UC EVENTS

This event is hybrid. Join us on Zoom or at Building 24, University of Canberra.How should deliberative democracy respond to extremism?Far-right extremism threatens democracy by spreading exclusionary and anti-democratic ideals, such as white supremacy. How can deliberative democracy help us understand the roles of the media and political leaders in responding to the harms caused by extremist actors? What pragmatic solutions can deliberative processes offer, especially in countering extremism's personal and emotional appeals? You are invited to join this conversation featuring Dr Jordan McSwiney (University of Canberra) and Prof John Gastil (Penn State University). This seminar will be chaired by Prof Selen Ercan. This event is part 6 of a 10-part seminar series on 10 Big Questions on Deliberative Democracy convened by Dr Adele Webb. About the speakersJordan McSwiney is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra. He researches the far right, with a focus on the organisation and communication of far-right parties and movements. He is the author of Far-Right Political Parties in Australia: Disorganisation and Electoral Failure (Routledge). John Gastil is a Professor at Penn State University. He has studied political psychology and democratic innovations for thirty years, and some of the reforms he has proposed became law. He received major funding to study attitude formation and how people revise their beliefs when invited into more deliberative political institutions and experiences. ModeratorSelen Ercan is the Director of the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra. Seminar Convener: Adele WebbOnline floor manager: Ferdinand SanchezAll Centre seminars are recorded. To access the recording of our seminar series and other events, visit our YouTube channel.

Let's forget we are in the middle of the year and come together to celebrate Christmas in July! Got a magnificent Christmas jumper? Santa Hawaiian shirt? Any Christmas themed clothes? Wear them for our ugly Christmas clothing competition with a Christmas hamper up for grabs for the winner!Right before Semester 2 kicks off come down for relaxation and celebration down at UCBarx with drink specials available, including mulled wine. Your ticket includes a full Christmas lunch with all your family's favourites! Click here to purchase a ticket for only $10 for your hot Christmas lunch! $15 for non-students!

Take a break from teaching or study and join us every Tuesday from 12.30pm for our new lunchtime group fitness!  Power Conditioning is a fun 45min full-body workout, incorporating various strength and conditioning movements, suitable for all levels.  Designed to improve strength, overall fitness, and mobility.  Get ready to lift, move, and sweat! Open to UCFitx members and casual participants. Members can book through the Technogym App, while casuals can sign up by contacting us in Building 29, by phone (6201 2542) or email (ucfit@canberra.edu.au).

Hosted by CDDGG, University of CanberraDate and time: Tue 2nd Jul 2024, 5:30 pm - 7:15 pm AESTRegister here: https://events.humanitix.com/book-launch-democracy-versus-diablo-in-the-usa-and-australiaYou are invited to a participatory book launch for André Bächtiger and John S. Dryzek, Deliberative Democracy for Diabolical Times: Confronting Populism, Extremism, Denial, and Authoritarianism.You will hear from one of the book’s authors (John Dryzek) as well as special guests Professor John Gastil from Pennsylvania State University and Associate Professor Caroline Fischer of the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra.You will get an opportunity to discuss their points and deliberate your own ideas about the challenges facing democracy in Australia and the USA, and how best to confront them. There will also be a chance to meet and talk more informally.This book launch will be moderated by Keith Greaves from MosaicLab. 

This symposium will present perspectives on, and experiences of, people working with First Nations arts and artefact collections in universities.Increasingly universities in Australia are engaging and working with First Nations perspectives, knowledge and communities in teaching and research. University museums and collections are part of this, being custodians of First Nations material culture, archives, and art.Speakers will include First Nations Australians and Non-Indigenous researchers doing collaborative work. The symposium will be of interest to curators, managers of collections, researchers, teachers and students.Keynote speaker:  Professor Sandy O’Sullivan Sandy is a Wiradjuri transgender/non-binary person. Sandy recently completed an internationally-focused Australian Research Council program examining the representation and engagement of First Nations’ Peoples across 470 museums and Keeping Places, and they continue to engage with the Museum Queeries collective in Canada. They also recently completed an ARC Linkage project mapping creative practice across the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory (Creative Barkly). Sandy's work is often across both industry and the academy, and recently they completed a national review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance and theatre makers for the Australia Council for the Arts. They are currently a 2020-2024 ARC Future Fellow, with a project titled Saving Lives: Mapping the influence of Indigenous LGBTIQ+ creative artists.

