One series at a time, we break down complex issues into simple questions. 

Subscribe to the podcast here: https://mind-over-chatter.captivate.fm/listen 

In this first series, we’ll explore climate change. Climate change is likely to affect almost every area of our lives… like a toddler with sticky fingers. But how did it become this way? What are we doing about it now? And what does the future hold?

We’ll ask smart people some simple questions and see what happens!

New episodes every Thursday.

From the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Zero

Mind Over Chatter, the Cambridge University Podcast!

Say That Again Slowly is a series of student led podcasts that explore topics and research presented at the Cambridge Festival.

The Festival delivers strong and distinct platforms for the sciences and the arts, humanities and social sciences. In 2022 it includes a uniquely Cambridge, eclectic mixture of over 350 events and activities: from panel discussions, film premieres, and self-guided walking tours, to ‘try this at home’ activities for the whole family. 

Topics cover the breadth of Cambridge research and will be presented across the Festival’s four themes: Society, Health, Environment and Discovery!

The University’s Public Engagement team brings the Cambridge Festival to you. To find out about their other events such as Open Cambridge, and their training and development programme for researchers, please visit 

cam.ac.uk/public-engagement

Music by Coby O’Brien 
Produced by Rebekah King

Cambridge Festival

So, now what? the new podcast from Gates Cambridge, a leading scholarship programme for outstanding international postgraduates at the University of Cambridge.
 
Our guests are the scholars themselves - big thinkers from a range of different backgrounds and disciplines - who are out there finding solutions to some of our most wicked problems from the global economy and the environment, to technology, politics and universal healthcare.
 
They'll share their optimism and their experience, and give us a peek at their 'to do' lists too.  But they'll also be inviting the rest of us to join them - sharing 'So, now what?' actions that we can all apply today. 
 
Join me, Catherine Galloway, and a panel of Gates Cambridge scholars for conversations that lead to positive change. 
 
So, now what? with Gates Cambridge.  Available monthly on all your favourite podcast platforms.

So, now what?

Professor Brian Cox discusses recent discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva

Brian Cox: COSMO Public Symposium 2013

What’s cancer got to do with crabs, artist Jackson Pollock, and artificial intelligence? It’s not a riddle; these are some of the things we’ll explore with surgeon Grant Stewart, computer scientist Mateja Jamnik and radiologist Evis Sala from the Mark Foundation Institute for Integrated Cancer Medicine.

In this episode, we’ll discover how artificial intelligence is making it easier for doctors to diagnose and treat cancer and we’ll share some cancer facts that are both amazing and disturbing. We also learn about the WIRE clinical trial for kidney cancer. WIRE evaluates the effectiveness of giving a short course of drug treatment to patients in the one-month “window of opportunity” between diagnosis and surgery. Patients on the WIRE trial also undergo a suite of new imaging techniques that have been brought together for the first time globally in this clinical trial.

This episode was produced by Nick Saffell, James Dolan, Naomi Clements-Brod and Annie Thwaite. 


Please take our survey!

How did you find us? What do you like about Mind Over Chatter? We want to know. So we put together this survey https://forms.gle/r9CfHpJVUEWrxoyx9. If you could please take a few minutes to fill it out, it would be a big help.

Cancer and artificial intelligence

Animals in Biomedical Research: Replacement, Refinement, Reduction - with Selina Ballantyne  

Will we ever be able to stop using animals in the laboratory? 

This episode, Rebekah King talks to Selina Ballantyne about the ways in which animal testing is being replaced, refined, and reduced such that good science and good animal welfare can go hand in hand.  

Find out more at the Cambridge Festival 2022 https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/3rs-animals-biomedical-research 
 
Coby O'Brien  - Music
Produced by Rebekah King

https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/3rs-animals-biomedical-research

Animals in Biomedical Research: Replacement, Refinement, Reduction - with Selina Ballantyne

Recipes for Saving the Planet – with Dana Ellis Hunnes 

What can students do to help the planet?  

Sophie Carlin speaks to nutritionist and climate change expert Dana Ellis Hunnes about her new book Recipes for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life and gets the best advice for students who want to make a difference to the planet’s health.

A big thank you to CUP Bookshop  for their support of this event and recording.
  
