Under the Lens

Bioprotection Aotearoa
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Natural Sciences

What happens when you put science, community, and real-world challenges under the lens? You get science that talks back. Under the Lens explores the stories behind the research shaping Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. We look at the places we live in, the people connected to them, and the knowledge that helps ecosystems stay healthy and resilient. Co-hosted by Professor Amanda Black, Professor Peter Dearden and Dr Nick Waipara, each episode blends lived experience with research to spark clarity, curiosity, and sometimes the tough questions we need to ask. From soil microbes to forest futures, we explore how science and people work together to protect the places and communities we care about. Created by Bioprotection Aotearoa, a national Centre of Research Excellence, the series offers clear, grounded conversations that connect research to everyday life. We welcome diverse perspectives, speak in plain language, and shine a light on the practical insights and decisions that shape environmental futures. Subscribe and join us as we put today’s pressing issues under the lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Reimagining Biosecurity: What biological data could do for our biosecurity system

    Biology has changed. The amount of biological data we can now collect has exploded, from automated sensors at our borders to genomic data tracking where pests come from. But are we maximising the opportunities to gather insight that this data could offer?   In this episode computational biologist Dr Murray Cox joins Amanda and Peter to explore what biological data could do for our biosecurity system. His answer might surprise you. It is not about more sophisticated technology. It is about fixing the structure underneath all of it.   If you could reimagine the biosecurity system in Aotearoa, what would that look like? Murray has a view. And it is simpler than you might think. Follow us: YouTubeInstagramLinkedIn  Chapters:   00:00 Rethinking Biosecurity Structure 00:51 Podcast Intro and Guest 02:08 Data Transforming Biosecurity 02:45 Where Bio Data Comes From 03:40 What Counts as Data 05:48 Linking Messy Datasets 08:06 Ownership Privacy and Access 10:07 LINZ and Open Data Model 12:55 Why Data Stays Siloed 14:07 Benefits of Integration 16:57 Genomics and Global Sharing 19:27 NZ Examples and Duplication 22:26 Asking Better Questions 25:36 AI as Literature Scout 28:52 Access and Secure AI Systems 29:45 National LLM Reality Check 30:18 AI Hype and Job Fears 30:57 AI for Specific Tasks 33:07 Proactive Biosecurity Future 34:20 Fragmented System Fix 36:48 Data Differences Don’t Matter 38:03 Genetics for Border Breaches 41:00 Windborne Threats and Surveillance 43:03 Cost Benefit and Cheaper Tech 44:14 Commercial Data and Access 46:52 Federated Data Ecosystem 49:50 Structural Reform and Models 51:06 Closing Thanks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Reimagining Biosecurity: What biological data could do for our biosecurity system

  2. Aug 4

    Reimagining Biosecurity: Who is the system actually for?

    Biosecurity is often thought of as systems and agencies. But communities, people, and places are also doing the long term work, often with little resourcing and even less say in how it gets done.   In this episode Dr Sylvia Nissen, political scientist and human geographer at Lincoln University, joins Amanda and Peter to explore what role communities actually play in biosecurity responses, where the system falls short, and what a more community embedded approach might look like.   If we are talking shared responsibility, is there shared resourcing? Follow us: YouTubeInstagramLinkedIn 00:00 Reimagining Biosecurity 00:51 Podcast Welcome 01:29 Meet Dr Sylvia Nissen 02:35 System Today vs Ideal 04:01 Communities in Response 06:44 Defining Community Publics 08:27 Command and Control Limits 13:07 Resourcing and Burnout 17:21 Biosecurity System Overview 19:12 Trade Driven Origins 26:52 Conservation Gets Sidelined 29:44 Patchwork Policy Problems 30:19 Community Conservation Disconnect 32:02 Funding That Lasts 33:34 Motivation and Authority 35:14 Crisis Response Lessons 38:50 Handover Gaps and Boundaries 41:59 Rebuilding Trust Spaces 45:59 Real Time Information Networks 52:14 Community Embedded Biosecurity 54:47 Reimagining the System 56:05 Closing Thanks and Wrap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Reimagining Biosecurity: Who is the system actually for?