Off the back of sold out shows across the UK & EU, Rum Jungle are back home and headed out on their Chauffeur Australian Tour. The Newcastle based four-piece pile back into the van for another lap around the country presented by triple j, Afends, Philter, Cult Artists & Ripple Effect. The Chauffeur Australian Tour sees the band hit 22 cities, from Adelaide, Byron and GoldCoast to Wagga Wagga, Torquay and Townsville. Along with a special hometown show in Newcastle. Rum Jungle have cemented themselves as a strong live act as a result of relentless touring, domestically and internationally. Their ability to highlight both sides of the same coin is what makes Rum Jungle a cut above the rest. Their latest single ‘Did The Morning Let You Down’ showcases the wonder and cohesion that the band embodies. Having recently hit a couple of career milestones to date including sold out shows in capital cities around Australia and the UK

Indie pop royalty San Cisco are hitting the road touring regional Australia in support of their fifth studio album,Under The Light.Under The Lightwill be released on Fri March 1 and is a collaboration between the band and producer James Ireland (Cuco, Pond) as well as contributions from Jay Watson (Gum, Pond, Tame Impala), Nicholas Allbrook & Neal H. Pogue (Outkast, Tyler The Creator). The album enters heady territory careening with piston-like, motorik momentum striking the delicate balance between euphoria and melancholy. The album searches for meaning, stares down the moral ambiguities of adulthood and relationships, and sings a sun-speckled song to human kindness.Throughout their illustrious ten-year career, the indie pop three-piece have become one of Australia’s most successful independent artists amassing multiple accolades, gold & platinum records, Top 5 ARIA Charting Positions and much more. Garnering millions of streams and critical acclaim through the release of four studio albums, San Cisco have toured the world selling out headline shows, touring with artists such as The Vaccines and appearing at flagship global festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, Lollapalooza, Reading & Leeds, Pukkelpop, Laneway Festival, Groovin’ The Moo and many more.

?? A moonlit night, a dance pit with no rules, cloudy lungs, and Yt DiNGO’s drool on the mic, howling metal melodic vocals, poetic rhymes, and unorthodox dancing. Turn the volume full as RedBelly (Indigenous DJ) weaves Yt DiNGO’s soulful, gritty tunes, creating an atmosphere where Yt DiNGO is unleashed. This award winning and festival knockout shares tales told through anti-pop, rock, hip-hop, roots and dance colliding in a hypnotic dance and lyrical feast.?? After dropping three mesmerising singles this year with majestic videos and features, Yt DiNGO shares his journey of embracing hisancestral ties to country. Let go, witness, and awaken as far into the dingo burrow as you please. This tour isn’t just about music; it's a transformative experience where music and movement tell mind bending stories to protect and celebrate our connection to the land, water, fire, and sky.

This event is hybrid. Join us on Zoom or at Building 24, University of Canberra.How should deliberative democracy respond to extremism?Can deliberative democracy challenge macho populism? For Hans Asenbaum, the field of deliberative democracy may have come a long way in recognising female marginalisation, but it has so far neglected cisgender, heterosexual, masculinities. Only when deliberative democracy recognises such hegemonic identities can it challenge the heterosexist domination underpinning macho populism.María Esperanza Casullo has a different take. For her, deliberative democracy can challenge macho populism by upholding the value of the most basic of human activities: talking. Macho populism seeks to define the simple act of talking as unproductive, decadent, in sum, feminine. It has a clear preference for supposedly masculine performances of aggression. Therefore, the act of deliberation itself has the potential to become the grounds for resistance. Join the conversation with Hans Asenbaum and María Esperanza Casullo, moderated by Jordan McSwiney. This event is part 7 of a 10-part seminar series on 10 Big Questions on Deliberative Democracy convened by Dr Adele Webb. About the speakersHans Asenbaum is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra. His research interests include radical democracy, queer and gender studies, digital politics, and participatory research methods. Hans is the author of The Politics of Becoming: Anonymity and Democracy in the Digital Age (Oxford University Press, 2023). The book draws on queer theory to make sense of identity transformation in democracy. His work has been published in the American Political Science Review, Politics & Gender, and the Journal of Gender Studies.María Esperanza Casullo is an Associate Professor at the National University of Rio Negro and a researcher at CONICET in Argentina. She obtained a PhD in political theory from Georgetown University. She has published extensively on democratic theory and populism. Her last published paper is "The populist body in the age of social media: A comparative study of populist and non-populist representation" in Thesis Eleven, in co-authorship with Rodolfo Colalongo. ModeratorJordan McSwiney is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra.Seminar Convener: Adele WebbOnline floor manager: Ferdinand SanchezAll Centre seminars are recorded. To access the recording of our seminar series and other events, visit our YouTube channel.

The world's only all female tribute to Judas Priest heads down under for the first time ever! There are not many tribute band vocalists who can boast featuring on a track with, as well as being endorsed by, the lead singer of the band being paid tribute to.One vocalist who can claim that ultimate seal of approval is Militia Vox, lead singer with New York band, Judas Priestess, the world’s only all-female tribute to Judas Priest.The lead singer in question? That would be none other than the Metal God himself, Rob Halford of Judas Priest. Such is the power of MIlitia’s voice and the outstanding talent of the band with Halford calling them, “brilliant”.Australia can now experience the electrifying power of Judas Priest like never before as Judas Priestess, the world’s only all-female tribute to Judas Priest, announce their first-ever tour of Australia this August!This groundbreaking band is known for their authentic and high energy performances and  are set to deliver a show that fans will not only never forget but one that celebrates the entire 50 year legacy of Judas Priest.

