Sydney Ideas

Hear from one of the greatest astrophysicists and role models of our time. Best known for her discovery of pulsars, Jocelyn Bell Burnell has paved a path for furthering scientific knowledge and education. This talk was recorded on Tuesday 16 July, 2019 at the University of Sydney. Visit this page for more: https://bit.ly/2JAlj8m

The world has traditionally relied heavily on the 'business as usual model' of industrial food production and supermarket-oriented consumption. However, this system is not sustainable if we’re to secure a healthy future for people and the planet. Hear from Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food; OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn and Mario Herrero from CSIRO, as they share insights into how we might address food security. Visit the website for for information including Hilal's slides and further resources: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/food-security.html

Climate change, resource extraction and increasing levels of extinction present unprecedented challenges. How can the humanities and social sciences help us to respond to the biodiversity crisis in a more just way, which transforms how we protect the foundations of life on our planet? This podcast was recorded on Thursday 19 June 2019 at the University of Sydney: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/biodiversity-and-extinction.html

Humans' contribution to climate change is an important prompt for us to consider other global injustices that we may not immediately connect to this hotly-debated topic. Hear from internationally renowned scholars Petra Tschakert, Maan Barua and Makere Stewart-Harawira, as they respond to this question of justice. The discussion was chaired by University of Sydney's David Schlosberg. This podcast was recorded on Thursday 13 June 2019 at the University of Sydney: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/social-economic-futures-climate-change.html

How does language determine what we know or how we experience the world? As the online realm increasingly converges with our offline experiences, it raises an important question: whose knowledge dominates these new spaces? Whose voices are missing, and what are the consequences of these inequities? This podcast was recorded on Wednesday 12 June at the University of Sydney: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/wikipedia-and-knowledge-equity.html

Language is sometimes viewed as a window on the mind, but it is equally a tool, a weapon, or perhaps most accurately: a remote control device. Are we controlled by language? Content warning: this podcast contains course language and discusses violence. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast was recorded on Thursday 6 June at the University of Sydney: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/does-language-control-us.html

Insights from the past to transform our environmental future Archaeology can help us understand how climate and environmental change in our recent and distant past shapes our future. Join us as we delve into the little-known world of environmental archaeology, during National Archaeology Week. This event was held on Wednesday 22 May at the University of Sydney https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/national-archaeology-week-environment.html

As part of Seymour's Centre's premiere season of 'Made to Measure' by Alana Valentine, this special Sydney Ideas event explores the role the arts has to play in investigating major public health issues. Following a performance of the play, writer Alana Valentine, University of Sydney's Professor Stephen Simpson and dressmaker Santina Porpiglia, had a discussion about art and science working together and its contributions in shifting perceptions. This podcast was recorded on Tuesday 21 May at the Seymour Centre: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/made-to-measure.html

When a rare medical condition (limb girdle muscular dystrophy) struck Monkol Lek in his early twenties, he took matters into his own hands and retrained in human genetics at the University of Sydney at Westmead. Monkol is now at the forefront of genetic research at Yale and his findings so far have the potential to be game changing for a number of diseases. Hear him share insights into his incredible work and story. This was recorded at a Sydney Ideas event held on Monday 20 May at the University of Sydney. For a transcript of the event and more information, visit our website: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/monkol-lek.html

Student activism in China dates back 100 years, but since their emergence as a political force in 1919, students have influenced and inspired landmark protests across the 20th century and beyond. On 4 June 1989 the world watched on in horror as the Beijing spring protests by Chinese students were brutally repressed by military intervention. The foundation for that momentous and tragic event was laid in Beijing on 4 May 1919 when students took to the streets of the Chinese capital for the first time to protest the terms of the Versailles treaty. From that day on, student activism became an almost constant element and 'students' emerged as important advocates for political thought and practice. This event was held on Tuesday 7 May at the University of Sydney and co-presented with China Studies Centre, the Department of History and the Sydney School of Education and Social Work: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/student-activism-china.html

This year marks the 150th birthday anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose vision and leadership led to the independence of India against British colonial rule more than 70 years ago. Join us to reflect on the life, learnings and legacy of Gandhi in this event with Gandhian scholar Dr Shobhana Radhakrishna and University of Sydney's Professor Elizabeth Hill and Professor John Shields. Learn more: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/mahatma-gandhi.html

How we can better understand the conflict between scientific and Indigenous knowledge? For more than 60 years the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC had stolen ancestral remains in its collection. It was only recently that the bones were repatriated. This story kicks off our conversation for this event, which focuses on the roles of film, history and culture in advancing the repatriation debate. 'Etched in Bone' is a film that explores the role of Aboriginal leadership in repatriating ancestral remains, and it places film documentary within the complexity of Indigenous knowledge, its preservation and its precariousness. Hear from the filmmakers and academic experts discuss international repatriation and the ethical complexities of their interaction. This event was held on Wednesday 10 April, 2019 at the University of Sydney. Learn more: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/etched-in-bone-indigenous-repatriation.html

