Have you heard of the Blue Economy? What has the sea got to do with national economies? What does the ocean mean to different nations? And how does the deep, blue sea hold the key to solving some of the most important issues facing our planet today? In the final episode of the series we meet up with Professor Steve Fletcher to explore a step-change in the way we’re thinking about the oceans as a natural resource. Steve explains how human activity has accelerated changes in these epic ecosystems ...
Jun 14, 2022•23 min•Season 8Ep. 8
This time, hear how one researcher here at Portsmouth is taking a closer look at a pathogen that might be doing some mysterious good in our ecosystems. Christina Scott had a career in water testing before returning to Portsmouth to study bacteria. Her background in marine biology and interest in the environment has caused her to ask the question: why is Legionella in our environment? We may all be familiar with the bad it can do, via Legionnaires’ disease, but Christina has been collecting seawa...
Jun 07, 2022•21 min•Season 8Ep. 7
It’s now 4 decades since the rapid escalation and resolution of the Falklands War, where over 900 soldiers were lost through sea, air and land conflict in the South Atlantic Ocean. In this episode, top historians and researchers from the University of Portsmouth discuss the pattern of events of 1982 and ask whether such a conflict could happen again. Ben, Matthew and Melanie share their take on changes in British defence policy and naval capabilities, as well as the cultural legacy and social im...
May 31, 2022•21 min•Season 8Ep. 6
The UK Space Sector is experiencing one of its most exciting periods in history as businesses, technology and industry seize upon the opportunities presented by science. Professor Adam Amara shares an inspirational chat about why he loves astronomy, from dark matter to pub-table debates and discovering planets. He’s passionate about sharing space science with everyone, and helping everyone turn their brilliant ideas into experiments. He also explains why the South of England is such an exciting ...
May 24, 2022•27 min•Season 8Ep. 5
January 2022 brought a very exciting moment for interwar historians – professional and amateur alike. The 1921 Census includes a survey of 38 million people living in England and Wales. This period followed a global pandemic and saw economic instability between two world wars. A team of hundreds of conservators have been working to conserve and digitise these 30,000 bound volumes of documents. Now they’re available to us all online. This time on Life Solved, Glenn Harris chats with Deborah Sugg ...
May 17, 2022•40 min•Season 8Ep. 4
Cybercrime is now one of the most prevalent and due to its international scope, can be difficult to track and prosecute for. So how vulnerable are individuals and businesses from attacks? And is cyber crime also being used in warfare and state-backed activity? In this episode of Life Solved, hear insights from Professor Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, a Reader in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity on how governments and laws are adapting to crime in the complex and evolving digital world. And find out abo...
May 10, 2022•25 min•Season 8Ep. 3
This episode’s guest may have started his career as "the world’s worst commercial fisherman", but Dr Ian Hendy soon found his calling as a conservationist. As a Tropical Marine Ecologist and Course Leader for Marine Biology here at the University of Portsmouth, he’s leading innovative research into how restoration of ecosystems can help us fight climate change and biodiversity loss, by locking away carbon. Ian shares insights into how conservation work can go hand in hand with supporting coastal...
May 03, 2022•32 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Can schools cope under the strain of increased social need? And where are the UK’s health and care systems failing the most vulnerable in society? Dr Bethany Simmonds and Dr Emma Maynard share their insights, perspectives and solutions on two vital areas of social support in the UK. Amidst funding restructures, privatisation and the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s public services are increasingly undergoing change. From care home homes and emergency services to hospitals and schools, the pressures o...
Apr 26, 2022•27 min•Season 8Ep. 1
This time, Dr Lisa Sugiura opens up the conversation on how technology is enabling domestic abuse and coercive control, and what needs to happen to put a stop to it. In Life Solved we feature cutting-edge research from the University of Portsmouth. Dr Sugiura explains how her team collaborated with other organisations to explore the extent to which social media and online platforms, technology and other online media are allowing abusers to stalk, control, threaten or harm victims. She found out ...
Mar 22, 2022•27 min•Season 7Ep. 7
In this special episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, Glenn Harris speaks to academics for their insight on current world events. Dr Tom Smith, Academic Director of the Royal Air Force College and Principal Lecturer in International Relations at Portsmouth joins Dr Paul Flenley, a Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at the University, to explain some of the histories and politics that have led up to the war in Ukraine. Then Glenn asks questions about the r...
