Life Solved explores research and ideas from the University of Portsmouth. This time we’re asking if the coronavirus pandemic has created a dramatic setback for the global environmental crisis. From the vast increase in the use and disposal of PPE such as face masks and gloves, to the changing consumer habits that arose from lockdown, we look at how the plastics problem has been exacerbated by Covid-19 conditions. At the same time we ask where there might be some hopeful green lights on the hori...
Jul 13, 2021•29 min•Season 5Ep. 5
This episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth explores what the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions have meant for human rights, democracy, trust and policing. We hear how narratives of control have played out in government policies and ask what this means for democracy here in the UK. Professor Leila Choukroune and Dr Sarah Charman discuss the issues that have come with police enforcement of temporary legislation, and the confusion that can arise from rapidly introduced measures a...
Jul 06, 2021•29 min•Season 5Ep. 4
The pandemic had a huge impact on working lives, lifestyles and employment for many of us here in the UK and further afield. In this episode of Life Solved University of Portsmouth researchers and business experts share their insights into what this means for our relationship with work in the future. Many in education adapted to online learning during the pandemic. Dan McCabe explains how he collaborated with his department to create an online community where Graphic Design students could social...
Jun 29, 2021•31 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In this episode of Life Solved, University of Portsmouth researchers explore the impact of the pandemic on our shopping habits and consumer attitudes. We ask if Covid has changed the way we shop forever, and where the opportunities and trends lie for businesses. Portsmouth local Tati Kapaya heads for her local shopping district to find out how local businesses have responded to a year of lockdowns and restrictions. And Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan and Dr Lisa Jack share their observations on the ...
Jun 22, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this special new series of Life Solved we explore the trends, changes and innovations that are taking place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Across 5 episodes, find out how life is changing for all of us, and University of Portsmouth researchers share their findings, ideas and observations on what a post-Covid future might look like. In our first episode we explore how the education and future opportunities of young people have been impacted by the pandemic, and discuss what we can learn...
Jun 15, 2021•36 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Dr James Darling says that understanding the deep history of planets and satellites in our solar system could help unveil secrets in the history of planet Earth. He takes John Worsey through his research in planetary geology in this episode of Life Solved. James explains how scientists are combining data sources and sharing information to put a rocket under space innovation. He also tells how technical advancement and open-source data is fuelling an international surge in tech development. From ...
May 24, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, Professor Malcolm Whitworth explains engineering geomorphology! He tells John Worsey how the team study landscapes to predict, prevent and prepare for natural hazards. Malcolm tells explains how satellite imagery allows him to study one of the world’s most important trade routes: the M-41 or Pamir Highway, which stretches across the mountainous terrain of the former silk road. A road in such conditions could be subject to erosion,...
May 18, 2021•15 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Ever wondered how citizen technology might be harnessed to help save lives? With so many amateur drone users on the ground, one University of Portsmouth Professor explains how this kind of data gathering can help emergency response teams in a disaster. In addition to combining satellite imaging with drone data, Professor Richard Teeuw says that open-source software can be a great way to support sustainable development and support research in areas vulnerable to major natural events like earthqua...
May 11, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Can you imagine living at the foot of a volcano, or in the path of extreme storms? Plenty of communities around the world live with the potential of a natural disaster taking place on home turf. That’s why early warning systems and robust research can make the difference between life and death. In this episode of Life Solved, Dr Carmen Solana shares her experiences of researching hurricanes and lava flow, and interpreting the data to work hand in hands with communities at threat. We hear how nat...
May 03, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Ever wondered what it’s like inside the mind of a burglar? Professor Claire Nee from the University of Portsmouth explains how she’s been watching crime in action to demystify the criminal mind. Professor Nee’s research watches offenders re-enact their crimes in a virtual reality environment to learn about the unconscious processes behind their choices. The idea is that burglars are ‘experts’ in what they do, and by making observations of them at work, we can pre-empt behaviour and help prevent ...
