The Conversation Weekly

Australia goes to the polls on October 14 in a referendum on whether to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body, known as the Voice to Parliament, into the country's constitution. In this episode, a political theorist from the Torres Strait Islands, an archipelago between Australia and Papua New Guinea, explains the background to the Voice and the arguments for and against it. Plus, we hear a view from Canada on how the Voice proposal compares with Indigenous systems of representation elsewhere in the world. Featuring Sana Nakata, principal research fellow at James Cook University in Australia. And Kiera Ladner, professor of Indigenous politics and Canadian politics at the University of Manitoba in Canada. Hosted by Gemma Ware with Carissa Lee, First Nations and public policy editor at The Conversation in Melbourne.This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced and written by Gemma Ware and Mend Mariwany. The executive producer was Gemma Ware. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is available here. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.Further reading and listening: A divided Australia will soon vote on the most significant referendum on Indigenous rights in 50 yearsThe Voice to Parliament explained The Voice: how do other countries represent Indigenous voices in government? Crowdsourcing new constitutions: How 2 Latin American countries increased participation and empowered groups excluded from politics – podcast 

Scientists discuss the development of a new malaria vaccine and the challenges in finding a solution. They explain the complexity of the malaria parasite and the rigorous process of testing vaccines. The new vaccine has shown a 75% decrease in clinical episodes and has the potential for larger-scale distribution. Future steps include combining different vaccines for more thorough protection and ultimately eliminating malaria.

Spanish women are having fewer and fewer children, and yet the country has become the egg donation capital of Europe. We find out about the experiences of women who decide to donate their eggs, and whether there are enough protections in place to prevent them from being exploited.Featuring Anna Molas, research fellow in anthropology at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain.This episode was produced and written by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer of The Conversation Weekly. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available soon. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.Further reading: Spain is the egg donation capital of Europe – here’s what it’s like to be a donorScience experiments traditionally only used male mice – here’s why that’s a problem for women’s healthMore from The Conversation’s Women’s Health Matters series

In this podcast, Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian political leader, and Yossi Beilin, Israel's deputy foreign minister, discuss the legacy of the Oslo peace process and the future of a two-state solution. They explore the challenges of the two-state solution, the impact of Israeli settlements, the success or failure of the Oslo Accords, and the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanan Ashrawi and Yossi Beilin discuss the aftermath of the Oslo Accords, including the complexities of the Madrid Conference, differing expectations, and the challenges faced during the process. The podcast also explores the implications of violence and religious extremism on the peace process.

James Rodgers and Amnon Aran discuss the Oslo Accords and the 30th anniversary of its signing. They interview Jan Egeland, who played a key role in the secret negotiations for the accords. The podcast explores the background of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the ongoing tensions, the need for forceful mediation, and the United States' role in addressing the issue. Additionally, it delves into Norway's involvement and diplomatic efforts in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Around half of all life on Earth is on the move because of climate change. It's another staggering statistic from the recent synthesis report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a shift explored in a recent episode of Fear & Wonder, a new podcast from The Conversation. We're running that full episode through our channel this week. It features Finnish fisherman scientist Tero Mustonen and Australian marine ecologist Gretta Pecl from the University of Tasmania.Fear and Wonder is hosted by IPCC lead author Joelle Gergis and journalist Michael Green. It's produced by Michael Green and is sponsored by the Climate Council, an independent, evidence-based organisation working on climate science, impacts and solutions. Further listening:Fear and Wonder podcast: how climate action can create a more liveable future for allFear and Wonder podcast: how climate change is affecting rainfall, droughts and floodsFrom radiation to water pollution to cities, humans are now a driver of evolution in the ‘natural’ world 

The Conversation Weekly will be taking a production break in August and will be back in September with new episodes. Stay tuned and subscribed!

Based on Michael Crichton's novel by the same name, Jurassic Park told the story of an ambitious theme park that used resurrected dinosaurs as its attractions. But as the story unfolds, things start to go wrong. We speak to Travis Holland, who researches media and fan studies,at the popular and scientific cultural impact Jurassic Park continues to have today.Featuring Travis Holland, Senior Lecturer in Communication at Charles Sturt University in Australia.This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood. The executive producer is Mend Mariwany. Eloise Stevens does our sound design and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available soon. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.Further reading: How Jurassic Park changed film-making and our view of dinosaurs‘Jurassic Park’ made a dinosaur-sized leap forward in computer-generated animation on screen, 25 years ago

The human body is a complex organism, made up of trillions of cells. But not all of them are human. About half of them are fungi, microbes and bacteria. Scientists are starting to understand how and why these communities — referred to as microbiomes — are crucial to the functioning of various body systems. We speak to three experts who study the gut microbiome: a gastroenterologist, a neuroscientist and a biological engineer. Their research considers how these microbiomes are important, what the relationship is between microbiomes and well being, and how synthetically engineered microorganisms promise new forms of therapies. Featuring Chris Damman, a gastroenterologist and clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, Andrea Merchak, an incoming postdoctoral scholar at the University of Florida, who studies the gut biome as it affects and is affected by various conditions, and Tae Seok Moon, a biological engineer at Washington University at St. Louis, who looks at how synthetic biology can be employed within the gut.This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany, who is also the show’s executive producer. With production assistance from Katie Flood. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available soon. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.Further reading: Fermented food: why eating sauerkraut helps your gut stay healthyBile acids and gut microbes could potentially treat multiple sclerosis, according to new research in miceFiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management – rather than cutting carbs out of your diet, eat them in their original fiber packaging instead