Lab Notes

Welcome to a very special episode of Labnotes!  For our 50th edition of the show we recorded LIVE from the Future Health Expo at the University of New South Wales, diving into the world of spinouts and deep tech investment with a panel of three guests from the Venture Capital and Angel Investment sector. Join us to hear how Alejandra Romero (Main Sequence Ventures), John Kurek (UniSeed) and Mian Bi (Australian Medical Angels) find, fund and foster big ideas and entrepreneurial researchers emerging from Australian universities.   GUESTS : Alejandra Romero https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-romero1/ Dr Mian Bi https://www.linkedin.com/in/mian-bi/ Dr John Kurek https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-kurek-ba19a54/ UNIVERSITY OF NSW : https://www.unsw.edu.au/ FUTURE EXPO SERIES : https://www.innovationcommunity.unsw.edu.au/futures-expo-series EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

Until recently you might have called James a typical scientist, working away in the labs of the University of Melbourne to understand the way that muscle tissues develop and how new therapies might improve the lives of patients. But in 2019 his career took a dramatic turn when a curiosity about culturing meat as an alternative to farming livestock brought James to the attention of George Peppou and Tim Noakesmith. The co-founders of Vow were on the hunt for a Chief Scientist as one of their first employees, and James fit the bill perfectly.  What has followed is a fabulous case study in the transition from research scientist to start-up executive, and a ride well worth following.   GUEST : Dr. James Ryall https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ryall/ VOW : https://www.vowfood.com/ INNERVATION LAB : https://innervationlab.com.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

What does it take to be an effective entrepreneur?  Mark Swinnerton is the founder and CEO of the energy storage startup Green Gravity, but he comes to this role with a tremendous depth of skills earned over two decades rising through the ranks of one of Australia's largest companies, BHP. It's a personal resource that Mark draws on daily as he builds a team to help tackle the climate crisis. And while Mark is not an academic himself, he has made a point of deeply engaging with university partners to validate the technical, social, and economic foundations of his energy storage solution, ultimately shaping this promising idea into the world-beating technology Mark knows we need.   GUEST : Mark Swinnerton https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-swinnerton/ GREEN GRAVITY : https://greengravity.com/ BHP: https://www.bhp.com/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

As the world strives for net-zero there are many tough questions to solve, but among the toughest is the need to replace the literal foundations of our built environment.  Clare Tubolets is the CEO of SmartCrete, a Cooperative Research Centre that brings together research and industry to tackle the challenge of decarbonising concrete, the ubiquitous and indispensable building material that currently accounts for almost 8% of global CO2 emissions.  Join us as Clare recounts the steep learning curve of the construction sector, and shares how research, policy and industry must adapt in parallel to meet our objectives for the planet.    GUEST : Clare Tubolets https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-tubolets-09944556/ SMARTCRETE CRC : https://smartcretecrc.com.au/ FOOD AGILITY CRC : https://www.foodagility.com/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

For much of the 20th century Bell Labs was a nursery of ambitious research, helping to usher in the information age with practical innovations including the transistor, lasers and photovoltaics.  Prof. Ben Eggleton is one Bell Labs alumni who has continued its culture of applied innovation, and the Eggleton Lab at the University of Sydney is now known as a global leader in optical physics, photonic computing, sensors and microwave signal processing. Ben's ability to bridge the gap between fundamental science and tangible technology is one of the factors that has seen Prof. Eggleton and his collages awarded sought after research grants including an ARC Centre of Excellence and multiple Laureate Fellowships, as well as awards including a Eureka Prize, and Ben's election to the Australian Academy of Science in 2016. Today Prof. Eggleton continues to lead his research team, is co-director of the NSW Smart Sensing Network, and has recently taken up the post of Pro-vice chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney where he is now responsible for shaping research policy at this world-class academic institution. Join us to hear Ben's take on forging a career in applied research.   GUEST : Prof. Ben Eggleton https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-eggleton-4250127 EGGLETON LAB : https://eggleton-group.sydney.edu.au/ UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY : https://www.sydney.edu.au/ NSSN : https://www.nssn.org.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

