Ahead of his journey to NASA in June, UTS’s Dr Joshua Chou joined Australia's first astronaut Dr Paul Scully-Power and 2SER's Alex James to discuss his ground-breaking research which has the potential to kill cancer cells. This international space mission will send cancer cells into space to see if they behave as Dr Chou’s on earthly experiments have, with some 80 to 90 per cent of the cancer cells dying without drug treatment.

Australia is known for its multiculturalism and the diverse population, but this diversity unfortunately doesn’t lead to the end of discrimination. Diverse communities can often be underrepresented, persecuted and ignored.

But many are dedicated to making sure their voices are heard. In this episode of Talk of the Town, we present talks from four different voices that each highlight the importance of diversity in a different field. From the uniting power of sport, to the issues with tokenism, these talks dive deep into the ways diversity can affect the lives of everyone.

These talks were originally presented at the TEDx Macquarie University event on the 21st of September 2019, and are presented here in collaboration with Macquarie University

Featured in this episode:

Moving beyond the token minority – Amal Awad:

Much of the talk about diversity focuses on representation – whether there is enough, whether what we have is good enough, and what it should look like. In her talk, writer Amal Awad takes aim at the stereotype of the token minority, and explains how we can get more authentic representation by increasing representation behind the scenes.

Why everything you know about autism is wrong – Jac Den Houting:

For many, autism is viewed as a tragedy or a disability. But for Jac Den Houting, receiving an autism diagnosis was an experience that changed her life for the better. In this talk, she explains the recent paradigm shift in the way we think about autism, and how it changes everything for those with autism.

Disruption is not a dirty word – Amy Thunig

Many of the powerful institutions in the land commonly known as ‘Australia’ continue to reflect the white supremacist ideologies upon which they were founded. This statement may be controversial or hard to hear, but it forms the basis of Amy Thunig’s talk. In it, she challenges the dominance of these colonial institutions that continue to shape the lives of minorities in contemporary Australia.

People Power – Craig Foster

Craig Foster is an SBS sports analyst and former Socceroos captain. He is also a human rights advocate responsible for leading a campaign in early 2019 to free a young Bahraini footballer and refugee, Hakeem al-Araibi from a Thai prison. In this talk, he discusses the power present when people unite, as well as the responsibility of powerful institutions to care for all those they influence.

Science! Sometimes, it’s a wonderful tool used to ease some of life’s greatest problems and solve some of the universe’s biggest mysteries. Other times it’s the cause of life’s greatest dangers and a threat to humanity, something which fiction is more than happy to dramatize.

This week though, science is the focus of Talk of the Town. This episode features four talks, each discussing different advancements in science – covering both the benefits and the potential pitfalls that they may bring.

These talks were originally presented at the TEDx Macquarie University event on the 21st of September 2019, and are presented here in collaboration with Macquarie University

Featured in this episode:

Will AI mean we no longer need doctors? – Enrico Coiera:

The advent of AI has many worried about their role in the workforce; if AI can do so much, is there any job they can’t replace? In his talk Professore Enrico Coiera discusses the way that the upcoming robot revolution could affect doctors – and whether they’ll have a job when all is said and done.

Nanotechnology is not simply about making things smaller – Noushin Nasiri:

For many, the word nanotechnology rings to mind images of modern technology on a miniscule sale. But the reality of nanotechnology is far more complicated than this. In her talk Noushin Nasiri explains what nanotechnology really is – and what possibilities it could unlock.

Turning, breaking, or vanishing point? – Jeffrey Braithwaite:

The misuse of science is at the core of many a post-apocalyptic or science fiction story. But how likely are these scenarios? In this talk, Jeffrey Braithwaite explains the possible dangers present in current scientific trends – and whether we can pull back from the possible brink they may represent.

How much would you be willing to pay for shade? – Leigh Staas:

In the face of climate change, cities are getting hotter and hotter, and as a result, more and more people are looking for solutions that will cool them down. In her talk, Leigh Staas presents a simple but surprising idea – pointing out a flaw in city design while providing the possible solution.

Despite the best efforts of many, gender inequality remains a persistent problem for many in contemporary society. Be it in the design of products, sexism in the workplace, or the often discussed gender wage gap, this issue continues to affect the lives of half the population in ways both big and small.

In this episode of Talk of the Town, four women discuss four different fields where gender inequality remains a problem… and what can be done to solve it. These talks were originally presented at the TEDx Macquarie University event on the 21st of September 2019, and are presented here in collaboration with Macquarie University

Featured in this episode:

Gender equality requires gender-based design – Robyn Clay-Williams:

Dr Robyn Clay-Williams has been many things. A test pilot, electronics engineer and an academic. But one common thing she’s encountered in every field is the lack of gender based design. In this talk, she explains what this is, and why it’s needed.

How the media is sexist towards women political leaders – Blair Williams:

Blair Williams came of age in an era where women ran Australia. But instead of making her feel hopeful, Julia Gillard’s tenure as Prime Minister opened Blair’s eyes to the way gendered double standards persist even in the highest office. In her talk, Blair explains how the media employs sexist tropes in political coverage… and what it means for the everyday person.

How to turn one big idea into a social enterprise – Melina Georgousakis:

Melina Georgousakis is a medical research scientist, and a champion for women in the sector. As the Founder of Franklin Women, a community made to support women working in the medical field, she understands firsthand about the way gender affects her in the workplace. In her talk, Melina explains how she came to understand this, and what she decided to do about it.

