Future Tense

It's exactly three years since ChatGPT burst onto the scene. In that short period of time the process of academic assessment has been in upheaval. Across the world educators are trying to address how students should be assessed and whether AI can be used for more than just helping a student to cheat. But a growing number of education researchers say the real emphasis should be on promoting critical thinking and ensuring future students learn how to learn.GuestsProfessor Dragan Gasevic — Head of the Centre for Learning Analytics, Monash UniversityProfessor Neil Selwyn — School of Education, Culture and Society, Monash UniversityProfessor Rupert Wegerif — Faculty of Education, University of CambridgeProfessor Phillip Dawson — Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning, Deakin University

Long before AI dominated the media hype-cycle, self-driving cars surfed the hyperbolic wave. But fully automated vehicles have now been a long time in development, long enough that we've decided it's time for an update. So, how advanced is the technology and where is the demand? We also find out about consumer attitudes toward the "driver-assist" technologies that are now routinely fitted into modern cars. Surprise, surprise, it seems not everyone wants to be told how to drive.GuestsAssociate Professor Abdesalam Soudi — Sociolinguist, Department of Linguistics, University of PittsburghProfessor Michael Milford — Director of the Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of TechnologyAssociate Professor Milad Haghani — Principal Fellow in Urban Resilience & Mobility, University of MelbourneSönke Iwersen — Co-author of "The Tesla Files". Journalist for German business newspaper Handelsblatt

We build more and more homes for growing urban populations. But doing so without providing much needed amenities doesn't serve our suburbs and the people who live in them. It risks confounding social isolation and urban sprawl. There's also climate change to consider. In a heating world, how do we plan our suburbs to deal with higher temperatures? Are the cities and suburbs of the future going to be livable for our children and our children's children?Rob Kelly investigatesGuestsAndrew Crowe — Demographer for Australian Bureau of StatisticsDr Annette Kroen — Senior Research Fellow at RMIT UniversityProfessor Sebastian Pfautsch — Professor of Urban Planning and Management at Western Sydney University and co-lead in People-centred Sustainable Precinct Design at the Urban Transformations Research CentreDylan Reid — Urbanist, editor, writer and co-founder of Spacing Magazine

Australian rooftops are resplendent with solar panels, but sustainability expert, Martin Brueckner, warns the popular notion that we're rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels is deceptive. When you add Australia's fossil fuels exports to our domestic energy usage, he says, it's clear that "decarbonisation is yet to begin in earnest". Also, whatever happened to the dream that Australia could become a world leader in Green Hydrogen production?GuestsAlison Reeve — Energy and Climate change Program Director, Grattan InstituteAdjunct Associate Professor Madoc Sheehan — Researcher, James Cook UniversityProfessor Matthew Hill — Head of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash UniversityProfessor Martin Brueckner — Pro Vice Chancellor Sustainability, Murdoch University

The European Union is implementing a groundbreaking new tax: a carbon border tax. It's meant to prevent distortions between countries with differing emissions standards and so to reduce emissions. But will it work? The same can be asked about the International Maritime Organisation's proposed new carbon levy on shipping. Also on the show, an update on the Great Green Wall — China's mass-tree-planting project; and measuring stress in trees to improve resilience.GuestsAssociate Professor Anna Trugman — Department of Geography, University of California, Santa BarbaraHonorary Professor Peter Bridgewater — Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies, Australian National UniversityProfessor Michael Brear — Director, Melbourne Energy Institute, University of MelbourneDr Sanjay Patnaik — Director, Center on Regulation and Markets, Brookings Institute

We're now halfway through the UN-designated "Ocean Decade" — new research initiatives have been launched, and global cooperation has been strengthened as scientists work to learn more about our oceans and to harness their potential in the fight against adverse climate change. But there are still questions to be answered:How firm are the commitments made under the Ocean Decade arrangement?Why are many countries still lagging behind in ratifying the "High Seas" treaty?And what will a reduction in US funding mean for ongoing ocean research?Also, the ocean-going drones deployed to improve climate monitoring; and a new system for helping ships navigate more efficiently.GuestsJulian Barbiere — Head of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO; also Ocean Decade CoordinatorDr Meghan Cronin — Research Oceanographer, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; and co-chair of the Observing Air-Sea Interactions Strategy (OASIS), an endorsed programme of the UN Ocean DecadeDr Shane Keating — Associate professor, University of New South Wales; also founder of the company CounterCurrentDr Sarah Lothian — Senior lecturer and Academic Barrister, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of WollongongFurther informationUN Ocean DecadeSarah Lothian — Marine Conservation and International Law, Legal Instruments for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

Policing has always embraced new technologies and Artificial Intelligence is, of course, the flavour of the month. Working out when and why it should be used is crucial, according to law enforcement specialists. What’s also important is ensuring appropriate human oversight. Future Tense - The creeping militarisation of our policeGuestsDr Marion Oswald – Professor of Law, Northumbria University Philip Lukens – Former Police Chief, Alliance, Nebraska. Data-driven policing analyst Dr Nick Evans – Lecturer and researcher, Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies, University of Tasmania Dr Terry Goldsworthy – Associate Professor in Criminology, Bond University

Cities across the world are beginning to sink — some by as much as 10 centimetres a year. A recent study suggests that more than a third of urban Chinese resident now live in a sinking city. The cause is often ascribed to climate change, but is there something else at play? Could our thirst for water actually be the culprit? Also, how much do our urban environments contribute to the heating of the planet? A call to finally get serious about the climate impacts of city design.GuestsJeff Goodell — Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council. New York Times Best Selling author of "The Water Will Come"Dr Philip Minderhoud — Assistant Professor and Veni laureate at the University of WageningenAssociate Professor Anna Hullimann — Melbourne School of Design, University of MelbourneFurther informationJeff Goodell — The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities and the Remaking of the Civilized WorldAnna Hurlimann — Integrating Climate Change Action Across the Built Environment: A Guide for Transformative Action