No sector has a monopoly on innovation and the focus on universities and startups often overlooks a major group driving research and development in Australia, the SMEs.  Daniel Gronowski is a management consultant charged with delivering the Entrepreneurs Programme, the nation's flagship program to drive growth and innovation among small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). Dan brings a great deal of experience to the role as a former founder, investment manager and university commercialisation expert based at UNSW. By bridging the gap between research and industry Dan has helped bring a diverse array of technologies to market from image software to photovoltaics and quantum computing.  Plug in to hear how collaboration between universities and SMEs is a key pathway for Australian innovation and competitiveness.    GUEST : Daniel Gronowski https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielgronowski/ ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/entrepreneurs-programme DELLOITE https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/home.html EON LABS https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

Exuberant and irrepressible, Cheryl Mack has been making a splash in the Australian startup ecosystem from the day she arrived.  After moving to Sydney in 2013 the Canadian-Australian introduced herself to the local startup scene through diligent networking and her leading role in establishing StartCon, a national convention for founders, investors and innovators backed by Freelancer.com. She has since mentored, invested and worked across a swathe of startup-focused organisations including the Sydney Startup Hub, The Founder Institute, SheStarts, Stone and Chalk, Air Tree and The Macquarie University Incubator. Cheryl is now bringing this network together to help launch Aussie Angels, a new venture focused on smoothing the investment process and increasing capital flows to the ideas that deserve it.  Plug in for a masterclass in networking, and a sneak peak at the future of the Australian investment ecosystem.    GUEST : Cheryl Mack https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmack AUSSIE ANGELS : https://www.aussieangels.com/angels EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

In 1999 a team of ANU researchers founded Seeing Machines based on their shared insight that robots and humans would need to understand one another. The idea was prescient, but the process of turning that idea into a commercial reality proved harder than any of the founders had imagined. Ultimately, the Seeing Machines board turned to the serial entrepreneur Ken Kroeger to revive this troubled spinout, and help set the company on a path to global adoption within the automotive industry.  Join us today to hear Ken's remarkable career journey both inside and outside of Seeing Machines.    GUEST : Ken Kroeger https://www.linkedin.com/in/kkroeger SEEING MACHINES https://seeingmachines.com EPICORP http://www.epicorp.biz EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

FORGED UNDER DESERT SUN Twenty years before SPEE3D was formed its two founders could be found pushing custom built solar cars to their limits in a 3000 km race across the Australian Outback. Fortunately, Steven Camilleri and Byron Kennedy didn't remain rivals for long and the pair formed a lasting friendship based on their race experiences and a shared love of engineering. With the support of their supervisor and mentor Dean Patterson, the dynamic duo would go on to commercialise a world leading electric motor design they helped develop at NTU (Now Charles Darwin University), and began their transition from academic researchers to technology entrepreneurs.  Fast forward to today and Byron and Steven are the co-founders of SPEE3D, a company commercialising the world's most rapid and robust metal 3D printing system for applications in defence, mining and remote-area repair. So plug in for an electric story about innovation at speed.   GUEST : Dr. Steven Camilleri https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-camilleri-a78597189/ SPEE3D https://www.spee3d.com/ CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY https://www.cdu.edu.au/ THE VALUE PROPOSITION CANVAS (STRATEGYZER) https://www.strategyzer.com/canvas EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Discovery Indigenous and Impact Investing The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Leo and Marc explore some of the ways the government and investors seek to shape the innovation ecosystem towards social good. Marc takes a look at the ARC's grants program for Indigenous scholars, while Leo does his best to unpack the concept of impact investing. Listen in as we discuss these two concepts within 10 minutes!   EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

