Against the frenetic energy and colour of Delhi, a Muslim school teacher is caught between his love of history and contemporary India. Anjum Hasan’s work sheds light on the complexities of life, love, writing history, and how national and patriotic myths can be maliciously subverted.  Author Anjum Hasan’s latest book, History’s Angel, is a darkly funny portrait of one of Australia’s most important neighbours. Mild mannered teacher Alif feels the burden of his own time pressing down, but his wife is focused on a bigger house, his son wants to quit school and strike it rich, and his colleagues begin to question a Muslim teaching Indian history.  Hasan and fellow Indian fiction luminary, and UNSW academic, Roanna Gonsalves talk about how we understand ourselves, how we reflect on our histories, and drawing inspiration from others in a time of suspicion and indifference. Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by Adelaide Writers’ Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human existence has always been bound with the health of our natural world. What can we learn from how a changing climate has already, for centuries, dramatically shaped the development and demise of civilisations across time?  In the 2024 Gandhi Oration, renowned historian and author Peter Frankopan unraveled the historical narrative, framing the natural environment as the crucial factor impacting humankind.   ABOUT THE GANDHI ORATIONSince 2012, UNSW Sydney has hosted the annual Gandhi Oration celebrating the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi as a champion of human rights. The Oration features discussions on the significant human rights issues of our time. Past speakers have included Senator Pat Dodson, Peter Greste, Pat Anderson, Shoma Chaudhury, Reverend Tim Costello, Rosie Batty and Shen Narayanasamy.  Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas, and supported by Adelaide Writers’ Week and The Wheeler Centre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This third session of the Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights explores how to restore public faith in the values and structures underpinning representative government and the role of key stakeholder groups such as business, media and civil society in resisting impunity, reclaiming accountability and reinforcing human rights. Moderator: Natasha Mitchell, host of the ABC Radio National's flagship live events program and podcast Big Ideas​​​​​​​ Speakers:Ed Coper, author, Facts & Other LiesAndrea Durbach, Emeritus Professor and former Director of the Australian Human Rights Centre (now Institute)Helen Haines MP, independent Federal Member for Indi in the state of VictoriaSimon Holmes à Court, founder, Climate 200Shireen Morris, constitutional lawyer, senior lecturer and director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab at Macquarie University Law School​​​​​​​ Presented by the Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW SydneySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this opening session of the 2023 Australian Human Rights Institute conference, Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights, the panel considers the key conference theme of the elevation of impunity over accountability and the consequences for national democratic institutions and global stability. Accountability and its corrosion is explored through the lens of government, business, media and civil society. The discussion considers whether checks, balances and human rights are seen as obstacles to the exercise of power rather than principles of good governance. Speakers: Jeremy Heimans (moderator), co-founder and Chairman, PurposeChris Sidoti, international human rights consultantLenore Taylor, Editor, Guardian AustraliaSaffron Zomer, Executive Director, Australian Democracy Network    Presented by Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW Sydney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This second session of the 2023 Australian Human Rights Institute conference, Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights, explores the decline of accountability, and the methods employed to protect human rights both in Australia and internationally. Unlike democratically-elected governments, businesses have unprecedented influence which raises the question of whether they should be taking the lead on issues of social significance. Are the media and social media complicit in the erosion of accountability or can they play a role in restoring political and public life? How can individuals and NGOs work together to enhance or recreate effective democratic institutions? Speakers: Justine Nolan (moderator), Director, Australian Human Rights InstituteLarissa Baldwin-Roberts, CEO, GetUp!Brynn O'Brien, Executive Director, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR)Lizzie O'Shea, Founder and Chair, Digital Rights WatchSiobhan Toohill, Chief Sustainability Officer, Westpac Christopher Warren, media correspondent, Crikey Presented by the Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW Sydney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has the patriarchy always prevailed? We tend to see gendered oppression as a universal truth, but in her radical book, The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, Angela Saini argues that the history of this deep-rooted hierarchy is a little more complicated…   In conversation with UNSW Sydney legal expert Rosalind Dixon, journalist Angela Saini takes us on a journey through time, tracing back through the complex history of the patriarchy – from its origins in the world's earliest human settlements to its global spread across diverse societies. Drawing on the latest research findings in science, archaeology, and cultural studies, Saini dismantles the status quo to reveal how the patriarchy varies from country to country, and culture to culture.   Embrace a radical vision for tomorrow with Angela Saini as she looks to a future emancipated from the shackles of inequality.  Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by The Wheeler Centre and Canberra Writers Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As our climate continues to change, reducing our carbon emissions and environmental footprint has become the moral imperative of our generation. To achieve this, the Australian Government has set a target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030 and has set a legislated target to achieve net zero by 2050. But what is the role of fossil fuels in this transition? What part can coal and gas play? And how can we build out the infrastructure we need, while keeping the carbon costs low? Speakers: -Host: Dani Alexander, CEO of the UNSW Energy Institute-Dr Kerry Schott AO, Chair of the Carbon Market Institute-Amy Kean, Director of Stride Renewables & Advisory Board Member of the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub-Professor John Fletcher, Director of the UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute-Professor Iain MacGill, Co-Director of the UNSW Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets Presented by UNSW Engineering and the UNSW Energy Institute as part of the Engineering the Future series, join our expert panellists for a thought-provoking discussion on the rocky road to net zero.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renowned AI leader Andrew Ng discusses advancements in machine learning, transfer learning for robotic perception, challenges with language models, generative AI in Silicon Valley, the significance of data in tech, future of AI research, and collaboration with UNSW for teaching children coding.

In this first conversation, Creative Disruptions, Vince Frost of Frost*collective is joined by neuroscientist and founder of Future Minds Lab Professor Joel Pearson, intellectual property specialist and Director of Simpsons Jules Munro and Kartini Ludwig Director and founder of digital design and innovation studio Kopi Su. The panel unpack current developments in AI technology exploring what challenges these developments pose for creative practitioners.  Presented by the Innovation Hub, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2023 the Judith Neilson lecture was given by Professor Briony Rogers. Australia is at a time of reckoning.  Fires, floods, droughts, heat, cyclones – we have realised that business-as-usual is not enough to grow the climate resilience needed for communities, cities and Country.  Professor Briony Rogers reveals her pioneering initiatives and rethinks our approach to strengthen Australia’s climate resilience. Presented by the School of Built Environment, UNSW Arts, Design & ArchitectureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.