The Big Q
Questions - Ideas - Scholarship - DebatesProject for Public Interest Media
Politics & Society
An unequal world: Are we facing more conflict?
Rising inequality provides ripe pickings for militant Islamist groups plotting insurgencies – and ensures the ‘war on terror’ is far from over.
Do more candidate-centric electoral systems help reduce corruption?
“The conventional argument in favor of open-list systems as a remedy against corruption is that voters can express their preferences over the individual candidates on this list.”
What is behind the latest unrest in Northern Ireland?
This is not a return to the Troubles. But peace cannot truly be achieved until lives improve says Peter Geoghegan.
Is tax the ticking time bomb of our generation? ▶
Is tax the ticking time bomb of our generation? That is the focus of this lecture hosted by the University of Auckland Law School.
How can we recognise and reconcile past humanitarian atrocities? 🔊
After mass atrocities and crimes against humanity, how can societies reconcile? How is justice performed and how should we recognize these crimes? And what of the clash between international interests and local needs when dealing with the punishment and acknowledgment of atrocities?
What has prevented an end to the Syrian war?
Ten years on from the Syrian uprising, what has prevented an end to the tragedy?
Science & Technology
Why is marine life fleeing the equator?
Marine life is fleeing the equator to cooler waters. History tells us this could trigger a mass extinction event.
What is the virtual lung and how can it help COVID patients?
Professor Merryn Tawhai’s work on the virtual lung has led to a vital new tool for medical staff caring for patients hospitalised with serious Covid-related illness.
Where does Social Media – video, gaming and sharing – sit in the landscape of information technology?
Social media has come a long way since its inception. From Facebook to TikTok today, social media has created a separate field of its own in the vast world of information technology.
Synthetic chemistry: How are molecules made? ▶
The synthesis and study of molecules is at the heart of chemical research. One of the most challenging aspects is the development of methods to synthesise molecules for the first time.
How safe is vaping?
We know the damage smoking causes, but we’re yet to conduct conclusive research about vaping. That’s the focus for Dr. Kelly Burrowes for the next three years.
Why are sea levels rising fastest in big cities?
Increased urbanisation especially in deltas areas and the demand for freshwater means subsidence will remain a pressing issue in the coming decades.
Business & Economics
How environmentally friendly is cryptocurrency?
Bitcoin isn’t getting greener: four environmental myths about cryptocurrency debunked.
What can we learn from the 2008 New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement?
New Zealand was the first developed country to commence FTA negotiations with China. In November 2004, New Zealand and China launched FTA negotiations and in April 2008, New Zealand became the first OECD country to successfully conclude FTA negotiations with China.
Is tax the ticking time bomb of our generation? ▶
Is tax the ticking time bomb of our generation? That is the focus of this lecture hosted by the University of Auckland Law School.
What can people in wealthy nations do to fix COVID vaccine ‘apartheid’?
Charitable donations from rich countries and individuals are welcome – but they won’t ensure fair vaccine distribution unless the drug-patenting system is reformed, too.
Is the bright-line test extension really just a capital gains tax by another name?
“If we want a fair and prosperous future, we need a tax system that helps to redress market inequalities.”
Is it time for a wealth tax on billionaires?
The US’s billionaires have amassed democracy-distorting concentrations of wealth and power as millions have been thrown into poverty says Chuck Collins.
Arts & Culture
How can a Matauranga Māori lens help keep our rivers healthy?
Researchers have articulated a way to look at and look after our fresh waterways founded on Matauranga Māori.
News ban: Can we regard Facebook as a public utility?
“We have been shocked by Facebook’s Australian news ban because we have been labouring under a misapprehension: We thought it was a public utility.”
How does art happen in the pressures of the COVID pandemic?
“Pressure tends to bring us to attention, so it’s no surprise that the COVID pandemic motivates art.”
Should social media companies be owned by the public? 🔊
Social media as it exists currently is an oligopoly, with a handful of private companies controlling the structure and use of the platforms which mediate our communication not only with one another but also with the public sphere.
What did Trump’s Tweets really mean?
“I analyzed all of Trump’s tweets to find out what he was really saying.”
Why is the Treaty of Waitangi and its history important? 🔊
In 1987, Dame Claudia Orange published her best-selling book The Treaty of Waitangi. In what was a comprehensive look at the Treaty and its history, Orange’s book remains one of the most significant and popular New Zealand history books. It has also now been re-issued with three new chapters taking the history of the Treaty up to the present day.