CRITICAL MASS Creating a strong innovation ecosystem requires the open sharing of ideas between academia, industry, entrepreneurs and investors, and Tim Boyle was among the first to get that chain reaction underway.  Originally trained in biochemistry, Tim pivoted away from the academic career path after an isolating research fellowship at the University College London but soon found his place in the world of commercial research at the nearby Thompson Scientific. Upon his return to Australia in 2009, Tim joined UNSW and helped the institution embrace a liberal IP management process that propelled the institution to a position of national leadership in industry research. Building off this expertise, Tim has since become a leading figure in the national policy debate for research translation and he serves on the boards of Knowledge Commercialisation Australia as well as the international Association of Technology Transfer Professionals.  Tim Boyle is currently the Director of Innovation and Commercialisation at ANSTO, where he is helping to shape a new science and innovation precinct in South-West Sydney. GUEST : Dr. Tm Boyle https://www.linkedin.com/in/timpboyle ANSTO https://www.ansto.gov.au/work-with-us/innovation-precinct EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - TAFE and Bad Leavers The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc explains the local vocational education system while Leo unpacks the bad leaver clause in shareholder agreements.  Listen in as we discuss these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

CARING FOR PEOPLE Prof. Patricia Davidson didn't plan her path to the top, but the skills and experiences that she obtained along the way are now proving invaluable for the newly minted VC. First trained as a nurse in the 1980's, Patricia's learned the importance of patience, empathy and communication at the bedside. But a love of learning ultimately drew her away from the hospital and towards an academic career, working across a slew of Australian universities including Newcastle, Curtin, Western Sydney and UTS. Throughout this period Patricia developed an outstanding research track record in cardiac health, chronic condition management and patient-centric care. It was this reputation that ultimately saw her elected as the Dean of Nursing for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (USA) where she was destined to help this storied institution confront one of the most dramatic and transformative public health challenges in living memory. Patricia returned home to Australia in 2021 to take on a new challenge as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong. We hope you will enjoy this incredible perspective on personal growth and compassionate leadership.    GUEST : Prof. Patricia Davidson https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-davidson-a6023414 UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG :  https://www.uow.edu.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Prof. Marc in het Panhuis https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Vesting and the Ombudsmen The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Leo explains why startup employees have to be patient for their company shares, while Marc takes us deep into the halls of university bureaucracy to understand student complaint management.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Casualisation and Down Rounds The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc explains how casual workers became a central element of the university workforce, while Leo explains the challenge challenge startup founders face when navigating a falling valuation for their business.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

BEYOND STANDARD It's not often you will find scientists ghost-hunting at the bottom of a gold mine, but it would be a mistake to assume Prof. Alan Duffy is going to conform to the standard model anytime soon.  Equal parts astrophysicist, science communicator and entrepreneur, Prof. Alan Duffy has spent much of his career searching for Dark Matter, the mysterious, invisible substance that might just be holding our universe together. He is currently is the Director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute at Swinburne, a Node Leader in $35M ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics, and also the cofounder and CEO of mDetect, a spin-off company helping us peer inside some of the largest structures here on Earth.  And if Alan looks familiar that's probably because he is also one of Australia's most prolific and successful science-communicators, regularly appearing on TV, radio and print media to explain the inexplicable.  Plug in for a truely extraordinary episode.  GUEST : Prof. Alan Duffy https://www.alanrduffy.com/ SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY INSTITUTE : https://www.swinburne.edu.au/research/institutes/space-technology-industry/ m-DETECT :  https://mdetect.com.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris   

THE BRIEF - Sabbaticals and Sweat Equity The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc and Leo attempt to explain how the connection between salary and work isn't always straight forward in the world of science and innovation.  Listen in as we discuss and connect two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

