation of STEM communicators.

  • Georgina Aiuto - "Take a Second for the Future"

  • Joshua Nicholls - "Bionics: Seeing into the Future"

  • Luke Antozoulatos - "Nano-Terminators"

  • Sanjeeban Chattopadhyay - "Permeable Pavements: A Key Design for a Water-sensitive Future"

Judging some of the most promising future STEM solutions will be the esteemed: Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Dr Leonie Walsh FTSE, and Dr Shane Huntington OAM.

Visit our Facebook event for more info and to find the link to our livestream. Hope to catch you there!

 
 

From Slacker to Dopamine Hacker: the Science of Motivation

 
Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash

Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash

 

These blogs ideally take 2 hours to write, and somehow I’ve consistently stretched this into an 8-hour endeavour.

Sure, there’s background research to accomplish. Editing. Paraphrasing. Fixing sentence flow. Spell-checking, grammar checking, sanity checking.

H O W E V E R .

My other browser tabs include looking up how to make the best toasties. Scrolling Instagram. Watching videos of people’s pets. Binging Netflix. Frequently checking on the COVID situation in Victoria. (You know how it is.)

We’ve all been there.

What’s the science behind this?

Maybe like me, you’re hoping for some sort of reassuring scientific explanation. Spoiler alert: they exist!

Your body is constantly receiving stimuli from the external environment. This could be the burning pain your fingertips feel when you carelessly fish out a slice of burnt raisin toast. For instance.

Once the neurons in your fingers have sensed this pain stimuli, they release neurotransmitters which carry chemical messages.

 
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash

Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash

It’s somewhat like a lazy baton relay. The neurons are like the ‘runners’ except they don’t move. Instead, they toss ‘batons’ of neurotransmitters to other neurons nearby, causing them to toss their own neurotransmitters. This repeats until the message reaches the ‘finish line’ at the brain.

 

The brain processes the pain message and then sends out new chemical messages using the same process, ordering your hand to flick away from the cruel toaster. (I will neither confirm or deny the vague burn scar I may or may not acquired).

This is how your body reacts to the external world. This process can help build habits too.

Dopamine, famously known as the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter is a ‘baton’ that is passed around. It is found capable of positively reinforcing your actions.

A positive outcome tends to encourage you to repeat a behaviour next time.

Unlike the (hypothetical) toast disaster where a bad outcome of a burnt finger discourages you from poking a toaster again, receiving money for a good grade can prompt you to study just as hard for the next test.

Dopamine boosters

You can create ‘dopamine-boosting’ environments to help rewire your brain.

  • Celebrate the small wins: instant gratification from checking off a to-do list can help reinforce your achievements. When you feel like you’re making progress, the effects of dopamine can have a greater impact.

  • Share your results: talking about your results (positive or negative) will allow others to recognise or praise your work.

  • Micro-deadlines: breaking up a whole mission into small habits to be completed one-at-a-time can help you stay focused. As Dr Fiona Kumfor, a senior researcher at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre says “The brain finds it easier to cope with habit than to make decisions every day”.

Most importantly, a lack of motivation could stem from burn-out. This does not reflect laziness! Some fresh air or a break can massively help.

Dopamine is a complex chemical that’s not fully understood. Sometimes it also takes some grit and determination to surmount demotivation too.

 
Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash

Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash

The long game

People often study with one of two types of goals in mind.

  • Mastery goals: to understand the content and develop their skills.

  • Performance goals: to perform well in comparison to others.

 

A study suggests that performance goals are better suited for short-term learning and mastery goals are best suited for long-term learning.

Hence, it may help to put your goals and visions into perspective, thinking where you would like to be in the long game.

Contagious motivation

Competition is found to have a very minor effect on performance.

Meanwhile, you can be inspired by observing others. Surrounding yourself with people passionate about a subject that you initially find dry can inspire you to find it enjoyable. Maybe joining a study group or watching some inspiring TedTalks can help cure your demotivation.

the science of motivation is a complicated puzzle yet to be fulfilled.

Further reading

Sometimes getting some mental wellbeing support can help too. Here are some sites with resources and external contacts:

Workshop 1 - 2021: Science Beyond the Lab

Let’s recap our very first (and technically second) workshop of 2021!

 
Jack from Let’s Torque introducing Workshop 1.

Jack from Let’s Torque introducing Workshop 1.

 
 

On a chilly April evening, we were lucky enough to host Workshop 1 and take shelter within the cosy function room at the Royal Society of Victoria (RSV).

We had the wonderful, singing scientist Catriona Nguyen-Robertson as our guest speaker. The PhD candidate and lecturer at The University of Melbourne is known for outreaching STEM online towards fresh, non-traditional audiences through her catchy scientific earworms.

It was inspiring to hear Catriona share her own passion, visions and some first-hand experiences as an avid science communicator!

Workshop 1 focused on exploring and appreciating the importance of science communication. As well as how to tailor complex scientific concepts towards varying audiences.

