Learn. Lead. Change. event
Inheriting the World
Join us in exploring the challenges and responsibilities we all face as we assume the role of inheritors of a rapidly changing world. Engage in meaningful dialogues about pressing global issues and empower individuals to become catalysts for positive change. Together, we can shape an equitable, resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.
Your event pass gets you access to any and all sessions! Browse the tabs below and find out more.
David Li Sound Gallery
Ask-an-Expert-style Q&A sessions, panel discussions or quick lectures based on faculty alignment plans: focuses on knowledge acquisition, personal development, and skill-building.
Catch Me If You Scam: Protecting Yourself From Digital Deception
4:30pm
Bastien Treptel, with Professor Monica Whitty
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, losses to scams have increased significantly in recent years because they're harder to spot than ever before. How are scammers leveraging emerging technology such as AI? Who are they targeting and why? How can young people looking for jobs or studying overseas spot scams and learn to protect themselves? What is our responsibility to community safety – how do we protect those around us, too?
When Art Meets Algorithms: Redefining Creativity in the Age of AI
5:30pm
Alana Kushnir, with Senior MUMA Curator Pip Wallis and Professor Jon McCormack
Artists and novelists are increasingly using AI to assist in the creation of their work, and not without controversy. Is it still art if a machine helps you churn it out? Are we outsourcing creativity? And are the people feeding AI systems cues to create art artists in their own way? What other surprising jobs could be replaced with AI? What's the potential of using technology as a co-creator? Can the latest developments in AI be used to support and enhance human performance and art?
Mind Shift: Psychedelic Pathways in Eating Disorder Recovery
6:30pm
With Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, Dr Paul Liknaitzky, Dr Claire Foldi and Professor Chris Langmead
Early clinical trials have shown that psychedelic medicines are a promising treatment for some mental disorders. Clinical trial work is to begin in Sydney in October 2023 with psilocybin in eating disorders (EDs) such as anorexia nervosa. Could psychedelics such as psilocybin offer a kind of “neurobiological reset” for people with EDs? What would treatment look like?
Alexander Theatre
Inspirational speakers (keynote): focuses on developing leadership skills, fostering innovation, and empowering individuals to drive positive change.
Housing SOS: Cracking the Code to Affordable Living
4:00pm
Victoria Devine, with PhD researcher Julian O'Shea
Melbourne is facing a housing and homelessness crisis, a situation mirrored across Australia. Approximately 6,000 affordable rental homes are needed to meet the current demand in the City of Melbourne. If we do nothing, it is estimated that this will quadruple to more than 23,000 by 2036. Who's affected? How did this happen? Can we fix it?
Mates for Change: Uniting Men to Eradicate Gender-Based Violence
5:15pm
Dave Kramer and Tarang Chawla, with Associate Professor Asher Flynn
What role do young people play in GBV prevention, response, and recovery? Is the Australian government’s plan to end GBV in one generation overly ambitious? Are there changes we can make to children’s education, environments, or support networks to help accomplish this?
Jobs 3.0: AI, Automation and the Future of Work
6:15pm
Dr Ben Hamer, with Professor Joanna Batstone
AI will significantly reshape the work world by transforming existing careers, creating new roles, and shifting the skillsets employers are seeking. What new opportunities lie ahead? What ethical challenges could the new technology pose? What will increased collaboration between humans and AI look like? How will we adapt to the workplace of tomorrow?
Out of the Rabbit Hole: Confronting Conspiracy Culture
7:15pm
Sam Koslowski, with Dr Alex Phelan, Dr Carlo Kopp and Dr Emily van der Nagel
Conspiracy theories can appear harmless enough, but when embraced by the wrong group, they can be downright dangerous. How do conspiracy theories originate? What's contributing to this culture of fear? Has social media and fake news made the problem worse? What are the real-life consequences of believing in them? Can we stop them?
The Count's
Workshops, panel discussions, debates: focuses on driving positive change by encouraging participants to actively participate and think critically to work towards exploring transformative solutions.
Beyond Selfies: Exploring Ethical Tourism
4:30pm
Gus Balbontin, with Dr Maureen Griffiths and Associate Professor Vicki Peel
How do we balance the economic needs of a community or region with the environmental impact of travel, or of building tourist attractions? What are the social, environmental, and economic impacts of tourism? What does it mean to be a responsible tourist?
Indigenous Australians: The Original Innovators
5:30pm
Shelley Ware and Joshua Waters, with Kayla Cartledge and Professor Chris Lawrence
Discover why co-designing Indigenous knowledge systems into education and technologies, and translating their STEM practices more widely, is critical for breaking new ground in realms such as healthcare, construction and space exploration – with the possibility of producing the world’s first Aboriginal astronaut.
Rewrites and Wrongs: A Literary Throwdown
6:30pm
Yumi Stynes, Damien Power and Annie Louey, with Associate Professor Michelle Smith and Senior Lecturer Matt Mitchell
Recently publishers have announced books by Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming and others are to be edited to be less offensive - What do the experts say? Is this a form of censorship or are these edits necessary to suit the times? Is the whole thing overblown and are these edits of very little importance?
The Count's
Join our Model UN to explore global climate action and how the UN operates.
- 2:00pm
- Associate Professor Susie Ho
As recently stated by UN Secretary Antonio Guterres - “The era of global boiling has arrived.” The world needs to agree to fund and implement transformational systemic action across all nations and the whole of the economy to secure Earth’s life support systems and mitigate the disastrous impacts of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable. But, how do we achieve this? This crisis cannot be solved by one country or region alone – it is a global issue, requiring unprecedented and comprehensive world cooperation. Whether you are interested in the United Nations, have a passion for environmental action or aspire to become an international youth leader–this event is for you! Participating in a Model UN is a great way to understand how global collaboration happens and is your window into how the UN operates.