Episodes
Saturated trees and carbon rationing
May 24 2020
New Australian research suggests trees may not be the carbon sponges we think they are. The findings compliment a larger international study that suggests the world’s major forests are saturated and will soon begin emitting, not absorbing carbon. Also, the Finish experiment where citizens are being given individual carbon allocations. It’s all about making carbon trading a very personal affair.
Locking down nature in order to liberate it
May 17 2020
There’s a serious campaign underway to have 30 per cent of the Earth designated as a giant conservation area. The target date is 2030. But that’s just the start. The scientists and environmentalists involved in the plan want to eventually lock down half the planet. It’s about protecting habitats and biodiversity. Cost and logistics are primary considerations. But they aren’t the only ones. Other issues at stake include increasing poverty and indigenous rights.
Insurance, resilience, risk
May 10 2020
The ongoing negative effects of climate change are putting stress on the global insurance market.
Are governance issues failing the Himalayas?
May 03 2020
The Himalayas are sometime called the earth’s “third pole”. They’re a vital source of water for a large chunk of the world’s population. But the local, national and international systems put in place to protect and manage human development in this vital ecosystem are failing. In this episode, Matt Smith travels to the Himalayas for Future Tense to gauge the size of the problem and possible solutions for safeguarding its future.
Can we have economic growth without increased resource consumption?
Apr 26 2020
MIT research scientist, Andrew McAfee, argues we need to rethink our assumptions about capitalism and the environment. Economic growth, he says, has been gradually decoupling from resource consumption. So, if capitalism survives this current crisis, we may need to adapt our understanding of the way it all works. We also hear from Annmaree O’Keeffe, from the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands Program, about the value of Australia’s international public broadcasting effort now that the Pacific ...more
The ongoing fight to save public broadcasting
Apr 19 2020
There’s arguably never been a more important time for public broadcasting. Amid the rise of disinformation, low public trust and diminishing newsrooms, independent journalism has a vital role to play in informing democracy and providing a check on power. But right across the world, public broadcasting is under attack as budgets are being stripped back. In this episode, we question why?
Poetry in motion
Apr 12 2020
In which ways is poetry being used in the modern world? And can the very human quality of poetry survive the development of non-human poets?
The politics of happiness and wellbeing
Apr 05 2020
Many Australians are dissatisfied with the narrow economic focus of politics, research by the University of Melbourne’s ANDI Project confirms. They want the progress of their society to be measured by a much broader range of factors, like health, environmental standards and youth wellbeing. They’re not alone. Across the globe there’s a growing movement to move “beyond GDP”, to start planning for the future based on wider models of societal progress.
How far are we from a nuclear fusion future?
Mar 28 2020
The hope of nuclear fusion is the dream of a fossil-fuel free future - of limitless baseload power. Enthusiasts say fusion offers all the benefits of nuclear energy without the dangers. In theory and in practice fusion energy is already a reality, but getting the economics right is proving much more difficult than imagined.
Blockchain Democracy, business advocacy and the return of human curation
Mar 21 2020
Blockchain is a much-hyped technology that underpins the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Enthusiasts believe its potential to transform other areas of business is huge. But what if Blockchain is really just a solution in search of a problem? Also in this episode: are businesses becoming political advocates? And why are we seeing a return from algorithmic to human curation?
Technology-intensive campaigning and computational propaganda
Mar 14 2020
Political campaigning is fast changing in the digital era. Elections are now being contested with data and algorithms. Parties see it as a great opportunity. Others see it as a threat to democracy. And the changes are now playing out in real time in the United States. Barack Obama was often referred to as the first Internet president, but Donald Trump is fast becoming the king of social media.
Shopping centres & the future for spending
Mar 07 2020
Australia is home to over 1,600 shopping centres, covering more than 26.5 million square metres. We are a nation that love to shop, but times are tough for these aging centres. Online retailers, limited millennial attention spans and old fashioned infrastructure are all putting the squeeze on the mall's market. This doesn't necessarily mean it's the end though, in fact shopping centres are evolving for the future - pulling out all the tricks, enticements and tech they can to ensure you keep sp...more
The Digital Welfare State
Feb 29 2020
A growing number of human rights academics and activists are worried that our notions of welfare in the democratic west are changing – and not for the better. They’re concerned that the tools of the digital era are being used to create a new form of welfare state directed against the poor and the disadvantaged, not in their interests.
Water banking, rain farming and other ways to safeguard against future drought
Feb 22 2020
Water banking involves the deliberate injection of surplus water into known aquifers. The idea is to repurpose the world’s many artesian basins as giant sustainable storage tanks - ones that can readily be drawn upon in times of drought. It’s just one of the ideas we explore in the second instalment of our two-part series on water conflict and management – the politics, the problems and the potential solutions.
Will the wars of the future really be fought over water?
Feb 15 2020
It’s a scarce resource and likely to get even more so. But is it causing an increase in political friction? The answer is yes… and no.
The competition delusion; and a call to nationalise big data
Feb 08 2020
Competition is often seen almost as a universal good. But economist Nicholas Gruen says a slavish adherence to making everything a competition is damaging our trust in public institutions. Also, the Belgian community trialling an ancient form of democracy. And if big data is made collectively, would nationalising it help to ensure the benefits are widely distributed?