Mar 15, 2022•40 min•Season 7Ep. 6
In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, meet Dr Leanne Proops (and her cast of animal helpers) Leanne’s a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Psychology here at Portsmouth, and she’s been looking into the relationships that exist between humans and animals. From dogs to cats to horses, hear how Leanne’s been gathering ideas and insights into how much they really understand about our human experiences and emotions. From the happy hormones dogs experience after a lovely cuddle...
Mar 08, 2022•19 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Life Solved S7 E04 Football: Clearing Up Corruption in Football In the second of our football specials, University of Portsmouth researchers share surprising insights into the balance books of the beautiful game. Christina Philippou and Dr Adam Cox tell Life Solved how mismanagement and corruption can often mean funds end up in the wrong places, creating conflicts of interest and instability in clubs at all levels. They also discuss the route to making the sport fairer financially, with better r...
Mar 01, 2022•20 min•Season 7Ep. 4
In the first of this two-part special on the state of football, researchers from the University of Portsmouth explore how football in the UK is moving towards becoming a fairer game, and look at the challenges still faced. Dr Tom Webb shares insights into his research around match officials: how this group has been marginalised and is subject to abuse at every level. He compares this to work he’s done internationally and asks what can be done to ensure people’s rights to a safe working experienc...
Feb 22, 2022•18 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Have you heard about the reported benefits of swimming in cold water and cold water immersion? Wondering if there’s anything in it? On this episode of Life Solved, Dr Heather Massey explains what happens to the body’s physiology in cold water and shares her tips for how you can dip your toe in the hobby and still stay safe. From mental health benefits, new friendships and increased wellbeing to easing physical symptoms of menopause, and even reducing episodes of migraine sufferers: there’s certa...
Feb 15, 2022•23 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Life Solved explores the biggest new research and life-changing discoveries coming from the University of Portsmouth. In this episode find out how palaeontology allows us to tell the biggest story out there: that of life on earth! Dr Dave Martill and Dr Nizar Ibrahim share stories of their incredible finds, from the Saharan desert to Morocco to… the Isle of Wight, where PhD Student Jeremy Lockwood has identified a whole new species of dinosaur! What does it feel like to log a new species to scie...
Feb 08, 2022•26 min•Season 7Ep. 1
In the final episode of this series of Life Solved, delve into some surprising insights from studies of gender representation in the UK and further afield. Professor Karen Johnston challenges the norms that are holding back women and under-represented groups. From the police force, to government, civil service and the NHS, Karen looks at the impact of inequalities in workplaces and the cultures of critical organisations. Professor Johnston shares her findings into how diversifying gender in the ...
Dec 02, 2021•14 min•Season 6Ep. 10
This time on Life Solved, we’re taking a tour of the innovations in technology taking place at the University of Portsmouth. Professor Adrian Hopgood heads up the Future and Emerging Technologies Research Theme. In addition to a passion for AI and digital technology, he explains how nature is inspiring brilliant design in construction. Find out about the artificial intelligence that’s being used to improve patient care in health settings as well as the opportunities in telecommunications and out...
Nov 25, 2021•11 min•Season 6Ep. 9
A review of the COP26 comittments and what this means for climate change goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 24, 2021•22 min•Season 6Ep. 8
This week the COP26 conference in Glasgow turns its focus to issues such as transport, cities and the built environment. On this episode of the Life Solved podcast the University of Portsmouth’s Professor Mark Gaterell demystifies the role of construction in our net zero future. Find out how the way our buildings are designed, made and used impact their carbon footprints. Mark also explains how the running of cities can add up to a huge impact on climate change, environments and human life. This...
Nov 11, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 7
What are the “wicked problems” facing our planet, how are they connected and and how can we address them? In this episode of Life Solved , Dr Cressida Bowyer explains key findings the University of Portsmouth plans to highlight at COP26, the forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this November. She explains the link between plastic pollution and climate change, and shares insights into how community-based research can combat this on the local level. FIND OUT MORE Dr Cressida Bowyer ...
Oct 28, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 5
In this special episode of Life Solved , Glenn Harris interviews talented experts at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation to find out about the UK’s agenda to double space activity across the next ten years. Plus, find out how The University of Portsmouth is sharing in those ambitions by combining data analytics expertise with world-class training, engineering and construction. Glenn’s joined by Professor Adam Amara and Professor David Bacon who explain how researchers can harness the powe...