Apr 26, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In the case of major incidents such as terrorism, other crimes or an accident, emergency services rush to respond and save lives. But in this episode of Life Solved, we find out how the stress and pace of high-risk scenarios can influence the behaviour and memories of witnesses to such incidents. Professor Becky Milne and her colleagues at the University of Portsmouth know this kind of witness experience, and the way in which interviews are conducted, can make a big difference to the evidence ga...
Apr 19, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Your shopping habits, buying choices and the clothes you wear be impacting human rights, the environment and our supplies of finite resources. The fashion industry cannot continue to operate the way it currently does. In this episode of Life Solved, Dr Elaine Igoe shares stories from her innovative fashion design, community and sustainable production projects at the University of Portsmouth. April is host to Fashion Revolution Week, a global initiative that sees industries and academia unite to ...
Apr 13, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Death and bereavement are natural life experiences, but how is our approach to education and communication letting young people down? In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, Dr Sukhbinder Hamilton shares her latest research findings on how higher education students are reluctant to seek support for grief. She challenges often unconscious taboo messaging in the way we relate and communicate with bereaved individuals and asks how we can better serve people at every stage ...
Apr 06, 2021•27 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Throughout history, vulnerable young people suffering with trauma have been dismissed as 'beyond help' or simply too badly behaved by the institutions charged with their care. In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, we hear how this bias is still denying many the ongoing support needed to overcome childhood disadvantage. Dr Wendy Sims-Schouten explains how her research into history and present day case notes for vulnerable children has revealed where institutions are fa...
Mar 30, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Murals, music, comic books and theatre: could art be the gateway to saving lives and tackling world problems? Find out how a University of Portsmouth collaboration is using art as the conduit for vital public health messaging around the world. Today, Dr Cressida Bowyer and Dr Louis Netter explain the mission of ACT Nairobi: Action Against Covid Transmission, a project created to share health and wellbeing information through community art projects in the midst of the global pandemic. Hear how th...
Mar 23, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 7
What do you call the academic study of fandom? Comic book and cult TV fans are known for their inventive collective nouns, but what about the academics that are studying their behaviour? In this episode of Life Solved, Professor Lincoln Geraghty introduces us to the Aca-fans: the academics who are researching the (often positive) social impact of fandom on communities and individuals. This new breed of researcher builds a bridge between fan communities and academia. Professor Geragthy has been s...
Mar 16, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 6
How do unconscious language choices in media reporting contribute to the social inequality of women? And how does the language of online Incel – or involuntary celibate - groups leave participants more likely to engage in hate speech towards women? In this episode of Life Solved, Dr Alessia Tranchese explains how she has examined the linguistics of different media to uncover the hidden violent and misogynistic narratives in our society. She’s also been volunteering with crisis centres and activi...
Mar 09, 2021•17 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, we hear how the work of Professor Gordon Blunn and his team is revolutionising the way artificial limbs and joint replacements are integrated with the human body. Using 3D printing technology, Professor Blunn explains how this smart design can tackle the challenges of worn, ill-fitting or uncomfortable prostheses. His work with young people suffering from bone cancer has helped him understand why it’s so important to find long-las...
Mar 02, 2021•16 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Have you ever heard of a ‘resource curse’? Too much of one good thing really can stunt a developing nation’s economy, according to Professor Andy Thorpe. He says a diverse economy is a healthy one. In this episode of Life Solved, we gain an insight into the complex and far-reaching world of Development Economics. The University of Portsmouth’s Professor Andy Thorpe tells us about carrying out research in remote locations or in volatile or changing situations, in order to uncover how distinct fac...
Feb 22, 2021•12 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode of Life Solved, Professor Tamsin Bradley explains how innovative research into violence against women is informing international development organisations on how to respond to crises. Professor Bradley has been working with international community projects in areas like Nepal, South Sudan, Myanmar and Bangladesh to explore women’s experiences of violence after economic or environmental hardship. She realised that peer networks and support groups outside the home offered a safe sp...
