73. Interview with scientist and adventurer Milly Formby

Let's Talk SciComm

https://www.facebook.com/wingthreads/

39:30

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with David Brem, Managing Director of the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund. David offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a student-led endowment fund focused on early-stage, sector-agnostic investments primarily in the Michigan ecosystem. He shares insights on their unique, founder-first investment approach, how they navigate pre-seed to Series A venture opportunities, and the rigorous due diligence process involving qualitative analysis over pure numbers. David also discusses his roles with global VC networks including Electro Ventures, the London Venture Capital Network, and Level Up Ventures, illustrating how he bridges U.S., European, and Australian venture ecosystems with a special focus on mobility and transportation tech. Highlights include deep dives into emerging trends like eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), smart city infrastructure, and safety innovations in aviation technology. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on how diverse expertise—from military intelligence and management consulting to academic ventures—shapes David’s investment thesis and community-building efforts. The episode also explores the importance of networking, adding value in the startup ecosystem, and practical advice for aspiring investors or entrepreneurs navigating the venture capital world. With stories of successes, challenges, and future outlooks, this episode is a must-listen for innovators, founders, and investors aiming to understand the intersection of academia, technology, and venture capital in today’s dynamic landscape. Learn more about David's work at https://zli.umich.edu/zell-lurie-commercialization-fund/ Connect with David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lowell-brem/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/ Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com…

about a year ago 30:19

MP3•Episode home

What a treat this week’s episode is! We had a blast catching up with one of our brilliant former science communication students, Milly Formby.

Milly is a qualified zoologist, pilot and illustrator of the children's book, A Shorebird Flying Adventure. In 2022-23 she was the first woman to fly a microlight aircraft around Australia. The aim of the adventure was to promote protection of wetland habitats for endangered migratory shorebirds. Milly took 160 hours of flight time over 365 days covering 14,000 kilometres to complete the journey. Along the way she visited 105 primary schools reaching over 6500 students in remote, regional and urban Australia.

Milly has extensive experience in many different types of science communication and we know you’re going to love this conversation!

You can follow Milly and learn more about her work here:

https://wingthreads.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wingthreads/

https://www.youtube.com/@wingthreads2347

https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-formby-a607a64b/

You can watch a documentary about Wing Threads here: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/wing-threads

And you can purchase Milly’s book A Shorebird Flying Adventure here: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8006/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/iyy8

110 episodes

#Science #Unimelb SciComm

73. Interview with scientist and adventurer Milly Formby

Let's Talk SciComm

18 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

What a treat this week’s episode is! We had a blast catching up with one of our brilliant former science communication students, Milly Formby.

Milly has extensive experience in many different types of science communication and we know you’re going to love this conversation!

You can follow Milly and learn more about her work here:

https://wingthreads.com/

https://www.facebook.com/wingthreads/

https://www.instagram.com/wingthreads/

https://www.youtube.com/@wingthreads2347

https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-formby-a607a64b/

You can watch a documentary about Wing Threads here: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/wing-threads

And you can purchase Milly’s book A Shorebird Flying Adventure here: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8006/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/iyy8

110 episodes

#Science #Unimelb SciComm

All episodes

Let's Talk SciComm

1
108. Listen To This If… You need to write about a topic that’s been done to death 6:06

29 days ago6:06

6:06

Are you working on a piece of writing and feel like everyone else has already written about the same thing? Are you looking for a way to make the topic fresh? Stop for 5 minutes and tune into Jen and Michael’s top tips on how to find a new approach to writing about a popular topic. You can find more great advice on writing here: https://www.theopennotebook.com/2018/11/27/finding-the-science-in-any-story/ https://www.fromthelabbench.com/from-the-lab-bench-science-blog/blogging-tips-for-science-bloggers-from-science-bloggers https://royalsociety.org/blog/2017/08/writing-popular-science-as-a-scientist/…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
107. Listen To This If… You need to work effectively in a group 6:17