Oct 21, 2021•24 min•Season 6Ep. 4
An archive of more than 300 art-zines is helping researchers and historians alike connect with social history and the human experience on diverse topics. Portsmouth researcher Dr Jac Batey is behind an enormous archive of material collated for Zineopolis at the University of Portsmouth. In this week’s Life Solved podcast she explains how she came to realise the immense value of this self-published art for understanding diverse experiences through the decades. FIND OUT MORE You can find out more ...
Oct 14, 2021•15 min•Season 6Ep. 3
The mysteries of outer space have long fascinated scientists and academics, but an innovative research project has put ordinary people at the helm of exploring our cosmos. To celebrate World Space Week, Professor Bob Nicol and Professor Daniel Thomas join the Life Solved podcast to talk about Galaxy Zoo, a citizen-science project part-funded by the University of Portsmouth. Across a decade, 73,000 enthusiasts joined forces to classify galaxies in their spare time, leading to blossoming communiti...
Oct 07, 2021•21 min•Season 6Ep. 2
In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, Historical Geographer Professor Humphrey Southall and Paula Aucott tell us about a new mapping project that’s transforming the way we understand the present. GB1900 collated data from digitised images of Britain’s six inch maps from between 1888 and 1914. By using specially developed analysis software from another project, it was possible to connect social references such as place names and extinct footpaths with hard data. But a ...
Sep 30, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 1
John Worsey takes a look at some more of our favourite Life Solved moments so far. Series 6 is starting on Thursday 30th of September. From then we'll be exploring a unique mapping tool that combines historical, cultural and social data to build up a picture of Britain past and present. We'll also be looking at the enormous historical and social importance of Zines through a collection of these illustrated artefacts. Plus, we'll be celebrating World Space Week by hearing how citizen science is m...
Sep 23, 2021•6 min•Season 5Ep. 11
John Worsey takes a look at some of our favourite Life Solved moments so far. Series 6 is starting on Thursday 30th of September. From then we'll be exploring a unique mapping tool that combines historical, cultural and social data to build up a picture of Britain past and present. We'll also be looking at the enormous historical and social importance of Zines through a collection of these illustrated artefacts. Plus, we'll be celebrating World Space Week by hearing how citizen science is mappin...
Sep 16, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 10
John Worsey takes a look at some of the exciting research coming up in our next series of Life Solved, starting on Thursday 30th of September. Find out about a unique mapping tool that combines historical, cultural and social data to build up a picture of Britain past and present. We'll also be looking at the enormous historical and social importance of Zines through a collection of these illustrated artefacts. Plus, we hear how citizen science is mapping outer space at an incredible rate. Find ...
Sep 09, 2021•6 min•Season 5Ep. 9
In this episode of Life Solved, we hear about a cross-disciplinary project to help fight the illegal trade in plants and animals. Dr Nick Pamment tells us about his Wildlife Crime module and how this led to a collaboration with Jac Reed, a lecturer in Criminology and Dr Paul Smith, a Reader in Crime Science. Together the team have combined their expertise in criminology and forensics to help tackle the illegal trade in wildlife. Rangers working in the field can find themselves in dangerous scena...
Aug 03, 2021•21 min•Season 5Ep. 8
The University of Portsmouth’s Dr Marina Davila Ross tells us about her work studying communication in Great Apes. In this episode of Life Solved, we hear the call of Pongo Tapanuliensis, otherwise known as the Tapanuli Orang-utan, the third and most rare species of orang-utan. Marina reveals how her recordings of this 800-strong colony in Sumatra helped classify it as a whole new species and raised many more questions for science. She tells us how she originally gathered data on orang-utan long...
Jul 27, 2021•16 min•Season 5Ep. 7
For the rest of this series of Life Solved, we’re delving into the world of wildlife crime. The University of Portsmouth is addressing the illegal trade in animals and plants through cutting-edge research and real-world application. This time Caroline Cox explains how her work led her to providing vital information to support a change in the law here in the UK. In fact, the UK has recently introduced a world-leading ban on the trade in elephant ivory with strict conditions introduced for what ob...
Jul 20, 2021•27 min•Season 5Ep. 6
