Send us a text Millions of gallons of water needed for new data centres in Chile during 30 year drought Chile looks set to become the data centre capital of Latin America, with the country’s President announcing another 28 proposed developments. But these data centres require vast amounts of electricity to run and huge volumes of water to cool them. With the country experiencing a severe long term drought, predicted to last until 2040, how can building these centres benefit the environment and l...
Jun 04, 2024•31 min•Ep. 35
Send us a text Technology is not the problem (we are)… Can we really lay the blame for our problems to the rise of technology or should be take responsibility for our actions and how we are choosing not to relate to the world around us? Author, tech journalist and comedian Timandra Harkness is on the show to challenge the way we think and deal with the choices presented to us by tech. Her new book “Technology is Not the Problem” explores the themes of our own self worth and of who we are. Are we...
May 28, 2024•39 min•Ep. 34
Send us a text Indian Elections; deep fakes, false memes, and misinformation galore Resurrecting dead politicians in election campaigns online may sound unbelievable, but in the Indian elections it seems that almost anything is possible. From deep fakes and AI meme wars to bogus audio messages, Bangalore based investigative journalist Nilesh Christopher has been reporting on them all. He’s on the show to tell us how voters are being manipulated online. A quarter of the world has experienced elec...
May 21, 2024•32 min•Ep. 33
Send us a text How AI is saving lives and languages in Ghana In general, people in the developing world are optimistic about the potential of AI. Of course, there are some concerns about job security and fairness, but overall, the positive outlook outweighs the negative. However, this is not the case in countries like Ghana, where suspicion and fear prevail. Interestingly, even with Google's significant presence in the country, the sentiment remains unchanged. That's why we have a special report...
May 14, 2024•35 min
Send us a text Can ‘small’ AI have a huge impact in sub Saharan Africa? Artificial intelligence is usually fed with large datasets allowing the technology to create what should be well balanced algorithms – but what happens when large data sets aren’t available or the impact of the AI could have a very significant impact on people’s lives? Researchers at Tufts University in the United States have started a program focusing on what they refer to as "small" AI - applications that have significantl...
May 07, 2024•33 min•Ep. 31
Send us a text AI for peace – using artificial intelligence to manage conflict and maintain peace With numerous ongoing conflicts in places like Sudan, Israel-Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, and Syria, peace can seem scarce in today's world. However, artificial intelligence could play a role is managing wars. A new book titled “AI for Peace” provides a roadmap for using artificial intelligence to promote peace. While machine learning is often portrayed negatively, it has real potential for forecasting and ...
Apr 30, 2024•32 min•Ep. 30
Send us a text Dear Lovely SOEP listener,Just a little shout out to remind you that we also do a PodExtra version of the show. For just $10US a month you can hear more of our guests and even new stories, as well as even more chat between Gareth and our studio experts. We know it's a big ask but we really do appreciate all your support.Just click on the link below to subscribe:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/subscribeMany thanksThe SOEP Team Support the show Editor: Ania LichtarowiczProduction...
Apr 23, 2024•4 min
Send us a text World Cybercrime Index – Where are the cybercriminals hiding? Russia leads the list of countries that host cybercrime, followed by Ukraine, China, the USA, Nigeria and Romania, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. The findings come from anonymous questionnaires completed by ninety-two cybercrime experts. The researchers say this survey approach overcomes a major challenge in investigating cybercrime - the anonymity of perpetrators who conceal their ide...
Apr 23, 2024•35 min•Ep. 29
Send us a text Is crypto currency supporting terrorism? With the phasing out of cash transactions we’ve seen a rise in digital and other transactions. One of the currencies that’s in the ascendancy are crypto currencies, whose place in the market according to Forbes magazine, has shifted from one of fear to neutral, and now to greed. In other words it’s hugely on the up. After facing some downturns a few years ago, it’s now collectively worth more than a trillion dollars. One of the reasons why ...
Apr 16, 2024•39 min•Ep. 28
Send us a text Tech stories that matter – what should we be reporting on? A little extra episode for our lovely SOEP Subscribers. Just over a year ago the BBC axed its flagship global tech radio show – Digital Planet. A few of the listeners (we did have 1.5million downloads a year BTW) got together in London to reminisce and remember the programme. Here’s a short recording from that evening where some of the team discussed what stories they would have been covering if Digital Planet was still on...
