Paramount Importance Podcast

Paramount Importance Podcast Short clips from the podcasts with scientists about their research
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09/08/2026

What if the best way to protect our coastline wasn't building more concrete?

When most beaches begin to erode, the solution is often to build groynes or seawalls. But while they may protect one section of coastline, they can simply shift the erosion further down the beach.

In this clip, Dr Daniel Martin explains how countries like the Netherlands are taking a different approach, using nature-based solutions that protect coastlines while creating new habitat for wildlife at the same time.
Sometimes the best engineering solution is to work with nature, not against it.

Host: Kurt Krispyn
Guest: Dr Daniel Jan Martin, The University of Western Australia

07/08/2026

What happens when we keep breaking nature into smaller and smaller pieces?

Habitat fragmentation doesn't just reduce the amount of bushland left, it isolates wildlife populations, limits movement and reduces genetic diversity. Over time, that can leave species far more vulnerable to disease, environmental change and local extinction.

In this clip, Dr Daniel Jan Martin explains why wildlife corridors are essential, not only for biodiversity, but for creating healthier, more connected landscapes for both wildlife and people.

Protecting nature isn't just about saving what's left. It's about reconnecting it.

Host: Kurt Krispyn
Guest: Dr Daniel Jan Martin, The University of Western Australia

05/08/2026

Beneath Perth lies one of Australia's greatest hidden natural wonders.

Most people have no idea that beneath our feet is the Yarragadee Aquifer, an underground water system holding the equivalent of around 2,000 Sydney Harbours of water.

In this clip, Dr Daniel Martin explains why these hidden aquifers are so important, how they support our wetlands, contribute to Perth's drinking water, and why protecting them is critical as our city continues to grow.

The most important parts of our environment are often the ones we never see.

Host: Kurt Krispyn
Guest: Dr Daniel Jan Martin, The University of Western Australia

03/08/2026

Would you buy a house that's 10–15°C hotter than the suburb next door?

Some of Perth's newest suburbs are reaching extreme temperatures, not because of climate alone, but because of the way we've designed them.

Trees aren't just there to make our streets look better. They cool our suburbs, improve our wellbeing, support biodiversity and make our cities more resilient.

As Perth continues to grow, the choices we make today will shape how future generations experience our city.

Host: Kurt Krispyn
Guest: Dr Daniel Jan Martin, The University of Western Australia

28/07/2026

Swimming pools can spread more than just germs.

Dr Amanda Ash explains how Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhoea, can survive in chlorinated pool water and spread when contaminated material enters the water.

Pools and childcare centres are especially vulnerable because the parasite spreads through the faecal–oral route — and even a tiny accidental contamination can expose many people.

The lesson is simple: never swim when you have diarrhoea, avoid swallowing pool water, and remember that chlorine does not eliminate every risk.

🎙️ Dr Amanda Ash
🎧 Hosted by Kurt Krispyn
📺 Paramount Importance Podcast

26/07/2026

A tapeworm can end up in the human brain — and in some countries, it is linked to a significant number of epilepsy cases.

Dr Amanda Ash explains how the pork tapeworm can move between pigs and people. If humans ingest the parasite’s eggs, the larval stage can travel through the body, form cysts in the brain and cause a condition known as neurocysticercosis.

In regions where the parasite is endemic, it is estimated to be responsible for up to 30% of epilepsy cases.

Amanda’s research in Laos is helping scientists better understand how this parasite moves through communities and how a One Health approach can break the cycle.
🎙️ Dr Amanda Ash
🎧 Hosted by Kurt Krispyn
📺 Paramount Importance Podcast

24/07/2026

Could removing parasites from our lives have changed the way our immune systems behave?

Dr Amanda Ash explains the “hygiene hypothesis” — the idea that our long evolutionary relationship with parasites may have helped train and regulate the immune system.

As developed countries became cleaner and parasite exposure declined, autoimmune conditions increased. Researchers are now investigating whether controlled parasite-based therapies could help treat diseases such as Crohn’s disease.
Parasites are not always simply the enemy.

🎙️ Dr Amanda Ash
🎧 Hosted by Kurt Krispyn
📺 Paramount Importance Podcast

20/07/2026

Why was a sheep parasite making giraffes sick?

While working at Singapore Zoo, Dr Amanda Ash discovered that captive giraffes were picking up a parasite normally found in sheep.

In the wild, giraffes browse from trees. But in captivity, they had started grazing from the ground, exposing them to a parasite their bodies were not adapted to handle.

It is a perfect example of how changing an animal’s environment can also change its exposure to disease.

🎙️ Dr Amanda Ash
🎧 Hosted by Kurt Krispyn
📺 Paramount Importance Podcast

18/07/2026

Some parasites do not stay in one species — they can move naturally between animals and humans.

These are known as zoonotic parasites, and understanding how they cross between wildlife, livestock, companion animals and people is critical for protecting both human and animal health.

Dr Amanda Ash, a parasitologist with the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University, explains how following these parasites has taken her research across species, ecosystems and countries.

🎙️ Dr Amanda Ash
🎧 Hosted by Kurt Krispyn
📺 Paramount Importance Podcast

08/07/2026

Should you keep honeybees in your backyard?

Dr Kit Prendergast says that from an environmental perspective, if you do not need them, it is better not to have them. While honeybees are important for agriculture, they are not native to Australia and can compete with native pollinators, disrupt natural pollination systems and take over tree hollows used by native wildlife.

Helping bees does not always mean keeping honeybees. Sometimes the best thing we can do is plant the right native plants and create space for the bees that actually belong here.

Guest: Kit Prendergast
Host: Kurt Krispyn
Podcast: Paramount Importance

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