Can the United Nations be reformed?
Feb 01 2020
The United Nations Secretariat is now one-year into a significant reform program aimed at making the organisation fit for purpose in the 21st Century. It’s being driven by Secretary General Antonio Guterres. In this program we look at what that package entails and what it might achieve. And we also examine the powerful role of the UN Security Council. Many believe it no longer reflects the realities of world power. So, can it be reformed?
Is the Liberal International Order in terminal decline?
Jan 25 2020
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has issued a dire warning about the state of international cooperation. The long-standing international order, he says, is dividing and that threatens future global stability. So, are his concerns valid? How is the international order likely to change over coming decades? And what practical steps can be taken to reinforce the global rule of law?
Counterculture, consumerism and the far right
Jan 18 2020
Countercultural movements, like Occupy Wall Street, are meant to be future-focussed — revolutionary even. So why do they often fade into commercialism? Are they simply a function of consumer capitalism? If so, what future do they have? And must they always be progressive?
Pencil towers and issues around urban inequality and density
Jan 11 2020
Critics say that the proliferation of modern, wafer-thin skyscrapers are symbols of rising urban inequality. Also: Are levels of density in our cities making us ill? And what's the impact of short-term letting on urban affordability?
Future doom and the rose-coloured past
Jan 04 2020
Why do we see the past through rose-coloured glasses, but not the future? Psychologists tell us that human beings have a tendency to be fearful and pessimistic about the future, while simultaneously romanticising the past. If the theory is true, it might help explain the difficulties we often have in making informed decisions and effectively planning for the future.
Prescient Predictions: 1984; Brave New World; and Network
Dec 28 2019
The dystopian best-seller 1984 was published exactly seventy years ago. Its influence has been profound. But does it really speak to today’s politico-cultural environment?
Street art – the next space race?
Dec 21 2019
Street artists are busy commandeering as many city surfaces as their paints will allow, authorities are trying to neutralise the threat, while advertising agencies are keen to clone the potency of hand painted art.
Our changing media environment and a call to “decomputerise”
Dec 14 2019
In this episode, we look ahead to the news and broader media environment in 2020 and pressing issues for local content in a globalised world. We also hear about the need to “decomputerise” in order to decarbonise.
NATO’s nadir and how best to move forward
Dec 07 2019
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, has seen better days. Historian and military analyst, Andrew Bacevich, once described it as an organisation that privileges “nostalgia over self-awareness”. But most critics, Bacevich included, want NATO refocused and retooled. So what needs to change in order to restore the alliance as an effective military force? What role should the United States play in such a reshaping? And how can NATO be strengthened without increasing tensions with Russia?
Modern Monetary Theory and its challenge to Neoliberalism
Nov 30 2019
After more than four decades of dominance, free-market capitalism is facing a challenge. Its rival, the rather blandly named Modern Monetary Theory, promises to return economic planning to a less ideological footing. It’s also keen to strike a blow against the “surplus fetish” that many economists now blame for declining public services and growing inequality.
Digital Technology and the lonely
Nov 23 2019
Digital technology is a new tool to mitigate loneliness amount older people. And find out about the risk associated with data "re-identification".
Depression, anxiety and social media
Nov 16 2019
What is the relationship between depression and digital technology?
Artificial intelligence, ethics and education
Nov 09 2019
AI holds enormous potential for transforming the way we teach, but first we need to define what kind of education system we want. Also, the head of the UK’s new Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation warns democratic governments that they urgently need an ethics and governance framework for emerging technologies.
Controlled Environmental Agriculture
Nov 02 2019
Controlled Environmental Agriculture promises to be cleaner and greener. It’s focussed on technology and it’s essentially about bringing food production closer to the point of consumption. We examine the potential and the pitfalls.
The Privacy Paradox
Oct 26 2019
Future Tense a look at how we might be revealing more private details online than we think and the value in the information that’s being mined - and you’ll hear how you could protect your data by actually revealing more than you already are.
Planning for a problematic future
Oct 19 2019
We all know the value of planning, but in a complex, complicated and often confounding world it can be difficult knowing how to start. Scenario Planning is planning tool for uncertain situations - find out what it entails and how it might benefit organisations and businesses.
Great Green Walls – holding back the deserts
Oct 12 2019
Desertification and land degradation affect the lives of around three billion people, according to UN estimates. Two ambitious projects aim at halting desertification and returning soil to productivity: the Great Green Wall project in northern Africa; and the Green Great Wall initiative in China.
Offshore architecture and marine urban sprawl
Oct 05 2019
There’s a new emphasis on land reclamation and building floating structures for everything from accommodation to marine farming to energy generation. Re-defining the use of the ocean is part of the emerging “blue economy” – one that can be both economically beneficial and environmentally responsible. How well can these often contradictory goals be reconciled?
The Psychology of Silicon Valley
Sep 29 2019
To understand new technology we need to comprehend the social, cultural and economic influences of the developers. Also, making direct comparisons between the human mind and Artificial Intelligence is counterproductive.
