16 FEB 2022 · After a long-fought battle from LGBT+ campaigners, this week New Zealand criminalised practices such as conversion therapy that aim to try and alter or suppress someone's sexuality or gender identity. But was there ever any scientific basis for these practices in the first place? What exactly is the science behind sexuality, and is it something that can ever be changed? For this episode of Science Digest, Dr Michelle Dickinson is joined by clinical psychologist, university lecturer and sexuality expert Dr Rita Csako to discuss the science behind sexuality, and conversion therapy survivor and teacher Paul Stevens to share his experiences with the practice.

13 DEC 2021 · After months of lockdown and two years of closed borders, New Zealand is preparing to open up and live with Covid-19 - but, just as the Government announced plans for the future, a new variant called Omicron has emerged, and appears to be the most infectious yet. What does this variant mean for the future of the pandemic and New Zealand's fight against Covid? In this episode of Science Digest, Dr Michelle Dickinson talks to Cambridge University clinical virologist Dr Chris Smith about what the UK is seeing from their Omicron outbreak, and to Otago University's Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu about what New Zealanders can do to stay safe.

29 OCT 2021 · The COP26 Climate Change summit is happening in Glasgow to discuss ways to combat climate change - but it doesn't have to be left to politicians to make a change. In this episode of Science Digest, Dr Michelle Dickinson is joined by the University of Auckland's Dr Daniel Hikuroa, Ethique founder Brianne West, cricket farmer John Hart, and MOTU's Dr Lynn Riggs to discuss the many, simple ways that New Zealanders can make a difference and help change the climate.

3 SEP 2021 · In this episode of Science Digest, Dr Michelle Dickinson is joined by Auckland University vaccinologist Dr Helen Petousis-Harris and Auckland Councillor Efeso Collins to debunk some of the myths people have about the Covid-19 vaccine, and what officials and science can do to communicate the safety of the vaccine clearer.

2 SEP 2021