Debate@Go8

We examine the importance of Australia's imminent association to the world's largest research and innovation programme with the European Commission's Chief Negotiator for Horizon Europe, Maria Cristina Russo - the Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. Recorded June 2026.

Professor Marco Fiorentini from The University of Western Australia and Director of the ARC Centre in Critical Resources for the Future, discusses why Australia’s strength in critical minerals is not just about what’s in the ground - but about the research capability, skills and innovation needed to find, extract and process them responsibly. Recorded November 2025.

Professor Sharon Pickering is an internationally renowned criminologist who's worked with governments worldwide to combat sex trafficking and family violence, and is a passionate advocate for the benefits of international education. Recorded May 2025. 

Part 2 of a thought-provoking two-part episode featuring the Co-Chairs of the Group of Eight Defence & Security Committee - Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Rick Burr, former Chief of Army and Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon, former Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.  In Part 2 these distinguished defence and intelligence leaders underscore the vital role of Australia’s leading universities in advancing national security, research integrity, and innovation.

 

Part 1 of a timely and thought-provoking two-part episode featuring Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon, former Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Rick Burr, former Chief of Army. As co-chairs of the Group of Eight Defence & Security Committee, these distinguished leaders offer a rare insider’s perspective on the evolving national security landscape. Recorded May 2025.

We're celebrating our 50th episode with a chat with The Group of Eight’s newest Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emma Johnston from the University of Melbourne. Professor Johnston is a world-leading marine biologist, an influential figure in Australia’s higher education sector and a prominent advocate for science and technology and women in STEM. She's also UniMelb's first female chief.

European Australian Business Council CEO Jason Collins discusses how the current global uncertainty impacting international trade and geo-politics has re-opened the door to resume negotiations on the stalled EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement - and along with that, the opportunity for Australia to join the world's largest research fund, Horizon Europe - the benefits to both parties in securing an agreement and the ramifications for research and innovation – and Australia’s universities in general – that this could bring. Recorded May 2025.

Professor Stephen J Simpson’s world-leading research on nutrition – which all began 37 years ago by looking into the eating habits of locusts - is changing the way we look at human diets today. He has just stepped down as the Inaugural Academic Director at the Charles Perkins Centre, a multidisciplinary research centre committed to improving global health. Recorded April 2024.

Professor Neely on his ground-breaking work using gene-editing technology to help develop new anti-venoms for snake bites and Box Jellyfish stings. He also discusses how an interest in pain led him to the work he is doing now with venoms and how this work, in turn, may lead to breakthroughs around pain in the future.

The legislation that would have allowed for the capping of international student numbers looks doomed to fail - with the Coalition and the Greens opposing it. However, the debate around international students continues to rage - wrapped up as it is - erroneously - in arguments about cost of living, housing and immigration. We wanted to put a human face to our international students, so we invited three of them - Ayesha Shaikh from the University of Sydney, Bolong Du from The University of Queensland and Cyrus Cheng from UNSW - into the pod booth to tell us about their motivations, hopes and experiences as international students in Australia. Recorded November 2024.