Strange Frontiers (The Science Show, ABC Radio National) 2023-2024

Scientists work in some remarkable, unusual, hard-to-reach, and off-limits parts of the world. Join Carl Smith as he visits the researchers working on these Strange Frontiers.

Pacific Scientific (ABC Radio Australia & ABC Radio National) 2023-2024

From volcanoes to secretive vaults, isolated islands to idyllic coastlines, Pacific Scientific takes you deep into the region to meet the scientists and communities living and breathing science and research. Created by Carl Smith, with original reporting from a team of journalists across the region.

Chimeras in Medicine (The Health Report, ABC Radio National) 2022

At the cutting edge of medical science, humans and animals are being combined. Hear how in this two-part series which covers everything from xenotransplantation to ‘animal avatars’. A finalist for the 2022 Eureka Prize for Science Journalism.

Patient Zero (ABC Science) 2020-2021

Senior Producer of 2021 Eureka Prize-winning podcast Patient Zero which tells the stories of disease outbreaks: where they begin, why they happen and how we found ourselves in the middle of a really big one.

Short & Curly (ABC Audio Studios) 2016-present

Co-host and co-writer of Short & Curly, a fast-paced fun-filled ethics podcast for kids and their parents, with questions and ideas to really get you thinking. It asks curly questions about animals, technology, school, pop culture, and the future.

The APOCALYPSE (Science Friction, ABC RN) 2019

This three-part series featured on ABC RN’s Science Friction, looking at how well prepared society is for several catastrophic natural disasters.

The Mind’s Eye (All in the mind, ABC RN) 2018

It might surprise you that some people can't conjure an image in their mind's eye. Neurologists believe roughly 2 per cent of people have this condition. But how important is visualising something in your mind? Listen here.

Click-Sick (Science Friction, ABC RN) 2020

Series Producer of Click-Sick, a three part Science Friction series from ABC Science and ABC Radio National, which hunts down the sources, considers the harms, and shines a spotlight on fake health claims, winning the Barry Williams Award for Skeptical Journalism in 2020.

Bionic Bodies (The Science Show, ABC RN) 2017

Sight for the blind, hearing for the deaf, a body with functionality restored. These are the promises of bionics. In part 1 of his Walkley Award-winning series, Bionic Bodies, Carl Smith introduces the people whose lives have been changed, and the innovators behind remarkable results in the field of artificial body parts.

Electronic Music’s Origin Story (Sum of all Parts, ABC RN) 2019

Where and when did a digital computer play music for the first time? The surprising story of how Australia’s first computer started singing. Listen here.

The Library of Life on Earth (The Science Show, ABC RN) 2019

This documentary for ABC RN’s Science Show explored the uses of genomics in understanding the diversity of species on our planet - and examined the ways in which this genetic data is allowing us to peer back into the past.

Energy Futures (The Science Show, ABC RN) 2015

In this timely series, Energy Futures, Carl Smith examines Australia’s energy options beyond oil, coal and gas. Geothermal, wind, solar, wave energy, hydropower, nuclear and even waste by-products are all on the table.

Behind the News

Behind the News, or 'BTN', is the ABC's national current affairs program for children. BTN helps 7-13 year olds understand complex news and current affairs. Presented stories like this. Also helped kids them make stories like this, and filmed some stories, like this.

Sciencey

Writer and Researcher for the ABC series Sciencey. Bringing science to the table to help unpack questions like 'Does your dog love you?' and 'Why do earphones get tangled?'.

730 ACT

Current affairs reporting for the ABC program 730 ACT. One looked at geothermal energy, the other looked at a conservation practice called log jamming.

Landline

Filmed and reported on this story, operating as a video journalist in Broken Hill, South Australia.

ABC News

Regularly appearing live on ABC News. Filing TV packages for ABC Canberra and national ABC News bulletins. Including reporting on bionic eyes, the gaming industry, asbestos insulation, tractor beams, and a range of other stories.

Minibeast heroes

Presenter of this series for ABC Education and ABC R+D. Minibeast Heroes introduces school children to the weird and wonderful lives of insects. This series used motion capture (MOCAP) and facial recognition software to map my movements and gestures, mapping these onto an animated avatar.

Covering Climate Now Award (2024)

For this story about two marginalised communities — one in the US state of Georgia and one in Scotland — that have been neglected by their governments are taking matters into their own hands to defend against flooding, aided by scientists.

Australian Museum (2021) - Eureka Prize for Science Journalism

For the ABC Radio National podcast series Patient Zero, which tells stories of disease outbreaks: where they begin, why they happen and how we found ourselves in the middle of one.

Joint winner 2021 Eureka Prize as senior producer.

Also a finalist for the same Eureka Prize in 2020 and 2022

Walkley Award (2017) - Young Australian Journalist of the Year (longform)

For the ABC Radio National series Bionic Bodies which aired on The Science Show.

"These awards recognise and reward the hard work of our most outstanding young Australian journalists."

"Longform feature or special: This award focuses on narrative and/or investigative journalism skills and covers longform print/text pieces, video or television features and documentaries, radio/audio features and documentaries, including podcasts; and large multimedia projects, including those centred on data journalism."

Clarion Award for Health and Science Reporting (2023)

Judges’ comments: ‘Strange Frontiers’ was a stand-out example of excellence in health, medical or science reporting. The journalist combined multimedia storytelling and in-depth research to deliver insightful and impactful reporting on seriously complex science, which has the potential to change lives and society. The reporting was accessible, immersive, and stunningly produced.

University of Queensland Alumni Awards (2014) - UQ Distinguished Young Alumni Award

This award recognises young alumni (35 years or younger) whose early accomplishments inspire and provide leadership to students and alumni.

'Lizzies' Australian Tech Journalism Awards (2014) - Best New Journalist

The 'Alicia Camphuisen Best New Journalist' award recognises the best newcomer to technology journalism.

For the story 'The replaceable human body' on ABC Radio National's Future Tense.

Clarion Awards (2012 & 2013)

Most Outstanding Journalism Student (Metropolitan) in both years

Fellowships and Residencies (2022-2025)

Carl has also been a European Journalism Fellow at the Freie Universität Berlin (2025), Fellow in the Humboldt Residency Program (2025), Fellow in the MIP.labor programme (2023-24), Science Journalism Fellow for the European Geoscience Union (2023), 'Journalist in Residence' at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) in Germany (2022), plus a few others.