Find out more at the Cambridge Festival 2022 https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/recipe-survival-how-our-shopping-decisions-affect-planet 

You can complete the survey mentioned in this episode here: 

https://s.surveyplanet.com/67a7k51o

Music by Coby O’Brien 
Produced by Rebekah King

Recipes for Saving the Planet – with Dana Ellis Hunnes

Counter Speech and Online Harm – with Stefanie Ullmann 

What is ‘counter speech’ and is it a more powerful alternative to censorship? 

Scarlett Croft talks to Stefanie Ullmann about her research into harmful online content and strategies for combatting prejudice and hate. Scarlett also asks about how automated systems like Siri and Alexa should be programmed to respond when spoken to in an aggressive or sexist manner.  

Music by Coby O’Brien 
Produced by Rebekah King 

Find out more at the Cambridge Festival 2022: 

https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/combatting-harmful-content-online-potential-counterspeech

Counter Speech and Online Harm – with Stefanie Ullmann

Body Image for Young People – with Charlotte Markey 

How can young people improve their body image in an age of social media? 

Jesimiel Akinsuyi speaks to Charlotte Markey, author of both the ‘Body Image Book for Girls’ and the ‘Body Image Book for Boys,’ about her motivations for writing both books, what body image means, and how it is affected by social media.   

Music by Coby O’Brien
Produced by Rebekah King

Find out more at the Cambridge Festival 2022: 

https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/navigating-adolescence-21st-century and https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/being-you-charlotte-markey

Body Image for Young People – with Charlotte Markey

There is No Planet B – with Mike Berners-Lee 

What mindset should we have about the global climate crisis?  

Sophie Carlin speaks to expert in carbon footprinting, Mike Berners-Lee, about the new updated version of his book ‘There is No Planet B’ about climate change, cooperation, and the possibility of not only saving the world, but building a far better, brighter future for all.

Mike Berners-Lee featured at the 2021 Cambridge Festival.

Check out the environment events taking place in 2022 here:

https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/

Music by Coby O’Brien
Produced by Rebekah King

There is No Planet B – with Mike Berners-Lee

Darwin’s tiny, priceless Tree of Life sketch is arguably the most iconic drawing in the history of science. 

“The Tree of Life notebooks are Darwin at his most radical,” says Professor Jim Secord, a world expert on the subject. “The theory of natural selection and evolution is the foundation stone of modern biology and much of the rest of the sciences.”

However, the notebooks were stolen in the early 2000s and were missing for two decades before their anonymous return in a pink gift bag on March 9, 2022 – alongside a very odd note!

Despite an investigation that involved the Met Police, Interpol and a global public appeal, we still don’t know who took Darwin’s notebooks or why.

But why would someone steal them in the first place? What makes Darwin’s Tree of Life notebooks so important that someone saw fit to spirit them away from Cambridge University Library then return them again – 20 years later.

In this first podcast from one of the world’s great libraries, you’ll find out about the notebooks’ great importance, the endlessly curious life and letters of Charles Darwin, and the end of a nearly 50-year mega project to transcribe and publish 15,000 letters to and from Darwin – making them freely available to us all.

With guests Professor Jim Secord and Stuart Roberts, Head of Communications at Cambridge University Library. Hosted by communications specialist Sue Keogh FRSA. For more information about Darwin’s life and letters, please visit https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/

The Mystery of Darwin's Stolen Notebooks

Welcome to 'So, now what?'

In this episode, we explore how we can build back better after a crisis. What are the challenges and opportunities of addressing the climate crisis, including the need for climate justice, the costs of inaction, and the importance of green innovation. We consider the roles of governments, multilateral institutions, and grassroots movements play in driving change. And we conclude with a call to action, So, now what? Where we emphasise the need for coordinated international efforts and a just and equitable transition to a sustainable future.

Takeaways

Building back better after a crisis requires addressing climate justice and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.
The costs of climate change, both economic and social, are substantial and require urgent action.
Investment in clean energy and good jobs can drive economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.
Leveraging people power and social media can help raise awareness and drive change.
Green innovation and regulation are key to building a sustainable and equitable society.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction

04:21 Expertise and perspectives

06:50 The challenge of building back better

10:10 Understanding the costs and risks of climate change

14:25 Building back better in the United States

17:15 Building back better in Africa

19:25 The Need for collaboration and connectivity. Who needs to be in the same room?

