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City Revitalisation: Lessons for Sydney and its suburbs
26 July 2012
City building and rebuilding has challenged many great minds in the last century. Our cities are ageing and many of the industries supporting them are shrinking or moving offshore. Tom Murphy served three terms as the mayor of 'the steel city' Pittsburgh USA, from January 1994 through December 2005, tackling the problems of rebuilding a dying city that had lost its manufacturing and industrial base. He catalysed a series of initiatives which have made Pittsburgh one of the most vibrant and liveable cities in the USA, even in the current recession. He has lessons for Sydney from Pittsburgh and from his advisory services to other cities around the world, including London, Moscow and Los Angeles.Tom Murphy’s presentation for Sydney Ideas focused on strategies that Sydney and other Australian cities can use to move from good to great. His presentation was followed by a panel discussion with local experts, and an opportunity to ask questions.
UPE10 Symposium - Dinner
25 July 2012
The US Studies Centre joined with the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Sydney to host the International Urban Planning and Environment Association’s 10th Symposium (UPE10). The Symposium was held in Sydney, Australia from 24-27 July 2012 and featured a dinner roundtable discussion on "Urban transformation and revitalisation".
2012 Agriculture and Environment Research Symposium: Soil Security
17 July 2012
Throughout the epochs, civilisations that have failed to secure their soil have fallen by the wayside of history. With globalisation, securing soil is crucial for the whole of humanity’s future wellbeing.
The 2012 Agriculture and Environment Research Symposium – jointly hosted by the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment and the United States Studies Centre – brought together experts from across the globe to discuss the different dimensions and approaches that must be considered in the development and establishment of international research and policy agreements on Soil Security.
Why aren't we talking about soil?
16 July 2012
A handful of soil contains a billion organisms and more DNA than in a human body. The Earth's soil contains more carbon than the atmosphere and more water than all the lakes and rivers. As Da Vinci pointed out 500 years ago, we know more about the cosmos than the soil beneath our feet. While climate change, ocean acidification and biodiversity loss dominate news headlines, the topic of soil security rarely rates a mention. The integral role played by soil in the health of ecosystems and human populations should be reason enough for all of us to understand this issue and its complexity. This event was a rare chance to see the world's experts in soil science and security sharing a stage and presenting their latest research along with real world implications.
VIDEOS & INTERVIEWS
Disaster recovery expert Edward Blakely says changes in the way houses are built, especially a lack of underground shelters, are partly responsible for the death toll following the tornado in Oklahoma City.
Obama to address drones, Guantanamo
Associate professor Brendon O'Connor previews Barack Obama's major defence speech, saying that the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the continued use of drone strikes are sure to be key issues.
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