What is community tech, and why do communities care about it? We discuss examples of community tech we’ve seen through our research to explore how communities are creating their own sociodigital futures and discover what can be learnt from community alternatives to big tech solutions. With Anna Dent, Matt Dowse, Helen Manchester and Martin Parker. Find out more about our work with communities and their sociodigital futures . This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures –...
Sep 27, 2024•30 min
A circular carbon economy – where carbon released from the Earth is captured and repurposed – is a promising concept, and CO2 conversion to sustainable products has been at the forefront of research. Dr Gary Grim at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA, provides a detailed comparison of available conversion processes with direct or indirect use of renewable electricity. Read more in Research Outreach Read the original research: doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02410G...
Sep 25, 2024•11 min
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas12a), discovered a few years ago, is a method that detects even small levels of pathogens. Professor Kevin J Zwezdaryk and researchers at the Tulane University School of Medicine, USA, are working on a cost-effective, CRISPR-Cas12a-based pathogen detection tool aiming to upgrade patient care. Read more in Research Features Read the original research: doi.org/10.1016/j.bmt.2023.03.004...
Sep 18, 2024•12 min
Plant-based solutions for energy storage are gaining traction in the pursuit of greener technologies. Dr Jun Young Cheong from the University of Glasgow, UK, investigates the potential of using gum waste from a tropical tree to create a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries in search of a more sustainable future. Read the original research: doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2024.118467
Sep 11, 2024•10 min
While many leaders and businesses are attempting to put the pandemic behind them and focus on the ‘new normal’, have we thought deeply enough about what we’ve learned and what it means for future crises? In this episode, Professor Veronica Hope Hailey and her guest Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, discuss why everything is still to play for and the role we all have in co-creating a brighter future. Find out more https://www.bristol.ac.uk/campaigns/responsible...
Sep 09, 2024•26 min
'Big Data' has appeared more and more throughout boardrooms and executive suites, in order to determine how organisations extract value from information. Its potential impact on a firms' earnings forecasts is of great discussion, but no direct link to forecast frequency has been made yet. Associate Professor Goh Beng Wee from Singapore Management University examines the interplay between firms' engagement in data analytics and their voluntary disclosure behaviour. Read the original article: doi....
Sep 06, 2024•10 min
Liquid crystal-based technologies could revolutionise the control of terahertz radiation — key to the future of high-bandwidth communications. Dr Masahito Oh-e from National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, considers how phase shifters and modulators may pave the way for faster, more efficient 6G networks. Read the original research: doi.org/10.1002/chem.201803330 Read more in Research Outreach...
Sep 04, 2024•11 min
Pain isn't nice , but there are times when it’s necessary - If you don’t feel the pain you should, you’re at risk of doing yourself greater damage. If you feel pain you shouldn’t, that could the first signs of a deeper issue. Professor Rayaz Malik and Dr Ioannis Petropolous talk about their work on a new, non-invasive, inexpensive way of detecting early stages of neurodegeneration that could be as easy as an opticians appointment. Read their original research: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-2012...
Aug 28, 2024•36 min
Synthetic biology, as showcased by Stephen Freeland's work at UMBC, redefines biological systems for groundbreaking applications in biotechnology and medicine, promising to solve global challenges and unlock new frontiers in science. Or, at least, that’s what ChatGPT has to say about it. Our interview also covers how Artificial Intelligence is changing the wet-lab experience of doing research. Plus, the importance of the public domain in owning, understanding, and advancing all the many ways the...
Aug 21, 2024•43 min
Until relatively recently, diabetes was a terminal condition. Today, over 1 in 10 people are living with it, which says something about the success of insulin as a treatment, and also the concerning state of global nutrition. So, we've probably got diabetes pretty well figured out. Right? Dr Alexander Hamilton speaks with us about his research into alpha cells, amino acids, and why we might need to rewrite the text book on diabetes. Read the original research: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides....
