Island of Ideas

Public Talks Series

Island life changes, but ideas don't stop flowing.

Island of Ideas is a series of public talks designed to ignite conversation and curiosity in our community. Now in its fourth year, the program is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and explores a diversity of current issues and events.

Our University has a proud history of sharing ideas, and each year we present hundreds of talks, forums, seminars and workshops free of charge to our students, alumni and wider community. COVID-19 provided an unexpected opportunity for us to lift the voices of Tasmanians and to invite world-leading experts into our conversations using online platforms. We deliver these events to you online beyond lockdown as part of our dedication to living in an Island of Ideas.

Registering and logging-on are simple and you can interact with speakers live. Alternately, you can watch our talks later and share with friends and colleagues on our YouTube channel.

Subscribe to our mailing list now, and receive the latest information on upcoming events.

Register for our public talks below.  If you plan to attend online, register to be sent a confirmation email, including a link to join the webinar. You will be prompted to follow a quick process to download the Zoom application. More information is available in this Zoom Guide.

Upcoming events

Watch now

Resurrecting our Native Icons

Have you wondered what it would be like to encounter a Thylacine or Tasmanian Emu in the wild?

Experts say we could bring them back from extinction. But is this a good idea? What are the potential benefits and risks? What would the ethical, cultural, and ecological implications be?

Broadcast 21 March 2023 AEDT.

The Mental Health Gap: STAND for the future

Join Professor Michelle Craske AO to learn about her program for screening, tracking and treating anxiety and depression, and discover how it could support individuals and a health system in dire need of repair.

Broadcast 7 December 2022 AEDT.

Time for Truth-Telling in Lutruwita

What would breaking the 200+ years of truth-telling silence in Lutruwita Tasmania achieve?

It is not without risks - for Palawa and for non-Aboriginal Tasmanians.
Find out more from Professor Maggie Walter, as she delivers the 2022 Japanangka errol West lecture about silence and truth-telling in Lutruwita.

Broadcast 14 November 2022 AEDT.