Shows
SSEAC StoriesSustainable Teamwork and Team Leadership in Southeast AsiaThe workplace is forever facing new challenges. These challenges are also unique in the context of Southeast Asia. Effective team work and leadership are at the core of organisational success. Yet much remains under investigated in how we can best help organisations and their teams and leaders in navigating shifts in the business environment.To think about these issues in a Southeast Asian context, joining the podcast today is Dr Nate Zettna, a Lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney. He completed his PhD specialising...2025-03-1324 min
The South East Asia Travel Show"From Battambang to Taking the Stage in New York, Sydney & Montreal": The Best Bits From The South East Asia Travel Show in May 2024"From Battambang to Taking the Stage in New York, Sydney & Montreal" to "Say versus Do in Sustainable Tourism" and "Backwards Steps in Domestic Tourism in ASEAN". Welcome to the third edition of our monthly mini-round-up of the key moments from recent podcast discussions and interviews.
During May, Craig Dodge, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing at Phare, discusses the compelling journey of Cambodia's arts circus from a wartime refugee camp in Battambang to a theatre stage tour taking in New York, Sydney & Montreal. Plus, we discuss the backwards steps in incentivising and promoting domestic tourism in South East...2024-06-0515 minSSEAC StoriesUse of Bacteriophages as Natural Antimicrobials to Manage Bacterial Pathogens in Aquaculture in Vietnam and AustraliaAquaculture is the fastest-growing protein production industry globally, with Vietnam one of the top producers and exporters of seafood products. In Vietnam, aquaculture is seen as a means of protecting rural livelihoods threatened by the consequences of climate change on agriculture. But climate change also drives the emergence of marine bacterial pathogens, causing considerable losses to aquaculture production. Traditionally, pathogen blooms have been treated with antimicrobials – but this has resulted in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture settings. So how can we combat these bacterial pathogens without fostering antimicrobial resistance whilst also continuing to produce the se...2024-02-0224 minSSEAC StoriesSSEAC Cambodia Field School: Anti-Microbial Resistance in CambodiaIn the last of our five special podcasts about from the recent SSEAC field schools to Southeast Asia, we will be hearing from students and staff from the field school to Cambodia, which looked anti-microbial resistance (AMR). This field school was offered to students from medical sciences, pharmacy, arts, international relations, media and communications, science, public health, vet science, and social work. Leaders Justin Beardsley and Leanne Howie are joined by two University of Sydney students – Sam and Alannah.The students consider many of the important aspects of their experience including: the value of transdisciplinary research, challenges, le...2023-12-0128 minSSEAC StoriesSSEAC Philippines Field School: Disaster Risk and ResilienceIn the third of five special podcasts about from the recent SSEAC field schools to Southeast Asia, we will be hearing from students and staff from the field school to the Philippines, which looked at disaster risk and resilience. This field school was offered to students from Engineering, Architecture and Anthropology. Leader Aaron Opdyke is joined by co-leader, Emily Nabong, and two University of Sydney students – Oli and Sophia.The students consider many of the important aspects of their experience including flexibility in research goals, managing change, the value of transdisciplinary research, cultural differences and navigating these wi...2023-11-1435 minSSEAC StoriesSSEAC Singapore Field School: COVID Vaccination RolloutIn the first of five special podcasts hearing from the recent SSEAC field schools to Southeast Asia, we will be talking with students and staff from the field school to Singapore, which was looking at the COVID Vaccination Rollout in Singapore. This field school was offered to students from Pharmacy, Geography, International Relations and Health and Medical Sciences. Natali Pearson is joined by co-leader, Hoi Kay, and two University of Sydney students – Celia and Jie-Rui.The students consider many of the important aspects of their experience including: the value of transdisciplinary research, challenges, learnings, cultural differences and na...2023-11-0128 minSSEAC StoriesWhy Consumers Choose Private Over Public Health Services in VietnamDemographic changes, rise in disposable income, and steady economic growth has led to a growing demand for healthcare services in Vietnam. But the public healthcare system struggles to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the Vietnamese population. Within this context, the private sector in Vietnam fills an important gap left by the public sector. Today’s guest is interested in why consumers choose private over public health services in Vietnam, and in particular, the social factors that influence these choices, including word of mouth referrals, the patient-doctor relationship, the behaviour of healthcare staff, and marketing.To discuss th...2023-08-1017 minSSEAC StoriesAgricultural Shocks and Social Conflict in Southeast AsiaIn lower–income economies, a small change in people’s wellbeing may trigger a suite of behavioral responses, some of which may be unlawful as well as violent. Motives and modes of conflict vary. In regions with high agricultural dependence, conflict can be linked with harvest-time windfalls. Agriculture is a crucial sector for employment and income generation in South East Asia, where poverty is relatively high, and civil conflict and social unrest have been defining features of the region’s politics. Associate Professor of Economics David Ubilava discusses harvest time violence and why this is occurring in South East Asia.2023-06-1224 minSSEAC StoriesLocating Human Dignity in Cambodia: Prospects for Human Rights EducationThe concept of human dignity is a foundational one within human rights discourses, and is commonly used in the context of human rights and sustainable development policies and programs. But the meaning of ‘human dignity’, and its role, have seldom been interrogated rigorously or systematically. Instead, there exists a widespread presumption of universality, despite growing evidence that the concept of human dignity can be understood in profoundly different ways in different socio-cultural and political settings. Dr Rachel Killean and Dr Natali Pearson discuss human dignity in Cambodia, and prospects for human rights education.Dr Natali Pearson is Curr...2023-05-1328 minSSEAC StoriesThe Politics of Ethnicity in the Malay WorldMalaysia is a classic example of a plural society, with a diverse population consisting of the indigenous peoples, collectively called bumiputera, and the descendants of immigrant populations from southern China, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. In this multi-ethnic context, the question of identity, notably of Malay identity, has remained elusive and open to varying interpretations.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Professor Tom Pepinsky contends that identity is not set in stone, but is emergent, situational and contingent. Focusing on the concept of ethnic identity in Malaysia, he argues that in contemporary Malaysia, the Ma...2023-04-1328 min
Gatty Rewind PodcastSophie Chao, Department of Anthropology, University of SydneyThis week's Gatty Lecture Rewind podcast features ANU department of anthropology professor Dr. Sophie Chao. In the episode, Francine unpacks Dr. Chao's Gatty Lecture titled: We are (not) Monkeys: Raciality, Animality, and Cosmopolitical Struggles in Indonesian West Papua. They also dive further into what inspired her work, and the ways it connects with her expertise in environmental anthropology, and reflect critically on questions about the ethicality, justice, and positionality surrounding her research. Lightning Round: 03:19 Research and lecture summary: 8:41 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 43:06 Dr. Chao's Top Recommendations: The Nutmeg's Curse...2023-03-2154 minSSEAC StoriesSocial Media Influencers and Digital Media Regulation in VietnamIn 2021, a famous Vietnamese businesswoman hosted a three-hour long Facebook livestream, in which she named and shamed celebrities for their controversial public behaviours. This formed part of a regular pattern of personal attacks, in which she weaponised livestreaming to denounce media and charity organisations in front of huge online audiences. This case marked a turning point in Vietnam, forcing the government to contend with growing political activity in the online environment, and prompting new digital media regulation.In this episode, Dr Jonathon Hutchinson joins Dr Natali Pearson to discuss this case and other examples of online socio-political...2023-03-0924 minSSEAC StoriesA New Hope? Japanese Retirement Migration to MalaysiaIn post-growth Japan, some people are looking to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, as a source of new hope. A notable change in the recent pattern of global migration is the movement of people within Asia. Previous studies on Asian migration have mostly considered the movement of people from Asia to Europe and North America. Yet in recent years, countries in Asia have emerged as major receiving sites of intra-regional migration.