Interestingly, as science progresses into more specialised and complex forms, a study finds that research papers are becoming more difficult to read. This is problematic as it can catapult the general public away from trusting and engaging with STEM.

Miscommunication or a lack of understanding of science can erupt confusion and conflict within society and politics. This can be seen in the varying responses to COVID-19 globally.

Catriona Nguyen-Robertson (on right) helping some workshop attendees reinvent lengthy scientific abstracts and press releases into captivating headlines.

Catriona Nguyen-Robertson (on right) helping some workshop attendees reinvent lengthy scientific abstracts and press releases into captivating headlines.

Caitlin from Let’s Torque introducing Workshop 1.

Caitlin from Let’s Torque introducing Workshop 1.

 
 
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F110AADD-DCC6-436A-A7E5-7153677939B0_1_201_a.jpeg
 
 
Royal Society of Victoria (RSV)

Royal Society of Victoria (RSV)

Contradictorily, while scientific papers with amusing titles are more likely to attract everyday audiences, readers find these papers to be less credible.

Attendees were tasked to solve this conundrum. Each group was missioned to create both informative and compelling headlines from a set of abstracts and press releases.

While it was tricky enough to translate the strings of jargon and convoluted concepts into a snappy sentence, the twist was that each group had a unique target audience. They ranged from extraterrestrial life to Medieval peasants to modern day toddlers.

This lead to some very creative and entertaining answers…

Thanks again to Catriona for spending her Wednesday evening with us! Thanks to RSV for the lovely venue!

To meet both the flattering popularity of the workshop and gathering limits, the team swiftly adapted our ONE 90-minute workshop into TWO back-to-back sessions. Despite the all the chaos and coordination, it was rewarding to see it all through! Thanks to all the Let’s Torque team members for their efforts behind the scenes and in front of the scenes!

Finally of course, thank-you to everyone who attended!!

 
 
The Let's Torque Team (from left: Eloï, Mitchell, Matthew, Jack, Caitlin) with Catriona Nguyen-Robertson

The Let's Torque Team (from left: Eloï, Mitchell, Matthew, Jack, Caitlin) with Catriona Nguyen-Robertson

 

We’re excited to launch our official second workshop in the lead up to our STEM public-speaking competition! Just a reminder to submit your Talking Points before the June 30 deadline.

Workshop 2: Science Speaks Louder than Words will deep dive into the overlooked non-verbal aspects of science communication. Come along to learn how you can enhance your communication skills and engagement with your audience. We’ll explore the design psychology behind successful visuals and how to employ effective physical communication such as through body language, stance and posture.

 
 

Ancestor, Distant Or Close Relative? - The Issue Of Physical Variation Within The Fossil Record

By Eloï Ducasse

Differences and variations witnessed in fossil remains that are thought to be of different species due to their geographic location could possibly be misinterpreted cases of notable physical variations within the same species. 

 
 

Homo Sapiens - The One Who Knows

Even long before Darwin published his most notorious and polemic piece, the same everlasting question has been left unanswered by science: where do we come from?

To a certain extent, so much is known and yet so much is still ought to be discovered. Humans are undeniably primates, but our genealogic tree is not so simple.

The genus homo is believed to have diversified in a complex branching of various traits and characteristics. But scientists can only gather tangible data from bone remains and other artefacts in archeological findings.

A Bone To Pick

A vast majority of currently living species display physical variations between sexes known as sexual dimorphism. Another witnessable occurrence of such morphological differences also find its roots at a molecular level and is defined as polymorphism.

In humans, morphological differences between different individuals can be compared to a rainbow of variety. However in contrast to our closest relatives, humans tend to have a low degree of facial sexual dimorphism for instance. 

When it comes to determining and classifying fossils, the task can be seen as herculean. Different characteristics have to be taken in consideration and compared to other identified specimens in order to establish the most accurate taxonomy. 

The idea that each individual is unique with some of their traits shared among other related individuals can cause debate within the scientific community. For instance, specimens of our own lineage that are currently thought to be of a different species might actually belong to the same one to some extent.

Skeletons In The Closet

For now, science might not be able to come to a concrete conclusion about our origins but with every new archaeological find whether it be remains, footprints, relics etc… Every discovery offers new and further insights on our own evolutive history and ultimately what makes us human. 

In such, in our quest for truth and understanding, we are retelling the story of life and death accompanied by the echoes of the symphony of a Danse Macabre.

 
Photo by Wendy Wei from Pexels

Photo by Wendy Wei from Pexels

 

Healthy Human Babies: A Complicated Birth Delivery Trend Paradox

By Eloï Ducasse

The caesarian-section (c-section) procedure has increased in prevalence in the recent decades and so has the average quality of life for most countries. Could there be an underlying correlation between those two tendencies?

Ave Caesaria 

Stories have been told for centuries if not millennials, but sadly like it is sometimes the case in human history, the truth can be distorted and altered after every account.

According to the historical records and oral traditions, the procedure of physically removing the child from the womb has been used around the world but the term is said to have gotten its name from the story of the birth of Julius Caesar. However, it is more likely that it was named after a Roman law that aimed to secure the prosperity and growth population if the life of the foetus was in jeopardy.

