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Forecasting the future: The science of prediction
What's involved in forecasting the Federal Budget, COVID-19 daily case numbers, or Australia's electricity needs? Join expert Professor Rob Hyndman as he explains the art of prediction. This episode also features guests Jehan Ratnatunga (Who Gives A… -
Slang and sleeping dialects: the evolution of language
Whatevs, just chillax – slang is here to stay. Slang expert Professor Kate Burridge explains how slang evolves and why it sticks around, and you’ll meet three linguists who are working hard to revitalise some of our ‘sleeping’ Indigenous languages. -
Masculinity 2.0. Why is it so hard to move past toxic masculinity?
Toxic masculinity and rape culture are in the headlines again. And women are furious. So how can we reset masculine norms? We met two men working to help others embrace an expression of masculinity that is healthy for all genders. We also look to the… -
Underwork or overwork? Finding the right balance
Are you or your team clocking long hours at work? Or often twiddling your thumbs? Turns out Goldilocks was right: the balance needs to be just right. In this episode, Professor Andrew Neal discusses how bosses effectively (and ineffectively) manage w… -
Why humour does more than make you laugh
Have you ever used humour in a potentially inappropriate situation? Did it help? Humour does more than provide a giggle or two. It's an energiser, an icebreaker and a team builder. In this episode, Professor Sharyn Roach Anleu, Dr David Cheng and the… -
How images twist your perception
Do you have an image you just can't get out of your mind? Something from the news or a current event? Did it impact how you thought about that issue - maybe for decades? According to Professor Roland Bleiker (and at least one Ethiopian taxi driver) v… -
The reconnection revolution: How do good neighbours become good friends?
The TV show, Neighbours, premiered in 1985. Since then, you’re likely to know half as many neighbours as you did in the mid-1980s. So, how did your community help you get through 2020? And why is something Professor Andrew Leigh terms “an ugly term f… -
How food connects us: in good times and bad.
Do you have a family recipe that keeps you together? Most of us have at least one dish in our repertoire that holds decades of memories - or even family history. Did you revisit that recipe this year? One of Australia’s eminent food historians shares… -
How avoiding the commute is making us happier
How much would you pay to claw back some extra time? Would the answer be different now that, as one of the few silver linings of COVID 19, you can work from home a lot more? Would it be $10 a week? $20 a week? Transport expert Professor David Hensher… -
The treasure hunt that changed Australian history
How far would you go to right a wrong? Would you crowdfund your way to the High Court? That’s exactly what Professor Jenny Hocking did when she realised Australians were being kept from accessing the real history behind the historic 1975 Whitlam gove…
Seriously Social
By Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Seriously Social helps you understand your world. Each week listen to in depth, intelligent insights from Australia’s best social scientists. We talk human society, our social relationships and the world in transition. Brought to you by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
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