Smart Talk

In Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, Louisa Lim captures the city's untold history, just as it is being erased from the official record. A highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival.

  Hear Louisa Lim in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival

In the opening to Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, Louisa Lim is torn between journalistic neutrality and her love of Hong Kong as she is invited by guerrilla sign painters to grab a brush and help produce pro-democracy banners. When the Hong Kong protests begin over concerns about an extradition treaty, and escalate to a crackdown on freedom of expression, Lim finds herself uniquely placed to capture the city's untold history, just as it is being erased from the official record.

While researching her book on the loss of freedom in Hong Kong, Lim came across a set of interviews which had just been released from a 30-year embargo. Undertaken with the senior Hong Kong advisors who had witnessed at close hand the diplomatic negotiations undertaken by the UK government with Beijing in the leadup to the handover of the city to mainland China, they were, she says, "astonishingly frank and emotional accounts of what they saw as betrayal by the UK authorities."

The advisors were so upset, angry, and panicking. "And the questions that they raised  the weaknesses with the agreements that had been made, were all the ones that caused all the problems later on." Based on her reading of these reports, Lim is sure that this was a strategic choice by the British, who viewed there task as being almost like a game. "In the negotiations they liked to use these metaphors of card-playing. They'd say to the Hong Kong advisors 'Our hand is not that strong.'"

"The advisors thought the British just didn't understand how to negotiate with the Chinese. They thought they didn't understand the culture. They also thought they didn't understand the language because there were not native Chinese-speakers on Britain's negotiating team. They thought the British were being played."

"One of the advisors said 'If I went to shop in Harrods I wouldn't try to haggle over the price. But if I'm buying something in China, with any negotiation, the contract is just the start of the negotiation. And the British don't understand that.'"

Lim shares her experience of Hong Kong dispossession and defiance with Sam Sachdeva, author of The China Tightrope. A highlight recorded in May of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival.

About the speaker

Louisa Lim…

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MasterChef UK judge and restaurant critic William Sitwell joins Richard Fidler for a conversation about a life in food.. A highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival.

William Sitwell is a British food and travel writer, MasterChef UK judge and restaurant critic for The Telegraph. Known as much for his love of authentic cuisine as his witty, sometimes provocative and occasionally controversial views, he joins ABC Radio host Richard Fidler for a conversation about a life in food.

In his most recent book, The Restaurant: A History of Dining Out, he takes readers on a gastronomic journey over the last 2000 years - venturing into the inns and taverns of Pompeii before their destruction in AD79; revealing the tumultuous emergence of fine dining during the French Revolution; and exploring the result of technological innovations on the rise of McDonald's.

Hear William Sitwell in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival

The result is a lively, discursive amble through the social and culinary history of eating out, ranging from the influence of Elizabeth David, to the effect of the dissolution of the monasteries, and the revolution in UK cuisine since the 1960s.

As the editor of Waitrose Food Illustrated magazine (until his departure after he made a joke about "killing vegans"), Sitwell broadened the range of commentators and contributors. But his attempt to get Sir Les Patterson (one of the many alter egos of Australian comedian Barry Humphries, creator of the more famous Dame Edna Everage) fell at the last hurdle.

"I was very privileged to know Barry Humphries since he became a friend of my family's. He was a fan of my grandfather Sir Sacheverell Sitwell . I remember staying at my grandfather's house and I saw these postcards from Edna on the kitchen table. My grandfather's housekeeper Gertrude was talking about how this strange person kept on writing to my grandfather calling herself Dame Edna Everage. This was in the late '80s when Edna ruled the airwaves. She was the Queen of the Saturday night's TV schedules. But Gertrude and her husband only really watched wrestling, and switched the television off in the evening."…

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An analysis of racism from Dr Mahdis Azarmandi at the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023.

Hear Dr. Mahdis Azarmandi in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

What do we mean when we say racism? And how do we fight and challenge it?

Dr. Mahdis Azarmandi discusses why it's difficult to talk about racism and how to make sense of the often-misunderstood idea of 'race'. The opening of her talk is aimed at defining, understanding, and analysing what racism is, exploring the Spanish "conquest" of the Americas and the theological arguments which provided cover for slavery. Jim Crow laws in the southern USA and apartheid in South Africa are explored because of their connection to the pseudoscience of racial theory.

Later, her talk concentrates on what it means to pay more than lip service to being 'anti-racist.'

