UNSW Centre for Ideas

Embark on a captivating journey into the realm of space exploration as we unravel the remarkable story of Meganne Christian, a trailblazer whose unconventional path led her to the stars. With a degree in Engineering from UNSW Sydney, Meganne's path took her to the ends of the Earth as a scientist in Antarctica. From there she soared even higher, earning a coveted spot as an astronaut in reserve, with dreams of venturing into the cosmos. Hear Meganne in conversation with Aude Vignelles as they discuss her extraordinary journey as a reservist astronaut, the rigorous selection process, and both the physical and mental training required to be part of this elite group, as well as the importance of space research and its impact on our everyday lives.Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and UNSW Engineering as a part of National Science Week, and supported by the Powerhouse’s Sydney Science Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of our 2023 Science Week podcast releases, we're revisiting a favourite from the archive: the 2020 Einstein Lecture, Life Among the Stars. __________________________ Less than two decades ago, wondering whether other stars really did host planets was a matter for science fiction writers rather than scientists. Today, we’ve gone from complete ignorance to a treasure trove of ‘exoplanets’– different sized planets that orbit around other stars – thanks to innovation, persistence, and meticulous measurement. But what does this mean for the search for life beyond Earth? Adding this diversity of exoplanets spread across our galaxy, to the planets and moons in our very own solar system, only makes the search for alien life more complicated. To find out where we should look for life, we need to ask whether a planet or moon is habitable and if it has the conditions necessary to get life started. Although we can (mostly) answer the first question, the second is harder to determine. Not only would we need to delve into a distant planet’s past, but also settle the hotly contested debate on the origin of life here on Earth? Did life on Earth start in deep sea vents as previously thought or in hot springs on land as more recent evidence seems to show? Join us to hear from exoplanet expert Chris Tinney and origin of life researcher Martin Van Kranendonk as they share the latest findings on these fascinating questions.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.

With effects rippling into the present, the Sri Lankan Civil War, lasting more than 25 years from the early 1980s until 2009, has found an important place in our current cultural canon. Join lawyer and novelist of Song of the Sun God, Shankari Chandran, author of Booker Prize-winning The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Shehan Karunatilaka and Anandavalli as they discussed the island nation’s turbulent recent history and its influence in their storytelling. In conversation with prize-winning author Roanna Gonsalves.This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear from author and English Professor Brigitta Olubas as she shared insight from Shirley Hazzard: A Writing Life, her fascinating biography of the great Australian novelist of stories such as The Great Fire and The Transit of Venus. She charts the globetrotting life of Hazzard and a celebrated body of work that, in grappling with ideas of power, passion and longing, yielded some of the world’s most beautiful and enduring fiction.This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this timely talk, leading journalist Stan Grant shared insight from his new book, The Queen is Dead – building an impassioned argument on the necessity for an end to monarchy in Australia, the need for a republic, and what can be done to reckon with our past and negotiate a just settlement with First Nations people. Stan appeared in conversation with George Williams. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asking ChatGPT to do your homework, or having an algorithm decide if you get a job interview are all part of the new normal. The AI revolution has reached a point where we live and work with AI-enabled devices – the line between AI and human can be hard to find. AI expert Toby Walsh (Machines Behaving Badly) and journalist Tracey Spicer (Man-Made) explored what this new world means and discussed some of the big questions around ethics, bias and ownership of AI with Erik Jensen. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear from Professor of Psychology and author Ben Newell as he shared insight from his new book Open Minded: Searching for Truth about the Unconscious Mind. Fusing research into the relationship between intuitive and deliberating thinking, and sharing real-life examples, he challenges commonly held notions about the role of unconscious thought in the human mind and behaviour. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As artificial intelligence takes root in everything from science and social media to politics and policing, world-leading AI expert Toby Walsh seeks to answer a pressing question: can we trust AI or will it increasingly deceive us? Drawing from his recent essay in Griffith Review 80: Creation Stories, he offered a fascinating perspective on our increasing reliance on intelligent and autonomous technology and how we might ensure AI is harnessed as a force for good rather for nefarious ends. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regardless of where people are born or the communities they belong to, equal access to healthcare should be a fundamental human right. In our age of pandemics, and with healthcare inequality widening, how can we make healthcare access equitable? Esteemed jurist and legal scholar Michael Kirby has tirelessly advocated for equal access to healthcare over his lengthy career. As a pioneering AIDS activist, member of the WHO’s Global Commission on AIDS from 1988 – 1992, and respected legal mind, Kirby’s focus in recent years has also included decriminalising homosexuality and sex work, and reducing the cost of life-saving medications. Hear Michael Kirby in conversation with journalist Geraldine Doogue as they discussed his life and career, focusing on what we have learnt from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, how we have applied those lessons during recent pandemics, and how we can build support for egalitarian global healthcare. Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas, The Kirby Institute and supported by UNSW Medicine & Health.   ABOUT THE DAVID COOPER LECTURE The David Cooper Lecture honours the legacy of The Kirby Institute’s Founding Director, Professor David Cooper AC. Professor Cooper passed away in 2018 and was an internationally renowned scientist and HIV clinician, who laid the foundations for Australia’s ongoing global leadership in the fight against the global HIV epidemic.    To make a donation to support David Cooper’s incredible vision for equitable access to healthcare visit unsw.to/DavidCooperMemorialFund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.