SlowTV

The Ingredients of Successful TV. David Petrarca

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:40:05 +0000

The power of great TV relies on an alchemy of imagination and practical solutions. In recent years, the quality of drama has risen immeasurably, led mainly by the HBO network in America. David Petrarca (left of screen) is one of the USA’s most successful TV directors (Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, True Blood), and a member of the HBO family. At the Perth Writers Festival he discusses his own experiences as well as the megatrends that have reinvigorated television drama in recent years. Chaired by Mark Naglazas, presented by Perth Writers Festival

Thinking for Yourself. David Manne on the Ethics of Protection

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 03:40:20 +0000

David Manne has done perhaps more than any other Australian to salvage the rights of refugees coming to Australia, and to fight against the government's asylum seeker policies on their behalf. It was Manne's effort leading the Refugee & Immigration Legal Centre that culminated in the High Court’s rejection of the Malaysia Solution in August last year. Yet, as he discusses here, the protections afforded to asylum seekers are still virtually non-existent. Manne addresses the Thinking For Yourself Conference (arranged in honour of Manne's uncle, Robert Manne) on the ethics of protecting the rights of those that seek shelter on our shores. Presented by La Trobe University, March 2013

The Growing Problem of Inequality. Carmen Lawrence

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:26:58 +0000

Carmen Lawrence is the former premier of Western Australia, in fact the first woman to become a premier. Since stepping out of politics, she has engaged in a variety of social issues, such as education, indigenous affairs, social inclusion and terrorism. At the Thinking For Yourself conference, organised by La Trobe to honour retiring academic Robert Manne, Lawrence discusses the detrimental impacts of conspicuous social inequality, and why modern societies need to work harder to address it. Presented by La Trobe University, March 2013

Education, the System and the Way Back to Inequality. Richard Teese

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:23:32 +0000

Professor Richard Teese is director of the Centre for Research on Education Systems in the University of Melbourne. At the Thinking For Yourself conference, organised by La Trobe to honour retiring academic Robert Manne, Teese weighs into the education debate, explaining why in Australia only broad-based educational systems (rather than devolved, autonomous ones) will deliver equality of educational opportunity. Presented by La Trobe University, March 2013

The Yellow Birds. Kevin Powers, Perth Writers Festival

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:21:18 +0000

A novel written by a veteran of the war in Iraq, The Yellow Birds is the harrowing story of two young soldiers trying to stay alive. At the Perth Writers Festival, author Kevin Powers speakers to Stephen Romei (The Australian) about powerful and highly-acclaimed account of friendship and loss. Presented by Perth Writers Festival 2013

Asylum Seekers: Another Stolen Generation. Patrick McGorry

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:19:03 +0000

Patrick McGorry, Australian of the Year in 2010, is one of Australia's leading mental health advocates, writers and thinkers. He's also been one of the most trenchant critics of Australian asylum seeker policy, based on the health and welfare problems it has caused, and continues to. At the Thinking For Yourself conference, organised by La Trobe to honour retiring academic Robert Manne, McGorry speaks about damage to lives caused by successive governments' asylum seeker policy. Presented by La Trobe University, March 2013

Multiculturalism and Politics of Entitlement. Ghassan Hage

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:03:50 +0000

The humanities academic Ghassan Hage is one of Australia's most highly regarded and original thinkers on multiculturalism, racism, nationalism and migration. At the Thinking for Yourself conference held in honour of academic Robert Manne, Hage addresses the notion of entitlement in multicultural society. Presented by La Trobe University, March 2013

David Corlett on Attitudes to Asylum Seekers: Are We As Bad As We Seem?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:59:18 +0000

David Corlett is perhaps best known as the host of the TV landmark series, Go Back To Where You Came From (SBS-TV). But since long before he was bringing the issue to Australian screens, he has been thinking and writing about it as an author and academic At the Thinking For Yourself conference, organised by La Trobe to honour retiring academic Robert Manne, Corlett speaks about Australian public attitudes to asylum seekers. Presented by La Trobe University, March 2013

Ahdaf Soueif: On Art and Politics

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:12:32 +0000

Novelist, journalist and political commentator Ahdaf Soueif was in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during the 18 days of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Reporting on the ground for The Guardian and other media as the dramatic events unfolded in her city, Soueif witnessed the impact of the revolution on the people campaigning and celebrating in the streets, as well as on the writers and artists working in the city. The Arab Spring presents us with important questions beyond politics: What does it mean for an artist to bear witness to a revolution? How is it reflected in their work? At the Perth Writers Festival, the Man Booker Prize shortlisted writer Ahdaf Soueif explores the intersection between art and politics in this unforgettable Opening Address. February 2013

Peter Singer on the Politics and Ethics of Geo-Engingeering

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:34:39 +0000

In the second part of this Sustainable Living Festival session, Playing God With the Planet, author, philosopher and ethicist Peter Singer tackles the big issue of geo-engineering: is it science fiction or science solution? As climate change remains humanity's greatest threat, is there a moral case to engineer the climate to try and cool the planet in time? Following his presentation, Singer sits down with Clive Hamilton to answer questions from host Sara Phillips (ABC) and the audience. Presented by the Sustainable Living Festival, BMW Edge, February 2013

Clive Hamilton on the Politics and Ethics of Geo-Engineering

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:01:49 +0000

In the first segment of this Sustainable Living Festival session, Playing God With the Planet, author, intellectual and environmental activist Clive Hamilton tackles the big issue of geoengineering: is it science fiction or science solution? As climate change remains humanity's greatest threat, is there a moral case to engineer the climate to try and cool the planet in time? BMW Edge, February 2013

What Would Gandhi Do Today?: Michael Kirby

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:48:20 +0000

The UNSW Gandhi Oration commemorates Martyrs’ Day and is delivered by a person whose life’s work exemplifies the ideals of Gandhi. This year the oration is delivered by The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG who addresses the topic of What would Gandhi do today? A meditation on the contemporary challenges of human rights. Michael Kirby has tirelessly advocated for equal opportunities and is internationally recognised for his humanitarian efforts as well as his long standing contribution to the Australian legal system. Presented by UNSW, Jan 2013

An Evening With Helen Garner

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:30:47 +0000

Helen Garner’s narrative non-fiction is practically its own genre, attracting international acclaim. Her landmark The First Stone, a controversial bestseller, broke new ground for Australian non-fiction – and Joe Cinque’s Consolation was similarly successful. Her fiction, journalism, reportage, memoir and cultural analysis are also widely admired. Helen talks about her long career as a border-dweller, moving between fiction and non-fiction, using the best aspects of both. Presented by the Wheeler Centre, Nov 2012

