Lumen Wirltuti:Warltati 2025 - Flipbook - Page 32
Letters to the Editor
Winner
New hope
I am excited about the generation of young
adults coming in my wake. I feel such
hope for the future in the hands of this
generation who have been educated
throughout their entire schooling in
environmental responsibility, the ability to
question inequity and entrenched power
structures, skills to identify and understand
complex feelings in themselves and others,
and with high expectations of community.
Sara Lambert, B Mus (Hons) 1993
A degree of concern
Honestly, I’m a little worried about the
university merger. Will this water down the
value of University of Adelaide degrees? I
am currently completing my EMBA at
Adelaide and had heard very poor things
about the MBA at UniSA. I also know
individuals completing the UniSA MBA
who in my eyes wouldn’t have made the
entry into Adelaide EMBA.
I chose Adelaide because it had a better
reputation and was more prestigious, but
now my degree will be equivalent in worth
to those at UniSA and we will have the
same certificate as of next year.
Matthew Squires, B E (Electrical &
Electronic) 2014
No return
The future is terrifying. I have five kids, they
are doing okay as loving, kind and generous
people, however, I wish they didn’t have
such a bleak, hot, dry, catastrophic future
ahead of them. My youngest will barely be
an adult by the point of no return (2030).
We are trying to build a connected
community and internal resources to
sustain our family, but it hurts to think
about what they might face in the
decades ahead.
Rachel Brdanovic, BSc (Ma & Comp Sc)
1997, M Sustainability 2013
AI issues
One of my main concerns about the future
is artificial intelligence. As AI advances
rapidly, there’s a risk of job displacement
across various industries. Additionally,
issues like algorithmic bias, privacy invasion,
and the potential for autonomous weapons
pose significant threats. Without proper
regulation and ethical guidelines, AI could
have negative consequences that we may
struggle to control. How can we ensure the
responsible development and use of Al?
Are there any potential benefits of Al that
outweigh the risks? What are some ways to
address the issue of job displacement caused
by Al? We need to consider these issues
comprehensively.
Lian Zheng, BA 2022
Winner
Security challenges
Unsettling change
Cybersecurity is a growing concern as
technology advances. With increasing
reliance on digital systems, cyber threats
pose serious risks (hacking, data breaches,
and ransomware attacks). Personal
information, all financial data, and national
security are vulnerable to cybercriminals.
As artificial intelligence expands, new
security challenges emerge. Governments
and organisations must be increasingly
vigilant and invest in stronger protections,
while individual online habits will also be
tested. Without proactive measures, the
future could see more devastating
cyber attacks, impacting economies, privacy,
and global stability. Let’s hope we can stay
ahead of the bad guys.
The future feels both exciting and
uncertain. AI is growing fast, creating
amazing opportunities but also raising
questions about jobs and ethics.
Technologies like ChatGPT and image
generators are a little bit scary. Climate
change is also a big worry, but new
technology gives me hope. Even the
University is changing, and while that can
be unsettling, it brings new chances to learn
and grow along with new opportunities.
There’s a lot we don’t know about what’s
ahead, but I believe the choices we make
today will help build a better future.
Angel Wadhawan, B Comp Sc (Adv) 2022
Poverty trap
Mike Maiolo, B Ec 1987
Wealth disparity is a critical global issue,
with a significant gap between the rich
and the poor. The unequal distribution
of resources exacerbates poverty, limits
access to education and healthcare, and
perpetuates social inequality. This disparity
hinders the potential of millions,
trapping them in cycles of poverty.
Providing opportunities for upward
mobility – such as education, job training,
and equitable economic policies – can help
individuals improve their circumstances and
break free from poverty. When people have
the chance to succeed, it benefits society as
a whole, fostering innovation, reducing
inequality, and promoting long-term
economic and social stability.
Robert Tindale, B E (Comp Sys) 1993
Winner
AI matchmaker
As a Natural Resource Management grad,
I worry that future generations might only
“experience” forests through VR headsets
and “taste” fresh water from desal plants.
But I’m excited too – technology and
sustainability are finally dating, and AI
might just be the matchmaker we need.
Imagine machine-learning-powered
reforestation, precision conservation, and
climate solutions that don’t just react but
predict. The University’s changes mirror
this evolution – adapting, innovating, and
embracing the future. With a fortified wine
in hand, I say: “Here’s to a world where our
landscapes are as rich as our drink.”
Daniel Bailey, B Nat Res Mgmt 2006
Geopolitics
My biggest concerns for the future
are related to the trajectory of the
geopolitical situation and the risk of war.
Australia seems to be slow to respond in our
defence capabilities such as the submarine
program, which may be ineffective when
these capabilities are eventually realised.
The rise in abundance of long-range nuclear
weapons and having Trump in power also
influences these concerns because the
relationships between these parties are
egotistic and autocratic, which increase the
risk of enactment of these weapons at the
detriment to the greater populous.
Thomas Kerr, MBA 2024
Isolation
Universities online! School teachers working
from home. Kids taking schooling on their
laptop at home. I support work from home
but fear the feelings of isolation experienced
by the young felt during Covid may return.
How will boy meet girl, boy meet boy, girl
meet girl and all alternative combinations?
Is Isaac Asimov back in fashion?
Bronte Earl, BSc 1974
32
Meaningful connections
My greatest concern for the future is the
growing disconnection between people
in-person as social media, online meet-ups
and online correspondence take the place
of direct, personal, face-to-face interactions.
There is an increasing shallowness,
hollowness and disposability of social
relationships (personal and professional),
which is weakening the fabric of society
overall, and resulting in individuals feeling
and being isolated, emotionally unsupported
and lonely. Worse than this, younger
generations demonstrate less ability to
develop, grow and maintain real,
meaningful relationships (personally and
professionally), and instead to function in
a maladaptively independent, self-focused
manner. Where will we be in 50 years?
Carrie Reynolds, M Psych (Clin) 2024
