Member being interviewed

Members in the media

Today’s academic research on Southeast Asia
Our members are frequently cited in the media to comment on the big challenges facing Southeast Asia.

News archives

July

  • ABC News TV (Sydney) and ABC WA Statewide Drive interviewed Associate Professor Lily Rahim from the Department of Government and International Relations about a feud involving the family of the Prime Minister of Singapore.

June

  • Crikey quoted Professor Adrian Vickers from the school of Languages and Culture in an article about the declining number of Australian students studying Asian languages.
  • Time (US) quoted Professor Simon Butt from Sydney Law School in an article about an acid attack onIndonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan.
  • ABC TV Sydney interviewed Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathon Bogais from the School of Social and Political Sciences about local elections in Cambodia.

May

  • ABC Radio's Conversation interviewed Honorary Associate from the School of Languages and Cultures, Bob Hudson about archaeological discoveries in Myanmar. 
  • The Daily TelegraphHerald SunCourier Mail and Gold Coast Bulletin quoted Professor Stphen Greaves from the Business School about Urban planning lessons Australian Cities can take on from Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Today (Singapore) quoted Research Fellow from the United States Studies Centre Ashley Townshend about US President Donal Trump's relationship with Asia. 
  • Post Today (Thailand) quoted Stephen Greaves from the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies in the Business School about traffic in Indonesia. 
  • The South East Asia Globe Magazine (Cambodia) quoted Postdoctoral Fellow Van Touch from the School of Agriculture and Environment about the use of pesticides in Cambodian farming.
  • SBS World News and SBS Thai interviewed Dr Aim Sinpeng from the Department of Government and International Relations about the impact of social media on political participation and state censorship in Thailand.

April

  • DevPolicy.org published a book review of Duncan Green’s How Change Happens, written by Dr Thushara Dibley, Deputy Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. The article also mentioned Duncan Green’s appearance at the University of Sydney.
  • Asia Pacific Memo published a piece by Dr Aim Sinpeng from the Department of Government and International Relations about how Facebook helped improve political engagement in Thailand.
  • ABC Radio National interviewed Research Fellow Ashley Townshend from the United States Studies Centre about the new US administration’s Asia policy.
  • Australian Financial Review quoted Research Fellow Ashley Townshend from the United States Studies Centre about the new US administration’s Asia policy.
  • Okezone News reported that Professor Adrian Vickers from the School of Languages and Cultures contributed to a conference on Indonesian art history, organised by Cornell University.

March

  • Asia Times republished an article from The Conversation by PhD candidate Natali Pearson from the School of Literature, Art and Media about the disintegration of World War II battleships around Indonesia.
  • Australia Unlimited (Australia) interviewed Associate Professor Robyn Alders AO from the School of Veterinary Sciences about her research that developed a sustainable vaccination program to immunise chickens in Asia and Africa.
  • Public Now (Canada) reported Associate Professor Robyn Alders AO from the School of Veterinary Sciences was awarded with the inaugural Mitchell Humanitarian Award for her outstanding contributions to rural communities.
  • Sputnik News (Russia) quoted Dr Jean Jonathan Bogais, Adjunct Associate Professor from the School of Social and Political Sciences, about how North Korea's decision to fire ballistic missiles towards Japan is impacting the Asia-Pacific region.
  • ABC Radio (Sydney, Newcastle, Coffs Coast, North Coast NSW) interviewed Professor Simon Butt from Sydney Law School about an Australian woman’s four-year prison sentence for assaulting a Bali police officer.
  • CNN (US) quoted Dr Jean Jonathan Bogais, Adjunct Associate Professor from the School of Social and Political Sciences, about diplomatic and economic ties between Asia and the Middle East. Dr Bogais was also interviewed on Channel News Asia (Singapore) about an investigation into the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
  • The Conversation published an article by Dr Petr Matous from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies about the effectiveness of mobile phones and other communication technology in empowering people living in poverty in Indonesia.

