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Brendan Walker-Munro

Brendan Walker-Munro

The Conversation

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An illegal bioweapons lab was found in a Las Vegas garage. It’s a warning for Australia

The rise of AI and synthetic biology has made deadly diseases look like a ‘low-risk, high-reward’ option for would-be terrorists.

11.02.2026 8

The Conversation

Brendan Walker-Munro

Foreign spies are trying to steal Australian research. We should be doing more to stop them

Australia’s universities face escalating, deliberate efforts from foreign spies who want to steal commercially and militarily valuable research.

27.10.2025 10

The Conversation

Brendan Walker-Munro

Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why

In an uncertain world, Australia is spending about 1.7% of its Gross Domestic Product on research and development. The OECD average is 2.7%.

28.05.2025 9

The Conversation

Brendan Walker-Munro

Trump is surveying Australian academics about gender diversity and China – what does this mean for unis and their research?

20.03.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

Brendan Walker-Munro

Trump is surveying Australian academics about gender diversity and China – what does this mean for unis and their research?

The Trump Administration is asking some Australian university researchers about how their work fits in with US foreign and domestic policy.

17.03.2025 10

The Conversation

Brendan Walker-Munro

Albanese says our laws would stop Elon Musk interfering in the Australian election. In truth, there’s little to stop him

Australia has foreign interference laws that are meant to prevent meddling in our elections from overseas interests. But they are very complex, and...

15.01.2025 10

The Conversation

Brendan Walker-Munro