25:45 Leveraging people power and innovation. How can we talk about green innovation and change the narrative? What does a better society look like?

31:00. So, now what? Moving Forward: Political will and financing.



Bios

Kamiar Mohaddes @KamiarMohaddes is an Associate Professor in Economics & Policy at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge. His main areas of research include climate change, economics of the Middle East, energy economics and applied macroeconomics. He is currently a consultant at the Inter-American Development Bank and has previously served as a Departmental Special Advisor at the Bank of Canada, a consultant at the United Nations, a consultant at the Asian Development Bank and a regular visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund to name a few. 



Todd N. Tucker @toddntucker is a political scientist and director of Industrial Policy and Trade at the Roosevelt Institute, where he helps lead research on global governance, democracy, and the administrative state. A recognised expert on trade and political economy, Dr Tucker has testified before legislatures and expert committees around the world.  He is author of Judge Knot: Politics and Development in International Investment Law  (Anthem Press, 2018). He has authored over 70 major reports, including Fixing the Senate: Equitable and Full Representation for the 21st Century and Industrial Policy and Planning: What It Is and How to Do It Better.



Queen Chinyere Quinn is a Co-Founder and Partner at Kupanda Capital, an investment platform established to create, capitalise and scale pan-African companies. In this capacity, Queen has worked to provide tailored advice and support to entrepreneurs, project developers, fund managers and corporations operating in Africa. She has worked on deals in various sectors across Africa, including those in media, consumer and energy; and leads the platform on issues related to impact investing. Queen has helped to found several new companies and ventures, including Fraym, a geospatial data company and Nithio, an AI powered energy finance platform for the off-grid solar sector in Africa.

How do we build back better after a crisis?

Best-selling author Tara Westover, researcher Aliya Khalid and Thabo Msibi Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, tackle the issue of what education should be for. They stress the idea that small actions can have a significant impact on making a difference in the world and emphasise the power of individuals to create change within their own sphere of influence. 

We explore their own perspectives and discuss their own powerful personal stories, highlighting the importance of diverse stories in education, the impact of education on women and gender and the power of education to challenge norms and beliefs. They also emphasise the role of education as a journey of self-discovery and unlearning, as well as a tool for social justice and empowerment. In addition, the episode discusses the need for curriculum reform and inclusivity, the role of technology in education and personal stories of overcoming educational challenges. 

Takeaways

Education as a lifelong journey of learning and personal growth.
Education has the power to empower individuals, promote social justice, and transform communities.
Listening to and learning from communities is crucial in developing effective educational practices.
Small acts of support and encouragement can make a significant difference in education.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:31 The purpose of education

01:13 Guest introductions

05:24 Education and gender

06:24 Education as empowerment

08:21 The value of questioning and doubt in education

10:10 Education as a tool for social justice

12:56 Education in disadvantaged communities

15:17 The importance of listening and learning from communities

19:19 Personal teachable moments

20:14 Motivation for education

23:05 The transformative power of education

25:59 Unlearning and overcoming challenges in education

29:30 Curriculum reform and empowerment

31:40 Moving forward: Taking action in education

37:12 So, now what? 

Bios

Tara Westover @tarawestover is a memoirist and historian. Her first book, Educated (2018), debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and was a finalist for a number of awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, the LA Times Book Prize, and the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. The American Booksellers Association named it the Nonfiction Book of the Year, and to date, the book has been translated into 47 languages. For her staggering impact, TIME magazine named Westover one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019, and in 2023, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Biden. 

Thabo Msibi is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning and a professor of Curriculum Studies in the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Msibi has published research in South African and international journals and books and is author of the book Hidden sexualities of South African Teachers: Black male educators and same-sex desire. He has also co-edited a book entitled Gender, Sexuality and Violence in South African Educational Spaces, with Deevia Bhana and Shakila Singh. 

