A statistician wandering through science – a chequered history

Cafe Scientifique

November 10th

Dr Ian Saunders: Senior Principal Research Scientist,
CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics, Adelaide



Presented : A statistician wandering through science – a chequered history

Dr. Ian Saunders uses his expertise in statistics to design efficient experiments and analyse complex data.
Dr Saunders utilises his expertise in the areas of statistics and experimental design to analyse biological data.  His current major research focus is on the use of high density genetic marker data to locate disease-related genes.

The main focus of his work is within the Preventative Health National Research Flagship. The aim of this Flagship Program is to identify early indicators of disease. Dr Saunders has played a key role in this, by developing methods for selecting effective disease markers and also by designing and analysing studies for discovering genes related to colorectal cancer.


Dr Saunders first joined CSIRO in 1974, undertaking research and consulting in statistics and applied probability and obtaining a PhD in Statistics from the ANU. 
In 1988 Dr Saunders joined Bond University as Associate Professor of Statistics and Deputy Director of the statistical consulting centre. In 1992 he was appointed Queensland Government Professor of Quality Management at the Queensland University of Technology.
Dr Saunders joined CSIRO again in 1995 and has been part of the Bioinformatics group since 2001.
From 1995-2001, his major focus was research into quality management, developing and applying an approach to organisational performance measurement that integrated definitions of performance with organisational strategic planning and management. From 2001 he has been working on bioinformatics and agriculture and human health. This has included studies of the impact of diet on colonic butyrate content, design and analysis of studies of protein biomarkers in blood, and development of novel methods for the analysis of genetic data using 250000 genetic markers to seek disease-causing genes.

Philosophy of Science

Cafe Scientifique 

October 18th 

Doctor George Couvalis
Flinders University, School of Humanities
Department of Philosophy




Presented:
Aristotle, Ptolemy and the interpretation of experience


In popular accounts, the Greek philosopher Aristotle and the Greek astronomer Ptolemy are widely thought to have made scientific mistakes because they don't carry out observations. In fact, they were careful observers. What they failed to do is interpret their observations correctly. 
Dr. Couvalis used their mistakes to illustrate how interpreting observations are just as important as making observations.

Separating the Forensic Scientific Fact from Forensic Science Fiction

Café Scientifique

 September 6

Associate Professor Stewart Walker

  School of Chemical and Physical Sciences 

            Forensic, Environmental and Analytical Chemist

              Director, Centre of Expertise in Energetic Material

Presented

   

Separating the Forensic Scientific Fact from Forensic Science Fiction

Associate Professor Stewart Walker is growing his hair for research. Your hair can be used to find where you have travelled or lived most recently. This is because your hair keeps a record of the chemicals you have taken into your body, through water and food you have consumed.  Assoc. Prof. Walker has travelled to many countries in the last year.  This research has many applications, such as, helping to identify people when DNA cannot be used and determine the migration paths of refugees.

Obesity and Baby Boomers

Café Scientifique

 August 3

Professor Lynne Cobiac

         Deputy Chief, Science CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences

Presented

Obesity and Baby Boomers

Lynne shared some interesting research on dietetics and nutrition.

Many people in their seventies or eighties who are pre - baby boomers are thinner than the rest of the population because they used to eat three meals a day and were more active. More research is still to be done as obesity is increasing, however, today we can access food quickly and because of technology many people are less active. 

Lynne discussed some of the latest research on epigenetics which looks at a persons genotype to determine which foods may affect their health.

Apples are good for you. However, you do not want to look like an apple. Having lots of weight around your stomach is an indicator that you may have health problems in the future. Men generally put weight on around the stomach whereas women generally put weight on around the hips which is not as harmful as the stomach.  As a woman being a two fruit - apples and pears is not recommended.

"What's a photon between friends?"

Café Scientifique 
March 16

  

Dr Olivia Samardzic

Co-Director Centre for Australian Space Education

Special Projects Officer Australian Institute of Physics

Presented

"What's a photon between friends?"

Dr Samardzic was our inaugural guest scientist.
The first Cafe was very successful, Olivia discussed many issues related to lasers and the applications of lasers. 

  

Body in the Brain

Café Scientifique 
June 22

Professor Ian Gibbins

Head of Flinders Medical Science and Technology, Anatomy

and Histology

Presented

Body in the Brain: the feeling of being yourself

Ian discussed the neuroscience on the construction and perception of body image inclusive of anatomical history. 

How do we know our place in space? How do we understand our bodies and how do we communicate this with others? How do we differentiate between our body and someone else's body. Ian shared and showed many examples in the Cafe Discussions to answer these questions.