Corporation 2020. Pavan Sukhdev

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:14:08 +0000

Economist Pavan Sukhdev, a leading strategist in sustainable practice, shares his vision of a global green economy as explored in his latest book Corporation 2020. He discusses some of the most troubling environmental and social impacts of modern corporations, and, importantly, proposes how we can rethink corporations and the ways in which they interact with society. We are testing planetary boundaries. “Business as usual” is not a viable option for long. Business needs a new DNA - urgently. Presented by Sydney Ideas, University of Sydney, Dec 2012

An Evening with Neil Gaiman

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:26:45 +0000

Neil Gaiman is one of the world's greatest storytellers. He is a multi-award winning novelist who writes across genres and has been credited as one of the creators of modern comics. At this Sydney event, Neil talks and reads from his next novel for adults, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Presented by Top Shelf in association with Sydney Writers' Festival, City Recital Hall, Jan 2013

The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World. Wade Davis

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:09:37 +0000

Wade Davis is an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. An ethnographer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker, Davis holds degrees in anthropology and biology and received his Ph.D. in ethnobotany, all from Harvard University. In this talk at the Creative Innovation 2012 conference, Davis speaks about the world's at-risk indigenous cultures, and the vast archive of knowledge and expertise that they represent, and what can be learnt from them. November 2012

How Will Our Bodies Keep Up With Technology?: Nadia Rosenthal

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:33:48 +0000

In this talk at the Creative Innovation 2012 conference, Professor Nadia Rosenthal discusses the impact of modern technology and environmental stresses on human biology. Nadia Rosenthal obtained her PhD in 1981 from Harvard Medical School and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at NIH, then directed a biomedical research laboratory at Harvard Medical School, and served for a decade at the New England Journal of Medicine as editor of the Molecular Medicine series. Rosenthal is currently serving as Director of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, based at Monash University. November 2012

The Divided Brain and the Courage to Think Differently. Iain McGilchrist

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:16 +0000

Iain McGilchrist was a Research Fellow in neuroimaging at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. He has published articles and research papers in a wide range of publications on topics in literature, medicine and psychiatry. At the Creative Innovation 2012 conference, he discusses the ideas in his latest book, The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World - how the bihemispheric structure of the brain influences our understanding of the world. Melbourne, November 2012

2 Billion Jobs to Disappear by 2030. Thomas Frey

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:51:57 +0000

Thomas Frey is the Executive Director and Senior Futurist at the DaVinci Institute. Author of the groundbreaking book “Communicating with the Future,” Frey speaks to the Creative Innovation 2012 Conference (Melbourne) about the impact new technologies will have on the jobs market in the future. He discusses driverless cars, teacherless schools, printable houses and much more - we're in for a wild ride! November 2012

Making the Most of the 21st Century Mind. Susan Greenfield

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:33:47 +0000

Baroness Susan Greenfield is a scientist, writer, broadcaster and Director of the Institute for the Future of the Mind. She has been awarded 30 Honorary Degrees from British and foreign universities and heads a multi-disciplinary research group exploring novel brain mechanisms linked to neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. At the Creative Innovation 2012 conference (Melbourne), she discusses the impact of technology on the modern brain. November, 2012

Sustainable Materialism. An Environmentalism of Everyday Life

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:41:38 +0000

What is sustainable materialism? Do our choices about what we eat and where, how we get about everyday, and where we live matter … and to whom? Distinguished international scholars Gisli Palsson, Eric Enno, John Meyer and David Schlosberg outline ideas about how to embed environmental sustainability in everyday life. Presented by Sydney Ideas, with the Sydney Network on Climate Change and Society in partnership with the Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law and the Environmental Humanities Group at the University of Sydney, November 2012

Michael Palin In Conversation

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:43:00 +0000

Michael Palin was first famous as ‘the nice one’ in the Monty Python team, then as an actor in films from Brazil to A Fish Called Wanda. He’s now best known – and loved – as the BBC’s resident world traveller. This conversation with Wheeler Centre director Michael Williams covers broad ground: British comedy in the late 1960s; the process in the writers' room during Monty Python’s formative period (and Palin’s particular sensibilities within that group); embarking on Around the World in 80 Days; his new TV series, Brazil; and much, much more. Presented by the Wheeler Centre

Literature and Global Citizenship. Anthony Appiah

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:28:16 +0000

Global citizenship is an old idea that has acquired new salience in our increasingly multicultural societies. In this lecture, Kwame Anthony Appiah explores the importance of imaginative literature in sustaining cultural interactions both across and within societies, which energise the global movement in support of human rights. As President of the American PEN Center, Appiah argues that non-governmental alliances across nations are central to the struggles in defence of the right to free expression, which is an essential enabling condition for literature. Appiah, awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama earlier this year, is an internationally renowned philosopher, currently teaching at Princeton University. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival 2012

Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World. Simon Callow

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:15:04 +0000

Well known for his appearances in major feature films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, Phantom of the Opera and Amadeus, Simon Callow is also the author of thirteen books. Callow’s latest biography, Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World, discusses the importance of theatre to the life and work of one of the greatest storytellers in the English language. In this Opening Keynote Address at Melbourne Writers Festival, on the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth, Callow explores Dickens' life and times and the legacy of his enduring novels. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival 2012

Tim Flannery on Australia's New Extinction Crisis

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:02:42 +0000

In his new Quarterly Essay, After the Future, Tim Flannery shows that Australia is now on the brink of a new wave of extinctions, which threatens to leave our national parks as “marsupial ghost towns.” Why are species becoming extinct despite the tens of millions of dollars being spent to protect nature? And what more should be done? He discusses his essay with Nick Feik. Presented by Black Inc and SlowTV, November 2012

The New Yorker: What's The Story?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 02:24:48 +0000

Be a fly on the wall at The New Yorker and hear how a story makes it from an idea to the newsstand. An anecdotal chat with editorial director Henry Finder, staff writer David Grann and music critic Sasha Frere-Jones about brainstorming and pitches, house style and what makes a great story great. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival 2012

In Conversation: Maxine McKew and James Button

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:15:11 +0000

In this Monthly Talks event, Maxine McKew and James Button discuss the state of political discourse in Australia, and offer differing perspectives on the Gillard/Rudd divide. James Button (Speechless) spent a year writing speeches for Kevin Rudd. Before that, he reported on politics as a highly regarded journalist for Fairfax. At the 2007 federal election former journalist Maxine McKew (Tales From The Political Trenches) won a spectacular victory against John Howard and wrote herself into Australian political history as only the second candidate ever to defeat a sitting Prime Minister Presented by The Monthly and Readings, November 2012