Aliya Khalid @khalidaliya1 is a Lecturer in Comparative and International Education in the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, UK. She works on issues of educational equity with a focus on gender. Her areas of interest include the capability approach, negative capability, epistemic paradoxicality and justice, Southern epistemologies, politics of representation and knowledge production.

What is education for?

The episode explores the topic of extreme weather and its impact on communities and asks: What does extreme weather mean for us?

The speakers highlight the importance of connecting research to real-world impacts and the need for collective action. They discuss the devastating losses of climate disasters, the challenges of adaptation and the power of nature. They also emphasise the importance of empowering marginalised communities and amplifying their voices in climate action. 

In addition, the episode explores innovations in policy, including capacity building, local action and storytelling - getting local communities affected by climate change to tell their stories. 

We conclude by encouraging listeners to ask questions, take climate action, and connect to local initiatives.

Takeaways

Extreme weather events have devastating consequences, including the loss of traditions, cultures, and intangible heritage.
Collective action and collective intelligence are crucial in addressing climate change and its impacts.
Youth empowerment and inner well-being are essential for building resilience and creating a sustainable future.
Data, responsible AI, and storytelling play a significant role in tackling misinformation and driving climate action.
Innovations in climate policy include capacity building, community empowerment, and inclusive decision-making.
Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Climate Reality

01:19

Experiences in Extreme Environments

04:01

Impact of Extreme Weather Events

05:56

Bringing People and Voices into Climate Action

06:26

Unseen Consequences of Extreme Weather

09:49

Loss of Traditions and Indigenous Knowledge

10:12

Finding Balance and Adapting to Extreme Weather

12:36

Challenges in Super Tanker Countries

13:31

Proving the Urgency of Collective Action

14:59

Leveraging Data and Responsible AI

16:27

Innovation in Climate Policy

20:33

Recognizing the Importance of Nature

22:46

Inner Development Goals and Wisdom

25:11

Tackling Misinformation and Polarization

27:31

Innovation in Policy and Climate Action

32:46

Taking Action and Asking Questions

What does extreme weather mean for us?

The conversation delves into the urgency of addressing concerns about artificial intelligence, the impact of AI on society, and the need for ethical considerations. We explore the challenges of bias, misinformation, and the environmental impact of AI. The guests discuss the role of academia, big tech, and the public in shaping the future of AI. They also highlight the importance of transparency, regulation, and public awareness in navigating the complexities of AI.

Keywords

artificial intelligence, AI ethics, bias, misinformation, environmental impact, academia, big tech, public awareness, transparency, regulation

Takeaways

·         The urgency of addressing concerns about artificial intelligence and the need for ethical considerations

·         Challenges of bias, misinformation, and the environmental impact of AI

·         The role of academia, big tech, and the public in shaping the future of AI

·         Importance of transparency, regulation, and public awareness in navigating the complexities of AI

Chapters

00:00 The Urgency of AI Ethics

10:13 Challenges and Considerations in AI Development

30:30 Transparency, Regulation, and Public Awareness in AI

Navigating the urgency of AI ethics

In this episode, Richard Westcott talks to Gordon Harold, Anna Moore, and Olympia Campbell about the growing rates of mental health issues among young people. They discuss the key determinants and the most effective ways to support young people's mental health.

Our experts examine whether mental health among young people is truly worsening or if we’re simply getting better at identifying it. They unpack the key factors shaping mental health today, delve into the role of the digital world, and discuss how policies can evolve to expand support and access to services for young people.

This episode is hosted by Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus), and features experts Prof Gordon Harold (University of Cambridge), Dr Anna Moore (University of Cambridge) and Dr Olympia Campbell (IAST). 

Season 4 Episode 2 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

What is happening to young people’s mental health?

Our experts discuss the definition of democracy and why statistics say it's in worldwide decline.

In this episode, Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus) talks to David Runciman (University of Cambridge), Kristin Michelitch (IAST) and Ahmed Mohamed (IAST) about the decline in democracy indexes worldwide, the cultural, technological, and institutional factors driving these trends, and whether they can be reversed.

Our experts explore the meaning of democracy and the reasons behind the decline of democracy indexes. They examine the impact of technology, media, culture, and religion on reshaping politics and shaping the future of democratic systems. 


Season 4 Episode 3 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

Is the world becoming less democratic?

