The Solutionists, with Mark Scott

When Sophie Gee’s husband was suddenly rushed to hospital, her life was plunged into uncertainty.   Amid the chaos, she discovered a surprising source of strength: her study of classic literature, and in particular, the works of Jane Austen.  Sophie, who was Associate Chair of the English Department at Princeton until she came to the University of Sydney as a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, says stories have made her more resilient. “Literature teaches us how to be uncertain, how to tolerate discomfort, how to tolerate difficulty,” she says.  Arts and humanities degrees sometimes get a bad rap, but Sophie argues they are more valuable than ever in the age of AI.   She says stories cut through in a way science cannot – just look at the documentary My Octopus Teacher – and equip you with the skills you need to have “truly transformational ideas”.   “Storytelling is one of the most important ways to have access and equity to new pathways. If you’re able to tell your story, you’re able to change your life.”   She also makes the case for returning to old favourites, whether it’s Shakespeare or Harry Potter. And she weighs in on the value of Book Tok.  Sophie Gee is an alumna and a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Sydney.  +++  The Solutionists is podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  Sourcing/credit: My Octopus Teacher is a Netflix series and we thank Kaylie for her Book Tok example. Find her on Tik Tok @under_thebelljar   This episode was produced by Monique Ross with sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. The executive producer is Kellie Riordan. Executive editors are Kellie Riordan, Jen Peterson-Ward, and Mark Scott. Thanks to the technical staff at the at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Media Room.  This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you’re going to have a breakdown, try not to have it in a top secret secure naval dockyard.”  You might know Alastair Campbell as the formidable former press secretary of British prime minister Tony Blair and co-host of popular podcast The Rest is Politics.  But back in 1996, when Alastair was a high-flying tabloid journalist, his mind suddenly unravelled. “I was hearing voices and seeing things that weren’t there.”  Alastair thought his breakdown would spell the end of both his marriage and his career. But these days, he sees it as the best thing to ever happen to him. He offers candid insights into his struggles with addiction and depression.   Alastair also takes you inside 10 Downing Street at some critical moments in history, such as the death of Princess Diana, and the controversy over the Iraq War. “Deep down, I wish it never happened. But at the same time, I can still defend the decisions that Tony Blair made at the time.”  You’ll hear Alastair’s take on what’s gone wrong in politics and how to fix it. Plus, what could happen to democracy if Donald Trump is re-elected as US President.   +++  The Solutionists is podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  Sourcing/credit: Archival media clips from BBC News.  This episode was produced by Monique Ross with sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. Executive editors are Kellie Riordan, Jen Peterson-Ward, and Mark Scott. Thanks to the technical staff at the at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Media Room.  This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you had a clone of yourself, what would you want it to do?  Professor Danny Liu pictures a classroom in the not-too-distant future where teachers work alongside AI ‘clones’ to help their students learn.  “It’s not about replacing them as teachers. It’s about empowering them and making them more effective.”  The role of artificial intelligence in education has been hotly debated, with concerns about cheating creating headlines. But what if we could harness regenerative AI to transform education for the better?  Danny Liu says AI can herald a new era of personalised learning, and he explains how he’s grappling with issues around student integrity and AI bias.  You’ll also go inside the classroom of Matthew Esterman at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta to find out how he’s rethinking assessments in the digital age.  “It’s going to be a massive challenge for students to prove that work is their own in a world where you can press a button and have an assignment done for you.”  +++  The Solutionists is podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Field recordings by Harry Hughes. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. Executive editors are Kellie Riordan, Jen Peterson-Ward, and Mark Scott. Thanks to the technical staff at the at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Media Room.  This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you go into your backyard right now, you’ll be able to find a species of insect that is new to science. Tanya Latty guarantees it – even if you live in the inner city.  Tanya has loved creepy crawlies since she was little, and is now an entomologist at the University of Sydney. “You would be surprised how many things we don't know. There are all sorts of critters, most of which are probably unidentified.”   But around the world, insects are in trouble. “We’re almost certainly losing species faster than we’re naming them.”  The decline of pollinators such as bees, beetles, butterflies, and flies has enormous implications for people and the planet. One in every three mouthfuls of food you eat is thanks to a pollinator (and that includes chocolate!)  “I worry about that slow creep. How many can we lose before things just get crummy? We might be closer to that than we think,” Tanya warns.  Tanya sheds light on the challenges around insect conservation and explains how you can help pollinators.  You’ll also visit Whites Creek Community Garden with Professor Dieter Hochuli, and get to know some of his favourite pollinators. Dieter leads the Integrative Ecology group at The University of Sydney.   +++  The Solutionists is podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios.   The Solutionists is podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  This episode was produced by Monique Ross, with field recordings by Harry Hughes and sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. The executive producer is Kellie Riordan. Executive editors are Kellie Riordan, Jen Peterson-Ward, and Mark Scott. Thanks to the technical staff at the at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Media Room.  This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After her son died of SIDS, Dr Carmel Harrington left her job as a lawyer to devote her career to finding answers. “You blame yourself. You must have missed something. How can such a catastrophic event occur without any sign or symptom?” Her groundbreaking research into SIDS opened up another mission: to wake society up to the critical importance of sleep. Carmel is the managing director of Sleep for Health. High-flying CEOs and even the Australian military are now turning to her expertise in a bid to master the art of sleep. The stakes are high. In our wired world shut-eye often proves elusive – and that can have deadly consequences. Sleep loss is linked to heart disease, cancer, dementia and depression, and it also affects your ability to think and learn. Carmel explains how to sleep better, the incredible things that happen when you sleep (Brain washing! Memory encoding!), and what to do about technology in the bedroom. She’ll also teach you how to spot subtle signs of sleep deprivation. “One of the big things I like to talk about is, have you lost joy? So often with A-type personalities, we are very good at meeting the challenges of the day - but how good are you at enjoying the joy in your life?” Carmel’s latest book is The complete guide to a good night's sleep. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website. +++ The Solutionists is podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neonatologist Adrienne Gordon helps save the lives of tiny babies in intensive care. They constantly amaze her. Their unique personalities. How fast they learn. The way they can be so close to death and yet go on to thrive. Adrienne shares what parents need to know about the first 1,000 days, the critical period from conception to the age of two. “Some of the most important aspects of life are before you even arrive,” Adrienne says. The first 1,000 days lay the foundation for lifelong physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, and social and emotional development, and have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and ADHD in later life. Adrienne also offers insights into coping with stillbirth and keeping pregnant women safe in extreme heat. And if you’ve been wondering if it’s better to play your unborn baby music by Metallica, Mozart or Taylor Swift, get ready for a surprise. You can find out more about Adrienne’s research on the University of Sydney website. More information about the Safer Baby Bundle is available on the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence website. You’ll also hear from Kerry Arabena, the managing director of First 1000 Days Australia, a First Nations model aimed at strengthening all families so they can give their children the best start in life. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website.   +++ The Solutionists is a production of Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Scott was born in 1965. His identical twin died within the first few days of life. Decades later, Andrew looked through the stats, and got a surprise. "I found that the first year of life was the most common age of death in England at that time. Today, the most common age of death is 87,” he says. We’re all living longer, and in many countries, a baby born today could easily live to 100. Andrew is a world-leading expert on longevity, a Professor of Economics at London Business School, and the author of The 100-Year Life. But longevity isn't about 'being old for longer’. Andrew says it gives us the chance to completely rethink the stages of our lives. You will have more time – as much as 100,000 extra hours – and you need to act now to set yourself up for the best possible future. This could mean reframing the plan for your health, your brain, your career, your finances, your relationships, and your sense of purpose. You’ll also hear from a group of movers and shakers at a Dance Health Alliance class in Sydney about the upsides of being older. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website.   +++ The Solutionists is a podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by  Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. Field recordings by Harry Hughes. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the dark of night, through the mud and the monsoon rain, Richard Harris and a group of cave divers band together for a risky mission to rescue a group of boys from a flooded cave in Thailand. Her country split down the middle, Julia Gillard negotiates for 17 agonising days to win the support of crossbench politicians and become Australia’s first female prime minister. To achieve big and lasting change, people need to find a way to speak across lines of difference and work together for a common goal. But in a world of increasing polarisation, how you do bridge those divides? Dr Kate Harrison Brennan is the director of the Sydney Policy Lab and a University of Sydney alumna. Her work brings people together to collaborate on solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. She shares practical ways to bring people together – be it at work, at home, or in the public policy sphere. And Dr Richard Harris reflects on what the Thai cave rescue taught him about teamwork and trust. To find out more about Dr Kate Harrison Brennan’s work visit the website of the Sydney Policy Lab. Dr Richard Harris’s book is called The Art of Risk: What we can learn from the world’s leading risk-takers. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website. +++ The Solutionists is a production of Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“She started to explain to me about rhythms and melodies and harmonies and how they all fit together in a beautiful symmetry. And I said to her, ‘That is all mathematics.’” An infectious smile flashes across Eddie Woo’s face as he recalls meeting singer-songwriter Odette backstage at a TED Talk. She told him she didn’t like maths; he found a way to connect it to her world. “Mathematics is like music to the mind, in a way that music is like mathematics to the soul.” Eddie’s ability to connect people with maths, and make it fun and engaging, has made him a household name. The Australian high school teacher is known to millions of students worldwide as Mister WooTube thanks to his online classes – and he is now teaching the next generation of teachers at the University of Sydney. Eddie Woo, alumni of the University of Sydney and the teacher you wish you had, is here with a lesson on embracing learning at any age. He also gets personal, reflecting on his own life, how the death of his mother shaped his view of growth mindset, and how he came to realise teaching isn’t about knowing all the answers. If you think you don’t like maths, prepare to be surprised. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website. +++ The Solutionists, with Mark Scott, is a production of Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. Studio recording by Jacob Craig. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture the towering waves of a tsunami rolling in. The ground cracking open in an earthquake. Fiery red embers raining down during a bushfire. Heatwaves kill more people than all natural disasters combined – but because they’re not visually dramatic, we underestimate how dangerous they are. “On the day of a heatwave, it will look very much like it does today. The people dying during heat waves are doing so predominantly outside of the gaze of the public. They're dying at home, alone, isolated, often in circumstances that they won't be found for days.” Professor Ollie Jay has another way of showing us how dangerous heatwaves can be. In his special climate chamber, he exposes human guinea pigs to extreme heat stress, and tests the limits of what we can survive. He’s looking for ways to stay cool as the planet warms – without having to resort to air conditioning. His groundbreaking research has informed the likes of Google and the Australian Open. Ollie shares simple and effective cooling methods that can save you money as temperatures spike – and might even save your life. To find out more about Professor Ollie Jay’s work visit the website of the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory. Big challenges need big solutions. Meet the minds making it happen. Follow The Solutionists, with Mark Scott, in your favourite podcast app. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website.    +++ The Solutionists is a University of Sydney podcast, hosted by Vice Chancellor and President Mark Scott. It’s produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot and field recordings by Harry Hughes. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain.  Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re at the crossroads of uncertainty and innovation. From global warming to tech addiction, huge demographic shifts and geopolitical tensions – it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But some incredible people are putting their minds toward solving the most pressing issues of our time. They’re working to make our world a better place to call home. Join Mark Scott, the Vice Chancellor and President at the University of Sydney, and get ready to meet the people making change happen. The Solutionists. For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website.   +++ The Solutionists is a podcast from The University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Harry Hughes. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.