Sydney Ideas

How adaptable are our big city birds to the urban environment and what impact we humans are having on them? Discover some significant citizen science projects and how you can get involved. Drawing on the latest research, in this Sydney Ideas event you will hear powerful short talks about our local birdlife. Featuring: – Professor Dieter Hochuli, ecologist at the University of Sydney, on the brush turkey; – Dr Holly Parsons from BirdLife Australia on the powerful owl; – Dr John Martin, research scientist at Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, on the much-maligned ibis; – Professor David Phalen (University of Sydney), who talks about a new study that aims to identify the causes of a devastating disease affecting Rainbow Lorikeets; – Dr Lucy Aplin from the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behaviour, explains the unique bin-opening behaviour of clever sulphur-crested cockatoos, and; – Associate Professor Kurt Iveson, urban geographer from the University of Sydney, moderates this event. Visit the Syd

As Australia looks to reopen, and in the week NSW emerges from lockdown, we examine the path to reopening and how we can rebuild Australian society looking forward. Drawing upon the work of the Open Society, Common Purpose taskforce hosted at the University of Sydney, we ask: What do we need to get right? Featuring: – Professor Catherine Bennett, epidemiologist, Deakin University – Dr Nick Coatsworth, infectious disease physician, ANU – Dr Luara Ferracioli, Senior Lecturer in Political Philosophy, The University of Sydney – Professor Adam Guastella, Michael Crouch Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health, University of Sydney – Professor Fiona Russell, paediatrician and epidemiologist, The University of Melbourne – Mark Rigotti, Senior Adviser at Herbert Smith Freehills and Chair of the Open Society, Common Purpose taskforce – Professor Tim Soutphommasane, political theorist, The University of Sydney – Professor Marc Stears, Director of Sydney Policy Lab, The University of Sydney This conversation was reco

How do changes to our sleep and body rhythms affect our health, wellbeing and diseases of the brain? In the lead up to Mental Health Month, discover some fascinating new research emerging from the University of Sydney and beyond. Fran Kelly, Breakfast presenter on ABC Radio National, moderates an expert panel featuring: – Associate Professor Sean Cain, circadian rhythms expert from Monash University – Dr Jacob Crouse, post-doctoral research fellow with the Youth Mental Health & Technology Team at the Brain and Mind Centre – Professor Sharon Naismith, clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Sydney This discussion was recorded on 23 September, 2021. For more information and resources, including a transcript, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3CFlfOn – this is where you can also find our music playlist of tracks to wind down to, as recommended by the panel.

After being involved in two decades of occupying the country, what responsibilities does Australia owe to the people of Afghanistan? What more needs to be done by the Australian and other allied governments? This conversation brings together Afghan Australians Mujib Abid who recently escaped from Kabul with his family, and Shukufa Tahiri, former Policy Officer with the Refugee Council, as well as leading academic experts to share their insights. Hear from our panel including: Mujib Abid, University of Sydney alumnus (Master of Peace and Conflict Studies) and PhD candidate at the School of Political Science & International Studies at University of Queensland. Professor Mary Crock, Co-Director of the Sydney Centre for International Law. Her expertise spans immigration and refugee law, and she is regularly cited in the media, research papers, and in Australia's Federal Courts and High Court. Professor William Maley AM, Professor in the Department of International Relations at ANU, barrister and Vice-President

A philosopher, an improv comedian, a psychologist and an economist walk into a Sydney Ideas webinar... to discuss happiness. Can we find ways to be happier than we were before, while in the face of ongoing uncertainty and a global pandemic? Happiness. There are entire industries dedicated to helping us find it. Endless social media advice, self-help books and gurus promising health, wealth and happiness if only you do that one thing. But it can be hard to feel happy in the face of a pandemic – extended lockdowns, the chaos and uncertainty of working from home, of home-schooling, or simply feeling like everything is just relentless. What are we really chasing, and why? What is the difference between being happy with your life compared to being happy in your life Featuring: – Rebecca De Unamuno, award-winning improviser and comedian – Dan Nahum, economist with the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work – Dr Tim Sharp, Australia's very own 'Dr Happy', at the forefront of the positive psychology movem

Vaccines offer a way out of COVID but its success is not without challenges. How do we overcome the gaps in understanding so that we’re backing the best chance we have in keeping ourselves and the community safe? Facilitated by ABC’s Tegan Taylor (co-host of Australia's chart-topping health podcast, Coronacast), this discussion is grounded in the science, with insights from experts from the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, including: – Professor Cheryl Jones, paediatric infectious diseases physician and Head of School and Dean of Sydney Medical School, who is also an ATAGI member; – Professor Kirsten McCaffery, Principal Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health; – Professor Ramon Shaban, Professor of Infection Prevention and Disease Control; – Mustafa Dhahir, a current Doctor of Medicine student and Pharmacy graduate, with experience in community vaccinations and he uses social media to empower the public's understanding of health. We hope this discussion will help

