Raising the Bar Sydney

Alex Lefebvre – Where do your values come from? by University of Sydney

Amanda Salis – Shake up your weight loss by University of Sydney

Anika Gauja – The politics of Eurovision by University of Sydney

Anna Reid – Feel the noise: how music connects us through place and history by University of Sydney

Anna Romanov – Hidden symmetries by University of Sydney

Cameron Webb – Climate change and the rise of mosquitoes by University of Sydney

Catherine Grueber – Fighting the extinction crisis - one Tassie devil at a time by University of Sydney

Clinton Free – Rationalising fraud: insights from offenders by University of Sydney

Damien Ricketson – Listen hear: sound, silence and the definition of music by University of Sydney

Geraint Lewis – Waiting for the end of time by University of Sydney

Hala Zreiqat – 3D printing our way to better health by University of Sydney

Helena Nguyen – When not to keep calm and carry on: learning how to deal with work stress by University of Sydney

Jacqueline Thomas – The value of human waste by University of Sydney

Jason Chin – Can we put an end to wrongful convictions? by University of Sydney

Jathan Sadowski – Who wins in a data-driven world? by University of Sydney

Luigi Fontana – Is living longer better? by University of Sydney

Marc Stears – Making politicians listen by University of Sydney

Muireann Irish – A world of pure imagination by University of Sydney

Penelope Crossley – Is it time to stop calling renewable energy green? by University of Sydney

Sophia Maalsen – Housing hack: a new model to home ownership by University of Sydney

Tim Soutphommasane – Love and hate by University of Sydney

You wouldn’t know it by watching the nightly news, but crime in New South Wales has dropped by 75 percent in the past 15 years. Yet imprisonment rates are rising at an alarming rate – in fact, incarceration is at its highest since federation in 1901. So why is punishment up when crime is down? In this talk, Garner Clancey will reveal the political agenda and media coverage fixated on ‘getting tough on crime’, pushing our prisons to breaking point and costing taxpayers $2 billion a year.

It is estimated that three billion people globally have wealth while four billion live on less than $5 a day. This isn’t the plot for a science fiction movie, but a harsh reality facing governments across the world. Ranjit Voola thinks there is a solution to address this drastic inequality, but it’s probably not the path you’d think. He believes the classic business model that operates solely for profit is inherently flawed. Instead, big businesses could engage with the poor, not through donations, but by collaborating as partners. It’s a win-win situation that would give those living in poverty access to resources and opportunities previously not had, while opening new markets to the private sector. However, two questions need to be answered first: Is it practical, and more importantly, is it ethical?

The modern workplace is fraught with pressure. Pressure to adapt to new technologies and communications channels, meet deadlines, develop innovative solutions. It’s no wonder that our best laid plans never turn out like we expect. Julien Pollack believes there’s a better way to manage projects that doesn’t involve meticulous planning. It’s called agile working – and it’s taking the business world by storm. Join Julien as he discusses how to factor flexibility into projects, examples of how it’s been carried out by industry and its impact on the next generation of project managers.

In Australia, there are more men in senior leadership positions named John than there are women. It gets worse. An analysis of 100 ASX directors in 2015 found that only two women and 28 men were of a culturally diverse background. Anglo-Celtic men, on the other hand, numbered 64. It’s a bleak reflection of the leadership landscape in Australia, where culturally diverse women and men have to work harder than their Anglo-Saxon counterparts when it comes to breaking into senior leadership roles. Discussing these discrepancies is Dimitria Groutsis, who will explore how diversity can increase productivity and creativity and the simple steps we can take to increase leadership diversity.

Ever heard the one about the lazy millennials, un-enthusiastic Gen X’ers, and the technologically-inept baby boomers? If you believed the papers, each generation is entirely unique and therefore incompatible. Well, Steven Hitchcock is calling bull. To him, generational categories are a little like a modern horoscope – vague enough to ring true, but not backed up by science. So why do we seem to like talking about them so much? In his talk, Steven will discuss how these convenient categories came to be, why we insist on putting people into boxes and how we can work with each other without relying on generational typecasting.

You are what you eat. Or at least, what your grandmother ate. Before you were even a twinkle in your father’s eye, your genetics had already been determined two generations earlier. And the food your grandmother was eating had a real effect on the genetic coding taking place in her eggs. This presents an important public health opportunity, says neonatologist and perinatal researcher Adrienne Gordon. Join her as she discusses how studying pre-conception factors such as lifestyle and nutrition could result in a disease-free future.

Maybe I’ll go for a run. Maybe I’ll try that keto diet that everyone keeps banging on about. If these are your first thoughts when you decide to get into shape, then there’s a good chance that you’re going about weight loss wrong. Enter Maria Fiatarone Singh, whose research has found that when it comes to maintaining your youthful physique, strength training is more effective than pounding the pavement. Combined with an evidence-based diet, Maria will discuss how lifting weights can not only help you stay fit, but also improve your health in unexpected ways.