Aug 14, 2024•33 min
From the 1920s to now, technology has transformed radically; from the Spirit of St Louis to super-sonic stealth bombers, from the discovery of insulin to mRNA vaccines, from the candle-stick telephone to a 5G powerhouse in your pocket As the reports of sensitivity to WiFi and mobile signals rise, we discuss the recognised restrictions , risks, and reasonable alternatives for public health with Michael Bevington from Electrosensitivity UK Find more at: https://www.es-uk.info/...
Aug 07, 2024•37 min
In times of crisis, the public workforce faces unprecedented changes, redefining their roles and environments. The COVID-19 pandemic was no exception, with burnout and fatigue running high among public servants. What does that stress mean for employee behaviour, satisfaction and turnover? Assistant Professor Lee Seulki from Singapore Management University reports on data from South Korea, finding how demands like increased workload during crises can affect satisfaction. Read the original researc...
Aug 05, 2024•11 min
Digital devices have changed the information landscape in many ways, be it through podcasts such as this, or accessing medical care. Today, any illness requiring professional medical help may be made easier to manage thanks to having a digital device nearby. Professor Leonard Egede speaks with us again about how accessing care via Telehealth tools is another facet of his research on race, finance and inequality. Importantly, he sets out the lessons learnt over the pandemic of how simple, cheap t...
Jul 31, 2024•31 min
The pandemic disrupted leaders on every level. It forced them to re-examine their assumptions about their organisation’s purpose and place in society. It impacted their perceptions and their actions around responsible business, and their leadership attitudes and practices. The worst of the pandemic is now firmly behind us – although we remain in the depths of an economic and cost-of-living crisis, with the war in Ukraine ongoing. In this first episode, Veronica and Katie are joined by Andrea Win...
Jul 26, 2024•24 min
Modern life can feel like one of constant crisis, through exposure on social media feeds, local news or even your personal life. Recovering from the physical and emotional toll of these is hard, but also essential. Doctor Sara Spowart from the University of South Florida, is a researcher specialising in the psychology of support around survival. Her framework of integrative happiness sets out a vital tool for all those affected by trauma to find happiness and stability in their lives again. Read...
Jul 24, 2024•41 min
While data science can transform public sector policy-making, places like Lebanon lack the data infrastructure and governance rules needed to support public sector data analysis. Professor Lama Moussawi and Raghda Kawass at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, examine how Lebanon can promote data analytics to improve policy-making and service delivery. Read more in Research Features Read the original research: doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2017.1313045...
Jul 19, 2024•12 min
Many of us first experience the concept of learning in formal school settings, but how do we learn in non-formal settings like museums and zoos? This is a question that Professor Joe E Heimlich and colleagues at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), a science museum in Columbus, Ohio, USA are working to answer. Read more in Research Outreach Read the original research: doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2022.2135353...
Jul 17, 2024•12 min
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Julia Mortimer, Journals Director and Head of Open Access at Bristol University Press. They discuss recent developments in Open Access, including funder mandates, community-led models and the direction Bristol University Press are heading in. In addition, they offer advice for authors, and potential authors, for navigating this fast-moving publishing landscape. Find out more about Open Access on the Bristol University Pr...
Jul 12, 2024•26 min
Robots play an important part in our everyday lives. Non-autonomous systems can be found in industry, surgical theatres, and even our homes, and more autonomous robots are integral to space and deep-sea exploration. Dr Sirko Straube and Professor Dr Frank Kirchner from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) are seeking to translate this greater autonomy of space and maritime applications to the human sphere. Read the original research: doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11447-2_4 R...
Jul 10, 2024•11 min
Communication and consent are key in doctor-patient relationships. Doctors need to know what’s expected of them, and patients have the right to receive adequate information about diagnosis and treatment, and seek damages if things go wrong. If that patient has mental health issues, how are their rights around informed consent and court challenges impacted? Professor Gary Chan Kok Yew from Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University, has researched on the legal standards for ‘med...
