Research in the news

Associate Professor Deborah Barros Leal Farias from the School of Social Sciences discusses the uncertainty surrounding Flávio Bolsonaro’s departure to the United States, noting that “there’s a lot of conflicting information.” She explores the contrasting public personas of the candidates and what the election outcome could mean for Brazil. [2:01]

Associate Professor Oliver Bown from the School of Art & Design discusses Copyright Plus, a proposed framework he co-authored to protect creators’ work in the age of AI. He explains that it would require licensing companies to respect artists’ rights to opt out of AI training and AI-generated imitation.

Associate Professor Deborah Barros Leal Farias from the School of Social Sciences discusses the outcome of Brazil’s election, noting that despite the "nailbitingly tight" victory, the result does not diminish the deep political divisions that continue to shape the country. [38:48]

Ahead of the opening of nine new suburbs along the much anticipated Southwest Metro line, Professor Chris Pettit from the City Futures Research Centre explains the benefits of concentrating housing around transport corridors, noting that it could help reduce Sydney’s reliance on urban expansion into outer growth areas.

Associate Professor Deborah Barros Leal Farias from the School of Social Sciences discusses Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s unexpected re-election, explaining that his against-the-odds victory was driven by a campaign that sparked “massive mobilisation on social media as well as on the streets.”

Associate Professor Deborah Barros Leal Farias from the School of Social Sciences discusses Brazil’s current political landscape, particularly the resurgence of the Bolsonarist movement, and highlights the broader conservative shift taking place across Latin America.

Associate Professor Deborah Barros Leal Farias from the School of Social Sciences examines the growing support for Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s elections. She attributes this shift to "the underestimated influence of social media and misinformation", a widespread desire for change, and declining support for Lula’s Workers’ Party.

Scientia Professor Carla Treloar from the Centre for Social Research in Health shares findings from her research on households relying primarily on income support. She notes that “these payments leave people a long way from being able to cover the basics, and substantially lifting them would go a long way to closing those gaps.”

Following the attack on independent MP Helen Haines, Dr Ayesha Jehangir from the School of the Arts and Media discusses how schools can respond to such incidents. She emphasises the importance of helping students distinguish between political disagreement and intimidation or violence, while promoting respectful democratic debate.

Emeritus Professor Martyn Lyons from the School of Humanities & Languages explores the history of reading in Australia, challenging stereotypes of Australians as "outdoor, sporting types" with little interest in intellectual pursuits. He highlights Australia's flourishing reading culture and what it reveals about our national identity.

Associate Professor Paul Hogben from the School of Built Environment discusses the architectural history of Merewether Heights, Newcastle, from the post-war era to the present day. Originally conceived as a garden suburb, he traces the area's evolution and highlights the emergence of "structurally interesting" homes and buildings. [36:39]

A new report co-authored by Scientia Professor Carla Treloar from the Centre for Social Research in Health and the Australian Council of Social Service highlights poverty among people receiving social security payments. She says current rates are "so low that they're forcing people to live in poverty" and calls for higher income support.

Professor Jan Breckenridge from the School of Social Sciences discusses her funded research into the weaponisation of AI in cases of coercive control. She explains how perpetrators use the technology to undermine victim-survivors' sense of self and agency, and outlines her aims to develop resources to help detect its misuse. [1:06:01]

Dr Kate Brady from the School of Built Environment explores the "predictable impacts" of disasters, from health and housing to relationships and access to education, and highlights the need to better plan for these long-term consequences before disaster strikes. [30:26]

Once the crisis has passed, what comes next? Dr Kate Brady from the School of Built Environment says disasters are "more than the hazard" and highlights the value of first-hand community experiences in shaping recovery efforts beyond the immediate emergency. [3:38:21]

As summer approaches promising more frequent and severe disasters, Dr Kate Brady from the School of Built Environment advocates for a more proactive approach to recovery planning, noting it is a long-term process rather than a quick fix. [1:58:44]

Following reports of online predators targeting children through gaming platforms including Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox and Steam, Professor Michael Salter from the School of Social Sciences explains why "there are so many loopholes to connect with vulnerable children" and discusses the risks of grooming, abuse and sexual exploitation.

Professor Michael Salter from the School of Social Sciences rejects claims that gaming platforms are doing enough to protect children online. He argues that “gaming companies have a financial investment in an unsafe product”, highlighting significant variations in safety standards and features across platforms.