  3. Jul 21

    Reimagining Biosecurity: One ring to rule them all

    Season two of Under the Lens is here, and we are starting somewhere unexpected. Fellow co-hosts Amanda and Peter turn the lens on Nick Waipara, drawing on his 25 years in biosecurity to ask what a reimagined system would actually look like.   From the kauri dieback story and the community networks that first raised the alarm, to the gaps in our science system and the feast and famine of community funding, Nick is candid about where the system falls short and hopeful about where it is heading.   If you see something unusual out there in the environment, tell someone. Your observations could make the difference between a successful biosecurity response and an unsuccessful one. iNaturalist is a great place to start. Follow us: YouTubeInstagramLinkedIn  Chapters: 00:00 Magic Wand Biosecurity 00:37 Season Two Kickoff 03:09 Sticks Versus Carrots 05:50 Research Ready Response 07:46 Trust Networks First 08:42 Kauri Dieback Alarm 14:19 Embedding Communities 17:52 Nick Origin Story 22:04 Reactive Funding Gaps 27:11 Skills Succession Crisis 30:24 Local Knowledge Wins 33:08 Vanishing Experts 34:41 Science Must Be Public 38:19 Communication Skills Shift 41:37 Building Community Trust 42:26 How Councils Manage Pests 44:51 Research Behind Policy Fights 51:46 Biosecurity Action Plan Future 56:06 International Links Local Weeds 59:27 Final Advice Report Sightings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Reimagining Biosecurity: One ring to rule them all

  4. Jun 30

    Can we go there? Your feedback, your questions and what’s coming next

    Your feedback, your questions and what’s coming next. Season one sparked more conversation than we expected. In this episode your three co-hosts Amanda, Peter, and Nick work through the feedback, comments, and questions that came in after season one, covering weeds, kauri dieback, and genetic modification. The GM debate generated the most heat, and what came out of it was bigger than the technology itself, a conversation about ownership, oversight, food security, and food sovereignty, brought into sharp focus by COVID and a recent fuel crisis. We also celebrate a remarkable community effort, a 14,000 tree kauri refuge being established at Taieri Beach as a seed bank while science works toward a solution for kauri dieback.   The episode closes with a preview of season two, which turns the lens on the biosecurity system itself. Follow us: YouTubeInstagramLinkedIn Chapters:   00:00 Welcome Back 00:26 Season One Feedback 01:32 Weeds Episode Praise 02:19 Hay Fever and Pine Trees 05:26 The GM Debate Reactions 06:51 Can We Go There 08:06 GM Hype vs Reality 09:55 Food, GM and Imports 15:06 Fuel Crisis and Food Security 16:31 A Tool, Not a Category 18:55 Ownership and Sovereignty 20:52 A Food Security Wake Up Call 22:10 GMO Power and Oversight 22:52 Hybrid Seeds Explained 24:04 The Canterbury Seed Economy 25:02 Capitalism and Our Food System 26:16 Beetroot and Identity 28:09 A Kauri Refuge Forest 32:20 Weed Funding and Biocontrol 36:31 Agapanthus and Prevention 37:19 Season Two Tease 39:07 Thanks and Sign Off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Can we go there? Your feedback, your questions and what’s coming next

  5. 12/05/2025

    Under the Lens: Weeds Hidden in Plain Sight

    Weeds are everywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand. They creep along roadsides, smother forest edges, clog waterways and hydrodams, and quietly take over harbour hillsides. Most of us just see green. In this conversation, Professor Margaret Stanley, recently recognised as Science Communicator of the Year, helps us see what is really going on in that green backdrop. She explains what makes a plant a weed, why only a small fraction of introduced species become invasive, and how new weeds continue to “jump the fence” from gardens, forestry, horticulture and houseplants. We look at problem species like banana passionfruit, ragwort, agapanthus, climbing asparagus, aquatic weeds and more. Margaret talks through the tools we currently have, from herbicides and hand-pulling to biocontrol agents like beetles and rust fungi, and why each tool has limits. The episode also explores how climate change will shift weed ranges, why aquatic weeds are so hard to manage, and how nursery choices, urban planting and cultural values shape the plants around us. Above all, it highlights the role of communities in early detection and prevention through tools like iNaturalist, local council programmes and on-the-ground volunteer mahi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 12/04/2025