PROGRESS BY POLICY Government support is a cornerstone of Australian innovation, but navigating the wide array of grants, programs and policies that shape national innovation can be a daunting prospect for aspiring scientists and entrepreneurs. Today, we are pleased to be joined by a man who not only knows this landscape, but is helping to shape it. Originally from Newcastle, Alister Henskens spent two decades practicing law before his entry into NSW parliament as the member for Kur-ring-gai in 2015. He has since ascended to cabinet and is currently serving as both the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, as well as the Minister for Skills and Training, portfolios that place him at the centre of research translation policy in the state.   So join us for a glimpse behind the curtain of NSW government, and hear how this emerging leader is shaping innovation policy for current and future generations.  GUEST : Minister Alister Henskens MP https://www.linkedin.com/in/alister-henskens-sc-mp-36843344/ NSW INNOVATION AND RESEARCH https://www.business.nsw.gov.au/innovation-and-research EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Options and Maker Spaces The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Leo explains the value of an employee share option, and Marc takes us for a lightning tour of a University Makerspace.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE LIGHT TOUCH For many decades robots have outclassed humans in terms of strength and precision, yet their rudimentary ability to sense and understand the world around them has limited their widespread adoption. But thanks to the work of engineers like Dr. Heba Khamis, the robots are catching up fast. Only three years ago, Dr. Khamis was a lecturer and post-doctoral researcher working at the intersection of sensing, software and robotics. But when she and her colleagues attended a CSIRO accelerator course, it helped them realise the commercial potential of one of the sensors they had been developing, and set them on a path to venture beyond the walls of academia. Heba is now the co-founder and CEO of Contactile - a startup whose a revolutionary sensor design promises to change the way robots feel their environment, opening up applications in sensitive handling tasks from fruit picking to underwater manipulation. Listen in for the very latest from this fast-moving startup.  GUEST : Dr. Heba Khamis https://www.linkedin.com/in/hebakhamis/ CONTACTILE https://contactile.com/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Open Access and Pivoting The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's Marc talks about the shift towards open access publishing in science, while Leo explains what it means for a startup to pivot.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - DD and International Campuses The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Leo gives a long-overdue explanation of DD, and Marc tells us how Australian universities have been teaching international students even without international travel.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

WAVES OF CHANGE Being an advocate for social justice, sustainability, art and design has allowed Tom Wilson to develop a unique perspective on sustainability and commercialisation in the surfing industry. Born on the Channel Islands (UK), Tom also lived in Canada before moving to Australia. He is a computer aided designer and environmental scientist by training, earning degrees from the Universities of Salford and the University of New England. He spent a decade in the architecture and design world, followed by more than 15 years with community and non-profit organisations, including a stint as the Assistant Coach for the Street Socceroos! In 2019 Tom founded Wave Changer a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sustainability in surfing and the ocean.    GUEST : Tom Wilson http://www.wavechanger.org/tom-wilson.html WAVE CHANGER http://www.wavechanger.org/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Professor Marc in het Panhuis https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Design for Manufacture and University HR The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Leo explains the importance considering how a product is made as well as how it works, and Marc gives an overview of how you get hired (or fired) at a modern university.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

