Sydney Ideas

As we start to chart a COVID-19 recovery course, there are a number of complex issues to consider. Last week, the Australian government announced and released the COVIDSafe app, designed to help us all to return to some sort of normal. Since its release, there've been a lot of discussion about the functionality and security of the app. The purpose of this conversation is to give you access to expert insights and facts. Our panel will consider questions such as, how is this going to work? Can it keep us safe? And also what are the risks to us all if we do download it, or if we don't? THE SPEAKERS: – Professor Robert Slonim, behavioural economist from the School of Economics – Associate Professor Adam Dunn, Head of Biomedical Informatics and Digital Health in the School of Medical Sciences – Associate Professor Jeanne Huang, international law expert from the Sydney Law School – Dr Suranga Seneviratne, Lecturer in Security at the School of Computer Science – Anna Burns (moderator), Sydney Ideas For further resources, including the transcript, useful links and ways to give back, visit our website: https://bit.ly/2SN4bBJ

COVID-19 has put health firmly at the top of the agenda. While we’re practising physical distancing to maintain our physical health, how do we maintain our wellbeing and cope constructively through this time? THE SPEAKERS – Professor Maree Teesson, Director of the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use and NHMRC Principal Research Fellow at the University of Sydney – Dr Lexine Stapinski, Senior Research Fellow, Clinical Psychologist and Lead in Intervention and Implementation at the Matilda Centre WHAT WE COVER
 – Concerns for community wellbeing: fear of the virus; impacts of isolation; and long-term impacts (1.45) – What can we do right now? Practical steps and coping mechanisms (5.00) – Work-life balance: juggling multiple roles and responsibilities (8.50) – Dealing with financial stress and job loss (10.30) – Working remotely, productivity and role of managers (14.30) – Social anxiety and impacts of social distancing (17.40) – Managing our passive digital and screen time (18.40) – Avoidance and alcohol use (21.00) – Support for health care workers (27.30) – Support for young people (28.50) - Giving ourselves time and space, and strategies for politely declining invitations to connect (35.50) – Riding the rollercoaster of emotions (37.30) For further resources, including the transcript, useful links and ways to give back, visit our website: https://bit.ly/2Vnfimh

As the COVID-19 situation unfolds, now is the time to rethink how we do things, during this pandemic and beyond. What could a digital present and future look like for mental health? Hosted by The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre and facilitated by ABC broadcaster Dr Norman Swan, this conversation will ask how can the mental health system to best support communities and consider a mental healthcare transformation, beyond tele to DigiHealth. For more information, including the transcript, speaker slides, and useful resources, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3a3ZRUo WHAT WE COVER – Professor Ian Hickie: overview of the landscape (00:01:00) – Dr John Torous: international perspective, research at Harvard (00:09:00) - Samuel Hockey: user perspective and co-design, and lived experience (00:21:00) – Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin: access and connection (00:28:00) – Julie Sturgess: North Coast Primary Health Network case/model; how its adopted technology (00:34:00) – Dr Peggy Brown: digital standards (00:38:00) – Professor Pat Dudgeon: insights on Indigenous populations (00:42:00) – Dr Michael Millard: digital platforms and THIS WAY UP (00:45:00) – Professor John Mendoza: the scene in Adelaide (00:47:30) – Dr Angelo Virgona: unique opportunities (00:52:00) – Dr Michael Moore: what are the risks related to telehealth (00:55:00) – Dr Sebastian Rosenberg: barriers and inequities around access (00:58:00) – John Feneley: meeting needs and demand in the long-term (00:60:00) – Julius Ajayi: use of digital platforms with patients in mental health care (01:04:00) – Associate Professor Elizabeth Scott: how she is flipping her specialist clinic with technology (01:06:30) – Dr Haley LaMonica: use of technology by older persons (01:09:30) – Jason Trethowan: waitlists and digihealth (01:11:30) – Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin: examples of young people and peer support online programs (01:15:00) – Dr Danny Rock: insights into PORTS project as an example of digital transformation (01:17:00) – Professor Ian Hickie: key ideas and big questions to think about (01:22:00)

We're peeling back the layers of language and cognition and how it relates to COVID-19. Particularly at this time, the way we talk about the disease and the current situation, can be helpful or harmful, comforting or confusing. What should we be conscious of? We speak with Nick Enfield, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney. WHAT WE COVER – From "mild" to "extreme" cases: the need for nuance – Unpacking the idea of "the new normal" – Exercising cognitive literacy, or what Hugo Mercier terms 'open vigilance' Access the transcript: https://bit.ly/2V0VLa3 For more info, head to the Sydney Ideas website: sydney.edu.au/sydney-ideas.

