Sophia Maalsen

Our fortnightly segment Down to Earth with Kurt Iverson from the University of Sydney, where we discuss geography in Sydney and different urban issues. Today we dove into the future of home technology and the growing use of digital home assistants and smart appliances that are turning our homes into networked and surveilled spaces in all sorts of new and scary ways. With guest host Sophia Maalsen - Lecturer in Urbanism.

Smart Homes w Sophia Maalsen

This week we talked about public space and new policing laws - what happens when this is all over? Will our lives and the places we inhabit look the same? A really important and interesting chat that touches on democracy and justice in this new unprecedented era.

COVID 19: Police Discretion & Public Space

This week we discuss what a rental strike might look like due to COVID 19, and terminology surrounding social distancing.

COVID 19: Rental Freeze & 'Social' Distancing

This week we talked about COVID 19 , but more specifically discussing the ramifications of corona virus on our economy through our societies dependency on casual labor and ask the question - will some be affected more than others?

12.03.20 - COVID 19: Casual Workforce

This week, Professor Kurt Iverson came in to the studio to "de-railed" us by talking about trains, buses and planes and their differing environmental impacts. In particular he spoke about the lack of infrastructure and transport in Australia and how this needed to change to create accessible and efficient ways to travel around the country.

08.08.19 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles

We've talked a lot about public transport on Down To Earth, but we've never talked directly to anyone who has worked in the public transport sector, until now! Professor Kurt Iverson brought in special guest David Babineau, who is the Division Secretary of the Bus Division of the Rail Tram and Bus Union, to get the ins and outs of what it's like to be a bus driver in Sydney and what we can do to help improve the public transport industry.

11.07.19 - Interview With A Bus Driver

The City of Sydney just passed a mandate to declare a "Climate Emergency", but what does that actually mean? Professor Kurt Iverson joins Ondine in the studio to talk all about the complexities of climate language.

The City of Sydney just passed a mandate to declare a "Climate Emergency", but what does that actually mean? Professor Kurt Iverson joins Ondine in the studio to talk all about the complexities of climate language.

27.06.19 - "Climate Emergency"

It may seem like bees wouldn't be that important in cities, but this is a HUGE misconception! Prof. Kurt Iverson chats to Eddy Diamond all about why bees are so crutial to urban environments, and what we can do to contribute to the preservation of bee biodiversity.

It may seem like bees wouldn't be that important in cities, but this is a HUGE misconception! Prof. Kurt Iverson chats to Eddy Diamond all about why bees are so crutial to urban environments, and what we can do to contribute to the preservation of bee biodiversity.

30.05.19 - Bees In The City

Electric cars are the topic of this week’s podcast as it is a hot topic within Australia and has been discussed within the election as a way to help us move forward sustainably. Find out the real deal and the actual impact of electric cars.

Electric cars are the topic of this week’s podcast as it is a hot topic within Australia and has been discussed within the election as a way to help us move forward sustainably. Find out the real deal and the actual impact of electric cars.

02.05.2019 - Electric Cars

With special guest Steph Clarke, the show discusses the initiative Wild Wild Inner West, which looks at the misperception between cities and the wildlife being two different entities. The episode looks at how we can get involved as individuals within the community to help preserve the biodiversity. 

With special guest Steph Clarke, the show discusses the initiative Wild Wild Inner West, which looks at the misperception between cities and the wildlife being two different entities. The episode looks at how we can get involved as individuals within the community to help preserve the biodiversity.

18.03.2019 - Wild Wild Inner West

Every fortnight Associate Professor Kurt Iveson of the University of Sydney joins FBi Mornings host, Eddy Diamond, to discuss urban environmental issues and the different ways we can make our cities fairer and more sustainable places. Mornings was hosted by Alex Pye until July 2018.

A post election special which discusses public spaces and the new minister for those spaces, Rob Stokes. They discuss the ways in which Rob Stokes could best help from an environmental perspective these public spaces.      

A post election special which discusses public spaces and the new minister for those spaces, Rob Stokes. They discuss the ways in which Rob Stokes could best help from an environmental perspective these public spaces.

04.03.2019 - Public Spaces

What if there were alternatives to offshore recycling in Australia? Associate Professor Kurt Iverson joins Eddy Diamond to talk all about neighbourhood recycling initiatives and proposed ways local councils could create infrastructure around urban waste treatment.

What if there were alternatives to offshore recycling in Australia? Associate Professor Kurt Iverson joins Eddy Diamond to talk all about neighbourhood recycling initiatives and proposed ways local councils could create infrastructure around urban waste treatment.

21.03.19 - Neighbourhood Waste Treatment Facilities

In preparation for the Sydney Alliance assembly on housing, Leo Patterson Ross joins Prof. Kurt Iverson to talk all about the Tenant's Union's Make Renting Fair campaign.