What does lockdown 2.0 mean for younger people and how does it impact on their mental health? Hear from our panel of passionate mental health experts and leaders including: – Dr Marlee Bower, Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre, whose work explores social determinants of mental health and understanding loneliness; – Lucinda (Lucy) Brogden AM, Chair of National Mental Health Commission – Swapnik Sanagavarapu, University of Sydney Student Representative Council President and Arts/Law student; – Dr Pranita Shrestha, Research Associate in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, expert in housing affordability; and – Professor Maree Teesson AC, Director of the Matilda Centre, and Chair of Australia's Mental Health Think Tank, moderates the conversation. We discuss the “shadow pandemic” of deteriorating health, impacts of social connection and disconnection, government interventions and directions for reform, as well as practical advice to cope with such challenging times. This conversation was hel

Hear from Kate Crawford, Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and one of the world's foremost scholars on the social and political implications of artificial intelligence. Timed for the Australian launch of her new book, 'Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence', Kate speaks with Fenella Kernebone to explore how artificial intelligence is not objective or neutral but a technology of extraction. Hailed in Nature as an essential read, Kate's book "exposes the dark side of AI success" by taking us on a journey that uncovers how planetary computation is fueling a shift toward undemocratic governance and increased inequity. For further links and resources, including a transcript for this podcast, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3yLBV4P This conversation was recorded on 6 July, 2021.

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the world we live in. Moving forward, how might we navigate work, health and wellbeing, and safety with COVID as an ongoing and evolving factor in the long-term? Hear from academic experts at the University of Sydney, as they share insights into lessons from the pandemic and what it might mean for us all into the future. We discuss: – What we’ve learned about COVID-19 in the past 18 months – Australia’s approach to managing the health crisis – What a long-term COVID-normal looks like The panel: – Professor Julie Leask, Faculty of Medicine and Health – Professor Ramon Shaban, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Faculty of Medicine and Health – Professor Tania Sorrell, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Faculty of Medicine and Health – Professor Maree Teesson, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use – Fenella Kernebone (Moderator), Head of Programming at the University of Sydney This disc

During the pandemic last year, many of us delayed our health check-ups, from going to the dentist to cancer screenings, and much more. This has major flow on effects across all parts of society. So this discussion is the health check we need today: What issues were left unaddressed by Australia's pandemic response? How do we reset the agenda, and rethink the health system - to provide better care, and prevent further strain? Hear from experts in oral health, ethics, lifestyle and chronic disease, and government and policy. Featuring: –Associate Professor Melody Ding, The University of Sydney School of Public Health – Dr Kathryn MacKay, Sydney Health Ethics, The University of Sydney School of Public Health – Dr Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health – Professor Heiko Spallek, Head of School and Dean, The University of Sydney School of Dentistry – Professor Robyn Ward (Moderator), Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor Medicine and Health, University of Sydney For further links and resource

It's been a big year. We’ve put together a few of our key talks, with leading thinkers from the University of Sydney and beyond to reflect on 2020 and what might lie ahead in 2021. Take a listen, and dive into the longer talks. Sydney Ideas will be back with more talks and ideas in the new year! FEATURING: – Mark Scott AO, The road ahead [00:00:00] – Professor Tim Soutphommasane, Combating viral panic [00:00:27] – Professor Ian Hickie, COVID-19 and mental health [00:0035] – Professor Julie Leask, The vaccination gap [00:00:57] – Professor Jaky Troy, In this together [00:01:10] – Sam Mostyn, Rebuilding Australia's future [00:01:35] – Mariam Mohammed, What will the future of women's work look like? [00:01:50] – Roxanne Moore, Raising the age of criminal responsibility [00:02:08] – Dr Gareth Bryant, The asset economy [00:02:34] – Professor Guy Standing, The basic income imperative [00:02:51] – Minister Matt Kean, Charging ahead with clean energy [00:03:00] – Professor Dianne Wiley, Running out of water [00:03:

Black holes are the most mysterious objects in the universe; matter and space folded into an enigmatic knot from which not even light can escape. The 2020 Nobel Prize awarded research into black holes, thinking about the unthinkable, and seeing the unseeable. But just what did these extraordinary scientists do? Tune in as we try to unravel the puzzle. FEATURING – Professor Geraint F. Lewis, University of Sydney. Geraint's research focuses on cosmology, gravitational lensing and galactic cannibalism, all with the goal of unravelling the dark-side of the universe. – Professor Peter Tuthill, University of Sydney. Peter is an expert in astrophysical imaging; studying stars and their immediate environments with unprecedented resolution. This public talk was held virtually and recorded on 2 December 2020. For further resources, including the transcript, visit our website: https://bit.ly/36wwXfZ

The science and economics tells us sustainable energy alternatives make sense. So, what’s the missing link in the path to a clean and prosperous future? FEATURING: – Matt Kean MP, NSW Minister for Energy and Environment, offers perspective into the economic impacts and benefits of investing in alternative energy sources. – Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience and a world leader in perovskite solar energy cells, shares insights into solar photovoltaic research and its potential to produce cost-effective ways of energy generation. – Professor Thomas Maschmeyer presents a case study on gelated zinc bromide batteries, an Australian technology breakthrough. – Linda Scott, President of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) and City of Sydney Councillor, will talk about sustainability at a local level and community engagement. – Dr Tanya Fiedler from the University of Sydney Business School moderates the discussion. Dr Fiedler played a key role in the development of the University's Sustainability

