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“How do we ensure technology makes our lives better?” Tech Mirror: Reflecting on technology and society with Johanna Weaver explores how technology impacts our lives: the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. Technology is made by humans. When we refocus on this foundational truth, it opens the possibility that technology can be made differently. Questions about how we might shape technology differently are not just “technical” questions. The answers to these questions go to the very core of the fabric our societies. Just as there is a variety of diverse voices involved in the development of health policy, or national security policy, we need more people to actively engage in tech policy discussions. Through interviews with the movers and shapers, and analysis by experts and opinionated guests, this podcast will empower you to participate in policy discussions to shape the technologies that will shape our future.
Episodes
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Conditions of Possibility
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
In this episode Johanna sits down with Professor Elanor Huntington FTSE, Executive Director of Digital, National Facilities & Collections at CSIRO, and Professor of Quantum Cybernetics at ANU.
The pair canvass exactly what a quantum cybernetician does, Australia’s conditions of possibility, the great inflection point we find ourselves in, plus what the origins of Reggae can teach us about scientific development. Elanor also demystifies STEM, and shares thoughts on what she would tell her younger self and what success means to her.
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
Technics and Civilisation, by Lewis Mumford: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/688489.Technics_and_Civilization
The Brilliant: https://thebrilliant.com.au/
2001: A Space Odyssey: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/
The Ship Who Sang, by Anne McCaffrey: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/203288.The_Ship_Who_Sang
Johanna’s article in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/clampdown-on-chip-exports-is-the-most-consequential-us-move-against-china-yet-192738
Elanor on Twitter: @profElanor
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Public Technology and Public Policy
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
In this episode Johanna sits down with Sharad Sharma, a distinguished evangelist of public interest technology in India. Sharad co-founded the non-profit think tank iSPIRT in 2013 and has held senior leadership positions across tech companies in India and the US.
The pair discuss digital public goods – both what they are and the rights and privacy implications of their design and use. They also delve into the importance of trust, how Australia and India can work together, and the imperative to move from technology being “values free” to “values based.”
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
Volunteer with iSPIRT: https://volunteers.ispirt.in/
Sharad’s article with Henri Verdier, French Digital Ambassador:
A New Chapter for Sahamati: https://pn.ispirt.in/a-new-chapter-for-sahamati/
The Curse of Bigness: Anti-Trust in the New Gilded Age, by Tim Wu: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40081165-the-curse-of-bigness
Normative statements to guide tech development for healthcare: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41745-022-00326-9
Sharad on Twitter: @sharads
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Diversity in Tech
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Friday Sep 30, 2022
In this episode, Johanna interviews Luli Adeyemo, Director of TechDiversity and Founder of marketing firm Best Case Scenario.
Prompted by Luli’s piece in InnovationAus calling for a wider review of diversity in tech than announced recently by the Australian government, the pair canvass why diversity matters, why we haven’t achieved as much progress as we hoped in the last decade, and how the tech sector can embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
Take the Tech Diversity Pledge: https://techdiversityawards.com/the-awards/your-diversity-inclusion-pledge/
Luli’s Article in InnovationAus: https://www.innovationaus.com/embrace-workplace-diversity-to-build-a-stronger-economy/
The 2022 Innovation Papers: https://www.innovationaus.com/category/the-innovation-papers/
Broad Band, by Claire L Evans https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/35953464-broad-band
US Executive Order on Diversity: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/25/executive-order-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-in-the-federal-workforce/
TechDiversity on Twitter: @TechDiversityAU
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
The Digital Republic
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
In this episode, Johanna interviews Jamie Susskind, barrister and author of The Digital Republic: On Freedom and Democracy in the 21st century.
The pair explore the ideas Jamie puts forward in his book for how societies can harness the power of digital technologies while preserving (and even strengthening) freedom and democracy.
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
The Digital Republic, by Jamie Susskind
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59935247-the-digital-republic
Code: Version 2.0, by Lawrence Lessig https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44874.Code
Report: Tending the Tech-Ecosystem
https://www.anu.edu.au/research/research-initiatives/tech-policy-design-centre/publications
Jamie Susskind on Twitter: @jamiesusskind
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Hactivists, Hackers & Mercenaries
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
In this episode, Johanna interviews Professor Ciaran Martin, former CEO of the UK’s Cyber Security Centre, and Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at Oxford University.
The pair discuss cyber operations in Ukraine, the role of the private sector in cyber defence, the ethical and legal questions raised in Johanna’s interview with Cyber Partisans spokesperson Yuliana Shemetovets in Episode 9, and much more.