To A Clean Energy Future. Gilding, Parkinson, Sandiford

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 05:24:23 +0000

We often hear about a zero or low carbon future, but is it really possible to achieve this in the near future? What technology and policy is here now to help us on this journey and what is already happening in Australia and around the world? Experts Paul Gilding, Giles Parkinson and Prof Mike Sandiford discuss the latest developments in the rapidly changing energy environment. Presented by the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network, Oct 2012

Censorship, the Body and Porn. Marr, Pickering, Sparrow

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:12:57 +0000

When frank sexual imagery is normal, but frank discussion about sex taboo, how can we assess the politics and impact of porn, body image rhetoric and censorship? At this Melbourne Writers Festival event hosted by Lynne Haultain, Jeff Sparrow (Money Shot), David Marr (The Henson Case) and Karen Pickering put some adult content into the debate. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival 2012

Billy Bragg in Conversation.

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:43:33 +0000

Activist-troubadour Billy Bragg brings his trademark wit to a discussion of music, life and politics. The session, an artist talk at the 2012 Melbourne Festival, is hosted by Alice Keath (ABC RN's Music Deli). Presented by Melbourne Festival

Hail. Amiel Courtin-Wilson in Conversation

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 01:48:52 +0000

Feature film Hail, directed by Amiel Courtin-Wilson, is one of only a couple of Australian films in the past 15 years to be selected for the Venice Film Festival. It was also selected by Adrian Martin as his highlight of Australian cinema for 2012, and has been widely acclaimed for its dramatic power, unflinching honesty and its sheer artistry. On the eve of Hail's Australian theatrical release, Courtin-Wilson speaks to Nick Feik (SlowTV). Melbourne, October 2012

The Future of the Left in Australia. Adam Bandt and Andrew Leigh

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:23:23 +0000

The ALP and the Greens: Enemies or friends? 'Since the election of August 2010, Labor's primary vote has steadily dropped. It is now inconceivable that Labor could win an election without a strong showing from the Greens and a very high proportion of their preferences flowing to Labor,' says Professor Manne. The parties find themselves in a situation of mutual dependency and political combat. Such a situation is novel in Australian politics and fraught with greatest difficulty. How both parties manage this relationship - even how they think about it - will shape progressive politics in Australia. Manne chairs a discussion with federal MPs Andrew Leigh (ALP) and Adam Bandt (Greens). Presented by La Trobe University, September 2012

Pico Iyer in Conversation

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 03:06:10 +0000

Described as one of America's leading visionaries for 'elevating travel reportage to new heights', eternal itinerant Pico Iyer's constant companion has been Graham Greene, at least in inspiration. Pico discusses his idiosyncratic travels and his obsession with Greene, which come together in his latest book, The Man Within My Head. Chaired by Michael McGirr. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival 2012

Australia's Hidden Hit Parade. Paul Kelly with Paul Grabowsky

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 03:15:27 +0000

In this Monthly Talks event, Paul Grabowsky talks with Paul Kelly about the fascinating and (for most Australians) mostly unknown history of indigenous popular music: Aboriginal Australia's hidden hit parade. Paul Grabowsky is the guest editor of The Monthly's 2012 arts issue, and he discusses with musician Paul Kelly the many artists - from Bob Randall to Archie Roach, No Fixed Address to Yothu Yindi, Kev Carmody to Gurrumul - that Kelly writes about in his tribute to this great tradition of Australian music. Presented by The Monthly and Readings Books, October 2012

IQ2 Debate: Foreign Aid Is A Waste of Money

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:30:16 +0000

Who should we help? How can we be sure our aid dollars reach their destination? Some believe that aid traps communities in a cycle of dependence, holding them back from developing their own systems and managing their own issues. So on balance, do those dollars hurt more than they help? Or should we ‘take care of our own’ first? Arguing for the proposition are Greg Sheridan (The Australian), James Goodman (Chair, AidWatch; Associate Professor in Social and Political Change, UTS) and Tim Wilson (IPA). Against it are Martin Thomas (World Vision Australia), Samah Hadid (Global Poverty Project) and Andrew Hewett (Executive Director, Oxfam; Co-Chair, Make Poverty History). Presented by St James Ethics Centre and the Wheeler Centre

Greenwash. Guy Pearse on Big Brands and Carbon Scams

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 03:00:09 +0000

Going green is the new black for big business. But how real is the climate-friendly revolution that's being advertised? Are big brands and the celebrities endorsing them really as green as they claim? In Greenwash, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and No Logo, Guy Pearse looks behind the corporate façade – and what he finds his startling. He discusses Greenwash with Nick Feik. SlowTV, Melbourne, September 2012

Dancing About Architecture. Robert Forster with Sasha Frere-Jones

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 02:45:09 +0000

Music critics Sasha Frere-Jones (The New Yorker) and Robert Forster (The Monthly) discuss the state of review and critique in the global music scene, and delve into Forster's seminal role with The Go-Betweens, his successful solo career, and his transformation from singer-songwriter to respected writer and critic. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival, August 2012

Gaysia. Benjamin Law in Conversation

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 05:07:26 +0000

Gaysia is about being gay in Asia. In the process of writing it, author Benjamin Law took his investigative duties seriously, going nude where required in Balinese sex resorts, sitting backstage for hours with Thai ladyboy beauty contestants and trying Indian yoga classes designed to cure his homosexuality. The characters he met – from Tokyo’s celebrity drag queens to HIV-positive Burmese sex workers, from Malaysian ex-gay Christian fundamentalists to Chinese gays and lesbians who marry each other to please their parents – all taught him something new about being queer in Asia. Here he discusses Gaysia with Sophie Black. Presented by Readings Carlton, September 2012

Capital. John Lanchester in Conversation

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:30:31 +0000

The London Review of Books' John Lanchester talks about his extraordinary range of writing: from award-winning novels (The Debt to Pleasure) and memoir (Family Romance), to his recent GFC primer Whoops! and his work as the Guardian's restaurant critic. His latest is Capital, a richly layered novel set in a fictional London street. The session is hosted by Jason Steger (the Age) and presented by Melbourne Writers Festival, August 2012

The Engagement. Chloe Hooper in Conversation

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:50:18 +0000

After her critically acclaimed account of a death in custody, The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island, Chloe Hooper returns to fiction with The Engagement, a disturbing thriller in which a woman finds a playful fantasy turning into something much darker. At this Melbourne Writers Festival event, she talks sex, money and power with Stephen Romei (The Australian).

