Episodes
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Gone are the grandiose infrastructure projects, replaced by an emphasis on smaller development opportunities. China's Belt and Road initiative has entered its second decade — and it's changing. It now also includes a determined focus on green technology. But is the recalibration a sign of the project's overall success? Or a scaling back because of China's growing economic problems? And what has Beijing learnt about debt-levels and governance?
Guests
Professor Christoph Nedopil – Director of Asia Institute, Griffith University
Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian – Political Science, National University of Singapore
Associate Professor Jessica Liao – Political Science, North Carolina State University
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2024 has been an eventful year for democracies around the world. More than 80 countries, containing over half the world's population, are holding elections this year. It's democracy's mega test. The implications for the future of democracy and world order are profound.
Guests
Professor Nick Bisley – Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University
Dr Gorana Grjic – Senior Researcher, Swiss and Euro-Atlantic Security Team, ETH Zürich's Center for Security Studies (CSS)
Dr Priya Chako – Associate Professor, International Politics, University of Adelaide
Dr Raul Sanchez-Urribarri – Senior Lecturer in Crime, Justice and Legal Studies, Department of Social Inquiry, La Trobe University
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Episodes manquant?
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Could the realities of an aging population and a declining birth rate soon make our obsession with youth a thing of the past? It's not just an equity issue it also has implications for politics and economics, because the citizens and consumers of the future will inevitably be older. So, how do we reframe our perceptions of aging to make the most of a very different future workplace?
Guests
Assistant Professor Sven Brodmerkel – Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications, Bond University
Assistant Professor Nicole Dalmer — Associate Director of the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, McMaster University (Canada)
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox — CEO of the consultancy 20-first — specialising in gender and generational balance
Dr Markus Wettstein – Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin
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Chat GPT pioneer, Sam Altman, reckons democratic countries will need to re-write their social contracts once AI reaches its full potential, such is its power to shape the future. But to quote a famous political aphorism: "he would say that, wouldn't he?" Princeton computer scientist, Arvind Narayanan, joins us to talk about the hype, the reality and the true limits of Artificial Intelligence. His new book is called "AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can't, and How to Tell the Difference". Also, AI's dirty secret – it's a huge consumer of both power and water. And the more popular it becomes, the thirstier it gets.
Guests
Professor Arvind Narayanan – Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University
Gordon Nobel – Research Director, Business, Economy and Governance, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney
Associate Professor Shaolei Ren — Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Riverside
Further information
Narayanan, Arvind — AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can't, and How to Tell the Difference
Making AI Less "Thirsty": Uncovering and Addressing the Secret Water Footprint of AI Models
IT and Data Centre Sustainability in Australia
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Every crisis, they say, presents an opportunity. But history tells us differently. Social philosopher, Roman Krznaric, spells out the vital elements needed to initiate rapid change – and why a better understanding of the way we respond to crises could help in the fight against climate change.
Guests
Dr Roman Krznaric – Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Oxford University
Dr Stefan Peters – Senior Lecturer in Geospatial Science, University of South Australia
Further information
Krznaric, Roman – History for Tomorrow: inspiration from the Past for the Future of Humanity
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Do we underestimate the value of Liberalism? Political philosopher, Alexandre Lefebvre, says liberalism underpins the modern Western world, even if we sometimes struggle to define it. And even when its brand is coopted by party-politics. Rediscovering its pure form, he argues, could be the key to a more tolerant and prosperous future. Also, is the European Union losing its taste for regulation, particularly where big tech is involved?
Guests
Dr Alexandre Lefebvre – Professor of Politics and Philosophy, University of Sydney
Laura Petrone – Analyst, Thematic Intelligence Team, Global Data
Dr Anabela Malpique – Senior lecturer, Department of Education, Edith Cowen University
Further information
Alexandre Lefebvre – Liberalism as a Way of Life
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In a world where Donald Trump embraces anti free-trade protectionism and "leftish" governments are going heavy on law and order, do the old political labels of Left and Right really make sense? Is it time for a new way of thinking and talking about political difference? And how do ordinary voters actually choose their political positions? Are their decisions based on ideology or simple tribalism?
Guests
Dr Gregory Millard – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Kwantlen University, Canada
Dr Simon Otjes – Assistant Professor, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Dr Verlan Lewis – Stirling Professor of Constitutional Studies, Utah Valley University. Visiting scholar, Center for American Political Studies, Harvard University
Further information
Lewis, Verlan – The Myth of Left and Right
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The Anthropocene – the idea that we now live in a geological age shaped by human activity — is a controversial topic. It irritates those who reject the whole notion of adverse climate change — and it's also now causing a fight among geologists themselves. So, what's behind the scientific contention?
