While now recognised by the UN and leading democratic states (if still incompletely and often haphazardly), LGBTQ rights are denied in many other quarters.

In Southeast Asia, ASEAN has implemented a regional human rights regime, albeit one which declined to incorporate standard global protections around discrimination in relation to sexuality and gender. This talk will examine the themes of identity, visibility politics and rights claiming across a diverse range of ASEAN member state contexts.

As automation, climate change and fake news emerge as major influences on democracies this century, it has never been more important, or more challenging, to engage and inform our citizens.

In ‘Reclaiming the Fact’ science communicator and activist Matt Richardson shares the challenges and solutions in building a knowledge powered democracy and informing citizens to demand better policy.

By Matt Richardson, Founder, Wise Youth Ed

National Science Week runs from 11 to 19 August and is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals – from students, to scientists to chefs and musicians – get involved, taking part in more than 1000 science events across the nation.