    Under the Lens: The Great Genetic Modification Debate in Aotearoa New Zealand

    Genetic modification has shaped public debate in Aotearoa New Zealand for more than 25 years, influencing how we think about risk, responsibility and the future of our environment. This episode unpacks what genes and DNA actually are, how gene editing and genetic modification work, and why these tools have become so central to conversations about pests, diseases and climate change. Our hosts revisit the early 2000s Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, the surge of public concern that followed, and how the science has advanced in the decades since. They explore the differences between gene editing, transgenesis and synthetic biology, the benefits and limitations of each, and the global momentum that is pushing these technologies forward. The kōrero also explains how forensics, medicine, agriculture and pest control already rely on genetic tools, often in ways most people never see. We also look at the ethical, cultural and regulatory questions that guide how Aotearoa New Zealand uses these technologies, including who takes the risk, who benefits and how Māori and communities are involved in decision making. The episode highlights both the promise of genetic tools and the responsibilities that come with them as the country enters a pivotal moment in shaping its future with the Gene Technology Bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 12/02/2025

    Under the Lens: Kauri Dieback, Where Biodiversity Intersects with Biosecurity

    Kauri dieback, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida, has reshaped how Aotearoa New Zealand understands risk, responsibility, and care for the natural world. This episode unpacks the biology of the pathogen, the cultural significance of kauri, and the long journey from confusion to coordinated response. Our hosts revisit the early days when dead and dying kauri began raising alarms, the rapid surge in concern from communities, and the urgent scramble to understand a pathogen unlike anything researchers had dealt with before. They explore how soil, water, animals, and people move the disease, why early management had to adapt quickly, and how molecular tools reshaped what we know about this organism. We also look at the important contributions of iwi, community groups, scientists, landowners, and volunteers who stepped into leadership roles during a time of uncertainty. The episode highlights both the complexity of the challenge and the resilience of those determined to keep kauri standing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 11/26/2025

    Under the Lens: Three Bios, One Outbreak: Lessons from PSA

    The PSA outbreak changed the trajectory of Aotearoa New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry and revealed just how tightly our “three bios” are linked. In this episode, we revisit one of the country’s most significant biological events to unpack how biosecurity, biodiversity, and bioprotection collide in real time. Using PSA as our lens, we trace the story from the first signs of incursion through to industry-wide impact, rapid scientific response, community collaboration, and the innovations that helped growers rebuild. Along the way, the team also touches on recent hornet scares and what they reveal about how quickly biological threats can escalate. This episode shows that the three bios are not policy terms, but interconnected systems that shape the health of our landscapes, the resilience of our industries, and the futures of the communities that depend on them. Revisiting PSA is not just looking back at a crisis. It is understanding a blueprint for how Aotearoa New Zealand can learn, adapt, and strengthen resilience as new threats emerge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  9. 11/21/2025

    Under the Lens: The Intricacies of Bioprotection in Aotearoa New Zealand

    In our very first episode of 'Under the Lens', co-hosts Professor Amanda Black, Professor Peter Dearden and Dr Nick Waipara discuss the complexities of bioprotection in Aotearoa New Zealand. They delve into the necessity of managing all ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand, the challenges of returning to a 'natural state', and the interconnectedness of bioprotection with agriculture, conservation, and community health. The conversation highlights the goal of bioprotection to develop sustainable tools and practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation. The discussion also touches on the importance of community involvement and the long and often challenging journey of scientific research, emphasising the need for innovation and collaboration to address environmental issues effectively. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 9 Episodes

About

What happens when you put science, community, and real-world challenges under the lens? You get science that talks back. Under the Lens explores the stories behind the research shaping Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. We look at the places we live in, the people connected to them, and the knowledge that helps ecosystems stay healthy and resilient. Co-hosted by Professor Amanda Black, Professor Peter Dearden and Dr Nick Waipara, each episode blends lived experience with research to spark clarity, curiosity, and sometimes the tough questions we need to ask. From soil microbes to forest futures, we explore how science and people work together to protect the places and communities we care about. Created by Bioprotection Aotearoa, a national Centre of Research Excellence, the series offers clear, grounded conversations that connect research to everyday life. We welcome diverse perspectives, speak in plain language, and shine a light on the practical insights and decisions that shape environmental futures. Subscribe and join us as we put today’s pressing issues under the lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Bioprotection Aotearoa
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bioprotection Aotearoa
  • Show Website
    Under the Lens

You Might Also Like