SCIENTIFIC LEGACY For many young scientists, replicating the achievements of Professor Justin Gooding would be a mighty aspiration. But for the man himself, its been about much more than the milestones. Though born and raised in Melbourne, it was a seven year stint in the United Kingdom that proved to be a pivotal moment in Justin's life. Working at two of the world's most storied scientific institutions, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge not only set the foundation for Justin's research career but it also introduced him to Katharina Gaus, a German-born researcher with whom his personal and professional life has been intertwined ever since. Since returning to Australia in 1997 Justin and Kat each built stellar research careers in their own right. Working together at the University of NSW they gained a reputation as a scientific power-couple, underpinning the university's growing reputation as a centre of materials science, biosensing and advanced microscopy. Over two decades, Justin earned three Eureka Prizes, a fellowship to the Australian Academy of Science, over 30,000 citations to his published works, and has seen aspects of his research translated into spinout companies including Inventia Life Science and AgaMatrix.  But recently - Justin has had cause to think deeply about his life and love within the halls of science, and he joins us today to share a personal journey that is reshaping his perspective on his own scientific legacy.   GUEST : Prof. Justin Gooding https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-gooding-13264021 AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR NANO-MEDICINE https://www.acn.unsw.edu.au/ UNSW https://www.unsw.edu.au/ INVENTIA LIFE SCIENCES https://inventia.life/ AGAMATRIX https://agamatrix.com/ MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Lifeline - 13 11 14 -  https://lifelinedirect.org.au/ Griefline - https://griefline.org.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Technology Readiness Levels and Cap Tables The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Leo explains the importance of NASA's 60 year old system for classifying technological progress, and Marc helps unpick why Australian universities can't wait to get their international students back.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE FIRE INSIDE In 2017 the Grenfell Tower in London was engulfed by a fire that climbed its external cladding with alarming speed, ultimately claiming 72 lives. And while many around the world were still coming to terms with the disaster, Dr. Kate Nguyen got to work.  Born in Vietnam, Kate was a natural problem-solver and bucked social expectation to pursue a career in engineering. With the support of her family and some inspiring colleagues, she subsequently migrated to Australia and began building an academic career at the intersection of civil engineering and fire safety.  Today Dr. Nguyen works at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology where she has been the recipient of a DECRA Fellowship, The Batternham Medal for Engineering and a L'Oreal Women in Science Fellowship recognising her sustainability research and her role in breaking down stereotypes in a male-dominated field. Join us to hear how a tragedy half way across the world helped to drive this inspiring young scientist to new heights.    GUEST : Dr. Kate Nguyen https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-nguyen-ab8ab4145/ RMIT https://www.rmit.edu.au/ CLADDING SAFETY VICTORIA https://www.vic.gov.au/cladding-safety EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Research Impact and Seed Rounds The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc takes us through the concept of research impact, and Leo gives a long-overdue definition of a seed round. Listen in as we discuss these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

Star Formation Few people personify the drive and resilience of female scientists quite like Dr. Ilana Feain.  Originally a disengaged and even rebellious high school student with her mind on anything but academia, at one stage Ilana even dropped out of school entirely. But by losing the support of her teachers and family Ilana realised it was up to her to shape her own future. From that moment on, a mix of natural aptitude and newfound dedication saw her leapfrog many of her peers and become a high-achieving graduate against the odds. With guidance from some inspiring mentors at the University of Sydney, Ilana developed a passion for astronomy and began a research career that would see her investigate ancient black holes, manage multi-national telescopes and ultimately help repurpose radar technologies for biomedical science and satellite communication as a founder, director and CEO. With a wealth of experience and a few hard knocks under her belt, Ilana now shares her knowledge as the principal consultant at Big Science Advisory, and a director of the CSIRO-backed space startup Quasar. Plug in to hear how this resilient women overcame personal and professional adversity to establish her place among the stars.  GUEST : Dr. Ilana Feain https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilana-feain-6757b958 BIG SCIENCE ADVISORY https://bigscienceadvisory.com/ QUASAR https://www.quasarsat.com/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

SEASON 3 LAUNCH Lab Notes is back for 2022! In celebration of The International Day for Women and Girls in Science we are starting off the season with two inspiring female guests who underline the tremendous value women bring to Australian innovation. No doubt it will be a fabulous start to a full season of inspiring guests, fascinating conversations and perhaps even a cross-over with other other champions of Australian innovation.  So join Marc and Leo for another dive into science, business and everything in between.  HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris

ADIOS 2021 On today's bonus episode, Leo and Marc bid farewell to 2021 with a quick look back on the year that was, from Covid disruptions to unexpected jobs and a whole lot of inspiring conversations.  We wish all our listeners a happy holiday and look forward to seeing you again in 2022.  EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Communication Papers and MVPs The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc and Leo explore the ways scientists and entrepreneurs get early customer feedback on their work. Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris     

