New Zealand International Science Festival - Recorded Talks

Tackling Food Waste Together

Live recording from NZISF 2023
Food waste is a wicked problem and requires a collaborative effort to address it. In this panel discussion hosted by the University of Otago's Food Waste Innovation Group, you will hear from leaders in four of the key sectors in this mission: government, research, industry and non-profit. Each panelist will explain how they are addressing food waste in their world, and what the public can do to support this mahi.
Panelists:
Dame Juliet Gerrard - Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor
Prof. Miranda Mirosa - University of Otago Department of Food Science
Prof. Craig Bunt - Researcher, Agricultural Innovation
Chris Henderson - Group Manager Waste and Environmental Solutions, Dunedin City Council
Hamish Conway - Research & Development Director, Goodman-Fielder
Nicki Solomon - Business Development Manager, NZ Food Innovation Network
Kaitlin Dawson - Executive Director, Champions 12.3 + Kai Commitment
Deborah Manning - Founder & Director, KiwiHarvest + NZ Food Network
This talk was recorded live on 4 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Annual Conference and the New Zealand International Science Festival.

Healthier Kiwis - a National Science Callenges panel talk

Live recording from NZISF 2023
How can we improve the health and wellbeing of kiwis across all age, cultural and economic spectrums? Drawing on research from the National Science Challenges, these talks will focus on supporting and improving our collective mental and physical wellbeing.
Panel:
Prof Geoff Chase - Science for Technological Innovation National Science ChallengeProf Parry Guilford - Healthier Lives National Science ChallengeProf Louise Parr-Brownlie - Ageing Well National Science ChallengeProf Barry Taylor - A Better Start National Science Challenge
Moderator: Prof Peter Crampton
 
Established in 2014, the eleven government-funded National Science Challenges are cross-disciplinary, mission-led programmes designed to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges. As they enter their final year of funding, representatives of each Science Challenge will gather in Dunedin across four nights to discuss some of the impactful research that has come out of these initiatives and how it is being applied across Aotearoa for the benefit of us all.
 
This talk was recorded live on 4 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival

Playwriting Panel with Tim Jackson

Live recording from NZISF 2023
Content warning: some excerpts played in this recording contain dramatised themes of sex, and suicide.
Tim Jackson is a versatile dramatist with numerous BBC radio-writing credits, which have helped bring scientific controversies to a wider audience. For example, he has explored the complexity of altruism, the controversy of ivory poaching, and has written an environmental thriller series exploring the conflict between the environment and development.
Otago University Associate Professor in Theatre Studies Hilary Halba and Playwriting Fellow Amanda Faye Martin join Tim for a discussion around writing science and environmental issues into narrative, featuring extracts from Tim's plays.
Tim Jackson is an ecological economist and writer. Since 2016 he has been Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) at the University of Surrey in the UK. From 2004 to 2011 he was Economics Commissioner for the UK Sustainable Development Commission where his work culminated in the publication of Prosperity without Growth (2009/2017) which was subsequently translated into 18 foreign languages worldwide. It was named as a Financial Times ‘book of the year’ in 2010 and was UnHerd’s economics book of the decade in 2019. His latest book Post Growth–life after capitalism was published by Polity Press in 2021 and won the 2022 Eric Zencey Prize for Economics. In 2016, Tim was awarded the Hillary Laureate for exceptional international leadership in sustainability. In addition to his academic work, Tim is an award-winning dramatist with numerous radio-writing credits for the BBC.
The New Zealand International Science Festival is excited to host Prof Jackson this year which has been made possible thanks to the support of the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.
This talk was recorded live on 8 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival

AI and the Workforce Panel Talk

Live recording from NZISF 2023
Delve into the implications of AI technologies, exploring how they are reshaping industries and job markets worldwide. Gain valuable insights from University of Otago academics who will discuss this new technology's philosophical and ethical repercussions and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. From the impact on traditional professions to the emergence of new roles, this panel discussion will provide a comprehensive understanding of the transformative power of AI.
Headed by Prof James Maclaurin, joined by Prof David Eyers and PhD student Daniel Guppy.
This talk was recorded live on 3 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival.

Post Growth: Life After Capitalism - An Evening with Tim Jackson

Live recording from NZISF 2023
Tim Jackson is joined by the Director of the Centre For Sustainability, Caroline Orchinson, for this evening talk inspired by his latest book, Post Growth - Life After Capitalism.
Capitalism is broken. The relentless pursuit of more has delivered climate catastrophe, social inequality and financial instability—and left us ill prepared for life in a global pandemic. Weaving together philosophical reflection, economic insight and social vision, Tim Jackson’s passionate and provocative book dares us to imagine a world beyond capitalism—a place where relationship and meaning take precedence over profits and power.
Tim Jackson is an ecological economist and writer. Since 2016 he has been Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) at the University of Surrey in the UK. From 2004 to 2011 he was Economics Commissioner for the UK Sustainable Development Commission where his work culminated in the publication of Prosperity without Growth (2009/2017) which was subsequently translated into 18 foreign languages worldwide. It was named as a Financial Times ‘book of the year’ in 2010 and was UnHerd’s economics book of the decade in 2019. His latest book Post Growth–life after capitalism was published by Polity Press in 2021 and won the 2022 Eric Zencey Prize for Economics. In 2016, Tim was awarded the Hillary Laureate for exceptional international leadership in sustainability. In addition to his academic work, Tim is an award-winning dramatist with numerous radio-writing credits for the BBC.
The New Zealand International Science Festival is excited to host Prof Jackson this year which has been made possible thanks to the support of the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.
This talk was recorded on 8 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival.

