Why would you want to mesmerise a chook? Rob Morrison explains that sometimes you might need to keep a chicken still – to give it medicine, for example. That’s hard to do if you’ve got both hands full, trying to hold it down. Morrison takes us through a demonstration of the mesmerising technique - not once, but twice – without apparently harming or frightening the chicken, who hops up and walks away, feathers unruffled.

His combination of kindness and practicality makes him a perfect host for The Curiosity Show’s school-age audience. As well as teaching a clever technique for calming an anxious bird, his actions and commentary underline the importance of not tormenting or frightening it.

The playful, hands-on style of Morrison and co-host Deane Hutton made the long-running Curiosity Show (1972–1990) a hit with children and educators alike, and a staple of Australian science communication.