December’s Macquarie Minds Showcase brings together a compelling group of visionaries, researchers and experts to discuss how we can shape a brighter future.

Mikey Robins, one of Australia’s most well-known and loved media personalities, will be joining as moderator for the panel talk ‘Taking Discovery Beyond Research’ where Macquarie researchers will share their stories of the many paths to discovery.

And Marc Fennell, award winning journalist, broadcaster, author, Australia’s most listened-to film critic and the host of SBS’s live nightly news show The Feed, will be hosting Movies at Macquarie as part of the Showcase. The film ‘Lucy’ will be screened and it will be followed with an engaging panel discussion with Associate Professor Jennifer Cornish from the Department of Psychology, as well as Dr Penny Van Bergen from the Department of Education, and Dr Carol Newall from the Institute of Early Childhood.

We sat down with Mikey and Marc where we talk career highlights and the importance of research – and the greatest lesson they’ve ever learnt.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Mikey: Having the opportunity to interview the Dalai Lama and going to Afghanistan to entertain the troops. Both experiences had a profound effect on me.

Afghanistan, I may as well have been on the moon with the disconnect and isolation from my real world. But it was the bravery and brilliance of our troops that was a real inspiration especially as they were so young. Plus, it was that situation many performers find themselves in where you remove yourself from the politics of a situation and concentrate on the men and women who are risking their lives and doing their best in very difficult circumstances.

Sitting on stage with the Dalai Lama in front of 13,000 people and asking him questions that had been sent in by the Australian public was a true honour. He is a very funny man and even got me with a fat gag. I’m not a spiritual person but I couldn’t deny that he has a certain aura around him.

Marc: I love meeting people and big ideas. Conveniently, I work in two jobs that allow me to do a lot of both. Obviously, a big part of my life is film. Sitting down to pick the brains of intelligent creators like Tarantino, Matt Damon, Alan Alda and Jodie Foster has been a huge highlight. I’ve interviewed the creator of the world wide web Sir Tim Berners-Lee and the co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak.

But sometimes the best moments are the people that aren’t known. I spent a day in a jail interviewing an indigenous prisoner earlier this year and it was eye opening. Equally so, meeting a 22 year old app developer on the Autism spectrum who was developing an app to help others on the spectrum better navigate job interviews. I love seeing people take their life experience and use it to create something or solve a problem.

What is the greatest lesson you’ve ever learned?

Mikey: I’m still learning it.

Marc: The best opportunity is the one that’s right in front of you. Do the most with whatever opportunity you have presently and people will take notice.

Why is it so important for young people to take an interest in research?

Mikey: It’s the base of all learning. A curious mind is a happy mind, and as story teller I love finding out where our stories come from.

Marc: Because we need to make decisions in our lives and in government that are based on actual facts. Not the ‘feelpinions’* of a crossbencher.

*Marc assures us that ‘feelpinions’ is a thing.

Register for the panel talk ‘Taking Discovery Beyond Research’ and Movies at Macquarie as part of the Macquarie Minds Showcase 13-14 December 2016.