2022. It's a new year yet the same-old. Off the back of the pandemic, there was talk of a Great Reset, a chance to turn a crisis into an opportunity. But looking at the state of play today – in politics, human rights, climate action and widening inequality – has this vision for a paradigm shift fizzled? To get some perspective, we bring together leading thinkers from a range of fields to share their take on how the world might change – or could change – for the better, by the end of year. FEATURING – Dr Arianna Brambilla, Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Co-chair of the cluster Building Efficiencies of the Smart Sustainable Building Network – Associate Professor Melody Ding, epidemiologist and population behavioural scientist working at the intersection of physical activity, epidemiology and chronic disease prevention – Dr Arunima Malik, Senior Lecturer in the Integrated Sustainability. Her expertise is in big-data modelling to quantify sustainability impacts at local, national and global scales – Jananie Janarthana, community organiser and campaigner – Dr Sandra Peter, Director of Sydney Business Insights at the University of Sydney Business School – Fenella Kernebone, Head of Programming for Sydney Ideas, hosts this conversation. For further links and resources, including a transcript, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3p47p3G This public talks event was recorded on 17 February, 2022.

Hear from researchers at the University of Sydney Nano Institute (Sydney Nano), who are working at the cutting-edge of nanoscience. Professor Zdenka Kuncic shares how the research team is delivering cures for neurological diseases by rethinking interventions in the nervous system. Dr Shelley Wickham is working on a project building autonomous, programmable robots that can detect disease early for treatment and prevention. Professor Chiara Neto talks about developing a low-cost method to capture water in the air, to tackle the impacts of drought. Associate Professor, chemist and science communicator Alice Motion is our host, with opening remarks from Sydney Nano Director, Professor Benjamin Eggleton. This recording was from a live event on 25 November, 2021. For links to further resources, including the transcript, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3li5Zk7

How adaptable are our big city birds to the urban environment and what impact we humans are having on them? Discover some significant citizen science projects and how you can get involved. Drawing on the latest research, in this Sydney Ideas event you will hear powerful short talks about our local birdlife. Featuring: – Professor Dieter Hochuli, ecologist at the University of Sydney, on the brush turkey; – Dr Holly Parsons from BirdLife Australia on the powerful owl; – Dr John Martin, research scientist at Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, on the much-maligned ibis; – Professor David Phalen (University of Sydney), who talks about a new study that aims to identify the causes of a devastating disease affecting Rainbow Lorikeets; – Dr Lucy Aplin from the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behaviour, explains the unique bin-opening behaviour of clever sulphur-crested cockatoos, and; – Associate Professor Kurt Iveson, urban geographer from the University of Sydney, moderates this event. Visit the Sydney Ideas website for more info, audio transcript and links to citizen science projects mentioned in the podcast: https://bit.ly/3mwkGRX The talks were recorded from a live virtual event on 28 October, 2021.

As Australia looks to reopen, and in the week NSW emerges from lockdown, we examine the path to reopening and how we can rebuild Australian society looking forward. Drawing upon the work of the Open Society, Common Purpose taskforce hosted at the University of Sydney, we ask: What do we need to get right? Featuring: – Professor Catherine Bennett, epidemiologist, Deakin University – Dr Nick Coatsworth, infectious disease physician, ANU – Dr Luara Ferracioli, Senior Lecturer in Political Philosophy, The University of Sydney – Professor Adam Guastella, Michael Crouch Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health, University of Sydney – Professor Fiona Russell, paediatrician and epidemiologist, The University of Melbourne – Mark Rigotti, Senior Adviser at Herbert Smith Freehills and Chair of the Open Society, Common Purpose taskforce – Professor Tim Soutphommasane, political theorist, The University of Sydney – Professor Marc Stears, Director of Sydney Policy Lab, The University of Sydney This conversation was recorded on 13 October, 2021. For more information and resources, including the transcript, visit our website: https://bit.ly/2YKLWme

How do changes to our sleep and body rhythms affect our health, wellbeing and diseases of the brain? In the lead up to Mental Health Month, discover some fascinating new research emerging from the University of Sydney and beyond. Fran Kelly, Breakfast presenter on ABC Radio National, moderates an expert panel featuring: – Associate Professor Sean Cain, circadian rhythms expert from Monash University – Dr Jacob Crouse, post-doctoral research fellow with the Youth Mental Health & Technology Team at the Brain and Mind Centre – Professor Sharon Naismith, clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Sydney This discussion was recorded on 23 September, 2021. For more information and resources, including a transcript, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3CFlfOn – this is where you can also find our music playlist of tracks to wind down to, as recommended by the panel.

