In his speech to the National Press Club last week, Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt called on Australia to “enlighten up” – though not in those words. He reflected on how, with topics such as the Voice referendum, "democratic debates generate more heat than light”. Pointing to the way "media circuses" tend to amplify…
Six ways to “re-Enlighten” Australia’s Voice referendum debates
The Voice referendum has been mired in hyper-partisan politics and gladiatorial culture-wars. In media forums, much of the public advocacy has "sunk into a maelstrom" as Senator Pat Dodson puts it. In the final weeks of the campaign, leaders on both sides have called for “more respectful debate". What would this look like? For months,…
When minds collide on campus: why it’s hard to see eye-to-eye (but worth the try)
In Australian universities, scholars and students disagree on many topics. Often a little, sometimes a lot. Usually for plausible reasons that each side deems valid enough to persuade an impartial spectator that we are right! and they are wrong! On hotly contested topics, it's harder to disagree well. To defend their view, some shift gear…
“Enlightening up” – a framework for students in Australian universities
In Australia (as in the UK, US and elsewhere) we see claims that too often, students and scholars self-censor unduly, due to fear of sanctions in class or on campus or on social media. The extent and wider effects of this are very hard to measure reliably; we need more and better research. In Australia’s…
Our universities survived the tempest: now for more sea-change
Last week a higher education journal published my review of a new book by Griffith University professor Martin Betts on the Australian university sector's pandemic responses during 2020-2022, and what forms of future shock may lie ahead. Launched at this week's Universities Australia conference, The New Leadership Agenda recounts how local lockdowns meant pushing campus-based…
Hard heads, soft hearts: why our universities need both
In Australia and New Zealand, university leaders have called on their institutions to promote more open-minded and constructive debates, to help societies respond in more enlightened ways to complex challenges. University of Auckland vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater writes that campus communities should be exemplars where scholars speak bravely and freely and with respect. At the University…
Diary of an Academic Infidel – Chapter 24
"Since all this has unfolded over a period of months, you'll appreciate that I've found it frustrating..." By the end of September, I'd been able to extract who in fact was behind the Journal decision. And to decode a few earlier evasions and undeclared backflips. In sum, the owners too had concerns about the article, after all;…
University Viewpoint Project: reflections on process
Back in March I started work on this project, funded by Heterodox Academy. At the start this was a loosely defined, exploratory engagement project with 3 main tasks: some one-to-one interviews (in April-May), some seminars to discuss issues and options (in May) and a discussion paper (in June). The paper would aim to map and…
Discussion Paper (final draft)
Introduction - the Australian context In Australia (as in many other liberal democracies), ours is an age of high anxiety and deep uncertainty. We are a successful multi-cultural nation where half the population was either born overseas or has an immigrant parent, and where 1 in 4 people speak a language other than English at…
Viewpoint visibility in Australian universities: project update
Preamble: this project is an issue-mapping-and-engagement exercise, funded by Heterodox Academy. (The HxA agenda is: to improve the quality of research and education in universities by increasing open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement). At the June webinar I shared insights from interviews in March and April and took up points raised at the first May webinar.…
Big Little Thought Crimes in Melbourne 