Apr 11, 2024•15 min
Send us a text YouTube approves disinformation ads in India in run up to election A recent joint investigation conducted by Access Now and Global Witness reveals that YouTube is giving its approval to election disinformation ads in India prior to the country's general election. The investigation "Votes will not be counted", discovered that YouTube is endorsing ads that make baseless allegations of electoral fraud, spread lies about voting procedures, and launch attacks on the integrity of the el...
Apr 08, 2024•39 min•Ep. 27
Send us a text SOEP meets Dame Steve Shirley – a coding female pioneer Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley is a game changer in whatever she does and we were delighted that she agreed to chat to Somewhere on Earth. She arrived in England as an unaccompanied child refugee on the Kindertransport in 1939. She convinced her all girls’ school to allow her to learn maths at the boys’ school and in 1962 started a software business from her dining table which grew to have 8,500 employees and was worth US$3bn...
Apr 02, 2024•39 min•Ep. 26
Send us a text West Africa Internet – when will it be fixed? As many as a dozen countries across West and Central Africa were cut off from the internet and are still experiencing significant connection issues following damage to submarine cables. Now a repair ship is enroute to fix the damage, but it will be some time before services return to normal. What happened, how was traffic rerouted and how will the cable be repaired, are questions that SOEP will answer. Joining us on the show are Alp ...
Mar 26, 2024•35 min•Ep. 25
Send us a text AI for Africa – one young female scientist’s drive to develop solutions We meet Rokhaya Diagne, a twenty something AI developer and entrepreneur who is using AI to overcome Africa’s specific challenges. She’s currently creating a diagnostic platform for malaria in Senegal as well as using underwater drones to map and monitor biodiversity for marine conservation agencies and to improve fishing. Unlocking Africa's job creation potential Fewer than 25% of jobseekers in Africa secure ...
Mar 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 24
Send us a text Anti-poaching tech – does it work? Anti-poaching initiatives are making increasing use of technology, such as infrared thermography but with an array of tech out there, what should governments, wildlife charities and NGO’s be using? Professor Adam Hart, from the University of Gloucestershire, is a conservationist who’s been testing environmental tech as well as using his hacking skills to protect wildlife. From using drones to monitor large mammals in the African bush to creating ...
Mar 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 23
Send us a text Digitising public life in the US – making America e-smart Many governments and local authorities around the world have moved many, if not all their public services online, from filing tax returns to e-passports and food assistance schemes. However, the United States is lagging behind, with many civic services providing lengthy and user-unfriendly systems. CEO of Code for America, the nonprofit social organisation that’s bringing about much of this digital change in public life, Am...
Mar 05, 2024•33 min•Ep. 22
Send us a text Jimmy Wales - Wikipedia co-founder - answers your questions We speak to the one and only “Wiki Guy” as even he describes himself. Wikipedia and Wikimedia co-founder Jimmy Wales joins Gareth and Ghislaine on the show. He will be talking about his new project called Trust Café and answering your questions on amongst other things Wikipedia’s moderation policies and the impact of large language models on the online encyclopaedia. The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the s...
Feb 27, 2024•45 min•Ep. 21
Send us a text A gentle ask for your (financial) supportDear lovely Somewhere on Earth Subscribers (or SOEPSUDS for short) here's a short message from Gareth, reminding you about our podextra shows. For $10US a month, you can hear extended interviews from our guests, details about how they came to be where they are now and even some new additional stories from time to time. We appreciate that in these hard times it's a big ask, that's why we have the shorter free and accessible version. We are i...
Feb 24, 2024•4 min
Send us a text Tech in Ukraine after two years of war Two years ago Russia invaded Ukraine and in that time, the country’s already booming tech sector has adapted and changed rapidly. In 2022 it was service led, providing IT development for companies outside its borders. Now though things have changed significantly and not only are the tech savvy helping the war effort, but many entrepreneurs are also looking to the future and planning on rebuilding a Smart Ukraine. Iryna Volnytska is the Presid...
Feb 20, 2024•31 min
Send us a text Diagnosing TB using AI and a mobile phone Diagnosing tuberculosis is cumbersome and not all tests are available in developing countries. Now a team of scientists has used AI to allow a mobile phone to identify if someone’s cough could be a sign of TB. Dr Manuja Sharma, from the University of Washington is on the show to tell us how they used machine learning to identify more than 33,000 coughs and tested the tech in a clinic in Kenya. Payment card to fund cutting edge research Eve...
