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

Australia and India have much to learn from each other, because while our economies are quite different, we face similar problems, particularly around energy and the future direction of our cities. Hear from three of the University of Sydney’s leading researchers from Business, Urban Studies and Chemistry. Professor John Shields from the Business School suggests a need to rethink the nature of leadership and asks, what can we learn from Mahatma Gandhi in this regard? Dr Tooran Alizadeh, whose research around smart cities is based in India, asks what is that we want from our cities, in an age of rapidly evolving technology? Dr Girish Lakhwani will draw on his research in energy to explore the parallels and complementary differences between the Indian and Australian experience. Tania Rhodes-Taylor, Vice-Principal (External Relations)at the University, chaired this event, with closing remarks by Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence AC. This event was recorded on Friday 22 November, 2019 in New Delhi.

Award-winning filmmaker Genevieve Clay-Smith has channelled her passion for social justice and desire to equitise the film industry into the practice of inclusive filmmaking. Hear about Genevieve's passion for inclusivity and creative approaches to making innovative work with Bus Stop Films. Joining Genevieve is emerging filmmaker Ricky Kremer, who is currently studying the accessible films studies program at Bus Stop Films.

Bushfires, hurricanes, life-threatening heatwaves and floods have ravaged our planet in recent years. There is a mounting pool of evidence that climate change, including global warming, is a major cause of these extreme weather events. What we need to do to govern such disasters effectively? Who should govern environmental disasters and how? Hear from scholars working on environmental disasters from a range of disciplines, issue areas, and countries, including: - Professor Linda Hancock, Deakin University - Dr Francisco Molina Camacho, CIGIDEN - Professor Susan Park, University of Sydney - Chair: Professor Abbas El-Zein, University of Sydney This conversation was recorded on Thursday 21 November, 2019 at the University of Sydney. For more details or to check out a reading list, visit our website: http://bit.ly/2OkPKTq

Indigenous children are still being removed from their families at increasing rates, despite the clear links to negative child health and education outcomes. Why and how is this still happening? The University of Sydney’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services), Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM, moderated a conversation with Boe Rambaldini, Director of the University’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Heath; and filmmaker and lawyer, Professor Larissa Behrendt from the University of Technology Sydney. This event was held on Tuesday 19 November, 2019 at University of Sydney. For more details about the speakers and this event, visit the website: http://bit.ly/2oOThQ8