Big Ideas
736 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 40 ratingsBig Ideas brings you the best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world, casting light on the major social, cultural, scientific and political issues
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Episodes
Cybercrime
April 19, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBDo you get phone calls warning you that your home computer has a security problem or a text message about a parcel you can’t recall having ordered? Scammers and hackers are using every trick in the book to make the most of digital technology and cyber security is now a growth industry.
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 3: 'Human tribalism - a curse of our evolutionary past?'
April 18, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhen we've spent 95% of our evolutionary past living in small tribal groups, what's prepared us to live and work in vast metropolises with millions of others?
The Wilderness Myth
April 14, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAs Australia’s population expands wild places shrink. To protect the remaining patches we want to lock it up and keep people out. But what exactly is wilderness? Is it a place untouched by human hands? An indigenous geographer says that what we call wilderness is not nature left to its own devices but the result of thousands of years of indigenous landcare.
The 'nice racism' of progressive white people
April 13, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWe are aware of the impact racism can have on black, Indigenous, and other racialized people. We condemn white supremacy and hate crimes. But what if the most harm to people of colour is caused by white 'progressives'? What if they are the problem, but they are in denial?
Why insects rule the world
April 12, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBHow do you feel about insects? You might love bees because they pollinate food crops but not be a fan of mosquitos or the aphids munching their way through your garden. Love them or hate them insects are a vital part of the ecosystem. They outnumber us on the planet by twenty million to one and they feed an army of animals. How can we protect them from habitat loss, climate change and pesticides?
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 2: 'The evolution of creativity: you're not as clever as you think'
April 11, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhy are human societies unique among animals for their ability to accumulate knowledge and technologies? Most of us invent nothing, so how have we achieved this while no other species has?
Space race 2.0
April 07, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBSatellites orbiting the earth are put to many uses helping us to navigate, predict the weather and connect to the internet. Not to mention spying on other countries. But it’s getting crowded up there with more rockets , satellites and pieces of space junk and no-one is directing traffic. So who decides the future of space?
Law, social change, and activism
April 06, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe legal system is far from perfect. How can laws be used, or reformed, to help bring about social change? Can they assist indigenous Australians to protect their cultural and intellectual property, or deliver justice to survivors of sexual violence? What are the limits of class action litigation in contributing to a better future for young Australians about to bear the full brunt of climate change? Three lawyers talk about the power, potential, ...
Exploring Mars
April 05, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAfter the moon, Mars is the next big thing . So what do we know about Mars and who’s likely to get there first? Spacecraft flying through the atmosphere collect data on Mars chemistry and geography while rovers on the Martian surface act as forward scouts for a human mission. Then there's the tantalizing hope we'll find life.
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 1: ‘The evolution of language: from speech to culture’
April 04, 2022 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAll animals communicate, but only humans have language. Why only us? Why has language been more important to human success than have our genes?
Mortals and the fear of death
March 31, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBMake the most of your life and be at peace with death. Easy to say but hard to do. Death is not a topic we’re encouraged to talk about but its shadow shapes many of the things we do. Can you have a happier life if you let go of death anxiety?
Policy Drift
March 30, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhatever happened to visionary politics, big policy ideas, and governments with bold reform agendas? Australia faces a range of daunting challenges, yet Coalition and Labor governments have been in the grip of policy paralysis. That’s the view of public policy experts, Martin Parkinson and John Daley. Why has policy ambition stalled, and what can be done about to address it?
Rethinking our relationship with China
March 29, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAustralia’s relationship with China is at an all-time low. And you’ll be hearing alot about security and defence in the upcoming federal election. As China’s star continues to rise, politicians warn that China is a threat to Australia’s security. But is that threat exaggerated? Should we step back and see a more complex picture?
Sport or culture? Why not both? Writing about surfing
March 28, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBHow do you get to the essence of an activity that is part sport, part leisure, and a large part cultural identity?
Artificial intelligence & the brain
March 24, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe world is online and so are the criminals. Police are using artificial intelligence to find the needles in criminal haystacks but should there be limits on what they can do? And how neural implants connect to the brain and the power of the nocebo effect. Nocebo is placebo's evil twin.
Power, politics, and the AFL’s ‘Boys’ Club’
March 23, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIllegal drug taking, alleged bullying and harassment, and deliberately losing matches to gain access to prized young recruits. These are some of the scandals that, over the years, have plagued the biggest sporting competition in the country, the AFL – the Australian Football League. But despite these, and other, crises, governance of the 700 million dollar a year competition leaves a lot to be desired. So says investigative journalist, Mick Warner. ...
Exploring the deep sea
March 22, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAfter almost 150 years of exploration and research we understand the sea is deep, dark and definitely different - the earth's last great frontier perhaps - but how much do we know of what's beneath the surface?