3D printing and the “plateau of productivity”
Sep 22 2019
When the hype around 3D printing was at its peak, it was confidently predicted that every household would soon have a personal printer. That’s not the way it turned out. But 3D printing is coming back and it’s slowly making its way toward the verdant “plateau of productivity”.
The creeping militarisation of our police
Sep 15 2019
Police officers in many western countries now dress like paramilitaries. Special police units are being trained and organised along military lines and issued with military-grade weapons. Is this creeping “militarisation” justified and what are the future implications for the effectiveness of policing in democratic societies?
Strengthening public interest journalism while defending media freedom
Sep 08 2019
A tale of two media environments: in the US, journalistic freedom is increasingly under threat from demonising rhetoric and the violent personal targeting of reporters; while in Ethiopia, the country’s new leader has opened the gate to press freedom. What can we learn from both experiences?
Google’s future city; the space-wide web; and how the ancients strategized for the future
Sep 01 2019
Get an update on Google’s controversial proposal to take over the construction and regulation of a section of Toronto; learn about how the ancient Athenians used Tragedy to guide their future decision-making and follow the rush to develop low-orbit satellites to secure the future of the Internet.
Future doom and the rose-coloured past
Aug 25 2019
Why do we see the past through rose-coloured glasses, but not the future? Psychologists tell us that human beings have a tendency to be fearful and pessimistic about the future, while simultaneously romanticising the past. If the theory is true, it might help explain the difficulties we often have in making informed decisions and effectively planning for the future.
With nature against climate change
Aug 18 2019
Nature Based Solutions is an environmental approach that seeks to counter the negative effects of climate change by working with nature.
Netflix's decline and why stricter regulation could strengthen the tech giants
Aug 11 2019
Netflix dominates online TV streaming, but for how long? Also, Cory Doctorow on how more government regulation could inadvertently make the tech giants even stronger.
Ensuring a classical future
Aug 04 2019
The world of classical music is changing. Some are predicting the demise of orchestral events. Others see opportunity in social media and a new sense of engagement between the audience and musicians.
Counterculture, consumerism and the far right
Jul 28 2019
Countercultural movements, like Occupy Wall Street, are meant to be future-focussed — revolutionary even. So why do they often fade into commercialism? Are they simply a function of consumer capitalism? If so, what future do they have? And must they always be progressive?
Western spies face a difficult future
Jul 21 2019
The CIA’s former counterintelligence chief warns Western spy agencies are being “overwhelmed” by their adversaries. And new surveillance technologies could spell the death of the traditional agent-in-the-field. The future of espionage looks problematic indeed.
Outsourcing, automation and the messiness of global labour
Jul 14 2019
Automation and outsourcing are dirty words for many people in Western countries worried about their future employment prospects. Developing countries are seen to be the major beneficiaries of off-shore labour, with multinationals hoovering up increased profits. But the reality is a lot more complex and even messy. Now, even developing countries are starting to feel the pain.
Prescient Predictions: 1984; Brave New World; and Network
Jul 07 2019
The dystopian best-seller 1984 was published exactly seventy years ago. Its influence has been profound. But does it really speak to today’s politico-cultural environment?
How to ensure free speech; and the EU's new copyright directive
Jun 30 2019
Many Western governments continue to struggle with free speech. It’s not that they’re necessarily against it, it’s just that they don’t know how to effectively regulate out the offensive stuff.
Emotions, relationships & technology
Jun 23 2019
Our emotions are being manipulated, hacked and shared like never before. So what does this mean for their future, our relationships and the technology that's reading them?
The elusive edge of Innovation
Jun 16 2019
Are entrepreneurs the great innovators we’re told they are? What if the ideal of the lone genius is simply a myth? Innovation is a buzz term that’s become so over-used as to be almost meaningless. It’s time to be more innovative in our understanding of innovation.
Corruption: stealing the future
Jun 09 2019
Corruption exists in every country in the world. It’s estimated that around $US2 trillion is lost each year to bribes globally. It not only corrodes societies, it also steals their future potential. Yet we struggle to understand its nature and how to combat it.
Capitalism without profit
Jun 02 2019
Some of the world’s largest and most influential companies make no profit. They are monopolistic in intent and very future focussed - they favour growth over profitability. So, do they represent a new stage of capitalism, or a dangerous aberration?
Turning aircon into a climate fighter; Open-source seeds; Otlet; and the truth about tiny houses
May 26 2019
Hear about a plan to turn the air-conditioners of the world into a network of carbon-sucking fuel producers. Learn about a new licencing system for open-source seeds. Get the low down on who really lives in “tiny houses” and why.
Robots in the classroom and news on Wikipedia
May 19 2019
Artificial intelligence is now even entering the classroom - where does this take us? Also, Wikipedia’s role in the dissemination of news – a robust platform for fact? Or an invitation to constant revisionism?
As the Internet divides
May 12 2019
Analysts say that many countries and companies will soon be forced to make a decision between the Chinese version of the Internet and the liberal, Western model - both models have a very different underlaying philosophy and understanding of governance.
Have we stopped evolution?
May 05 2019
Advances in technology and medicine have been so great in recent decades that some scientists now believe we’ve altered the nature of evolution for plants and animals. Some even claim that it’s effectively stopped in humans.
