Island of Ideas

Critical Minerals, Critical Moment

World-leading research. Regional mining. Global demand. A critical moment for Tasmania. Better understand Tasmania's role in the growing global demand for critical minerals and how we can balance economic opportunity and environmental responsibility in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Broadcast on 24 June 2026

Understanding the Insect Apocalypse
Whether we swat them, study them or simply marvel at them, insects shape our food systems, environments and imaginations. Understanding their decline isn’t just about saving insects. It’s about safeguarding the intricate web of life that sustains us all.

Broadcast on 10 June 2026

The Economics of Human Extinction
Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, explores the economics of existential risk and what it will take to respond before it’s too late.

Broadcast on  22 May 2026

Building Social Cohesion in a Multicultural Country
As migration to Tasmania continues to grow, the need to build inclusive and welcoming communities has never been more urgent. In this year’s Red Cross Oration, Kate Jenkins AO and Tasmanian leaders, explore the social, cultural and humanitarian dimensions of cohesion in a multicultural society.

Broadcast on  13 May 2026

Leadership, Regulation and Trust in the Age of Misinformation
Our health system relies on strong leadership, trusted regulation and evidence-based decision-making. Yet in an era of misinformation, maintaining trust has become increasingly complex. In this year’s Arthur Cobbold Lecture, Professor Tony Lawler reflects on the role of regulation, evidence and public trust in safeguarding the health of Australians.

Broadcast on 23 April 2026

Exploring in Extreme Environments
Australian of the Year 2026 and astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg joins Tasmanian experts working in Antarctic medicine, astronomy and aerospace health to explore how people prepare, adapt and perform in remote and challenging environments.

Broadcast on 15 April 2026

Antarctica at Risk? The Cost of Tourism Across the Poles
Tourism to Antarctica is growing rapidly, with more than 125,000 travellers heading south last season, while the Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average. As more travellers venture into these once-remote environments, urgent questions arise about responsibility and the protection of fragile ecosystems. How do we safeguard these landscapes?

Broadcast on 1 April 2026

Beyond Cure
When cure isn't possible, what does good care and quality of life look like? This talk explores how care is evolving beyond medicine alone to include the role of allied health, inclusive design, digital collaboration and connection to nature.

Broadcast 26 February 2026.

Fairnes on the Spectrum
Autistic people are no more likely to commit crimes than anyone else, yet they are far more likely to encounter the criminal justice system and face greater difficulty navigating it.

Broadcast 18 February 2026 as the Scholars in Psychology Lecture.

Cut Bills, Cut Emissions: Electrify Everything
What if the solution to the climate crisis also saved you thousands of dollars? Engineer and author Dr Saul Griffith reveals how electrifying our homes and communities can slash energy costs and put Tasmania at the heart of Australia’s clean-energy transformation.

Broadcast 20 October 2025 as the  Richard Jones Memorial Lecture.

Ageing Well at Home
Home is where we hope to stay as we age. Discover from four experts what needs to change to make that possible.

Broadcast 15 October 2025.

The Decisions That Shape Our Health
Former Premier and Health Minister Lara Giddings offers an insider’s view of how government decisions ripple through hospitals, clinics, and households, and considers what bold reforms could improve outcomes for Tasmanians.

Broadcast 1 October 2025 as the  Arthur Cobbold Lecture.

The Reading Crisis We Can Fix
When a child has poor literacy, we have failed them. This talk asks why we’re getting it wrong, and how to fix it - backed by evidence, led by experts.

Broadcast 17  September 2025 as the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture..

Plastic Inside and Out
Plastic is everywhere. It’s wrapped around our food, woven into our clothes, swirling in our oceans, and, disturbingly, coursing through our bodies. Find out from our expert what plastic is really doing to us, and what we should do about it.

Broadcast 10  September 2025.

Staying Well in a Struggling System
Tasmania’s health system is under pressure, and so are the people in it. With more chronic illness and fewer resources, this conversation asks a simple but urgent question: how can we prevent illness before it begins?

Broadcast 3 September 2025.

Is Laughter the Best Medicine?
Explore the surprising impacts of humour on health in this unique mix of comedy and expert insights.

Broadcast 20 August 2025.

Tassie’s Wild Weather Up Close
Tasmania’s weather is famously unpredictable, but the impacts of extreme events are becoming harder to ignore. Join a meteorologist, climate extremes expert and a disaster resilience specialist to discover what’s behind the wild swings and what they mean for our land, livelihoods and future.

Broadcast 14  August 2025 in partnership with the Australian Meteorology and Oceanographic Society.

Voyage to Antarctica’s Floodgates
An Antarctic voyage, a melting glacier, and a warming ocean. Discover what four science agencies found at the Denman Glacier, and why it matters for all of us.

Broadcast 23  July 2025.

Beyond the Breadwinner
New global research is revealing that long-held ideas about masculinity shape far more than personal identity. Find out how far reaching the impact is, from labour force participation to suicide rates and political attitudes.

Broadcast 2 July 2025 in partnership with the Economic Society of Australia (Tasmania).

Australia and the Trump Effect
The effects of America’s transformation under Trump are already rippling through Australia - in trade, health, and equality. Our experts unpack what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.

Broadcast 18 June 2025

Safeguarding the Vulnerable in Conflict
Hear from two globally recognised experts who are at the forefront of the fight to protect vulnerable populations in conflict, and explore the complex challenges of safeguarding human dignity and holding perpetrators accountable in times of war.

Broadcast 4 June 2025 in partnership with the Australian Red Cross.

The Promise and Perils of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reading minds, literally. Brain-computer interfaces can let people send messages or move prosthetic limbs just by thinking. But while AI offers incredible breakthroughs in medicine and safety, it’s also being used to exploit, deceive, and disrupt. Join three experts as they unpack the promises and perils of AI.

Broadcast 28  May 2025.

Australian Resilience in the New World Disorder
Amid global instability, including the second Trump administration, Australia has been slow to confront the scale of international risk. The 2025 Sir James Plimsoll Lecture explores how the nation, well beyond just government, can build resilience and engage a changing world with clarity and purpose.

Broadcast 22 May 2025

Two Ways to  See Indigenous Rock Art
Learn about Tasmanian Indigenous rock art and how ancient rock art on Balanggarra Country in the Kimberley, Western Australia, is being brought to life through a unique collaboration between traditional owners and scientists.

Broadcast 26 March 2025.

The Age Illusion and Myth
We’re all getting older - so why does society treat ageing like a problem to be solved? Join Associate Professor Peta Cook as she challenges you to think about growing older as something to embrace, rather than erase.

Broadcast 19 March 2025.

Tasmania’s Debt Dilemma with Saul Eslake
Is Tasmania’s financial future at risk? Economist Saul Eslake unpacks the Government’s response to his independent review and what it means for us all.

Broadcast 12  March 2025.

Arrest Warrants for Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu
Join our experts to explore the legal foundations behind these arrest warrants, the challenges of bringing sitting world leaders to justice, and the wider impact on global diplomacy and the power struggles at play on the global stage.

Broadcast 11 February 2025.