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
The Hacker and the State, by Ben Buchanan: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51589806-the-hacker-and-the-state
Confidant Cyber Security, by Jessica Barker: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55286316-confident-cyber-security
Ciaran Martin on Twitter: @ciaranmartinoxf
Blavatnik School of Government on Twitter: @BlavatnikSchool
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Australia’s Quantum Advantage
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
In this episode, Professor Johanna Weaver interviews Professor Michelle Simmons AO, world-leading quantum pioneer and Director of Sydney-based manufacturer Silicon Quantum Computing.
The pair discuss SQC’s breakthrough delivery of the world’s first atomic-scale integrated circuit, the opportunities for Australia in the global race for quantum progress, how Australia can maintain and build on its advantages, and much more.
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
Australian Academy of Science on Quantum Computing: https://www.science.org.au/curious/technology-future/quantum-computing
Quantum Computing for the Determined:
https://michaelnielsen.org/blog/quantum-computing-for-the-determined/
Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Michael A. Nielsen, Isaac L. Chuang: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153910.Quantum_Computation_and_Quantum_Information
Michelle’s Piece in the Australian Financial Review: https://www.afr.com/technology/australia-s-cultural-levelling-mechanism-is-holding-back-our-science-20220701-p5ayhw
SQC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-quantum-computing-pty-ltd/
SQC on Twitter: @silicon_quantum
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Tech Mirror
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
The Tech Policy Design Centre is proud to introduce our new title Tech Mirror: Reflecting on technology and society with Johanna Weaver. To launch our new title, the TPDC team is putting Johanna in the hot seat for the first time.
Prodded by Centre researcher Ben Gowdie, Johanna talks about her time at the United Nations, Australia’s role in global tech policy, and what a healthy tech-ecosystem looks like.
Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.
Relevant links:
Code: Version 2.0 by Lawrence Lessig: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44874.Code
Hacked World Order: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25273682-the-hacked-world-order
The Illuminae Files #1: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23395680-illuminae
This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production (and audio!) support.
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
The Great Tech Game
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
This week, we bring you Johanna’s discussion with Anirudh Suri, Managing Partner at India Internet Fund and author of the new book, The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations.
The pair canvass what it’s actually like being a venture capitalist, Anirudh’s motivation for writing the book, and how the rules of the “great tech game” differ from the rules of the “great game” that dominated colonial era geostrategic competition. Anirudh challenges us to think beyond bipolar (West/China) perspectives and to take a broader view of the forces shaping the technology that is shaping our world.
This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
The Great Tech Game: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60233107-the-great-tech-game
21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Noah Yuval Harari: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38820046-21-lessons-for-the-21st-century
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Follow Anirudh: @AnirudhSuri
Thursday Jun 23, 2022
Bombs or Bytes – International Law Applies
Thursday Jun 23, 2022
Thursday Jun 23, 2022
Tech Policy Design Centre Director and host of the pod, Johanna Weaver, was invited to deliver a keynote address at NATO’s annual International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCon) in Tallinn earlier this month.
In her address, Johanna reflected on her role in the United Nations negotiations related to the application of International Humanitarian Law in cyberspace, and what this means in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Johanna shared hard truths about the rules-based international order, and dives into what should be done to make a more persuasive case for the order, especially in the context of NATO cyber operations. Her message is simple: the rules-based international order is ours to lose; and if we lose it, we won’t get it back.
This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support.
Relevant links:
Video of Johanna’s keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8eFiJaNzRU
GGE Report: https://www.un.org/disarmament/group-of-governmental-experts/
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Follow NATO CCDCOE: @ccdcoe
Friday Jun 10, 2022
Cyber Partisans
Friday Jun 10, 2022
Friday Jun 10, 2022
Spokesperson for Belarusian digital resistance group Cyber Partisans, Yuliana Shemetovets, joins Johanna on the sidelines of CyCon.
The pair dive into the efforts of Cyber Partisans to disrupt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as Cyber Partisans' broader mission to return democracy to Belarus. They discuss how Yuliana found herself in the position she is, what cyber operations can achieve, and Yuliana's hopes for Belarus’ future.
This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support.
Discussed Leaks:
[Caution: content of these clips is graphic and may be distressing]
Belarus 2020 elections - Policeman is beating a woman for honking, political persecution: https://youtu.be/a1-g82WzrhE
Belarus "gulag" - Policemen are discussing putting chlorine 3 times a day to prison cells for political prisoners: https://youtu.be/ywnnLKrJ844
Belarus wiretapping - evidence of rape, abuse: https://youtu.be/OpBaZSX_8a8
Send us your questions: techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au
Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre
Follow Yuliana: @yuliana_shem
Follow Belarusian Cyber Partisans @cpartisans