Sydney Ideas

The world has gotten used to hearing 'America First', but is it ready for 'Asia First'? Leading global strategy adviser and international bestselling author Dr Parag Khanna makes a case for why we need to start looking at the world, and future, from the Asian point of view. This event also featured: - Welcome by Professor Duncan Ivison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at the University of Sydney - Introduction by Professor James Der Derian, Director of the Centre for International Security Studies - Siobhán Moran-McFarlane led the conversation with Dr Khanna. Siobhán is a broadcast journalist and producer, and host of 'Another World' on Eastside Radio 89.7FM. Dr Khanna is the keynote speaker for the 2019 Michael Hintze Lecture, co-presented with the Centre for International Security Studies. This conversation was recorded on Tuesday 5 November, 2019 at the University of Sydney. For full details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/32bpqzq

Labour expert Professor Shae McCrystal, and Walkley Award-winning journalists Pamela Williams and Quentin Dempster, reflect on the shifting and precarious nature of work in Australia, since the watershed waterfront dispute in 1998. This conversation was recorded on Monday 28 October, 2019 at the University of Sydney and presented in partnership with The Walkley Foundation. Visit the website for more details: http://bit.ly/2ZkKGVh

Why are the arts critical to public health? How can we embed creative practice into healthcare to improve outcomes for all? Hear internationally renowned artists and researchers share their insights and case studies of exemplary practice: - Vic McEwan, The Cad Factory - Dr Clive Parkinson, Manchester School of Art - Dr Nicole Reilly, University of Newcastle (UON) - Akeshia Dart, mental health clinician and PhD candidate at UON - Dr Claire Hooker, University of Sydney and event chair This conversation was recorded on Monday 21 October, 2019 at the University of Sydney. The event marked the launch of the Arts Health Network (NSW/ACT). Connect with this new platform: https://www.artshealthnetwork.com.au/

What musical traditions do copyright laws protect and threaten? Do all musical cultures hold equal status in the eyes of the law? Over the last decade a spate of legal action related to unauthorised musical borrowing has made international headlines and thrust music copyright into the global spotlight. From 'Down Under' to 'Blurred Lines', court rooms around the world have been transformed into music lecture theatres in which the parameters of original musical thought have been charted, challenged and dissected. To unpack this topic, hear from: - Professor Ingrid Monson, Harvard University - Robert Yezerski, barrister - Dr Christopher Coady (Moderator), University of Sydney This conversation was recorded on Tuesday 8 October at the University of Sydney. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2mla9w9

Hear experts, including the Brain and Mind Centre's Professor Adam Guastella, explore how we might create cultures and environments that support neurodiversity, and recognise the varying levels of communication and experiences for people with autism. Featuring: - Professor Adam Guastella, Michael Crouch Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health and University of Sydney - Max Prineas, Bachelor of Music student at University of Sydney - Susannah Gregory, Disability Services Officer at University of Sydney - MC: Chloe Maxwell, TV presenter, model and founder of 4 ASD Kids This event was held on Wednesday 25 September, 2019 as part of Disability Inclusion Week. For more details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2krEDMm

Professor Chris Monroe is one of the world's foremost quantum technologists and he explains the rise of what promises to be a revolutionary technology of the 21st century. In his talk 'Quantum computing with atoms', Chris shares how he and IonQ use high-precision laser light to control networks of entangled trapped atomic ions to build machines that will have the ability to solve problems beyond the most powerful supercomputers. Chris was joined by Associate Professor Maryanne Large to explore how quantum computing will impact our lives, from disruption to cryptography, finance and shopping to personalised medicine, redesigned industrial chemistry and a revolution in materials science. This event was held on Wednesday 2 October, 2019 at the University of Sydney. For more details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2Ma5veS

The promise of precision medicine is that it could offer better health outcomes by targeting patients’ genetic and biochemical make-up to pinpoint, predict, prevent and treat diseases. Can it deliver on this? Hear world-renowned thinkers explore some of the key issues around precision medicine. They analyse the realities of disease prediction, economics, ethics, clinical applications and the balance between the personal and the public benefit. Featuring: - Professor Sandro Galea, Boston University - Professor Sarah Wordsworth, University of Oxford - Professor Christopher Semsarian, University of Sydney - Associate Professor Ainsley Newson, University of Sydney - (Chair) Professor Robyn Ward, University of Sydney This conversation was recorded on Wednesday 2 October, 2019 at the University of Sydney. For details about the event, speaker lineup and more, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2m7Ja6Y

How do the harmful effects of chemicals go undetected, and what can we do to better protect against this? Public health expert Professor Tim Driscoll and Walkley Award-winning journalists Kerry O'Brien and Carrie Fellner discuss. This conversation was recorded on Thursday 19 September, 2019 at the University of Sydney and presented in partnership with The Walkley Foundation. Visit the website for more details: http://bit.ly/33SuTNa

How might understanding childhood development lead to genuinely intelligent machines? Young children are actually better at learning unusual or unlikely principles than adults. Professor Alison Gopnik's research relates this pattern to computational ideas about search and sampling, evolutionary ideas about human life history, and neuroscience findings about plasticity. This talk was recorded on Wednesday 11 September at the University of Sydney. For more details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2kN7CdH

