Between the 1800s to1950s, anthropologists at the University of Melbourne were digging up burial sites of First Nations ancestors who had been laid to rest and collecting, rather stealing, their bodies. And while some of these human remains were returned to land and reburied, one collection remained hidden away at the university in a storage room until 2003. Uncover the true story of The University of Melbourne’s troubled past of grave robbing and the efforts to repatriate the hundreds of Indige...
Oct 14, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 93
On the surface, the University of Melbourne is a historical spectacle – with its grand arches, stone facades, echoing hallways, and the chimes of the old clocktower. But this university is also home to many secrets, from human remains unearthed on university grounds, to its role in nuclear testing on Indigenous lands. In an eight-part series, students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism explore the university’s hidden past, revealing stories that reach beyond iconic buildings and the names ...
Oct 14, 2024•2 min
This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism. Today’s guest is Silvia Montaña-Niño. Silvia is a new CAJ lecturer and was a journalist at El Espectador, one of Columbia’s most important newspapers. At the start of her career, Columbia was besieged by guerilla warfare and death squads. Drug lords like Pablo Escobar waged brutal campaigns of terrorism. Targets included politicians, the judiciary, and journalists. Silvia spoke...
Oct 01, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Today’s News Bites guest is journalist and CAJ Lecturer Dr Caroline James-Garrod. Caroline got her start as a cadet at Leader Community Newspapers in Melbourne. Since then, she’s had an expansive career working across the country and abroad. She’s also seen major industry upheavals, from the rise of the 24/7 online news cycle to the era of mass job cuts. These shifts have left many journalists with too much work and not enough time, an issue Caroline researched as part of her PhD on time poverty...
Sep 20, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 91
This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism. Today’s guest is Khalid Amiri, who was a prominent news presenter for the Afghan state broadcaster RTA. He’s known for his courageous reporting and outspoken criticism of the Taliban. After Kabul fell in August 2021, Khalid and his family fled to Australia, where he’s pursuing a Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne. He spoke to senior tutor Bernadett...
Sep 13, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 90
In Victorian London, a persistent rumour spread of a murderer who could leap between the city’s alleyways to avoid detection. Newspapers called him spring-heeled jack—one of the first ever urban legends. He wasn’t real, but the fears that inspired him were. Fears of rapidly changing urban spaces and the upheavals of industrialization. This week, we’re bringing you stories about similar mythical monsters—and what they reflect about the societies that create them. Featuring stories by Joseph Sadli...
Sep 06, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 89
A decade before the global internet even existed, William Gibson coined the term "cyberspace". He was describing a realm of pure information in his 1983 novel Neuromancer. The story unfolds in a future where data flows form the arteries of an interconnected world. It’s one of many inventions that appeared in novels and films years before they materialised in reality, along with spaceships, Artificial Intelligence, and even credit cards. This week, we’re bringing you stories about the cutting-edg...
Aug 29, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Back in the 13th Century, a catastrophic eruption in Indonesia ushered in a “volcanic winter”. Sulfur smothered the sky, causing crop failure and famine as far away as Europe. Almost 800 years later, geoengineers are considering replicating this effect on purpose . The theory goes that plumes of aerosols could shield us from the sun and combat climate change. Experts say it could work, but not without a slew of risks. This week, we’re bringing you stories about the environmental tradeoffs that c...
Aug 22, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 87
When we think of navigation, we imagine satellite imagery mapping our world with laser-point precision. But not all maps are for navigating reality. "World building” describes the mapping of entire fictional realms. Think the vast continent of Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings, or the expansive galaxies of Star Trek. But it doesn’t end there. It can extend to complex political systems, ancient histories, and even functional languages. This week, we’re bringing you stories about how these worlds ...
Aug 15, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 86
2030. That’s the date renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil says humans could merge with machines and achieve immortality. He's is a disciple of transhumanism — a movement aiming to cheat death through technological innovations. We might not get there by 2030, but this week, we’re bringing you stories about the breakthroughs paving the way. Stories about breaking free from human limits. It’s the first episode of Sci-Fi, a series envisioning alternative futures and imaginary realms. These stories were p...
