It’s been a long time since ‘visual art’ meant simply a painting, or a sculpture. Today, artists around the world are embracing digital mediums and technologies to unlock imaginations and create new and exciting experiences for audiences. Hear from a handful of the leading Australian artists featured as part of Illuminate Adelaide’s inaugural program, as they discuss how digital practices have affected the way they make and share their work.

Speakers include: Atong Atem, Robin Fox, Tim Gruchy, Leigh Robb (MC)

Artificial intelligence has held an ominous position in popular culture, but as machine learning crosses over from science fiction into reality this emerging field of study offers intriguing possibilities — and plenty of challenges. Hear from some of the South Australian thinkers who are breaking new ground in empowering artists to use machine learning to tease out the edges of human knowledge and creation.

In collaboration with the Sia Furler Institute and Australian Institute for Machine Learning. 

Speakers include: Prof Thomas Hajdu, Prof Anton van den Hengel, Dr Jamie Sherrah, Dr Johan Verjans, Dr Paul Dalby, Prof Simon Lucey

Despite overwhelming public support, voluntary assisted dying remains a polarising issue for our political leaders, who navigate a delicate mix of deeply held religious, ethical and medical viewpoints. As a 17th attempt at legislative reform makes its way through parliament, is the tide about to turn for voluntary assisted dying in South Australia? And if so, how did we get here — and where do we go now?

Speakers include: Sam Lara, Dr Susan Close MP, Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Helen Walker. MC Tory Shepherd.

There are some big cultural changes afoot inside kitchens and beyond, as the food world looks for smarter and more sustainable systems of production and consumption from the restaurant to the supermarket. Join our panel of freshly foraged experts as they sink their teeth into some of the most exciting and complicated conversations about how we eat. Speaking of food, we’ll also keep you warm and fed with a cup of soup from chef and panellist Ben Shewry. In collaboration with the Stretton Institute.

Speakers include: Ben Shewry, Damien Coulthard, Prof Rachel Ankeny, Rebecca Sullivan.

Can capitalism have a conscience? The last decade has seen an explosion of new Australian startups that seek to make a difference while also turning a profit. But how can an ethically minded business with one eye on the bigger picture thrive in a globalised marketplace often steeped in exploitation? And what sets a true ‘social enterprise’ apart from plain old marketing to newly woke consumers? Hear from some of Australia’s leading socially-oriented entrepreneurs seeking to rewrite the rules of running a business — without ruining the world.

Speakers include: Sarah Gun, Kari Allen, Andrew Nunn, Eloise Hall, Isobel Marshall

As Australia heads towards a future with a growing ageing population, the ways our economy, workforce and society have been geared for half a century will face unprecedented pressure. But is this an existential challenge, or an opportunity to build a better and more caring society? How can we make sure all older Australians enjoy fulfilling lives, and build a nation where no one — young or old — is left behind?

Speakers include: The Honourable Catherine Branson AC QC, Maggie Beer AM, Raelene Wlochowicz, Richard Bruggemann. Chaired by Greg Mackie OAM.

In a world marked by ever-widening division, what could be learned if instead of reacting in anger we reached out in friendship?

In our opening night address, chef and restaurateur Ben Shewry asks whether kindness might be the compass we need to find a way forward in a polarised world. Join us for a Welcome to Country from Jack Buckskin, before University of Adelaide Chancellor The Hon. Catherine Branson AC QC and our three guest curators Kirstie Parker, Isobel Marshall and Prof John Carty share some of the big ideas that underpin our 2021 festival program.

A ground-breaking study of decarbonisation pathways for the US – Net-Zero America: Potential Pathways, Infrastructure and Impacts - was released in mid-December by Princeton University.

Australian Dr Chris Greig, the Theodora D. and William H. Walton Senior Research Scientist at Princeton’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, who co-led Net-Zero America will present the findings and contrast the challenge for the Australia and our trading partners.

Net Zero America (NZA) stands apart from previous studies in examining various pathways to net zero that include different proportions of renewables, different degrees of electrification, roles for nuclear and fossil fuels (with CCUS) that vary from zero to significant, and use of carbon land sinks and bioenergy with CCS (to provide negative emissions). It analyses the implications of decarbonisation (e.g. for land-use, project development, employment and financing) in unprecedented detail and granularity.

It shows that net zero by 2050 is affordable, though will encounter significant risks, including social licence challenges. The scale of energy-sector capital investment required is unprecedented, but the impact on the cost of energy services, as a share of economic output, is expected to be minimal.

Net Zero America was funded by major energy companies and included national environmental organisations on its oversight committee. It has received widespread coverage by US and international media and has been well received at all levels of government and across the private sector, including this praise from John P. Holdren, former Presidential Science Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the study’s foreword:

Net Zero America...sets an entirely new standard in this genre.... Everybody seriously interested in the crucial question of this country’s energy-climate future—not least the new Biden-Harris administration—needs to understand the findings of this extraordinary study.

Speaker: Dr Chris Greig

Balancing on a tower of chairs is not easy. It requires decades of training, self-discipline, teamwork, trust, mental acuity, physical strength, long term goals and more. Coming to terms with the rise of China requires many of the same qualities and skills but our political acrobats sometimes lack the requisite training. Carrillo Gantner, whose career in the performing arts has included decades of productive engagement with China, will reflect on some of the lessons learned and how they might apply more broadly to enhance the challenging Australia China relationship.

Speaker: Carrillo Gantner AC

Everyone knows that when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore. But trying to make a pizza pie on the lunar surface? That’s a more complicated equation. 52 years after Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon only to find the dining options to be disappointingly limited, we’ve convened a crack team of space experts to unbox the many layers of technical and philosophical challenges that will stand between the next generation of moonwalking astronauts and Friday night beer and pizza. In collaboration with the Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources.

Speakers include: Dr Amit Srivastava, Dr Lisa Bailey, Dr Tim Parsons, Prof John Culton and Rebecca Kuster.