February

  • ABC Online (Australia Plus) reported the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre hosted 26 Indonesian NGO leaders fighting for women's rights and to stop violence against women in Asia.
  • Bloomberg (US) and Yahoo! (US, Singapore) interviewed Dr Jean Jonathan Bogais, Adjunct Associate Professor from the School of Social and Political Sciences, about US President Donald Trump's foreign policy plans in Asia.
  • 2SER FM interviewed Dr Jean Jonathan Bogais, Adjunct Associate Professor from the School of Social and Political Sciences, about the Rohingya migrant crisis in Myanmar.
  • International Law Reporter reported on a symposium on International Investment Arbitration Across Asia held by the Centre for Asian and Pacific Law at the University of Sydney and the Sydney Centre for International Law.
  • Sydney Morning Herald interviewed PhD candidate Natali Pearson from the School of Literature, Art and Media, about Australia and Indonesia conducting a joint dive of the World War II shipwreck HMAS Perth. The article was syndicated in more than 130 other Fairfax print and online publications.
  • TIME (US) interviewed Professor Adrian Vickers from the School of Languages and Cultures and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre ahead of Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s first state visit to Australia. Professor Vickers was also quoted in the New York Times about an ancient custom in Bali that an infant’s feet should not touch the ground for the first 105 days after birth.
  • The Strait Times (Singapore) quoted Professor Adrian Vickers from the School of Languages and Cultures and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre ahead of Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s first state visit to Australia.
  • The Conversation published an article be PhD candidate Natali Pearson from the Department of School of Letters, Arts and Media about the disintegration of World War II naval ships in Indonesia.
  • ABC (Radio Perth, Radio Australia) interviewed PhD candidate Natali Pearson from the School of Literature, Art and Media about the disintegration of World War II battleships around Indonesia.

January

  • The Independent (Singapore) published an opinion article by Associate Professor Lily Rahim from the Department of Government and International Relations about politics in Singapore and also mentioned that she will speak at an upcoming event examining the special status of Malays under Article 152 of the Singapore Constitution.
  • Malaysia Sun (Malaysia), Ho Chi Min City Television (Vietnam) and Voice of America (Asia) showcased a new Sydney Southeast Asia Centre-funded research project by Dr Jane Gavan, senior lecturer at the Sydney College of the Arts, showing Vietnamese people how to transform manufacturing supplies into works of art.
  • Canada Standard and Cambodia Times reported on a new Sydney Southeast Asia Centre-funded research project by Dr Jane Gavan, senior lecturer at the Sydney College of the Arts, showing Vietnamese people how to transform manufacturing supplies into works of art.
  • Muhammad Esa Attia from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics was quoted in an article by Engineers Australia on agricultural robotics in Indonesia.
  • Forbes (US) quoted Dr Jean Jonathan Bogais, Adjunct Associate Professor from the School of Social and Political Sciences, about the end of the search for MH370, which went missing during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014.
  • China Daily quoted Professor Philip Hirsch from the School of Geosciences about extreme weather patterns in the Lower Mekong Basin over the past 10 years.
  • Voice of America (US)Malaysia SunHong Kong HeraldMexico Star, and Nigeria Sun quoted Professor Philip Hirsch from the School of Geosciences about the Thai government backing a plan by China to demolish islets and rocky outcrops on the Mekong River.
  • Bankstown Express and Australian New Express Daily reported Dr Vinh Binh Lieu, an alumnus of the University of Sydney, has been awarded a Medal (OAM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his service to the Vietnamese Community and to medicine.

December

  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) and The Malay Mail published an opinion piece by Hendri Yulius, Master’s student in Gender and Cultural Studies, about corporate involvement in a peaceful mass rally in Jakarta.