Feb 13, 2024•34 min
Send us a text A special guest on Somewhere on Earth, your help needed We have a very special annoucement and we need you help. We have the co-founder of Wikipedia and founder of the Wikimedia Foundation Jimmy Wales coming on the show. But instead of us asking the questions, we want to hand over to you. What would you like to ask Jimmy Wales? Please send us your questions by Friday 16th February via our social media channels, email hello@somewhereonearth,co, leave us a voice or written message o...
Feb 08, 2024•4 min
Send us a text The British Post Office Technology Scandal The British Post Office scandal saw more than 900 subpostmasters convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting. However, it was faulty account software called Horizon and made by Fujitsu, that was to blame. The personal tragedies of those involved have been documented recently in a TV drama in the UK. But what was actually wrong with the software itself? Susi O’Neill, business technology communications expert, is on the show to explain w...
Feb 06, 2024•34 min•Ep. 18
Send us a text The Global AI Arms Race Leading global powers have for some time been positioning themselves at the forefront of AI development. All these governments see AI as such a powerful tool they want to be first to be in control, however they also want to regulate it. But with regulations, development can be slow says Dr Kerry McInerney from the University of Cambridge and the AI Now Institute, which leaves the dilemma of who should control AI progress? Dr McInerney is on the show to disc...
Jan 30, 2024•37 min•Ep. 17
Send us a text A Bitcoin transaction ‘uses a swimming pool of water’ Every Bitcoin transaction uses about the same amount of water as a backyard swimming pool according to a study published in the journal Cell Reports Sustainability. That’s around six million times more than a credit card swipe. The vast amounts of water are needed as Bitcoin uses so much computing power, and in turn, electricity to complete a single transaction on the blockchain ledger. Digiconomist and author of the study Alex...
Jan 23, 2024•33 min•Ep. 16
Send us a text The true cost of Internet shutdowns across the world Internet shutdowns around the world cost more than $9 billion US according to Top10vpn.com. Their annual report “The Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns” shows that 196 major self-imposed internet blackouts happened in 25 countries and 747 million people were impacted. Russia, Ethiopia and Iran were the worst culprits. Unsurprisingly, 50% of the outages were linked to additional human rights abuses. Samuel Woodhams, Digital Rights...
Jan 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 15
Send us a text 3D printed skin – huge advances could revolutionise wound healing Two major advances in 3D printing human skin could lead to major advances in wound healing. A team of scientists at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the US have printed full thickness human skin for the first time. They successfully printed all six major human cell types present in human skin, creating normal skin layers - the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The bioprinted skin formed blood vess...
Jan 09, 2024•34 min•Ep. 14
Send us a text Tech trends to watch out for in 2024 – the good and the bad We’re predicting the tech trends we may see in 2024. It's a big year with national elections in the US, South Africa and Bangladesh to name just a few - how will technology impact the outcomes? Misinformation is likely to be a big part of the story, and potentially could be a part of the result. The tech companies have been culling their online safety teams, and there have been court battles in the US over the First Amend...
Jan 02, 2024•35 min•Ep. 13
Send us a text The most hacked place in the world…and many more tech stories of 2023 The still gaping gap for women in tech in pay and position - the underdog and the underpaid, to climate tech – the problem or the solution, are just some of the stories discussed in this episode. Intelligence analyst, Agatha Christie fan and Computer Weekly’s 2023 Women in Tech winner Suki Fuller joins regular studio experts Ghislaine Boddington and Angelica Mari to take us through some of the big tech stories o...
Dec 26, 2023•40 min•Ep. 12
Send us a text The risk of ransomware attacks - are governments taking them seriously? A report out this week by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in the UK claims that because of the British government’s failures to tackle ransomware, there is a “high risk” the country faces a “catastrophic ransomware attack at any moment.” We discuss whether governments at all levels - national or local – are doing enough to protect themselves against these types of attack, and what happens...
Dec 19, 2023•37 min•Ep. 11
Send us a text Tackling youth unemployment in Africa and making data more accessible There is a huge unemployment problem among the youth in Africa, and there is a massive data research gap for companies that want to invest or have invested in the continent. A company behind an app called Rwazi is now employing more than 50,000 young people in Africa to collect data on who is buying what, for how much, from where, when, and why. The aim is to help these companies drive revenue and expansion. Our...
Dec 12, 2023•32 min•Ep. 10
