Sydney Ideas

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.

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