Saving food and the history of exercise
March 21, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAt the end of the week does your fridge contain lots of uneaten leftovers and fresh food that’s past its use-by date? Food waste is bad for your budget and dire for greenhouse emissions so how do we reduce it? And the history of exercise from the ancient Greeks to the gym bunnies.
Loving nature and revitalized cities
March 17, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIs nature as important to you as the human species? Using legal imagination to create a sustainable economy and being a loud and proud nature freak might just be what's needed now. And how do we revitalize city life after the Covid shutdowns?
Is Australia a good international citizen?
March 16, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBJudged by our foreign aid budget, human rights, how we treat refugees, and intransigence on climate change action, Australia’s record as a good international citizen is looking tarnished. So argues former Australian foreign minister, Gareth Evans. He also gives his assessment of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Productivity and innovation in the future
March 15, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBChange is constant in society, even if we can’t see it. So how likely is it we can even begin to predict what the future might look like for productivity and innovation, and do we have the means to do so?
Putin's goals in Ukraine and the western response
March 14, 2022 09:05 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBThe war in Ukraine has galvanized the western world. It’s history writ large. We see the long shadow of the Second World War. The unfinished business of the Cold War. And the dream of unity in the European Union and NATO. Why did Putin invade and what are the possible outcomes?
Can we achieve meaningful reconciliation with First Nations people?
March 10, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe notion of reconciliation has been discussed in Australian politics for forty years, but are we any closer to achieving a meaningful reconciliation with First Nations people in Australia? How can we possibly move forward if we don't reconcile with our past?
Growing Australia's Cultural Inheritance
March 09, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhy are arts and culture so important to as Australians? Is it because we are home to the world’s oldest living culture, and the cultural stories and practices of First Nations Australians? The stereotype is that we are a sports obsessed mob but, truth be told, more of us attend art galleries and cultural institutions than go to sporting events. Arts leader, philanthropist, and businessmen, Rupert Myer, outlines how a National Cultural Plan would en...
When will we achieve gender equality?
March 08, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAustralians say they believe in equal opportunity and equality. But is that the reality for women at home and at work ? Three female leaders discuss the roadblocks and the way forward for gender equality. ABC TV also raids the National Gallery collection to discover female artists in The Exhibitionists.
How to fix democracy
March 07, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBDemocracy has existed since the Greeks came up with it as a form of government in the 5th Century BC, but as the 21st Century deepens the democratic norms are being challenged, and flaws are being exposed as never before. Is it broken? Can we fix it?
Gross national happiness & female war reporters
March 03, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBEconomists use gross domestic product as a measure of progress but increased GDP doesn't guarantee a good life for all. Bhutan adds social, health and environmental factors to the mix to measure gross national happiness. And we hear the story of three trailblazing female war reporters who rewrote the rule book in Vietnam.
Electrify everything – a blueprint for decarbonising Australia
March 02, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBBy electrifying virtually everything, we can solve the climate change crisis. Electric vehicles, electric heating, electric cooking, a decarbonised grid – all powered by renewables and batteries. This is the future Australia should be pursuing, argues inventor and entrepreneur, Saul Griffith. He says the electric revolution starts in the home, will lead to far cheaper energy costs, as well as creating new jobs, and lucrative new exports. ...
Corporate social responsibility and ANU after Covid
March 01, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWe’re tempted to buy products and support companies who say they’re looking after the planet but are their claims real or just greenwashing? And how can universities recover after two years of pandemic restrictions on staff and students?
John Button Oration and looking beyond GDP
February 28, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe 2021 John Button Oration asks what sort of economic future we want to leave for the next generation. How can today’s policymakers better reflect tomorrow’s voices? Plus, what would a sustainable, and human-centred, economy look like? Is changing the system even possible, or is it in the realm of Utopia?
Living a healthy fulfilling life in older age
February 23, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBResearch indicates that social connection, spending time with friends, and sharing a meal, are vital ingredients for a healthy life - especially as we age. This is also an antidote to loneliness, which is a major social problem. What else contributes to living well, later in life? How do we continue to live fulfilling lives, into old age?
What do pandemic politics look like?
February 22, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBAll aspects of our lives have been changed by Covid, and politics and politicians have felt the tremors too. What is our current relationship like, and what do we want from our government?
Hidden homelessness, revealed by those who've lived it
February 21, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBSome 116,000 people experience homelessness every night in Australia, and that number is expected to grow. What is it like to be homeless? What do those who've been in that awful circumstance think is the answer?
Crisis in Afghanistan and Russia Ukraine tension
February 16, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe crisis in Afghanistan Six months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold. Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans? Speakers: Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author. Maryam Zahid...
Crisis in Afghanistan
February 16, 2022 09:05 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThe crisis in Afghanistan Six months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold. Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans? Speakers: Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author. Maryam Zahid...