This year has seen a complete restructure of how society conducts its business. The shift from traditional "face-to-face” work environments has been both unsettling and disruptive. But for some, particularly people with blindness or low vision, it’s proof that flexible or alternative working is a marker of both efficiency and productivity. We bring together a panel of individuals with lived experience to explore new ways of working amid disruption; and how organisations adapt to support and develop people with disability to thrive in the workforce. FEAUTURING – Simran Goyal, EY Associate – Matt O'Kane, Director of Notion of Digital Forensics – Gareth Ward MP, NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services – Chair: Professor Peter McCluskey AO, Director of the Save Sight Institute at Sydney Eye Hospital – Audience Q&A moderator: Professor John Grigg, Head of the Discipline of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney This discussion was held virtually and recorded on 28 October 2020. For fur

It has never been more important to be sharing Indigenous knowledge. So many solutions to the problems we face today can be found in that wisdom. Bruce Pascoe delivers a lecture on Indigenous farming and land management. The 'Dark Emu' author is also joined in a conversation with plant breeder and agricultural scientist Dr Angela Pattison. Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services) at the University of Sydney, chaired this public talks event. This event was held virtually and recorded on 19 October 2020 and marks the inaugural Arthur and Hilda Winch annual lecture in pre-colonial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture; made possible by a donation from Mr Ron Winch and the Winch family. For more information, including further resources and the transcript, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3kZDG7u

COVID-19 has ushered in a global economic slump, which may lead to a global depression. But is the coronavirus just the trigger for a financial crisis that was waiting to happen? Globalisation and the economic policies of recent decades have produced a fragile system best described as rentier capitalism, characterised by a global class structure with rapidly growing precariat, and an increasingly deteriorating income distribution system. A basic income as an economic right suggests an alternative way out of the pandemic slump – so what are the social risks of ignoring or delaying this? FEATURING – Professor Guy Standing, SOAS University of London and Co-founder of Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) – Professor Greg Marston, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland – Moderator: Professor Lisa Adkins, Head of the School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Sydney For more info, including a transcript to this conversation, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3mwUcgK

How is the shift to digital shaping workplaces, cultures and employment opportunities? Explore future ways of working that are truly inclusive of people with disability. FEATURING – Dr Manisha Amin, CEO of Centre for Inclusive Design – Professor John Buchanan, University of Sydney Business School – Dr Sheelagh Daniels-Mayes, University of Sydney School of Education and Social Work – Charles Humblet, Co-Chair, Disability at Work Network, University of Sydney – Penelope Pitcairn, Staff Accessibility Manager, University of Sydney – Moderator: Associate Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry, Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy This conversation was held as part of Disability Inclusion Week at the University of Sydney (21-25 September 2020). For more info, including a transcript to this discussion, visit the website: https://bit.ly/2RgEKHq

Shaun Gladwell’s practice engages personal experience and a wider speculation of art history to examine the dynamics of contemporary culture. Shaun transposes forms of urban expression such as skateboarding, graffiti, BMX bicycle riding, break-dancing and extreme sports into the multiple mediums of his practice. These performances, videos, paintings, photographs, sculptures and virtual reality works make discursive investigations into forms of creativity and notions of freedom. Hear Shaun speak more about his work in this conversation with Blair French, CEO of Carriageworks. The 'Art of influence' series features pioneering Sydney College of the Arts alumni, as they reflect on their careers, creative practice and the themes that inform their work. For more details, visit our website: https://bit.ly/34NTTba

In Australia, you need to be 18 to vote, 16 to drive a car, 13 to get a Facebook account. But the current age of criminal responsibility is 10. An estimated several thousand children under 14 appear in court on criminal matters each year. The vast majority of these are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. Apart from the undeniable long-term social costs, keeping young people in prison is also an enormous financial burden so where is the justification? THE SPEAKERS – Dr Michael Doyle, Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney Central Clinical School – Roxanne Moore, Executive Officer, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) – Dr Nicole Watson, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney Law School – Associate Professor Megan Williams (Moderator), National Centre for Cultural Competence, University of Sydney For more info and resources, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/2PLLw7i

This special Sydney Ideas conversation marks the 10th Annual Robert Dixon Memorial Animal Welfare Symposium and explores a series of critical questions regarding companion, performance and wild animals. Considering we don't euthanise humans, how do we navigate through the ethics of conduct in this space and the potential conflicts of interest? Our panel discuss factors that influence end-of-life decisions. FEAUTURING – Dr Larry Vogelnest - Senior Veterinarian, Taronga Conservation Society – Dr Martin F. Lenz, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission – Dr Emma Whiston, Veterinary Home Euthanasia Service – Dr Peter Bennett, Associate Professor in Oncology and Small Animal Medicine, University of Sydney – Dr Kat Littlewood, Lecturer in Animal Welfare, Massey University New Zealand – Chair: Dr Bidda Jones, Chief Science & Strategy Officer, RSPCA Australia For more information, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3k5rnqB