The Wire with Oto

Along with wind energy and electric vehicles, the growth of solar power is expected to have one of the largest contributions to reducing global carbon emissions.

According to statistics from Climate Analytics, 2024 is likely to be the year that carbon dioxide emissions peak and start to fall, in part thanks to innovations that have allowed the growth of renewable energy sources. 

Sasha spoke to Professor Emeritus Ralph Cooney in the department of chemical sciences at the university of Auckland to discuss the evolution of solar power and its contribution to reducing global emissions.

This Tuesday on The Wire... 

For Dear Science this week, we chatted to Doctor Cushla McGoverin about giving an old antibiotic a makeover, frozen woolly mammoth DNA, and a mummified crocodile’s final snack . 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Tom Rutherford about the government’s climate strategy 2024. 

He also spoke to Senior history lecturer at the University of Auckland Paul Taillon, about the attempted assassination of former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and its potential social impacts. 

And he spoke Sarah Bickerton from the University of Auckland about risks of using generative AI in education.

This weekend during a rally in Philadelphia, former president of the United States, Donald Trump, was injured in an attempted assassination. This morning, Trump was confirmed as the Republican party’s presidential nominee in this year’s US Presidential election. 

In recent years, the United States has seen extreme levels of political polarisation, leading to increased tensions and activism across the political spectrum. Wire host Castor spoke to senior history lecturer at the University of Auckland, Paul Taillon, about what kind of impact the assassination attempt could have both on society and in the United States historical context.

Last week, the Employment Court’s judgement found that Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles’ employer, the University of Auckland, breached its contractual obligations to protect her against ongoing threats, abuse, and harassment for her public commentary and science communication work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the many concerns Wiles raised with the university were verbal threats, being filmed without consent, and calls for her to be executed, all of which escalated both in volume and violence over time. 

In the Employment Court’s judgement, Wiles was awarded general damages of $20,000 to be paid to her by the university within 28 days.

Research director at the Disinformation Project, Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, was called upon as an expert witness, and provided the court with a brief of evidence in support of Siouxsie's case against the University of Auckland. 

Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Hattotuwa about the judgement and its implications.