Gender inequality in the workplace has been in the national consciousness for decades, but COVID-19 has exposed glaring evidence that it still requires urgent attention. Women have been far more adversely affected than men, during the coronavirus pandemic. But when this state of emergency eventually passes, we have an opportunity, through technology for example, to solve problems like the pay gap and the value of unpaid work. Can we can nudge the scales towards equality, and avoid further gender segregation in the workforce?

We live in an age of constant outrage. On social media, many people seem to be almost continually offended and outraged. We are shouting, retweeting, and "piling on" - but have we lost ability to tell the difference between genuine injustice and online feeding frenzies?

Why has the post-Cold War era given way to a world in which Russia challenges the United States in every corner of the globe? And how as Russia again become such a toxic and divisive subject in US politics? After the break-up of the Soviet Union it looked all so promising: a pro-west and open Russia seemed to be possible. Russia expert Angela Stent examines the country's turbulent past, how it has influenced Vladimir Putin, the Russians' understanding of their position on the global stage and their future ambitions.

What is it like to grow up Asian in Australia?  What are the stereotypes, myths and assumptions that Australian-Asians encounter? A decade ago Black Ink published an anthology about this, edited by Alice Pung.

How did people in 1945 deal with feelings of revenge, how were collaborators treated and after the trauma of war was it possible to return to any sense of normality? Big Ideas is revisiting this question for the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. According to academic, author and historian Ian Buruma 1945 was a pivotal year not only for Europe but for the world at large. He discusses China, Japan, human rights and history, sexuality and murder.

Writing the history of wars is a complex process. For the 75th anniversary of WWII, Big Ideas returns to this panel of historians exploring the role of memory, private documents and official archives in shaping the narratives of the past. It’s not only important for the public understanding of what’s happened – it also informs strategies for future wars.

Charles Bean was our first official war correspondent in the first world war. Getting accurate information about the combat and fronts became possibly even more challenging in the following second world war. For the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, Big Ideas looks at reporting in war times and features Charles Bean who devoted his life to telling the story of our soldiers.

During the Second World War, in 1942, Japan invaded Rabaul, in New Guinea, then a part of Australia. Over a thousand Australians died. Why have we forgotten this?

The second wave of coronavirus has shaken us all . Victorians have endured tough restrictions and the State is isolated from the rest of Australia. So what does this teach us about the way to handle the virus? Without a vaccine, will we continue to go in and out of lockdown? And if a vaccine is developed will some people still be hesitant to vaccinate?

Imagine you are a journalist who has broken a big story you believe is in the public interest. A year elapses and then, without warning, your home is raided, and the AFP is suddenly rifling through your most intimate belongings.  This is what happened to Annika Smethurst, who feared she would go to jail for revealing classified information.