On Obsession. David Grann of The New Yorker

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:24:56 +0000

Staff writer with The New Yorker David Grann has carved a reputation as a relentless pursuer of extraordinary truths; from a lost Amazonian city to a committed plea of innocence in the face of an inevitable death sentence. Journalist James Button talks with Grann about his career, his stories and his deepest obsessions. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival, August 2012

Political Animal. David Marr on Tony Abbott

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 23:46:57 +0000

Tony Abbott is the most successful Opposition leader of the last forty years, but he has never been popular. Now Australians want to know: what kind of man is he, and how would he perform as prime minister? In his new Quarterly Essay, Political Animal: The Making of Tony Abbott, journalist David Marr portrays Abbott as a politician who thrives on chaos and conflict. Part fighter and part charmer, he is deeply religious and deeply political. What happens, then, when his values clash with his need to win? This is the great puzzle of his career, but the closer he is to taking power, the more guarded he has become. David Marr speaks to Nick Feik about his dramatic new essay. Melbourne, September 2012

Have the Climate Denialists Won?: Adam Bandt and Robert Manne in Conversation

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 05:12:44 +0000

In the inaugural Monthly Talks event, Robert Manne and Adam Bandt discuss Manne's recent essay, A Dark Victory: How vested interests defeated climate science. They talk about how climate change denialists have employed strategies originally by the tobacco industry to sow enough doubt in the public mind (in the US, UK and Australia in particular) to undermine broad-based action on climate change. Neither Manne nor Bandt see any easy solutions amid the increasingly partisan politics that now define the issue. Robert Manne is a professor of politics at Lat Trobe University and one of Australian leading public intellectuals. Adam Bandt MP is the member for the federal seat of Melbourne. Presented by Readings Books and The Monthly magazine at the University of Melbourne, August 2012

Indigenous Exceptionalism. Marcia Langton

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:54:08 +0000

Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival, August 2012

An Evening With Paul Grabowsky

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:41:53 +0000

World-renowned Australian pianist, jazz musician, conductor and composer Paul Grabowsky speaks about his life, work and plans for the future at this Monash University Alumni Speaker Series event. He has written the score for more than 20 feature films and his awards include four ARIAs, two Helpman Awards and several Bell Awards. He directed the 2010 and 2012 Adelaide Festivals, and is the founder and Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra, a Professorial Fellow at the Monash School of Music and is also famous for being the musical director of 'Tonight Live With Steve Vizard'. Hosted by Viktor Finkel for Monash University's Alumni Speak Series 2012 BMW Edge, Melbourne, August 2012

The Man Without a Face. Masha Gessen on Vladimir Putin

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 04:52:16 +0000

Vladimir Putin has made a mockery of Russia’s nascent democracy by manipulating his way back to the nation’s Presidency, all the while ruthlessly putting down his critics and opponents. Moscow journalist Masha Gessen’s brilliant and compelling biography of Putin shines a light on his brutal modus operandi. She talks to Jane Hutcheon. Presented by Sydney Writers Festival, May 2012

How Vested Interests Defeated Climate Science. Robert Manne

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:32:32 +0000

Speaking as part of the Wednesday Lectures 2012, Robert Manne charts the success of the climate change denialist movement in undermining the alarming scientific evidence of human-caused global warming. The fossil fuel industry and other vested interests – for whom so much is at stake – have been victorious in the manufacture of doubt. Presented by the Wednesday Lectures 2012, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne

All That I Am. Anna Funder in Conversation

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 23:55:09 +0000

Anna Funder's All That I Am has become the most awarded Australian novel of the year. In this evening of intimacies and revelations, Anna tells facilitator Anne Summers about her friendship with Ruth Blatt, 60 years Anna’s senior, whose story of courage is at the core of All That I Am. She talks about the research, the complex, multi-country editing and fact-checking process; we even learn how mojitos made it into a scene set in 1933 Berlin. All That I Am, winner of the Miles Franklin Award, is Anna Funder's debut novel. Her previous book was the multi-award winning non-fiction title Stasiland. The event is hosted by Chip Rolley and presented by Sydney Writers Festival, July 2012

Nothing But the Truth. Marieke Hardy, Benjamin Law, Catherine Deveny

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:21:58 +0000

Everyone should write a memoir – if for no other reason than to see how many times they lie about what they did and how often they did it. It’s a chance to curate, package, and dare we say, brand, yourself. Catherine Deveny is writing her memoir and talks to memoir survivors Benjamin Law and Marieke Hardy. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

Never Stop Making. Jake Nickell

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:20:59 +0000

Jake Nickell is the poster child for the age of the hip 'prosumer'. His company, Threadless, now boasts a community of 1.8 million designers and design-lovers who post, vote on, and buy unique t-shirt designs – over 1000 are submitted each week. In this talk at Vivid Sydney, Nickell explains the ideology behind his new business model - online, retail, user-generated, community-engaged - and how he came to it. Presented by Vivid Sydney 2012

You Must Have Something to Hide. Hosted by David Marr

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:07:35 +0000

“Privacy is for paedos,” News of the World journo Paul McMullan famously told the Leveson Inquiry. Privacy is dead, said Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Through social media we voluntarily tell the world things we previously might not have told even our loved ones. Investigative journalists thrive on leaks and finding out what others don’t want them to know. Is everything fair game? Former director general of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington, Ex CIA interrogator of Al Quaeda suspects Glenn Carle, independent investigative journalist Heather Brooke, and former High Court judge, the Hon Michael Kirby, tell journalist David Marr where we, as a society, should draw the line between public and private. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

Copying Culture. Cory Doctorow

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 05:28:38 +0000

Cory Doctorow is a sci-fi author, hero of the open source and creative commons movements, and co-founder of boingboing.net. In this compelling Vivid Sydney keynote, Doctorow speaks about the culture of copying and how it has been co-opted by copyright. He looks at the barriers to creativity that copyright creates, for creators and consumers, and the increasing control of cultural production and abuse of copyright law by modern media and technology corporations. Presented by Vivid Sydney, June 2012

What The Luck!: Peter Hartcher, Paul Cleary, George Megalogenis

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:15:16 +0000

Long before Donald Horne’s book, we considered ourselves a lucky country, and we still cling to the metaphor, regardless of Horne's intended irony. With their recent books, Sweet Spot by Peter Hartcher, Too Much Luck by Paul Cleary, and The Australian Moment by George Megalogenis, three of our leading political journalists have taken a hard look at Australia’s economic surge amid global financial woe. They talk about our current relative prosperity, and how we see our country today, with Andrew Clark. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival 2012