Aug 01, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 85
For Australian whistleblowers, the truth often comes at price. The Human Rights Law Centre says federal whistleblowing laws have failed to protect a single person since their inception, and those who speak out risk exorbitant fines or even jail time. Today, you’ll hear from a panel of experts who say reforms are long overdue: Kieran Pender (an expert in legal frameworks for whistleblower protections), Karen Percy (a veteran journalist and leader in media advocacy), and Rick Morton (an investigat...
Jul 25, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 84
Today we're returning to our News Bites series which spotlights the work of staff and students at the Centre for Advancing Journalism. This week’s guest is podcaster, PhD candidate, and former journalism student Dylan Bird. You might recognise his voice from Triple R’s Future Perfect program, which Dylan hosts. He also works behind the scenes on the CAJ podcast Masterclass. On top of this, he’s currently completing a PhD about how podcasts can maintain democracy. He spoke to senior tutor Bernade...
May 30, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 83
24 hours after announcing a partial victory, the pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Melbourne is still intact and students are still occupying the Arts West building. It’s not what they were anticipating yesterday. During a press conference last night, a pro-Palestine spokesperson said the university had agreed to a deal that could end the encampment. The protesters were set to pack up and go home — but only if the university sent an email confirming the agreement to all staff and stu...
May 23, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 82
On Wednesday, dozens of pro-Palestine protesters occupied the University of Melbourne’s Arts West building. They say this sit-in will last until they are either forcibly removed or their demands are met. They’re calling for the divestment of university funds from weapons manufacturers. The university has threatened those involved with severe consequences. Last night, police were given the green light to evict protesters. It’s an escalation of the ongoing Gaza solidarity camp on the university’s ...
May 17, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Coming up to its third week, the Gaza solidarity camp at the University of Melbourne is growing — It’s almost quadrupled to at least ninety tents. But the encampment is coming under increasing pressure. Last Thursday, pro-Israel demonstrators marched across campus, culminating in a face off with pro-Palestine students amid a heavy police presence. And this week, Petter Dutton called for encampments across the country to be forcibly removed. He also proposed new laws to fine Universities who don’...
May 08, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 81
On ANZAC Day last week, protesters set up camp at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. Since then, the “Gaza solidarity encampment” has been the epicentre of several peaceful demonstrations attracting hundreds of participants. On Monday, more than 300 protesters marched on campus demanding the university to cut ties with weapons manufacturers and take an “ethical stance” against Israel’s rising death toll in Gaza. In this special episode, you'll hear from The Citizen’s cadet James Cos...
May 01, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Melbourne’s status as Australia's live music capital is under threat. Since the start of the pandemic, one third of small and mid-sized venues nation-wide have closed their doors for good. This week we’re bringing you stories about how performers along the number 19 tramline are getting by. It's the third episode of Tram Tales. Our new series about Melburnians who live, work, and travel along the number 19 route — the city’s central artery. Featuring stories by ara Highett, Ying Wan and, Chancha...
Apr 25, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Ask a group of teenagers about their dream jobs and you’ll likely hear a familiar list: doctor, lawyer, architect, psychologist... According to an OECD survey, these are some of the most desired jobs among students worldwide. But what about all the jobs they don’t even know exist? This week, we’re bringing you stories from off the beaten career path. Stories about people along the number 19 tramline finding fulfilment in unconventional workplaces, from cemeteries to adult stores. It's the second...
Apr 18, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 78
The number 19 tramline is Melbourne’s backbone, taking passengers all the way from Coburg north to Flinders Street Station. Our new series, Tram Tales, shares the stories and struggles of people who, live, work, and travel along this central artery. For our first episode, we're focusing on an issue that’s top of mind for most Australians — the cost-of-living crisis. Energy, housing, and food costs have skyrocketed, the price of bread is up 24% since 2021, and many are barely getting by. A recent...
Apr 12, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 77
In the days of hunter-gatherers, social exclusion meant certain death. Humans have evolved with a primal need for belonging — and we still suppress our differences so we can fit in. But what happens when we buck this trend? This week, we’re bringing you stories about embracing our differences. It’s the sixth episode of Not Natural, a series about the tension between the natural and the artificial. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Not Natural. It’s open now an...
