Popular science writing &
community engagement
Popular Science Writing and Community Engagement
Chapman, B. (2019). Shark rays: Are they sharks or are they rays? Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 25 July 2019. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2019/07/shark-rays-are-they-sharks-or-are-they-rays/
Chapman, B. (2019). Shark nets: Protecting us, or just harming sharks? Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 26 June 2019. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2019/06/shark-nets-protecting-us-or-just-harming-sharks/
Chapman, B. (2019). How adequate are Australia’s shark conservation efforts? Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 30 Apr 2019. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2019/04/how-adequate-are-australias-shark-conservation-efforts/
Chapman, B. (2019). The whale carcass debate. Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 27 Feb 2019. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2019/02/the-whale-carcass-debate/
Chapman, B. (2019). The truth about shark numbers. Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 21 Jan 2019. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2019/01/the-truth-about-shark-numbers/
Chapman, B. (2019). Why sharks are important to the study of human health. Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 15 Jan 2019. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2019/01/why-sharks-are-important-to-the-study-of-human-health/
Chapman, B. (2018). With water, we have sharks: 8 shark safety tips. Australian Geographic (Digital Ed.). 26 Nov 2018. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/shark-blog/2018/11/with-water-we-have-sharks-8-shark-safety-tips/
Chapman, B. (2018). Putting shark attacks in perspective. Australian Geographic. March/April 2018, 64-71. (Cover story, plus GEObuzz, p. 23).
Chapman, B. (2017). Why do shark bites seem to be more deadly in Australia than elsewhere? The Conversation. 1 November 2017.
Chapman, B. (2013). Heron Island Research Station. 2012 Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Newsletter.
Chapman, B. (2012). Garbage Guts: Why are turtles attempting to eat shopping bags, balloons and other forms of human rubbish in preference to natural food sources? Australasian Science, December Issue, 30-33.
Chapman, B. (2011). Science for kids- gross, exciting, inspiring. Econnect Newsletter, November Edition.
Chapman, B. K. (2011). Born in captivity. Ocean Geographic, 15:1, 25-29.
Harahush, B. (2007). Shark eggs hatch better conservation plans. Australasian Science, 28, 23-26.Shark rays: Are they sharks or
Public Lectures and Conference Presentations
Public lectures
Chapman, B. Shark Attacks: A real threat, or just a bad case of PR? Ipswich Libraries Learn for Life, Ipswich AUS, 23 July 2019. Invited speaker.
Chapman, B. Shark Attacks: Myths, Misunderstandings and Human Fear. Brisbane City Council Library Sunday Conversation Series, Brisbane AUS, 25 November 2018. Invited speaker.
Chapman, B. K. Shark Attacks: Who Knew?? Reef Check Australia Coast to Coral Talk Series, Brisbane AUS, 31 October 2017. Invited speaker.
Chapman, B. K. Shark Attacks. Sharks: A Deep Dive. BrisScience, Brisbane AUS, 20 March 2017. Invited speaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk_WfTvQYtg&feature=youtu.be. (From minute 44).
Conference Presentations/Lectures
Chapman, B. K. Panel member: Sharks in the media. Shark Conservation Summit, Sydney, AUS, 21-22 February 2019. [Invited panelist]
Chapman, B. K. Shark Risk Management: A challenge of environmental and social complexity. University de La Reunion, Reunion Island, 29 March 2019. [Invited guest lecture]
Chapman, B. K. Shark Risk Management: A challenge of environmental and social complexity. Blue Economy Week Conference, Reunion Island, 25-28 March 2019. [Sponsored speaker]
Chapman, B. K., Chapman, C. A. Small-scale captive elasmobranch breeding and development models. 2nd International Elasmobranch Husbandry Symposium, Monterey Bay USA, 11-13 November 2013.
Harahush, B. K., Green, K., Webb, R., Collin, S. P. The effects of chemical and microwave fixation and high pressure freezing on the ultrastructure of the selachian retina. 21st Australian Conference on Microscopy and Microanalysis, Brisbane AUS, 11-15 July 2010.
Harahush, B. K. The sensory biology of the grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus. Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA), Gold Coast, AUS, 24-26 March 2009.
Harahush, B. Functionality of the visual system in the embryonic brown banded bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum. American Elasmobranch Society, Montreal, CAN. 23-28 July 2008.
Harahush, B. Cracking the Code: Advances in transmission electron microscopy for viewing the elasmobranch retina. American Elasmobranch Society, Montreal, CAN. 23-28 July 2008.
Harahush, B. K., Green, K., Webb, R., Collin, S. P. Assessing the ultrastructure of the elasmobranch retina: The application of microwave and high pressure freezing techniques. Annual School of Biomedical Sciences Postgraduate Symposium, Brisbane, AUS. 29 November 2007.
Harahush, B. The development of the elasmobranch retina: Changing retinal ganglion cell sampling. Oceania Chondrichthyan Society, Queenscliff, AUS. 22-24 October 2007.
Harahush, B. Retinal development of the visual system in the brown banded bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum (Hemiscylliidae). American Elasmobranch Society, St. Louis, USA. 11-16 July 2007.
Harahush, B. Environmental influences and retinal growth in elasmobranchs. Southern Queensland Elasmobranch Research Forum, Stradbroke Island, AUS. 25-26 July 2006.
Harahush, B. Environmental influences on retinal growth in elasmobranchs. School of Biomedical Sciences Confirmation Seminar, Brisbane, AUS. 11 April 2006.
Harahush, B. The development of the visual system in Chiloscyllium punctatum. Australian Society for Fish Biology, Darwin, AUS. 11-15 July 2005.
Harahush, B. The embryonic development of the brown banded bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum. Australian Marine Science Association, Darwin, AUS. 10-13 July 2005.
Harahush, B. K., Hart, N. S., Collin, S. P. The development of the visual system in Chiloscyllium punctatum. Southern Queensland Elasmobranch Research Forum, Stradbroke Island, AUS. 28 April 2005.
Harahush, B. & Collin, S.P. The structure, differentiation and growth of the elasmobranch retina. Vision Down Under, XVI ICER Satellite Meeting on the Eye & Brain and Myopia, Fraser Island, Australia. 2004.
Harahush, B. Visual Development in Elasmobranchs, School of Biomedical Sciences Honours Proposal Seminar, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. May 2004.
Harahush, B. & Rose, C. The Role of Thyroid Hormones (TH) in the Evolution of Salamander Metamorphosis, 11th Annual JMU Biosymposium, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, USA. April 2002.
Children’s Communication
I am incredibly passionate about communicating science to young audiences. The human brain develops most rapidly during the early years, so this is the best time to influence and encourage learning. It is never too early to start talking to children about science and it’s amazing how well kids soak up information; they truly are little sponges.
Psychological studies suggest that we can essentially “immunise” people against developing easily acquired fears (such as of biological threats, like predators) by providing positive, or even neutral, experiences in early childhood (or at least before any potentially negative exposure occurs). Therefore, I have developed fun, interactive and educational sessions for kids of all ages about sharks. While there are certainly educational components to these sessions, the main aim is to just provide children (especially the really young ones) with pleasant and fun exposure to sharks. I hope that they will take these experiences and build on them and the knowledge gained.
Sessions delivered:
Sharks @ Capalaba. Redland Libraries, School Holiday Program. 2 July 2019.
Sharks: From Teeth to Tail. Brisbane City Council Libraries, Summer Reading Series (x 6 locations). January 2019.
National Youth Science Forum. STEM+ Lecture. January 2019.