Mesopotamia: How Did Writing Begin?: Tony Sagona

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 04:39:17 +0000

With information so pivotal to our daily existence, it’s almost inconceivable to think of a world without writing. Yet the earliest known system of writing is only about 5,500 years old. Professor Tony Sagona look at the origins of writing which began in Mesopotamia about 3,500 BC, and the role it played in the development of the first cities and states. Antonio (Tony) Sagona is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Melbourne. He has carried out fieldwork in Turkey, the Caucasus, Syria and Australia, and is published widely, primarily on the history and civilisations of the ancient Near East. Presented by Melbourne Museum, May 2012

The Feminist Supremacy?: Lette, Deveny, Maguire, Moss

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:50:35 +0000

All of a sudden it seems everyone’s a feminist. Women who once rejected the term now embrace it. Anti-abortion campaigners call themselves feminist. Meryl Streep says Margaret Thatcher was a feminist. At one point George Bush said we went to war in Afghanistan to fight for women’s rights. But if everyone’s a feminist, has the idea lost its meaning? And are women benefitting from this new-found cachet? Discussing feminism today are Kathy Lette, Catherine Deveny, Tara Moss, and Emily Maguire, with host Julia Baird. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival 2012

Writing, Multiculturalism and Cosmopolitanism. Christos Tsiolkas

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 02:41:59 +0000

At the Antipodes Writers Festival 2012 opening event, Christos Tsiolkas, multi-award winning author of Loaded, Dead Europe and The Slap, speaks to cultural theorist, Professor Nikos Papastergiadis (School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne). In a lively exchange they discuss Tsiolkas' work in the context of multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism in our and other communities; they also talk Greece, politics and the role of literature in society. Presented by Antipodes Festival, June 2012

Political Dignity. Raimond Gaita

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 04:47:33 +0000

Many people take the phrase the dignity of politics to be an oxymoron, for much the same reason they take ‘morality and politics’ to be one. In the first of the 2012 Wednesday Lectures, Raimond Gaita argues that though we have many reasons to be disillusioned with politics, we must not lose sight of the ideals that inform that disillusionment and which alone can prevent it from degenerating into cynicism. Raimond Gaita is Professorial Fellow in the Melbourne Law School and the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne and Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy at King’s College London. Gaita’s books include: Romulus, My Father; A Common Humanity: Thinking About Love & Truth & Justice, The Philosopher’s Dog, and Breach of Trust: Truth, Morality and Politics. His most recent book is After Romulus. Presented by Melbourne Law School, June 2012

Can't Be That Hard. Politics and the Media Today

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:10:29 +0000

Last year Julia Gillard told journalists at the National Press Club: “Don’t write crap. Can’t be that hard.” Should Australia’s media’s standards be raised? Is regulation an answer? What is the future of political reporting, given the financial conditions for newspapers? George Megalogenis from The Australian, ABC Online writer Annabel Crabb, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Hartcher, the Federal Opposition’s Communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull, and former press secretary to Kevin Rudd, Lachlan Harris, tell the ABC’s Barrie Cassidy what responsibility the media bears for our political culture. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

Thinking Football. Mick Malthouse, with Martin Flanagan

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 03:00:19 +0000

Mick Malthouse has long been regarded as one of the most interesting thinkers in football. Journalist Martin Flanagan has gained over the years a deserved reputation as one of the keenest observers of the social and communal aspects of football culture, especially the game's intersection with Indigenous players and communities. In this discussion at La Trobe University, Flanagan interviews Malthouse about his own background and this other side of football: away from tactics, statistics, win-loss ratios, what does the game really mean to his players? What keeps its massive constituency so enthralled, so involved? And how has it changed in recent years? Presented by La Trobe University, August 2012

Great Expectations. Laura Tingle discusses her Quarterly Essay

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:36:35 +0000

Since the deregulation era of the 1980s, governments can do less, but we wish they could do more. Rather than relaxed and comfortable, Australians are disenchanted with politics and politicians. Discussing Quarterly Essay 46, author and journalist Laura Tingle explains that our disenchantment goes to something deep in Australian culture: our great expectations of government. With Nick Feik, Melbourne, June 2012

After the Gonski Report: Education in Australia.

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:54:19 +0000

Australian schools need an injection of at least an extra $5 billion, according to the Gonski report, the most far-reaching review of schools funding since 1973. The review found the current education system is complex, confusing, failing disadvantaged students and contributing to falling performances compared to students in Asia. Discussing the implications of the report and what should be done in education around Australia, are Carmen Lawrence, Richard Teese, Dennis Altman and (host) Lorraine Ling. Presented by La Trobe University, Ideas and Society Program, May 2012

Chad Harbach on The Art of Fielding

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:52:10 +0000

Chad Harbach is the author of one of the most talked about novels of 2011, The Art of Fielding. This dazzling debut novel, about a baseball team in a small Midwest campus, is an exciting exploration of sexual and sporting obsession. Harbach, who is also currently the executive editor of n+1 magazine, talks to Chris Flynn about The Art of Fielding. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

The End of Trust. Satyajit Das

Wed, 30 May 2012 02:38:46 +0000

Trust has been one of the casualties of the global financial crisis, as finance expert and author Satyaji Das explains. The value of money is gradually being destroyed, savings are being expropriated to pay for the excesses of the boom years, as banks and borrowers, including governments, are being subsidised. Even the political system is being undermined as governments are “replaced” with unelected “technocratic” governments being appointed to avoid “disruptive” elections. Can democracy and our social system survive the end of trust? Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

An Evening with Jeanette Winterson

Tue, 29 May 2012 04:56:39 +0000

At the Sydney Opera House for the Sydney Writers' Festival, Jeanette Winterson reads from her new memoir Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? and talks about books, life, love, death, madness and creativity. Jeanette Winterson OBE is the author of 10 novels including Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, The Passion and Sexing The Cherry; a book of short stories, The World And Other Places; a collection of essays, Art Objects, as well as many other works including children’s books, screenplays and journalism. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

Geoff Dyer in Conversation, Sydney Writers' Festival

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:14:09 +0000

Geoff Dyer (Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, Paris Trance and many wonderful other books) is renowned for his discursive approach to an almost impossibly wide range of subjects. In his latest, Zona: A Book about a Film about a Journey to a Room, he explores the mysteries of a film that has haunted him ever since he saw it thirty years ago: Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest cinematic works of all time. In this very special event, a very entertaining Geoff Dyer talks to festival director Chip Rolley about the many literary and other byways he is compelled to wander down. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

