Ideas at the cutting edge
The potential for mass vasectomies to save the planet and the sexual politics of bonobos are among topics to be tackled at next month’s Adelaide Festival of Ideas.
In announcing the program today, festival director Sophie Black said the diverse mixture of guest speakers included US vasectomy campaigner Dr Doug Stein, “Darwinian feminist” Amy Parish, political journalist Annabel Crabb, astrophysicist Brian Schmidt, The Chaser’s Julian Morrow, documentary-maker John Saffran, artistic director Robyn Archer and “creative city” advocate Charles Landry.
“It’s a really exciting mix including film-makers and physicists and anthropologists and authors,” Black said.
“One of the strengths of this festival has always been putting an unlikely group of people in a room to see what alliances are formed and what ideas come out of that.
“I like that we have the combination of tapping into the zeitgeist now but also showcasing people who have that luxury of rising above the white noise and really committing to some deep thinking.”
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Dr Stein is the subject of a 2013 Adelaide Film Festival documentary titled The Vasectomist, which follows what the film-makers describe as his “single-minded calling to save the world, one vasectomy at a time”. Known for his roadside billboards offering “low-cost, scalpel-free vasectomies”, he will join a panel titled Cut to the Chase: Tackling the Population Debate, which will discuss birth control, family planning and the ethics of vasectomies in developing countries.
“That will be a really fascinating conversation around population and whether it directly correlates with our urban footprint,” Black said.
“Stein’s theory will definitely be up for debate … it will be a really fiery session.”
In another session, Sex, Bonding & Dominance in Bonobos, anthropologist Parish will look at how research into bonobos – which shows that the females bond together and dominate the males – might challenge views of evolution.
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Black said feminism and the digital future would be two strong themes in the 2013 Festival of Ideas. The Battle of the Ideas, to take place at the Adelaide Town Hall on October 19, will address the topic The Internet is Evil, canvassing issues such as trolls, loss of privacy, the struggles of the mainstream media, spam and “selfies”.
“We wanted it to be suitably provocative.
“It’s a topic that everyone can speak to because everyone uses it in some capacity and has a view on it. We want it to be a fun one as well, so we’re urging the audience to get involved.”
Among the “big thinkers” at the festival will be physicist, cosmologist and astro-biologist Paul Davies, who will be presenting his “alternative theory of cancer”, and Nobel Laureate Brian Schmitt, who will argue why Australia needs a national research policy. Policy-maker and former politician Gareth Evans, co-author of the United Nation doctrine “The Responsibility to Protect”, will discuss when military intervention to protect civilians is appropriate – a particularly topical question given recent events in Syria.
Another potentially controversial session, led by David Marr and Philip Adams, will centre on Cardinal George Pell and the Catholic Church, exploring what the future might hold for the church following the child sex abuse inquiry.
US “urbanist” Jeff Speck will look at the “walkability imperative” and why cities, including Adelaide, need to become more pedestrian-friendly, while author Don Watson will give his view on where Australian politics has gone wrong in the closing event, Poisonous Politics.
Black said festival organisers were keen to get audience members involved, with the introduction of a Festival Club at Little Miss Miami and Little Miss Mexico where “think and drink” sessions will enable the public to mingle with guest thinkers.
This year’s festival coincides with the Adelaide Film Festival, enabling some crossover between the two events where people can see a film or documentary and then listen to a related speaker.
“It’s easy enough to download a talk these days – we want to reward audiences for leaving their lounge room,” Black said. “And there’s plenty of opportunity for them to get their hands dirty.”
The 2013 Adelaide Festival of Ideas will run from October 17-20. The full program is online.
