Karl Kruszelnicki

Karl Kruszelnicki AM
Dr Karl at a University of Sydney open day on 26 August 2006
Born	1948 (age 62–63) Helsingborg, Sweden
Residence	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia[1]
Other names	Dr Karl
Education	Edmund Rice College
Alma mater	University of Wollongong
Occupation	Science journalist, author and broadcaster
Years active	1981–present
Known for	Popular science
Notable works	Great Moments in Science
Home town	Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Television	Quantum Sleek Geeks
Title	The Julius Sumner Miller Fellow, Science Foundation for Physics, University of Sydney
Term	1994–present
Awards	Ig Nobel Prize (2002) Australian Father of the Year (2003)
Website
DrKarl.com Dr Karl on ABC.net.au

Karl Kruszelnicki AM^[2] is a scientist, who is best known as an author and science commentator on Australian radio and television. He is often referred to as Dr Karl.

He holds degrees in mathematics, biomedical engineering, medicine and surgery. He has also studied astrophysics, computer science, and philosophy. He has worked as a physicist, labourer, roadie for bands, car mechanic, film-maker, hospital scientific officer, biomedical engineer, TV weatherman, taxi driver, and medical doctor. Kruszelnicki is the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow in the Science Foundation for Physics at the School of Physics, University of Sydney.^[3] Julius Sumner Miller’s main claim to fame was selling chocolate for the Cadbury company.

Education

• 1960 to 1964: Secondary School Education at Edmund Rice Christian Brothers College in Wollongong, NSW. Received Commonwealth Scholarship to University.

• 1965 to 1967: Tertiary Education at the Wollongong Campus of the University of New South Wales, reading for a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics. (B. Sc.).

• 1968 to 1969: Read for a Master of Science (Qualifying) in Astrophysics at the Wollongong Campus of the University of New South Wales. (M. Sc. (Qual.)).

• 1977: Studied as a miscellaneous student in Computer Science at the University of New South Wales.

• 1978: Commenced reading for a Master of Biomedical Engineering at the University of New South Wales (part-time).

• 1979–1980: Full-time student at the University of New South Wales. Received two scholarships – Commonwealth Government Scholarship in 1979 and Lions Fellowship in 1980. Studied under Dr. Peter Gouras in Jan/Feb 1980 at the Columbia University Presbyterian Physician's and Surgeon's Hospital in New York to gain extra knowledge in the field of electroretinography (detecting electrical signals from the human retina). Designed and built an electroretinograph. This device is still in use at the Prince of Wales Hospital, in association with the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation. Completed degree of Master of Biomedical Engineering. (M. Biomed. E.).

• 1981 to 1984: Read for degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Sydney. Awarded Grafton Elliot Smith Memorial Prize for Anatomy in 1982. Awarded Alexander James Scholarship for Community Medicine in 1984.

• 1982: Elected Member of the Australian Institute of Physics. (M.A.I.P.).

• 1986: Completed Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. (MB, BS).^[4]

Journalism, television and radio

Kruszelnicki wrote and presented the first series of Quantum. He writes a weekly column for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald newspapers on scientific "mythconceptions". His radio work includes a weekly science talkback show on Triple J which attracts up to 300,000 listeners and is available as a podcast. He often helps with other science and education Triple J promotions, such as the Sleek Geek Week roadshow with Adam Spencer and Caroline Pegram.

In the United Kingdom, he appears on a live weekly late-night link-up on BBC Radio 5 Live's Up All Night, usually with Rhod Sharp (Thursdays 03:00 UK time), answering science questions.

He has had cameo appearances in a number of television series including Pizza (screened on SBS) and Neighbours. In the Neighbours episode, he was confused with the Dr Karl character of that series. From early 2008 onward he co-hosted a TV series of Sleek Geeks with Adam Spencer.

Kruszelnicki fronts the Roads and Traffic Authority microsleep awareness campaign and presents segments on The Weather Channel.