The situation around COVID-19 is evolving at an astounding rate. Thinking beyond the physical health ramifications to the mental health, anxiety, communication and sense-making aspects, our panel looks at what's going on and do their best to make sense of the rapidly shifting series of events. THE SPEAKERS – Professor Nick Enfield, Department of Linguistics – Professor Ian Hickie, Brain and Mind Centre – Dr Claire Hooker, Faculty of Medicine and Health – Professor Julie Leask, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery – Professor Agnieszka Tymula, School of Economics – Professor Annamarie Jagose (Moderator), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences WHAT WE COVER – Why our words matter: how we talk about COVID-19 (2.30) – Past epidemics and what history teaches us (6.00) – There is value in being anxious; if we channel this productively (8.00) – Features of human behaviour: how it's playing out in the COVID-19 context (10.40) – When faced with uncertainty, ambiguity; how should we communicate this? (13.00) – Trust vs panic: navigating the complicated communication environment (19.40) – Importance and maintenance of trust and transparency in our systems (21.00) – Social media and responding to cynicism (35.50) – Final thoughts from each speaker (42.40): be aware of loss/gain frame of scenarios and the cost of opportunity; Julie's 'ABCDEF' of practical actions for people (45.00); focus on behaving collectively (47.50); use this as a chance to re-connect with each other (48.40). For more info, including a full transcript, head to the Sydney Ideas website: sydney.edu.au/sydney-ideas.

It's a natural, human response to fear disease. Yet we've seen this fear heightened with the outbreak of COVID-19. After all, the disease has reached into virtually all corners of life: public health, security, jobs, businesses, our culture and communities. It's an uncertain time. People are anxious. So, how do we communicate and channel our anxiety to respond productively? We're taking a look at mental health in Australia and how it's being impacted on by COVID-19. We speak with Professor Ian Hickie, co-director of the Brain and Mind Centre and a leading health expert. WHAT WE COVER – The drivers of good mental health: personal autonomy and social connection – How we can give people the information and agency to take productive actions – The conversations we should be having to enable and empower communities – Mental health in the face of an economic crisis – The importance of social cohesion: while we're physically isolated, the more we're connected socially and emotionally, it will have profound impacts on mental health Access the transcript: https://bit.ly/2WzaPxR For more info, head to the Sydney Ideas website: sydney.edu.au/sydney-ideas.

Since COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) first emerged in December last year there’s been a lot of uncertainty, anxiety and misinformation. As of Thursday 12th March, the World Health Organisation has officially declared a pandemic. The situation is of course rapidly developing. But it’s useful to get some perspective. What can we do to prepare and respond to this issue? On Wednesday 11 March we hosted an information session with academic experts from the University of Sydney to answer critical questions, from health facts to broader societal implications in Australia. THE PANEL – Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott, expert in global health security and international relations – Professor Julie Leask, who has qualifications in nursing and midwifery. Her research focuses on risk communication – Professor Ramon Shaban, Professor of Infection Prevention and Disease Control, and internationally respected clinician and educator – Professor Tania Sorrell AM is Director of the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity (MBI) and Chair of the NHMRC’s Research Translation Faculty Steering Group on New and Emerging Health Threats - Anna Burns, Public Programs Manager at Sydney Ideas, moderated the discussion. WHAT WE COVER – Where are we right now? A brief timeline – What are the clinical symptoms (1.20) – The risk: how is it transmitted? (2.10) – Insights into the international perspective: how does it relate to our own experience here in Australia? (5.30) – Lessons from how other governments have responded? (9.00) – What's the level of contagion and the incubation period? (10.50) – Testing: where does it fit into the incubation and symptom timeline? (14.00) – Criteria for testing (14.35) – What's my risk and prevention tips with hubs and spots like public transport, pools, schools? (16.00) – Contact surfaces: how long does the pathogen stick around for? (17.20) – Level of risk for particular groups depending on age brackets, whether you have underlying symptoms? (19.20) – Anxiety and preparedness: how do you look after your mental health? (20.50) – The importance of accurate information (24.40) – Scenario planning and containment strategy, in Australia and abroad (25.20) – Are we likely to see an outbreak in NSW? And what would this mean? (28.30) – Capacity of our health system to deal with spike in cases? (30.20) – Insights on people's profiles and risk: pregnancies and chronic lung disease (34.30) – Hand hygiene, proximity: what are measures to minimise our risk? (37.25) – Consider the stigma social risks too, such as racism and be vigilant about this (38.35) – Re-infection: is it possible? Likely? (40.00) – A key message for people to take away: keep calm (41.50), trust the health experts and government (42.20), be cognisant of your impact on others (44.20) and scenario plan (44.45)

