Saturday Morning for Saturday 30 May 2009

Guest details for Saturday Morning 30 May 2009

8:15 Geoffrey Miller

American evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. His 2000 book, The Mating Mind (Heinemann, ISBN 0-434-00741-2), explored how sexual choice shaped the evolution of human nature, and his new book, Spent: Sex, Evolution and the Secrets of Consumerism (Viking, ISBN 9780670020621), will be published in July.

8:45 Muhammed Musa

Dr Muhammed Musa lectures in Mass Communication and Journalism at the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Canterbury. He recently returned from West Africa, where he has been researching the phenomenon of huge audiences watching UK and European football (as opposed to their own local and national teams) on satellite dishes in sheds set up for the purpose.

9:05 Dorothy Butler

Dorothy Butler is recognised internationally as an authority on children's books and reading. She has won many major international awards for her work and was declared a Distinguished Alumna of Auckland University. As well as her academic achievements, Dorothy has been a successful teacher, an innovative bookseller and the author of many children's books, including A Bundle of Birds (Puffin, ISBN: 0-14-032526-3). She also wrote, with Marie Clay, the 1987 book Reading Begins at Home, which was revised and republished last year (Heinemann, ISBN: 9780325017143). Dorothy has followed up her 1999 volume of memoirs, There Was a Time (Penguin, ISBN: 0-14-028285-8), with the story of her adult life: All This and a Bookshop Too (Penguin, ISBN: 9780143011651).

9:45 Justin O'Sullivan

Molecular biologist Dr Justin M. O'Sullivan, from the Institute of Natural Sciences at Albany, is about to analyse 20 billion DNA sequence bases with his colleague, Dr Austen Ganley, in a bid to understand what makes healthy cells turn bad. Their research has been made possible by their second placing in an international science competition which gives them access to the latest sequencing technology located at Otago University.

10:05 Playing Favourites with Ross Harris

Ross Harris has written well over 150 compositions including operas, songs, chamber music, electronic music, symphonic music, jazz, and even klezmer. Since his retirement from teaching at Victoria University in 2004 he has embarked on a freelance career including residencies with the Auckland Philharmonia and the New Zealand School of Music. Ross is one of five leading New Zealand composers (the others are Eve de Castro-Robinson, Chris Gendall, John Psathas and Gillian Whitehead, all previous winners of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award) who have donated works for SOUNZtender, a project that allows music lovers to tender for a commissioned piece of music, with bids closing at midday on 31 May.

11:10 Art Veno

Dr Arthur Veno is Australia's foremost expert on outlaw motorcycle clubs. He was the director of Monash University's Centre for Police and Justice Studies, and has studied the biker subculture in Australia and New Zealand for over two decades. His 2003 book, The Brotherhoods, is the definitive account of the Australian biker scene, and with Ed Winterhalder, a former member of the American Bandidos Motorcycle Club, he is the author of Biker Chicks: The Magnetic Attraction of Women to Bad Boys and Motorbikes (Allen & Unwin, ISBN: 978-1-74175-691-1).

11:45 Children's Books with Kate De Goldi

Kate De Goldi will discuss the books of American writer Scott O'Dell, who established his annual award for historical fiction in 1982. Books discussed include The Island of the Blue Dolphins (1960), The King's Fifth (1966), The Black Pearl (1967), Sing Down the Moon (1970), and Black Star, Bright Dawn (1988).

Music played on the programme

Johnny "Guitar" Watson: A Real Mother For Ya
From the 1977 album: A Real Mother For Ya
(Collectables)
Played at around 8:40

Jon Allen: Dead Man's Suit
From the 2009 album: Dead Man's Suit
(Monologue Records)
Played at around 11:10

Playing Favourites with Ross Harris

Auckland Philharmonia, conducted by Bundit Ungrangsee, with Madeleine Pierard (soprano): Ross Harris: Symphony No. 2 (second movement)
From the live Radio New Zealand broadcast recording, August 2005
Played at around 10:05

Mahinarangi Tocker: Forever
From the 2002 album: Hei Ha!
(Jayrem)
Played at around 10:25

Margaret Nielsen (piano): Lilburn Sonatina #2, Movement Three
From the 1995 album: Douglas Lilburn: Piano Music played by Margaret Nielsen
(Ode)
Played at around 10:35

The Mutton Birds: A Thing Well Made
From the 1992 album: The Mutton Birds
(Bag)
Played at around 10:45

Dan Poynton (piano): Jack Body: Five Melodies No. 1
From the 1997 album: You Hit Him He Cry Out
(Rattle)
Played at around 10:58

Goldenhorse: Riverhead
From the 2002 album: Riverhead
(Siren)
Played at around 11:40

Studio operators

Wellington engineer: Chris Adams
Auckland engineer: Jeremy Ansell
Christchurch engineer: Hamish Doake