Logo

    Can Australia's justice system adjust itself to hear new scientific research?

    en-auFebruary 24, 2023
    What was the main topic of the podcast episode?
    Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?
    Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?
    Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?
    Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?
    Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

    About this Episode

    Welcome to a Cosmos Insights podcast, where we talk to scientists in Australia about the impact of their work.

    Kathleen Folbigg has served 20 years of a 30-year sentence for killing her four children. She had exhausted all her avenues for appeal. Only after petitioning from grassroots supporters and legal representatives on the basis of new forensic pathology assessments did the New South Wales’ Governor open an inquiry into her convictions.

    That was back in 2019, and despite those new forensic assessments being heard, judicial officer Reginald Blanch was not convinced there was a reasonable doubt cast by that and other evidence.

    During the course of that inquiry, a rare gene mutation possessed by the Folbigg children was identified by two teams of researchers. One of those teams pursued research into that gene and concluded it would potentially explain the cause of their deaths. That led to New South Wales Attorney-General Mark Speakman opening a second inquiry into Folbigg’s convictions, which has finished hearing evidence from the geneticists, plus cardiologists, forensic pathologists, paediatricians, and psychology experts.

    Quite a lot of science! But science that would not have been heard if not for the state of New South Wales enacting the rare provisions of a Governor’s appeal.

    So, what can be done to make sure new science that’s potentially relevant to a case is heard when conventional means of appeal is exhausted.

    The Australian Academy of Science was granted leave by the commission to appear as an independent scientific advisor to the inquiry. Today Cosmos journalist Matthew Agius talks to its chief executive is Anna Maria Arabia.

    Find the science of everything at the Cosmos Magazine website

    Subscribe to Cosmos Magazine (print) or the Cosmos Weekly

    Watch and listen to all our Cosmos podcasts

    Special 10% discount on Cosmos magazine print subscriptions (1 or 2 year), or 1 year Cosmos Weekly subscriptions for Cosmos Briefing podcast listeners!  Use coupon code COSMOSPOD in our shop.

    Recent Episodes from The Cosmos Podcast

    Cosmos Country – Transitioning agriculture to net zero emissions

    Cosmos Country – Transitioning agriculture to net zero emissions

    Australia’s farmers and agricultural industries are at the front line when it comes to dealing with the impacts of climate change. Agriculture also contributes 14% of the country’s emissions.

    The recently established Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC) aims to help the agriculture industry transition to net zero by 2040 by bringing academic knowledge and agriculture experience together. 

    In this episode of Cosmos Country, hosts Glenn Morrison and Jamie Seidel speak with Dr Deb Cousins and Professor Matthew Morell from the ZNE-Ag CRC’s Establishment Committee about the role of the CRC, the challenges facing our farmers and the integrated systems approach needed to make the transition.

    The Cosmos Podcast
    en-auFebruary 09, 2024

    Science Detectives: Why do animals come in different colours and patterns?

    Science Detectives: Why do animals come in different colours and patterns?

    The Science Detectives are on another case. 

    This week, Olivia Henry wants to know why animals come in so many different colours and patterns. The detectives talk to Devi Stuart-Fox, a professor of evolution and ecology at the University of Melbourne, to find out. 

    This episode was hosted and produced by Imma Perfetto and edited by Andrew Wyrill.

    For more science news, visit cosmosmagazine.com and follow us on Instagram @cosmosmagazine

    Love the show? Let us know by rating and leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

    Cosmos Country - A deep dive into our oceans

    Cosmos Country - A deep dive into our oceans

    Regional communities looking for ways to diversify income and employment under climate change often turn to tourism. Recently, the Australian Tourism Commission created a data hub to help. It shows the value of Australian tourism by region; and the scale of incomes and number of people in the industry to be staggering.

    The Cosmos Country podcast speaks with two people involved in tourism about how events can contribute to a diversified economy. Archaeologist Dr James Hunter is curator of Naval Heritage and Archaeology at the Australian National Maritime Museum. He recently highlighted the wreck called The South Australia, just offshore in Victor Harbour. Despite its size and importance to the history of South Australia, the wreck was only discovered less than a decade ago. Hunter is also exploring the southern SA coast in search of shipwrecks offshore of Robe.

    And Carolyn Grant is Director of Engagement at the Ocean Lovers Festival in Sydney, a blend of ideas, arts and music.

    They spoke to Cosmos Country’s podcast hosts Glenn Morrison and Marie Low.

    Science Detectives: South Pole rain

    Science Detectives: South Pole rain

    It doesn’t rain at the South Pole. Why not? Will global warming change that?
    This question from a Cosmos reader was a task for The Science Detectives.

    Cosmos journalism intern Tyler Fisher was asked to investigate, to find out what’s going on.

    The Cosmos Podcast
    en-auJanuary 09, 2024

    Science Detectives: Does the sun always rise in the east?

    Science Detectives: Does the sun always rise in the east?

    We learn in school that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. But we also know the Sun doesn’t stay in the same part of the sky the whole year round – it’s higher at some points and lower at others. So what’s going on?

    What about the Moon? How does its path change across the sky?

    On the latest episode of Science Detectives, a new podcast series from Cosmos, Ellen Phiddian gazes at the sky to figure out how its two biggest hits change their appearance. She’s joined by Mary Adam, an astronomy educator from the Adelaide Planetarium at the University of South Australia.

    The Cosmos Podcast
    en-auDecember 27, 2023

    Cosmos Country - Quolls

    Cosmos Country - Quolls

    Cosmos Science regional reporters Jamie Seidel and Glenn Morrison find out how quolls were transported across the country  to help re-wild an arid reserve in outback WA.

    The Cosmos Podcast
    en-auDecember 01, 2023
    Logo

    © 2024 Podcastworld. All rights reserved

    Stay up to date

    For any inquiries, please email us at hello@podcastworld.io