November

  • CNN (Philippines) quoted and published an article by Research Fellow Ashley Townshend from the United States Studies Centre about the relationship between China and the Philippines, in relation to disputes in the South China Sea.
  • Voice of America (US) quoted Professor Philip Hirsch from the Faculty of Science and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre about the impact of climate change on the Mekong Delta.
  • Research Fellow Ashley Townshend from the United States Studies Centre authored an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald about the rhetoric of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte that may complicate the US response to the South China Sea dispute. The article was also re-published in The AgeCanberra Times and WA Today.
  • Voice of America (US) quoted Adjunct Associate Professor Jean Jonathan Bogais from the School of Social and Political Sciences about bilateral co-operation between Malaysia and China.
  • Post Today (Thailand) quoted Professor Philip Hirsch from the School of Geosciences about collaboration with Vietnamese scientists to develop rice that can withstand salinity.
  • The Strait Times (Singapore) mentioned a research project by the University of Sydney and the Power Institute Foundation for Art and Visual Culture on the arts in Southeast Asia after World War II.
  • Channel NewsAsia (China)Yahoo!The Manila TimesManila BulletinThe Daily Tribune (Philippines) and Hong Kong Free Press quoted Research Fellow Ashley Townshend from the United States Studies Centre about Donald Trump’s potential approach to relations with Asian nations including the Philippines and Malaysia.
  • SBS Radio (Filipino) reported on the launch of the book ‘Re-imagining Australia: Voices of Indigenous Australians of Filipino Descent’, co-hosted by the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney.
  • SBS Online quoted Adjunct Associate Professor Jean Jonathan Bogais from the School of Social and Political Sciences about political conflict and tension in Malaysia.
  • CMO.com interviewed Professor Michele Ford, Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, about Indonesian motorcycle taxi start-up Go-Jek.
  • The Diplomat (Japan) quoted Professor Philip Hirsch from the School of Geosciences about the environmental and economic costs of Mekong dams.

October

  • The Diplomat (Japan) published an opinion piece by Roshni Kapur, postgraduate student from the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, about Timor-Leste accession into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
  • News.com.auCairns PostDaily TelegraphTownsville BulletinCourier MailThe MercuryGold Coast BulletinNT News, and Geelong Advertiser quoted Dr Sandra Seno-Alday from the Business School ahead of the ASEAN Business Forum 2016.
  • The Good Men Project (US) published an article co-authored by Hendri Yulius, a Master’s student in gender and cultural studies, about Indonesia’s LGBT community.
  • Honorary Associate from the Department of Political Economy, Dr Gavan Butler, wrote an article published in The Conversation about the challenges faced by the new king of Thailand following the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej.
  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) reported that Professor Adrian Vickers from the School of Languages and Cultures and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre will join the board of advisors of a new Balinese visual arts foundation.
  • The Daily Mail (UK)Salon (US) and The Japan Times quoted Professor Philip Hirsch from the Faculty of Science and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre about foreign funding for the management of the Mekong River.
  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) published an opinion piece by PhD candidate from the Department of Government and International Relations, Klaus Heinrich Raditio, on Indonesia-China relations.
  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) and Malay Mail published an article co-authored by Hendri Yulius, a Master’s student in gender and cultural studies, about the use of dating applications in Indonesia.
  • The Australian Financial Review mentioned the keynote speech delivered by Dr Alice Ba from University of Delaware at the ASEAN Forum 2016, hosted by the University of Sydney’s Southeast Asia Centre and China Studies Centre.
  • News.com.auDaily TelegraphHerald SunCairns PostAdelaide NowTownsville BulletinNT NewsGold Coast Bulletinand Perth Now mentioned comments made by The Lowy Institute’s Director of the East Asia Program Dr Merriden Varrall at the ASEAN Forum 2016, hosted by the University of Sydney’s Southeast Asia Centre and China Studies Centre.
  • Yahoo! (US) republished an article from The Conversation by Honorary Associate from the Department of Political Economy, Dr Gavan Butler, about the challenges faced by the new king of Thailand following the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej.
  • The Huffington Post published an opinion piece by Bridget Harilaou, undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, about her insights from a Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and New Colombo Plan field school studying issues of women’s empowerment in Indonesia earlier this year.
  • Professor Simon Butt from Sydney Law School authored an article in The Conversation about a woman found guilty of premeditated murder in an Indonesian court. It was also republished by ABC News Online.

