Sydney Ideas

Yorta Yorta woman, composer and soprano Deborah Cheetham Fraillon was joined by some of the country’s most creative minds for an expansive conversation that reflects on the role of the arts in a post-referendum Australia. Australia, at this time following the Voice to Parliament referendum and with a new national arts and cultural policy, is going to be profoundly changed. The arts has, and will have, a role in reflecting our aspirations – so what do we want? How does the arts articulate and advance this? Hear from: Professor Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, Elizabeth Todd Chair of Vocal Studies at Sydney Conservatorium of Music; Michael Dagostino, Director of Museums and Cultural Engagement at the University of Sydney; Guzheng performing artist Mindy Meng Wang; and Host Jess Scully, author and curator. The recording of this podcast was from a live event held on Wednesday 1 November 2023 at the University of Sydney. Aunty Ann Weldon gave a Welcome to Country (which was referenced by Deborah in the podcast). For more info and resources, including a transcript, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/40AegDs

In today’s show we wanted to introduce to you a new podcast we think you might enjoy. It’s called 'The Solutionists', with Mark Scott. Big challenges need big solutions. Meet the minds making it happen. Join Mark Scott, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sydney, and get ready to view the world from a different perspective. From our own wellbeing to the preservation of the planet, The Solutionists dives into the most pressing issues of our time and introduces you to the people unearthing the seeds of remarkable solutions. You'll discover a world of progress and possibility. Take a listen to episode one of The Solutionists, with Mark Scott, which is about how to cool your body and survive in extreme heat. For more info, notes and the transcript, visit The Solutionists website: https://bit.ly/3QbJGvo Next time at Sydney Ideas, explore 'What art ought to be' and 'Activating allies for gender equality.' Join us live at the University of Sydney campus in November or stay tuned for the podcast. Get the details: https://bit.ly/491QvYP

Hear from two pioneering University of Sydney alumni changing the game in news and media: Zara Seidler, co-founder of Australia's fastest growing social-first news service, The Daily Aus; and Phoebe Saintilan, founder of new media technology company Missing Perspectives. Zara and Phoebe swap stories about their multifaceted careers from politics to journalism, to finding their footing in a profoundly disrupted landscape. The recording for this podcast was from a live event held at the University of Sydney on 21 September 2023. Visit the Sydney Ideas website for more info, links and resources: https://bit.ly/3S42oYr

In this conversation, hear academic experts discuss disinformation – what makes it so influential and problematic, roles and responsibilities of our institutions and platforms, and how to counteract it for better decision-making. Featuring: philosopher Lee McIntyre, digital platforms researcher Joanne Gray and cognitive scientist Micah Goldwater. Farz Edraki, writer, editor and broadcaster at ABC, hosts this discussion. The recording is from live event held at the University of Sydney on 12 September 2023. For more details and resources, visit the Sydney Ideas page: https://bit.ly/3EKygcI

Can we save lives and save the planet? Hear how the healthcare sector is tracking, finding solutions and making changes, to be more sustainable and green. Healthcare is both significantly affected by, and is a contributor to, climate change. If the global health sector were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. So, how can Australia work towards a more sustainable healthcare system, without compromising on quality and safety? Hear from cardiologist David Celermajer, sustainability researcher Amanda Irwin and global public health professional Rashmi Venkatraman – with host and science communicator Dr Naomi Koh Belic. The recording of this conversation is from a live public event held on 22 August 2023 at the University of Sydney, presented with Sydney Environment Institute. Visit the Sydney Ideas website for more info: bit.ly/44yp6u2

Philosopher Ingrid Robeyns, Professor Nicole Gurran, and housing market researcher Eliza Owen discuss the ethical foundations of the housing crisis in Australia and explore perspectives on good housing. They examine the ideological choices shaping the housing market, the politicization of the cap debate, and calls for government intervention. The impact of the housing crisis on quality of life and the role of neoliberalism are also explored.

A keynote address by prominent anthropologist and geographer Professor Marcia Langton AO, on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. The Indigenous Voice to Parliament is one of the most important discussions taking place in Australia. In the lead up to the vote, we bring together a range of voices from across the University of Sydney and beyond, to offer critical insight to enrich and inform public understanding and dialogue. Professor Langton was joined on stage for a conversation hosted by Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney. This event is the next in the 'Voices on the Voice' series. It was held live at the University of Sydney on 3 August 2023. For more details and resources, visit the Sydney Ideas page: https://bit.ly/44Vv754

Epidemiologist and population behavioural scientist Melody Ding gives a talk on the trends and predictors of loneliness and why it’s a public health issue. With Professor Stephen Simpson, Academic Director of Charles Perkins Centre, as host. The recording of this talk is from a live public event held on 27 July 2023 at the University of Sydney. More information, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3YoRGws

If there’s a 10% chance that human-level artificial intelligence (AI) would lead to existential risk or an “extremely negative outcome”, what would you do? In this public talks event we had the experts weigh in on the development of AI and untangle the deep, complex questions it raises. Hear from Rebecca Johnson, tech ethics researcher in the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney; Dr Sandra Peter, Director of Sydney Executive Plus and expert on emerging trends and technology from University of Sydney Business School and Jose-Miguel Bello Villarino, Research Fellow at Sydney Law School and ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society (ADM+S). This talk was hosted by technology reporter, Ariel Bogle. For more information about the researchers, resources and further reading, visit Sydney Ideas: https://bit.ly/3pH7TjU

Hear a keynote address by University of Sydney alumnus Noel Pearson (BA '87, LL B '93), a proud leader from the Guugu Yimidhirr community of Hopevale on the Eastern Cape York Peninsula, and hailed as one of the best orators in Australia. The Indigenous Voice to Parliament is one of the most important discussions taking place in Australia. In his public address, Noel gave perspective on the journey of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and why it's a "decisive step" for Australia towards recognition and reconciliation. This Sydney Ideas event opens the conversation as the first event in the 'Voices on the Voice' series, a collaboration led by the University's Indigenous Strategy and Services and National Centre for Cultural Competence. More events and discussions are planned to take place over the coming months so stay tuned. For details on the 'Voices on the Voice' series and resources, visit the Sydney Ideas page: https://bit.ly/43oFYDs