Noise - does it have a future?
Apr 28 2019
Exponential urbanisation and automation look like making the future an increasingly rowdy place. We explore our changing attitudes to noise.
How to trick AI, plus the online platform centred on encouragement
Apr 21 2019
A lot of time and money is being spent trying to ensure the security of Artificial Intelligence systems, but what if you’re interested in tricking the system, not hacking it?
Ancestry, DNA and the Project of the Self
Apr 14 2019
Commercial DNA research is booming. People are motivated not just to check for disease indicators but to search out unknown relatives and lost ancestors.
The refugee hackathon
Apr 07 2019
Once the preserve of tech companies and government agencies, hackathons are now being employed in the community sector to quickly develop and test blue-sky ideas and create innovation in the social welfare world.
Med tech – simulation and immersion
Mar 30 2019
Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service has been taken over by dummies (mannequins to be precise). It’s all part of the development of an immersive training facility to counter the tyrannies of distance.
Pencil towers and issues around urban inequality and density
Mar 23 2019
Critics say that the proliferation of modern, wafer-thin skyscrapers are symbols of rising urban inequality. Also: Are levels of density in our cities making us ill? And what's the impact of short-term letting on urban affordability?
The news on smart speakers; the podcast push; and bringing flying cars down to Earth
Mar 16 2019
Voice-activated speakers are mostly being used to listen to music and check the weather. The Reuters Institute’s, Nic Newman, thinks that’s about to change. Also, have we just entered the “golden age” of podcasts?
Can free public transport save our cities?
Mar 09 2019
Luxembourg is just about to make its public transport free. The first country (albeit a small one) to do so. But do the promises of a cleaner, less congested urban environment really stack-up?
Does the Meritocratic ideal have merit?
Mar 02 2019
An emphasis on merit is often seen as the answer to inequality. Some argue merit should be used to guide all forms of political, economic and social progress. But who determines what is meritorious? And is it possible to build a genuinely meritocratic state?
All at sea - mapping, mining and Arctic shipping
Feb 23 2019
Only about nine per cent of the ocean floor has been mapped using high-definition technology. But a new global initiative aims to change that. It’s called the Seabed 2030 Project. Also, how viable is seabed mining? And will climate change see the Arctic turned into a major shipping route?
Goodbye Google+, the end of privacy, and once were warriors
Feb 16 2019
Google+ will soon be shut down. So why did the social network fail? And what does its demise tell us about social platforms in general? Also, understanding the real history of our current data privacy dilemma; and why the tech titans of today look a lot like the railway barons of old.
Street art – the next space race?
Feb 09 2019
Street artists are busy commandeering as many city surfaces as their paints will allow, authorities are trying to neutralise the threat, while advertising agencies are keen to clone the potency of hand painted art.
Future warfare
Feb 02 2019
Autonomous weapons are on the march. Response speeds are everything. But in the heat of battle, ultrafast algorithmic decision-making can prove a curse, not a blessing.
What future Antarctica?
Jan 26 2019
It’s a golden time for Antarctic research, with more and more countries taking a direct interest in the great southern continent. But suspicions abound as to the real motivations of key Antarctic players.
Who would want to be a diplomat?
Jan 19 2019
The future of diplomacy: Backroom manoeuvrings are giving way to public forums. And carefully laid plans can come unstuck with a single tweet.
A not so diplomatic future
Jan 12 2019
Diplomacy is often viewed as a way of smoothing the friction points between states, but international relations are becoming increasingly assertive and highly personal.
Faked reality
Jan 05 2019
Are the systems we’ve developed to enhance our lives now impairing our ability to distinguish between reality and falsity? Can teaching of ethics and critical thinking help lead us out of the shadowlands?
Are rituals still needed in a world mediated through digital devices?
Dec 29 2018
Are rituals still needed in a world mediated through digital devices? Rituals exist in our everyday life, as a way of helping us to make sense of the world.
The GIF as an increasingly important communication tool
Dec 22 2018
The GIF, this little looped video, is often misunderstood as a component of modern communication. It has an important role to play in making modern digital discussion smoother.
Data trust, Computational Law and a “Google city” update
Dec 15 2018
We hear about the EU-funded project Counting as a Human Being in the Era of Computational Law. We get up-to-date on a new data trust mark for Australian researchers. And we take you back to the Quayside 'Google' project in Toronto.
Making water out of thin air
Dec 08 2018
More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, but only around 2.5 percent is drinkable. In this episode we talk to various scientists engaged in making water out of thin air.
Trams, bots and solar roads
Dec 01 2018
A cross between a bus and light rail promises better transport; humans are sounding more like bots online; and solar panels on roads might deliver more hype than energy.
Populism and its relationship with social media
Nov 24 2018
What role has social media played in the rise of populist politics? Also, what responsibility should technology companies have in preventing the misuse of social media by political extremists?
Designing technology to increase inclusion for the disabled
Nov 17 2018
Inclusive design isn’t just about meeting the needs of the disabled, it’s about opening-up the possibility of creating better products and services for everyone.
