In this episode, we explore how nuclear technologies play a crucial role in enabling life-saving cancer treatments. Our guest, Eva Bezak, is Professor of Medical Radiation at the University of South Australia and President of Asia-Oceania Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics. I’ve asked Eva to join me today to find out more about how nuclear technologies for medical applications get developed and used to treat patients across Australia.

Listen in to find out more about:

• a day in the life of a clinical medical physicist,
• what radiation therapy is like for patients,
• why radiation can help treat cancer (while minimising impacts on healthy cells),
• how charged particle beams are improving outcomes for some of Australia's youngest cancer patients,
• how new accelerator-based treatments are developed,
• the links between fundamental nuclear physics research and cutting edge cancer treatment, and
• what's happening here in Australia to make these treatments accessible to patients that can most benefit.

If this episode resonates with you career-wise, check out opportunities to work with Eva via Radinnovate. Eva is Deputy Director of this Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre, which is designed to support industry-linked research opportunities for future nuclear and radiation technology professionals. Full disclosure: ANU is one of the partners involved in Radinnovate (which mostly means I get to run into Eva here on campus from time to time and hear stories about her PhD research at the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility).

EPISODE CREDITS

Guest: Eva Bezak

Host: Liz Williams

Producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)

Feedback:

We love feedback. Feel free to share your thoughts about this episode on Apple Podcasts, or contact us directly via email.

Notes on content, use and contact details:

This episode is marked as containing explicit content because it discusses what it's like to undergo radiation therapy for cancer treatment, and mentions treatment of specific forms of cancers. This may not be suitable for the youngest listeners.

We have created this podcast for our educational programs, and are keen to make sure everyone interested in learning more about this topic has access to this information and can share it with others. You are free to use this podcast for non-commercial uses, provided that you attribute this podcast as the original source and do not modify the content.

Please contact us via email (link above) for permission if you wish to use this podcast in any other way.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is intended for information and education only. The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.

Acknowledgements:

Liz Williams would like to thank Veronica Taylor for suggesting Eva as a guest on the podcast.

Join us as we dive deep into Australia's complex nuclear history with Dr. Jessica Urwin from the University of Tasmania. In this episode, we explore what "responsible use" of nuclear technologies truly means for a nation whose nuclear footprint began long before the Nuclear Age.

Dr Urwin's work focuses on how the nation's contributions to global nuclear activities have impacted Aboriginal communities in South Australia - and how these communities' experiences continue to shape discussions about Australia's relationship with nuclear technologies today.

Guest bio:

Dr Jessica Urwin is a Lecturer in Environmental History in the University of Tasmania's School of Humanities. She recently finished her PhD in History at the Australian National University, and is releasing her first book - Contaminated Country: Nuclear Colonialism and Aboriginal Resistance in Australia - with Washington University Press.

Credits:

Guest: Dr Jessica Urwin (University of Tasmania)

Host: A/Prof Liz Williams (ANU)

Audio producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)

Acknowledgements:

The production of this podcast is supported by the Australian National University College of Systems and Society.

Feedback: We love feedback. Feel free to share your thoughts about this episode on Apple Podcasts, or contact us directly via email.

Notes on content, use and contact details:

This episode is marked as containing explicit content because it discusses nuclear weapons testing and their impacts on Aboriginal communities in Australia. This content may not be appropriate for young listeners.

We have created this podcast for our educational programs, and are keen to make sure everyone interested in learning more about this topic has access to this information and can share it with others. You are free to use this podcast for non-commercial uses, provided that you attribute this podcast as the original source and do not modify the content.

Please contact us via email (link above) for permission if you wish to use this podcast in any other way.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is intended for information and education only. The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.

What roles should nuclear technologies play in our world? If and when we choose to use them – how do we do so safely, securely, and responsibly?

Nuclear Matters is a new podcast from the Australian National University College of Systems and Society, hosted by Liz Williams (Nuclear Systems Discipline Lead, ANU School of Engineering). Listen in for a sneak peak about the season of episodes to come.

Want to get in touch? Email us at nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au.

Credits

Host and producer: Liz Williams (ANU)

Audio producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)