Gina Neff, Jeni Tennison and Jean-François Bonnefon discuss how algorithms and data influence our work, lives, and interactions, and the governance frameworks required for accountability and public good.

Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus) talks to Gina Neff (Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy), Jeni Tennison (Connected by Data), and Jean-François Bonnefon (IAST) about how data and algorithms are shaping our lives. They explore how these technologies impact work, public services, and decision-making, while raising questions about ethics, fairness, and governance.
Season 4 Episode 4 transcript
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 are data and algorithms impacting our lives?

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway talks to Gates Cambridge scholars Kevin Beckford, Emma Soneson, and Blanca Piera Pi Sunyer to discuss the pressing issues facing today's youth. The conversation explores the importance of empowering young people, the role of community and culture in their development, and the need for systemic change in education and mental health support. The scholars share their insights on how to harness the energy of young people to create a brighter future, emphasizing the significance of supportive environments and the necessity of listening to youth voices in shaping policies that affect them.

Takeaways

Young people are powerful agents of change.
Community support is crucial for youth development.
Mental health should be prioritized in education.
Adversity can have cumulative negative effects on health.
Empowering youth requires systemic change in institutions.
Resilience should be reframed to focus on support, not just endurance.
Education should promote exploration and self-discovery.
Youth voices must be included in decision-making processes.
Creating supportive environments can buffer against adversity.
A visionary approach is needed to reimagine society for young people.
00:00

Introduction to youth empowerment and impact

02:58

Harnessing the energy of young people

06:07

The role of community and culture in youth development

08:54

Exploring opportunities for young people

12:03

The importance of mental health in education

15:04

Creating supportive environments for adolescents

18:12

Reimagining education for young people

20:58

The need for systemic change

23:55

Resilience vs. hustling: a new perspective

27:01

Global perspectives on youth challenges

29:56

Visioning a better future for young people

Kevin Beckford [2011] is the co-founder and a board member of The Hustlers Guild, a non-profit that uses hip hop to expand access and opportunity to Black and Latinx youth in the innovation space. He is also Senior Associate, Parnerships and Engagement at the Pretrial Justice Institute. From 2020 to 2022 he was an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity from 2020 to 2022 and from 2014-2016, Kevin worked in the White House Presidential Correspondence Office. He also served as a special advisor to Secretary Julian Castro at the US Department of Housing and Development. 

Blanca Piera Pi-Sunyer [2021] is a final year PhD student at the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge working on social inequalities and socioemotional difficulties during adolescence. 

Emma Soneson [2018] is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry. She maintains a broad research profile within the field of child and adolescent mental health but is especially interested in the intersections between mental health and education.

How can we make the world a better place for young people?

In this episode of Crossing Channels, Richard Westcott is joined by Dimitri Zenghelis, Ulrich Hege, and Mathias Reynaert to explore how green finance can support the clean transition. They discuss the shifting role of financial markets, the balance between public and private investment, and the policies needed to drive long-term change.

How can green finance drive the clean transition?

In this episode of 'So Now What', host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars Jakub Szomalec, Raggenhilde Fregdaler, and Jansu Karabiak to explore how creative methods can address wicked problems in society. The conversation delves into the importance of arts in academia, the role of entertainment in cultural activism, and the power of personal stories in engaging audiences. The guests share their unique experiences and insights on how to effectively communicate complex issues in an increasingly noisy world, emphasizing the need for emotional connection and community engagement.

Takeaways

Creative methods can effectively address wicked problems.

Arts and academia should be funded for their impact.

Comedy can relay serious messages in engaging ways.

Stories are essential for activating empathy.

Entertainment can serve as a platform for activism.

Immersive experiences can change audience perceptions.

Adapting messaging is crucial for short attention spans.

Understanding technology is a parental responsibility.

Engaging with diverse communities enriches perspectives.

Real conversations foster better understanding and connection.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems and Creative Solutions

05:25 The Role of Arts in Academia

10:05 Entertainment as a Tool for Cultural Activism

13:30 Personal Stories and Vulnerability in Creative Work

18:38 Engaging Audiences Through Immersive Experiences

22:25 Adapting Messaging for Short Attention Spans

28:13 The Responsibility of Understanding Technology

32:23 Takeaways for Action and Engagement



Cansu Karabiyik received her PhD in medical science in 2021. Since then she has spent her days as a neuroscientist developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and her evenings as a standup comedian performing in clubs in New York City. 

