Globalisation is changing our world as we know it, it’s transforming economies, societies, and the environment. But whilst geographers have long studied its effects in global cities - there’s been little research on the concept of ‘a global countryside’ and the impacts of globalisation on rural spaces. In this podcast we meet Professor Michael Wood from Aberystwyth University. We discuss how migration, trade, and tourism has shaped the rural landscape in England and Wales.
Aug 23, 2019•21 min
In this podcast we meet with Dr Jon Oldfield, from the University of Birmingham to discuss geopolitics, the role of Russia as an influential climate actor, and the potential consequences of climate change on this vast and environmentally dynamic country. We’ll be finding out more about his latest research project into Soviet climate science and its intellectual legacies
Aug 19, 2019•18 min
In this podcast, we meet with Laura Schoenberger, we explore how, in countries such as Cambodia, sand mining is contributing to the erosion of estuaries, collapse of riverbanks. Sand is not a renewable resource within human timescales, so what does this mean for our environment and the countries that will suffer the most insecurity as a result of its loss.
Aug 16, 2019•11 min
When refugees re-settle into new communities it can impact sense of belonging, place and home. So how can this be negotiated and managed? In this podcast we’re joined by Sara Kindon and Amber Kale from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. We’ll be discussing their research into migration, homliness, belonging and the methods that geographers use to explore these issues through qualitative data.
Aug 12, 2019•23 min
Caribbean creativity has shaped literary, music and dance cultures globally. Alongside this geographers are increasingly looking at what performance can tell us about place, identity and politics. In this podcast we're interviewing Dr Pat Noxolo from the University of Birmingham, to discuss the ways in which Caribbean people deploy creative energy to live with the everyday effects of insecurity, poverty, inequality and violence in this culturally and environmentally unique region.
Aug 09, 2019•32 min
International aid is more than a flow of money. Whilst it’s an economic exchange, it’s also one that shaped by geopolitics and geographical imaginations about place - especially so, in terms of traditional donors and recipients of aid. In this podcast we're joined by Dr Emma Mawdsley to discuss global development, and how international aid really works.
Aug 05, 2019•25 min
Traditionally, gentrification has been considered a highly urban process, taking place in cities and towns. But gentrification - and its implications for changing landscapes, rising rents, and displacement - take place in rural spaces too. In this podcast, we meet Professor Martin Philips from the University of Leicester to discuss how TV and Media have constructed representations of rural life in Britain, and how often this may belie the realities and challenges of the countryside.
Aug 02, 2019•21 min
With changing borders, Brexit and Trump it’s an interesting time for global geopolitics. Historically, and even more so in today’s current climate political cartoons are released via newspaper and social media as a commentary on global power relations and nation-hood. In today’s podcast we’re joined by Dr Daniel Hammett from the Department of Geography at the University of Sheffield to discuss what we can learn from such cartoons, the role of humour in political geography and his research into c...
Jul 29, 2019•23 min
Whilst research and science often provide an explanation on how the world works, the role of concepts such as fate, luck, fortune affect our understandings of risk. In this podcast we speak to Professor Esther Eidinow about the role future scenarios play in our perception of risk.
Jul 25, 2019•19 min
Declining retail poses fundamental questions to the future of places where we live, work and socialise. In this podcast we're joined by Dr Steve Millington from Manchester Metropolitan University to discuss place-management. How have these places been managed so far - and how can geographers envisage brighter futures for their creative, social, cultural and economic development?
Jul 23, 2019•32 min
At the end of 2015, over one million people had taken perilous sea journeys across the Mediterranean in search of safety. As part of #RefugeeWeek2019, we speak to Professor Heaven Crawley to discuss her research with over 500 migrants and refugees in 2015, to share their experiences, and to improve support for those in search of security, and those who risked their lives to find it.
Jun 17, 2019•28 min
In this podcast, we hear from Professor Jason Dittmer at University College London to discuss the role of comic books and their characters is constructing national identity and superpower in the US, Canada and Britain. Find out more about the role of popular culture in geopolitics.
Apr 24, 2019•24 min
By 2050, it is estimated that the number of people living in urban areas in Africa and Asia will have doubled to 5.2 billion. Most of this urban growth will be from internal migrants. In this podcast we hear from Professor Michael Collyer, Principal Investigator on the Society’s research programme, Migrants on the margins. We discuss why do people move, and how is this movement changing cities.
