Thomas More wrote a book that coined a word and changed the world—Utopia. After 500 years, it seems as far off as ever. What is the world coming to and what can we do about it? The discussion is led by Miles Franklin award-winning author Alexis Wright, renowned philosopher Peter Singer, and leading scholars Russell Jacoby and Jacqueline Dutton. Together with Paul Barclay from ABC’s Big Ideas, they explore the role—or absence—of imagination and aspiration in how we address the vital issues confronting Australia. Are we destined for a nightmare future? Is it too late to dream? 

This collaborative event was a project of the Centre for Law Art and the Humanities at the Australian National University. It was made possible with the assistance and cooperation of the National Library of Australia and ABC’s Big Ideas Unit, and with the generous support of the ANU Gender Institute, Humanities Research Centre, Peter Herbst Colloquium, School of History, College of Arts and Social Sciences, and College of Law.

This is the first Capital Ideas public forum hosted through their partnership with the National Library. This podcast is a discussion on the Finkel Review and what it intends to achieve. Speakers are Helen Wilson, who leads the Government’s review; Frank Jotzo, a leading climate economist from ANU; and Grattan Institute's Tony Wood.

Energy and climate change policy remain one of the most contested and important areas of Australian public policy in 2017. The Finkel Review will report by mid-year on what needs doing to ensure the security and affordability of the national electricity market in the transition to a low-emissions future. The Federal Government will undertake its long-anticipated review of our domestic climate change policies against the emissions reduction targets to which Australia committed in Paris in December 2015. 

In association with the Grattan Institute.

Virginia Haussegger AM, Director of the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra presents the 2017 Canberra Day Oration.

Old friends Harold Mitchell AC and Alex Sloan share stories of their careers in advertising and the media, reflecting on the history of Australian advertising and how it has shaped Australian society.

The Guardian's Katharine Murphy joins author Charlotte Wood as they delve deep into Wood's provocative, fearless novel.

Madeleine Thien in conversation with Professor Paul Hetherington, exploring this epic and resonant novel about the far-reaching effects of China's revolutionary history, told through the stories of two interlinked musical families, from the 1940s to the present day.

Explore the economic, social, environmental and cultural challenges facing South Australia with Dr Chris Wallace, Angela Woollacott, Peter Stanley and Amrita Malhi. Chaired by Griffith Review editor Julianne Schultz.

Award-winning writer Kate Grenville discusses her latest book The Case Against Fragrance with Gia Metherell, Former Literary Editor, The Canberra Times.

Clementine Ford, columnist for Fairfax’s popular website Daily Life, has a reputation for fearlessly addressing issues of gender inequality in a modern world. Fight Like a Girl is an essential manifesto for feminists new, old and soon-to-be, and exposes just how unequal the world continues to be for women.

As one of the country’s most significant and popular historians, Geoffrey Blainey’s traces our story from the gold rush to the present day.