Haben Girma would prefer not to be called inspiring. But, as the first Deafblind woman to make Harvard history and living in defiance of great social and physical barriers, it is a term often used to describe her achievements. Girma developed a powerful path to success despite facing many social and physical barriers. Overcoming all with an insatiable appetite for social justice as well as a wicked sense of humour, she’s become a leading advocate for people living with disabilities. Girma has been named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and was awarded the White House Champion of Change ..read more

Has climate chaos, the cost-of-living crisis and the threat of AI overlords got you feeling like the end is nigh? Don’t stress. As psychologist and evolutionary biologist Athena Aktipis points out, humankind is hardwired to survive big existential crises.  In this engaging talk, Athena—armed with her trusty ukulele—and UNSW’s Rob Brooks journey through history, psychology, and shared humanity to uncover the tools that will help us survive—and thrive—amidst the chaos. Tune in to the podcast and you can expect to learn about the psychology of stress, tips for prepping (hint: duct tape is es ..read more

In today's fast paced digital age where misinformation spreads like wildfire, the importance of science communication has never been more critical. From bogus health claims to pseudoscientific theories, the online landscape is rife with inaccuracies that undermine public trust in science. But New York Times bestseller Jennifer Gunter is trying to change this. Dubbed the internet’s gynaecologist, Gunter became an overnight celebrity when she debunked Trump’s medical examination letter and she continues to educate the masses each day.   In conversation with NSW Deputy Chief Scientist D ..read more

From the celestial ballet of exploding supernovae to the cosmic whispers of gravitational waves, acclaimed astrophysicist Tamara Davis’ journey through the cosmos promises to captivate and inspire. With over two decades dedicated to unravelling cosmic mysteries, Tamara Davis has played a pivotal role in monumental astronomical surveys, uncovering over half a billion galaxies and illuminating the enigmatic nature of dark energy. Listen as she shares her groundbreaking research with UNSW's Dean of Science, Sven Rogge, which has revealed that not only is the universe accelerating, but the very es ..read more

When it comes to climate change, answers can be difficult to nail down. Will the world reach net zero in time? What does a climate change future even look like? Will the changes come in my lifetime – or is it my kids or grandkids who will suffer? With every uncertainty, you can feel your head sink a little deeper into the sand... What is it about our lives, and the way we do, or don’t, think about climate change, that makes it so difficult to change our behaviors? And what’s being done to help motivate people in high-risk areas to prepare? This episode features:  Ray Langenfelds – Atmosp ..read more

As we struggle to reduce carbon emissions, environmental markets are creating a world where money really does grow on trees. But does putting a price on nature, and forcing the economy to value the things it’s always taken for granted, really work? And can it help us prepare for climate change? This episode features:  Miri (Margaret) Raven – Senior Scientia Lecture, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture Megan Evans – Senior Lecturer, UNSW Canberra William Glamore – Professor of Environmental Engineering , UNSW Engineering   Tommy Wiedmann – Professor of Sustainability, UNSW Engineeri ..read more

We. Love. Heat. Bring on the summer! Right? But as each month sees another heat record broken, should we start thinking about heat differently? What’s happening on a local and global level to prepare us for extreme weather events – and for a much sweatier future? This episode features:  Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick – Professor of Climate Science, ANU Lan Ding – Associate Professor of Built Environment, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture   William Craft – Sustainable Design Researcher, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture Shayne Gary – Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, UNSW ..read more

The Earth is cracking under the weight of our expectations, with growth held up as the economic north star. Meanwhile, wildlife populations are collapsing, the ocean is acidifying, and carbon emissions are still increasing. Despite everything we know about what’s wrong and what to do about it, we cling to our current way of life. Civilizations have collapsed before. Could it be happening again? And if it is, what can we be doing to prepare for it? This episode features:  Richard Kingsford – Professor of Ecology and Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Science Tommy Wiedmann ..read more

In the popular imagination, preppers are busy hoarding tinned food in their bunkers while they wait for the end of the world. But is this what most prepping looks like? And is climate change as bad as all that?  The bin fire of the last few years has ramped the eco-anxiety up to an 11. But as we go about our lives, studying, feeding our families, paying off our debts and waiting for the next season of The Great British Bake Off, have we all put our heads a little too far into the sand? Sure, we’re all worried, but we can’t be thinking about it all the time, much less heading to the hills ..read more

Get ready to confront the uncomfortable truths about climate change with investigative humorist and climate action enthusiast Dan Ilic in Preppers, a podcast by the UNSW Centre for Ideas that dives deep into the realities we often avoid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more