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Shiori Shakuto takes a closer look at Japanese retirement migration to Malaysia, revealing some of the motivations for inter-Asian m...2023-02-0923 minSSEAC StoriesShaping Civilisations: The Sea in Asian HistoryThe ocean is more connective device than barrier, bringing together diverse topics, time-periods and geographies. It has linked and connected the various littorals of Asia into a segmented, yet at the same time, a unitary circuit over roughly the past 500 years since the so-called age of contact initiated a quickening of patterns and engagements that already existed. But despite the centrality of the maritime domain, there hasn’t really been a single study looking at Asia’s seas through a broad macro-lens.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Professor Eric Tagliocozzo seeks to address this gap. Drawi...2023-01-2624 minSSEAC StoriesMaking Sense of the 2022 General Elections in MalaysiaOn 9 November 2022, Malaysia held its 15th General Elections. These elections took place within an unprecedentedly open and fragmented political landscape. Instead of the usual two main coalitions contending as frontrunners, Malaysia now has three main coalitions: Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Perikatan Nasional (PN). Not one of these coalitions won enough seats to form government, and it was only after much jockeying around that Pakatan Harapan, led by Anwar Ibrahim, was able to cobble together enough support to form the so-called unity government.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Azmil Tayeb unpacks Malaysia’s re...2022-12-2325 minSSEAC StoriesThe ‘Domino Effect’: Global and Regional Climate Change Impacts on Food Supply ChainsThere is a complex relationship between climate change and food systems. Food supply chains – in particular food transportation – result in global greenhouse gas emissions, and these emissions are known to be a driving force underlying climate change. But it also works the other way. Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Arunima Malik discusses the wide-ranging impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on global regional food systems and supply chains, identifying potential cascading repercussions including job and income loss as well as a loss in nutrient availability and diet quality.About Arunima Malik:Dr A...2022-12-2222 minSSEAC StoriesPublic Participation and Contested Hydropower Development in the Mekong River BasinRegional demand for renewable hydropower from the Mekong River and its tributaries in Laos is on the rise. In June 2022, Laos exported one hundred megawatts of hydropower to Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia – a historic milestone that further establishes Laos as the battery of Asia. However, these developments take place amid rising concerns for the ecological future of the transboundary Mekong River and the millions of people who depend on it.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Ming Li Yong exposes how further hydropower development on the Mekong River could negatively affect ecosystems, resulting in dec...2022-11-2423 minSSEAC StoriesSustainable Peatland Management and Transboundary Haze in Southeast AsiaIndonesian citizens, and those of neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, have long suffered recurring haze pollution caused by peatland fires in Indonesia. To avoid these forest fires, and reduce the environmental harm and negative health impacts that transboundary haze gives rise to, Indonesia needs to restore its degraded peatlands. President Joko Widodo started this task in 2016 when he established the Peatland Restoration Agency, tasked with rehabilitating 2 million hectares of degraded peatland. What has this ad hoc body achieved since then, and where will it go from here?In this episode, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Dr Rini...2022-11-1025 minSSEAC StoriesCivil Society, Capitalism, and Political Regimes in Southeast AsiaWorking on Southeast Asia, one thing we tend to hear a lot of is the notion that civil society is shrinking, and that authoritarianism is on the rise. In fact the rise of anti-democratic and anti-liberal forces and ideas seems to be on the rise around the world, not just in the region.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Professor Garry Rodan argues that contrary to popular claims, civil society is not generally shrinking in Southeast Asia. It is instead transforming, resulting in important shifts in the influences that can be exerted through it. Drawing from h...2022-10-2728 minSSEAC StoriesEthics, Utopia and Materiality: Glimpses of Everyday Creativity and Hope in Indonesian PapuaThe Asmat are an indigenous people of Indonesian Papua and are renowned for their artistic carving flair and complex life-cycle rituals. They also have big ambitions that reach as far as the Vatican. Over the past five decades, pressures from the state, religious authorities, and the global art market, have led to profound cultural changes and a widespread sense of predicament, dysphoria and disempowerment among the Asmat.In this episode of SSEAC Stories, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Dr Roberto Costa to discuss the social changes experienced by the Asmat people, and the material and ethical a...2022-10-1323 minSSEAC StoriesMaterial Matters: Reflections on the History of Settlement Development Across Mainland Southeast AsiaDespite decades of research into the historic settlements of Mainland Southeast Asia, our understanding of the region’s long-term settlement history remains incomplete. We know, for example, that mainland Southeast Asia was home to the world’s most extensive pre-industrial low-density urban complex at the site of Greater Angkor in Cambodia – but we don’t know how the site, and its low-density configuration, fits within the broader settlement history of the region. Yet understanding these settlement histories is important not only for understanding what happened in the past, but also for how we interpret settlement patterns developing across the region t...2022-09-1521 minSSEAC StoriesVietnam and China: Strange Bedfellows in the Era of Strategic CompetitionAs the Asia-Pacific becomes the central stage of the US-China rivalry, Vietnam has emerged as one of the key countries to watch. While Vietnam has positioned itself as a critical player in the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy, and Hanoi’s distrust of China has grown in response to Beijing’s increasingly aggressive stance in the South China Sea, the Vietnam-China relationship transcends mere geopolitical binaries.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Nguyen Khac Giang discusses Vietnam and China’s complex relationship, reflecting on the intimate ideological links, economic dependency, and security concerns that link the two countries...2022-09-0129 minSSEAC StoriesEdging Towards New Politics? Reflections on Malaysia’s Democracy after GE14After decades of authoritarian rule by the Barisan Nasional coalition, a new alliance, Pakatan Harapan, was voted in in 2018, marking Malaysia’s first-ever transfer of federal power through elections in what was widely heralded as the start of a democratic transition. But that new government collapsed within two years, and Malaysian politics has remained unstable ever since. With elections likely to be called soon, what accounts for the remarkable turbulence in Malaysian politics, and what does it say about how regimes are remade?Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Professor Meredith Weiss discusses the state of politic...2022-08-1825 minSSEAC StoriesEast Timorese Politics: A New Dawn or Return to Business as Usual?As the newest nation in Southeast Asia, Timor-Leste has been independent for just over 20 years. Timor-Leste is regularly ranked the most democratic nation in the region, and since reclaiming independence in May 2002, the country’s political situation has grown increasingly complex, with the emergence of new parties, new coalitions and new leaders. Yet the recent presidential election in April 2022 delivered the return of a familiar face: Jose Ramos Horta, once an activist in exile, and now President of Timor-Leste for a second time with the powerful backing of politician Xanana Gusmão.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEA...2022-08-0526 minSSEAC StoriesOpposing Power: Building Opposition Alliances in Electoral AutocraciesOn 9 May 2018, an ideologically diverse opposition alliance called Pakatan Harapan (PH) defeated the long-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which had dominated politics in Malaysia since the 1980s. This was the first regime change in Malaysia’s history. This outstanding development was shortly followed by a series of defections culminating in the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February 2020, after just 22 months in power. A new government was sworn in in March 2020, led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, but only lasted until August 2021, when another new government led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yakoob was formed.As Ma...2022-07-2123 minSSEAC StoriesReshaping the Politics of Science: Bioscience Governance in IndonesiaThe last few years have brought to the fore the brilliant work of scientists as they worked to find a vaccine for Covid-19. But have you ever stopped to think about the role of biological materials in this and other science- and health-related research?In this episode of SSEAC Stories, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Associate Professor Sonja van Wichelen to take a close look at the complex world of global health governance, with a particular focus on biotechnology and bioscience governance in Indonesia. They discuss the crucial role of biological materials exchange for scientific research, w...2022-07-0824 minSSEAC StoriesHouseMate: Lessons from Singapore on How to Provide Universal Cheap HomeownershipWhile Australia prides itself on being an egalitarian society, and owning a detached house on fenced block of land plays a much-revered role in the Great Australian Dream, in practice, home ownership remains a luxury afforded to the few. As skyrocketing house prices have gradually locked millions out of the Australian real estate market, economist Dr Cameron Murray turned to our neighbour Singapore to find a solution to the housing affordability crisis.