Professor Tobias Strunk and Professor Andrew Currie are world-leading researchers in neonatal medicine and immunology, working at the forefront of one of the most critical and underexplored areas of science—how we protect the most vulnerable humans on the planet in their first moments of life. Combining clinical expertise in newborn intensive care with cutting-edge immunological research, their work focuses on understanding and preventing life-threatening infections in preterm infants.

Together, they are tackling one of medicine’s greatest challenges: newborn sepsis—a condition that remains a leading cause of death globally, yet is still poorly understood and incredibly difficult to diagnose. From uncovering how the immune system develops in the earliest weeks of life, to running large-scale international clinical trials, their research is not only advancing fundamental science but actively reshaping how neonatal care is delivered around the world.

In this episode, Kurt sits down with Professors Strunk and Currie to explore the science behind newborn survival, the global scale of preterm birth, and the groundbreaking work being done to improve outcomes—from innovative therapies to surprisingly simple solutions like coconut oil skincare. This is a powerful conversation that goes beyond medicine, revealing how science, persistence, and bold thinking are driving real change where it matters most.

Professor Navid Moheimani is a leading algal biotechnologist at Murdoch University and a global authority on microalgae, working at the forefront of sustainable innovation across energy, agriculture, and environmental management. His research explores how some of the smallest organisms on Earth, algae, can solve some of our biggest challenges, from producing oxygen and biofuels to transforming waste into valuable resources.

Through pioneering work in algal cultivation and large-scale applications, Professor Moheimani is redefining how we view waste, developing “waste-to-profit” systems that convert agricultural and organic waste into renewable energy, high-protein biomass, and sustainable products. His research spans everything from wastewater treatment and carbon capture to the future of biofuels, bioplastics, and even algae-powered infrastructure.

By combining cutting-edge science with real-world application, his work sits at the intersection of climate solutions, food security, and circular economies, positioning algae as one of the most powerful and overlooked tools for building a more sustainable future.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Rochelle Steven, Lecturer in Environmental and Conservation Science at Murdoch University, one of Australia’s leading conservation scientists working at the intersection of avian ecology, biodiversity, citizen science, and human–wildlife interactions.

Before joining Murdoch, Rochelle held a series of highly respected roles across Australia’s conservation sector, including Species Conservation Project Coordinator at WWF-Australia, where she worked on threatened species management and community-led conservation, as well as a postdoctoral research role with the University of Queensland’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, focused on citizen science and species recovery.

With a PhD in bird conservation and a career spanning academia, conservation policy, and public engagement, Rochelle brings extraordinary insight into the science of birds, ecotourism, and the human behaviours shaping our natural world.

From the decline of migratory shorebirds and the power of citizen science, to the hidden impacts of recreation on wildlife and the ethics of conservation, this is a powerful conversation with one of the country’s most respected voices in environmental science.