Telenova unveil their biggest tour yet with the Time Is A Flower International Tour. The tour comes alongside the announcement of their debut album ‘Time Is A Flower’ (out August 16th) and the release of brand new single, ‘Power’.A vast international journey, The Time Is A Flower tour will see Telenova perform in venues across Australia, New Zealand, UK and Europe.Taking their distinct brand of cinematic alt-pop to the dance floor, ‘Power’ is sleek, evolved disco with a shadowy twist, weaving themes of love, fear, and the pursuit of light into a lush, ornate track full of suspense and drive.With influences ranging from Portishead and Massive Attack to Lana Del Rey and Mitski, the band creates a sonic landscape that is both familiar and refreshingly unique. The Time Is A Flower Tour marks Telenova’s first headline shows since their regional tour of Australia in the heart of 2023’s winter.

KING STINGRAY weren’t joking when they told the whole nation to “get me out of the city” on their debut album. Everyone’s favourite Yolngu surf rock band have just announced a regional run of gigs this July/August, taking in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT and the NT. After dominating Australian airwaves ever since they busted out of Arnhem Land with hits like Milkumana, KING STINGRAY have been busy writing album number two. This tour is the perfect chance for them to road test some new material, including their most recent single Through The Trees. “Let’s not waste anymore time” indeed!The tour starts in regional Victoria, with gigs in Castlemaine, Frankston and then hopefully someone can lend the boys a few wetties and boards before the show in Torquay. NSW fans get Byron, Coffs, Newy and Wollongong gigs and there’s even a visit to the nation’s capital, which asks the big question - will self-professed super fan Albo come and catch the set?? Albo, your name’s on the door, don’t be shy! Queenslanders get a couple of shows in the Gold Coast and Maroochydore, and tour ends up right back where it all started, with KING STINGRAY playing a FREE hometown show headlining Arnhem Land’s most awesome music festival, East Arnhem Live.

Untitled Group and triple j are pleased to present Northeast Party House’s Enhancer Tour 2024.Renowned for their unapologetic celebration of life's wild moments, Northeast Party House is more than just a party band. Behind their hedonistic lyrics and raucous live shows lies a depth of musicality and substance that sets them apart in the Australian music scene. Entirely self-produced, the band's attention to detail and craftsmanship shine through in their intricate melodies, sugary hooks, and exhilarating beats, creating a sound that is as dynamic as it is infectious.Enhancer - the band's fourth studio album - promises to be their most ebullient and expansive release yet. The title reflects the band's commitment and enthusiasm to creating music that uplifts and stimulates listeners. Throughout the album, Northeast Party House explores hybridisation, blending dance music with an indie spirit to create a sound that is uniquely their own.The electrifying Naarm/Melbourne dance outfit is set to embark on their highly anticipated Enhancer tour this August. The band invites fans old and new to join them as they ignite dancefloors across Australia with their signature high-energy performance.Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of Australia’s most exciting electronic bands!

It's been 16 months between Soju shots, but this August and September, Sydney/Eora-based alt-rock powerhouse RedHook will be supersizing the party at their biggest headline shows to date. In honour of their infectious new anthem 'Breaking Up With', RedHook will be laying the smackdown at capital cities venues right across Australia, visiting fans in Canberra, Jindabyne, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane.Naarm/Melbourne melodic rock force The Beautiful Monument will also be stepping into the ring on main support duties, with Newcastle/ Mulubinba pop-punk veterans Eat Your Heart Out and Boorloo/Perth metalcore rising stars Patient Sixty-Seven rounding out a blockbuster undercard.

Iconic Aussie rockers Spiderbait will hit the road with their Black Betty 20th Anniversary Tour this August, September and October, playing an extensive run of shows to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their seminal 2004 album, Tonight Alright and standout track, ‘Black Betty’.Recorded in California, Tonight Alright (2004) leant into the hard rock sound of the early-2000’s. The album debuted at No.14 on the ARIA Album Chart that year and featured the band’s most popular song to date, ‘Black Betty’.Renowned for their dynamic on-stage energy, Spiderbait are without doubt one of the country’s most beloved live acts. Most recently touring Australia in 2022, the trio shows no sign of slowing down, their intensity and camaraderie endearing them to fans right across the globe.“Spiderbait made a mighty lush sound… They played with an energising, steamrolling pace that never let up” – MusicFeeds“… a roaring set, high energy, pub/alt-rock, shouting and groovy” – The MusicThe story of Spiderbait is an unlikely but heart-warming one – three friends from a small Australian country town taking on the music scene, and emerging triumphantly thirty years later, friendship intact, and now one of the biggest and best rock bands on the national landscape.The trio’s popularity spans three decades and shows no signs of abating. They’ve released seven acclaimed albums and chalked up almost every Australian accolade possible, taking home multiple ARIA Awards, topping charts and becoming the first Australian band to take the crown in triple j’s prestigious Hottest 100 of 1996 with ‘Buy Me A Pony’.Australian rock ‘n roll royalty, and with a catalogue of music that’s distinctive and uncompromising, Spiderbait’s anticipated Black Betty 20th Anniversary Tour will see the band playing their greatest hits and celebrating their greatest hit of all.