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More highlights from UNSW Centre for Ideas this summer on VAR

22 December 2020

Following on from the success of the August broadcast of the interview with Haben Girma, the first Deafblind Harvard Law Graduate in conversation with ABC’s Nas Campanella, Vision Australia Radio is proud to partner once again with the UNSW Centre for Ideas to broadcast five of their presentations from January 4 – 8 at 2pm from their incredible archive right across the VAR Network.

On January 4: William Dalrymple - The Relentless Rise of the East India Company.

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas

The devastating story of how the British came to rule India is one characterised by aggression, ruthlessness and violence. From trading silks and spices to running a vast private security force twice the size of the British army, the East India Company mercilessly conquered the entire Indian subcontinent.


On January 5: Daniel Dennett on Consciousness.

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas for the Wallace Wurth Lecture

Daniel Dennett has been described as "one of the most important philosophers of our time" as well as being coined the "devil philosopher". He is best known for his provocative and controversial arguments that human consciousness and free will are the result of physical processes in the brain. Regardless of how he's known, his popularity was evident when he delivered the Wallace Wurth Lecture to a packed out auditorium at UNSW Sydney.


On January 6: Bob Brown and his battle for the environment

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas for National Science Week

As both an activist, environmentalist and a former politician, Bob Brown has a unique perspective on our environmental battles, successes and failures. There was no shortage of pulling at the heartstrings as he presented the 'Jack Beale Lecture: The Battle for the Environment' at UNSW Sydney for Sydney Science Festival.


On January 7: Ashton Applewhite: Age Pride.

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas

We all want long lives, so why are we so afraid of growing old? Anti-ageism campaigner Ashton Applewhite works to dismantle the ageism that is woven into our societies.


On January 8: Haben Girma - Harvards first deaf blind graduate.

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas in partnership with the UNSW Disability Innovation Institute and supported by the Auckland Writers Festival.

In her memoir, ‘Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law’, Girma shares how her parents’ harrowing stories of refuge from Eritrea during its 30-year war with Ethiopia inspired her to embark on a quest for knowledge; traveling the world in search of the secret to belonging. Girma in conversation with ABC’s Nas Campanella, retells some of these adventures and explains how they led her from feelings of isolation to conquering Harvard Law.

 

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