Carl Smith, science journalist
01. About
Science Journalist and Children's Presenter, working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
I make audio documentaries, podcasts, and online features for ABC Radio National’s Science Unit. I also co-write and co-present the kids' ethics podcast Short & Curly.
Joint-winner of a Eureka Prize and winner of a Young Walkley Award for long-form / feature journalism, plus a few more.
In studio, listening to the podcast Short & Curly (supplied: Kellie Riordan)
02. Audio
reportS, produceS, editS, and presentS audio features and documentaries
I often report from far-flung and remote destinations.
I also occasionally step in as a series producer on narrative documentary series.
Here’s a sample of recent work:
Strange Frontiers (The Science Show, ABC RN)
Scientists work in some remarkable, unusual, hard-to-reach, and off-limits parts of the world. In a new seven-part series airing in 2023, join Carl Smith as he visits the researchers working on these frontiers.
Chimeras in Medicine (The Health Report, ABC RN)
At the cutting edge of medical science, humans and animals are being combined. Hear how in this two-part series which covers everything from xenotransplantation to ‘animal avatars’. A finalist for the 2022 Eureka Prize for Science Journalism.
Patient Zero (ABC Science)
Senior Producer of 2021 Eureka Prize-winning podcast Patient Zero which tells the stories of disease outbreaks: where they begin, why they happen and how we found ourselves in the middle of a really big one.
Short & Curly (ABC AUdio Studios)
Co-host and co-writer of Short & Curly, a fast-paced fun-filled ethics podcast for kids and their parents, with questions and ideas to really get you thinking. It asks curly questions about animals, technology, school, pop culture, and the future.
The APOCALYPSE (Science Friction, ABC RN)
This three-part series featured on ABC RN’s Science Friction, looking at how well prepared society is for several catastrophic natural disasters.
The Mind’s Eye (All in the mind, ABC RN)
It might surprise you that some people can't conjure an image in their mind's eye. Or, if you have aphantasia, then perhaps you'd be surprised that some people can. Neurologists believe roughly 2 per cent of people have this condition, which affects their ability to create a mental image. But how important is visualising something in your mind? Listen here.
Click-Sick (Science Friction, ABC RN)
Series Producer of Click-Sick, a three part Science Friction series from ABC Science and ABC Radio National, which hunts down the sources, considers the harms, and shines a spotlight on fake health claims. This series jointly won the Barry Williams Award for Skeptical Journalism in 2020.
Bionic Bodies (The Science Show, ABC RN)
Sight for the blind, hearing for the deaf, a body with functionality restored. These are the promises of bionics. It’s a field which combines medicine, engineering and robotics. In part 1 of his Walkley Award-winning series, Bionic Bodies, Carl Smith introduces the people whose lives have been changed, and the innovators whose ideas and initiative are behind remarkable results in the field of artificial body parts.
Electronic Music’s Origin Story (Sum of all Parts, ABC RN)
Where and when did a digital computer play music for the first time? The surprising story of how Australia’s first computer started singing. Listen here.
The Library of Life on Earth (The Science Show, ABC RN)
This documentary for ABC RN’s Science Show explored the uses of genomics in understanding the diversity of species on our planet - and examined the ways in which this genetic data is allowing us to peer back into the past.
Energy Futures (The Science Show, ABC RN)
At the G7 summit in June, world leaders pledged to act on climate change and phase out fossil fuels by end of century. In this timely series, Energy Futures, Carl Smith examines Australia’s energy options beyond oil, coal and gas. Geothermal, wind, solar, wave energy, hydropower, nuclear and even waste by-products are all on the table as we search for a way to cleanly fuel our future.
Rewilding (Future Tense, ABC RN)
Elephants and Komodo dragons in Australia? Bears and wolves roaming freely throughout European villages and towns? It might sound a bit far-fetched, but this all fits within a new strand of conservation theory known as Rewilding. Listen here.
Getting dumped with mayonnaise for a story on head lice on Behind the News (supplied: Brittany Evins)
03. Television
Reporter, writer, presenter, and video journalist
Behind the News
Behind the News, or 'BtN', is the ABC's national current affairs program for children. BtN helps 7-13 year olds understand complex news and current affairs. Wrote and presented stories like this. Also worked with kids to help them make stories like this, and filmed some stories myself, like this.