Feb 16, 2021•26 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Vodka distilled from grain and water sourced in a nuclear disaster zone? Normally when alcohol inspires world-changing ideas, they don’t turn out that well, but this University of Portsmouth Professor is clear-headed about how to help kick-start Chernobyl’s economy. Professor Jim Smith explains his findings after years of studying the impact of radiation upon wildlife and the food chain in nuclear exclusion zones. It turns out that people living in semi-evacuated areas aren’t experiencing life-l...
Feb 09, 2021•15 min•Season 3Ep. 1
“Where we're looking at these emerging contaminants. I still don't know what their fate is. So where does it end up if it's in the sediments? What are the processes that's happening there? Is it being broken down or is it just building up?” In the final episode of Life Solved series 2, we hear about the Portsmouth technology that’s changing the game for water quality, and which may even help reduce our water bills! Professor Gary Fones has spent a career analysing freshwater and seawater environ...
Feb 02, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 11
“People switch off on water... in this country. We have a disconnect. In lower income countries, people have a much greater connection with the environment because they're in contact with it more." Beneath our feet, at the end of our roads, or hidden out of site, there’s a whole world of water and waste! Managing this is key to human health, from tackling the increasing levels of chemicals entering our water systems, to meeting demands for development. Professor Williams tells us how Portsmouth ...
Jan 26, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 10
"the thrill or the unpredictability or the letting one's hair down...is really important, but comes with those risks...I think the whole point of femininity is that it's full of contradictions." How does a night on the town change how feminine or masculine our behaviour is? Dr Emily Nicholls takes us through her research on how gender is performed through drinking and sobriety in British culture. Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved You can find out more abo...
Jan 19, 2021•24 min•Season 2Ep. 9
"Having the correct number of holes in the film, depending on the fruit...can double the shelf life for raspberries or blueberries." Less packaging isn’t always better for the environment. Professor Paul Trott explains how innovative food packaging can help tackle problems of food waste in society. But what problems are making it worse and who holds the power to make change? Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved You can find out more about research taking pla...
Jan 12, 2021•17 min•Season 2Ep. 8
"more children drown than die in fires or die on a bicycles. And yet we have cycle proficiency, we have fire training. We have adverts on national television about smoke detectors. You'll never see anything on television about drowning" What should you do if you find yourself drowning in cold water? Drowning kills 320,000 people worldwide per year but Mike Tipton says basic education in schools could transform this figure. He explains how he’s getting the word out on how to stay safe in the wate...
Jan 05, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Life Solved, the podcast from the University of Portsmouth, showcases world-class research that's about to change our lives for the better. In series 2 we've looked at lots of topics relating to our work in the enviornent and sustainability, but we're taking a little break for Christmas. This episode gives you a sneaky peak of some of the conversations still to come when we're back on the 5th of January 2021. Take a listen to hear how plastic packaging could actually help reduce food waste with ...
Dec 15, 2020•14 min
"there is evidence that quite a high proportion of us are colonized with multi-resistant organisms in our gastrointestinal tract... Manuka Honey has been shown to have anti-microbial properties for a long time" Your kitchen cupboard could hold the key to future-proofing our hospitals against infection. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, Dr Fouch and her team have been looking at alternative solutions for the most pressing scenarios, such as hospitals. It’s led to a sweet bit of research: Ma...
Dec 08, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 6
"if you have depression it is a physical construct now, rather than "it's all in the mind"" Have you ever felt your stomach knot up before a public speech? Professor Swinny has been exploring the physical link between our bodies and our life experiences. Can being stressed make you ill? Does depression change your body? And how does trauma change us physically? The answers lie in our brains. Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved You can find out more about re...
Dec 01, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 5
"You can't have modern medicine without antibiotics because you can't have surgery.... All your chemotherapies impact immunity. I think it would be good if we could find a way to not get the resistance coming back" Antibiotics have transformed healthcare and meant that once life-threatening illnesses can be treated with ease, but resistant bacteria are a worrying prospect. That’s why Professor Anastasia Callaghan’s been exploring the inner mechanisms of bad bacteria to find out if further innova...
Nov 24, 2020•15 min•Season 2Ep. 4