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Cameron Murray reveals how the small Southeast Asian island-state can teach Australia some valuable lessons on universal c...2022-06-2320 minSSEAC StoriesAll Industry is Creative Industry: New Creativity and Innovation Practices in VietnamRecent economic development in Vietnam has seen a proliferation of manufacturing. At the same time, Vietnam has embraced creative innovation as part of its move towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Throughout the country, new creativity and innovation practices are emerging. These practices provide a creative outlet, but also connect to bigger themes around industry, wellbeing, productivity, and climate change.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Associate Professor Jane Gavan untangles some of these threads, explaining the relationship between creativity and manufacturing, and reflecting on sustainable, innovative ways of raising productivity and valuing creativity in Vietnam.2022-06-0919 minSSEAC StoriesBoys Love and Japanese Queer Popular Culture across Southeast AsiaSince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers across East and Southeast Asia have found themselves turning to Thai soap operas known as “Boys Love series” as a source of comfort and joy. Originally deriving from Japanese comic book culture, Boys Love, or BL, represents just one of many instances where the queer popular culture of Japan has transformed sexual culture in Southeast Asia through the development of new expressions of gender and sexuality.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Thomas Baudinette shines the spotlight on the influence of Japanese queer popular across Southeast Asia, highl...2022-05-2623 minSSEAC StoriesGeopolitics in the Mekong Region: The Role of Chinese Energy Politics in Laos and CambodiaEnergy, and who controls it, has emerged as a major issue in Southeast Asia in recent years. Nowhere is this issue more evident than in the Mekong region, where China’s influence on the politics of energy has been steadily on the rise under the umbrella of its Belt and Road Initiative. China’s investments have supported Cambodia in being able to meet its increasing domestic energy demand, and are also helping Laos to fulfil its vision of becoming the ‘battery of Asia’. Meanwhile, renewed US commitment and additional funding to the Mekong region has been welcomed. Nevetheless, whether that tra...2022-05-1222 minSSEAC StoriesThe Politics of Ethnic Integration in ThailandFollowing the 2014 coup in Thailand, in which the Thai military overthrew the caretaker government after 6 months of political crisis, major media outlets suggested that the coup could lead to ethnic tensions—and potentially civil war—between the Isan people of northeastern Thailand and the central Thai government. While this civil war never eventuated, there were genuine tensions between the Isan people and the Thai state.In this episode, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Associate Professor Jacob Ricks, to discuss why these tensions never escalated into full blown conflict as predicted. Is this a sign that Thailand’s cent...2022-04-2821 minSSEAC StoriesGreater Angkor and Global UrbanismCambodia is home to Angkor, one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. Greater Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire, was a low-density city covered about a 1000 sq km and was the home of between 750,000 to 900,000 people in the 12th century CE. The urban complex was largely abandoned in the 14th and 15th centuries. Its central 300 sq km is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes the world-famous temple of Angkor Wat, one of humankind’s largest religious monuments which has continued in use to the present day.In this episode, world-renowned archaeologist Professor Rolan...2022-04-1424 minSSEAC StoriesChina, Buddhism and the Belt and Road Initiative in Mainland Southeast AsiaLaunched in 2013 by Chinese President XI Jinping, China’s Belt and Road initiative has manifested throughout Southeast Asia in the form of multibillion dollar investments in transport infrastructure, industrial estates and other forms of “hard” development. This push for trade and hard infrastructure has been accompanied by a surge in various soft power initiatives, including the use of religion as a cultural resource.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Dr Gregory Raymond sheds light on the use of religion, in particular Buddhism, within the great geopolitical strategy of China’s Belt and Road Initiative across mainland Southeast...2022-03-3124 minSSEAC StoriesUnderstanding the Drivers of Vaccine Acceptance in Southeast AsiaVaccines have controlled or even eradicated some of the world’s most serious diseases. Throughout the last century and up until recently with the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of successful vaccines has widely been heralded a triumph to combat devastating virus outbreaks.The success of immunisations, however, has always been limited by issues of public acceptance. Understanding why people are or aren’t vaccinated is crucial to public health responses to diseases like measles and, of course, COVID-19. Many are concerned about the impact of anti-vaccination activism and misinformation on vaccine programs. But is vaccine hesitancy always due...2022-03-1822 minSSEAC StoriesArchitecture, Climatic Privilege, and Migrant Labour in SingaporeMigration and architecture have emerged as a new topic of research at a global level. Migrant worker dormitories in Singapore, for example, are sites where structural inequities in architecture and legal regulations have had a significant impact on the living conditions of migrant workers, and they hit the headlines in 2020 as sites for the rapid spread of COVID.Dr Jennifer Ferng joins Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories to talk about the relationship between architecture and labour, arguing that climate change, capital, and power intersect with the forced displacement of migrants to reinforce existing inequalities of ethnicity, cla...2022-03-0320 minSSEAC StoriesFor the Love of Translation: A Discussion of King Vajiravudh’s Translations of Western Literature in Early 20th-Century SiamKing Vajiravudh ruled over Siam from 1910 to 1925. He is widely known to Thais as a nationalist king who proposed an essential ‘Thainess’ through his myriad of writings. Yet contrary to popular expectations, King Vajiravudh’s attitude towards the West was nothing short of ambivalent. In fact, King Vajiravudh’s dynamic practice of translating works of Western literature into Thai points to strong bonds of affection towards Great Britain and France in particular. To explore this connection, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Dr Faris Yothasamuth who argues that King Vajiravudh’s fascination with the West and Western discourses heavily influenced...2022-02-1721 minSSEAC StoriesWhere the Wild Things Are: Reimagining the More-Than-Human CityAmidst accelerating environmental change and intense urbanisation, there is growing enthusiasm for building sustainable and ‘natural’ cities. Yet, when a flourishing eco-futuristic urban imaginary is enacted, it is often driven by a specific version of sustainability that is tied to high-tech futurism and persistent economic growth. In a Southeast Asian context, no city or country better encapsulates this than Singapore. But the pursuit of a singular narrative of progress has very specific consequences, particularly when that progress benefits some but not all beings. In this episode, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Dr Jamie Wang to shed more light on t...2022-02-0425 minSSEAC StoriesSpeaking Bones: Unearthing Ancient Stories of Illness and DiseaseFrom mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue to chronic bacterial infections such as yaws, Southeast Asia is home to a wide range of tropical diseases. For a long time, the arrival in the region of these and other dangerous tropical diseases was believed to be connected to the introduction of agriculture. But how long have these diseases really been around for? How are they connected to the region’s fluctuating social and environmental conditions? And how have they impacted the human populations of Southeast Asia over time?Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, bioarchaeologist Dr Melan...2022-01-2122 minSSEAC StoriesExport China: Reimagining Chineseness through the Ceramics Trade in Southeast AsiaIn 2021, a team of divers sponsored by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute surveyed two historic shipwrecks discovered in the Singapore Strait, working for several months to bring their submerged cargos to the surface. Chinese trade ceramics found in these cargos date their demise to the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries – pivotal moments in the history of the globe-spanning China Trade. The most intriguing aspect of this salvage operation, however, is the discovery in the remains of the older vessel of the most substantial cargo of Yuan-dynasty blue-and-white porcelain yet found in Southeast Asian waters.Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSE...2022-01-0722 minSSEAC StoriesThe Storytelling State: Performing Life Histories in SingaporeToday, oral histories of everyday Singaporeans are more widely circulated in the nation’s mediascape than ever before. At first glance, storytelling in Singapore appears to have lost its monolithic quality, becoming diffuse and diversified. But as Dr Cheng Nien Yuan argues, Singapore has become a Storytelling State, marketing bite-sized pieces of consumable lives as authentic windows to the private self. The result is the use of personal stories within the neoliberal public sphere, mirroring a growing global phenomenon. To tell this story, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Dr Cheng Nien Yuan to discuss her award-winning research that char...2021-12-2321 minSSEAC StoriesHidden in Plain Sight: How Nalehmu is Disrupting Conventional Power Structures in MyanmarIn April 2021, three months into Myanmar’s most recent and increasingly more violent coup d’état, local residents managed to obstruct the junta by refusing to cooperate with military appointed officials. The junta had attempted to replace all local level administrators with those loyal to the military. But in one town in Shan State, the junta-appointed administrators were socially ostracized by the community to the point of resigning. With no one daring to take their place, every ward administrator position in town went unfilled. Across the country, Myanmar residents supported each other, and striking civil servants, by setting up donat...2021-12-0927 minSSEAC StoriesShaking the World: How Geology Can Help Us Address the Big Challenges of the 21st CenturySoutheast Asia is the most tectonically and geologically active region on Earth. These processes have enriched the mountains and basins with world-famous mineral and energy resources, fresh water, and highly productive soils. However, the same geological processes are responsible for incredible destruction – from the 1991 Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption in the Philippines to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. These natural hazards, coupled with the effects of human-induced climate change, are driving significant change. To talk us through these changes, Dr Sabin Zahirovic joins Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, exposing how climate change is amplifying existing vulnerabilities in Southeast Asia. He...2021-11-2615 minSSEAC StoriesThe Politics of Public Prosecution in Malaysia and the Problem of CorruptionOn 16 August 2021, Muhyiddin Yaseen resigned as Prime Minister of Malaysia, with Ismail Sabri Yaakub sworn in as the new Prime Minister a week later, making him Malaysia’s third Prime Minister in two years. This marked the return to power of UMNO, or the United Malays National Organisation, and the graft-tainted coalition that had been ousted from power in 2018. Meanwhile, another former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, is eyeing a return to Parliament, notwithstanding a conviction and 12-year prison sentence for abuse of power and ongoing trials for corruption. His wife Rosmah Mansur is also now facing three corruption charges....2021-11-1223 minSSEAC StoriesWonders of the Mekong: Rethinking Sustainable Development and Resilience in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap LakeCambodia’s Tonle Sap is the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia. Each year, during the monsoon, this freshwater lake experiences an incredible hydrological phenomenon, in which it is inundated with swelling waters from the Mekong River, causing it to rise by up to tenfold in some places, before returning to its pre-monsoon level as the dry season returns. But Tonle Sap is facing a triple environmental threat: climate change, the damming of the Mekong River, and over-fishing, with devastating impact not only on the wildlife, but also on local floating village communities.To share more, Dr Jo...2021-10-2820 minSSEAC StoriesFrom Animal Rights to Human Rights: Supporting Sustainable Farming Practices to Improve LivelihoodsIn September-October 2021, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia.For the final episode in the series, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Emeritus Professor Peter Windsor who brings to light how research improving animal health and production is intrinsically linked to human rights issues. Reflecting on his extensive field-based research on transboundary livestock disease in the Greater Mekong Region, he argues that through training on biosecurity practices, animal vaccination programs and nutritional interventions, rural households were able to prevent di...2021-10-1418 minSSEAC StoriesStepping in to Improve Women’s and Babies’ Lives in Southeast AsiaIn September-October 2021, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia.Maternal and child health is the cornerstone of a life lived healthily. Healthy women grow healthy children, who then go on to have healthy children themselves. In resource poor settings, healthy families can influence the wider community. In this episode, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Associate Professor Camille Raynes-Greenow to discuss how research focussed on interventions in the (mostly) perinatal period can improve outcomes for women and children. Focusing pr...2021-09-2319 minSSEAC StoriesPreserving Local Languages to Protect Cultural and Environmental Rights in LaosIn September-October 2021, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia. In the second episode, Dr Thushara Dibley talks with Professor Nick Enfield about how the field of linguistics intersects with human rights. They discuss some of the impacts that major hydro-electric dam projects in Laos have had on local communities, not just in changing day-to-day life, but in decreasing interethnic interactions, thereby eroding multiculturalism and multilingualism. In disrupting local indigenous exchanges, Professor Enfield argues that large development projects risk impeding the transmission of...2021-09-1627 minSSEAC StoriesElaine Pearson: Grappling with the intersections of academia, advocacy and activismFor the next four weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts exploring the role that research plays in understanding and advocating for human rights in Southeast Asia. To kick off the series, Dr Thushara Dibley is joined by Human Rights Watch Australia Director Elaine Pearson to discuss the interactions and tensions between academic research and investigation of human rights abuses conducted by human rights advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch. Elaine Pearson gives an insight into some of the work conducted by Human Rights Watch across the region, highlighting the core role of research not ju...2021-09-0220 minSSEAC StoriesSpirits, Development and Chinese (Hydro)power: Ethnographic (Hi)stories from Upland LaosIn the extreme north of Laos, in Phongsali Province, lies a tiny village home to around 24 households. Until recently it was a monoethnic Khmu village. The Khmu have had a historically ambivalent relationship to the national majority in contemporary Laos. It’s also home to the Akha, another ethnic group that have been described as state evaders seeking to avoid lowland politics and who migrated to northern Laos in recent decades. This small hamlet is a window into Laos’ march into a particular type of post-colonial modernity, where massive infrastructure projects, interethnic tensions, spirit beliefs and animistic practices coexist and...2021-08-1927 minSSEAC StoriesFrom the Archives: Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Response in the Philippines with Dr Aaron OpdykeThe Philippines is one of the most natural hazard-prone countries in the world. With the social and economic cost of disasters in the country increasing due to population growth, migration, unplanned urbanisation, environmental degradation and global climate change, disaster resilience and management are more important than ever.In 2020, Dr Aaron Opdyke spoke with Dr Natali Pearson about his work in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response in the Philippines.About Aaron Opdyke:Aaron is a Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney and the Philippines Country...2021-08-0616 minSSEAC StoriesFrom the Archives: Building a Sustainable Future through Urban Governance with Dr Sophie WebberWith two megacities and strong economic growth, Indonesia has seen dramatic rates of rural-urban migrations. According to the World Bank, nearly 70 percent of Indonesia's population are expected to live in cities by 2045. While this transition has undoubtedly boosted the country's economic growth, it has also brought to the fore all the challenges that come with rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation. From traffic congestion to informal settlements, lack of clean water and waste management services, and widespread flooding, Indonesia's cities suffer significant human and economic costs, and are now highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.In 2020, Dr...2021-07-2223 minSSEAC StoriesFrom the Archives: Supporting Sustainable Farming Practices in Cambodia with Professor Daniel TanImproper pest management has led to significant yield loss in rice and other crop harvests in Cambodia, causing economic losses to farmers and environmental disruption through ill-informed chemical use. The use of broad-spectrum pesticides as a solution to all observed pests is commonplace in the rice and mung bean fields of lowland Cambodia and can be linked to unsuitable sources of agricultural information.In 2020, Professor Daniel Tan caught up with Dr Natali Pearson over Zoom to chat about his lifelong work supporting sustainable farming practices in Cambodia, including through targeted capacity-building programs and the development of image-rich...2021-07-0820 minSSEAC StoriesBuilding Bridges Across the Seas: A Discussion of Australia-Indonesia Cooperation for the Preservation of Underwater Cultural HeritageIndonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic state, its waters home to hundreds, if not thousands, of shipwrecks. As maritime neighbours with both a common boundary and a shared history, protecting and preserving this maritime heritage is an important element of the Australia-Indonesia relationship. In recent years, government agencies from both