Reflections on the smart phone
Nov 10 2018
Smart phones have become an essential part of our lives. But are they so familiar, we sometimes underestimate their importance? The role they’ve played in helping to shape our interests and interactions?
Transitioning to a new economy
Nov 03 2018
Parts of Australia were built on mining and coal-fired power-generation. Then they lost those industries. Future Tense looks as innovative ways to move forward.
The rapid growth of e-sports
Oct 27 2018
E-sports – competitive video gaming – is set to leave traditional performance sport in its wake. Whether to recognise e-sports as a real sport is not the main issue any more; the main challenge is to create working governance structures.
Future of reading
Oct 20 2018
How do you read? And how will you be reading in the future? Writers, journalists and publishers discuss the changing digital and literary world and how it could look in the years to come.
Listening and responding
Oct 13 2018
Future Tense looks at the seemingly lost art of listening - listening, not just hearing! And what being responsive can mean in the modern world.
Getting serious about drones
Oct 06 2018
It is time to put aside the novelty aspect of unmanned aerial vehicles and start designing domestic drones that are fit for purpose. But how do you regulate a technology that has so many different uses and such varying capacities?
Ensuring a classical future
Sep 30 2018
The world of classical music is changing. Some are predicting the demise of orchestral events. Others see opportunity in social media and a new sense of engagement between the audience and musicians.
Europe’s time machine; solar geo-engineering; and how to build a better bridge
Sep 23 2018
A massive data project is underway in Europe. It aims to create a kind of “Google map of the past” – making the minutia of history as accessible as today's social media. Also, the results of a study into geo-engineering and agriculture; and a new construction method for building bridges.
Food, ageing and the future
Sep 16 2018
Across the western world populations are ageing. And that means what we eat needs to change in order to give us the best possible future.
We need to talk about Facebook
Sep 09 2018
Three perspectives on the power of Facebook and content platforms. Was Facebook’s current form inevitable? Can it be “constitutionalised”? And, understanding content moderation.
AI, populism and the threat to Human Rights
Sep 02 2018
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used for decision making, and there are now fears about how that might impact on human rights.
Tall timber tales
Aug 26 2018
Cross-laminated timber is becoming a construction staple and the towers of tomorrow may soon be predominantly built of wood. It's cheaper and faster.
Space Force, space assets
Aug 19 2018
Many countries now see great economic potential in space activity. Competition is increasing. Are we moving away from the notion that space is for all humankind? And is conflict in space inevitable?
The role of humans in the technological age
Aug 12 2018
Forget the humans versus machine dichotomy. Our relationship with technology is far more complicated than that. To understand AI, first we need to appreciate the role humans play in shaping it.
Augmented eternity and the potential of prediction
Aug 05 2018
With big data and algorithms you could extend your 'virtual self' beyond the grave. And could meeting your future self help change your current behaviour?
Health data risks; the extended mind; and the Synthetic Age
Jul 29 2018
US research says e-health data is particularly vulnerable to attack. The theory of the Extended Mind – should our tools be classified as a part of cognition. And forget the Anthropocene, we’re entering the Synthetic Age.
Who would want to be a diplomat?
Jul 22 2018
The future of diplomacy: Backroom manoeuvrings are giving way to public forums. And carefully laid plans can come unstuck with a single tweet.
A not so diplomatic future
Jul 15 2018
Diplomacy is often viewed as a way of smoothing the friction points between states, but international relations are becoming increasingly assertive and highly personal.
Banning plastic may not be good for the future
Jul 08 2018
Even those who campaign against the overuse of plastic, argue for a more nuanced understanding of its role in our lives. Future Tense looks at these nuances.
The implications of going cashless
Jul 01 2018
The advantages of going cashless are many and well known. But in the race to a completely cashless future, what do we put at risk and who benefits most?
Alternative forms of body disposal
Jun 24 2018
Interesting alternatives to current burial practices include freeze-drying and shattering a corpse; and dissolving bodies in purpose-built alkaline washing-machines.
The virtue of sharing
Jun 17 2018
Let's look at the virtue of sharing: How could sharing shape our future, and what do we stand to lose if we refuse to share?
The Tyranny of Metrics; and the Dark Web
Jun 10 2018
Could a fixation with metrics distract and divert us from the real work at hand? And how bad is the Dark Web - really?
Good enough, the EU’s data protection regulation and what CryptoKitties can tell us about the future of art
Jun 03 2018
"Good enough" solutions are damaging our ability to solve the major global problems of the world. And blockchain is revolutionising digital art.
Putting the theory of big data into practice – on a massive scale!
May 27 2018
In Canada, Google is set to re-develop and manage a large area of downtown Toronto. In China, the Communist Party government has been running trials on a personal rating scheme for all Chinese citizens.
Forging influence – the Chinese Government's attack on democracy
May 20 2018
Clive Hamilton says that the Communist Party leadership in Beijing has begun to subtly, and not so subtly, influence the political and social affairs of democratic nations.
Activism that’s less aggressive and far more persuasive and persistent
May 13 2018
Many believe that the future of activism relies on quiet persistence, targeted political involvement and an attitude that refuses to “look away”.
With nature against climate change
May 06 2018
Nature Based Solutions is an environmental approach that seeks to counter the negative effects of climate change by working with nature.
