Past Programs
Science and Technology - 2008
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995
Hendra and the bats
31/08/2008
Bats carry many of the nasty viruses, even SARS, Ebola, Nipah and Hendra. Scientists think bats may be using these deadly viruses in a war with other species, including horses and man. Reporter Ian Townsend.
The climate engineers
06/07/2008
For years it's been one of the science community's great taboos but the idea of global climate control is starting to be openly discussed. Ideas like placing giant mirrors in space or firing sulphur particles into the stratosphere to cool the planet are no longer just in the domain of science fiction. Many scientists now believe the time for these ideas will come. Reporter, Wendy Carlisle (This program was originally broadcast on 6th April 2008.)
Read the following articles:
Albedo Enhancement by Stratospheric Sulfur Injections
Climate Change: The Uncertainties, the Certainties, and what they Imply About Action
Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming
Banking on gas
08/06/2008
Australia's sitting on some of the biggest natural gas fields in the world - and other energy-starved, ravenous nations are starting to bid for it. Australia will have to do some soul searching about how much we keep for ourselves and who to sell it to. Reporter, Ian Townsend.
The Khan network
25/05/2008
Uranium is now a hot energy property, and there's big business in the nuclear trade. An investigation of the business of the bomb - from South Africa in the 80s to today - shows that nothing, it seems, is going to stop the worlds race to nuclear. American RadioWorks with the Center for Independent Reporting.
Due to copyright reasons there will be no transcript or podcast of this program. See the link below to the original program.
The climate engineers
06/04/2008
For years it's been one of the science community's great taboos but the idea of global climate control is starting to be openly discussed. Ideas like placing giant mirrors in space or firing sulphur particles into the stratosphere to cool the planet are no longer just in the domain of science fiction. Many scientists now believe the time for these ideas will come. Reporter, Wendy Carlisle
Read the following articles:
Albedo Enhancement by Stratospheric Sulfur Injections
Climate Change: The Uncertainties, the Certainties, and what they Imply About Action
Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming
Sports wars
16/03/2008
While the success of the 27-year-old Australian Institute of Sport has been the envy of other nations, the expertise it has bred is being used against us, and Australia risks falling behind in the sports science arms race. Reporter Ian Townsend
Atul Gawande
13/01/2008
He is a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and has several other prestigious roles in the US health policy and public health system. As well, he's a practising doctor and surgeon, editor, author, and New York Magazine writer. Atul Gawande discusses what makes a good doctor, how hospitals can be improved, and what he has learnt about the imperfect science of medicine. (Originally broadcast 3rd June 2007)
Stronger, smarter, nicer humans
06/01/2008
Professor Julian Savulescu is an eminent ethicist from Oxford University. He believes we should proceed with research into enhancing not only the genetics of fighting disease, but the genetics and pharmacology of improving IQ, behaviour, mood, character and morality. He argues there are immense benefits, not only for individuals, but for society as a whole. Only by knowing, can we prevent the abuses of knowledge. A lecture from the Sydney Ideas series at the University of Sydney. (Originally broadcast on 19th August 2007)
Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Enhancement of Human Beings
Download a chapter (pdf) from The Oxford Handbook of Bioethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press) 2007, edited by B Steinbock. Author and owner of the document is Julian Savulescu, Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics.
Download pdf