We're talking about the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak and the social and political responses to it. Has fear of the disease taken on a racial dimension? We bring together an epidemiologist, historian, politician, student leader and the University's Vice-Chancellor to help make sense of this rapidly evolving issue. WHAT WE COVER – Brief timeline by Tim Soutphommasane – Pandemic: what does mean, and how will it impact our daily lives? (Ying Zhang, 6.50) – Insights on the government's response to the outbreak and racism in Australia (Jenny Leong, 12.35) – Getting a historical perspective on this (Sophie Loy-Wilson, 19.30) – Insights on students in China affected by the travel ban: how are they feeling? (Abbey Shi, 22.50) – The University's response and support for students (Michael Spence, 26.00) – The economic impact on University sector, tourism and more (30.00) – Preparedness and panic: how we deal with this issue (38.00) – Final thoughts and key messages from speakers (48.25) THE SPEAKERS – Associate Professor Ying Zhang, senior epidemiologist at the University of Sydney – Jenny Leong MP, Member for Newtown in the NSW State Parliament – Dr Sophie Loy-Wilson, historian at the University of Sydney – Abbey Shi, General Secretary of the University of Sydney SRC - Dr Michael Spence AC, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sydney The event was moderated by Professor Tim Soutphommasane, Director of the Culture Strategy at the University of Sydney. This event was recorded on Monday 2 March, 2020. For the event transcript and more info, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2UMUrco

Nanotechnology is unlocking new ways to understand human biology. Scientists expect discoveries in this field will completely revolutionise medicine, from detecting arterial blockages to neural disorders in the brain. Hear from researchers at the forefront of this space discuss the latest developments and applications. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR – Introduction by Professor Benjamin Eggleton, Director of the University of Sydney Nano Institute. https://sydney.edu.au/nano/ – Keynote address by Paul Weiss discussing nano approaches to medicine and biology, and interdisciplinary collaborations (3.50) – Anna Waterhouse and Shelley Wickham talk about their nanorobotics project, which involves building autonomous programmable nanorobots that can navigate the body to detect and prevent early heart disease (34.50) – Conversation with Paul, Anna and Shelley, moderated by Julie Cairney (44.10) THE SPEAKERS - Professor Paul S. Weiss, nanoscientist and Professor at UCLA - Dr Anna Waterhouse, cardiovascular researcher at the University of Sydney and co-lead of Grand Challenges - Nanorobotics for Health project - Dr Shelley Wickham, chemistry and physics research at the University of Sydney, and co-lead of Nanorobotics for Health - Professor Julie Cairney (Moderator), from School of Engineering at the University of Sydney This event was recorded on Monday 17 February, 2020 at the University of Sydney. To learn more about the Nanorobotics project, further resources and speakers, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2SQb5oM

Do the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) outweigh the potential negative effects, in the context of social responsibilities for the entire human race? Will intelligent machines soon take over, turning us into their slaves or raw materials? In his talk, Professor Mark Coeckelbergh shifts the conversation away from science fiction fantasies about AI and into the realms of real ethical issues and urgent policy challenges for development and use of artificial intelligence and robotics in society. Mark is a Belgian philosopher of technology. He is Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Vienna and President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology. Associate Professor Julia Horne, University Historian and Director of Sydney Social Sciences Advanced Research Centre (SSSHARC), chaired this event. This event was held on Wednesday 27 November, 2019. For more details, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2Dp0f1M