Also, why some argue that textiles are the new "hidden" plastic plague.
Guests
Dr Erle Ellis – Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland
Dr Francine McCarthy – Professor of Earth Studies, Brock University, Canada
Dr Rebecca Van Amber – Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University
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The night sky is getting brighter by about ten per cent each year — that's the scientific estimate. While new forms of lighting technology can reduce the amount of light pollution, the sheer impact of a global boom in artificial lighting is just too much. It threatens the health of both humans and other animals. Historically, darkness has been seen in a negative social and cultural context, so can we change our attitudes and learn to embrace the dark sky? In other words, see the light about the beauty of darkness!
Guests
Ruskin Hartley – Executive Director, Dark Sky International
Dr Paul Bogard – Associate Professor Hamline University (US) and author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light
Dr Tim Edensor – Cultural Geographer, Manchester Metropolitan University
Further information
DarkSky International: Five principles for responsible outdoor lighting
Nick Dunn/Tim Edensor - Dark Skies: Places, Practises, Communities
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If we're genuinely concerned about the impact livestock can have on our environment, why aren't we equally worried about pets? The pet industry is booming and despite the many positive psychological and emotional benefits of pet ownership, concerns about global pet numbers and environmental sustainability are mounting. So, do we need to rethink how we live with domesticated animals? And how can we strike a balance between our seemingly insatiable desire for fur-babies and their subsequent impact on the natural world and our hip pocket?
Guests
Dr Jen Gale – Veterinarian and Director of Vet Sustain (UK)
Dr Emily Hemendinger – Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado
Dr Andrea Laurent Simpson – Research Assistant Professor, Southern Methodist University; Author of Just Like Family: How Companion Animals Joined the Household
Dr Andrew Rowan – founder of the Tufts Centre for Animals and Public Policy; President, Wellbeing International
Dr Belinda Jane Dunstan – Principal Lead, Creative Robotics Lab, University of New South Wales
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The rate of technological advancement in sport is unprecedented. From data analytics to robotic umpiring to smart equipment, technologies are reshaping what it means to achieve and compete. Even the International Olympic Committee has now developed an AI strategy.
It's also big business with the sport industry conservatively estimated at around one per cent of global GDP.
So, when does ingenious innovation become cheating? And if technology pushes us past the point of physical capacity, why bother with human competitors at all?
Guests
Professor Sascha Schmidt – Director of the Centre for Sports and Management, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
Louis Weston – Barrister and sports lawyer, Outer Temple Chambers, London
Dr John Holash – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, The University of Calgary
Robert Marchiori – CEO Cognizant Australia
Further information
21st Century Sports. How Technologies Will Change Sports in the Digital Age
International Olympic Committee - Olympic AI Agenda
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Global media players now dominate the entertainment business and hold the whip-hand when it comes to accessing local news content. In this program we get an update on Meta's ban on Canadian news content, specifically how it's impacted production of serious news and what's been the public reaction. We also get a reality check on just how interested the giant US steaming services are in Australian content.
Guests
Aengus Bridgman – Director, Media Ecosystem Observatory (Canada)
Matthew Deaner – CEO, Screen Producers Association
Professor Anna Potter – Digital Media and Cultural Studies, Queensland University of Technology
Further information
When journalism is turned off: Preliminary findings on the effects of Meta’s news ban in Canada
Australian Television Drama’s Uncertain Future: How Cultural Policy is Failing Australians
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NASA's new telescope will revolutionise the search for non-Earth based life. It's to be called the Habitable Worlds Observatory and will be powerful enough to peer into the atmosphere of planets outside of our solar system.
But if, or when, we do find evidence of a life form beyond our solar system what do we do next? And who should decide whether or even how we make contact? A new research hub at the University of Andrews is among those drawing up a plan.
Guests
Dr Megan Ansdell – Program Manager, Habitable Worlds Observatory, NASA
Professor Adam Frank – Astrobiologist and astrophysicist, University of Rochester, New York
Dr John Elliott – Computational linguist and Coordinator of the SETI Post Detection Hub, University of St Andrews
Professor Ian Roberts — Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge
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While technology platforms increasingly dictate the way we write and converse, language is being modified to fight back, to subvert the platforms. In this show we examine the growth of "algospeak".
And if you want to know how we'll all be communicating in the future, just listen to the way teenage girls speak, because young women lead the ongoing development of language.