She argues that being anti-racist requires us to actively challenge white supremacy, and examine our own lives for examples of unrecognised racism. She says that education which results in just raising awareness is not enough. Instead, it's time to translate ideas into actions which dismantle the colonial status quo.

About the speaker

Dr Mahdis Azarmandi

Mahdis Azarmandi is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Studies and Leadership at the University of Canterbury. After obtaining her PhD from the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, she held a position as Assistant Professor at DePauw University. She has also taught in Germany and Denmark. Her research looks at anti-racism and colonial amnesia in Aotearoa New Zealand and Spain. Her research interests are at the intersection of race critical, decolonial theory & peace studies. She also researches on anti-racism and politics of memory.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

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Antibiotic resistance has been creeping up for 70 years. Prof. Jack Heinemann, discusses how its doomsday scenario in this highlight of Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023.

  Hear Jack Heinemann in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

The Doomsday clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has been set closer to midnight than ever before in its history because of the risk of nuclear war.

Other doomsday clocks relating to climate change and chemical use also get lots of press. In this Raising the Bar talk, Prof. Jack Heinemann discusses another doomsday clock, relating to something which is all around us, and inside us. It's antibiotic resistance and it has been creeping up on us for about 70 years.

Antibiotic resistance isn't just a medical issue, as nearly ⅔rds of the world's food production is also at risk. Professor Heinemann talks about what preventing this doomsday requires, and how individuals have more agency in this process than they commonly realise.

The cure, he says, is one which requires an injection of new thinking.

About the speaker

Jack Heinemann

Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics in the School of Biological Sciences Jack Heinemann worked at the US National Institutes of Health before joining UC. He gained his PhD from the University of Oregon and was on the UN Roster of Biosafety Experts until 2009. From 2009 to 2016, and in 2020, he was a member of Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety's Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group. He was also an author for the International Panel for Climate change (6th report). In 1993, he won the ICAAC Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Microbiology, and the New Zealand Association of Scientists Research medal in 2002.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

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Assoc. Prof. Elsamari Botha looks at how AI, and language models like ChatGPT, have the potential to revolutionise the way businesses operate, at Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023.

Hear Elsamari Botha in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

AI, and language models like ChatGPT, are increasingly being integrated into business processes to improve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction. However, there are many myths and misunderstandings about their current and future use.

AI has the potential to revolutionize the way businesses operate, but it is essential to approach its implementation with caution. To get the most value out of AI, it is crucial to establish a robust human-AI relationship. This means understanding the limitations of AI and ensuring that humans are still involved in decision-making.

In addition to understanding the human-AI relationship in business, companies also need to understand how embedding AI in business might affect their processes and structures. This talk provides practical insights into implementing AI in business.

About the speaker

Assoc. Prof. Elsamari Botha

Elsamari Botha, PhD, is an Associate Professor and the MBA Director at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and an extraordinary associate professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. She attained her PhD at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. With over 15 years of consulting experience, involvement in technology start-ups, and many public speaking engagements, Elsamari's research focuses on technology transitions within companies to enable businesses to get the most out of significant technology investments while preparing for digital disruption.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

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Is Science making our food safer? Kim Hill talks with a panel of experts at the annual seminar of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre

Hear Kim Hill chair this highlight of the annual seminar of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre

Is science helping or hindering the seemingly unending challenges with our modern food production systems? Issues such as the emergence of new and deadlier pathogens, increased scrutiny on chemical use, the packaging revolution and the overall impacts of climate change.

Kim Hill discusses the future of food and what it means for New Zealand producers and consumers, contrasting the advice of food guru Michael Pollan to eat what our grandmother would have recognised as food, with what is produced by the food manufacturing and production sectors.

Her panel brings together a wide range of specialists taking part in the the annual seminar of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre in July 2023.

The participants

Jocelyn Eason from Plant And Food Research; Peter Cressey from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR); Glen Neal from Food Standards, Australia New Zealand; Sirma Karapeeva from the Meat Industry Association (MIA); and Phil Bremer from the University of Otago.

This session was broadcast thanks to the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre and New Zealand International Science Festival.

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Professor of Marketing Ekant Veer argues that online 'trolling' need not be a form of bullying, but something playful which is also good for society. From Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023.

  Hear Ekant Veer in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

When we hear the word 'troll' or 'trolling' it usually conjures up negative associations of bullying, misogyny, abuse, racism and hate. The prevalence of online bullying has become widespread over the last decade with sometimes deadly consequences.

In this discussion Prof. Veer talks about the different types of trolling behaviours and trolls, what the potential motivations are behind these trolling behaviours, and ultimately, what we can do to combat harmful trolling. Yes, this implies that not all trolling is harmful and can, actually, be good for society.

