The Random Sample

Welcome to The Random Sample - a podcast from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS). In this podcast, we share stories about mathematics, statistics, data science and the people involved. The Random Sample is also proud to have the support of these supporting partners: the Australian Data Science Network (ADSN), the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA), the Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS), the OPTIMA ARC Training Centre, the MATRIX Mathematical Research Institute, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). ACEMS created the podcast in 2018. For further resources and show notes, visit therandomsample.com.au

The Random Sample is a education podcast hosted by MACSYS, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

MACSYS hosts The Random Sample, a education show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #129

  Academia or Industry? Why Professor Roslyn Hickson Chose Both

  Aug 12, 202649 minS11

  It’s a question many early career researchers grapple with: academia or industry?  For Professor Roslyn Hickson, the answer is simple: why choose? Roslyn is an applied mathematician with a joint appointment at CSIRO and James Cook University, where she serves as Science Leader for Emerging Infectious Diseases. Her career has taken her across academia, the military, government and industry, before arriving at her current role bridging research and real-world application. In this episode, Roslyn reflects on the career decisions that shaped her journey, the different cultures she’s experienced across sectors, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Earlier this year, Roslyn was awarded the inaugural  K.A. Landman Medal  by ANZIAM, recognising her outstanding contributions to industrial and applied mathematics. She shares why the award is particularly meaningful to her and what it says about the growing importance of mathematics beyond the university setting. Our host for this episode is Dr Sophie Raynor, a lecturer in mathematics at James Cook University. Podcast Episode Page:   https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/roslyn-hickson/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #128

  The Algorithm that Transformed Optimisation - with Dr Sophie Huiberts

  Jul 29, 202644 minS11

  How do airlines schedule flights, logistics companies route deliveries, and supermarkets manage stock? Many of these challenges are examples of  linear programming  problems – and one algorithm has dominated their solution for decades: the  Simplex Method . Widely regarded as one of the most important algorithms ever developed, the Simplex Method has helped organisations save vast amounts of time, money and resources. But despite its remarkable success, one question has puzzled mathematicians for decades: why does it work so well in practice? In this episode,  Dr Sophie Huiberts  from the  French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)  explores one of optimisation’s biggest open questions: why is the Simplex Method so much faster than theory often predicts? We also discuss Sophie’s research journey and how she brings her values and social awareness into her work as a mathematician. Our host is Professor Kate Smith-Miles – Director of the OPTIMA ARC Training Centre, and a Professor of Applied Mathematics at The University of Melbourne. Episode webpage:   https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/simplex-method/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #127

  From DNA to Discovery: How Statistics Brings the Ancient Past to Life - with Dr Adam "Ben" Rohrlach & Dr Simon "Jono" Tuke

  Jun 24, 202640 minS11

  How are  statistics and data science transforming advances in genetic sequencing  into new insights about how people lived, formed families, and organised their societies thousands of years ago? Our guests are Dr Adam “Ben” Rohrlach, an Australian statistician at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and Dr Simon “Jono” Tuke, Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. From their early collaboration during Ben’s PhD to their ongoing work today, they’ve combined mathematical rigour with archaeological and genetic research to help uncover patterns in ancient human life that would otherwise remain hidden. Together, they’ve applied cutting-edge statistical methods to support major discoveries – including their contribution to the 2017 Eureka Prize–winning research confirming the connection between Aboriginal Australians and their ancestral lands. In this conversation, we revisit that work and dive into their latest research, using ancient DNA to reconstruct family networks in a European society from over 1,300 years ago. It’s a fascinating look at how collaboration across disciplines – and the power of statistics – can bring us closer to understanding the lives of people from the distant past. Our host is Dr Haripriya Sridharan – a MACSYS Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. Episode webpage:    https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/ancient-dna/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #126

  From Granular to Nano: Big Science at Small Scales – with Prof Natalie Thamwattana

  May 27, 202644 minS11

  In this episode of  The Random Sample , we explore the science of scale – from the behaviour of granular materials to the remarkable world of nanotechnology. Professor Natalie Thamwattana, an applied mathematician from the University of Newcastle, shows how studying the very small can lead to big insights across science and engineering. Her pioneering work in nanotechnology is helping unlock how some of nature’s smallest building blocks can tackle some of our biggest challenges – in medicine, energy, and electronics. In a field often dominated by heavy numerical simulations, Natalie was among the first to take a different path, developing analytical, formula-based approaches to understand the mechanics of carbon nanostructures. Alongside her research, Natalie shares a deeply personal story of growing up in Thailand and forging a path into mathematics. It’s a journey shaped by resilience, curiosity, and the support of her family – one that led to an international career at the forefront of applied mathematics. Our host is Cait Pryse – from The University of Melbourne. Episode webpage:   https://www.therandomsample.com.au/podcast/nanotechnology-natalie-thamwattana/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #125

  Tracking the Spread of Vaccine Hesitancy - with Prof Stacey Smith?

  May 11, 202642 minS11

  Mathematics is often used to model how diseases spread. But what about the spread of information – or misinformation – about those diseases and their vaccines? Professor  Stacey Smith?  from the University of Ottawa is a trans mathematician whose research focuses on modelling infectious diseases. Increasingly, her work has turned to the social and behavioural dynamics that shape anti‑vaccination sentiment. In this conversation, we explore how mathematical approaches can help make sense of attitudes ranging from vaccine hesitancy to outright resistance, and why understanding these dynamics is critical for effective public health responses. The episode is hosted by  Eva Stadler , a postdoctoral research fellow in the Infection Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. Together, Eva and Stacey discuss how tools from the mathematical sciences can be applied well beyond traditional epidemiology, intersecting with psychology, sociology, and communication science. This episode is part of a special two‑part series released to coincide with  Women in Mathematics Day (12 May) , celebrating the contributions of women – and those who identify as women – in the mathematical sciences worldwide. The other episode in the series explores how the mathematical sciences are playing an increasingly important role in understanding women’s health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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