countries have cooperated to manage the wreck of HMAS Perth (I), an Australian warship sunk off the coast of Java in World War II. However, efforts to engage the next generation have been limited.For this special episode, Dr Natali Pearson jumps on the other side of t...2021-06-2418 minSSEAC StoriesHomeland Activists Without a Home: Why Proximity and Precarity Matter for Myanmar’s RefugeesFebruary 2021 witnessed yet another military coup in Myanmar. Whether it was unexpected or entirely predictable is, perhaps, a matter of debate. But what is without a doubt different this time around is the way the population of Myanmar has responded, with younger generations in particular taking to social media to call for change, in a bid to avoid the suffering of their parents’ generation. Among those actors pressing for change are members of the diaspora, many of whom spent years in refugee camps and who continue to live proximate to Myanmar.On World Refugee Day, Dr Susan Ba...2021-06-1722 minSSEAC StoriesConnectivity and Displacement in Laos: Exploring Intersectional Infrastructure Violence with Dr Kearrin SimsMore than anywhere else in the world, Asia is experiencing an infrastructure boom. Although it is driven by both internal and external factors, this boom has accelerated noticeably as a result of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to extends port, railway and other connections throughout and across Southeast Asia. But what is the cost of this aggressive infrastructure development? What do we know about the people and places that are negatively impacted by these large-scale projects? In Laos, the government has placed enormous emphasis on infrastructure expansion as a mechanism for driving economic growth and poverty al...2021-06-1021 minSSEAC StoriesPirates of the South China Sea: A Brief Introduction to Maritime Piracy in Southeast Asia with Professor Justin HastingsSince the decline of piracy off the coast of the Horn of Africa, Southeast Asia has re-emerged as the world’s hotspot for maritime piracy, with 85 reported attacks in the region in 2020 alone. Unlike much of the rest of the world, Southeast Asia has also seen a resurgence of sophisticated maritime piracy, beyond just simple robberies. Yet this recent upsurge in maritime piracy is no coincidence.Professor Justin Hastings spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about Southeast Asia’s long history of maritime piracy, highlighting how the region’s archipelagic geography, legacies from colonial rule, trade integration, contested mariti...2021-05-2725 minSSEAC StoriesOpening Australia's Multilingual Archives to Rethink Australian Identity in the Asia-PacificAustralia has always been multilingual. Yet English language sources have dominated political and popular discourses over the last few centuries, overshadowing the significant contribution made by other languages and cultures in shaping Australian history and identity.Professor Adrian Vickers spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about his work as part of an ambitious new Australian Research Council Discovery Project that seeks to investigate and document how speakers of (mainly non-Indigenous) languages apart from English have recorded and represented Australia. As Professor Vickers explains, these languages include Indonesian, in which he specialises, as well as many other Asian and...2021-05-1320 minSSEAC StoriesOf Rice and Men: How Food Production is Driving Antimicrobial Resistance amongst Fungi in VietnamFungal infections are amongst the leading infectious disease killers globally. They result in more deaths than malaria, and almost as many as tuberculosis. However, they are often overlooked, and receive less research attention and funding than viral or bacterial infections. Over the past decade, this has started to change as the emergence of resistance in fungal pathogens has caused global alarm. New, resistant organisms have emerged, and old familiar ones have become harder to treat - agricultural antifungal use is thought to be driving these trends.Dr Justin Beardsley spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about the problem...2021-05-0617 minSSEAC StoriesTales of Unsung Heroes: How Thailand’s Village Health Volunteers Helped Combat the COVID-19 PandemicOn 13 January 2020, Thailand confirmed the first known case of COVID-19 outside of China. As one of the world's most popular tourism destinations, with the majority of its travellers coming from China, this news came as no surprise. One year on, COVID-19 cases and related deaths have remained remarkably low in Thailand, and the country’s management of the pandemic has been hailed as a striking success. So what's the secret behind Thailand's COVID-19 response?Dr Anjalee Cohen joined Dr Natali Pearson to explore the many factors that have contributed to Thailand’s success in managing COVID-19 thus far...2021-04-2923 minSSEAC StoriesDecolonising Research Collaboration Practices in Indonesia: A Discussion with Elisabeth KramerFor the next five weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts on research partnerships in Southeast Asia. In the context of COVID-19, it has become clear that working in partnership is a critical part of being able to do research in Southeast Asia. Through interviews with University of Sydney academics working across all disciplines and at all stages in their careers, this mini-series will highlight strategies that our members have used to build and sustain partnerships with collaborators in Southeast Asia.In our final episode in this mini-series, Dr Thushara Dibley speaks with Dr El...2021-04-1518 minSSEAC StoriesThe Subject and the Partner in Malaysia: A Discussion with Fiona LeeFor the next five weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts on research partnerships in Southeast Asia. In the context of COVID-19, it has become clear that working in partnership is a critical part of being able to do research in Southeast Asia. Through interviews with University of Sydney academics working across all disciplines and at all stages in their careers, this mini-series will highlight strategies that our members have used to build and sustain partnerships with collaborators in Southeast Asia.For our fourth episode in this mini-series, Dr Thushara Dibley speaks with Dr Fi...2021-04-0821 minSSEAC StoriesBuilding Relationships in Vietnam from a Distance: A Discussion with Jeffrey NeilsonFor the next five weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts on research partnerships in Southeast Asia. In the context of COVID-19, it has become clear that working in partnership is a critical part of being able to do research in Southeast Asia. Through interviews with University of Sydney academics working across all disciplines and at all stages in their careers, this mini-series will highlight strategies that our members have used to build and sustain partnerships with collaborators in Southeast Asia.In the third episode in this mini-series, Dr Thushara Dibley interviewed Associate Professor Je...2021-04-0117 minSSEAC StoriesDelving into the Unknown in Myanmar: A Discussion with Michael DibleyFor the next five weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts on research partnerships in Southeast Asia. In the context of COVID-19, it has become clear that working in partnership is a critical part of being able to do research in Southeast Asia. Through interviews with University of Sydney academics working across all disciplines and at all stages in their careers, this mini-series will highlight strategies that our members have used to build and sustain partnerships with collaborators in Southeast Asia.In the second episode in this mini-series, Dr Thushara Dibley interviewed Professor Michael Di...2021-03-2519 minSSEAC StoriesWorking with Government in Timor-Leste: A Discussion with Jenny-Ann ToribioFor the next five weeks, SSEAC Stories will be hosting a mini-series of podcasts on research partnerships in Southeast Asia. In the context of COVID-19, it has become clear that working in partnership is a critical part of being able to do research in Southeast Asia. Through interviews with University of Sydney academics working across all disciplines and at all stages in their careers, this mini-series will highlight strategies that our members have used to build and sustain partnerships with collaborators in Southeast Asia.In our first episode, Dr Thushara Dibley speaks with Associate Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio ab...2021-03-1818 minSSEAC StoriesExploding the Archive: A Reimagining of Archival Records in Malaysia with Dr Beth YahpWhat exactly is an archive? Who and what are involved in the making and naming of memory projects as archives? What kinds of stories become told through archives, and what stories are muted?Dr Beth Yahp chats with Dr Thushara Dibley about her work with Malaysia Design Archive, exploring the inner workings of the archive-making process, and inviting us to pay closer attention to the everyday stories of objects around us. This conversation is based on Beth’s participation in a series of Living Archives workshops developed in collaboration with Dr Fiona Lee from the Department of En...2021-03-1120 minSSEAC StoriesRethinking Rural Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar with Assistant Professor Mark VicolAfter decades of economic and political isolation, Myanmar’s rural economy is rapidly shifting from a narrow reliance on low-productivity agriculture, to a more diverse array of farm and non-farm activities. This transition poses urgent policy and scholarly questions for the analysis of inequality, livelihood patterns and food security among the country's rural population. Despite some gains, poverty, landlessness, access to non-farm job opportunities, and food insecurity remain significant challenges for rural Myanmar.Assistant Professor Mark Vicol caught up with Dr