August 19, 2025
UOW expert commentary (19 August)
UOW academics provide expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories
Economic Reform Roundtable
Professor Martin O’Brien can provide expert commentary on this week's Economic Reform Roundtable. is a labour economist and the Director of UOW’s Centre for Human and Social Capital Research.
Russia and Ukraine
Dr Stephen Brown can discuss the latest developments in the Russia and Ukraine conflict. is a historian who has researched Russia for more than 30 years. He is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.
US politics and US President Donald Trump
Professor Markus Wagner can talk about US President Donald Trump, US politics, constitutional law and trade tariffs. is an internationally recognised expert in international economic law and governance, international peace and security, as well as US and Australian constitutional law. He is the Director of the at UOW.
Antarctic ecosystems at risk
Distinguished Professor Sharon Robinson AM can discuss that calls for the urgent expansion of long-term monitoring programs to better understand and protect Antarctica’s often overlooked ecosystems. is a climate change biologist and ARC Laureate Fellow UOW’s School of Science.
Global plastics treaty talks
Dr Babet de Groot specialises in the politics and governance of the global plastics crisis. attended INC-5.2 in Geneva last week for the final negotiations to develop a global plastics treaty and can discuss next steps. Dr de Groot is also researching youth engagement in the plastics treaty negotiations. She is a Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.
World Lake Day (27 August)
Associate Professor Tim Cohen can discuss World Lake Day. from UOW's Environmental Futures Research Group, is currently monitoring Australia's largest lake, Kati Thanda Lake Eyre, as it fills from one of the largest inland floods in 50 years. He has researched lakes across Australia and in eastern Indonesia and works on both permanent and ephemeral lakes including the long-term history of lakes that document climate change. He has recently launched a groundbreaking project that reveals the in the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment.
UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the 51²è¹Ý.