Mar 28, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 76
According to an old urban myth, a frog suddenly dropped in boiling water will instantly leap out to safety. But if the water is tepid and gradually heated, the oblivious frog will slowly boil to death. This process is a metaphor for human psychology — especially when it comes to ecological decline. Over time, gradual changes can make unprecedented catastrophes feel normal . This week, we’re bringing you stories about revolutionary attempts to reverse these abnormalities — from resurrecting extin...
Mar 21, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Every day, our brains take cognitive shortcuts. Our limited time and attention make it easy to fall back on familiar biases. Among the most deeply ingrained is the assumption that “natural” always means “healthier”. This week, we’re interrogating this idea with stories about “natural” and synthetic remedies. It’s the fourth episode of Not Natural, a series about the tension between the natural and the artificial. These stories were produced for the Science Gallery’s new exhibition — Not Natural....
Mar 14, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 74
In the throes of addiction, people can enter a time warp. The clock seemingly stops when cravings are met and dopamine floods the brain. But I’m not talking about drugs. I’m talking about social media. Heavy users can squander hours per day on TikTok binges. And the App’s developers see this as a feature, not a flaw. This week, we’re bringing you stories about how social media is rewiring our brains and reshaping real life. It’s the third episode of Not Natural, a series about our ability to con...
Mar 08, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Social media feeds can make Botox and fillers seem as commonplace as getting a haircut. On TikTok alone, the plastic surgery hashtag has 22 billion views. Is this newfound acceptance democratising beauty, or making beauty obligatory? And who gets to decide what counts as beautiful? This week, we’re binging you stories about our increasingly narrow beauty standards. It’s the second episode of Not Natural, a series about our ability to control nature. These stories were produced for the Science Ga...
Mar 04, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 73
There’s this phrase God Mode that was born out of the gaming world. It refers to a notorious cheat code in the 1993 shooter game, Doom. Once activated, a player becomes invincible and vanquishes opponents with ease. Nowadays, God mode is a slang term for achieving superhuman feats in real life, and in our era of artificial intelligence and cybernetic implants, it’s becoming more and more pertinent. This week, we’re bringing you stories that delve into this issue – asking whether AI should contin...
Feb 21, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Since July, the cost of living crisis has gotten a whole lot worse for international students. Thanks to the reinstatement of pre-pandemic work restrictions, their maximum working hours have been limited to 24 hours per week. Experts call it a return to "normal", but those facing financial peril say otherwise. This week, Wuxi Fan talks to three students whose lives have been turned upside down by this U-turn. Credits: Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu Host: Cissy...
Dec 07, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Rules have been following us from the moment we were born. Children follow the rules set by parents, students follow the rules set by schools, workers follow the rules set by companies, and citizens follow the laws set by governments. But what happens when international students face rules in different countries and cultures? This week on Subclass 500, Xuyang Liu investigates the stories of two international students who feel trapped by rules and explores the deeper relationship between rules an...
Nov 29, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 70
This episode explores long-distance relationships for international students. Part one is about the problems faced by a couple who are dating long distance. The second part introduces the phenomenon of life partners based on the story of a Melbourne-based Chinese student's relationship. Credits: Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu Host: Cissy Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang Executive Producer: Sami Shah See omnyst...
Nov 16, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 69
The number of international students in Australia is rapidly increasing, and some of them want to stay here to work and live. But they will face various difficulties and challenges. They have all put in a lot of effort. However, their future is still uncertain. The first interviewee, Michael Zhao, studies engineering and will graduate at the end of this year. He is very dissatisfied with the employment environment in his own country and is considering better education for the next generation. He...
Nov 09, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 68
When international students first set foot in Melbourne, they often feel alienated due to the absence of a sense of home and may feel apprehensive due to the cultural differences. They yearn for resonance and familiarity. In this episode, two Chinese students join the university's Chinese martial arts club, while another student from China blends Chinese music with various other genres. An Indonesian student, on the other hand, joins the Indonesian society to promote the culture of traditional I...
Nov 01, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 67