Thushara Dibley to discuss his work investigating the changing relationships between livelihood patterns, land, poverty and fo...2021-03-0424 minSSEAC StoriesA Thai Contemporary Artist on Identity, Power, and the Space In-Between: A Discussion with Phaptawan SuwannakudtAs a Thai-Australian woman artist, Phaptawan Suwannakudt has long battled prejudice and discrimination relating to her gender. This disappointment with society’s dictates features at the heart of Phaptawan’s artistic practice. Spanning more than four decades, Phaptawan’s rich body of work includes paintings, sculptures and installations, informed by Buddhism, women’s issues and cross-cultural dialogue. Now her talents are on display on the global stage once again, in ‘The National 2021: New Australian Art’ from 26 March to 5 September 2021.In this episode of SSEAC Stories, Phaptawan Suwannakudt chats to Dr Natali Pearson about identity, power, and placemaking in the space...2021-02-2522 minSSEAC StoriesDecolonising Conservation Practices and Research: Seeing the Orangutan in Borneo with Dr June RubisAround the world, orangutans are widely recognised as an iconic species for environmental and wildlife conservation efforts. The rainforest in the Malaysian state of Sarawak is one of last remaining habitats of the nearly extinct Bornean orangutan. While conservation efforts have made the region a top priority for protecting orangutans, these efforts often sideline the indigenous peoples who live along the great apes.Dr June Rubis speaks with Dr Natali Pearson about her lifelong work in orangutan conservation, and reflects on mainstream conservation narratives, politics, and power relations around orangutan conservation in Sarawak and elsewhere in Borneo...2021-02-1825 minSSEAC StoriesCombating African Swine Fever in Timor-Leste with Associate Professor Paul HickSince it first arrived in Asia in 2018, African swine fever virus has caused a devastating pandemic resulting in more than a quarter of the global pig population being killed by this disease. As there is currently no vaccine or treatment for this disease, which has a nearly 100% mortality rate in infected pigs, a strong focus has been placed on preventative biosecurity measures. But this strategy has proved particularly challenging in Timor-Leste, where pigs often roam freely around villages.In this episode, Associate Professor Paul Hick speaks to Dr Thushara Dibley about his work reducing the impact of...2021-02-1117 minSSEAC StoriesReducing Poverty through Digital Finance Schemes in Myanmar: A Discussion with Dr Russell TothFinancial inclusion has been one of the most prominent issues on the international development agenda in recent years, as access to payments, remittances, credit, savings and insurance services have been shown to improve economic resilience and livelihoods. While bank account access remains low in many developing countries, widespread access to mobile phones is providing a platform to push financial access even into remote areas. The Covid-19 pandemic has only reinforced the importance of digital finance, which provides a safe, socially-distanced means to transact, including for distribution of social assistance transfers. In this episode, Dr Russell Toth spoke to Dr...2021-02-0420 minSSEAC StoriesTrading Birds of Paradise: A Brief History by Jude PhilpLong praised for their splendid plumage, birds of paradise are a rare sight only to be found in the remote rainforests of New Guinea and associated islands. They are among the earliest animals to have the inglorious honour of obtaining legal protection against their trade. While the trade in the species is more than a millennium old, it was only in the late 19th century that globalisation pushed some bird of paradise species towards extinction.In this episode, Jude Philp, Senior Curator at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, explores the dark history of the trade in birds...2021-01-2826 minSSEAC StoriesCOVID-19 and Migrant Workers in Southeast Asia: A Discussion with Emeritus Professor Philip HirschCOVID-19 has had such far-reaching impacts that it can be, and has been, studied from the perspective of almost any academic discipline. For geographers, the ways in which COVID-19 affects place, space and movement is particularly consequential. It is at once a global phenomenon, yet it also ties us to localities in a way not experienced for a very long time in our increasingly mobile and interconnected world.In Southeast Asia, the impact of COVID-19 has been particularly severe for migrant workers, who have found themselves un- or under-employed and sometimes stranded as economic activity has shut...2020-12-1726 minSSEAC StoriesBeating Plastic Pollution in Timor-Leste with Professor Thomas MaschmeyerAs environmental emergencies go, the explosion of plastic waste is right up there. With global plastic production exceeding 300 million tonnes each year, the world has generally looked at it as an unsightly menace to be removed, but Professor Thomas Maschmeyer has gone beyond that idea. His work challenges our perceptions of waste, by turning plastic into an asset that people actively seek out to recycle because it can make them money. What he created might just clean up the planet and lift people out of poverty.Professor Thomas Maschmeyer speaks to Dr Thushara Dibley about his ground-breaking...2020-12-1016 minSSEAC StoriesSocial Media, Grassroots Activism and Disinformation in Southeast Asia: A Discussion with Dr Aim Sinpeng and Dr Ross TapsellSocial media has become a crucial avenue for political discourse in Southeast Asia, given its potential as a “liberation technology” in both democratising and authoritarian states. Yet the growing decline in internet freedom and increasingly repressive and manipulative use of social media tools by governments means that social media is now an essential platform for control. “Disinformation” and “fake news” production is growing rapidly, and national governments are creating laws which attempt to address this trend, but often only exacerbate the situation of state control.In this episode, Dr Aim Sinpeng and Dr Ross Tapsell discuss their new book, Fr...2020-11-1920 minSSEAC StoriesSoutheast Asian Performance, Ethnic Identity and China’s Soft Power: A Discussion with Dr Josh StenbergFrom glove puppets of Chinese origin and Hakka religious processions, to wartime political theatre and contemporary choirs and dance groups, the diverse performance practices of ethnic Chinese communities throughout Southeast Asia highlight the complexity of minority self-representation and sense of identity of a community that is often considered solely in socioeconomic terms. Each performance form is placed in its social and historical context, highlighting how Sino-Southeast Asian groups and individuals have represented themselves locally and nationally to the region's majority populations as well as to state power.In this episode, Dr Josh Stenberg talks to Dr Natali Pe...2020-11-1225 minSSEAC StoriesImproving Food Security in Laos and Cambodia: A Farmer’s Perspective with Associate Professor Russell BushSoutheast Asia's demand for protein in the form of animal meat is increasing by more than 4% every year. This has important consequences for regional food security and household incomes and wellbeing. Laos and Cambodia are ideally placed in the region to meet the demand. However, current livestock production and health practices pose a constraint and are preventing this opportunity from being realised. In addition, farmers in both countries contend with high costs of production, variable returns and changing government policy, which is similar to the situation experienced by Australian farmers.Associate Professor Russell Bush talks to Dr...2020-11-0522 minSSEAC StoriesThe Street and the Ballot Box: How Indonesia’s Labour Movement Rose from the Ashes-Professor Michele FordIndonesia’s labour movement emerged weak and disorganised after more than 30 years under authoritarian rule. Yet in the two decades since the country’s transition to democracy, it has emerged as a vibrant, even influential, political actor. While the movement’s rise to success has not been without its challenges, it achieved its goals by adopting a unique combination of political tactics.As Indonesia erupts in violent protests over the passing of a controversial new jobs law, Professor Michele Ford reflects on the history of Indonesia’s labour movement, exploring how international support, the post-transition political opportunity structur...2020-10-1515 minSSEAC StoriesFighting for Social Justice: The Politics of Aid and Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace – Dr. Kristy WardAround the world, social justice movements have exposed the pervasive extent of gender-based violence in the workplace. While women’s empowerment has long been a tenet of development aid, in practice, aid projects often impact social relations in complex ways and catalyse social violence by grouping and categorising people for aid distribution. Women are overwhelmingly affected by this process and often become the victims of work-related violence. In Cambodia, these dynamics are particularly acute, as gendered norms continue to prevail in many industries and exclude women from labour unions.In this episode, Dr Kristy Ward chats with Pr...2020-10-0814 min
SSEAC StoriesFighting for Inclusion: Disability Activism in Indonesia - Dr Thushara DibleyTraditionally and historically, disability has widely been seen and treated as a medical impediment. For decades, the Indonesian Government perpetuated this medical model of disability, which focuses on what a person cannot do and cannot be. But in recent years, activists have challenged this notion, emphasizing that 'disability' is the result of the interaction between people living with impairments and an environment filled with physical, attitudinal, communication and social barriers.
