Episodes
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A biodiverse episode of NFT with the wonderful Natalie Kyriacou, OAM, and what the future holds with regard to greenwashing, citizen science, politics, and the biodiversity we still have left…
We now have a global focus and a political will around environmental protection, the benefits transfer values of ecosystem services, the protection of zones rather than just cuddly species, and the significant positivity conferred by biodiverse systems and wild places.
Systems approaches, Gaia theory, and new cybernetic lenses - these are the future of conservation and biodiversity.
Oh and whale poo.
Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn here.
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What’s the invisible reach of the apps we have all let into our lives. When technology is working it is invisible… until celebrities complain would we even know if there was overreach or a breach of trust?
Professor Johanna Weaver is a leader in this space, and is charging forward on all matters of tech regulation and communication. The Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University is a really great resource. https://techpolicydesign.au
Technology should be shaped for the benefit of society and this means great regulation and open communication.
Follow Prof Weaver on Linkedin here.
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Missing episodes?
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Would you have a robot do your fake eyelashes? Are you willing to trust a robot massage bed? Can AI be used to forecast new materials and textiles to make the fashion industry more sustainable and working in a circular methodology.
More data means better answers from AI. This could be the key to fixing the ‘broken’ fashion industry. Do you wear fast fashion?
Climate change related risks to water security will have direct effects on how we make materials.
AI can also be used as part of fashion design and can even shake up the traditional creative brand! Can we democratise fashion design?
This is a long chat with a great balance of geek and chic… Enjoy!
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn here
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The term AI might be controversial but what’s more interesting to me are the opportunities from ‘orphan’ industries, that seem to have been left behind by technology, but which are actually intrinsically involved in the democratisation of creativity.
Generative AI is a toddler in general terms, but has been around for quite some time, and those who are riding the wave first are creating the stage for the next Industrial Revolution.
Jessie has many skills as well as a degree in design and screen writing, and is now leading the charge at Leonardo AI to engage with and run alongside the creative industries.
Connect with Jessie on LinkedIn here.
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Surrounded by good intentions around STEM engagement and literacy it seems we are not really shifting the dial. What can we do more of and what can we do better to make sure we have the skills and talent pipelines stacked and packed for the future needs across Australia.
Learn more about Inspiring Australia as a national programme, as well as the different array of events and opportunities people can engage with.
In your 50s and want to pivot into a new career? It’s totally possible.
Learn more about Inspiring Australia here. Federal Gov Link
Connect with Alison here. LinkedIn
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We never talk about nanotechnology. Here’s Richard Feynman’s famous lecture on the idea of nano machines being able to manipulate atoms… Plenty of Room at the Bottom
There has been a quiet technological revolution happening out of the spotlight and Jiawen Li’s work in Adelaide is world leading research on manipulating the smallest of sensors to access our most internal places, i.e. the very chambers of our hearts.
Nanotechnology and heart disease- did you know they were directly related? Learn more on this week’s podcast.
You can learn more about Jiawen here: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/jiawen.li01
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Dialling in from the Caribbean and inside the world of Web3, AI, Brand, and Relationships comes the awesome Katerina and her works with her start up Immersifi.
Learn more here Immersifi on Instagram and here Immersifi Website
What is Web3? What is Blockchain? How can this make my shopping experience fruitful and happy? How do I get a body scan? What clothes size am I in which fashion brand?
Could this all be a “fast fashion”-killer?
Connect with Katerina on LinkedIn here. Katerina's LinkedIn
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As we continue to ride the shockwaves of a scaling climate crisis, are there still any good news stories in the data or research? The answer is: we still have hope.
New and Emerging technologies are building a new paradigm of data and impact around measuring and mitigating emissions.
What are the economic values of Mother Nature’s services, and how can the invisible hands of economics help fight climate change? Carbon accounting, data, information, and benefits transfer as well as new sequestration technologies are all converging to form new business models.
For more information see https://www.melaniezeppel.com for more information and find her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zeppel-75249976/
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The Smithsonian Institution is a collection of 21 museums and a Zoo…. at the Natural History Museum they have 148 MILLION items in their collection, with 4.5 Million visitors each year plus thousands of scientific collaborations.
Rebecca is originally from South Australia, and is now visioning what science of the future for museums should be from a global stage (what a career path!!!!)….
What is the future for collections and museums? How can we better use the work of amazing archivists and digitise to future proof the collection?
The biggest question of course is: Does the museum come alive at night?
Check out this podcast to find out!
https://naturalhistory.si.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rebecca-johnson/
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“Trying to understand how our own brains work is like trying to bite our own teeth” according to the late, great Michael Crichton. But what can future technology teach us about ourselves that we can’t figure out for ourselves?
Did you know all the things our brains are responsible for? We are learning more all the time, and it is unlocking the very foundation of who we are and how we exist.
