Ready Steady Learn

Learning new things can do wonders for elderly mental health but, c'mon guys, learning new things can be _hard_. Our guest, a doctoral student from the University of Auckland who is studying dance and brain function, says: not necessarily. Kate's area of study is poi, an evolution of traditional Māori mahi poi, and how it can be applied to bolster the acuity, strength, balance and mental health of our aging population.

Professor Basil Sharp joins Mikey to talk about the Climathon and research from the Energy Centre showing that Auckland should be embracing the opportunity to improve our infrastructure and harness renewable energy sources now.

The University of Auckland's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Vector, is hosting Auckland's first ever Climathon on October 27–28. A 24-hour global ideas hack, the event will take place simultaneously in over 233 cities worldwide.

Mike chats with Clare Hood, a coloratura soprano who is currently completing her final-year at the University of Auckland as a Masters student in Classical Voice Performance. Clare discusses the University of Auckland School of Music's production L'Enfant et les Sortileges... and her passion for singing in French. 

While the health benefits of dance seem obvious, there is little specific data available to determine how movement and dance can help mental wellbeing. With that in mind, Carlene's been taking the tapedeck on the reg to the retirement home (and other places) in order to glean her own doctoral research. Should we all have more lambada in our lounges?