The Peer Revue

Smart meets silly in The Peer Revue, where cutting-edge research fuels improv comedy.

Each month a different superstar researcher tells stories from their research, which will inspire a cast of talented improvisers to create brand new, unscripted comedy.

The Peer Revue is a hilarious celebration of science, philosophy, history, art, and all things academic. You’ll laugh, and you also might learn.

On 21 November 2016, thousands of Melbournians unexpectedly developed breathing difficulties and were hospitalised. Ten people died, and ambulances were delayed for hours dealing with unprecedented demand. The culprit: the world’s largest ever epidemic thunderstorm asthma event. The technology for detecting these events has remained largely unchanged since the 1950s… until our guest for March came along. Kira (Morgan) Hughes is developing technologies for detecting the tiny particles that cause thunderstorm asthma. The life-saving sensor she is developing is so small it could one day be worn like wrist watch. Kira is a doctoral researcher at Deakin University’s NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL) and a Research Scientist and Site Coordinator for the Melbourne Pollen Count.