The value of rituals in a digital world
Apr 29 2018
Are rituals still needed in a world mediated through digital devices?
What happened to the “future of aviation”?
Apr 22 2018
We look at the political manoeuvrings of the major manufacturers, emerging competition from new players, and efforts to make the industry climate friendly.
Have we lost our sense of reality?
Apr 15 2018
Are the systems we’ve developed to enhance our lives now impairing our ability to distinguish between reality and falsity?
New insights about what happened at Pompeii
Apr 08 2018
How do you correctly interpret a site that was initially unearthed so long ago? Modern archaeology provides new tools to chip away at the secret.
Warm data, innovative electric transport and “fossil free steel”
Apr 01 2018
Green innovation comes in many forms. And promising project don't have to be big, they only have to make a start.
Facebook’s about-face and what it means for the future of news
Mar 24 2018
News organisations are struggling to engage with online readers and even “digital first” darlings, like Vice and Buzzfeed, are now losing profit and shedding staff.
Catching up with the Jetsons: cities in 2050
Mar 17 2018
What will future cities look like? How will they function and—importantly—how do we keep them focussed on human need?
NATO’s nadir and how best to move forward
Mar 10 2018
What needs to change in order to restore the alliance as an effective military force?
Disrupting the disruptors
Mar 03 2018
Has our contemporary embrace of disruption become a problem rather than a solution?
Can the UN Sustainable Development Goals work?
Feb 24 2018
And how will Australian aid shape the future of the Pacific?
A new player and the effectiveness of overseas aid
Feb 17 2018
Future Tense looks at the rise of China as a mega-donor and efforts to improve global aid transparency and effectiveness.
At work with digital media
Feb 10 2018
In the race to take advantage of new technological possibilities in the workplace, is a focus on rights and responsibilities being neglected?
The GIF as an increasingly important visual communication tool
Feb 03 2018
The GIF, this little looped video, is often misunderstood as a component of modern communication.
Three Great Potentials – China’s growing international role
Jan 27 2018
We take a look at three sectors in which China is beginning to dominate: trade, artificial intelligence and energy.
How to problem solve - the ultimate problem
Jan 20 2018
Neuroscientist Robert Burton reckons our brains simply aren’t up to tackling the problems of the complexity of modern life. Could collective intelligence help?
What future democracy?
Jan 13 2018
Is democracy as we know it doomed? And could there be alternative forms of political representation?
Chatting with heretics
Jan 06 2018
Moving forward isn’t just about denouncing fake news and ignorance, it’s also about rethinking some of the assumptions we have around the ways in which we communicate and debate.
Is happiness vastly overrated?
Dec 30 2017
The ‘cult’ of happiness could be damaging to business performance and the sanity of employees. And research suggests that maintaining a level of pessimism in the workplace is actually beneficial to maintaining a corporate edge.
Animals and technology
Dec 23 2017
Digital technology is opening up new relationships between humans and animals – instead of alienating us from nature as in the past.
AI, algorithmic decision making, ethics and the under-representation of women in tech
Dec 16 2017
Ethical principles for algorithmic decision making; more women in the tech industry; inclusion in AI and design - these of all issues of increasing significance in the future.
How to tell the good mental health apps from the bad
Dec 09 2017
There are more than 10,000 mental health apps on the market, but only a fraction have been scientifically evaluated.
Depression, anxiety and social media
Dec 02 2017
What is the relationship between depression and digital technology?
The future of war and reassessing the digital strategy of ISIS
Nov 25 2017
Are old expectations and strategies prolonging our military conflicts? And is ISIS winning the cyber war?
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain
Nov 18 2017
Cryptocurrencies enable us to transfer money with no fees and no bank, instantly. This is just the beginning of what digital currencies and blockchain technology can do.
The need for cyber insurance; identifying and tracking drones; and building tiny houses for refugees
Nov 11 2017
Are cyber insurance policies too complicated? Could identification technology prevent drones from flying into areas they shouldn't? And could private gardens help solve the refugee housing crisis in Europe?
Designing technology to increase inclusion for the disabled
Nov 04 2017
Inclusive design isn’t just about meeting the needs of the disabled, it’s about opening-up the possibility of creating better products and services for everyone.
Have universities lost their way in the rush to appear corporate?
Oct 28 2017
Public universities increasingly look and sound like corporations. But is it time to refocus on teaching priorities?
Activism that’s less aggressive and far more persuasive and persistent
Oct 21 2017
Many believe that the future of activism relies on quiet persistence, targeted political involvement and an attitude that refuses to “look away”.
Muslim start-ups, time crystals and a second chance for online comments
Oct 14 2017
Islam-focussed start-ups often find it difficult to attract venture capital. We’ll explore the reasons why and the potential for development.
Perspectives on Privacy
Oct 07 2017
It’s a “wicked” problem: how to safeguard individual privacy in a world that now runs on the trade of personal data.
Conformity as a product, not just a process
Sep 30 2017
The franchise model is on the rise and it’s moving beyond fast food and coffee outlets. We ask why? Is there more to it than a simple secret love of conformity?
