In Conversation

Analysis and Comment (36)

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Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz talks with one of our academic experts about the changing role of universities. Cambridge University

Leszek Borysiewicz and Lynn Meek In Conversation – full transcript

By Lynn Meek, University of Melbourne

To listen to the conversation between Leszek Borysiewicz and Lynn Meek, please see the link below. An edited transcript is available here. Lynn Meek: Hello, I’m Professor Lynn Meek from the LH Martin…
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Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, VC of Cambridge University, discusses all things higher education in our latest In Conversation. Cambridge University

In Conversation: Cambridge VC urges unis to help third world

By Lynn Meek, University of Melbourne

Cambridge University’s Vice Chancellor, Leszek Borysiewicz has been a pioneer in developing the world’s first cervical cancer vaccine. But now he’s turning his attention to a much more difficult task…
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Adam Bandt celebrating his 2010 election success as the federal member for Melbourne. Julian Smith/AAP

In Conversation: Douglas Hilton and Adam Bandt MP

By Douglas Hilton, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

Adam Bandt is the first Australian Greens MP to win a seat in the House of Representatives at a federal election. And while the seat of Melbourne, which takes in the inner suburbs and CBD of the nation…
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Adam Bandt is the first Australian Greens MP to win a seat in the House of Representatives at a federal election. Alan Porritt/AAP

Adam Bandt and Doug Hilton In Conversation – full transcript

By Douglas Hilton, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

Doug Hilton: I’m the director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and I have with me today Adam Bandt, the Greens' member for Melbourne. Why don’t you start by outlining your background…
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AAP/Lloyd Jones

In Conversation Jared Diamond: full transcript

By Peter Christoff, University of Melbourne

Peter Christoff: Your book, The World Until Yesterday, is really the third in a series on societies and their futures. Guns, Germs, and Steel was really a short history of everybody of the last 13,000…
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Jared Diamond has worked extensively in New Guinea, the foundation for his latest book on traditional societies and what they can teach us. AAP/Lloyd Jones

In Conversation with Jared Diamond: “Traditional societies are not frozen models of the past”

By Peter Christoff, University of Melbourne

American scientist and author Jared Diamond was recently in Australia promoting his 5th book The World Until Yesterday: What can we learn from traditional societies? Jared has worked extensively in New…
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An In Conversation between federal coalition MP Andrew Robb and the director of the Waler and Eliza Hall Institute, Doug Hilton. AAP Image/Alan Porritt

In Conversation Andrew Robb: full transcript

By Douglas Hilton, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

Doug Hilton: Welcome Andrew to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. This conversation between me, Doug Hilton, and Andrew Robb is part of The Conversation. So Andrew, it’s been really exciting in the…
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The research funding system needs to be changed to make it more efficient says coalition member Andrew Robb. AAP Image/Alan Porritt

In Conversation with Andrew Robb: research must ‘back our strengths’

By Douglas Hilton, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

It’s hard to argue with the importance of research, particularly medical research. It leads to breakthroughs and can change people’s lives for the better. But there are some crucial questions about how…
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UK lawyer Charlotte Harris, who represented phone hacking victims, said the police should have acted to protect the public. Photo © Mishcon de Reya; Used with permission. All rights reserved.

UK phone hacking victims' lawyer Charlotte Harris In Conversation: full transcript

By Rod Tiffen

Rod Tiffen: Charlotte Harris, thanks for getting together with us. We’re doing this interview when Lord Leveson — the Leveson Inquiry’s been one of the most major inquiries ever held into media in the…
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UK lawyer Charlotte Harris, whose clients included victims of the Murdoch phone hacking scandal, said the police should have done more to protect people. Photo © Mishcon de Reya; Used with permission. All rights reserved

UK phone hacking victims' lawyer Charlotte Harris: ‘The police were meant to be protecting us’

By Rod Tiffen

The ramifications of the UK phone hacking scandal, in which murder victims, journalists and politicians had their phones tapped, are still playing out. Last year the scandal sank the UK tabloid, The News…
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Terry Moran has called for the strengthening of the Australian Public Service. Alan Porritt / AAP

Terry Moran: time for an inquiry into the public service

By John Alford, Australia New Zealand School of Government

Terry Moran was Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2008 to 2011. He is now President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a governor of the Committee…
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Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd in parliament shortly after the 2010 federal election. AAP/Alan Porritt