Guests
Dr James Cohen – Assistant Professor, Media Studies, Queens College, City University of New York
Dr Sali Tagliamonte – Professor of linguistics and Chair of the Department of Linguistics, University of Toronto
Philip Seargeant – Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, Open University UK
Further information
Philip Seargeant's book "The Future Of Language"
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It's time to rethink what we mean by productivity, says work futurist, Dominic Price. What's important isn't output, but outcomes. And confusing the two, he says, is simply counter-productive! Also, benefit corporations — why many businesses are moving away from an obsession with profit at all cost; And why a compulsory savings model could help control inflation without raising interest rates.
Original broadcast on August 20, 2023
Guests
Ed Chambliss – founder and CEO, Best Friend Brands
Lachlan Kerwood-McCall – Economist, Australian National University
Jessica Lynd – Attorney and Senior Associate, International Trade Group, White and Case
Dominic Price – Work Futurist, Atlassian
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When a company CEO can be paid 1,000 times the average employee's salary it's probably time to take a long hard look at wealth inequality. And those calling for the rich to pay more aren't always the ones you'd expect – Patriotic Millionaires is a group of mega rich individuals demanding greater, not lesser taxation. Then there's the Dutch philosopher urging ordinary citizens to put a cap on their own personal wealth. She calls her approach Limitarianism. Also, Rewilding the Internet – how to purify an online environment made toxic by monopolistic capitalism.
Guests
Dr Ingrid Robeyns – author, philosopher and Chair in Ethics of Institutions, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University (The Netherlands)
Robert Guest – Deputy Editor, The Economist
Morris Pearl – Chair of the Board, The Patriotic Millionaires
Professor Jean-Etienne Joullie — EMLV Business School, Paris
Maria Farrell – Writer and keynote speaker on technology and the future
Further information
Ingrid Robeyns: Limitarianism, The Case Against Extreme Wealth
Robert Guest: The fallacious case for abolishing the rich
Maria Farrell: We need to rewild the Internet
Listen to Future Tense - Managerialism and our obsession with hierarchy
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They've just unveiled the world's largest air purifier in Iceland. Christened "Mammoth" the machine can filter up to 36,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year. It's the biggest carbon capture device ever built – but is it mammoth enough? And do the economics stack up?
Other scientists are using microbes to speed the process of mineralisation, the turning of CO2 into rock.
And all the while the search for alternative energy sources continues with an Icelandic company even getting ready to drill down into an underground magma chamber to try and tap its thermal potential.
Dr Rudy Kahsar – Manager, Carbon Dioxide Removal Team, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
Dr Gokce Ustunisik – Associate Professor of Petrology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Bjorn por Gudmundsson – Chief Executive Officer, Krafla Magma Testbed
Dr Jess Adkins – Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology
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Exploring new ideas, new AI isn't magic, but many of us are accustomed to thinking and talking about it as if it was. It can't solve every problem and its application can sometimes make matters worse. To make the most of Artificial Intelligence we should follow the dictum often used by data scientists – garbage in, garbage out. In other words, AI is only as good as the person who deploys it. In this episode we explore several cautionary examples.
Guests
Dr Guillaume Desjardins – Associate Professor, Industrial Relations, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Dr Magdalena Soffia – Lead author, Workplace AI study, Institute for Work, UK
Virginie Simoneau-Gillbert – Researcher, Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
Dr Wellett Potter – Lecturer in Law, University of New England
Further information
Briefing Paper: What impact does exposure to workplace technologies have on workers' quality of life? - IFOW
The Dangers of AI farming (animals)approaches, new technologies — the edge of change.
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Australia's disaster response procedures are under review. The new reality requires us to deal with multiple natural disasters simultaneously — to tackle polycrises. While some suggest a more centralised approach, others are calling for something very different — a greater focus on strengthening local community resilience and prioritising mitigation over clean-up. The climate clock is ticking, so which direction promises the greatest return?
Guests
Dr Paul Barnes – Senior Research Fellow and emergency and risk management expert, Griffith University
Rebecca McNaught – Research Fellow, University Centre for Rural Health, Lismore, NSW
Mark Duckworth – Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies, Deakin University
Professor Mehmet Ulubasoglu – Director of the Centre for Energy, the Environment and Natural Disasters, Deakin University
Listen to Future Tense — Designing buildings for disasters
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Across the globe single household occupancy is skyrocketing. In some Western cities "singletons" make up almost fifty per cent. But it's a trend that's largely slipped under the radar. Policy makers are yet to catch up with the new social reality. The growing cohort has significant economic potential, but they continue to face stereotyping and discrimination.
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