University of Cambridge Professor Herbert Huppert leads this insightful conversation on how global temperatures in the earth's atmosphere has increased over time and what we can do to stop potential calamity. With climate change being a very real and looming threat, this talk offers insights into the science behind what’s happening and how we can deal with such challenges through individual, collective and political action. This event was held on Wednesday 17 April, 2019 at the University of Sydney. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/herbert-huppert-fluid-mechanics-atmospheric-temperatures.html

What is nano 3D printing, and how will it transform our lives? In this talk, world-renowned nanotechnology expert Professor Martin Wegener from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology will give an introduction into one of science's most exciting and rapidly evolving technologies. Professor Wegener was joined by University of Sydney Professor Hala Zreiqat, whose work is focused on using this technology to improve health outcomes, create economic benefits and advance a skilled workforce in nano technology. The podcast was recorded from an event held on Tuesday 9 April, 2019 at the University of Sydney. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/nano-3d-printing.html

Diabetes is arguably one of Australia's greatest health challenges and fastest-growing chronic conditions. But landmark research shows that type 2 diabetes could be preventable at any life stage - whether you are still young, starting a family, or middle-old age. PREVIEW is a landmark study in diabetes prevention and weight loss management. In this talk, leading researchers from the study will draw on the findings and learnings to share new solutions on how to determine risk, avoid developing type 2 diabetes and safely lose a large amount of weight. This event was held on Tuesday 9 April 2019 at the University of Sydney and was co-presented with Charles Perkins Centre. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/diabetes-prevention.html

From ending poverty to climate action, reducing inequality and ensuring quality education — the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The aim is to set the agenda for 2030 with a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity, now and into the future. Where does Australia sit with this plan now, almost five years since its inception? Hear from leading advocates including John McArthur, Dr Alana Mann, Patricia Garcia AO and Sam Mostyn. Anthony Capon, Professor of Planetary Health at the University of Sydney moderated the conversation. This event was held on Thursday 28 March at the University of Sydney, and was co-presented with the University's Planetary Health Platform and Sydney Environment Institute. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/sustainable-development-goals-john-mcarthur.html

What are the pathways to cultural change? How do we initiate, nurture, but most importantly, entrench cultural change? The University's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence, gender equality advocate Elizabeth Broderick AO and journalist Sarah Ferguson explored the most important factors in cultural change movements, and the positive impact for individuals, organisations and society. This event was held on Wednesday 27 March at the University of Sydney. Visit the website to access a transcript of the event: http://bit.ly/2K4KCmi

How is hate shaping society? And what must we do about it? Political philosopher Tim Soutphommasane, reflects on race relations and multiculturalism in Australia and beyond, and what it means for democracy worldwide. In his new book, On Hate, Tim Soutphommasane analyses the troubling rise of nationalist populism and the return of race politics. This event was co-presented with Sydney Policy Lab and School of Social and Political Sciences. It was held on Thursday 21 March, 2019 at the University of Sydney: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/on-hate-and-race-politics-tim-soutphommasane.html

Hear from women’s rights champion, Tina Tchen, who delivered a keynote address as part of the University of Sydney’s celebrations for International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March, 2019. Sydney Ideas has partnered with the University’s Diversity and Inclusion team to welcome Tina to our Camperdown campus. She is a leading global voice on issues of gender inequity, sexual harassment, and diversity at work, and co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which connects survivors of workplace sexual harassment with legal and public relations assistance. Tina was joined in conversation with two of the University’s most influential and respected female leaders – Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Strategy and Services) and Professor Annamarie Jagose (Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence, provided closing remarks. Tina Tchen also appeared at the Sydney Opera House’s annual festival ‘All About Women’ on Sunday 10 March, 2019. https

What is the cost of cashing in on global surveillance? Surveillance has become an unavoidable presence in our everyday lives - it's embedded in our culture. As corporations profit from its rapid growth, inevitable questions about the impact on our society and ethics must be addressed. This Sydney Ideas discussion includes a talk from David Lyon the Director of the Surveillance Studies Centre and Professor of Sociology and Professor of Law at Queen’s University and Dr Benedetta Brevini the Senior Lecturer in Communication and Media at the University of Sydney and Visiting Fellow of the Centre for Law, Justice and Journalism at City University. Held on 7 March 2019: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/surveillance-capitalism-david-lyon.html