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Raising the Bar
University experts take over city bars to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with their audience
Collection items
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Why antibiotic resistance can be thought of as the next doomsday
30 Jul 2023Antibiotic resistance has been creeping up for 70 years. Prof. Jack Heinemann, discusses how its doomsday scenario in this highlight of Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Audio
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Online trolls? They aren’t really so bad, according to Prof. Ekant Veer
16 Jul 2023Professor of Marketing Ekant Veer argues that online 'trolling' need not be a form of bullying, but something playful which is also good for society. From Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Audio
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Plugged in and logged on – growing up in the digital age
9 Jul 2023Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum explore the digital landscapes that young people occupy today. A highlight of the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Audio
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Is transport in Aotearoa/NZ on a road to nowhere?
28 Jun 2023What is going on with transport in Aotearoa? Prof. Simon Kingham explores what the evidence tells us about transport now and in the future, at Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Audio
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Why inflation is like toothpaste – economist Stephen Hickson
18 Jun 2023Economist Stephen Hickson explains how inflation rises, why it's bad for us and how we got rid of it. (A highlight from the University of Canterbury’s Raising the Bar series) Audio
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50 years on, the influence of the Polynesian Panthers remains, says Dr Melani Anae
23 Oct 2022Fifty years ago, the Polynesian Panthers Party led a revolution against what it argued was the rampant racism of 1970s Aotearoa. Dr Melani Anae explores its impact. Video, Audio
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We’re all made of stardust - astrophysicist Jan Eldridge
16 Oct 2022By looking to the stars we can understand where we came from and how we came to be. Dr Jan Eldridge explains how the different death throes of stars create what's needed for life. Audio
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Everybody wants to rule the world – but who really does?
5 Oct 2022Conspiracists often claim that a shadowy cabal is in control of the world. But is it actually corporations? Nation states? Markets? Or no-one in particular? Dr Guy Fiti Sinclair explores the options.
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'Omicron was not mild for those suffering Long Covid' – immunologist Dr Anna Brooks
2 Oct 2022The term 'Long Covid' was coined in May 2020 but the virus became a pandemic before the most common post-viral condition was taken seriously. Dr Anna Brooks explores what we now know about it. Audio
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'Data only take you so far in innovative design, because people say what they think you want to hear' – Dr Angus Campbell
25 Sep 2022The perils of data-driven design are explored by Dr Angus Campbell. (A highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar talk series) Audio
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‘The energy colonisation put in to remove te reo from us, needs to be put back in to make it accessible to Māori’ – Dr Kiri Dell
15 Sep 2022Dr Kiri Dell from Auckland University's Business School explores what Maori and Pakeha need to consider for the journey towards revitalisation of te reo Maori to become a reality. A highlight of the… Audio
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'Auckland city, oh what a pity' – architect Julie Stout on what might it might become instead
11 Sep 2022Julie Stout describes how Auckland could connect in the future to the wairua and cultures that make up Tamaki Makaurau. One of the highlights of Auckland University's Raising the Bar 2022. Audio
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Can a blood supply be safe, shortage-free and also inclusive? Assoc. Prof. Peter Saxton thinks so.
4 Sep 2022Community health expert Dr Peter Saxton explores the balancing act of keeping New Zealand's blood supply safe from infectious diseases while ensuring we have enough donors and can uphold our values as… Audio
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With supply chains, you can have efficiency or resilience but not both - Prof. Tava Olsen
26 Aug 2022What's with all the stockouts and empty shelves? Dr Tava Olsen from the University of Auckland Business School with a highlight of Raising the Bar 2022. Audio
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Word of mouth: What is it, does it work and how can it be used?
12 Jun 2022Marketing expert Assoc. Prof. Bodo Lang explains what word of mouth is, why it works, and how much it can be trusted. And he reveals that whether it's online or face to face really matters. Audio
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How genome-mapping all NZ children could help combat disease
5 Jun 2022How could DNA improve our health? Prof. Justin O'Connor advocates sequencing the genomes of all the 60,000 children born in NZ each year. A highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar series. Audio
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Tastes like climate change: Wine expert Ali Lowrey has a sobering warning
29 May 2022Ali Lowrey talks about the future of winemaking in this highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar Home Series. Audio
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A top ice-hockey player is deeply involved in research into brain disease triggered by contact sports like hers
22 May 2022Dr Helen Murray explores the relationship between repetitive head injuries, contact sport and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a progressive brain disease that causes dementia. Audio
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How to make our democracy better? Try sortition, once practised in Ancient Greece – Prof Matheson Russell
18 May 2022Assoc. Prof. Matheson Russell explores different models for democracy in action during an era of unprecedented polarisation. His focus? Sortition. A highlight of Raising the Bar Home Edition. Video, Audio
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From hard genetics to lifestyle genetics – how genes do, and don’t, predict our health and life outcomes
8 May 2022Prof. Andrew Shelling sorts fact from fiction when it comes to 'blaming your genes,' and discusses the role of genetic testing in controlling common diseases. From Raising the Bar Home Edition. Video, Audio
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Psychology can help us form herd immunity against misinformation - marketing expert Dr Mike Lee
3 Oct 2021Marketing expert Dr Mike Lee has kept a ten-year watch on the anti-vaccination movement. In this illuminating talk, he explores how we could develop herd immunity against harmful misinformation. Video, Audio
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Remarkably, a Coney Island freak show has a proud place in the history of care for premature babies
27 Jun 2021Huge strides in the care of pre-term babies have been made in the last few decades. Prof. Frank Bloomfield reports on this history, and current research, in this Raising the Bar 2021 highlight. Audio
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There’s a big difference between health promotion and health education, says Auckland University expert
20 Jun 2021In a Covid-19 era of fevered concern about health, why is health education in schools not done better? Assoc. Prof Katie Fitzpatrick considers why at Raising the Bar 2021. Audio
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Research into the medical use of psychedelics is underway but don’t expect results soon – expert
13 Jun 2021Since the 1950s researchers have known psychedelic drugs could have medical applications, but what of research today? Associate Professor Suresh Muthukumaraswamy talks at Raising the Bar 2021. Audio
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The western academic framework completely misses the mark, according to a Pasifika university leader
A brown girl is in the ring. Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath (the co-Head of the School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies) explores life as a Pasifika academic. A highlight from Raising the Bar 2021. Audio