Imagine counting the footsteps of all the people who drifted through Wynyard station and the stories they could tell. When the wooden escalators that served Sydney commuters at Wynyard Station for more than eight decades were removed last year, our in-house art-itect (that’s artist and architect), Chris Fox, saw the potential of using public art to tell those stories. Using the remnants of the 1930s escalator treads, the installation is a nod to Sydney’s past, while embracing our future.

Join Chris as he tells the story of how this installation came to be, the barriers he encountered along the way, and how public art makes an imprint on a city’s personality.

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

This philosophical puzzle is front of mind for geographer Dale Dominey-Howes as he examines how people process natural disasters. Does it still constitute a ‘disaster’ if it occurs in an unpopulated area and no one is affected? In answering this question, Dale will explore the difference between hazards and disasters and uncover the most catastrophic natural tragedies of all time. He will also dissect the inextricable link between climate change and natural disasters and discuss what's in store for our planet.

The shift towards digital communication has resulted in clickbait and fake news clogging up our news feeds. Meanwhile, the circulation of mainstream magazines is on the decline.

Yet, there’s something unexpected going on in the background. The humble indie magazine is on the rise, and it’s making an impact in a big way. Join media and communications expert, Megan Le Masurier, as she discusses the mainstream magazine media landscape and the global rise of indie magazines in print.

When women in NSW won the vote in 1902 some thought the fight was over – but in fact, it was just beginning. The voices of women still weren't being heard in the places where the big decisions were being made: parliament, courts and government.

Today women can be lawyers, judges and members of the NSW Parliament, but it has taken decades to see women in those roles and true equality is a long way off – especially for Indigenous Australian women. In her talk, constitutional law expert Anne Twomey will discuss the struggles of the past and the future for women and Indigenous Australians to be heard by our law-makers.

Have you ever gone overseas and tried to learn the local language? It’s something we’d be happy to do overseas, so why is it not something we’d think to do at home in Australia?

Living and working in Sydney means we’re standing on the ground of Cadigal people of the Eora nation. And the languages that were spoken on this soil for thousands of years are at risk of being forgotten – taking with them the stories, histories and identities that go hand in hand with language. Join Indigenous language expert, Jakelin Troy as she discusses why we need to preserve Indigenous languages and the important work being done to keep them alive.

Artificial intelligence promises (or threatens) to completely revolutionise the workforce. From manufacturing to healthcare, we’re building machines to make important decisions that will create all kinds of industry efficiencies.

But here’s the thing: artificial intelligence isn’t naturally intelligent. And the machines we’re building aren’t actually smart – yet. But they could be, once we equip them with mathematical reasoning.

This is where Lamiae Azizi comes in. In order to improve robot performance, we need to teach machines to think and interact with the world around them. What data do we need, how do we get there and when does privacy become a concern? Exploring this ethical minefield, Lamiae will discuss what’s being done to develop the next generation of AI-based machines and the moral conundrums that this may present.

Is human intelligence the only kind of intelligence there is? Physicist Zdenka Kuncic believes it’s not. To her, intelligence is something that can be constructed, if we just put our minds to it.

Zdenka suggests that if artificial intelligence is going to be successful, it’s going to need the sort of cognition we have. The capacity to think, learn and adapt. To have self-awareness and sensory input. To be self-reliant. Things that the human brain does effortlessly.

So how do you have intelligence without a brain? You build a synthetic one. Join Zdenka as she provides a tantalising glimpse into the possibility of synthetic intelligence in the not-too-distant future.

From supporting Apollo moon missions to coordinating the design of the Rosetta spacecraft, Australia has made giant leaps for mankind in advancing our understanding of space. But when it comes to market share, Australia’s contribution sits stagnant at a mere one percent of a $400 billion industry.

In this talk, Warwick Holmes will discuss how Australia plans to leverage its expertise to improve its bottom line through the founding of the Australian Space Agency, and by developing the nation’s first generation of space engineers. He will also explore how the emergence of rival space programs, including private space exploration companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX, may impact this vision.

Happiness. Monks meditate for days on end in pursuit of it. Fitness buffs chase exercise endorphins. It’s so popular, that it’s an industry in and of itself – complete with self-help books, inspiring podcasts and lifestyle products – all advocating how you can live your best life.

But when you really stop and think about it, what are we chasing? Is it a feeling, a fleeting emotion or an enduring sense of achievement? Or is it more than a feeling? Drawing on a rich ancient and philosophical tradition of thinking about happiness, Caroline West will tackle three big questions about this elusive state – what is it, why it's important and how we get it.

Summer lovin’? Not so much. As the temperatures start to soar, the weather is more than just a topic to fill awkward silences.

We whinge about the humidity while seeking solace in climate-controlled rooms – but how much do we actually understand heat? Does 30 degrees feel the same to you as the next guy? And why do the Brits freak out when the mercury hits 23 degrees? Ollie Jay will turn up the heat on temperature and human health, address the elephant in the room (that’s climate change), and teach us how to stay cool without an air-conditioner.