Meet one of Australia’s rising stars of science, Lila Landowski and find out more about her and her works here: https://discover.utas.edu.au/Lila.Landowski
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Learn about exponential intelligence, Transhumanism, and ask whether IQ will even matter into the future…. (clue: likely not as much)
How do we build in skills for the future when the curriculum already seems too late? But, this should not be a constant burden for teachers. Who should be responsible for the speed of Silicon Valley being taught in schools?
Find out more about Jeanette at www.startwithhex.com
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Alex is a marine ecologist and a science communication guru with a passion about using ecosystem services to fight anthropogenic climate change.
The teams Alex works with are diverse and deeply technical, this broad depth and wide horizon gives her a multi-faceted point of view when it comes to communicating complicated systems-thinking research.
How do we get inventions from the lab to the factory? Industry connections are needed from inception. Global competitive edge in Australia needs a boost - what can we do better and where are we going a great job on the global stage.
And algae - we really need to talk more about algae - we need to start wearing algae based silk!
You can learn more and connect with Alex here: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Alexandra.Thomson
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Seeing gaps and opportunity in the systems with the advances in AI and the surge in disruption. But, though we appear to be rushing to change, are we all just swimming fast to actually stand still and return to BAU? Claudine loves acceleration and democratisation of AI backed technologies.
What happens to industry when it is disrupted by AI that is powered by quantum computing? How can companies catch up with new tech? Do we even as a business ecosystem understand the basics of data science?
Data will be the foundation stone of all the AI and processes going forwards. As business leaders are starting to pay more attention to data within and beyond their own businesses let’s watch the growth and opportunity. Don’t get left behind- start investing in these skills and capabilities now.
Find out more about Claudine and her really interesting work here:
https://www.oando.com.au
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Water systems are incredibly complex and yet we don’t really connect well with where our drinking water comes from or the systems it passes through. In the near future there will be more flooding and more drought than our grandparents ever knew. Will there be wars over water? Do you know what a listening stick is?
A global point of view applied to a local problem can mean fresh ideas and travel is key for early and mid-career researchers. Can Australia learn from other cities before we start facing our own water-shortages? Are we complacent about water?
Follow the work of Jessica Bohorquez here: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/jessica.bohorquezarevalo
And her podcast (and a nice interview) is here: https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/our-water-connection-podcast
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We have dormant volcanoes in South Australia and Victoria, did you know? We aren’t specifically monitoring them either…
But volcanoes are more use to humans than being the location of a Bond villain’s lair- they harbour amazing stories and secrets of the magma we all float upon. Teresa likes to apply interrogation to any volcanic rocks she can get her hands on.
Can we learn more about our planet’s past in order to help us become an off-planet species? What do we need to know about the rock we are living on?
Check out Teresa’s work at UQ here: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/15355
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Ever eaten an Australian grown oyster? Was it from a fishery that also exports? How do we deregister pesticides that others have already banned? How do we protect farmers and workers from pesticide-related health problems?
No, this isn’t a review of Silent Spring by Rachel Carter, this is about the scientists trying to get better data and information about how pesticides behave in Australian ecosystems. Who carries the burden of proof around problematic pesticides? Why don’t we test for our domestic markets where we test for food that is exported?
Kirsten Benkendorff walks us through the Big P and what we need to do to support the scientists and communities that are collecting evidence about pesticide behaviour in their local environment.
Learn more about Kirsten here:
https://www.kirstenbenkendorffmarineresearch.au
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As we look to electrify Australia and scale the energy revolution we need to understand the composition of the Earth’s Crust soon, but where is the Taylor Swift of Geology? Maybe it’s Indrani on this week’s podcast episode.
A more accurate and higher resolution map of the Earth’s crust will be needed to have more efficient mining for the metals and minerals we need. A Digital Twin one could say? A 4D map? Cross pollinate this with new mining and clean up methodology; what is the future of the resources industry. And we aren’t talking fossil fuels.
Indrani is a passionate and interesting person, enjoy this podcast and you can follow her work at UNSW here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/indrani-mukherjee
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Half of the current voting population in Australia is 45+ years old, and this means that half of the current voting population in Australia will be retiring in the next 20 years, with the end of this decade taking the first wave of the tsunami. We have never had an ageing population like this before and won’t again.
What will this mean for the economy, and you personally? Would you make use of a family relocation grant? Will we need a UBI? and why have some countries started taking action where we appear to be sitting and doing nothing but spending more and more money?
And where is the technology-enablement? (hint: it is not scaled yet in Australia)
Find out more about Anne-Marie at Prime Life Partners
https://primelifepartners.com
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Welcome to the second episode of News From The Future!
Trish Kerin uses her platypus methodology to enable leaders to see risks in the systems.
But what is the future of disaster prevention and process safety in a technologically enabled world? Find out more on this podcast episode and learn more at:
https://leadlikekerin.com
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Mark Pesce is one of Australia’s most experienced tech futurists.
Connect with him at www.markpesce.com
We like to keep these chats short, sharp, and informative… let me know who you’d like to hear on NFTF….
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