In this podcast, Dr Thushara Dibley chats with Dr Natali Pearson about disability activism in Indonesia, highlighting the success of local activists in changing Indonesian law and shifting attitudes in...2020-09-2314 min
SSEAC StoriesStorms and Shipwrecks: The Story of the Tang Treasures - Dr Natali PearsonIn 1998, Indonesian fishermen diving for sea cucumbers discovered a shipwreck off Belitung Island in the Java Sea. The ship was a Middle Eastern vessel constructed from planks sewn together with rope — and its remarkable cargo originally included around 70,000 ceramics produced in China, as well as luxurious objects of gold and silver. Whether the vessel sank because of a storm or other factors as it traversed the heart of the global trading network remains unknown. Bound for present-day Iran and Iraq, it is the earliest ship found in Southeast Asia thus far and provides proof of active maritime trade in the ni...2020-09-1715 min
SSEAC StoriesWeathering Typhoon COVID: The Economic Consequences of COVID-19 for ASEAN - Dr Sandra Seno-AldayThe nature and extent of risk exposure determines the severity of the effects of a crisis. From the perspective of international trade, this session examines the pre-COVID-19 risk exposure of the ASEAN region, investigates its post-COVID-19 economic effects, and explores possible pathways for Southeast Asia to emerge from the ongoing crisis. As in the case of other regional integration initiatives, the establishment of ASEAN in 1967 encouraged the formation of economic relationships among countries the region. But because the ASEAN framework is unlike any other in the world, the emergent relationship structures in Southeast Asia are different compared to those in...2020-08-0316 min
SSEAC StoriesDeath and Taxes: Indonesia's Smoking Problem - Dr Elisabeth KramerIndonesia has one of the highest smoking rates in the world and a poor record for implementing the public health measures needed to see these rates fall. Smoking is estimated to kill more than 225,000 Indonesians per year and contributes to many more deaths. Yet tobacco regulation has been highly contested in recent years.
Dr Elisabeth Kramer chats with Dr Thushara Dibley about tobacco regulation in Indonesia, delving into the myriad of challenges to tobacco control in the country, from cultural to economic factors, and short-term political agendas.
About Dr Elisabeth Kramer:
Elisabeth is Deputy Director at the Sydney Southeast Asia...2020-07-2916 min
SSEAC StoriesOvercoming Motor Neuron Disease in Malaysia - Prof Marina Kennerson & Prof Nortina ShahrizailaMotor neuron disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a devastating disease where the dying-off (degeneration) of motor nerves results in muscle weakness affecting an individual’s ability to move, speak, swallow, perform daily activities and breathe. There is still no effective cure for MND, as there is no clear understanding of why a previously healthy person develops this disorder at a later stage.
Professor Marina Kennerson and Professor Nortina Shahrizaila chat with Dr Natali Pearson about MND and their efforts to develop a research program for MND screening in Malaysia, which will pave the way for ob...2020-07-1521 min
SSEAC StoriesBringing Justice to Victims of Wartime Sexual Violence in Cambodia - Dr Rosemary GreyGender-based crimes, especially rape, sexual violence and forced marriage, are extremely common in times of war. The consequences for victims and their communities are devastating. Despite that, these crimes have historically been largely invisible in international war crimes trials. For the last 10 years, Dr Rosemary Grey's work has focused on making gender-based crimes more visible in international war crime trials in order to increase justice to victims, especially women and girls.
In this podcast, Dr Rosemary Grey talks with Dr Natali Pearson about the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, which sexual violence and gender-based crimes it did or did not prosecute, as...2020-07-0822 min
SSEAC StoriesDisaster Resilience and Humanitarian Response in the Philippines - Dr Aaron OpdykeThe Philippines is one of the most natural hazard-prone countries in the world. With the social and economic cost of disasters in the country increasing due to population growth, migration, unplanned urbanisation, environmental degradation and global climate change, disaster resilience and management are more important than ever. Dr Aaron Opdyke chats with Dr Natali Pearson about his work in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response in the Philippines.
About Aaron Opdyke:
Aaron is a Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney and the Philippines Country Coordinator for the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. His...2020-06-2415 min
SSEAC StoriesSupporting Sustainable Farming Practices in Cambodia - A/Prof Daniel TanImproper pest management has led to significant yield loss in rice and other crop harvests in Cambodia, causing economic losses to farmers and environmental disruption through ill-informed chemical use. The use of broad-spectrum pesticides as a solution to all observed pests is commonplace in the rice and mung bean fields of lowland Cambodia and can be linked to unsuitable sources of agricultural information.
Associate Professor Daniel Tan chats with Dr Natali Pearson about his lifelong work supporting sustainable farming practices in Cambodia, including through targeted capacity-building programs and the development of image-rich mobile phone applications to assist Cambodian farmers with...2020-06-1719 min
SSEAC StoriesThe Paradox of Risk in an Interconnected World - Dr Sandra Seno-AldayAs the world struggles with the global repercussions of local events, debates around internationalisation have become ever more relevant. Dr Sandra Seno-Alday sat down with Dr Natali Pearson to explore how different models of international business and economic networks may have distinct implications on economic risk within integrated regions, such as the EU and ASEAN.
