Science on radio

Press, 28 October 1981, Page 23

Science on radio

The control of insect pests is of vital importance to man for they can destroy our food crops and spread disease. The trouble is that so many pests are difficult to get rid of because they have become immune to most insecticides, or at least those regarded as safe. Also, insecticides can be very expensive to produce and supply. That is why more and more research is going into biological control. This means finding some other parasitic insect which will move in with the pest, so to speak, kill, it and leave the crops disease free. Advances in such “parasitic hymenoptera” research are discussed on the 8.8. C science programme this week on Concert at 7.30 tonight. Another topic explored is that of some new ideas about schizophrenia. The Oxford English Dictionary defines schizophrenia as, “a form of mental disease in which the personality is disintegrated and detached from its environment.” However, Dr David Hemsley of the Institute of Psychiatry in London says that his research has led him to believe that the schizophrenic is in fact suffering not from too little reality, but perhaps too much. He explains his ideas on the programme. Lunchtime series Again this year Radio New Zealand recorded for Concert programme broadcast a

series of Wellington lunchtime concerts. The first, being broadcast this evening at 8.00, features the talents of Kenneth Young, tuba; Diedre Irons, piano; Stephen Popperwell, oboe; and Jan Christensen, harp. The programme is made of music by Marcello, Young, EckhardtGramatte and Hindemith, concluding with the Hindemith 1955 Sonata for tuba and piano. Radio play The third and final of Stan Barstow’s plays about the life and times of Vic Brown can be heard on the National programme tonight at 8.45. In “The Right True End" Vic emerges to maturity with the realisation he is unlikely to find a lasting peace. Perhaps, however, he has found the start of something that will service in its place. New Mahler Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in D minor, a major work which employs a vocal soloist and choral forces with orchestra, can be heard on a new London Philharmonic recording on Concert at 9.06 p.m. The conductor is Klaus Tennstedt and the orchestra is supplemented by contralto soloist Ortrun Wenkel, Ladies of the London Philharmonic Choir and the Southend Boys’ Choir.

Listening