In January 2020, Australia went from battling one of its worst-ever bushfire seasons to preparing for COVID-19 to hit its shores. What ensued was crisis: a pandemic, political upheaval, an international human rights movement, global recession and localised emergencies dwarfed by a world spinning on an axis of turmoil.These essays from leading thinkers and contributors to The Conversation examine what will be one of the most significant and punishing years in the 21st century. 2020: The Year That Changed Us explores the lessons that cannot be overlooked from this remarkable year, and the most intelligent way forward.