In the popular imagination, preppers are busy hoarding tinned food in their bunkers while they wait for the end of the world. But is this what most prepping looks like? And is climate change as bad as all that? The bin fire of the last few years has ramped the eco-anxiety up to an 11. But as we go about our lives, studying, feeding our families, pa…

Get ready to confront the uncomfortable truths about climate change with investigative humorist and climate action enthusiast Dan Ilic in Preppers, a podcast by the UNSW Centre for Ideas that dives deep into the realities we often avoid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By UNSW Centre for Ideas

Intuition isn’t just hippie-dippie or woo-woo – it saves lives, averts disasters and drives countless innovative business decisions. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, for one, regularly relied on his gut instincts. Leading Australian neuroscientist and psychologist Joel Pearson’s The Intuition Toolkit: The New Science of Knowing What, Without Knowing Wh…

Humankind stands at a crossroads: will artificial intelligence make us superhumanly productive, liberating us from life’s most mundane tasks? Or have we opened Pandora’s box, unleashing sentient technology that will eventually destroy us? In a colossal contest of persuasion and wit, two teams of our best and brightest debate whether artificial inte…

Physician and writer Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone, crafts a masterly narrative of three generations of a family in Kerala, through the eyes of a young girl, from her arranged marriage at the turn of the 20th century to her emergence as the matriarchal figure, Big Ammachi. Solving the mystery of a family affliction – in every genera…

In the wake of a shift in the global power balance, how can Australia best protect itself? Two of Australia’s most interesting foreign policy thinkers take a fresh look at Australia’s place in the world and come to some surprising conclusions. Clinton Fernandes (Sub-Imperial Power) and Sam Roggeveen (The Echidna Strategy: Australia’s Search for Pow…

Money in the 21st century is increasingly cheap, digital and mobile. Looking at the risks and opportunities of low interest rates, cryptocurrencies and the global mobility of money, economist Richard Holden looks at the impact of these forces on our wallets, on the block chain and on major economies. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival and suppor…

Explore the literary histories of Charmian Clift, Shirley Hazzard and Elizabeth Harrower. Following her biography The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift, Nadia Wheatley contributed the afterword to The End of the Morning, Clift’s final manuscript, which was recently published more than 50 years after her death. Literary scholar Brigitta Olubas (Shirle…

Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna made not just any scientific breakthrough, but uncovered a tool that promises unparalleled control over DNA - the core of existence teetering on the brink between amazing potential and great danger. Hear the fascinating discussion between Jennifer Doudna and Merlin Crossley as they discuss the mentors who fuelled …

The life stories of refugees have all the narrative tropes of myth, replete with world-shattering conflicts, perilous voyages, and courageous heroes who sometimes get to live happily ever after. Go beyond media reports in this discussion with Pulitzer Prize for Fiction-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen (A Man of Two Faces), Miles Franklin-winner Shankari Ch…

As we grapple with the increasing consequences of climate change, experts are warning that it’s not just an environmental issue, declaring it the ‘biggest global health threat of the 21st century’. In the face of these warnings, where does Australia stand in its preparedness to address these health challenges, both locally and globally? In a discus…

As we observe National Sorry Day and another great year of Sydney Writers' Festival comes to a close, we revisit one of the highlights of last year's program. Leading journalist Stan Grant shared insights from his new book, The Queen is Dead – building an impassioned argument on the necessity for an end to monarchy in Australia, the need for a repu…

In this Creative Conversation, the second of the series, Vince Frost of Frost*collective discusses Scaling a Creative Business with Shelley Simpson, Founder and Creative Director of Mud Australia, known for their timeless handmade ceramic homewares, renowned contemporary artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran and Professor Frederik Anseel Dean, UNSW Busi…

In today’s scientific landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising research methodologies and scientific writing, reshaping how we conduct and disseminate research. As AI’s presence grows, so do questions surrounding ethics, authenticity and the integrity of scientific publications. While AI brings benefits like efficiency and new ide…

Recently listed among the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders in AI, Marek Kowalkieviczas introduces his latest book, The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions. Hear a thought-provoking conversation between Marek and UNSW AI Institute’s Chief Scientist, Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, as they discuss the book's insights, current A…

Is it possible to come from privilege whilst striving for a fierce socialist agenda? Polly Toynbee believes so. The prolific British Guardian journalist, commentator and broadcaster unpacks what it means to be privileged in Britain and Australia, and whether the deepening class divide can ever be transcended. In an evening of conversation with jour…

In a world where female sexuality has been hijacked by forces such as porn, patriarchy, and male entitlement – how can we make sexual consent a priority for everyone? Whether it’s on campus, at the workplace or in their homes, Australians are shocked week after week at the violence visited upon women who are simply living their lives.  In 2023, the…

