Indholdsfortegnelse for 93.2 Apr-June 2022 i AQ: Australian Quarterly

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Neural interface devices aim to restore lost neural functions and are emerging at the intersection of brain science, computer science, engineering and medicine. They provide an opportunity for individuals who have suffered some physiological or neurological disease, disorder, or injury to interact with the world around them, with the brain communicating directly with biomechanical machines. Australian neural interface devices in development include: the Epi-Minder, which monitors electrical brain activity and detects epileptic seizure activity in patients; and Saluda, a spinal stimulation implant to relieve long-term pain. Brain scientists will play a key role in developing such devices and advise regulators to ensure efficacy and safety, along with being active participants in discussions around the ethical implications.…

As I write this, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is about to tick over into its 4th week. The world has witnessed heroic resistance from the Ukrainian people and callous, intentional terror from the Russians. Covid taught us how personally interconnected we all are, from patientzero to a global pandemic. This senseless war is underscoring how interconnected our international systems are – energy, resources, economies. International politics has always been defined by brinksmanship. Yet it is only when someone doesn’t blink and instead tips up the table, that you see the house of cards for what it is. Everything – whether it is geopolitics, resource utilisation, or economic prosperity – has intentionally been set up to teeter on the point of collapse, because that is where profit-maximisation and expense-minimisation intersect. In…

Actually, it’s more complicated than that. While we’ve thankfully avoided anything like the extent and ferocity of the Black Summer fires, the last two relatively wet years have still seen hundreds of fires – some with significant impacts – across the Australian landscape, as verified by agency and satellite records. It’s not only Australia. The planet is burning as we speak, with thousands of active fires concentrated in the tropics…So where are the sirens? Where are the headlines? Even now in wet NSW, the Fires Near Me app currently lists 11 incidents, 3 of which are out of control. And it’s not only Australia. The planet is burning as we speak, with thousands of active fires concentrated in the tropics, varying fuel type, size, intensity and impact. So where are…

In 2019…brain-related disorders cost Australia over $74 billion per annum and constituted over 20% of the burden of disease in Australia Brain science is the scientific study of the nervous system and its functions, including behaviour and thinking. The applications of brain science are diverse, crossing the health and medical sectors, education, psychology and behavioural science, law and ethics, defence, environmental issues including climate change, and food production. Australian brain science is experiencing a major problem. In 2019, it was estimated that brain-related disorders cost Australia over $74 billion per annum and constituted over 20% of the burden of disease in Australia.1 Yet despite an abundance of research talent and innovation, early and mid-career brain scientists are leaving the research sector at an alarming rate, primarily due to job insecurity.2…