September

  • South China Morning Post quoted Dr Cameron Webb from the Department of Medical Entomology about the spread of the Zika virus to Singapore.
  • Sydney Morning Herald article mentioned that Australian students - including students from the University of Sydney - are studying in Indonesia under the New Colombo Plan. Bachelor of International and Global Studies/Bachelor of Laws student Bridget Harilaou was quoted in the article.
  • The Diplomat (Japan) published an opinion piece by Tim Frewer, PhD candidate in the School of Geosciences, about anti-Vietnamese sentiment in Cambodia.
  • Australia Plus (Indonesia) reported on the University of Sydney’s Indonesia Open Day in Jakarta.
  • The Conversation published an article by PhD researcher Adele Webb from the Department of Government and International Relations about relations between US and the Philippines.
  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) published an opinion piece by Hendri Yulius, Masters student in the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies, about Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s appointment as an ambassador for a UN gender equality program.
  • The Conversation published an article co-authored by Hendri Yulius, a Master’s student in gender and cultural studies, about Indonesia’s LGBT community.
  • The Cambodia Daily (Cambodia) reported on Cambodia’s place in a recent study by the Electoral Integrity Project, run by the University of Sydney and Harvard University.
  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) published an opinion piece by Dr Dyah Pitaloka from the School of Languages and Cultures about Dialita, a choir made up of ex-political prisoners in Indonesia.
  • The Heat Malaysia reported on analysis of Malaysia’s general elections by the Electoral Integrity Project, run by the University of Sydney and Harvard University.
  • The Japan Times interviewed Ashley Townshend, Research Fellow from the United States Studies Centre, about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s military strategy.
  • The Conversation published an article by Adele Webb, a PhD candidate in the Department of Government and International Relations, on the Philippine's President Duterte gaining global notoriety with his election campaign insults.
  • Gulf News (Philippines) quoted Research Fellow, Ashley Townshend, from the United States Studies Centre about President Rodrigo Duterte’s influence on the defence policy of the Philippines.

August

  • Bloomberg (US)Yahoo! (US, UK, India)The Indian Express (India) and Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) quoted Pongphisoot Busbarat, Research Affiliate at the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, about a coordinated wave of bombings in Thailand last week.
  • The Ecologist (UK) interviewed Professor Philip Hirsch from the Faculty of Science and Mekong Research Group about a hydrodam being constructed on the Mekong River in Southern Laos.
  • Yahoo! (US, UK, India, Singapore)Salon (US)Daily Mail (UK)The Brunei TimesThe Himalayan TimesNew Zealand Herald and Chiang Rai Times (Thailand) interviewed Professor Philip Hirsch from the Faculty of Science and Mekong Research Group about a dam being constructed on the Mekong River in Laos.
  • Dr Aim Sinpeng from the Department of Government and International Relations was interviewed on CNBC (US) about Thailand’s constitutional referendum.
  • Dr Aim Sinpeng from the Department of Government and International Relations was quoted in Yahoo! (US, Canada, India)and MSN (US) about Thailand’s constitutional referendum.
  • The South China Morning Post quoted Research Fellow from the United States Studies Centre Ashley Townshend about progress made by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations towards adopting a binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.
  • The Diplomat (Japan) published an opinion piece by Max Walden, Research Assistant from the Sydney Asia Pacific Migration Centre, about Indonesia’s Independence Day.
  • The Diplomat (Japan) published an opinion piece by Max Walden, Research Assistant from the Sydney Asia Pacific Migration Centre, about Australia’s use of offshore detention.
  • CNBC (US) and Yahoo! (US, UK, India) quoted Associate Professor Jonathan Bogais from the Department of Sociology and Social Policy about Cambodia's polarised political landscape, following the July murder of a popular political commentator in the nation.
  • Yahoo! (US, UK)Live Science (US) and The Daily Star (Bangladesh) quoted Dr Sabin Zahirovic from the Faculty of Science about a new tectonic plate discovered in the Philippine Sea.
  • The Guardian published an article by Professor Ben Saul from Sydney Law School about conciliation talks between Australia and East Timor in The Hague, involving a dispute over maritime boundaries.
  • Professor Adrian Vickers from the School of Languages and Cultures was quoted in the Sydney Morning HeraldAge and Canberra Times about the legacy of renowned garden designer Made Wijaya and the University of Sydney’s work to preserve his cultural archive.
  • The Diplomat (Japan) published an opinion piece by Jittip Mongkolnchaiarunya from the University of Sydney’s Sydney Cyber Security Network about Thailand’s strategies on cyber security.

