Hear from two artists and an educator about how they use improvisation to engage with art. Read a transcript of this podcast on MoMA's Magazine: https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/1201

The Art of Making It Up as You Go

In this final episode, the spotlight falls on the Museum itself as Jack Ashby and Lainy Malkani ask what is to be gained from uncovering the hidden human stories behind natural history collections. A far greater diversity of people were involved in building these scientifically invaluable collections than has traditionally been told. By telling these histories more completely, museums can only increase their relevance. Can these new ways of seeing collections in museums can help to bring about a shift in colonial thinking in the museum sector, one that ensures that the human story behind the collections continues to be told?

New perspectives: Whose stories are museums telling?

Richard Westcott talks to Jonathan Stieglitz, IAST, and Martin White, University of Cambridge, about the global health challenges related to diet and nutrition, and the respective roles of public health policies, cultural practices, and lifestyle changes, while creating sustainable food systems that ensure access to healthy food for all and maintain economic viability.
In this episode, Richard Westcott talks to Martin White and Jonathan Stieglitz about a big question: how can we create food systems that are good for our health, our communities, the planet, and the economy? Drawing on research from both modern cities and small-scale societies, they explore what shapes our diets today—from global food companies and convenience culture to physical activity and traditional ways of living.

Our experts take a closer look at the contrast between ultra-processed foods and traditional diets and what that tells us about modern health challenges. They discuss the impact of sugar taxes, why simply educating people isn’t enough, and how government policy and industry action could help shift the system. They also reflect on the rise of weight-loss drugs—whether they are are helpful solutions or a distraction from the root problems. 

This episode is hosted by Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus), and features experts Jonathan Stieglitz (IAST) and Martin White (Bennett Institute for Public Policy and Cambridge University) . 

Season 4 Episode 7 transcript

Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform

For more information about the Crossing Channels podcast series and the work of the Bennett Institute and IAST visit our websites at https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/.

Follow us on Linkedin, Bluesky and X. 

With thanks to:

Audio production by Steve Hankey
Associate production by Burcu Sevde Selvi
Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Aurore Carbonnel

How can we make food that is good for health, societies, the planet and the economy?

When artist DonChristian Jones started at MoMA as the inaugural Adobe Creative Resident, they created a vision for working with young people to share their stories about what art and community meant to them. In the summer of 2024, DonChristian—through their Residency at MoMA, along with the non-profit they run, Public Assistant—and the Lower Eastside Girls Club collaborated on Frequency Gardens, a summer program and radio show. Over the course of a month, eight teens learned how to record and edit audio, conduct live interviews, and tell their stories through art. Four of the teen participants interviewed DonChristian about their collaborative process and what it was like to hear themselves as part of the exhibition.

DonChristian Jones Frequency Gardens Podcast

Ode van door Kim Scholts aan Halina Reijn

Celebrate Earth Day 2025 with stories from a climate scientist and an architect. Together, they'll discuss how design can be a force for positive environmental change.

Designing for Climate Change

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars to discuss the pressing issues surrounding biodiversity and conservation. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems, the challenges posed by climate change, and the innovative solutions being implemented to promote sustainability. The guests share their experiences and insights on policy-making, community engagement, and the importance of maintaining optimism in the face of overwhelming environmental challenges. They emphasize the need for evidence-based strategies and practical steps that individuals can take to contribute to conservation efforts.

takeaways

·         Biodiversity loss is a critical issue that affects all life on Earth.

·         The 30 by 30 initiative aims to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030.

·         Innovative solutions are needed to balance economic development and conservation.

·         Community engagement is essential for effective conservation strategies.

·         Monitoring and research are crucial for understanding biodiversity and its challenges.

·         Optimism and collaboration among diverse stakeholders can drive positive change.

·         Trade-offs in conservation require careful consideration of ecological and social factors.

·         Conscious consumerism can significantly impact biodiversity preservation.

·         Small actions, like creating space for nature in our gardens, can lead to larger ecological benefits.