The Tyranny of Affluence. George Megalogenis and Geoffrey Blainey

Tue, 22 May 2012 05:34:21 +0000

Australia may not suffer from the tyranny of distance (the phrase originally coined by Geoffrey Blainey) now so much as the tyranny of affluence. We are one of the very wealthiest of the world's nations, yet our society is riven by anger and complaints about the cost of living and how we are governed. Have we had too much of the good life? Historian Geoffrey Blainey and widely respected journalist George Megalogenis explore the conundrum. Presented by Sydney Writers' Festival, May 2012

Janette Turner Hospital in Conversation

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:32:22 +0000

Janette Turner Hospital, one of Australia’s most admired writers, speaks on a lifetime of writing – and teaching – literature. For almost three decades, Janette Turner Hospital’s award-winning fiction has won her acolytes here and in the US, where she now resides. She returns to her native shores to talk about Forecast: Turbulence, her third collection of stories set on both continents. In each story, Janette Turner Hospital reflects on a central question: how can we maintain equilibrium in a turbulent and uncertain world? Janette Turner Hospital is in conversation with the Wheeler Centre’s Jo Case. Presented by the Wheeler Centre, March 2012

Staying in Character. Frank Moorhouse and Garry Disher

Wed, 09 May 2012 02:27:47 +0000

When a writer invents a great character, what are the attendant expectations? Will he or she be for a novel, a story or a series? How does one develop and nurture a character over time and across genres? And what is the writer’s ongoing relationship with that character? In this panel, Garry Disher and Frank Moorhouse, who have created enduring characters - some lasting a trilogy, some much longer - join Julianne Schultz as she asks the question of character. Presented by Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

Why is the Labor Party in Crisis?

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:06:22 +0000

A political tsunami appears to be hitting the Australian Labor Party as it wrestles with the challenges of leadership and collapse in almost every state. According to Barry Jones, Labor’s politics are worse today than when the ALP spilt in 1955, or when the governor-general John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam Labor government in 1975, or when Paul Keating lost to John Howard in 1996. What has led to this situation and what may happen next? Speakers include Barry Jones, former President of the ALP and former Hawke Government Minister, Antony Green, ABC election analyst, Robert Manne, Professor of Politics at La Trobe University. The forum is chaired by Marilyn Lake, Professor of History at La Trobe University. Presented by La Trobe University, Ideas and Society Program, May 2012

History as Fiction. Marr, Grenville, Rash, Cercas, Erpenpeck

Fri, 04 May 2012 06:36:36 +0000

History and fiction have long made strange bedfellows. At this Adelaide Writers' Week event, four acclaimed writers discuss the very different ways they have used fiction to interrogate history. Javier Cercas’ best-selling writings have ingeniously explored the legacies of the Vietnam War and the Spanish Civil War; Ron Rash’s lyrical narratives have long mined the troubled history of the American South; Kate Grenville’s award-winning trilogy about life in colonial Australia has won her legions of fans the world over; and Jenny Erpenbeck’s poetic fictions gracefully engage with Europe’s most enduring ghosts. The session is hosted by David Marr. Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

The Anatomy of a Moment. Javier Cercas in Conversation

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:19:24 +0000

Best-selling Spanish novelist Javier Cercas burst into the English language world with his spectacular novel about the Spanish Civil War, Soldiers of Salamis. Soon after, he published The Speed of Light, a novel about the Vietnam War. Most recently Cercas has published The Anatomy of a Moment, a non-fiction book about the failed 1981 Spanish coup d'état. Cercas, one of Spanish literature’s most celebrated writers tells (host) Javier Diaz about his extraordinary new book. Presented by Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

Meet the Neighbours: Australia in Asia

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:13:06 +0000

India and China seem on track for world domination in the next century. So apart from knowing they have a hunger for our minerals, what else should we know? Speakers: Paul French is based in Shanghai as a business advisor and analyst. He is the author of four works of Asian History; Michael Wesley is the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute; and Chetan Bhagat is 'the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history.' (NY Times) and one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the world". The session is chaired by Krishna Sen, and presented by Perth Writers Festival (February 2012)

Mental Health in Australia. With Patrick McGorry and Allan Fels

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:07:57 +0000

The first National Report Card on mental health and suicide prevention is due to be released at the end of 2012. What will it say about Australia’s mental health services now - and what more needs to be done? Addressing the topic of mental health in Australia (and its treatment) are: Professor Allan Fels, head of the newly established National Mental Health Commission; former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry, head of Orygen Youth Health and one of the National Mental Health Commissioners, and Barbara Hocking, Executive Director of SANE Australia. They are joined by Professor Simon Crowe, Professor of Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology at La Trobe University and President of the Australian Psychological Society, who chairs the event. Presented by La Trobe University Ideas and Society program, April 2012.

On Manhood. Deborah Robertson and Malcolm Knox

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:10:14 +0000

At Adelaide Writers' Week, two novelists explore the vexing questions of contemporary manhood. Malcolm Knox’s novel The Life is a knowing rift on the life of a retired surfer. Deborah Roberston’s Sweet Old World tells the story of a man who falls in love with a mother trying to save her child. Their books paint complex and thoughtful portraits of contemporary masculinity, and in this conversation they explore their ideas further. Presented by Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

The Ethics of Intervention. David Rieff, with Gareth Evans

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:58:26 +0000

When should the international community intervene in civil conflict? What made last year’s Libyan conflict suitable for intervention, while Syrians continued to struggle against despotism alone? In this Wheeler Centre event, David Rieff, a widely published intellectual (and the son of Susan Sontag), speaks with former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans (author of Responsibility to Protect) on the ethics of intervention. Presented by The Wheeler Centre, February 2012

Collateral Damage. Kim Barker and Paul Ham

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:39:36 +0000

Civilians are often caught in cross-fire, but what about when they are deliberately targeted? Paul Ham and Kim Barker discuss with chair Joseph Catanzaro how war crimes and atrocities are somehow justified by those who commit them. Kim Barker was awarded the Council on Foreign Relations' Edward R. Murrow press fellowship to study Afghanistan and Pakistan. Her book The Taliban Shuffle (2011) is her true-life reporting from these war-torn countries. Paul Ham (NSW) is a Sydney-based historian. His books include Hiroshima Nagasaki (2011), Vietnam: The Australian War (2007) and Kokoda (2004). Since 1998, Paul has been the Australia correspondent for The London Sunday Times. Presented by Perth Writers Festival, February 2012