 
 

Birth - A Physical Challenge

The fight for survival does begin in the womb, but the first real challenge of mankind is to be brought upon this world with a minimal amount of complications. These can equally affect the mother and the child in some instances.

From the first use of anesthesia to the mastery of the epidural, generally speaking women can now rely on medicine to ease their pain. The pain of childbirth is indeed due to its laborious task; while compared to the rest of the animal kingdom, humans have undergone through a succession of changes under a relatively short period of time.

One of these physical changes is the shift to bipedalism, in order to be able to stand where humans are today, physical modifications were naturally selected within our lineage such as a narrower pelvis for optimal weight distribution. 

Another prevalent change concerns our brain and cranial size that has gradually increased throughout our evolutive history. Alongside the selection of a narrower pelvis this resulted in what is now known as the obstetrical dilemma. Put simply, the head of the child barely fits through the female birth canal during labor.

Human Selection

In our modern times, c-sections are now used in instances where the mother has not physically dilated enough to allow the child to pass through without suffering too much constriction and ultimately brain damage.   

It is no secret that a healthy population will produce healthy babies, such data shows that the average birth weight and size of human babies has increased steadily over the last centuries but our pelvis did not get any wider.

Our intelligence has freed our species from the pressures of natural selection. Thus the mind does wonder, with the advent of in vitro fertilisation and scientists working on artificial wombs techniques, are we destined to move away from the natural birth methods?

 
Photo by Meta Zahren on Unsplash

Photo by Meta Zahren on Unsplash

 

Breaking the Laws of Known Physics

By Michelle Nguyen

New evidence from subatomic particles ‘wobbles’ our understanding of unseen particles and forces in the universe

Muons – a heavier, unstable counterpart to electrons – challenge one of science’s most watertight theories, the Standard Model of particle physics.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Like electrons, muons are also negatively charged and have a quantum property called spin. In a magnetic field, spin allows muons to wobble like spinning tops. A muon wobbles faster under a stronger magnetic field.

Additionally, when muons mingle with other short-lived particles – imagine bubbles popping up and disappearing from soapy water – it can wobble ~0.1% faster than expected. This mysterious boost is called the anomalous magnetic moment, which can be further tweaked by the presence of unknown heavy particles…

The Theory of Almost Everything:

The Standard Model attempts to explain how all particles in the entire universe behave. With excellent precision, it guesses how frequently a particle wobbles. It’s currently humankind’s best mathematical explanation and considerably the most successful scientific theory.

However, it’s incomplete. Since a toolbox is only as handy as its tools, the accuracy of the model depends on being sure about every. Single. Particle. In the universe.

In 2001, the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York found that muons may wobble slightly faster than model’s prediction.

Witnessing this anomaly again is said to be a 1 in 40,000 fluke.

Fast-forward 20 years to just last Wednesday, researchers at Fermilab announced that their Muon g-2 experiment have defied these odds!  

The Muon g-2 experiment:
its potential & its controversy

How did the Fermilab researchers do this? By shooting particles into a 14-ton circular tube and seeing what happens. Sort of.

Before firing a beam of muons into a magnetised ring at high speed, the subatomic particles were gathered by filtering from debris resultant of pairs of protons smashing together. As muons whirl inside the ring, the powerful magnetic field gradually rotates the particle’s spin axis.

By millionths of a second later, or rather after a few hundred cycles within the ring, the wobbling muon decays into an electron. The detectors along the track’s inner wall catch the flying electron and reads the emitted energy. The speed of the parent muons is solved by discerning the different energies at various times.  

So, what’s all this hype about an invisible particle wobbling a little bit faster than expected? The thing is physicists around the world have long been trying to push the boundaries of the Standard Model in order to explain the holes in the theory.

However, test after test, the theory stubbornly sticks. The deviations from the model observed by muon behaviour could be a gateway into a new physics!

What’s even more exciting is that although this result appears promising, a recently published Nature paper suggest that the muon’s wobbliness is exactly expected by the Standard Model according to different mode of calculation by BMW.

While the BMW and Fermilab calculations are being contested, the fact that both could simultaneously be correct is brewing tension within the physics community. Whether or not the Femilab team is chasing ghosts, this makes for a fascinating puzzle.

As theoretical physicists, Nima Arkani-Hamed (who wasn’t involved in the research) puts it:

“The attitude to take is sort of cautious optimism.”

Although the team of over 200 scientists across seven countries at Femilab have been actively experimenting since 2018, they are keeping in mind that the results aren’t a “discovery” yet.

By strict standards, researchers need to ensure that results achieve a statistical certainty of ‘5 sigma’, or rather show that this anomaly only occurs randomly once every 3.5 million times the experiment is run.

Fermilab researchers are well on track with their current estimate of 4.2 sigma! If Fermilab’s results remain consistent it could take a couple of years to draw firm conclusions from this Nobel-Prize worthy effort.

 

For further reading, have a look at: