Events

Melbourne School of Government

Featured events

Choosing Tasmania: climate change and the uncertainty of the world’s future

Oct

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Seminar or Forum

Join us for a Q&A conversation with the Italian writer Paolo Giordano on his latest novel Tasmania

About this event

Paolo Giordano is an acclaimed Italian writer, whose works explore complex themes such as human relationships, identity, and the intricacies of modern life. His literary journey began with the novel La solitudine dei numeri primi (The Solitude of Prime Numbers), which won the prestigious Premio Strega in 2008. Other works include Il corpo umano (The Human Body, 2012), an examination of soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Il nero e l’argento (Like Family, 2014), which delves into the complexities of a couple’s relationship, and Nel contagio (How Contagion Works, 2020), where Giordano reflects on societal challenges during the COVID pandemic.

With his latest novel, Tasmania (2022), Paolo Giordano makes a stunning return to fiction. Set in late 2015, we meet Paolo, a writer grappling with the disintegration of his envisioned future. His wife, Lorenza, has decided to stop trying for a baby after years of effort, while he clings to his dream of fatherhood. As their marriage strains, he immerses himself in work, traveling to Paris to cover the UN Climate Change Conference following recent terrorist attacks. He is also focused on writing a book about the atomic bomb and its survivors, which takes him on journeys across Europe and to Japan. During his travels, he meets a diverse array of characters, each seeking their own “Tasmania” - a safe haven amidst global crises such as climate change, pandemics, and political turmoil.

Tasmania offers a semi-autobiographical narrative that captures the fear, anxiety, wonder, and beauty of our uncertain times. The novel invites readers to reflect on how we can forge and sustain meaningful relationships even when connections feel increasingly elusive.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Riccardo Amorati at riccardo.amorati@unimelb.edu.au

The School of Languages and Linguistics strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for enquiries about accessibility, please contact soll-info@unimelb.edu.au

This event is organised in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney and Melbourne

Digital Marketing and Suicide Prevention Summit 2024

Nov

9:00am - 5:00pm

Conference or Symposium

An international summit bringing the world’s medical and marketing experts together to advance knowledge and reduce suicide.

Location
Lecture Theatre 1, Melbourne Business School
200 Leicester Street Carlton, VIC 3053
(Registration and arrival coffee starts at 08:30 AM)

Welcome to the Digital Marketing and Suicide Prevention Summit!
This event will bring together experts in consumer psychology, digital marketing and mental health with the ultimate aim of advancing knowledge and reducing suicide rates.
Participants will hear expert talks and be involved in discussions on:

How to use digital marketing techniques to identify at-risk individuals online
At-risk suicide individual identification and online targeting using persuasion
Social media and youth suicide
Artificial intelligence and message personalisation

With keynotes by:

Mr. Jiro Ito - a psychiatric social worker at OVA Japan - who will discuss the origins of using Google Ads for suicide prevention.
The Wavemaker Team - one of the globe’s leading digital marketing agencies - who will discuss how to develop a multiplatform strategy to reach individuals in distress.
Dr. Roisin McNaney - a digital health researcher at Monash University and the director of CSIRO Next Generation of Graduates in AI in Mental Health program - who will discuss the responsible innovation of AI in mental health.

Other speakers include:

Ms. Jennifer Waltmon - lived-experience advisor and suicide prevention researcher, Suicide Prevention Australia.
Dr. Brent Coker - viral and digital marketing expert, University of Melbourne.
Dr. Sandersan Onie - suicide prevention researcher, Black Dog Institute.
Dr. Louise La Sala - suicide prevention researcher, Orygen.

The event is free and lunch will be provided. However, registration is essential.
Please register through our Eventbrite page at the following link, and click on the “General Admission” ticket.

Whether you’re a marketing professional, mental health advocate, or simply interested in making a difference, this summit is for you. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to collaborate, learn, and drive positive change. See you there!

If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact Febriana (febriana.wisnuwardani@unimelb.edu.au)

Content warning: This summit will contain references to and discussions about suicide, suicide prevention, and self-harm, which may be distressing for some people.

If you need support or to speak to someone, the following services are available 24 hours a day: