In September 2025, Raising the Bar and the University of Canterbury hosted 20 talks in 10 Christchurch venues, filling the city with ideas and conversation for one unforgettable night. The recordings are now available for everyone to enjoy.
Are You Educated? Or Have You Just Been Schooled? - By Joce Nuttall
Joce Nuttall, Professor of Education and Executive Dean at the University of Canterbury, discusses the difference between education and schooling and why it matters. She explores how governments’ focus on job-ready skills and lack of trust in teachers may be shifting schools away from true education, and what this means for society.
1 Oct 2025
Power, Politics, and Profit: The High-Stakes Game of Global Business - By Anna Earl
Anna Earl, Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury Business School, discusses how multinational corporations respond to sanctions and continue international trade. Drawing on her research, she highlights how firms adapt, leverage networks, and navigate the political game to protect profits in global business.
1 Oct 2025
Chasing the Universe’s Explosive Secrets - By Jenni Adams
Jenni Adams, Professor of Physics at the University of Canterbury, discusses how scientists are using the IceCube Neutrino Observatory buried deep in Antarctic ice to study ghost-like particles called neutrinos. She explains how these elusive messengers from exploding stars and black holes are helping us unlock some of the universe’s biggest secrets.
1 Oct 2025
Richer Lives, Not Just Richer Economies - By Stephen Hickson
Stephen, Lecturer in Economics and Finance at the University of Canterbury, discusses why economic growth matters for more than just wealth. From dramatic gains in global life expectancy to broader measures of human flourishing, he examines how growth underpins better health, education, and living standards worldwide.
1 Oct 2025
When the World Pulls Back: Navigating Globalisation in Reverse - By Kuntal Das
Kuntal Das, Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Canterbury, discusses the unraveling of globalisation. He examines the rise of tariffs, trade wars, and “de-risking” strategies, and what these shifts mean for countries like New Zealand that depend on global trade in an increasingly uncertain world.
1 Oct 2025
Bats: Saviours of the Planet or Harbingers of Death? - By Stuart Parsons
Stuart Parsons, Professor of Biological Sciences and Executive Dean of Science at the University of Canterbury, discusses the myths and realities of bats. He explores their role in disease transmission, their importance as pollinators and pest controllers, and why these misunderstood creatures are vital for healthy ecosystems — and even tequila.
1 Oct 2025
How Transformative Learning Enhances Students and Society - By Billy O’Steen
Billy O’Steen, Associate Professor of Education at the University of Canterbury, discusses how transformative learning shapes students and communities. Drawing on ideas from John Dewey, Kurt Hahn, and Terry Borton, as well as his own work with the Student Volunteer Army after the Christchurch earthquakes, he explores how powerful experiences can change the way we think, act, and contribute to society.
1 Oct 2025
Space Tourism: Going Where No One but Katy Perry Has Gone Before - By Ricky Lee
Ricky Lee, Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Canterbury and an expert in space law, discusses the rise of commercial space travel. From rockets launched by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic to New Zealand’s role in this new frontier, he explores how close we are to space holidays, what the experience might deliver, and whether the investment is really worth it.
1 Oct 2025
AI and the Right to Privacy - By Annette Mills
Annette Mills, Professor at the University of Canterbury Business School, discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping our daily lives, from facial recognition to emotion tracking. She explores the promises and pitfalls of AI, raising questions about data control, identity, and values, and shares insights on how individuals, parents, businesses, and policymakers can protect privacy in a tech-driven future.
1 Oct 2025
Accents and Assumptions: Why Do Those People Talk Funny? - By Kevin Watson
Kevin Watson, Professor of Linguistics and Executive Dean of Arts at the University of Canterbury, discusses how the way we speak shapes identity, stereotypes, and social connections. He explores why accents change, what they reveal about us, and the surprising truths about language that might change how you hear the world.
1 Oct 2025
Trump World Explained - By Peter Field
Peter Field, Associate Professor of History and Head of the School of Humanities at the University of Canterbury, discusses what Donald Trump’s elections reveal about democracy, leadership, and political change. He explores how American political systems have evolved, what the Trump era says about global politics, and the lessons we can draw from it.
1 Oct 2025
Penguins From Space: Secrets of the Frozen South - By Michelle LaRue
Michelle LaRue, Associate Professor of Antarctic Marine Science at the University of Canterbury, discusses how satellites are helping scientists study penguins and seals in some of the harshest environments on Earth. She shares insights from the field on emperor penguins, Weddell seals, and Adélie penguins, and explores how technology is revealing the secrets of species living on the edge.
1 Oct 2025
Beyond the Spotlight: The Reality of Sport - By Phil Borell
Phil Borell, Senior Lecturer in Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Canterbury, discusses the pressures and lived experiences of professional athletes. He explores the hidden challenges behind sporting success, the mental health impacts of life in the spotlight, and what it means for fans to better understand the realities of the sporting world.
1 Oct 2025
Demystifying School-Based Health Education - By Rachael Dixon
Rachael Dixon, Senior Lecturer in Health at the University of Canterbury, discusses the aims and realities of health education in schools. She explores the shift from scare tactics to critical approaches, the myths that surround the subject, and what young people say they actually gain from studying health education.
1 Oct 2025
Are You Educated? Or Have You Just Been Schooled? - Joce Nuttall
Joce Nuttall, Professor of Education and Executive Dean at the University of Canterbury, discusses the difference between education and schooling and why it matters. She explores how governments’ focus on job-ready skills and lack of trust in teachers may be shifting schools away from true education, and what this means for society.
1 Oct 2025
What if Waste Could Clean Our Water? - By Aisling O'Sullivan
Aisling O’Sullivan, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Canterbury, discusses how everyday waste can be transformed into tools for cleaning stormwater and wastewater. She explores regenerative technologies like the Storminator™, the promise of material circularity, and how engineering with nature can reshape our relationship with water, waste, and sustainability.
1 Oct 2025
The Amazing Ear: The Science Behind Hearing - By Greg O'Beirne
Greg O’Beirne, Professor of Audiology at the University of Canterbury, discusses how the ear transforms sound waves into signals the brain can understand. He explores the delicate structures that make hearing possible, what happens when they fail, and how scientists test and measure this remarkable sense.
1 Oct 2025
Images vs. Information: The Battle of Narratives in International Relations
Natalia Chaban, Professor of Media and Communication at the University of Canterbury, discusses how narratives shape power, legitimacy, and action in global politics. Using the war in Ukraine as a case study, she examines how competing stories influence international opinion, policy, and the future of world affairs.
30 Sept 2025
Is Our Council Anti-Car? - By Simon Kingham
Simon Kingham, Professor of Geography at the University of Canterbury, discusses the tensions between cars, cycleways, and city planning. He examines why councils slow traffic and invest in alternatives, what global cities are doing to tackle congestion and climate change, and what this means for creating more liveable communities.
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