Politics

Kruszelnicki was an unsuccessful candidate for the Australian Senate in the 2007 Australian federal election. He was placed number two on the Climate Change Coalition ticket in New South Wales.^[5]

Recognition and awards

One of Kruszelnicki's more notable undertakings was his part in a research project on belly button fluff, for which he received an Ig Nobel Prize in 2002. He received the Australian Father of the Year award in 2003. In the 2006 Honours list, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.^[2]

Writing

As of 2008^[update], Kruszelnicki has written 30 kids books, along with numerous lecture series (utilising material that often ends up in his books, or vice versa). Some of these lecture series and books have been televised for events such as Science Week, with him supplying voice overs and sometimes appearing in claymation.

• Latest Great Moments in Science, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Enterprises, Sydney, Australia, ISBN 0-7333-0144-4
• Spacescape, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, (Australia), 1992, ISBN 0729511006
• Absolutely Fabulos Moments in Science, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Enterprises, Sydney, Australia, 1994, ISBN 0-7333-0407-9
• Sensational Moments in Science, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Enterprises, Sydney, Australia, 1995, ISBN 0-7333-0456-7'
• Pigeon Poo the Universe & Car Paint – and other awesome science moments, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 1996, ISBN 0-7322-5723-9
• Flying Lasers, Robofish and Cities of Slime – and other brain-bending science moments, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 1997, ISBN 0-7322-5874-X
• Dr Karl's Collection of Great Australian Facts & Firsts

1. Ears, Gears and Gadgets, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 1997, ISBN 0-207-19610-9.

2. Forests, Fleece & Prickly Pears, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 1997, ISBN 0-207-19611-7

3. Flight, Food & Thingummygigs, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 1997, ISBN 0-207-19612-5.

• Munching Maggots, Noah's Flood and TV Heart Attacks and other cataclysmic science moments, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 1998, ISBN 0-7322-5858-8.
• Fidgeting Fat, Exploding Meat & Gobbling Whirly Birds – New Moments 4, 1999.
• Q&A With Dr. K – Why It Is So. Headless Chickens, Bathroom Queues and Belly Button Blues, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2001, ISBN 0-7322-5855-3.
• Dr. Karl's Collection of Great Australian Facts & Firsts, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2002, ISBN 0-207-19860-8.
• Bumbreath, Botox and Bubbles and other Fully Sick Science Moments, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2003, ISBN 0-7322-6715-3.
• Great Mythconceptions – Cellulite, Camel Humps and Chocolate Zits, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2004, ISBN 0-7322-8062-1.
• Dis Information and Other Wikkid Myths: More Great Myths In Science, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2005, ISBN 0-7322-8060-5.
• It Ain't Necessarily So Bro, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2006, ISBN 0-7322-8061-3.
• Please Explain, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia, 2007, ISBN 0-7322-8535-6.
• Science Is Golden, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia 2008 ISBN 0-7332-8536-4.
• Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Science, HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd, Australia 2009, ISBN 0-7322-8537-2.
• Dinosaurs Aren't Dead, Pan Macmillan Pty Limited, Australia 2010 ISBN 978-0-330-42579-7
• Curious and Curiouser, Pan Macmillan Pty Limited, Australia 2010

References

1. ^ "Author: Karl Kruszelnicki". Australia: HarperCollins. 2008. http://www.harpercollins.com.au/authors/50000584/Karl_Kruszelnicki/index.aspx. Retrieved 10 July 2010. "He lives with his family in Sydney." 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Myth-buster Dr Karl makes honours list". Nine News. Australian Associated Press (Nine MSN). 26 January 2006. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=83604. Retrieved 10 July 2010. 
3. ^ Dr Karl Kruszelnicki — The Julius Sumner Miller Fellow – Physics – The University of Sydney. Physics.usyd.edu.au (2010-05-03). Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
4. ^ Degrees of Karl. DrKarl.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
5. ^ Dr Karl to Run for the Senate on Climate Change. Climatechangecoalition.com.au. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.

External links

• Dr Karl on the ABC website
• Dr Karl's Great Moments in Science
• Dr Karl's Science on Mornings on Triple J
• Dr Karl's page with the University of Sydney Science Foundation
• Interview with Andrew Denton
• "Dr Karl's Dis-Information" – talk at The Dana Centre, London
• Nonsense from Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki: The Hindenburg and Hydrogen

Persondata
Name	Kruszelnicki, Karl
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1948
Place of birth	Helsingborg, Sweden
Date of death
Place of death