THOUGHT FOR FOOD While many of us go through life without giving much thought to where our food comes from, Professor Cordelia Selomulya has built a career on it. Born and raised in Indonesia, Cordelia first came to Australia as an international student undertaking a chemical engineering degree at the University of New South Wales. At every turn Cordelia has been a stellar researcher, topping her class and becoming a published scientific author even before her PhD began. During a 14-year career at Monash University in Melbourne Cordelia became increasingly interested in food research, ultimately helping the Australian dairy industry adopt and improve the spray drying processes that underpin one of the fastest growing segments of Australia's food exports. Since 2019, Cordelia has been serving as the Director of Research and Commercialisation at the Future Food Systems CRC, where she is helping Australia rethink the way we grow, process and export a wide variety of food and nutritional products. Plug in to hear how this high-flying student built an outstanding academic career by working hand-in-hand with industry.  GUEST : Prof. Cordelia Selomulya https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordelia-selomulya-5159b33b/ FUTURE FOOD SYSTEMS CRC www.futurefoodsystems.com.au UNSW https://www.unsw.edu.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris   

THE BRIEF - RCUs and Cap Tables The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc takes us through the functions of a university research commercialisation unit, and Leo introduces the concept of capitalisation tables in early-stage companies. Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - ARC CoEs and Tech Vouchers The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode Marc and Leo explore two grants at opposite ends of research funding continuum, the ARC's flagship Centre of Excellence program and the NSW Government's Tech Voucher program. Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

INVENTION AND REINVENTION As a young engineer Richard Dale was hired by a university spinout that looked set to revolutionise the world of asset management. It was an exciting job at a company that was growing fast, building new products and entering new industries... right up until the money ran out. For Richard this experience was eye-opening, one the shifted his focus away from engineering and towards the world of startup financing. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey that has seen him become one of the leading startup investors and advisors in Australia. Among many other career highlights, Richard was a founding partner of Sydney Angels, an organisation he helped grow from a whiteboard concept in early 2008 to one of the country's leading startup investment hubs.  Join us to hear how Richard's personal reinvention ultimately helped to reinvent the funding model of Australian startups as well.     GUEST : Richard Dale https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddaleadvisers SYDNEY ANGELS https://www.sydneyangels.net.au/ DALE ADVISORS https://www.dale-advisers.com.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Tag Along and Tenure The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. This week Marc talks about the job you can't be fired from, while Leo gives a run down of a pair of clauses that impact when and how a startup company can be sold.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

Working Capital As a software engineer in the 90's Nick McNaughton learned what a potent combination technology and entrepreneurial zeal can be. It's a revelation has shaped his career ever since.  Currently the CEO of the Australian National University's flagship commercialisation fund ANU Connect, Nick McNaughton's has been a trailblazer for Australia's deep-tech industry for over two decades. From creating and selling his own startup, to helping many other researchers and founders as an angel investor, VC fund manager, advisor and policy advocate.  Join us for an amazing tour of the national innovation ecosystem through the eyes of one of its chief advocates.    GUEST : Nick McNaughton https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmcnaughton/ ANU CONNECT VENTURES https://www.anuconnectventures.com.au CAMPUS PLUS https://www.campusplus.com.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Discovery Projects and Accelerating Commercialisation  The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. This week Marc and Leo tackle everyone's favourite topic - free money! Discovery Projects and Accelerating Commercialisation grants are cornerstones of Australian innovation, but getting your hands on the funding can be a challenge in itself.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris     

THE BRIEF - Nobel Prizes and Trading Insolvent The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. With this year's Nobel Prizes in full swing - it's a great time for Marc to review what the prizes are all about. Meanwhile, Leo talks about one of the reasons NOT to become a company director, insolvent trading.   Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Shadow Directors and Online Learning The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo looks in the shadowy world of influence in big business while Marc explains how universities are adjusting to digital learning post-Covid.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Bargaining and Valuation The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo provides a glimpse into the process of start-up valuation while Marc explains how academic pay and conditions are negotiated in Australian universities.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Investor Agreements and the H Index The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo provides an overview of Investor Agreements while Marc explains one of the key metrics of research productivity, the H Index.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Incubators and CRCs The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo and Marc discuss startup incubators and the cooperative research centre program.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Key Performance Indicators The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo and Marc talk about the concept of Key Performance Indicators, and give some examples of how they are applied in science and industry.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

