The Big Q
Questions - Ideas - Scholarship - DebatesProject for Public Interest Media
Politics & Society
At the crossroads: How can we navigate the right path for the betterment of humanity? š
The world is facing multiple crises from climate change to institutional racism to COVOD-19. Maria Armoudian speaks to three preeminent scholars from the fields of anthropology, philosophy, and psychology about the crossroads we are facing as a global community and the ways we can navigate them for the betterment of humanity.
COVID contact tracing: Were we clever, or just lucky?
“Bluntly, our management of contact tracing has been shambolic and it has important lessons beyond the COVID pandemic.”
Managing the learning curves of moving online during COVID-19. Does Estonia have some answers?
As lockdowns have been imposed across Europe and around the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the move online of traditionally in-person tasks and services has sent many countries into turmoil.Ā
Are New Zealand and China fair-weather friends?
Over the last three years, New Zealand-China relations have encountered new challenges as Jonas Fleming explains.
Has COVID-19ās spread benefited from the nature of governance in the 21st century?
Although both sides would deny it, the spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the weaknesses of two systems of governance as represented by the Peopleās Republic of China (PRC) and the United States of America.
Is German creativity, solidarity and the odd Berlin graffito an answer to COVID-19?
Norman FrankeĀ looks at how COVID-19 is impacting Germany and what they are doing about it.
Science & Technology
Can COVID-19 help us get ready for the next pandemic?
COVID-19 is being referred to as a āonce in a century eventā ā but the next pandemic is likely to hit sooner than you think.
Can you trust a robot?
Robot caregivers can help maintain independence as we age, but the trick is getting humans to trust them.
Climate Change: Is it worse than we thought?
“If the world does not take action on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, the future could be very grim indeed.”
Eliminated: What next for New Zealand post-COVID-19?
New Zealand hits a 95% chance of eliminating coronavirus. However, researchers predict new cases will emerge.
Does AI represent the end of work as we know it?
A general purpose AI is inevitable and New Zealand could lead the way as the nature of work is transformed.
The Artemis Accords and the law: Is the Moon āback in businessā?
NASA has announced its Artemis programme which should land the first woman and the next man (at least as far as the United States is concerned) on the Moon by 2024.
Business & Economics
Can we grow organisations and work that support a sustainable world?
Can we grow organisations and work that support a sustainable world? The answer comes from understanding our deepest psychological drivers according to Niki Harre.
What is the future of the New Zealand media sphere post-COVID? š
Change is happening quickly in the New Zealand media sphere as companies try to adapt to a new world post-COVID.
Does AI represent the end of work as we know it?
A general purpose AI is inevitable and New Zealand could lead the way as the nature of work is transformed.
What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Turkey and its ācorona diplomacyā?
Looming economic problems have not prevented Ankara from showcasing its soft power and engaging in ācorona diplomacy.ā
How can we rebuild our economies fairly post-COVID?
Rich and poor donāt recover equally from epidemics. Rebuilding fairly will be a global challenge.
Are Google and Facebook taking New Zealand for a ride? A trans-Tasman divide on social media
“There is an emerging dichotomy in the attitude of governments on either side of the Tasman toward social media companies. New Zealand treats these transnationals with kid gloves while Australia is pulling on the boxing gloves.”
Arts & Culture
The snake, the hedgehog and the Berlin Wall: How significant is the fall of the wall thirty years on?
Stephen Resch reflects on the fall of the wall thirty years on.
Riot or resistance? How media frames unrest in America will shape publicās view of protest
The general publicās opinions about protests and the social movements behind them are formed in large part by what they read or see in the media. This gives journalists a lot of power when it comes to driving the narrative of a demonstration.
What have been the long-term consequences of Vietnamās invasion of Cambodia in 1979? š
In 1979, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmer Rouge government. This government had committed genocide since its seizure of power in 1975. Vietnamās motivations have been asserted in a wide range of explanations from the advancement of communism to humanitarian interests to strategic interests.
How does history help us understand the murder of George Floyd?
Systemic white violence against black Americans is alive and well, and it’s white violence that sustains white supremacy.
Should racially offensive public memorials be removed? š
In theĀ daysĀ after theĀ killingĀ of George Floyd,Ā protestersĀ haveĀ madeĀ several demands to counter police violence andĀ racismĀ in the United States.Ā Some of theĀ demandsĀ directly relate to theĀ historyĀ ofĀ raceĀ andĀ violenceĀ in America andĀ inĀ particularĀ anĀ emphasisĀ on theĀ memoryĀ of the American Civil War.Ā
What is the historical context behind the George Floyd protests? š
Following the death of George Floyd in police custody, calls are growing for people to do the work to truly understand the history of how the United States got to this point.