Music in surgery is shown to ease pre-surgery nerves of surgeons, as well as improving concentration.
Beth spoke to musician and surgeon Dr Anantha Narayan, who is writing his PHD on music in surgery, about his studies and findings in this area, and whether music helps or hinders in the operating theatre.
They also spoke about his experience of playing music growing up as well as the experiences that culminated in his studying of music in surgery.
Aotearoa, and particularly Te Wai Pounamu, The South Island, is home to unique braided rivers, or rivers that are both land and water, with channels throughout the rivers that cause the rivers to change throughout the seasons. In early 2023, a group of scientists, lawyers, planners, policy experts and engineers formed a group named ‘The Land the law forgot’, which hopes to advocate for the protection of braided rivers, which sometimes go unspoken for in legislation as a grey area between land and water. Advocacy from the group has in part resulted in the Natural and Built Environments Act (2023) which exempts braided rivers from the same umbrella as riverbeds under the previous resource management act, and means they can be protected under their own circumstances.
Rosetta spoke to Professor Ann Brower of the University of Canterbury School of Earth and Environment, who is the lead author of the recently published research paper, New Zealand’s braided rivers: The land the law forgot, about how braided rivers need to be protected moving forward.
The Coalition Government’s plans to dissolve mega polytechnic Te Pukenga has left the tertiary education sector in a state of uncertainty.
Last year individual polytechnics reported a collective loss of $185 million and strike action disrupted students' courses as tertiary education providers took concerns over pay and conditions to the government.
Nicholas spoke to the National president of the Tertiary Education Union, Dr Julie Douglas, about the issues facing Tertiary Education in 2024 as well as the policy areas she believes need to be at the forefront of the Minister for Tertiary educations plans.
In the tumult of last year's election campaign it seemed that there were a myriad of issues that got limited to no coverage time.
Amongst the issues that took a backseat was mental health care.
Statistics from 2021 showed an increase in people reporting poor mental wellbeing and as a country we ranked 38th in the world in child mental wellbeing in 2020.
An article titled “Some mental health advice for Minister Doocey“ was recently published by Newsroom. The article highlighted three key areas of focus for policy regarding mental health, with those priorities being;
Universal Health Coverage, Parity of Esteem for mental health services and reaching unreached populations.
Nicholas spoke to the article's author Dr Ian Soosay about his advice for the new Government’s mental health policy.
The Tuesday Wire team is joined by Dr Allan Blackman for Dear Science!
Nicholas speaks to the National president of the Tertiary Education Union, Dr Julie Douglas, about the issues facing Tertiary Education in 2024 as well as the policy areas she believes need to be at the forefront of the Minister for Tertiary educations plans.
Nicholas also spoke to mental health advocate Dr Ian Soosay about his advice for the new Government’s mental health policy.
Little is known about many parasites, despite their prevalence worldwide, in Aotearoa New Zealand. These parasites include cryptosporidium, and toxoplasmosis, which are both often transmitted from animals to humans. Research has shown both parasites are dangerous to humans, with symptoms including vomiting and fevers.
Olivia spoke to Research Fellow at the University of Otago, Doctor Remy Muhsin, about these parasites, and the need for research funding in this area.
ME/CFS and Long COVID are both chronic diseases that can cause fatigue and memory loss. Researchers worldwide have referred to patients as the “missing millions” due to their inability to sustain employment from the illness, and are often neglected by health services.
Olivia spoke to Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, Warren Tate, about his research in this area. His study has shown that ME/CFS and Long COVID are closely related, meaning that further research and treatments can be for the benefit of both groups.
Ahead of the new school year, concerns have been raised about the high cost of compulsory school uniforms amid the rising cost of living.
New research has found that 20% of students in one school in a higher socioeconomic area worried about whether their parents could afford their uniform.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Dr Johanna Reidy, about what can be done to ensure students experience the benefits of school uniforms without added pressure on families.
Following the government announcing its fast track consents bill, which gives ministers ultimate authority on whether to approve significant projects, environmental groups have raised concerns this will undermine exisiting environmental protections.
First, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to the Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki Chairperson and former Green MP, Catherine Delahunty, about how the bill could affect protected areas in the Coromandel.
The environmental group, Climate Justice Taranaki, have also protested the bill over concerns it could open up new seabed mining projects in Taranaki. Jessica Hopkins asked spokesperson, Urs Signer, for their thoughts on the bill.
Last month saw the release of an independent review examining the emergency management of Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay last year. Insights revealed the key role marae, iwi and hāpu played in disaster response, heralding calls for strategies more inclusive of te ao Māori.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke with Dr. Shaun Awatere, of Ngāti Porou, who is Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader and Manaaki Whenua at Landcare Research. He discussed the ways in which national and local bureaucracies can be more formally inclusive of te Ao Māori and mana whenua approaches.
Jasmine also spoke with Professor Christine Kenney, of Te Ātiawa ki Kāpati, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāti Toarangatira. Amongst an impressive array of interdisciplinary roles in this area, Christine is the Chair of Disaster Risk Reduction at Massey University, and she provided us more insight about what the report’s findings mean for Aotearoa’s wider emergency management frameworks.
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