LEADING THROUGH A STORM What motivates a volunteer to risk their life braving storms, bushfires or the open ocean? How can we keep volunteers engaged in organisations like the SES, Rural Fire Service and Surf Lifesaving? And what can be done about the declining rates of volunteerism that is threatening the future of these iconic Australian organisations? Dr. Vivien Forner is a Hungarian-born Australian who has been pondering these questions deeply. Through a PhD spanning both psychology and business, Vivien helped to identify the importance of self-determination theory in volunteer organisations. Working through challenges including a change in academic discipline, multi-tasking parenthood, and picking up the pieces after an industry collaborator withdrew, Vivien's persistence and determination has culminated in the formation of a professional consultancy business that is turning her research findings into practical training packages for the next generation of Australian volunteers.  Meanwhile, Vivien has also became an expert at communicating her findings outside of academia, winning her way through to the 2019 Asia-Pacific finals of the three minute thesis competition, an annual event that challenges PhD students across the globe to summarise their complex work in three minutes or less.  Join us for a study in leadership, determination and public speaking.  GUEST : Dr. Vivien Forner https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienforner INSTITUTE FOR MANAGEMENT PSYCHOLOGY http://managementpsychology.com.au/ 3 MINUTE THESIS PRESENTATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY5vtHoyulk EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Venture Capital and the NHMRC The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo and Marc take on venture capital and the NHMRC, two key funding sources for entrepreneurs and medical scientists alike.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Agile Manifestos and Academic Conferences The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Leo provides an overview of the agile management system, while Marc takes us behind the scenes at academic conferences.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

SCIENCE IN THE BLOOD As much as anybody can be, Duncan Macinnis was born a scientist.  With parents who both taught in the field, Duncan's childhood was spent among the exhibits of Sydney's Powerhouse and Australian Museums. Inspired by these experiences and encouraged by his family, Duncan continued his scientific education as far as a PhD in microbiology - studying yeasts under an industry linkage project with the beer maker Fosters.  Despite a clear love of science, the academic career path didn't call to Duncan. Instead, he spent his early career working sales roles for a number of biotechnology startups, attaining a level of business knowledge that would prove critical in his later career.  Now a director of the industry growth centre MTP Connect, Duncan Macinnis is charged with connecting researchers, businesses, investors and the government to help foster Australia's biotechnology ecosystem. And with a tenure that began alongside the onset of Covid-19, there could hardly be a more important time to be building a thriving biotechnology sector for Australia. GUEST : Dr. Duncan Macinis https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-macinnis-4a8aa951/ MTP CONNECT https://www.mtpconnect.org.au/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

THE BRIEF - Adjuncts and Incentives The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today's episode, Marc and Leo discuss the concept of adjunct staff members, as well as the role and ethics of incentives in the workplace.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com/in/marcinhetpanhuis/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris 

A BIONIC VOICE The ability to communicate is a fundamental human need, but it's one that does not come easily to those without a voice box.  Dr Farzaneh Ahmadi is a scientist, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur who first came across the field of voice cloning while completing her PhD in Singapore. But for all of the technology's promise, Farzaneh also felt frustrated by having to turn away patients that came to her group seeking practical solutions rather than abstract research. Since then, Farzaneh has dedicated much of her professional life to the challenge of adapting this technology to restore the voices of laryngectomy patients. In 2019 that dream came one step closer as Farzaneh became the founder and CEO of Laronix, a spinout company based on her research. So plug in to hear the very latest on Dr. Ahmadi's journey to the bionic voice.  GUEST : Dr. Farzaneh Ahmadi https://www.linkedin.com/in/farzaneh-ahmadi-62493153 LARONIX https://www.linkedin.com/company/laronix/ EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ RENY DIGITAL : https://renydigital.com/ HOST : Dr. Leo Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ MUSIC : Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com Mixed by Dr. Nat Harris