With effects rippling into the present, the Sri Lankan Civil War, lasting more than 25 years from the early 1980s until 2009, has found an important place in our current cultural canon. Join lawyer and novelist of Song of the Sun God, Shankari Chandran, author of Booker Prize-winning The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Shehan Karunatilaka and Anandavalli as they discussed the island nation’s turbulent recent history and its influence in their storytelling. In conversation with prize-winning author Roanna Gonsalves.

This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. 

With effects rippling into the present, the Sri Lankan Civil War, lasting more than 25 years from the early 1980s until 2009, has found an important place in our current cultural canon. Join lawyer and novelist of Song of the Sun God, Shankari Chandran, author of Booker Prize-winning The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Shehan Karunatilaka and Anandavalli as they discussed the island nation’s turbulent recent history and its influence in their storytelling. In conversation with prize-winning author Roanna Gonsalves. This event was presented by the <a href="https://www.swf.org.au/">Sydney Writers' Festival</a> and supported by UNSW Sydney.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Idea…

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UNSW Centre for Ideas

Sri Lankan Stories

The life stories of refugees have all the narrative tropes of myth, replete with world-shattering conflicts, perilous voyages, and courageous heroes who sometimes get to live happily ever after.  

Go beyond media reports in this discussion with Pulitzer Prize for Fiction-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen (A Man of Two Faces), Miles Franklin-winner Shankari Chandran (Safe Haven) and refugee law expert and advocate Daniel Ghezelbash as they discuss the refugee experience.

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and Sydney Writers' Festival. Viet Thanh Nguyen appeared thanks to the support of Fiona and Matthew Playfair.

The life stories of refugees have all the narrative tropes of myth, replete with world-shattering conflicts, perilous voyages, and courageous heroes who sometimes get to live happily ever after.  
Go beyond media reports in this discussion with Pulitzer Prize for Fiction-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen (A Man of Two Faces), Miles Franklin-winner Shankari Chandran (Safe Haven) and refugee law expert and advocate Daniel Ghezelbash as they discuss the refugee experience.
Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and <a href="https://www.swf.org.au/">Sydney Writers' Festival</a>. Viet Thanh Nguyen appeared thanks to the support of Fiona and Matthew Playfair.

Refuge: Viet Thanh Nguyen & Shankari Chandran

As we grapple with the increasing consequences of climate change, experts are warning that it’s not just an environmental issue, declaring it the ‘biggest global health threat of the 21st century’.

In the face of these warnings, where does Australia stand in its preparedness to address these health challenges, both locally and globally?

In a discussion led by ABC’s climate and health reporter, Tegan Taylor, hear from experts on how disasters such as bushfires and droughts, which are heightened by climate change, are triggering a spectrum of health risks - from infectious diseases to respiratory issues, and mental health challenges - with the vulnerable minority and at-risk groups bearing a disproportionate burden.

Panelists included Dr Georgia Behrens MD MScPH, Assistant Director, National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit; Scientia Professor Guy Marks AO, physician and epidemiologist, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Medicine & Health; Professor Ben Newell, Director, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney; and Dr Chloe Watfern, research fellow, Black Dog Institute. Tegan Taylor, award-winning health and science reporter at the ABC, facilitated the discussion.

This event was a collaboration between UNSW Medicine & Health and UNSW Science.

As we grapple with the increasing consequences of climate change, experts are warning that it’s not just an environmental issue, declaring it the ‘biggest global health threat of the 21st century’.
In the face of these warnings, where does Australia stand in its preparedness to address these health challenges, both locally and globally?
In a discussion led by ABC’s climate and health reporter, Tegan Taylor, hear from experts on how disasters such as bushfires and droughts, which are heightened by climate change, are triggering a spectrum of health risks - from infectious diseases to respiratory issues, and mental health challenges - with the vulnerable minority and at-risk groups bearing a disproportionate burden.
Panelists included <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-behrens-md-msc-a93100226/?originalSubdomain=au">Dr Georgia Behrens</a> MD MScPH, Assistant Director, National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit; <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/guy-marks">Scientia Professor Guy Marks</a> AO, physician and epidemiologist, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Medicine &amp; Health; <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/ben-newell">Professor Ben Newell</a>, Director, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney; and <a href="https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/researcher/chloe-watfern/">Dr Chloe Watfern</a>, research fellow, Black Dog Institute. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tegantaylor/?originalSubdomain=au">Tegan Taylor</a>, award-winning health and science reporter at the ABC, facilitated the discussion.
This event was a collaboration between<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/medicine-health"> UNSW Medicine &amp; Health</a> and <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/science">UNSW Science.</a>

Elevating Health in the Climate Debate

As we observe National Sorry Day and another great year of Sydney Writers' Festival comes to a close, we revisit one of the highlights of last year's program. Leading journalist Stan Grant shared insights from his new book, The Queen is Dead – building an impassioned argument on the necessity for an end to monarchy in Australia, the need for a republic, and what can be done to reckon with our past and negotiate a just settlement with First Nations people. Stan appeared in conversation with George Williams.

This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. 

As we observe National Sorry Day and another great year of Sydney Writers' Festival comes to a close, we revisit one of the highlights of last year's program. Leading journalist Stan Grant shared insights from his new book, The Queen is Dead – building an impassioned argument on the necessity for an end to monarchy in Australia, the need for a republic, and what can be done to reckon with our past and negotiate a just settlement with First Nations people. Stan appeared in conversation with George Williams.
This event was presented by the <a href="https://www.swf.org.au/">Sydney Writers' Festival</a> and supported by UNSW Sydney.

Sri Lankan Stories

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