·         Evidence-based approaches are necessary for effective conservation policies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation Challenges

03:53 Innovative Solutions for Biodiversity

10:03 The Role of Policy and Research in Conservation

18:47 Maintaining Optimism in Conservation Efforts

30:00 Making Trade-offs in Conservation

35:27 Practical Steps for Immediate Impact

What works when it comes to promoting conservation and biodiversity

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars Luis Welbanks, Rebecca Charbonneau, and Yinuo Han to discuss the current state of astronomy, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the implications of commercial interests in space exploration. The conversation explores themes of hope and concern in the scientific community, the importance of historical context in understanding current challenges, and the role of narratives in shaping public perception of science. The scholars share their insights on the future of astronomy and the need for collaboration in addressing the wicked problems facing humanity.

takeaways

Space exploration is entering a new era with significant discoveries.
Hope and concern coexist in the current state of science.
The search for extraterrestrial life is more promising than ever.
Historical context can inform our understanding of current challenges.
Astronomy has a social role in shaping public discourse.
Commercial interests in space raise questions about future conflicts.
Public narratives about science influence funding and support.
Collaboration is essential for success in space exploration.
The emotional journey of scientists is part of the discovery process.
Engaging with science is crucial for future generations.
Chapters

00:00

Exploring the Cosmos: A New Era of Discovery

04:16

Hope and Concerns in Astronomy

10:46

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

11:45

Lessons from the Past: The Space Race

14:29

The Importance of Astronomy in Society

18:57

The Role of Narratives in Science

24:34

Commercial Interests and Space Warfare

28:06

Future Aspirations in Astronomy

30:47

A Call to Action: Engaging with Science

What does astronomy tell us about our place in the universe?

In this episode, Richard Westcott is joined by Simone Schnall, Catherine Molho, and Maximilian Müller to explore a big, everyday question: why do we make the choices we do? From decisions about money and morality to careers and relationships, the conversation digs into what really drives us—whether it’s emotions, social pressure, or the stories we tell ourselves after the fact.

The conversation explores how physical experiences and emotions like fear or anger can shape our judgement, and how gossip and social norms influence who we trust and how we act. Our experts also discuss how we reshape memories to fit our choices, and how identity can shape what we believe or invest in. It’s a fascinating look at what really drives human behaviour—and what that means for how we design policies, technology, the systems we live in, and the role AI might play in shaping our decisions.

This episode is hosted by Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus), and features experts Catherine Molho (IAST), Maximilian Müller (TSE) and Simone Schnall (Cambridge University). 

Download Season 4 Episode 8 transcript: PDF / Word

Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform 

For more information about the Crossing Channels podcast series and the work of the Bennett Institute and IAST visit our websites at https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/.

Follow us on Linkedin, Bluesky and X. 

With thanks to:

Audio production by Steve Hankey
Associate production by Burcu Sevde Selvi
Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Aurore Carbonnel


Why do we choose what we choose?

Sophie Fletcher's poem is inspired by a wooden mask from southern Nigeria, now in the collection of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

The carved wooden mask was made around a hundred years ago by the Ibo people of Nigeria. We don't know the names of the Ibo people who made it, saw it, wore it to dance, or made the music for the performance; or of the maiden spirit the mask represents. The mask also tells of the negotiation of gender roles, as the mask was worn by a male dancer to evoke a feminine ideal.

Sophie writes,
"I enjoyed taking the time to look at the object, watch the video, read about it, and when it came to writing a poem I felt I was unable to force a story on it. The truth about my relationship with the object and its real history, as communicated in the poem, is that I will never understand whose hands touched it, whose face and brain and gender used it, if any. But I can respond to it in a more surface-level way and still feel something by doing so as well."

This track is part of the Museum Remix: Unheard project. Find out more at www.museums.cam.ac.uk/museumremix

You can find out more about the mask at: www.museums.cam.ac.uk/magic/ibo-maiden-spirit-mask

Ibo Maiden Spirit Mask

Talking about collections, objects and a touch of cutting-edge research. Whoosh.

Ibo Maiden Spirit Mask

University of Cambridge Museums

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