5 weeks ago6:17

6:17

Have you got a group project coming up? Maybe you’ve had some bad experiences of working in a team before and you’re wondering how to make it better this time? Drop everything for 5 minutes and tune in. In this week’s episode, Jen and Michael share their top tips on how to work harmoniously and productively in a group. You can find more great advice here: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/resources/communicating-in-class/communicating-with-peers/working-in-groups https://learningcenters.rutgers.edu/resources/guide-working-groups https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-working-effectively-team-akhil-aggarwal/ https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/catalogs/tip-sheets/teamwork-skills-being-effective-group-member…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
106. Listen To This If… You’re searching for motivation 5:43

6 weeks ago5:43

5:43

Have you lost your motivation? Do you need to get lots of things done, but you’re finding it hard to get started? Wondering how to get your mojo back? Stop for five minutes and tune into this week’s episode of ‘Listen To This If….’ for Jen and Michael’s advice on how to rediscover your motivation. You can find more great advice here: https://jamesclear.com/motivation https://www.ifocusandwrite.com/post/how-to-get-your-motivation-back-as-a-scientist https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/level-up-your-motivation https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202212/5-science-based-tips-to-boost-self-motivation…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
105. Listen To This If… You want to kickstart your career 6:15

7 weeks ago6:15

6:15

Are you graduating soon, or have you recently graduated? Are you looking for ways to get ahead in your career? Take a five-minute break to listen to Jen and Michael’s top tips on how to kickstart your career. You can find more great advice here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/networking-tips-early-career-scientists-lessons-from-science-tpfke/ https://conductscience.com/10-networking-tips-to-kickstart-your-graduate-career/ https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/12-networking-tips-for-students-who-want-to-get-the-best-jobs/ https://cheekyscientist.com/networking-tips/ Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/jq8p…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
104. Listen To This If… You want to make your writing more conversational 5:45

8 weeks ago5:45

5:45

Is your writing too formal? Too boring? Or too hard to read? Have you been given the feedback that you need to make your writing more conversational? Take five minutes to tune into Jen and Michael’s top tips on how to make your writing easier to read. You can find more great advice here: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-conversationally https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/mrc/the-secrets-of-science-writing/ https://entomologytoday.org/2014/11/25/5-ways-to-improve-your-science-writing/ Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/7t8p…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
103. Listen To This If… You’re feeling overwhelmed by a big task 6:07

9 weeks ago6:07

6:07

It's that time of year when many of us are feeling overwhelmed by our to-do lists. If you have a big task on your list that you’re struggling to make headway with, it’s time for your 5-minute Friday pep talk. Join Jen and Michael for their top tips on how to manage a sense of overwhelm and get stuff done! You can find more great advice here: https://www.calm.com/blog/what-to-do-when-you-feel-overwhelmed https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/well/mind/task-paralysis.html https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-manage-any-overwhelming-large-project-ellen-delap-cpo-3xuwc/ https://hbr.org/2019/10/how-to-deal-with-constantly-feeling-overwhelmed Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/qj8p…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
102. Listen To This If… Your powerpoint slides are BORING 5:41

10 weeks ago5:41

5:41

Got a talk coming up? Worried your powerpoint slides are boring? Think your audience might get distracted or even doze off while you’re talking? Stop for 5 minutes and tune into Jen and Michael’s top tips on how to improve your Powerpoint slides. You can find more great advice here: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/how-to-avoid-death-by-powerpoint https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/design-tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwpi1Lm6dFo https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/this-working-life/how-to-avoid-death-by-powerpoint/104210448 Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/3jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
101. Listen To This If… You want to start a new habit 6:27

11 weeks ago6:27

6:27

Keen to start a new habit? Maybe you want to exercise regularly, read more papers or get more writing done? Well, if you’ve got 5 minutes, Jen and Michael are back with a new season of Listen To This If…. This week they’re giving you a quick Friday pep talk with their top tips on how to get started with a new habit. Listen now! You can find more great advice here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/ https://jamesclear.com/three-steps-habit-change https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/easy-science-backed-hack-habits https://theconversation.com/heres-what-happens-in-your-brain-when-youre-trying-to-make-or-break-a-habit-201189 Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/6jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
100. Twenty questions with Jen and Michael 37:15