The standard legal position is that there is no ownership in human tissue – so you can’t buy, sell or leave in your will, your old dead bowling arm, your corpse, your brain – even your eggs or your sperm. And while it might come as no surprise to learn that no-one else owns your body, it occasionally causes dismay to learn that not even you do! And this has led to a few tricky problems over the years. Join Sascha Callaghan to learn about property in the body – and what would happen if you wanted to use the sperm of your recently deceased partner to make a baby, or sue a clinic for accidentally destroying the last of your fertile eggs, or to get a stake in research using your genes – or if someone steals your fetus-in-a-bottle (it's a true story).

Launching community action – it’s not just reserved for those enthusiastic types who like to interject in public council meetings and participate in strata committees. Getting involved can be for everyone, if you know how. Urban planning expert Dallas Rogers is passionate about the important role citizens can play in making their suburb better and planning for its future. In this talk, Dallas will discuss the complex powerplay between local government, the private sector and citizens.

Imagine counting the footsteps of all the people who drifted through Wynyard station and the stories they could tell. When the wooden escalators that served Sydney commuters at Wynyard Station for more than eight decades were removed last year, our in-house art-itect (that’s artist and architect), Chris Fox, saw the potential of using public art to tell those stories. Using the remnants of the 1930s escalator treads, the installation is a nod to Sydney’s past, while embracing our future. Join Chris as he tells the story of how this installation came to be, the barriers he encountered along the way, and how public art makes an imprint on a city’s personality.

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? This philosophical puzzle is front of mind for geographer Dale Dominey-Howes as he examines how people process natural disasters. Does it still constitute a ‘disaster’ if it occurs in an unpopulated area and no one is affected? In answering this question, Dale will explore the difference between hazards and disasters and uncover the most catastrophic natural tragedies of all time. He will also dissect the inextricable link between climate change and natural disasters and discuss what's in store for our planet.

The shift towards digital communication has resulted in clickbait and fake news clogging up our news feeds. Meanwhile, the circulation of mainstream magazines is on the decline. Yet, there’s something unexpected going on in the background. The humble indie magazine is on the rise, and it’s making an impact in a big way. Join media and communications expert, Megan Le Masurier, as she discusses the mainstream magazine media landscape and the global rise of indie magazines in print.

When women in NSW won the vote in 1902 some thought the fight was over – but in fact, it was just beginning. The voices of women still weren't being heard in the places where the big decisions were being made: parliament, courts and government. Today women can be lawyers, judges and members of the NSW Parliament, but it has taken decades to see women in those roles and true equality is a long way off – especially for Indigenous Australian women. In her talk, constitutional law expert Anne Twomey will discuss the struggles of the past and the future for women and Indigenous Australians to be heard by our law-makers.

Have you ever gone overseas and tried to learn the local language? It’s something we’d be happy to do overseas, so why is it not something we’d think to do at home in Australia? Living and working in Sydney means we’re standing on the ground of Cadigal people of the Eora nation. And the languages that were spoken on this soil for thousands of years are at risk of being forgotten – taking with them the stories, histories and identities that go hand in hand with language. Join Indigenous language expert, Jakelin Troy as she discusses why we need to preserve Indigenous languages and the important work being done to keep them alive.

Artificial intelligence promises (or threatens) to completely revolutionise the workforce. From manufacturing to healthcare, we’re building machines to make important decisions that will create all kinds of industry efficiencies. But here’s the thing: artificial intelligence isn’t naturally intelligent. And the machines we’re building aren’t actually smart – yet. But they could be, once we equip them with mathematical reasoning. This is where Lamiae Azizi comes in. In order to improve robot performance, we need to teach machines to think and interact with the world around them. What data do we need, how do we get there and when does privacy become a concern? Exploring this ethical minefield, Lamiae will discuss what’s being done to develop the next generation of AI-based machines and the moral conundrums that this may present.

Is human intelligence the only kind of intelligence there is? Physicist Zdenka Kuncic believes it’s not. To her, intelligence is something that can be constructed, if we just put our minds to it. Zdenka suggests that if artificial intelligence is going to be successful, it’s going to need the sort of cognition we have. The capacity to think, learn and adapt. To have self-awareness and sensory input. To be self-reliant. Things that the human brain does effortlessly. So how do you have intelligence without a brain? You build a synthetic one. Join Zdenka as she provides a tantalising glimpse into the possibility of synthetic intelligence in the not-too-distant future.

From supporting Apollo moon missions to coordinating the design of the Rosetta spacecraft, Australia has made giant leaps for mankind in advancing our understanding of space. But when it comes to market share, Australia’s contribution sits stagnant at a mere one percent of a $400 billion industry. In this talk, Warwick Holmes will discuss how Australia plans to leverage its expertise to improve its bottom line through the founding of the Australian Space Agency, and by developing the nation’s first generation of space engineers. He will also explore how the emergence of rival space programs, including private space exploration companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX, may impact this vision.

Happiness. Monks meditate for days on end in pursuit of it. Fitness buffs chase exercise endorphins. It’s so popular, that it’s an industry in and of itself – complete with self-help books, inspiring podcasts and lifestyle products – all advocating how you can live your best life. But when you really stop and think about it, what are we chasing? Is it a feeling, a fleeting emotion or an enduring sense of achievement? Or is it more than a feeling? Drawing on a rich ancient and philosophical tradition of thinking about happiness, Caroline West will tackle three big questions about this elusive state – what is it, why it's important and how we get it.