After being involved in two decades of occupying the country, what responsibilities does Australia owe to the people of Afghanistan? What more needs to be done by the Australian and other allied governments? This conversation brings together Afghan Australians Mujib Abid who recently escaped from Kabul with his family, and Shukufa Tahiri, former Policy Officer with the Refugee Council, as well as leading academic experts to share their insights. Hear from our panel including: – Mujib Abid, University of Sydney alumnus (Master of Peace and Conflict Studies) and PhD candidate at the University of Queensland. – Professor Mary Crock, Co-Director of the Sydney Centre for International Law. – Professor William Maley AM from the Department of International Relations at ANU – Professor Tim Soutphommasane, Director of the Culture Strategy at the University of Sydney and political theorist – Shukufa Tahiri, Deputy Director of National Refugee Advocacy and Advisory Group (NRAAG) This online discussion is presented in collaboration with the Culture Strategy and Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney.

A philosopher, an improv comedian, a psychologist and an economist walk into a Sydney Ideas webinar... to discuss happiness. Can we find ways to be happier than we were before, while in the face of ongoing uncertainty and a global pandemic? Happiness. There are entire industries dedicated to helping us find it. Endless social media advice, self-help books and gurus promising health, wealth and happiness if only you do that one thing. But it can be hard to feel happy in the face of a pandemic – extended lockdowns, the chaos and uncertainty of working from home, of home-schooling, or simply feeling like everything is just relentless. What are we really chasing, and why? What is the difference between being happy with your life compared to being happy in your life Featuring: – Rebecca De Unamuno, award-winning improviser and comedian – Dan Nahum, economist with the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work – Dr Tim Sharp, Australia's very own 'Dr Happy', at the forefront of the positive psychology movement and founder of The Happiness Institute – Dr Caroline West, philosopher at the University of Sydney – Fenella Kernebone (Moderator), Head of Programming for Sydney Ideas This discussion was hosted on 26 August, 2021. For more information and resources, including the transcript; visit our website: https://bit.ly/3yAiFGO

Vaccines offer a way out of COVID but its success is not without challenges. How do we overcome the gaps in understanding so that we’re backing the best chance we have in keeping ourselves and the community safe? Facilitated by ABC’s Tegan Taylor (co-host of Australia's chart-topping health podcast, Coronacast), this discussion is grounded in the science, with insights from experts from the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, including: – Professor Cheryl Jones, paediatric infectious diseases physician and Head of School and Dean of Sydney Medical School, who is also an ATAGI member; – Professor Kirsten McCaffery, Principal Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health; – Professor Ramon Shaban, Professor of Infection Prevention and Disease Control; – Mustafa Dhahir, a current Doctor of Medicine student and Pharmacy graduate, with experience in community vaccinations and he uses social media to empower the public's understanding of health. We hope this discussion will help you get informed about COVID-19 vaccines and help you have productive conversations with friends and family. This discussion was hosted on 18 August, 2021. For more information, resources, including the transcript, visit our website: https://bit.ly/37Xhsyq

What does lockdown 2.0 mean for younger people and how does it impact on their mental health? Hear from our panel of passionate mental health experts and leaders including: – Dr Marlee Bower, Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre, whose work explores social determinants of mental health and understanding loneliness; – Lucinda (Lucy) Brogden AM, Chair of National Mental Health Commission – Swapnik Sanagavarapu, University of Sydney Student Representative Council President and Arts/Law student; – Dr Pranita Shrestha, Research Associate in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, expert in housing affordability; and – Professor Maree Teesson AC, Director of the Matilda Centre, and Chair of Australia's Mental Health Think Tank, moderates the conversation. We discuss the “shadow pandemic” of deteriorating health, impacts of social connection and disconnection, government interventions and directions for reform, as well as practical advice to cope with such challenging times. This conversation was held on 21 July, 2021. For resources, including a transcript for the podcast, head to the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3zFJSsM

Hear from Kate Crawford, Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and one of the world's foremost scholars on the social and political implications of artificial intelligence. Timed for the Australian launch of her new book, 'Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence', Kate speaks with Fenella Kernebone to explore how artificial intelligence is not objective or neutral but a technology of extraction. Hailed in Nature as an essential read, Kate's book "exposes the dark side of AI success" by taking us on a journey that uncovers how planetary computation is fueling a shift toward undemocratic governance and increased inequity. For further links and resources, including a transcript for this podcast, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3yLBV4P This conversation was recorded on 6 July, 2021.