Museums as an agent of change
February 15, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhen was the last time you visited a museum? Museums are popular with adults and children alike and the multi-media exhibitions make subjects come alive in a unique way. So are museums uniquely suited to communicating complex science and social issues? Could they help us win the war against climate change?
OECD Climate change, tax and market economies
February 14, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAustralia’s been a member of the OECD for the last fifty years. Former federal politician Mathias Corman is now the Secretary General. The OECD’s claim to fame is its comparative analysis on economic and social policy. Australian educators, for example, use OECD benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of our education system. Mathias Cormann talks about the OECD agenda for climate change, multinational tax reform and market economies. ...
How do we stop coercive control and elder abuse?
February 09, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBShould we criminalise coercive control - an insidious form of domestic violence, used to control, humiliate, and intimidate another person? Women, and older Australians, are often the targets of coercive and controlling behaviour, but it is difficult to prevent and police. Some argue this is because existing laws are inadequate. Would a criminal offence outlawing coercive control make a difference?
COVID in India
February 08, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIndia’s struggle to contain the COVID 19 virus made international headlines. ABC South Asia Correspondent James Oaten witnessed the devastating mark the pandemic left on the country firsthand.
Reviewing Australia's monetary policy
February 07, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 50 MBThe international think tank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has called for a wholesale review of monetary policy in Australia, but what should be up for discussion?
BBC Reith Lecture 1: Living With Artificial Intelligence
February 03, 2022 09:05 - 23 seconds - 373 KBProfessor Stuart Lee's Reith lectures explore the role of Artificial Intelligence and what it means for the way we live our lives. What he says is "the most profound change in human history"
Migrant women and domestic violence
February 02, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBA study examining the safety and security of migrant and refugee women in Australia found one in three of those surveyed experienced some form of domestic and family violence, including coercive and controlling behaviour. This was often exacerbated by insecure visas. Many migrant and refugee women found it difficult to seek help, and there was a lack of trust in the institutions that are meant to assist them
Recycling and sustainable fashion
January 20, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWe can recycle to put materials to new uses not just to replace the original product. We hear how textiles and plastics are repurposed to make building tiles and how the fashion industry is trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. Mass produced clothes currently contribute enormous amounts to landfill and generate pollution in the manufacturing process.
Going to court for nature
January 18, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBInternational negotiations on climate change and biodiversity often put the scientific case behind economic and political interests. So, people increasingly turn to the courts to get justice for the environment. What makes those court cases successful? And what does a new form of environmental justice that connects nature with economic and social rights looks like? The new way of getting just rights for nature is to fall back on the very old legal tra...
Online privacy & technology reshaping society
January 17, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBLove it or hate it, technology rules the world. Our social systems and values are bent out of shape by innovative technology. Ideas we used to hold dear like privacy are suddenly negotiable in the online world and tech companies set the rules with governments struggling to catch up. So is it possible to regain control of your data and can governments control disruptive technology?
Joe McCarthy and the politics of fear
January 13, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBJoe McCarthy is the figurehead of the anti-communist crusades of the 1950s-era. Thousands of Americans were investigated as alleged communists and Soviet agents during the 'Red Scare'. McCarthyism became the synonym for hysterical intolerance – and some say it’s prevalent again today. Historian Richard Norton Smith explores the rise of Joe McCarthy and the dangerous legacy he left behind.
How a dispute over land clearing turned deadly
January 12, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat does a brutal murder tell us about our attitudes to land ownership, farming, and the natural environment? There are laws in Australian limiting the clearing of native vegetation. These laws have long been controversial, and many farmers fiercely oppose them. But none have ever gone as far as farmer Ian Turnbull, who shot and killed environmental compliance officer, Glen Turner. Paul Barclay speaks with Kate Holden, who tells the story in her ...
Understanding the mind of a compulsive hoarder
January 11, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBYou first need to understand the mind of a hoarder before you can tackle the clutter. Randy Frost explains the meaning possessions play in our lives and how and why this can go astray.
Mind-altering medicines and antivirals
January 10, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBPsychedelic drugs were a feature of 1960s counter-culture and the subject of serious medical research from the 1940s onwards. Research was halted after psychedelics were declared dangerous and banned but new research is finding them to be powerful medicine. And, with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, why are there so few drugs to treat viruses?
Hugh MacKay on the "kindness revolution"
January 05, 2022 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBCan covid help to create a kinder, better, Australia? Adversity, it has been said, can make us stronger, and pull us together more tightly, as a community. Social psychologist, Hugh MacKay, told Paul Barclay he noticed last year, after the pandemic arrived, that Australians started to become kinder to one another. Hugh is hoping the lessons from the pandemic can trigger a “kindness revolution”.