Heart disease is not just a men’s disease – Karice Hyun

Heart disease is too often thought of as being a disease that plagues men, and not women. While the symptoms are easily recognized in men, females often go undiagnosed. In her talk, University of Sydney Research Fellow Karice Hyun takes a deep dive into this double standard.

What sets your business apart from others in the field? This question is one that all business owners, big or small, will ask themselves at some point in their career. Defining the purpose of your business is extremely important, but it isn’t always easy. Thankfully, Talk of the Town is here to help.

On this episode of Talk of the Town we’re bringing you all the talks from Macquarie University’s TEDx event which tackle this issue. Each talk represents a different way businesses may deal with the question of what makes their business unique.

These talks were originally presented at the TEDx Macquarie University event on the 21st of September 2019, and are presented here in collaboration with Macquarie University

Featured in this episode:

The purpose driven university – Debbi Haski-Leventhal: Have universities become so focused on being the best that they’ve forgotten their purpose? In this talk, Debbi Haski Leventhal poses the important question: what is the purpose of universities?

My healing power of cake in a world full of turmoil – Nadine Ingram: For many, the success of a business is measured in concrete, quantifiable things. Money made, stores opened, units sold. In her talk, Nadine Ingram challenges this idea, explaining how the focus of her business is on the connections it creates.

How to break up with your public identity – Rachel Service: For Rachel Service, she was what made her business unique. As the founder and face of her company, her personal life was intrinsically linked with her public one. In this talk, Rachel explains what happens when who she was began to change… and how that affected the business.

Peter Hartcher in conversation with Richard Glover.

China has become a key nation for Australia’s future – for our security, economy and identity. But what are China’s intentions when it comes to Australia?

In the recent issue of the Quarterly Essay, Peter Hartcher discusses the ways in which Beijing has stepped up its campaign for influence over hearts and minds, mineral and agricultural resources, media outlets and sea lanes. Reactions so far have included panic, xenophobia and all-the- way-with-the-USA, but the challenge now is to think hard about the national interest and respond with wisdom to a changed world.

This urgent, authoritative essay blends reporting and analysis, and covers the local scene as well as the larger geopolitical picture. It casts fresh light on Beijing’s plans and actions, and outlines a way forward.

The episode of Talk of The Town is brought to you through a collaboration between Gleebooks and 2SER Radio in Sydney.

Issues 76 of the Quarterly Essay, Red Flag, is available at Gleebooks locations or through Black Inc.

Margaret Simons in conversation with Lenore Taylor (Guardian Australia)

Senator Penny Wong is an extraordinary Australian politician. Resolute, self-possessed and a penetrating thinker on subjects from climate change to foreign affairs, she is admired by members of parliament and the public from across the political divide.

In this first-ever biography of Penny Wong, acclaimed journalist Margaret Simons traces her story: from her early life in Malaysia, to her student activism in Adelaide, to her time in the turbulent Rudd and Gillard governments, to her key role as a voice of reason in the polarising campaign to legalise same-sex marriage. What emerges is a picture of a leader for modern Australia, a cool-headed and cautious yet charismatic figure of piercing intelligence, with a family history linking back to Australia’s colonial settlers and to the Asia-Pacific.

Drawing on exclusive interviews with Penny Wong and her Labor colleagues, parliamentary opponents, and close friends and family, this is a scintillating insight into an Australian politician without precedence. Penny Wong: Passion and Principle is available through Black Inc and Gleebooks.

The episode of Talk of The Town is brought to you through a collaboration between Gleebooks and 2SER Radio in Sydney.

Michael Mohammed Ahmad & Khalid Warsame discuss their respective essays in the new issue of Meanjin, 'Reading Malcolm X as an Arab Australian' and 'James Baldwin'. In conversation with Sara Saleh.

The episode of Talk of The Town is brought to you through a collaboration between Gleebooks and 2SER Radio in Sydney.

Brian Toohey draws on decades of inquiries into national security to examine governing by stealth in his new book Secret.

Elected governments pose the greatest threat to Australians' security. Political leaders increasingly promote secrecy, ignorance and fear to introduce new laws that undermine individual liberties and magnify the risks of being dragged into a horrific new war for no good reason. It is a criminal offence to receive or publish a wide range of information unrelated to national security. Our defence weapons are so dependent on US technical support that Australia couldn't defend itself without US involvement. The Commonwealth is amassing comprehensive databases on citizens' digital fingerprints and facial recognition characteristics. True? False? Read Secret: The Making of Australia's Security State and you decide. Fresh archival material and revealing details of conversations between former CIA, US State Department and Australian officials will make you reconsider the world around you.

The episode of Talk of The Town is brought to you through a collaboration between Gleebooks and 2SER Radio in Sydney.

Earlier this year as part of Vivid Ideas the University of Technology Sydney’s Dr Belinda Middleweek, Dr Alan McKee and Eurydice Aroney came together to for a panel discussion called: Is this the End of Intimacy? The discussion was moderated by Dr Honni van Rijswijk

If you are sensitive or have young ears close by please do not press pay as the following discussion contains swearing and frank discussions about human sexuality.

Otherwise sit back and listen to a free ranging talk about sex robots, sex work, porn and the future.