Portraying Evil

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:16:41 +0000

At the Perth Writers Festival, acclaimed authors Glen Duncan, Michael Robotham and Alan Carter consider evil: where does it come from and how far away from us does it live? They discuss with chair Naama Amram the author's role in exploring evil and representing it, as well as the accompanying responsibilities. Presented by Perth Writers Festival, February 2012

Imagining Peace in the Middle East. MJ Akbar in conversation

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:48:25 +0000

M.J. Akbar is a distinguished journalist, writer and former politician. A somewhat controversial figure, Akbar is a Muslim who has, for many years written about religious conflict. Most recently he has published Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan, a fascinating history that begins in the 12the century. Akbar’s earlier titles include The Shade of Swords: Jihad and the Conflict between Islam and Christianity, Byline and the novel Blood Brothers. He is currently the Editorial Director of India Today and Headlines Today as well as the editor of The Sunday Guardian. At this event, he discusses with Farid Farid the prospects for peace in various contested Middle Eastern territories. Presented by Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

Peter Godwin on The Fear and Zimbabwe

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:41:10 +0000

Peter Godwin, born and raised in Africa, is perhaps the world's most respected commentator and reporter on contemporary Zimbabwe. In this conversation with Geoff Hutchison he describes some of his experiences writing there, and how he came to such a dangerous position. Godwin is an award-winning foreign correspondent, author, documentary-maker and screenwriter. The Fear is his latest release, an extraordinary, terrifying and moving account of life in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe. Presented by Perth Writers Festival, February 2012

Hard Boiled. Jo Nesbo and Megan Abbott on Crime-Writing

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:59:00 +0000

The iconic American crime novel as defined by Chandler and Hammett continues to be re-invented. Megan Abbott writes L. A. noir, old school – sex, blondes, booze and vice. Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole is a rift on the tough cop – damaged, determined and battling the bottle. These two crime stars speak to Paul French about writing within and against the tradition. Presented by Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

The Stranger's Child. Alan Hollinghurst in Conversation

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:52:35 +0000

Acclaimed British author Alan Hollinghurst discusses his novel The Stranger's Child with ABC RN's Michael Cathcart. They discuss the strands of class and sexual themes that run through Hollinghurst's work, and society's changing attitudes towards homosexuality through his life. Presented by Adelaide Writers' Week, March 2012

The Future for Newspapers in Australia. Eric Beecher and Paul Ramadge

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:58:10 +0000

Is Australia in the throes of a mass burial for its quality fourth estate? Financial results for Fairfax and News Limited would suggest so, fuelled further by the recent headlines that Hancock Prospecting has become the largest single shareholder of Fairfax Media causing concern about potential editorial interference. But are online publications a quality substitute for newspapers? Are online media, blogs and tweets able to do the job that the fourth estate has been doing? Paul Ramadge, Editor in Chief of The Age and Eric Beecher, Crikey Proprietor and former Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald debate the future of quality newspapers in Australia. The discussion also features academic Mary Debrett and is chaired by Robert Manne. Presented by La Trobe University Ideas and Society Program, March 2012

The Good, the Bad and the Unlikely. Mungo MacCallum with Kerry O'Brien

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:32:38 +0000

Since Australia’s birth in 1901, twenty-seven politicians have run the national show. Their time at the top has ranged from eight days for Frank Forde to eighteen years for Bob Menzies. But whatever the length of their term, each Prime Minister has a story worth sharing. In his new book The Good, the Bad and the Unlikely, Mungo MacCallum brings the nation’s leaders to life. In this conversation with legendary Australian broadcaster Kerry O'Brien, he tells - with characteristic wit and expert knowledge - of the many men and one woman who’ve had a crack at running the country. Presented by Mary Ryan's Books, Byron Bay, February 2012

Masters of the Universe?: The Culture of the AFL

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:53:18 +0000

The AFL has taken a leadership position on the behaviour of young sportsmen. They’ve also tackled the role of women in AFL, Indigenous representation, and binge drinking. So... job done. The AFL has done everything they can do about social issues. Or have they? Russel Howcroft (The Gruen Transfer) hosts a discussion with Alastair Clarkson (coach, Hawthorn FC), Dr Angela Williams (Senior Lecturer, Monash University), Brendon Gale (fmr head of the AFL Players Association, current CEO, Richmond FC) and Father Bob Maguire about the culture of the AFL today. Presented as part of the Monash Alumni Speaker Series, Feb 2012

Us and Them. Anna Krien on the Importance of Animals

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:39:22 +0000

For the first time in history, humans sit unchallenged at the top of the food chain. As we encroach on the wild and a vast wave of extinctions gathers force, how has our relationship with animals changed? In her dazzling new Quarterly Essay (Us and Them: On the Importance of Animals), Anna Krien investigates the world we have made and the complexity of the choices we face. From pets to the live cattle trade, from apex predators to scientific experiments, Krien shows how we should – and do – treat our fellow creatures. Here she discusses her essay with Nick Feik. March 2012

On the Future of International Criminal Justice. Judge Sang-hyun Song

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:15:39 +0000

In the last 10 years, the International Criminal Court has turned from a court on paper into a leading actor in the enforcement of international justice. ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song, delivering the UNSW’s flagship Wallace Wurth memorial lecture, describes the remarkable development of international efforts to hold perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable, and also how the nature and context of these efforts has changed significantly over time. What should be the future role of the ICC, he asks, in this changing world? Presented by University of New South Wales, February 2011

The Changing Face of Global Displacement. Antonio Guterres

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:41:45 +0000

The issue of refugees and asylum-seekers provokes heated public debate in many countries around the world, not just in Australia. In this Lowy Institute's Distinguished Speaker Series address, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, provides a welcome international perspective: he examines emerging developments and trends in forced displacement around the world and the complex, inter-related factors which cause people to flee their homes in search of safety, security and protection. Presented by the Lowy Institute, February 2011

Where To For A Republic?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:03:57 +0000

How would becoming a republic change Australia? What's the best way to get there? Is there any momentum behind such a move today? In this panel discussion and question-and-answer session, barrister and former Australian Republican Movement chair Greg Barns, rising ALP Victorian state MP Jane Garrett and former federal Liberal minister Amanda Vanstone tackle the republican issue today. Presented by the Australian Republican Movement with OurSay, at Deakin University. February 2012