Maxine McKew In Conversation: full transcript

By Dennis Altman, La Trobe University

Dennis Altman I’m going to start by quoting you when you say, talking about your career as a journalist, particularly a radio and television journalist, that “there was plenty of robust exchanges but my…
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Maxine McKew arrives to vote in the 2010 federal election. AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Rudd as ‘swift and bold in his vision as Whitlam’ says McKew

By Dennis Altman, La Trobe University

The Rudd government came to power in 2007 with the reforming zeal of Gough Whitlam’s team more than three decades before, but was ultimately betrayed by a self-serving and brutal ALP machine according…
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Finnish education leader Pasi Sahlberg discusses what works and what doesn’t in education. pasisahlberg.com

Finnish education guru Pasi Sahlberg: treat primary school teachers like doctors

By John Hattie, University of Melbourne

The Finnish education system is one of the best performing and most equitable in the OECD. With Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s promise to make Australia one of the best five performing countries for education…

Christine Milne In Conversation: full transcript

By David Bowman, University of Tasmania

David Bowman What I wanted to ask you is, in two years time, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be about 400 ppm. According to the Greens' policy documents, the world should have…
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For Brian Schmidt, and the rest of us, the universe is expanding. Enzo Amato

Brian Schmidt: in conversation

By Tim Dean

Professor Brian Schmidt was part of the team that won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics “for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe through observations of distant supernovae”. The consequences…
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Graeme Samuel and Stephen King: two of Australia’s most senior regulators sit down together for The Conversation.

Graeme Samuel: We’ve lost principled, analytical debate in this country

By Stephen King, Monash University

What happens when two of Australia’s best known former competition regulators sit down together and talk about the world? A wide-ranging discussion on the state of Australia’s political debate, xenophobia…
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Mark Scott, managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. AAP/Alan Porritt

Mark Scott on the future of your ABC

By Rod Tiffen

Welcome to In Conversation, our series of discussions between leading academics and major public figures in Australian life. In this instalment, Mark Scott, managing director of the Australian Broadcasting…
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Satyajit Das: “I think the democratic process and the politics of the world relies on a very fragile construct. One is trust. And trust relies on economic growth.” Supplied

Satyajit Das: Europe will have far-reaching consequences for everybody

By Kevin Davis, Australian Centre for Financial Studies

Welcome to the latest in our In Conversation series, between risk analyst and author Satyajit Das and Kevin Davis, Research Director of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies. Satyajit Das is an…
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Senator Arthur Sinodinos makes his maiden speech earlier this year. AAP/Alan Porritt

In Conversation: Senator Arthur Sinodinos

By Craig Mark, Kwansei Gakuin University

Welcome to this In Conversation between Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos and Macquarie University politics expert Craig Mark. Sinodinos is a political paradox: he’s the newest member of the Australian…
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Senator for South Australia Cory Bernardi has attracted controversy with some of his right wing views. www.corybernardi.com

In Conversation: Senator Cory Bernardi

By Timothy Lynch, University of Melbourne

Welcome to our In Conversation between Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi and Dr Timothy Lynch, lecturer in American politics at Melbourne University. Since being appointed to the Senate in 2006, the Senator…
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Sir Rod Eddington: unless the rail networks are right, Australia’s cities won’t work properly. Supplied

Sir Rod Eddington: ‘The infrastructure challenges are real’

By Peter Newman, Curtin University

Welcome to In Conversation; an ongoing series in which leading academics interview prominent public figures. In today’s instalment, Dr Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University, sits…
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Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser is ‘uneasy’ about Liberal leader Tony Abbott because he is unpredictable. AAP

Malcolm Fraser: ‘we have lost our way’

By Robyn Eckersley, University of Melbourne

Welcome to our “In Conversation” between former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and Melbourne University political scientist Professor Robyn Eckersley. First elected to Federal parliament in 1955, Fraser…
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Rob Oakeshott MP tells Professor John Warhurst why he decided to free himself from party constraints. AAP

Oakeshott on the treason of party discipline

By John Warhurst

For the latest in our In Conversation series, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University, John Warhurst spoke with the Independent member for the NSW seat of Lyne, Rob…
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Will Steffen (left) in conversation with academic Will Grant (right): “The misinformation campaign that’s been prominent in the media … really is having an impact.”

Will Steffen: phoney debate is over, now for the carbon policy

By Will J Grant

Welcome to “In Conversation”, our series of discussions between leading academics and major public figures in Australian life. Today, we’re In Conversation with the academic whose research informed the…

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