Dr. Karl - Australia's No.1 Geek? Permission: Creative Commons
Despite the distance, we are holding our own in Australia when it comes to fostering geek culture. So, here is an introduction to some high profile Australian Geeks you should get to know. Feel free, anyone who lives on this side of the equator, to make your own nominations in the comment box.
1. Dr Karl
Karl Kruszelnicki is a scientist best known for his work in science communication in the Australian media. He holds degrees in mathematics, biomedical engineering, medicine and surgery. He has also studied astrophysics, computer science and philosophy. He is best known for his work with Triple J, answering science conundrums from listeners and writing columns for Australia’s daily newspapers. And for events like the Sleek Geek Roadshow he ran with Adam Spencer. One of Kruszelnicki’s most famous undertakings was his part in a research project on belly button fluff, for which he received an Ig Nobel Prize.
2. Adam Spencer
Adam Spencer is Dr. Karl’s Sleek Geek buddy. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney, graduating with a first class honors degree in Pure Mathematics. While at university, he was one of the world’s top-ranked debaters, reaching the final round of the World Universities Debating Championship three times and winning Worlds Best Speaker (1996). He was noticed for his comedy and maths ability by youth radio station JJJ when he read out the weather as a guest on an outside broadcast using mathematical formulae and has been presenting in geeky fashion across Australian media ever since. He partners with Dr Karl on a range of Sleek Geek activities including a short lived TV series and was the host of science show Quantum for 3 years.
3 & 4. Rob Morrison and Deane Hutton
These two blokes were Australia’s first serious TV geeks. They hosted The Curiosity Show, an Australian educational children’s television show between 1972 to 1990. The Curiosity Show won the coveted Prix Jeunesse in 1982 voted by peers from around the world as the best factual program for children. But, when I was growing up Rob and Dean were my Mythbusters, performing experiments using liquid nitrogen, mouse traps and plenty of straws. So, the explosions were not as big, but they got me hooked.