Apr 09, 2019•27 min
In this podcast we interview UNESCO Chair of Water Science Professor David Hannah at the University of Birmingham. We explore the hydrological cycle and big challenges related to the sustainable management of challenges associated with water insecurity.
Mar 20, 2019•11 min
Big data and digital technology are changing cities around the world - but are these new urban futures inclusive, or exclusionary? In this podcast we hear Dr Ayona Datta, Reader in Urban Futures at Kings College London discuss her research on India's smart cities.
Mar 08, 2019•22 min
Terri Freemantle, Senior Earth Observation Specialist at Satellite Applications Catapult discusses how earth observation data helps us to understand locational change, from tackling rapid urbanisation, food security, to deforestation.
Mar 07, 2019•12 min
In January and February 2019, a major international scientific expedition explores one of the coldest, harshest and most remote locations in the world, the Weddell Sea. In November 2018, we spoke to one of the leading experts on the expedition, Professor Julian Dowdeswell, Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute and Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Cambridge. We discuss glaciers, ice-caps and this extraordinary journey that draws to a close soon.
Feb 05, 2019•13 min
Dr Ann Rowan, Research Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, joins us to discuss how glacier surfaces evolve over time, and specifically how Himalayan glaciers are responding to climate change.
Nov 12, 2018•11 min
The Arctic is a unique landscape experiencing physical, social, and political change. How is this governed, and how does this impact place identity? We discuss with Dr Ingrid A. Medby, Lecturer in Political Geography at Oxford Brookes University.
Sep 11, 2018•19 min
What are giant icebergs and how do they breathe life into the Southern Ocean? We discuss the carbon cycle and ice shelves with Professor Grant Bigg at the Department of Geography, University of Sheffield.
Jul 06, 2018•14 min
When places change how do young people negotiate space to maintain their sense of home and belonging? In this podcast we discuss with Dr Melissa Butcher, Birkbeck, University of London and peer researcher Shekeila Scarlett.
Jun 12, 2018•23 min
Can smartphone technology help geographers to monitor volcanic gases emissions? We discuss Dr Tom Pering’s innovative research on hazardous landscapes.
May 25, 2018•12 min
What is dust? How does it get into the atmosphere and shape our climate? Rob Bryant from the Department of Geography at the University of Sheffield joined us to discuss.
May 11, 2018•15 min
Geography translates literally as 'earth-writing'. But 70% of the world is water. How have oceans shaped global development? Dr Kimberley Peters from the School of Environmental Scientists, University of Liverpool discusses.
Apr 25, 2018•19 min
Can Venice be sustained as a living city for its residents? We discuss this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its fascinating lagoon landscape with Jane Da Mosto and Gabriella Gilmore from We Are Here Venice.
Apr 03, 2018•20 min
How do we predict earthquakes? They’re just like London buses, according to Rebecca Bell from Imperial College. In this podcast we discuss hazards, plate tectonics, and how they’re studied.
Mar 22, 2018•16 min
How have women shaped the discipline of geography? To celebrate International Women's Day, Dr Sarah L. Evans from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) discusses female explorers, feminist geographers and gendered spaces.
Mar 06, 2018•39 min
How do Chinese cities challenge and develop geographical understanding of global urban spaces? We discuss place-making, urban life, and city twinning with Professor Mark Jayne, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University. The paper discussed in this podcast, is free to access until January 2017: Jayne, M. and Leung H, H. (2014) Embodying Chinese urbanism: towards a research agenda, Area 46 (3) 256 -267: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/area.12108/abstract
Oct 26, 2017•10 min
How do plants and forest work within the carbon cycle? We discuss exciting new research from the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) with Professor Rob MacKenzie and Professor Jeremy Pritchard.
Oct 05, 2017•19 min
How do human geographers use creative methods, such as poetry, to engage with changing places? We spoke to Dr Phil Jones, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Geography at University of Birmingham about his collaboration with a professional poet in Cardiff, Wales. Further Reading: Jones, P. and Jam, C. (2016), Creating ambiances, co-constructing place: a poetic transect across the city. Area, 48: 317–324. doi:10.1111/area.12262 [Free Access] Image: Fred Bigio (Flickr): http://bit.ly/2w4MgwS
Sep 12, 2017•14 min