The smart home as a safer space
Sep 24 2017
As technology has become more sophisticated, its use by the perpetrators of domestic violence has only increased. But the Smart Home also has the potential to make the home a safer place.
Fishing for better food solutions
Sep 17 2017
Future Tense highlights several innovative projects designed to help build fish farming systems that are green, clean and more efficient.
Robot cops, Solar paint and Solar roads
Sep 10 2017
We are increasingly being policed by robots. What are the implications? And what's the latest in solar technology?
The future of surfing
Sep 03 2017
Surfers now attract multi-million dollar sponsors and surfing is to become an Olympic discipline. But how will this change the sport?
Human rights and the archiving opportunities and challenges of the digital world
Aug 27 2017
The sheer scope and volume of data now available has seen human rights archivists forced to rethink the way they do things.
Robots, AI and ethics
Aug 20 2017
Why robotics needs to be as much about ethics, accountability and psychology as technology.
Throwing rocks at the Google bus
Aug 13 2017
Does the digital world fall short of what it initially promised?
A future of reform, not retribution
Aug 06 2017
Prisons of the future focus on rehabilitation - not retribution. And what if new technology could keep offenders in their own homes and prevent them from committing new crimes?
Cruising into the future - and the true cost of living digital
Jul 30 2017
The cruise line industry is booming. The bigger the boats, the larger the profits. But what, if any, are the engineering and environmental limits?
How to make spaghetti bolognese
Jul 23 2017
Social researcher and author Rebecca Huntley uses the recipe for this very popular and accessible dish to highlight the varied threats to our future food supply from global climate change.
Animals and technology
Jul 16 2017
Digital technology is opening up new relationships between humans and animals – instead of alienating us from nature as in the past.
One Health, many threats
Jul 09 2017
The “One Health” movement is about understanding the connection between the human condition and the health of the environment.
The problem with “humanity”, a museum of failure and cracking a medieval code
Jul 02 2017
Failure, disaster and challenges - it's all part of human nature and the future.
Dynamic pricing - and should AI be granted “legal personhood”?
Jun 25 2017
Algorithms use your data to determine the maximum you as an individual are prepared to pay products and services. And - should Artificial Intelligence be granted legal rights?
How to problem solve - the ultimate problem
Jun 18 2017
Neuroscientist Robert Burton reckons our brains simply aren’t up to tackling the problems of the complexity of modern life. Could collective intelligence help?
What future democracy?
Jun 11 2017
Is democracy as we know it doomed? And could there be alternative forms of political representation?
Unions, freelance workers and Codetermination
Jun 04 2017
What can unions do to transform themselves to meet the new realities of the 21st century?
Unions and the future of employee representation
May 28 2017
Australia is now one of the least unionised countries in the OECD. What's behind the union movement's decline and what factors impede its future?
Pop-up culture
May 21 2017
Do temporary outlets suit our social media times and are they the perfect mid-point between the online experience and traditional bricks and mortar?
Chatting with heretics
May 14 2017
Moving forward isn’t just about denouncing fake news and ignorance, it’s also about rethinking some of the assumptions we have around the ways in which we communicate and debate.
Hyperloops and circular runways
May 07 2017
High speed trains travelling in a vacuum tube and planes that take off from a donut-shaped runway – rethinking the way we travel.
Building Wellness
Apr 30 2017
Building Wellness - it's a new trend aiming to ensure that the buildings we work and live in actively improve human health and well-being.
The 24-hour city
Apr 23 2017
Could a 24-hour economy improve your quality of life? Edwina Stott takes a look at our perceptions of the night, and how round-the-clock neighbourhoods could look and function.
Your personal brand
Apr 16 2017
Could you be sued for your tattoo? Is a career in sport now about branding over athleticism? The art of personal branding is becoming increasingly complicated.
Talking with machines
Apr 09 2017
Voice operated devices and software are popping up everywhere. Is the nature of computer-human interaction changing?
The end of ownership, iFixit and real-time encryption
Apr 02 2017
If your car won’t work without the software that controls the engine, does it really make sense to talk of owning the vehicle? And what if you could repair your smartphone, but you're not allowed to?
A new age of discovery, cardboard gliders and the Living Transport Lab
Mar 25 2017
We're discovering new species at an accelerating rate. The disposable cardboard glider or the living transport system? Not quite, they're something completely different.
What do we mean by innovation?
Mar 18 2017
Innovation, has become an important part of the political and business lexicon. But is our definition of innovation simply too technology focussed and too business-centric?
Augmented eternity and the potential of prediction
Mar 11 2017
Would you like to extend your 'virtual self' beyond the grave? And could meeting your future self help change your current behaviour?
Witnessing, death and memory
Mar 04 2017
Social media is old enough now that it’s had to incorporate the reality of death: personal profiles are turned into memorial sites; recordings serve as a last avenue for goodbyes and images increasingly make us a witness to death itself.
From before the cradle to after the grave – the power of the image
Feb 25 2017
From ultrasound screen shots to online memorial sites, the image reflects our future potential, our current existence and our memory.
Time, play and a word from Lord Russell
Feb 18 2017
Find out why play is not just unstructured activity and why we are so obsessed with time. And get some old advice for living in the modern world.
Is happiness vastly overrated?
