Mareike Schmidt discusses different language teaching and learning methods, such as implementing podcasts as a tool for students to use and learn a new language.

She also suggests that by studying abroad, we could immerse in new languages and cultures, and thus learn more about ourselves.

Mareike is a Professional Teaching Fellow and the Study Abroad Adviser for German. If you're interested in researching or studying in other countries, visit this page to find more: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/arts/current-students/student-exchange-and-study-abroad.html

Senior Lecturer Dr Chris Wilson and his team researched the online postings of the Christchurch terrorist, and discovered he had been posting anonymously about his plans four years before the attack.

Chris talks about how they combined different methods, such as linguistic characteristics, to comb through thousands of posts and identify the attacker.

He explains how, if we understand how such people act, we might be able to detect and prevent similar atrocities in the future.

Read more about the research here: https://theconversation.com/christchurch-terrorist-discussed-attacks-online-a-year-before-carrying-them-out-new-research-reveals-223955

Professor Neal Curtis talks about how his academic career in comics started and how it led to collaborating with brain researchers and illustrators to raise awareness of brain tumours.

Neal also discusses Batman as an example of sovereignty and how Wonder Woman's origin story is connected to the history of women's reproductive rights.

*Neal mixed up the names of mother and daughter in Marston's story. Olive was Marston's partner while Ethel was imprisoned for handing out leaflets to women about contraception. She went on a hunger strike and was released from jail after her sister Margaret Sanger promised to lessen her activities.

You can read more about Neal's project here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2023/10/16/comics-a-no-brainer-for-bringing-research-to-life.html

With the announcement of Newshub closing, Associate Professor Luke Goode discusses what this means for us and what the future of media could look like. 

With the US presidential election fast approaching, Associate Professor Jennifer Frost discusses the history of youth voting rights and how young people could make a difference.

Jennifer's book "Let Us Vote!" Youth Voting Rights and the 26th Amendment is available here:  https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/education-reference/literature/let-us-vote-1117795

Author, scholar and former Poet Laureate Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh discusses the origins of her award-winning children's book series Mophead. In this episode, she talks about the third instalment of the series, Wot Knot You Got? Mophead's Guide to Life. She explains how the idea of Mophead came about and how the books have resonated with children and adults alike.

Selina’s new book is being released on 9 November, click here to order your copy: https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/wot-knot-you-got-mopheads-guide-to-life/

Dr Rowan Light discusses how Anzac Day has transformed from a quiet veterans’ reunion in 1965 to a popular and deeply meaningful national event. 

Dr Rebecca Phillipps discusses a ground-breaking project using an AI programme to identify stones that have been modified by early humans to use as tools.

Academics from archaeology and bioengineering have collaborated to train AI to recognise features of human-modified artefacts and speed up the classification process.

How do your views align with New Zealand’s political parties? Associate Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment discusses the relaunch of Vote Compass ahead of the election on 14 October.

Used by almost half a million people during the last election, the online tool is backed by the Electoral Commission and delivered by the University of Auckland and Victoria University.

She also talks about her new book, which illustrates the challenges facing political staff in democracies around the world.

Find out more:

Associate Professor Alice Mills discusses the challenges ex-prisoners face when they are thrust back into the outside world with just $350 for rent. She highlights a lack of support and limited resources which often lead to unstable housing situations and former inmates returning to a life of crime.

You can read the report in full here: Going Straight Home: Post-prison housing experiences and the role of stable housing in reducing reoffending in Aoteaora.