July

  • Bangkok Post (Thailand) published an opinion piece by Danny Marks, PhD candidate from the School of Geosciences, about the use of coal-fired power plants in Thailand.
  • Khmer Times (Cambodia) reported on the University’s Greater Angkor Project, and mentioned it is led by Professor Roland Fletcher from the Department of Archaeology.
  • Huffington Post Australia quoted Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathan Bogais from the Department of Sociology and Social Policy about an international court finding Beijing’s claim to part of the South China Sea was without legal basis.
  • Pacific Daily News (US) quoted Associate Professor James Reilly from the Department of Government and International Relations about the impact of the international court ruling on the South China Sea on Indonesia.
  • Bloomberg TV Asia-Pacific (US) and New Daily interviewed Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathan Bogais about the South China Sea ruling and the recent change of leadership in the Philippines.
  • SBS Radio (Filipino) interviewed Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathan Bogais from the Department of Sociology and Social Policy about the court ruling on the South China Sea.
  • The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) published an article by PhD candidate from the Department of Government and International Relations, Klaus Heinrich Raditio, on the impact of the international court ruling on the South China Sea on Indonesia.
  • Jalur9 (Indonesia) reported that students from the University of Sydney visited the Foundation for Community Empowerment Assessment in Makassar, Indonesia, this week. The visit was part of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre’s Women’s Empowerment in Indonesia field school.
  • Makassar Tribune (Indonesia) reported that students from the University of Sydney visited Indonesia to study issues of women's empowerment, as part of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre’s Women’s Empowerment in Indonesia winter field school.
  • Makassar Tribune (Indonesia)Kabar, Makassar (Indonesia)Akualita (Indonesia)Radio Republik, Indonesia (Indonesia)and Perempuan Pangkep (Indonesia) reported that students from the University of Sydney visited Indonesia to study issues of women's empowerment, as part of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre’s Women’s Empowerment in Indonesia winter field school.

June

May

  • The Diplomat (Japan) published an opinion piece by postgraduate student Jarrad Harvey from the Department of Government and International Relations about Indonesia-Australia relations.
  • Dr Aim Sinpeng from the Department of Government and International Relations was quoted in SBS World News and Huffington Post about the influence of the President-elect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte. The Drum also published an article by PhD candidate Adele Webb about the issue.
  • Myanmar Times quoted Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathan Bogais from the Department of Sociology and Social Policy about a Chinese oil refinery in Myanmar.

March

February

  • The New Daily quoted Professor Edward Holmes from the Charles Perkins Centre and the Faculty of Science about the potential for under-diagnosis of the Zika Virus in Southeast Asia.
  • Dr Rizal Muslimin from the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times about an exchange program in which students spend a week in Sydney designing shelters for street vendors in Indonesia.
  • Deutshe Welle (Germany) reported on research from gunpolicy.org, a website run by Associate Professor Philip Alpers from the School of Public Health about the number of gun deaths in Thailand.