Summer lovin’? Not so much. As the temperatures start to soar, the weather is more than just a topic to fill awkward silences. We whinge about the humidity while seeking solace in climate-controlled rooms – but how much do we actually understand heat? Does 30 degrees feel the same to you as the next guy? And why do the Brits freak out when the mercury hits 23 degrees? Ollie Jay will turn up the heat on temperature and human health, address the elephant in the room (that’s climate change), and teach us how to stay cool without an air-conditioner.

t’s easy to treat the humble filler word as insignificant. We’re talking the ‘huh’, ‘ums’ ‘likes’ and ‘ahs’ of the world – the little titters that your English teacher worked so hard to eliminate from your vocabulary. Well, linguist Nick Enfield thinks you should blatantly ignore your teacher’s advice and shout your filler words from the rooftops. Through an analysis of languages globally, Nick has found that these filler words have much more importance in human behaviour than we give them credit for. Join his talk to find out how these seemingly pointless words are not only universal but indispensable to how we communicate.

When was the last time you checked your phone? Ten minutes ago? An hour? Studies show we check our smartphones on average 85 times per day. Illuminated screens can affect our concentration, our sleep patterns, even our self-esteem. We know this, but still, we just can’t put our phones away. So, what has the information age done to better us as individuals – or what is it doing to detract from us ‘living in the moment’ and enjoying simple human pleasures? Leading this discussion is cyberpsychology expert, Andrew Campbell, questioning if our addiction to technology is preventing us from living in the real world.

What will happen when same-sex marriage becomes a legislative reality? One side of the debate argues that it will be the undoing of society, with gender norms the first casualty. The other side tells us it’ll be business as usual, with an extra serve of equality. But there is a third story to tell. In the middle ground between these two extremes lies a range of interesting possibilities – what effect might the achievement of marriage equality have on gender norms? Or the social standing of the married couple? Or on LGBTQI politics itself? Join gender studies expert Jessica Kean as she speculates on Australian society after same-sex marriage.

Online and mobile games are hugely popular, and not just among kids; more than two-thirds of Australians play online games. But we are also a nation of gamblers, with Australians spending more on gambling than any other country in the world. So what happens when the boundary between games and gambling is blurred? Sally Gainsbury will discuss how gambling companies are using gaming features to keep gambling relevant to a new generation of consumers, and potentially putting gamers at risk of addiction.

Social media influencers are redefining privacy and surveillance, one Instagram post at a time. New social platforms have heralded in new means of reinvention, allowing people to concoct online identities that are worlds apart from their real selves. Just ask Taylor Swift, who has used to her recent video clip to forge a sparkly new image, spurring thousands of takedowns and think pieces in the process. If superstars crave a fresh start online; where does that leave the rest of us? Guiding us through this social media rabbit hole is our resident expert, Jonathon Hutchinson, who will delve into all things social media: curated online identities, social influencers and digital privacy, ultimately posing the question: does our social media presence define our identity?

It sounds like a science fiction movie, but technological optimists predict driverless cars will be dominating our roads within the next five years. Dissecting the promise and perils of driverless cars is Robyn Dowling, who will examine how they will shape our cities and our lives as we know them.

We've boundless plains to share, yet Australia's track record as a safe place for refugees and asylum seekers is nothing to be proud of. In her talk, Mary Crock will examine the dangerous lack of enforceable human rights protection in Australia and what this means for our future as a multi-racial society. Wheeler Centre: https://www.wheelercentre.com/broadcasts

We live in an era where the President of the United States could feasibly start a war – not by firing missiles, but in firing off ill-advised tweets. To investigate the link between the internet and politics, our very own culture crank Rodney Taveira will delve into the twisted psyche of American popular culture and pose the question – does American democracy exist if no-one is there to like it, retweet it or turn it into a meme?

Australia has a massive waste problem. We’re producing waste at six times our population growth and our current rate of landfilling is unsustainable. So, what habits do we need to change to encourage re-using over recycling? How can we create a closed loop system where we limit what gets sent to landfill? And when it comes to sustainability are we really as good as we think? Sorting through this garbage minefield is Ali Abbas, who will discuss the transformative engineering technologies that will reduce waste output, and hopefully change the way we think about rubbish.

While most of the time we use social media for cat videos and restaurant reviews, technology-enabled social connections with people outside your circle can change your life. Our mobile phones are an instant source of information, communication and entertainment. We’re already seeing technology connect professionals working together in real time on the same issues, but could they also be a lever out of poverty for geographically isolated people? In this talk, Petr will demonstrate the power that making and maintaining links across large physical distances can have on alleviating poverty, disaster relief and rural isolation.

Dementia is becoming the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with a new case diagnosed every four seconds. It’s a disease that is breaking families and draining resources, with no medical treatments that can prevent, delay or modify its destructive course. Sue Radd has conducted extensive research to determine if what you put on your plate can affect memory, and whether the Mediterranean diet may hold a key to better brain health.