30 weeks ago37:15

37:15

Three years later and we couldn’t be more excited to be sharing Episode 100 of Let’s Talk SciComm with you. We are so proud to still be creating this podcast and couldn’t be more grateful to YOU, our fabulous listeners, for continuing to support us. To celebrate reaching episode 100 and the end of Season 13, Jen and Michael decided to turn the spotlight inwards and ask each other some of our favourite quick-fire questions, with a few new questions thrown in for good measure. We hope the result is a fun conversation in which you can get to know us a bit better and learn something about effective science communication along the way. We’ll be back with more episodes of ‘Let’s Talk SciComm’ and ‘Listen To This If…’ in February 2025 and in the meantime, we wish you all the best for a lovely Festive Season and hopefully holidays filled with fun and rest. We’d love to connect with you here: Jen https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-martin-scicomm/ https://bsky.app/profile/scidocmartin.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/scidocmartin/ Michael https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wheeler-3872b869/ https://bsky.app/profile/michael-wheeler.bsky.social Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/9jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

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99. Our scicomm highs and lows - with the UniMelbSciComm teaching team 35:58

30 weeks ago35:58

35:58

It’s hard to believe this is the 99th episode of Let’s Talk SciComm! As you can imagine, we are very excited to still be producing our podcast three years and 99 episodes later. To celebrate, we invited the rest of our fabulous teaching team - Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Dr Linden Ashcroft and Dr Graham Phillips back to the podcast. The five of us spend half an hour reflecting on the highs and lows of our science communication experiences and what we’ve learned along the way about how to be more effective communicators. We hope you’ll find our reflections helpful! You can connect with us here: Jen https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-martin-scicomm/ https://bsky.app/profile/scidocmartin.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/scidocmartin/ Michael https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wheeler-3872b869/ https://bsky.app/profile/michael-wheeler.bsky.social Catriona https://www.linkedin.com/in/catrionanguyen-robertson/ https://bsky.app/profile/nyuroscientist.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/nyuroscientist/ Linden https://www.linkedin.com/in/linden-ashcroft-08640b59/ https://bsky.app/profile/lindenashcroft.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/lindenashcroft/ Graham https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-phillips-80b3b920/ https://www.instagram.com/grahamphillipsscience/ Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/7jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
98. Interview with speech pathologist Dr Georgie Johnson 32:13

32 weeks ago32:13

32:13

This week we had a fascinating conversation with speech pathologist and science communicator Dr Georgie Johnson. Georgie is a clinical researcher with an interest in childhood stuttering treatment and addressing the psychological impact of stuttering for children. Georgie completed her PhD in 2024 investigating management of stuttering during the school years. Part of this program of research was a treatment trial of an intervention to support 6-12 year old children who stutter from across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. From this trial, Georgie and colleagues have published a range of freely accessible practical recommendations and clinical resources for community clinicians to use to optimise treatment outcomes for their school age clients. Georgie is also one of the Directors of the Stuttering Association for the Young Australia (SAY AU) and continues to work in the field to explore psychosocial support for young people who stutter. You can follow Georgie and find out more about her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-johnson-5a87971b5/ https://bsky.app/profile/georgiejspeechpath.bsky.social https://www.rrr.org.au/on-demand/segments/speech-pathologist-dr-georgie-johnson-on-supporting-stuttering-children https://healthsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/audiology-and-speech-pathology/news-and-events/meet-speech-pathology-phd-student-georgina-johnson You can find out more information about SAY AU and their programs for young people who stutter at www.sayaustralia.com.au Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/5jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
97. Interview with wildlife scientist and science communicator Dr Vanessa Pirotta 35:17

