Sydney Ideas

As many as one million Uyghur people and other Muslim minorities in China have reportedly been detained indefinitely in "re-education camps" since 2017. Why is it happening and what are the political ramifications for us all? This Sydney Ideas discussion explores these issues from a range of perspectives. Erkin Sidick, a Uyghur scientist, offers his analysis of the crackdown in Xinjiang. David Atwill, a historian of Islam in China, discuss the wider questions of the Chinese state’s approach to Islam, and Ruth Gamble offers a comparative perspective on these issues drawing on her knowledge of Tibet. Held on 20 February 2019: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/xinjiang-china-reeducation-camps.html

How post-truth politics is wrecking public discourse Hear from Don Watson, award-winning author and former speechwriter for Paul Keating, as he decodes political language and reveals its influence on democracy and civil debate. This Sydney Ideas conversation between Don Watson and Benedetta Brevini considers how post-truth, bullshit and management speak have taken over and fundamentally undermine the quality of public discourse and policy-making. This event was held on Wednesday 13 February at the University of Sydney. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/weasel-words-don-watson.html

How much do governments and private corporations really know about our online history? Hear from Ron Deibert, digital detective and founder of Citizen Lab, as he reveals the hidden surveillance systems used to spy on civil society. Ron is joined by Sydney Cybersecurity Network co-founder Aim Sinpeng and James Der Derian, Director of Centre for International Security Studies. This event was held on Tuesday 12 February at the University of Sydney. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2019/digital-espionage.html

To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2019, the University’s Westmead Initiative hosted a discussion about the achievements of women in the field and their ongoing challenges. This was held in collaboration with Westmead Research Hub. Hear from Dr Christina Adler, Professor Nadia Badawi AM, Professor Jenny Gunton, Associate Professor Ruby Lin, Professor Phil Robinson and Elizabeth Wojciechowski with Jenny Brockie (SBS Insight) as moderator. This event was held on Monday 11 February 2019 at the Westmead Education and Conference Centre in Westmead Hospital.

We commemorate United Nations World Soil Day with a discussion about how we can ensure that our soils provide food, biodiversity and healthy ecosystems well into the future. This event was held on December 5 at the University of Sydney. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2018/soil-security.html

On the eve of 70-year anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Gillian Triggs reflects on Australia's human rights record in a public lecture, with an introduction by Elizabeth Evatt and a vote of thanks by Tanya Plibersek. This event was held on Sunday 9 December 2018 at the University of Sydney. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2018/from-good-international-citizen-to-pariah-.html TIME STAMPS: Start - 01:25 | Clara Edwards welcome 01:30 - 12:00 | Elizabeth Evatt introduction 12:05 - 01:01:35 | Gillian Triggs keynote address 01:01:40 - 01:12:00 | Tanya Plibersek vote of thanks 01:12:00 - end | Danielle Celermajer close

On the 70-year anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we bring together a panel of human rights heroes to reflect on the positivity the declaration provided and how it could go forward. TIME STAMPS: 10’07'' - 19’33’’ Larissa Baldwin, Senior Campaigner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Rights at Getup. 19’37’’ - 25’00’’ Dulce Muñoz, the National Convener of Mums4Refugees Sydney, a grassroots network of mothers that provides social, legal and material aid to people seeking asylum and people from refugee backgrounds. 25’15’’ - 31’49’’ Nas Campanella, a journalist and newsreader with the ABC and triple J. In 2013 she earned a newsreading position at triple J, becoming the first blind newsreader in the world to read and operate the studio for herself live to air. 31’53’’ - 40’16’’ Danny Xanadu has been involved in advocacy and education for the Queer community for 25 years. 40’23’’ - 50’25’’ Dinesh Wadiwel is a Senior Lecturer in human rights and socio-legal studies at the University of Sydney. Here he addresses the need for the alliance between human, animal and environmental rights. 50’30'' - Audience Q&A More info: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2018/human-rights-the-next-70-years.html

Why does race seem to be the hardest word for white people? Dr Robin DiAngelo – a renowned anti-racism educator – argues that the underlying cause is environmental. White people in settler colonial contexts live in a racially insular social bubble. This environment builds an atmosphere of racial comfort but reduces their capacity to tolerate racial stress. Dr DiAngelo – author of What Does it Mean To Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy – describes this lack of racial stamina as 'White Fragility'.

In a fun and interactive manner, Australian Local Hero of the Year and one of the world's most inspirational mathematics teachers demonstrates why everyone should love mathematics. His talk is followed by the conversation between Eddie and Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Mark Scott AO, and the questions from the audience. TIME STAMPS 5:59 - 45:50 – Eddie Woo demonstrates why everyone should love mathematics 48:30 – 60:07 - Eddie Woo in conversation with Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Mark Scott AO 60:07 – 60:25 - Audience Q&A A Sydney Ideas event held at the Seymour Centre on Monday 3 December 2018. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2018/eddie-woo-wonderful-world-of-maths.html

Sir Eric Thomas, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol and former Chair of the Worldwide Universities Network joins an esteemed panel of university professors, private sector representatives and former politicians for an important debate - what should universities be? They look at the question from five specific perspectives, those of: a) students, b) tax payers, c) the academy, d) employees, and e) private donors. TIME STAMPS 5:30 - 19:30 – What should universities be from the perspective of students? 20:00 – 28:00 - What should universities be from the perspective of the Government, representing citizens and tax payers? 28:50 – 37:00 - What should universities be from the perspective of the academy? 37:45 – 49:30 - What should universities be from the perspective of business, as employers, and investors in research and development? 49:30 - 58:40 - What should universities be from the perspective of private donors and philanthropists? 58:45 – Audience Q&A A Sydney Ideas event held at the University of Sydney on Thursday 22 November 2018. https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2018/what-should-universities-be.html