In preparation for the Sydney Alliance assembly on housing, Leo Patterson Ross joins Prof. Kurt Iverson to talk all about the Tenant's Union's Make Renting Fair campaign.

07.03.19 - Make Renting Fair w/ Leo Patterson Ross

Professor Kurt Iverson talks the Green New Deal, a proposed climate policy in America that has global implications.

Professor Kurt Iverson talks the Green New Deal, a proposed climate policy in America that has global implications.

21.02.19 - Green New Deal

Kurt and Eddy chat with Aisheeya Huq and Vivienne Paduch - a couple of the organisers of School Strike 4 Climate Action.

Kurt and Eddy chat with Aisheeya Huq and Vivienne Paduch - a couple of the organisers of School Strike 4 Climate Action.

29.11.18 - School Strike 4 Climate Action

Professor Kurt Iveson chats with Eddy about Surveillance in the urban environment. He asks what the proposed National Facial Biometric Matching Capability might mean for our safety, right to protest, the environment, and existing biases and forms of discrimination.

Professor Kurt Iveson chats with Eddy about Surveillance in the urban environment. He asks what the proposed National Facial Biometric Matching Capability might mean for our safety, right to protest, the environment, and existing biases and forms of discrimination.

15.11.18 - Surveillance

Amy Fairall, a postgrad student working with Prof. Kurt Iveson, came in to chat with Eddy about how banking and financial services impact sustainability. She ran us through some of the alternatives to the big four banks, including time banking. Check it out here -&gt; www.timebanking.com.au

Amy Fairall, a postgrad student working with Prof. Kurt Iveson, came in to chat with Eddy about how banking and financial services impact sustainability. She ran us through some of the alternatives to the big four banks, including time banking. Check it out here -&gt; <a href="http://www.timebanking.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.timebanking.com.au</a>

18.10.18 - Amy Fairall: Banking

Guido, the director of The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre, gave us a rundown of the various ways in which the Bower helps the environment and the community. The centre diverts waste from landfill by repairing and re-using broken furniture, household items, and electronic appliances and puts the items back into the community. Check out their website here: bower.org.au

Guido, the director of The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre, gave us a rundown of the various ways in which the Bower helps the environment and the community. The centre diverts waste from landfill by repairing and re-using broken furniture, household items, and electronic appliances and puts the items back into the community. Check out their website here: <a href="http://bower.org.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bower.org.au</a>

20.09.18 – The Bower

Have you ever worked a dodgy cash-in-hand job? Been asked to work an unpaid trial period? In this episode, Kurt chats with Eddy about informal work sector and the impact this has on the economic landscape of our cities. Can't get enough of Kurt? He's doing a talk about citizen action on housing affordability and security on Monday 10 Sep: http://www.festivalofurbanism.com/2018/2018/9/10/housing-and-urban-citizenship-the-role-of-urban-alliance And launching the book Sydney – We Need to Talk! the following day, Tuesday 11 Sep: http://www.festivalofurbanism.com/2018/2018/9/11/book-launch-sydney-we-need-to-talk

Have you ever worked a dodgy cash-in-hand job? Been asked to work an unpaid trial period? In this episode, Kurt chats with Eddy about informal work sector and the impact this has on the economic landscape of our cities. Can't get enough of Kurt? He's doing a talk about citizen action on housing affordability and security on Monday 10 Sep: <a href="http://www.festivalofurbanism.com/2018/2018/9/10/housing-and-urban-citizenship-the-role-of-urban-alliances" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.festivalofurbanism.com/2018/2018/9/10/housing-and-urban-citizenship-the-role-of-urban-alliance</a> And launching the book Sydney – We Need to Talk! the following day, Tuesday 11 Sep: <a href="http://www.festivalofurbanism.com/2018/2018/9/11/book-launch-sydney-we-need-to-talk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.festivalofurbanism.com/2018/2018/9/11/book-launch-sydney-we-need-to-talk</a>

06.09.18 – Working Off The Books

Kurt chats with Alex about your right to protest in an age where we're seeing increasing restrictions on the types of spaces we can occupy, the length of time we can protest, and the kinds of activities we're allowed to do. He also gives us the rundown on the new Crown Land Management Regulation and what it means for the future of activism.

Kurt chats with Alex about your right to protest in an age where we're seeing increasing restrictions on the types of spaces we can occupy, the length of time we can protest, and the kinds of activities we're allowed to do. He also gives us the rundown on the new Crown Land Management Regulation and what it means for the future of activism.

05.07.18 - Right To Protest

Every fortnight Associate Professor Kurt Iveson of the University of Sydney joins FBi Mornings host, Eddy Diamond, to discuss urban environmental issues and the different ways we can make our cities fairer and more sustainable places. Mornings was hosted by Alex Pye until July 2018.

Down To Earth

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