Some trolls are community builders and activists who leverage their platform and prominence to draw people together for a common, sometimes positive, cause. Conversely, there are trolls and trolling communities that are so invested into their ideology and behaviours that they may never be able to accept their behaviour is in any way destructive and harmful to others.

About the speaker

Ekant Veer

Ekant Veer is a Professor of Marketing in the University of Canterbury's Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism. His research focuses on how marketing technologies and techniques can be used to understand and promote behaviour that is beneficial to individuals and society. He is a multi-award winning teacher and researcher, having been named in the Top 40 under 40 Business Professors worldwide in 2017, an Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence award winner, UC Teaching medallist and five-time UCSA Lecturer of the Year award winner.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

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Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum explore the digital landscapes that young people occupy today. A highlight of the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023.

  Hear Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

Digital tech dominates our world, from the devices we use every day to elements that govern the news we're exposed to, and that regulate our lives in the background. It's become harder to separate what's online and what's off. We're connected, and yet we're not. How does this reality affect young people?

Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum, co-Directors of the Digital Education Futures Lab, as they explore the digital landscapes that modern young people occupy. They look at how digital technology has shaped a new reality that's far from black and white, focusing on how we can support young people as they navigate this new world that is rapidly evolving and changing every single moment.

About the speakers

Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum

Cheryl and Kathryn are Associate Professors and co-Directors of the Digital Education Futures Lab. Cheryl is the Head of the School of Educational Studies and Leadership, and along with Kathryn, a member of the Waitaha Regional Digital Equity group. Kathryn is the President of the International Association for Mobile Learning and a board member of EdTechNZ. Together their research covers digital and media literacies, digital wellbeing, augmented and virtual realities to support learners, digital inequality, and mobile learning.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

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What is going on with transport in Aotearoa? Prof. Simon Kingham explores what the evidence tells us about transport now and in the future, at Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023.

Hear Simon Kingham in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

There are as many questions about transport as there are questioners, and what they ask about can reveal a lot about what is though of as a priority in this essential sector of the economy, affecting how we all lead our lives.

Questions such as:

"What is going on with transport?.. The government is trying to make speed limits so slow it will take ages to get anywhere and cripple the economy... They are spending millions of dollars building cycleways that no one uses... And they keep telling us that cars are to blame for global warming when everyone knows it is dairy cows that are the problem... And anyway, we're a tiny country so we can't make a difference... As for the potholes, why don't they just fix them and leave us to get on with our lives."

So what is happening? Why is the government pursuing these policies? And what does the evidence tell us about our transport and what might happen in the future.

A leading expert in the field, Prof. Simon Kingham, lays out the issues of significance for all of us, from cycleways, to speed restrictions, public transport and decarbonisation. 

About the speaker

Simon Kingham

Simon Kingham is Ahorangi o te Matawhenua/Professor of Geography at the University of Canterbury. In this role he teaches and undertakes research on a range of issues related to the impact of the urban environment on wellbeing, with a specific focus on transport. He is also seconded to Te Manatū Waka/the Ministry of Transport as their Chief Science Advisor. His role there is to ensure that policy is evidence-based.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

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Assoc. Prof. Heather Purdie explains why glaciers are the perfect barometer of climate change. A highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 series.

  Hear Heather Purdie in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023

Are you still uncertain about climate change? Go and visit a glacier - if you can find one.

Glaciers don't lie; their size is directly linked to climate; they expand and recede as temperature and snowfall patterns change. Glaciers store fresh water, conveniently releasing it during the warmest months of the year. If water is locked-up in a glacier, then it cannot contribute to sea level rise. Glaciers provide pathways into remote mountains, they are beautiful, they are complex.

Weaving her latest research results from inside crevasses at Haupapa/Tasman Glacier with long-term glacier monitoring in Ka Tiritiri te Moana/Southern Alps, Dr Heather Purdie takes the audience on a journey into the mountains explaining how glaciers work, and why scientists view them as accurate indicators of climate change.

About the speaker

Heather Purdie

Dr Heather Purdie is an Associate Professor and glaciologist in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. Also a mountaineer, she has spent two decades exploring the mountains of Aotearoa/New Zealand. During this time she has been monitoring glacial health, thickness and reach. Her research focuses on how glaciers respond to climate change and the implications of glacier recession on mountain recreation and tourism.

This session is broadcast in association with the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch night, held in May 2023

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details