In addition to my research and teaching as an evolutionary biologist, about 20% of my job involves another role: Academic Lead of the UNSW Grand Challenges and Thought Leadership Program. One of the many exciting things we do involves discovering and nurturing new talent from among UNSW’s stellar staff and student body. We help them develop a compelling public talk for events like our own UNSOMNIA showcase, and festivals like Unthinkable and Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
After September’s UNSOMNIA event – held on UNSW Open Day – I caught up with each of the speakers to get a bit of an idea of what keeps them up at night, what excites them, and whether they are optimistic for the future. Those interviews form the first half of the podcast episodes below, each followed by the talk.
For the talks, we asked each speaker to imagine the world 70 years from now, in honour of the fact that our university turned 70 years old in 2019. In 2089, children born today will be 70 years old, and most of them will still be alive, as life expectancy is now over 80 in Australia.
Have a listen, and let us know what you think.
Dr Katharine Kemp: Rebuilding data privacy from the ground up
Big data has fundamentally altered our laws, freedom and democracy. Is there anywhere in the real and virtual worlds where we aren’t being watched, and anything we can do keep our private lives private?
Professor Stuart Khan: Sewage science to save our cities
If we’re going to survive the next 70 years, the human race needs new sources of sustainable energy and clean water. Could sewage be the answer?
Dr Jordana McLoone: Childhood Cancer – thriving not just surviving
In 70 years ALL children diagnosed with cancer will survive. But while their lives will be saved, how can we make sure we limit the side effects of treatment? How can we make sure they thrive, not just survive?
Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan: Lab-grown steak to save pygmy possums
Humans and farm animals have taken over the planet and pushed other species to the brink of extinction. Could lab-grown meat help build the diverse and thriving planet of our future?
Dr Rebecca Green: Futuristic hieroglyphics
As we spend more time in digital and virtual worlds, our need for written or typed text could disappear. In 70 years could we all be communicating in a new language of hieroglyphics, symbols and pictures?
There is more goodness where these podcasts and talks came from. If you want to see another five dynamic speakers in action then sign up for the “Dangerous Futures” session at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, on April 5.
Thanks to the Centre for Ideas team who worked with us to produce UNSOMNIA, and especially to digital producer Kara Jensen-McKinnon who brought these recordings to life.