Jul 08, 2024•10 min
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Richard Kemp speaks with Ed Atkins, author of A Just Energy Transition: Getting Decarbonisation Right in a Time of Crisis , about what is needed for an energy transition to be just. They discuss the need to ensure decarbonisation doesn’t come at the expense of already marginalised communities, the role that green jobs will play and the importance of acknowledging that while an energy transition will change our everyday lives, it has the potent...
Jul 05, 2024•44 min
Since 2020, various crises have disrupted leaders on every level and have led to the emergence of some new and welcome leadership styles. In this episode, Professor Veronica Hope Hailey and her guest Nick Hampton, Chief Executive Officer at Tate & Lyle, discuss whether these new styles will stick, and talk candidly about the challenge of being a leader in a world beset by crises. Find out more about the Business School’s research: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/business-school/research/ Read thei...
Jul 03, 2024•22 min
What are the spatial factors influencing health inequalities within a socio-economically homogeneous country? Dana Hübelová, Alice Kozumplíková, and colleagues from Mendel University in Brno investigate health disparities across different regions of the Czech Republic. The team explore how economic conditions, social care access, and regional characteristics impact health, and why urban areas don't always have better health indicators than rural regions. Read the original research: doi.org/10.11...
Jul 03, 2024•10 min
In this episode, Oscar Berglund and Elizabeth A. Koebele, Co-Editors of the Policy & Politics journal, talk to Jess Miles about the latest special issue – ‘Transformational change through public policy’ . They discuss what transformational change is, how public policy academia needs to adapt to bring it about and their hope to inspire a new generation of scholars by setting out the structure for a research program. Read the special issue of Policy & Politics , ‘Transformational change th...
Jun 28, 2024•35 min
How can social annotation transform traditional reading into a collaborative learning experience? Damijana Keržič and Vida Zorko from the University of Ljubljana delve into this question through their research on Diigo, a social annotation tool. They investigate its impact on student motivation, comprehension, and the correlation between learning approaches and online activity. Read the original research: doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2269043...
Jun 26, 2024•8 min
When decisions need to be made in politics, business or daily life, it's worth giving all due care to The Problem to be solved, and The Action to be taken. This is also the foundation of classical philosophy - but when was the last time politics seem philosophical to you? Professor John Martin Gillroy of Lehigh University speaks with us today about how philosophical frameworks can teach us about practical policy. From understanding motivations, actions and decisions, he considers how todays dile...
Jun 24, 2024•45 min
In this episode, Alison Shaw, Chief Executive of Bristol University Press, talks about 25 years of publishing with a purpose to mark the end of the Press’ anniversary celebration year. Alison speaks to Jess Miles about the past, present and future of the press and its mission to address global social challenges, support positive social change and to be a top-tier University Press recognised for the quality of its contribution. Click here to watch the Bristol University Press 2021 round up video ...
Jun 21, 2024•28 min
What are the risks versus rewards when challenging norms and pushing new boundaries in the quest for scientific discovery? Dr Alan Herbert, President and Founder of InsideOutBio, gives an honest account of his journey in the discovery of left-handed DNA in his latest book, and how the way we view DNA and genetics has evolved from old to new thinking. Read more in Research Features Read Dr Herbert's book: Flipons: The Discovery of Z-DNA and Soft-Wired Genomes Purchase the book: amazon.co.uk/Flipo...
Jun 18, 2024•13 min
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Dan McQuillan, author of Resisting AI: An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence , about what artificial intelligence really is. They discuss how artificial intelligence damages society in ways that are not easily fixed and why it needs to be restructured from the ground up, as well as how these fundamental changes to AI can help create a better society for everyone. Resisting AI: An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence by Dan McQui...
Jun 14, 2024•53 min
Stefan Brunnhuber is a medical director, chief medical officer and professor in Germany, and takes an evolutionary, human-centric approach to economics and psychology and looks towards a sustainable future in a new way. In this exciting interview, we find out more about Brunnhuber’s concept of an artificial intelligence-driven ‘ third culture ’; science and politics; the UN Sustainable development Goals; and the power of trans-disciplinary thinking. Read more in Research Outreach Visit the World...
Jun 12, 2024•19 min