The Honest Broker: Science and Politics. Roger Pielke Jr

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:31:36 +0000

Scientists, and experts more generally, have choices about the roles that they play in today's political debates on topics such as global warming, genetically modified foods, and food and drug safety, just to name a few. At this Lowy Lecture, Professor in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Roger Pielke discusses how we can understand these choices, their theoretical and empirical bases, what considerations are important to think about when deciding, and the consequences for the individual scientist and the broader scientific enterprise. Presented by the Lowy Institute, February 2012

The Inaugural Gandhi Oration. Pat Dodson

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:49:39 +0000

The Inaugural Gandhi Oration is presented by Professor Patrick Dodson, Director of the Indigenous Policy and Dialogue Research Unit at the University of NSW. Professor Dodson was chosen as the inaugural presenter and his life’s work exemplifies the ideals of Gandhi demonstrated through his great leadership in promoting and fostering reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians- work which has been marked by great tolerance and compassion. The Gandhi Oration is an initiative of the University of NSW and the Australia India Institute. Footage provided by A-PAC. January 2011

Gains and Losses From the Information Explosion. Daniel Dennett

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:23:59 +0000

In this talk at the Creative Innovation 2011 conference, Daniel Dennett sketches some of the challenges society faces as our capacity for technological advancement accelerates ever faster. Daniel Dennett is an American philosopher, writer and cognitive scientist whose research centers on the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. He is referred to as one of the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism," along with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. Presented by Creative Innovation 2011

The Next Wave of Innovation. James Moody

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:45:03 +0000

Speaking at the Creative Innovation 2011 conference, James Moody explains how we likely sit on the verge of an era of great innovation. In what areas will this innovation occur? What are the needs it will be addressing? Moody speaks about Eco-natives, and how resource constraints will lead to a different approach to development in the future. Dr James Moody is CSIRO's Executive Director, Development and is a regular panel member of ABC TV's The New Inventors and is the co-author of The Sixth Wave: How to succeed in a resource-limited world. Presented by Creative Innovation 2011, November 2011

Big data: What's Happening To Information About You?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:00:03 +0000

Every digital transaction and communication leaves digital traces and results in enormous collections of data about what we do and who we are. Your 'big data' is being mined and analysed. This presents risks on privacy and personal security grounds, but also promises a new wave of productivity and technology-driven opportunities: smart cities, new knowledge, business opportunities etc. Discussing the many facets of this changing world, Peter Mares (ABC Radio National) introduces speakers Nicholas Gruen, Jane-Frances Kelly, David McCloskey and Peter Yates. The event is presented by Melbourne Conversations (City of Melbourne). November 2011

We Need To Avoid Being the Last Generation. Rufus Black

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:27:26 +0000

Dr Rufus Black is an ethicist, management consultant and theologian who writes and works on ethical and public policy issues. In this talk at the Creative Innovation 2011 conference, he speaks about the challenges of 21st century leadership; how we need to approach the complex and multiple problems facing human civilisation today. Rufus Black is currently the Master of Ormond College and a Principal Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, and Chair of the Board of Teach for Australia. Prior to becoming Master of Ormond, Rufus worked at McKinsey & Company for nine years, where he was a partner. Presented by Creative Innovation 2011

Tan Le. A new development in brain-scanning technology

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:16:55 +0000

Former Young Australian of the year, the technology entrepeneur Tan Le has been developing an astonishing wireless EEG (electroencephalography) headset that reads brainwaves and translates a wide variety of brain activity into computer commands. Tan Le speaks about the many potential applications of this relatively cheap and user-friendly device, and the possibilities it presents in the field of brain research. Presented by Creative Innovation 2011, Melbourne, November 2011

Choosing Between Progress and Planet. Andrew Charlton

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:46:45 +0000

Witnessing at first-hand the failure of the Copenhagen Climate Conference and wondering what went wrong, Andrew Charlton realised the truth of a colleague’s words: “The world is split between those who want to save the planet and those who want to save themselves.” In Quarterly Essay 44 (Man-Made World: Choosing Between Progress and Planet), Charlton discusses the rift that will shape our future: progress versus planet; rich versus poor. Andrew Charlton was senior economic adviser to the prime minister from 2008 to 2010. He previously worked for the London School of Economics, the United Nations and the Boston Consulting Group and received his doctorate in economics from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He is the author of Ozonomics (2007) and Fair Trade for All (2005), co-written with Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz. He is interviewed by Nick Feik, November 2011.

The Decline of Love. Richard Flanagan

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:13:25 +0000

Richard Flanagan is one of Australia's most loved novelists - and most powerful orators. In the annual Alan Missen oration and the Melbourne Writers Festival's closing night address, he considers Rilke's challenge: 'For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.' He questions how prepared we are for that task on the brink of a new century, looking at love and freedom through the works of writers and recent history. The written version of this speech appears in Quarterly Essay #44, published by Black inc. Richard Flanagan's books include Death of A River Guide, The Sound of One Hand Clapping, Gould's Book of Fish, The Unknown Terrorist, and Wanting. Presented by Melbourne Writers Festival 2011

The Future of the Oceans. Sylvia Earle

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:39:23 +0000

American oceanographer and world-famous conservationist and explorer Sylvia Earle has spent a lifetime exploring the world's oceans. In this Melbourne talk, she explains how much are still yet to discover in our oceans, but also how much we are coming to learn about the massive impact humans are having on the health of this crucial natural resource. Earle has led more than 60 expeditions worldwide involving in excess of 7000 hours underwater in connection with her research. In 1998 she was named Time magazine's first "hero for the planet" and today she serves as an explorer in residence at the National Geographic Society. Presented by the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network, November 2011

Panic. David Marr in Conversation

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 23:29:16 +0000

Australians see themselves as a relaxed and tolerant bunch. But scratch the surface and you’ll uncover an extraordinary level of fear. Cronulla. Henson. Hanson. Wik. Haneef. The boats. … David Marr’s new book Panic shows all of his characteristic insight and wit, as he cuts through the froth and fury that have kept Australia simmering over the last fifteen years. He speaks about Panic with Nick Feik. Melbourne, November 2011

The Sweet Spot. Peter Hartcher In Conversation

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:30:29 +0000

Australians now officially have the best living conditions in the world. Our country is both fair and free – and the only developed nation to have avoided a recession in the past twenty years. So how did it happen and why don't we care? In his new book The Sweet Spot Peter Hartcher argues that Australia’s prosperity was not built on dumb luck. In a time when the authoritarian success story of China is strong, Australia offers a better model: a democratic success story. But he also warns that there's no guarantee that the prosperity will continue. He discusses The Sweet Spot with Nick Feik. November 2011