In this episode we’re immersing ourselves in extended reality (XR), and testing the hypothesis that, ‘in the future, wellbeing will be XR's doing.’

XR is evolving, and there’s a growing body of research suggesting it’s benefits for our wellbeing. XR is now used to support mental health and treatment, rehabilitation, pain management, and to help reduce stress – even prior to and during operations and treatments. 

We’ll explore the potential of XR in the future of wellbeing, and the nuances attached to cultural ideas of wellbeing itself. While also addressing the challenges around accessibility and universality that stand between us and this brave new reality.

Guest experts featured in this episode include:

• Professor Raelene Wilding, sociologist, La Trobe University
• Associate Professor Jenny Waycott, Human-Computer Interaction expert, University of Melbourne
• Trent Clews-de Castella, cofounder and CEO at immersive technology studio, PHORIA

Be sure to check out the Scipothesis website for blog posts, recommended reads and resources relating to episode topics.

In this episode we’ll dig down into the afterlife, more specifically the digital afterlife, and test the hypothesis that: in the future a digital afterlife will become part of life. 

With the development of AI’s such as ChatGPT, and extended reality technologies such as VR, we are now entering an era where the living could have reasonably realistic interactions with the dead. We’ll uncover what digital afterlives might look like, the questions and problems that might arise as we navigate this new territory, and how this might impact grief, remembrance and our relationship to death. 

Guest experts featured in this episode include:
Associate Professor Margaret Gibson, sociologist, Griffith University 
Associate Professor Patrick Stokes, philosopher, Deakin University 
Dr Josh Andres, researcher in Cybernetics, Australian National University

Host: Dr Renee Beale

Be sure to check out the Scipothesis website for blog posts, recommended reads and resources relating to episode topics.

In this episode let’s taste the future of food, exploring the hypothesis that: in the future, food will be grown in the lab not on the land.

Are we moving away from getting our hands dirty to lab coats and petri dishes? We’ll find out more about lab grown produce and the potential for it to fill more of our plates in the future, and along the way discuss flavour profiles, ethical and nutritional considerations, and food sustainability.

Guest experts featured in this episode include:

Dr Kim Johnson, plant biologist, La Trobe University

Katie Bashant-Day, research scientist, Vow Food

Sophie Lamond, food culture and politics PhD student, the University of Melbourne 

Host: Dr Renee Beale

Be sure to check out the Scipothesis website for blog posts, recommended reads and resources relating to episode topics.