Antimicrobial Resistance Panel Talk

Live recording from NZISF 2023
Antimicrobial medicines are vital tools for treating a number of diseases. But it's no secret that some types of bacteria and other microbes that cause disease are developing resistance to these tools. What is being done to combat antimicrobial resistance and what new tools are being developed? Experts in the field will talk about the current state of antimicrobial resistance in Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific and discuss what the future of this important research may hold.
Panel:Prof Greg Cook - University of Otago Department of Microbiology & ImmunologySakiusa Baleivanualala - University of Otago Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyJuliet Elvy - Southern Community Laboratories
This talk was recorded on 8 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival.

Enabling Kaitiakitanga - a National Science Challenge Panel Talk

Live recording from NZISF 2023
How do we remove barriers for Māori to enact kaitiakitanga and what does this look like in practice? Vision Mātauranga has been an integral part of the National Science Challenges, which has resulted in a wealth of kaupapa-based research and examples of Te Tiriti-based partnership and engagement. Come hear about some of these efforts from locally- and nationally-based researchers involved in this work.
Panel:
Linda Faulkner - Sustainable Seas National Science ChallengeTumai Cassidy - New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge (not pictured)Naomi Aporo - Our Land & Water National Science ChallengeJames Berghan - Building Better Towns, Homes & Cities National Science ChallengeJon Procter - Resilience to Nature's Challenges National Science Challenge 
Moderator: Katharina Ruckstuhl
Established in 2014, the eleven government-funded National Science Challenges are cross-disciplinary, mission-led programmes designed to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges. As they enter their final year of funding, representatives of each Science Challenge will gather in Dunedin across four nights to discuss some of the impactful research that has come out of these initiatives and how it is being applied across Aotearoa for the benefit of us all.
This talk was recorded live on 6 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival.
Photo credit: Naomi Aporo

Feeding Aotearoa - a National Science Challege Panel Talk

Live recording from NZISF 2023
There’s arguably little else more important than ensuring an adequate and healthy food supply for our people, and in our changing world, food systems will need to adapt. This panel will address the question: how can New Zealand move towards a food system that contributes positively to health, wellbeing, the economy and the environment? Panelists will discuss the current state of our food systems on land and at sea, and talk about what research is being undertaken to drive positive change.
Panel:
Dr Julie Hall - Sustainable Seas National Science ChallengeJoanne Todd - High Value Nutrition National Science ChallengeProf Cliona Ni Mhurchu - Healthier Lives National Science ChallengeDr Jenny Webster-Brown - Our Land & Water National Science ChallengeDr Phil Wiles - Deep South National Science Challenge
Moderator: Niki Bezzant
Established in 2014, the eleven government-funded National Science Challenges are cross-disciplinary, mission-led programmes designed to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges. As they enter their final year of funding, representatives of each Science Challenge will gather in Dunedin across four nights to discuss some of the impactful research that has come out of these initiatives and how it is being applied across Aotearoa for the benefit of us all.
This talk was recorded live on 7 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival.

Liveable Cities - a National Science Challenge Panel Talk

Live recording from NZISF 2023
How can we adapt our cities and the way we inhabit them to make them more liveable in an era of climate change? A wide range of options will be discussed, from creating urban sponges to increasing flood resilience, encouraging food equity, changing the way we move around, and greening our cities to support mental health - all drawing upon research from the National Science Challenges.
Panel:
Simon Kingham - Healthier Lives National Science ChallengeCaroline Orchiston - Resilience to Nature’s Challenges National Science ChallengeRobin Quigg - University of Otago Division of Health SciencesDanielle Shanahan - New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science ChallengeRobyn Simcock - Building Better Towns, Homes and Cities National Science Challenge
Moderator: Aaron Hawkins (former Mayor of Dunedin)
Established in 2014, the eleven government-funded National Science Challenges are cross-disciplinary, mission-led programmes designed to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges. As they enter their final year of funding, representatives of each Science Challenge will gather in Dunedin across four nights to discuss some of the impactful research that has come out of these initiatives and how it is being applied across Aotearoa for the benefit of us all.
This talk was recorded live on 5 July 2023 as part of the New Zealand International Science Festival.