Regional Australia’s own “Mr Science”, Nick Klomp, has presented entertaining answers to this question to regional radio audiences for the past four years.

An energetic bird researcher and ecologist with Charles Sturt University, Associate Professor Nick Klomp brings a passion for all things science to Australian airwaves seldom seen in the typical lab-coated scientist, rivalling even that of well-known science media personality, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

Professor Klomp believes that science should be made entertaining for all the community to understand and appreciate.

“We must get science into the public arena. The science and technology involved in genetically modified foods, for example - or global warming, managing bushfires, AIDS and improving the quality of Australian wines - have important social and economic implications for the Australian public,” Professor Klomp said.

“Part of my role as an academic is to help people better understand scientific processes presented in the news, so they can make more informed decisions about them.

“Science and technology plays a huge role in our daily lives. It’s not something that should scare or confuse us, so if I can make it more accessible to the general public, it is better for the scientific and general communities.”

“And of course, I don’t mind having a bit of ‘on air’ fun along the way.”

Professor Klomp presents his science news and views weekly on ABC radio programs in NSW, Queensland and regional Victoria.

His off-beat, high energy shows highlight a bubbling personality and boundless enthusiasm for research and teaching, which has been recognised by Charles Sturt University with Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence and other awards in both fields.

Professor Klomp has developed a high public profile in recent years, with research projects appearing regularly in national and local newspapers and on television news and current affairs programs Australia-wide. These projects range from the marine environment around Cape York Peninsula and penguin populations near Perth to the huge seabird colonies of Montague Island on the NSW South Coast.

Last year, he featured with his beloved Little Penguins on Montague Island in an environmental program on the highly respected, US-based Discovery Channel.

In 1999, he was nominated for the national Eureka Award for science communication.
And as if he isn’t busy enough, Professor Klomp was recently appointed Head of the School of Environmental and Information Sciences at CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus.

“The School has some incredible expertise in such diverse fields as ecotourism, wildlife management, fire ecology, cultural resource management and the Landcare movement. We also have the largest number of bird researchers in Australia,” he said.

“This indicates the depth of expertise and talent available in academic institutions in regional institutions, including Charles Sturt University.”