Feb 11 2017
The ‘cult’ of happiness could be damaging to business performance and the sanity of employees. And research suggests that maintaining a level of pessimism in the workplace is actually beneficial to maintaining a corporate edge.
Poetry in motion
Feb 04 2017
In which ways is poetry being used in the modern world? And can the very human quality of poetry survive the development of non-human poets?
Agnotology: understanding our ignorance
Jan 28 2017
We're all complicit in spreading ignorance. And unless we understand the forces that actively generate ignorance we have little hope of overcoming it.
Re-imagining algae
Jan 21 2017
Algae could be the food and fuel source of the future. And you can even make surfboards out of the stuff!
Plants and preservation
Jan 14 2017
Seed banks around the world aim to preserve the genetic basis of plant life in order to help humans adapt to future global climate change. We talk with several people involved in such endeavours, and we also meet American David Milarch who gives us a lesson in how to clone a giant Californian Redwood.
Underestimated plants
Jan 07 2017
A new field of research called Plant Neurobiology states that plants are intelligent - in their own way.
Art and the Connected Future
Dec 31 2016
What role do traditional galleries and new online social platforms play in progressing digital art and serving the interests and needs of artists in the connected age?
Attention / distraction
Dec 24 2016
How do we embrace the benefits of a world run on the power of attention/distraction without sending ourselves crazy or constantly diminishing our ability to get jobs done?
Automating the everyday
Dec 17 2016
Automation isn’t just related to the factory floor or the supermarket checkout, it’s an essential part of all aspects of our digital lives.
Mini-brains revisited; the power of infographics; and future-focussed decision making
Dec 10 2016
Is there a possible link between the schizophrenic brain and diet? What's the future of data visualisation? And how can you optimise your decision-making?
How to make spaghetti bolognaise
Dec 03 2016
Social researcher and author Rebecca Huntley uses the recipe for this very popular and accessible dish to highlight the varied threats to our future food supply from global climate change.
Narcissists, archaeologists and shouting into the void
Nov 26 2016
Why we need to rethink our attitudes toward narcissists. Why anyone would want to confess to software. Why can't unroll ancient scrolls in order to read them.
Pop-up culture
Nov 19 2016
Temporary outlets suit our social media times – the perfect mid-point between the online experience and traditional bricks and mortar.
Wooden skyscrapers and bacterial concrete
Nov 12 2016
Transparent wood and cement generated by bacteria - New materials promise to change the way we build houses in the future.
Issues of digital security
Nov 05 2016
For all the sophistication we humans have shown in developing new technological systems, we’ve got a surprisingly poor record when it comes to making them secure.
Drug resistance and a coming pandemic
Oct 29 2016
It’s estimated around 700,000 people die each year because of drug-resistant infections & the death-toll is expected to rise to around 10 million per year by 2050 unless more is done. So how prepared are we for future pandemics?
Your personal brand
Oct 22 2016
Could you be sued for your tattoo? Is a career in sport now about branding over athleticism? The art of personal branding is becoming increasingly complicated.
A Universal Basic Income
Oct 15 2016
Funded from the public purse, the universal basic income is a no-strings attached minimum payment. So, would it actually work as a way of reforming social welfare?
Employment in the era of exploitation
Oct 08 2016
Overtime, internships and freelance projects - the idea of work takes on a whole new dimension when there’s no promise of payment.
How to really get under someone’s skin
Oct 01 2016
We’ll find out whether the psychological barriers to human micro-chipping will inevitably limit the technology’s take-up. And does the rise of biometrics open up a consent debate?
The inside running
Sep 25 2016
Edible batteries, ingestible sensors, tiny intravenous drug delivery craft and a wound-clogging injectable sponge - new research takes a decidedly invasive approach to problem solving.
The fabric of future life
Sep 18 2016
When fabric becomes futuristic: a 'gravity loading' space suit, electronic temporary tattoos, sweat eating sportswear and kombucha leather.
New directions for brain research
Sep 11 2016
Is it possible to modify the brain through exercise, implants or even electricity?
Brisbane Writer's Festival: A conversation exploring personal, community and social histories.
Sep 10 2016
Is it possible for two different experiences of the same event to be considered the truth? Has art and the media contributed to a drift in historical truth?
Putting our minds to the brain
Sep 04 2016
Despite decades of intense research, we still know very little about how the human brain actually functions.
The contingent workforce and the growth of digital taylorism
Aug 28 2016
The size of the so-called “contingent” workforce is on an upward trajectory. We explore what’s driving the trend and what it means for employees. And is a digital form of “taylorism” also on the rise?
What do we mean by innovation?
Aug 21 2016
Innovation, has become an important part of the political and business lexicon. But is our definition of innovation simply too technology focussed and too business-centric?
Designing for serendipity
Aug 14 2016
As oxymoronic as this may sound, would the world be a better place if we all spent more time and energy designing our systems and workplaces to facilitate the possibility of serendipitous findings?
Does handwriting have a future?
Aug 07 2016
According to some, writing by hand no longer has a place in an age where people type and thumb their way using smart phones and computers. But others believe cursive writing still has an important role to play in cognitive development, particularly when it comes to memory.