33 weeks ago35:17

35:17

This week we had the most wonderful conversation with wildlife scientist, woman in STEMM/STEAM, science communicator, author and vessel operator, Dr Vanessa Pirotta. You’re going to love hearing Vanessa’s infectious enthusiasm for all things science and science communication. Vanessa’s research uses innovative technologies for wildlife conservation. Vanessa works collaboratively across both marine and terrestrial environments merging cutting edge technology to access animals in unique ways. Most notable works include drones to collect whale snot and the use of computer algorithms and AI for the detection of illegal wildlife trafficking. Vanessa is a passionate and experienced science communicator who plays an important role in society by making science accessible across generations. Vanessa’s spoken on the TEDx platform and has been recognized by the Australian Financial Review as one of the top 100 Women of Influence and recently, a 2024 finalist in the Australian’s Museums Eureka awards for promoting understanding of science and winner of the 2024 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards Emerging leader in Science. Vanessa is working collaboratively with indigenous knowledge holders such as the Gamay Rangers, to learn more about the marine mammals in our blue backyard but also identifying appropriate ways scientists can respectfully incorporate First Nations perspectives into marine research. Vanessa is also the lead scientist of the citizen science program Wild Sydney Harbour, connecting community with its blue backyard. Vanessa is also a proud children’s book author, with her book The Voyage of Whale and Calf, serving as an annual reminder of humpback whale biology and ecology in Australian waters. In 2024, Vanessa also released two additional books; The Humpback Highway: Diving into the mysterious world of whales and a second children’s book, Oceans At Night. Vanessa is a highly experienced presenter and was the invited MC for the prestigious Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science at Parliament House, Canberra in 2023/24. You can follow Vanessa and learn more about her work here: https://www.vanessapirotta.com/ https://www.wildsydneyharbour.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drvanessapirotta/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvanessapirotta/ https://www.facebook.com/DrVanessaPirotta/ https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/dr-vanessa-pirotta/ https://x.com/vanessapirotta https://www.tiktok.com/@drvanessapirotta Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/4jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
96. Interview with sustainability leader and climate justice advocate Linh Do 31:36

34 weeks ago31:36

31:36

This week we are lucky enough to chat with Linh Do, an incredible sustainability leader, educator, and climate justice advocate based in Melbourne, Australia. As Director of the Wattle Fellowship at the University of Melbourne, she cultivates the next generation of sustainability leaders through an innovative year-long program. With over a decade of experience across advocacy, media, and social enterprise sectors, Linh has worked globally to drive climate action and community engagement. Linh holds multiple leadership positions in the community, including chair of Climate Action Network Australia and a board member at the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, and a research committee member at the Centre for Policy Development. She is a co-founder of the technology start-up OurSay and has previously led community organising at the Australian Conservation Foundation. Linh's work bridges diverse disciplines and sectors to create holistic approaches to complex environmental challenges. Prior to her current role, she served as the Australia and Pacific lead for The Climate Reality Project, Al Gore's climate leadership program; and as publisher and editor-in-chief of The Verb during the Paris climate negotiations. She has collaborated with diverse organisations, from high school students to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Reuters Foundation. Externally, she has been recognised with for her sustainability leadership from Green Gown Awards Australasia Sustainability Leadership, as a Woman of Influence from the Australian Financial Review (AFR) and as the Australian Geographic Young Conservationist of the Year. You can follow Linh and learn more about her work here: https://www.instagram.com/linhloop/ https://www.instagram.com/wattlefellowship/ https://x.com/lmdo https://www.linkedin.com/in/linhmdo/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wattle-fellowship/ Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/2jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
95. Interview with science communication consultant Rachael Vorwerk 30:02

35 weeks ago30:02

30:02

This week we had the wonderful pleasure of catching up with one of our very own alumni! Rachael Vorwerk studied science communication with us many years ago and has gone on to forge an incredible career in the field. Rachael is a science communicator and freelance consultant who has been published in The Conversation, Cosmos Magazine and Eingana. She has helped scientists to share their research in BBC World News, The Independent, ABC and The Age, among others. Currently Rachael works at RMIT University as the Science Communication, Education and Outreach Manager at a 7-year Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence, the biggest research funding scheme available in Australia. She works with a group of around 50 researchers spanning PhD students through to Distinguished Professors – and helps the team to make their research more accessible to broader audiences. You can follow Rachael and learn more about her work here: https://au.linkedin.com/in/rachael-vorwerk https://twitter.com/rachael_vorwerk Here’s how a TV series inspired the KeepCup revolution. What’s next in the war on waste? What role does Entertainment-Education play in the adoption and maintenance of sustainable behaviours: a case study of reusable coffee cups in millennials https://www.combs.org.au/ (The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS); AKA the 7-year Research Centre where Rachael is currently working) https://climatethrive.com.au/ (Climate Thrive, the company Rachael co-founded) Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/8jsp…

Let's Talk SciComm

1
94. Interview with science communicator Professor Nancy Longnecker 30:58

36 weeks ago30:58