About Sandra Seno-Alday:
Sandra is a Lecturer in the Sydney Business School at the University of Sydney, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. Prior to embarking on an academic career, Sandra was a consultant to a wide range...2020-05-2016 min
SSEAC StoriesSex, Cyanide and CCTV: A Review of the Jessica Wongso Case by Prof Simon ButtOn 6 January 2016, a young Indonesian woman, Wayan Mirna Salihin, collapsed in an upmarket Jakarta cafe after drinking iced coffee, and died before she reached hospital. Despite limited evidence, police reports indicate that cyanide poisoning was the most likely cause of Mirna's death. Following a four-month trial, Jessica Kumala Wongso, an Australian permanent resident, was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. Broadcast live on multiple national television stations, the sensational trial gripped the entire nation and continues to intrigue scholars as an example of how media bias and public pressure can impact the right to a fair tr...2020-05-1321 min
SSEAC StoriesWho is Left Behind in the Digital Revolution? - Dr Petr MatousIn the lead-up to SSEAC's annual ASEAN Forum, Dr Petr Matous (University of Sydney) sat down with Dr Natali Pearson to discuss his research into the roles that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and social networks play in contexts with less-efficient institutions and infrastructure, with a view to restructuring such programs to ensure more equitable access.
Dr Petr Matous is a senior lecturer in the University of Sydney's School of Civil Engineering, and the Associate Dean for Indigenous Strategy and Services in the Faculty of Engineering. He is also an active member of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre's Executive Committee...2020-03-3014 min
SSEAC StoriesSocial Media and Elections in Southeast Asia - Dr Aim SinpengIn the lead-up to SSEAC's annual ASEAN Forum, Dr Aim Sinpeng (University of Sydney) sat down with Mr Kean Wong to discuss her research on online political engagement in Southeast Asian elections, and the role of social media in shaping voting behaviour.
Dr Aim Sinpeng's research interests centre on the relationships between digital media, political participation and political regimes in Southeast Asia. She is particularly interested in the role of social media in shaping state-society relations and inducing political and social change. Together with Dr Fiona Martin, Aim was recently awarded funding by Facebook to help the social media giant...2020-03-2716 minSSEAC StoriesCosmopolitan Printing in a Hybrid Language: A Discussion of the Sino-Malay Literary Tradition (1870-1949) with Dr Tom HoogervorstIndonesia is home to one of the world’s largest Chinese-descended populations. Their historical impact is often measured in economic terms but was equally important in the realm of language and literature. The majority of Chinese-Indonesians originally spoke Southern Min dialects, better known in Southeast Asia as “Hokkien”. They also quickly gained knowledge of Malay, the lingua franca of Indonesia and beyond. It was in Java’s vernacular Malay variety that most Chinese-Indonesians acquired literacy. Through their transregional connections and plurilingual competencies, they pioneered in the printing industry of romanized Malay newspapers and books. This foray into print capitalism served t...2020-03-1826 min
SSEAC StoriesAgribusiness, Anthropology and Activism - Dr Sophie ChaoDr Sophie Chao spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about her anthropological research in West Papua, reflecting on the challenges of conducting anthropological research, her transition from activist to academic, and the palm oil industry's impact on the Marind communities of West Papua, Indonesia.
About Sophie Chao:
Sophie joined the University of Sydney as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in History in 2019. Her research interests include human-plant relations, multispecies ethnography, race and human difference, ontological anthropology, biocapitalism, colonial and postcolonial studies, post-humanism, phenomenology, and the senses.
Sophie previously worked for international indigenous rights organization Forest Peoples Programme in the United Kingdom and...2020-03-1822 min
SSEAC StoriesCulture, Food and Environment: Indigenous Experiences of Hunger in West Papua - Dr Sophie ChaoOver the last decade, indigenous Marind communities in the rural district of Merauke, West Papua, have seen vast swaths of their forests and savannas razed to make way for monocrop oil palm plantations. These developments are promoted by the Indonesian government as part of efforts to achieve national self-sufficiency in basic commodities, including palm oil, sugar, and rice. On the ground, however, agribusiness expansion is undermining the local food and water security of Marind communities, who have traditionally relied on the forest for their subsistence.
Dr Sophie Chao spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about the interconnections between processed food, hunger...2020-03-1818 min
SSEAC StoriesDisability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Asia-Pacific - Dr Emma CalgaroThe Asia-Pacific is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Southeast Asia is regularly struck by natural and/or man-made disasters that make international news, with often devastating casualties. While some policies are in place to develop disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery, some communities remain left out of the process. People with disabilities are often some of the hardest hit when disasters occur, because they are not provided with adequate access and resources to have their needs met. Dr Emma Calgaro spoke to Mr Kean Wong about her work on promoting disaster risk reduction policies that are...2019-11-1525 min
SOUL OF SYDNEY FEEL-GOOD FUNK RADIOSOUL OF SYDNEY 197: Soul, Jazz & Funky Hip Hop Joints - DJ CMAN at Soul of Sydney - April 6 2014Here is a sweet mix, our good friend DJ CMAN throwing down the tropical funk, hip hop party jams & disco flavors from 3:30pm at our Block Party feat. Watussi. (April 6 2014)
Time: 90Mins.
Genre: Latin, Funk, Disco, Hip Hop.
Recorded: April 6 2014
About DJ CMAN /
Residing in Sydney, Australia; DJ CMAN has earned a reputation as a versatile go-to dance floor filler and mood creator with his infectious energy and signature ‘funky feel-good’ sets gaining him loyal fans both young and old.
CMAN has worked in the music industry for over 10 years and performed at Sydney’s most established venues and events includ...2019-06-281h 17
SOUL OF SYDNEY FEEL-GOOD FUNK RADIOSOUL OF SYDNEY 197: Soul, Jazz & Funky Hip Hop Joints - DJ CMAN at Soul of Sydney - April 6 2014Here is a sweet mix, our good friend DJ CMAN throwing down the tropical funk, hip hop party jams & disco flavors from 3:30pm at our Block Party feat. Watussi. (April 6 2014)
Time: 90Mins.
Genre: Latin, Funk, Disco, Hip Hop.
Recorded: April 6 2014
About DJ CMAN /
Residing in Sydney, Australia; DJ CMAN has earned a reputation as a versatile go-to dance floor filler and mood creator with his infectious energy and signature ‘funky feel-good’ sets gaining him loyal fans both young and old.
CMAN has worked in the music industry for over 10 years and performed at Sydney’s most established venues and events includ...2019-06-281h 17
Sydney IdeasDigital Rights and Governance in Asia: The State of the ArtsA panel of distinguished international visitors and Australia-based experts discuss and debate the ‘hot button’ issues being raised by Asian digital transformations.
Held as part of Sydney Ideas on 12 April 2018: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/sydney-ideas/2018/digital-rights-and-governance-in-asia-the-state-of-the-arts.html2018-04-121h 22
Griffith in Asia2016. Professor Michele Ford, University of Sydney - Research SeminarPresented by: Professor Michele Ford, Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney, discussed "Assessing Destination Country Labour Migration Regimes in Asia: An Integrated Approach" on Thursday 22 September 2016.2016-09-2729 minGriffith in Asia2016. Professor Michele Ford, University of Sydney - Research SeminarPresented by: Professor Michele Ford, Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney, discussed "Assessing Destination Country Labour Migration Regimes in Asia: An Integrated Approach" on Thursday 22 September 2016.2016-09-2729 min
Griffith in Asia2014. Mr John Garnaut, former China correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald & The Age.'The Rise of Xi Jinping and Destruction of Bo Xilai'. Presented by Mr John Garnaut, Author and former China correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. 27 February 2014.
Perspectives:Asia is produced by The Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University and the Australian Centre of Asia-Pacific Art, Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art.2014-09-1236 min