Fear of a nuclear apocalypse, despot leaders and a world at war – how did the sharpest minds of the Cold War leave such a legacy of fear? Samuel Moyn’s Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times takes aim at liberalism, portraying it as a failed creed marred by a paranoia of communism. Known for his challenging pe…

Acclaimed Tamil-language author Perumal Murugan’s books were once burned by far-right groups, and now he’s longlisted for one of the most prestigious awards in literature. Explore Murugan’s profound literary odyssey, from the challenges of being a Tamil writer in rural India, to the turmoil of book burning and societal backlash. This exclusive even…

Against the frenetic energy and colour of Delhi, a Muslim school teacher is caught between his love of history and contemporary India. Anjum Hasan’s work sheds light on the complexities of life, love, writing history, and how national and patriotic myths can be maliciously subverted. Author Anjum Hasan’s latest book, History’s Angel, is a darkly fu…

Human existence has always been bound with the health of our natural world. What can we learn from how a changing climate has already, for centuries, dramatically shaped the development and demise of civilisations across time? In the 2024 Gandhi Oration, renowned historian and author Peter Frankopan unraveled the historical narrative, framing the n…

This third session of the Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights explores how to restore public faith in the values and structures underpinning representative government and the role of key stakeholder groups such as business, media and civil society in resisting impunity, reclaiming accountability and reinfor…

In this opening session of the 2023 Australian Human Rights Institute conference, Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights, the panel considers the key conference theme of the elevation of impunity over accountability and the consequences for national democratic institutions and global stability. Accountability …

This second session of the 2023 Australian Human Rights Institute conference, Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights, explores the decline of accountability, and the methods employed to protect human rights both in Australia and internationally. Unlike democratically-elected governments, businesses have unprec…

Has the patriarchy always prevailed? We tend to see gendered oppression as a universal truth, but in her radical book, The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, Angela Saini argues that the history of this deep-rooted hierarchy is a little more complicated… In conversation with UNSW Sydney legal expert Rosalind Dixon, journalist Angela Saini takes us o…

As our climate continues to change, reducing our carbon emissions and environmental footprint has become the moral imperative of our generation. To achieve this, the Australian Government has set a target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030 and has set a legislated target to achieve net zero by 2050. But what is the role of fossil fuels in this tr…

Hear renowned globally recognised leader in AI and Co-Founder of Coursera, Andrew Ng, in a thought-provoking dialogue with UNSW AI Institute’s Chief Scientist Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, shedding light on the latest trends, challenges, and the future of AI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

In this first conversation, Creative Disruptions, Vince Frost of Frost*collective is joined by neuroscientist and founder of Future Minds Lab Professor Joel Pearson, intellectual property specialist and Director of Simpsons Jules Munro and Kartini Ludwig Director and founder of digital design and innovation studio Kopi Su. The panel unpack current …

In 2023 the Judith Neilson lecture was given by Professor Briony Rogers. Australia is at a time of reckoning. Fires, floods, droughts, heat, cyclones – we have realised that business-as-usual is not enough to grow the climate resilience needed for communities, cities and Country. Professor Briony Rogers reveals her pioneering initiatives and rethin…

In the wake of the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, Sean Turnell was held for 650 days in Myanmar’s terrifying Insein Prison on the trumped-up charge of being a spy. His improbable story as an optimistic economics professor unfolds in his book, An Unlikely Prisoner, where he recounts how he survived his traumatic incarceration. In conversation with M…

Good theatre holds a mirror up to society, forcing audiences to shine a light on the darkest corners and recesses of society. In these tumultuous times, it’s easy to wonder where is our world headed, and how we might navigate the new obstacles that arise when we get there? Fortunately, British playwright Sir David Hare, is no stranger to pondering …

In a world inundated with deep fakes, fake news and misinformation, is it possible to see beyond the tall tales and reach the truth?  Evolutionary biologist Carl Bergstrom believes we can. His book, Calling Bullshit: The Art of Scepticism in a Data-Driven World, serves as a vital tool to unblur the line between fact and fiction in our fast-paced di…

BioNTech founders Professor Uğur Şahin, M.D. and Professor Özlem Türeci, M.D., in an exclusive conversation with UNSW Provost, Professor Vlado Perkovic, discuss how to translate science into survival by combining fundamental research and operational excellence to develop new immunotherapies. Together with its partner Pfizer, BioNTech led the global…

From being the second woman appointed to the US Supreme Court until her passing, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's inspiring journey through the legal realm was characterised by her fierce advocacy for gender equality and justice, and provided the backdrop for an evening of conversation about the work, RBG: Of Many, One. Step into the captivating world of thea…

