The Solutionists, with Mark Scott

Social media connects us to friends and family, and gives us an unprecedented window to the wider world. But how much do we really know about how social media, and the barons who run these platforms, shape our views and our communities? Former newspaper editor and current Meta advisor Alan Rusbridger sheds light on the question of whether social media is strengthening democracy – or strangling it. 

Social media is now an inextricable part of our lives. It provides many social goods: connection to friends and family; more touchpoints to the world previously available only via mass media. 

Yet the initial promise that social media might support democracy is souring, as increasing amounts of misinformation and disinformation flourish on these platforms. 

With distrust in both legacy media and social media on the rise, how do we stay informed and maintain a civil society? 

Alan Rusbridger is deeply interested in this question. Long-time editor-in-chief of The Guardian UK and current editor of Prospect Magazine, his achievements span traditional print media as well as The Guardian’s transition to a digital-first newspaper. A supporter of social media from its earliest days, Alan also serves on Meta’s Advisory Group. 

On a recent visit to Australia, Alan discussed nothing less than media and the future of democracy with Mark Scott in a live event at the University of Sydney. 

+++ 

It’s in the name, sure... But is AI really ‘intelligent’? Does it ‘think’? What do you know about how these tools were made, who owns them now, and who determines the way they work? How can you turn AI to best advantage in business and personal spheres? 

Now that AI’s on the tip of everyone’s tongues and offered as a service by almost every company you encounter, it’s time to examine your own relationship with the technology. 

Dr Sandra Peter wants to make technology work for people. Through her research at the intersection of business and cutting-edge technology at the University of Sydney Business School, Dr Peter explores where AI where it is at this moment, where came from, and invites you to think about how to harness AI in your own life – and where to consider placing limits. 

THE SOLUTIONISTS SUMMER THROWBACK: Heatwaves are an invisible killer, and they’re becoming more common.  

With another scorching summer already upon us, you need to know how to keep you and your family cool when temperatures soar. In this episode, originally published in 2023, heat expert Ollie Jay gives you a tour of his groundbreaking thermal ergonomics lab and teaches you how to stay safe during a heatwave. 

Ollie explains how extreme heat affects the human body and shares easy, cost-effective ways to stay cool without resorting to an air conditioner.  

+++ 

Who gets to tell the story of Australia?  

This is the question always at the forefront of Michael Dagostino’s mind. Michael’s the Director of Museums and Cultural Engagement at the University of Sydney, meaning he oversees its famous Chau Chak Wing museum. The museum houses tens of thousands of objects, all of which tell a story.  

But how does an object tell a story? And how does the way we collect and house them affect that story?  

Michael shares how art offered him a sense of place and identity as an outcast kid, and how he adopts the mindset of a journalist when curating an exhibition. You’ll also hear from Marika Duczynski, Chau Chak Wing’s Indigenous heritage curator, about her favourite objects in the museum and how they help her connect with women who lived in Sydney hundreds or even thousands of years ago.  

Where do your values come from? What do you care about, and why?  

If you're one of the growing number of non-religious people in Australia, you might find this question pretty hard to answer... Politics and philosophy professor Alexandre Lefebvre says that if this sounds like you, you might be living by a philosophy you didn't even know you had.  

Alex believes liberalism could be the source of your very soul. It isn't just about politics - it's actually the hidden operating system running in the background of modern life.  

Whether you're wrestling with big societal challenges or just trying to live a good life, Alex wants to offer you a new perspective on the values that guide our modern world.