BNHRC pair up for ABC top 5

Dr Chantelle Doyle in the ABC newsroom. Image supplied.

BREAKING NEWS: In October 2025, BNHRC researchers Dr. Chantelle Blachut and Dr. Chantelle Doyle spent two weeks at ABC Radio National alongside some of the country's best specialist journalists and producers.

Drs Blachut and Doyle now report....

“Way back in June we both received a phone call from the wonderful Simon Nicholas, telling us that we had been selected as TWO of the ABC Top 5 for 2025!

“Unsure if the panel had simply confused the two Chantelles from UNSW, we nonetheless threw ourselves into the opportunity before us. Along with three other scientists from around Australia, we would have the extraordinary privilege of spending two weeks meeting and being trained by a selection of the incredible talent at the ABC.

“We were greeted with generosity of knowledge but also a rare willingness to share information, and an openness to answer any, and all questions.”

Some of the ABC Top Fivers at the Radio National studio. Back row L-R: Dr Howe Zhu, USyd; Dr Patrick Finnerty, USyd; ABC Science broadcaster Robyn Williams; Dr Amal Osman, Flinders University. Front row L-R: Dr Chantelle Blachut and Dr Chantelle Doyle, both UNSW and BNHRC

Of all the lessons the most memorable to Chantelle Doyle was that communication is two-way listening (according to Chantelle Blachut and ABC presenter Lindy Burns); and that authenticity, kindness and generosity (as per ABC reporter Nas Campanella) will never be out of fashion.

Chantelle Blachut found herself impressed by the unwavering dedication of many at the ABC (including Dr Karl and Tom Saunders) to doing all they could to bring science to dinner tables across the nation.

“Surprisingly,” they continue, “it was an informal coffee with the Chair of the ABC board, Kim Williams, that left us both with a sense of hope for the future.

“We confirmed the importance of a strong focus on accuracy and reliability in the stories we create, as well as consolidation of the goal to both inform and entertain. Something all scientists can learn from.

“After two incredible weeks, we both feel more comfortable in taking on roles in the scientific communication space. “

Dr Chantelle Blachut takes the mic. Image supplied

For Chantelle Doyle, is the next steps are not to showcase her work but rather to reflect back through new partnerships with the ABC, the extraordinary work of the people she is privileged to know, and to showcase some of the amazing plant diversity across Australia. 

Chantelle Blachut shares similar thoughts, but now more than ever she realises that it is up to each of us to step up and start spreading conversations of science like wildfire.

'Genetic rescue helps struggling native plant species' Listen to Dr Chantelle Doyle's interview here

'How maths explains nature's weirdness' Listen to Dr Chantelle Blachut’s interview here