In 2018 Egyptian-Australian writer Lamisse Hamouda had moved to Egypt to study when her life was turned upside down. Her father Hazem, on his way to visit her, was arrested by authorities, accused of sympathising with a terrorist organisation, and sent to prison without charge or evidence for 433 days. In conversation with UNSW Middle East expert L…

The way we consume news is changing and traditional media is struggling to keep up with our forever online lifestyles. The Daily Aus is changing that – and fast. With unstoppable co-founders Sam Koslowski and Zara Seidler at the helm, The Daily Aus has cracked the code on resonating with young people, distilling the big news stories of the day into…

From the treacherous battlegrounds of Afghanistan to the frontlines of the Federal Court, the 110-day defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith emerged as a monumental test case, examining the very essence of truth as defence in an Australian defamation trial. This trial marked the first time an Australian court scrutinised allegations of war crimes co…

Australians love cuddling up to a koala, and spotting a bilby or platypus in the wild. But our sunburnt country has borne witness to the disappearance of scores of native species over the past hundred years – earning us the nickname ‘extinction central’. From the golden bandicoots in the Strzelecki Desert to the platypuses in the Royal National Par…

Could psychedelics unlock the answers to managing complex mental health issues? Once associated with cults and hippies, psychedelics are now becoming an evidence-based treatment for psychiatric disorders. In Australia there are numerous psychedelic trials taking place and as of July 2023, psilocybin and MDMA have been made available for prescriptio…

As we grapple with a cost of living crisis and increasing individual isolation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, disconnected and downcast. But what if the secrets to unlocking a happier life were right in front of you, and not that far out of reach? Over a remarkable 85 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has conducted an unprecedented inv…

Embark on a captivating journey into the realm of space exploration as we unravel the remarkable story of Meganne Christian, a trailblazer whose unconventional path led her to the stars. With a degree in Engineering from UNSW Sydney, Meganne's path took her to the ends of the Earth as a scientist in Antarctica. From there she soared even higher, ea…

Ahead of our 2023 Science Week podcast releases, we're revisiting a favourite from the archive: the 2020 Einstein Lecture, Life Among the Stars. __________________________ Less than two decades ago, wondering whether other stars really did host planets was a matter for science fiction writers rather than scientists. Today, we’ve gone from complete …

Has the patriarchy always prevailed? We tend to see gendered oppression as a universal truth, but in her radical book, The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, Angela Saini argues that the history of this deep-rooted hierarchy is a little more complicated… In conversation with UNSW Sydney legal expert Rosalind Dixon, journalist Angela Saini takes us o…

With effects rippling into the present, the Sri Lankan Civil War, lasting more than 25 years from the early 1980s until 2009, has found an important place in our current cultural canon. Join lawyer and novelist of Song of the Sun God, Shankari Chandran, author of Booker Prize-winning The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Shehan Karunatilaka and Anandav…

Hear from author and English Professor Brigitta Olubas as she shared insight from Shirley Hazzard: A Writing Life, her fascinating biography of the great Australian novelist of stories such as The Great Fire and The Transit of Venus. She charts the globetrotting life of Hazzard and a celebrated body of work that, in grappling with ideas of power, p…

In this timely talk, leading journalist Stan Grant shared insight from his new book, The Queen is Dead – building an impassioned argument on the necessity for an end to monarchy in Australia, the need for a republic, and what can be done to reckon with our past and negotiate a just settlement with First Nations people. Stan appeared in conversation…

Asking ChatGPT to do your homework, or having an algorithm decide if you get a job interview are all part of the new normal. The AI revolution has reached a point where we live and work with AI-enabled devices – the line between AI and human can be hard to find. AI expert Toby Walsh (Machines Behaving Badly) and journalist Tracey Spicer (Man-Made) …

Hear from Professor of Psychology and author Ben Newell as he shared insight from his new book Open Minded: Searching for Truth about the Unconscious Mind. Fusing research into the relationship between intuitive and deliberating thinking, and sharing real-life examples, he challenges commonly held notions about the role of unconscious thought in th…

As artificial intelligence takes root in everything from science and social media to politics and policing, world-leading AI expert Toby Walsh seeks to answer a pressing question: can we trust AI or will it increasingly deceive us? Drawing from his recent essay in Griffith Review 80: Creation Stories, he offered a fascinating perspective on our inc…

Regardless of where people are born or the communities they belong to, equal access to healthcare should be a fundamental human right. In our age of pandemics, and with healthcare inequality widening, how can we make healthcare access equitable? Esteemed jurist and legal scholar Michael Kirby has tirelessly advocated for equal access to healthcare …