Wits Radio Academy THE SCIENCE INSIDE

THE SCIENCE INSIDE

The Science Inside is a weekly show that goes inside the science of major news events. We take a news story each week - from a missing plane to the world cup - and dissect the science angles involved. We indulge every scientific discipline, from biology to psychology, and incorporate the insights of scientists, journalists and researchers in order to tell interesting radio stories.

The Science Inside is presented by Bridget Lepere.
Production by Bridget Lepere.
Technical production by Kutlwano Gwinch Serame.

The show airs on Voice of Wits every Monday at 7pm.
Weekly English South Africa Science
72 Episodes
64 – 72

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - Lassa Fever

The current outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria is much higher than the yearly norm. We find out what’s happening with Prof Lucille Blumberg, deputy director of NCID. In Unscience, your personality might be the reason you are addicted to social media. Later Dr. Bianca Verlinden, a malaria researcher at…
22 Mar 2018 57 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - The Psychology of belief

Following the controversy at the Seven Angels Church in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, we look at the psychology of belief with religion specialist Dr Karen van der Merwe from the North West University. In Unscience, we look at the big bang theory and a time before time began. Later…
13 Mar 2018 52 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - Hijacked Buildings

Following Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba’s decision for government to take over dilapidated buildings and abandoned properties in the city, we looked at property hijackings and how these spaces are being used for urban living and use. Margot Rubin, senior researcher at the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and…
6 Mar 2018 58 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - Landfill

Tragedy struck Hulene, a town on the outskirts of Mozambique when twenty-one people living on the town’s only landfill, were killed by a 50m high rubbish heap which collapsed on their homes. This week’s show was inspired by this topic and we had a chat with a consulting engineer and…
28 Feb 2018 51 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - 23rd Winter Olympics

The 23rd Winter Olympics are underway in Pyeongchang, South Korea. We look at how fake snow is made and the effects of climate change on snow sports with professor Marius Mayer of the Ernst Moritz Arndt-University in Greifswald, he tells us more. In Unscience, mining other planets for diamonds could…
21 Feb 2018 53 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - Medical Male Circumcision

Inxeba (The wound), a South African film which sparked nationwide conversation around issues of culture, initiation, circumcision, and masculinity, inspires our show this week and we are looking at the medical aspects of male circumcision (MMC). We speak to Dr. Thabani Nkwanyana and he unpacks all you need to know…
14 Feb 2018 54 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - Listeriosis

South Africa is facing the world’s biggest recorded outbreak of listeriosis and we find out why this food-borne disease is so unique. In Unscience, hear why expensive fake medicine might just work better than cheap placebos. Find us on www.journalism.co.za/science Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thescienceinsidepodcast
6 Feb 2018 38 min

THE SCIENCE INSIDE - Sustainability

The sustainability of our planet's natural resources is important for all people and their wellbeing. We find out why Africa's food security is at risk with Professor Joachim von Braun, who is the director of the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at Bonn University in Germany and professor for economic…
9 Jan 2018 40 min
64 – 72