How can we close the widening gap between rich and poor? Political economist Frank Stilwell draws from his new book on inequality to bring this problem into sharp focus. How did we get here, and what can we — as citizens and as a nation — do about it? Although governments are often committed to ‘growth at all costs’ and ‘trickle-down’ economics, Frank argues that alternative public policies could be used to narrow the wealth gap. This conversation was recorded on Tuesday 10 September, 2019 at the University of Sydney during Social Sciences Week. Lisa Adkins, Head of School of Social and Political Sciences, introduced the event. Frank was in conversation with journalist Michael Janda. For more details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2ZdEFL3

Improving our cities and housing conditions can increase our quality of life, prevent disease, and help mitigate climate change. What does this look like in practice, and how might we get to this place? Hear from experts including: - Dr. David Jacobs, National Centre for health and housing (U.S.) - Associate Professor Luke Knibbs, University of Queensland - Dr Jennifer Kent, University of Sydney - Professor Nicole Gurran from University of Sydney (Event Chair) This conversation was recorded on Monday 9 September, and held as part of The Festival of Urbanism. Visit the website for more details: https://bit.ly/2lUXlwb

The unprecedented challenges on our collective horizon require a shift in thinking from the factional to the civic. Are we as a nation prepared to embrace a bold vision to craft a long-term future for our country? What might that vision look like? The Honourable Kevin Rudd AC and Professor Marc Stears, Director of the Sydney Policy Lab, discuss alternative visions for Australia’s future. This conversation was recorded on Thursday 29 August, 2019 at the University of Sydney. For more details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2M5wPMm

What are the consequences of the choices we make when we feed our animal companions>? How does this affect other animals, the environment and even our own wellbeing? Hear from experts including: - Dr Michelle Shaw, Taronga Conservation Society Australia - Professor David Raubenheimer, University of Sydney - Dr Roger Bektash, past President of Pet Food Industry of Australia - Dr Andrea Harvey, Independent Veterinary Consultant in Feline Medicine - Dr Anne Fawcett, University of Sydney - (Chair) Dr Bidda Jones, RSPCA Australia This conversation was recorded on Wednesday 28 August at the University of Sydney. The event was presented in collaboration with the Centre for Veterinary Education, in memory of the late Dr Robert Dixon. Visit the website for more details about the event and speakers: http://bit.ly/2MWXomS

Ageing is the main cause of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Given this inexorable link, can we extend our lifespan without risking our health and quality of life? For further reading, Professor Luigi Fontana from the Charles Perkins Centre shares his key tips on how your dietary habits can help you to live longer and reduce risk of heart attack. Visit the website to learn more: http://bit.ly/2m1alAF

What does national security, data security and the changing face of legislation mean for free speech and our right to know? Reporter Vicky Xiuzhong Xu, The Chaser's Julian Morrow and political theorist Professor Tim Soutphommasane examine the state of affairs.

As the online world increasingly spills into the real world, urgent questions are being asked about the need to regulate the world’s digital platforms. How do we govern and enforce internet controls? Where is the cyber frontier, and how is it being weaponised? What big data and privacy issues we should be thinking about? This conversation was recorded on Thursday 15 August, 2019 at a Sydney Ideas event, as part of the ASEAN Forum. Learn more: http://bit.ly/31XAMXm

What is the limit of our brain capacity and how can we translate potential brainpower into powerful discoveries? Fernando Calamante from Sydney Imaging talks about mapping structural networks in the brain. Neurologist Michael Barnett, from Brain and Mind Centre, follows on to explain how these networks can be affected in disease. Physicist Céline Boehm explores the recent images of black holes and dark matter. Philosopher David Braddon-Mitchell brings these ideas together, and to close, is a performance by sound artist Benjamin Carey. This conversation was chaired by Duncan Ivison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at the University of Sydney. It was recorded on Tuesday 20 August at a Sydney Ideas event, as part of Innovation Week 2019, which celebrates landmark discoveries and transformative inventions by the University's academics and students. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2Ltpgid

How does our identity determine how we use our time? Economist Daniel Hamermesh will discuss the role of income inequality and how it affects the things we buy and do. He presents a radical proposal to reassess what we value with our time. This event was recorded on Monday 12 August at the University of Sydney. More details and to check out our reading list: https://bit.ly/2KXpFab

Polar regions are increasingly at the centre of environmental, geo-political and cultural shifts. Our panel discuss how our relationship with the polar regions has changed in the 21st century and what the polar regions reveal about the broader environmental challenges facing the world today, as we collectively combat climate change and unpack its deeper implications. Hear from Tim Stephens, Rohan Howitt, Elizabeth Leane, with Glenda Sluga moderating the conversation. This event was recorded on Tuesday 6 August at the University of Sydney. More details and to check out our reading list: http://bit.ly/33yMaea

As global movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp rapidly gain momentum in exposing systemic sexual assault and abuse, the military appears to have been left behind. To unpack this issue, and discuss how we might address it, are a panel of world leading experts including: - Ellen Haring, Service Women's Action Network - Eda Gunaydin, University of Sydney - Shannon Sampert, University of Winnipeg - Antonieta Rico, Women in International Security - Samantha Crompvets, Rapid Context - Megan Mackenzie (chair), University of Sydney This event was recorded on Wednesday 17 July at the University of Sydney. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2GEYH5L.