Sciencey
Writer and Researcher for the ABC series Sciencey. Bringing science to the table to help unpack questions like 'Does your dog love you?' and 'Why do earphones get tangled?'.
730 ACT
Current affairs reporting for the ABC program 730 ACT. One looked at geothermal energy, the other looked at a conservation practice called log jamming.
Landline
Filmed and reported on this story, operating as a 'VJ' or video journalist in Broken Hill, South Australia.
ABC News
Filing TV packages for ABC Canberra and national ABC News bulletins. Including reporting on bionic eyes, the gaming industry, asbestos insulation, tractor beams, and a range of other stories.
Minibeast heroes
Presenter of this series for ABC Education and ABC R+D. Minibeast Heroes introduces school children to the weird and wonderful lives of insects. This series used motion capture (MOCAP) and facial recognition software to map my movements and gestures, mapping these onto an animated avatar.
Interview with the head of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (supplied: Greg Nelson)
Bionic eyes, arms and spines are no longer science fiction
In the spring of 1984, something unusual began to happen to Dianne Ashworth's vision. Swirling shapes began to fill her field of view. "They were with me from that day," she says. "I watched them spread inward and take over my sight."
A guide to Australia's future energy options
Despite recent cuts to the renewable energy target in Australia, leaders elsewhere are looking to a future without coal. So what are our other options? Carl Smith guides us through Australia's alternative energy sources—exploring how they work, and their potential.
Scientists build 'DNA robots' that transport molecular cargo using 'arms' and 'feet'
US researchers have built a team of robots, made entirely out of DNA, that can walk around and sort molecules.
05. Events & Public Engagement
Host, MC, Judge, workshops, and Community building
Regular host of live events across Australia, including at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, World Science Festival Brisbane, Adelaide Writers’ Week, Australian Museum, and elsewhere.
I’m Vice President and a founding committee member of the Science Journalists Association of Australia (SJAA).
I’m also a passionate supporter of young people, often assisting as a judge, mentor, speaker and MC across the country.
06. Awards
Australian Museum (2021) - Eureka Prize for Science Journalism
For the ABC Radio National podcast series Patient Zero, which tells stories of disease outbreaks: where they begin, why they happen and how we found ourselves in the middle of one. From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to medical mysteries of the past, this eight-part series provides a new lens through which to view pandemics.
Joint winner as senior producer.
Walkley Award (2017) - Young Australian Journalist of the Year (longform)
For the ABC Radio National series Bionic Bodies which aired on The Science Show.
"These awards recognise and reward the hard work of our most outstanding young Australian journalists."
"Longform feature or special: This award focuses on narrative and/or investigative journalism skills and covers longform print/text pieces, video or television features and documentaries, radio/audio features and documentaries, including podcasts; and large multimedia projects, including those centred on data journalism."
Best Australian Science Writing (2018, 2019 & 2020)
SA Press Club Awards (2015) - Young Journalist of the Year
This award was for the ABC Radio National series Energy Futures which aired on The Science Show.
University of QUeensland Alumni Awards (2014) - UQ Distinguished Young Alumni Award
This award recognises young alumni (35 years or younger) whose early accomplishments inspire and provide leadership to students and alumni.
'Lizzies' Australian Tech Journalism Awards (2014) - Best New Journalist
The 'Alicia Camphuisen Best New Journalist' award recognises the best newcomer to technology journalism.
For the story 'The replaceable human body' on ABC Radio National's Future Tense.
Clarion Awards (2013) - Most Outstanding Journalism Student (Metropolitan)
Clarion Awards (2012) - Most Outstanding Journalism Student (Metropolitan)
Ossie Awards (2012) - Best Broadcast Current Affairs or Issues Based Story by an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Student
07. CONTACT
If you’d like to get in touch, you can email me at the ABC - smith.carl[at]abc.net.au
Or you can find me on twitter - @CarlSmithAUS
I'm also on LinkedIn, if that's your thing.