Sydney Ideas

What role does the media play forming public perceptions on mental health? A panel of journalists, media theorists, and mental health experts reflect on the portrayal and discussion of mental health issues in the mainstream media. SPEAKERS: Georgie Harman, CEO beyondblue; Sophie Scott, national medical reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; Professor Gerard Goggin, Department of Media and Communications the University of Sydney; Dr Bettina Friedrich (panel chair), Postdoctoral Researcher, Brain and Mind Centre, the University of Sydney A Sydney Idea talk 8 September, 2015 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/mental_health_media_forum.shtml

At the United Nations Indigenous peoples have been at the forefront of discussions regarding the human rights abuses committed by corporations since the 1970s. Today, little has changed in relation to this situation. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations, reflects on the reasons why local Indigenous communities continue to suffer disproportionately the negative impact of corporate activities. For more info and speaker's biography see this page: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/victoria_tauli_corpuz.shtml

Health experts are divided over the benefits of cancer screening – are we saving lives or harming lives? Some experts argue that widespread screening, such as for breast and prostate cancer, can lead to over-detection and over-treatment of illnesses which are not life threatening. Healthy people can be unnecessarily alarmed, falsely diagnosed, or subjected to invasive procedures that can cause emotional and physical harm. Critics say cancer screening does little to prevent deaths or extend life expectancy, which is the goal of mass population screening. However, medical experts who support cancer screening programs and new-generation genetic tests argue that we are saving millions of lives and preventing untold suffering by detecting early-stage cancers. Promoters of genetic testing say that people who have a family history of cancer can benefit from knowing if they carry a heightened risk of disease. Agreement between experts about cancer screening is urgently needed so that Australians can be better educated about their options, and make informed choices. In this panel discussion University of Sydney experts talk basic science to lived experience. A Sydney Ideas event held on 29 July 2015 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/health_forums.shtml

The Pacific region boasts a third of the world’s total living languages. A panel of experts examines ideas around national policies that recognize and protect minority languages, education systems that promote mother-tongue instruction, and creative collaboration between community and linguists. Indigenous language expert Professor Jakelin Troy, joins linguistics professor Nick Enfield, Professor of Oceanic Languages and Cultures, Bernard Rigo, founding member of the Australian South Sea Islanders, Emelda Davis and Ernie Dingo in a robust discussion on language use. THIS LECTURE TOOK PLACE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY ON 25 MAY 2015 AS PART OF THE SYDNEY IDEAS PROGRAM. For more info and speaker's biography see this page: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/competing_voices_pacific_forum.shtml

The panel brings together scholars who have direct experience of the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Bahrain. They discussed the historical roots, recent developments and challenges that civil societies in these countries are currently facing. Chaired by Dr Lucia Sorbera, University of Sydney, speakers include: Larbi Sadiki, Assoc Professor of International Affairs at Qatar University; Walid El Khachab, Assoc Professor and Coordinator of Arabic Studies, York University; and Dr Ala'a Shehabi, co-founder of Bahrain Watch, an NGO working on transparency and accountability. For more info and speaker's biography see this page: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/civil_society_resilience_authoritarianism.shtml

In recent years, interest in contemporary Chinese art has exploded in Australia and across the world. Tonight some of Australia's most prominent curators share their thoughts on what makes certain artists stand out, and what might be the challenges of putting up the exhibitions in a cross-cultural context. For more info and speakers' biographies see: tinyurl.com/of4lc9k

Training in cultural competence to allow people to work better in cross-cultural environments is becoming increasingly important in our globalised community. American trailblazer Professor Tawara Good, Director of the National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University, shares her experiences of establishing perhaps the world’s first cultural competence thought centre. For more info and speaker's biography see this page: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/professor_tawara_goode.shtml

If research demonstrates that students who engage in an active, demanding, high-quality arts education are more likely to excel in their academic and non-academic lives, why has the recent review of the Australian Curriculum recommended reducing arts learning in our schools? Speakers include: Professor Michael Anderson (panel chair), Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney; Tom Alegounarias, President of the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW (BOSTES); Rob Carlton, a Silver Logie winning actor; Andrea Connell, the Principal of Sydney Girls High School; Professor Robyn Ewing, Professor of Teacher Education and the Arts at the University of Sydney; Professor Julianne Schultz, founding editor of Griffith REVIEW; and Tamara Winikoff, Executive Director, at the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA). For more info and speaker's biography see this page: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/arts_as_learning_forum.shtml

One of Australia’s highest profile media executives Kim Williams talks about the enduring impact of arts education on his life and advances a strong case for the primacy of music education from a young age. "Music is a bedrock for good thinking," says Williams. Presented with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. For more info and speaker's biography see this page: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/kim_williams.shtml

Cancer does not occur in a vacuum - it has a major impact on family, friends and colleagues. When a parent has cancer, the whole family experiences cancer. For a parent, there are many questions to answer. How much, and what to tell the children is a frequent concern. Do young children need different information to teenagers? What do we know about how children really feel regarding a cancer experience in the family? Professor Kate White from the University of Sydney Nursing School answers these questions. A Sydney Ideas talk from 24 September, 2014 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/professor_kate_white.shtml