Karl Kruszelnicki holding a copy of his book Sensational Moments in Science at a university open day

Karl Sven Woytek Sas Konkovitch Matthew Kruszelnicki, AM (born 1948^[1] in Helsingborg, Sweden) is a scientist, who is best known as an author and science commentator on Australian radio and television. He is usually referred to as Karl Kruszelnicki or 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.^[2]

[edit] Education

Kruszelnicki attended high school at Edmund Rice College in Wollongong. He received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in physics and mathematics from the University of Wollongong. He completed a Master of Biomedical Engineering degree (MBiomedE) from the University of New South Wales and also received Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degrees from the University of Sydney in 1986.

[edit] Journalism, TV 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 UK, he appears on a live weekly late-night link-up on BBC Radio Five Live's Up All Night, usually with Rhod Sharp (Thursdays 3.00am 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. In early 2008 he co-hosted a TV series of Sleek Geeks with Adam Spencer.

Kruszelnicki fronts the RTA microsleep awareness campaign and presents segments on The Weather Channel.

[edit] 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.^[3]

[edit] Recognition and awards

• 2003: Australian Father Of The Year award.

[edit] Ig Nobel Prize

One of Kruszelnicki's most famous undertakings was his part in a research project on belly button fluff, for which he received an Ig Nobel Prize.

[edit] Writing

As of December 2008, Kruszelnicki has written 27 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 Dr Karl 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 Fabulous 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 Aint 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.

[edit] Criticism

Kruszelnicki has been criticized for a lack of objectivity and the use of unreliable sources with regard to his advocacy of hydrogen-powered automobiles and the use of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels.^[4]

[edit] References

1. ^ Karl Kruszelnicki. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.
2. ^ http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/about/jsm.shtml
3. ^ Dr Karl to Run for the Senate on Climate Change
4. ^ Nonsense from Dr. Karl: Hydrogen and the Hindenburg

[edit] External links

• Dr Karl's Great Moments in Science
• Dr Karl's homepage at the ABC
• Dr Karl's Science on Mornings on triple j
• Audio of Dr Karl's Science on Mornings on triple j
• Dr Karl's Great Moments in Science on the ABC website
• Dr Karl's bio page on the ABC Website
• 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
• Awarded Order of Australia
• Dr Karl's personal website