Jakub Szamalek award winning novelist and video game writer, who co-created international bestsellers such as "The Witcher 3" and "Cyberpunk 2077", currently Narrative Director at Rebel Wolves, a game development studio he co-founded. Doctor of classical archaeology educated at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and a Cambridge Gates Scholar. His most recent book, "Inner Space", will come out in English in July 2025.

Ragnhild Freng Dale is a social anthropologist and senior researcher at the Western Norway Research Institute. Her research interests include energy imaginaries, justice in climate transitions and impacts of energy infrastructure on local and indigenous communities. She thrives working on projects that are multimodal and experimental, especially in collaboration with the performing arts field.

How to get your voice heard in a busy world

Richard Westcott talks to Diane Coyle, Jacques Crémer, and Paul Seabright about Europe’s position in competing with the US in technology. They explore the factors shaping Europe’s place in the global tech race—how data, policy, investment, competition and culture influence its potential to compete with the US.

Our experts unpack the challenges and opportunities for Europe’s tech ecosystem. They consider whether Europe should aim to catch up with the US or focus on carving out its own path, questioning what success in innovation really looks like. Along the way, they discuss the role of data, risk-taking, the challenges of scaling up new ideas, and the structural and policy changes needed to support innovation in Europe.

This episode is hosted by Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus), and features experts Diane Coyle (Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge), Jacques Crémer (IAST), Paul Seabright (IAST)

Season 4 Episode 6 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

Can Europe ever catch up to the US in technology?

Today, natural history museums are starting to research the deeper histories of how their collections were built, and this is revealing some surprising and troubling stories. 
Thylacines, or Tasmanian tigers, are icons of extinction, and some of the world’s best-preserved specimens are in University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. This series explores new research there, uncovering an uncomfortable truth about how the history of the extinction of the thylacine had strong parallels with the violent events that took place in Tasmania in the nineteenth century. 
Join zoologist and author Jack Ashby (University of Cambridge), journalist and academic Lainy Malkani (University of the Arts London), and Elder uncle Hank Horton, a Pakana man from Trooloolway mob, lutruwita, Tasmania, for a conversation about thylacines, museum collecting, and why it’s important to tell these difficult stories. 
The series is part of a unique art/science collaboration between the Sonic Screen Lab, UAL (Lainy Malkani, Professor Shreepali Patel & Julia Schauerman), Hank Horton, and the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge (Jack Ashby).
Listeners should be aware that we will be discussing events that involved racial violence in Tasmania.


Tasmanian tigers: Uncomfortable truths, understanding, and acknowledging violence

In this second episode, Lainy Malkani and Jack Ashby head to the storerooms of the University Museum of Zoology in Cambridge to take a closer look at one of the world’s finest collections of thylacine skins. They explore how what was done to thylacines and what was done to Tasmanian Aboriginal people was part of the same historical process. As populations of both were diminished, demand for their remains in western museums rocketed. 
The man who sent the skins to Cambridge was Morton Allport. Recent research has revealed an uncomfortable truth about how Allport built his reputation as a leading “man of science”, by both stoking that demand, and working to fulfil it.
Listeners should be aware that we will be discussing events that involved racial violence in Tasmania.

Stories behind the scenes

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?

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?

In this episode of So, Now What host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars Paulo Savaget Nascimento, Sandile Mtetwa, and Uche Ogechukwu to explore innovative business models that address wicked problems such as energy poverty and community empowerment. The conversation emphasizes the importance of unconventional approaches, allyship, co-creation, and interdisciplinary thinking in fostering sustainable solutions for the common good. The guests share their experiences and insights on how to leverage existing resources, engage marginalized communities, and promote inclusivity in entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

We are living in complex times with pressing problems.
Innovative approaches can address energy poverty effectively.
Allyship involves co-creating solutions with communities.
Workarounds can provide unconventional solutions to challenges.
Inclusivity is crucial in energy solutions for marginalized groups.
Interdisciplinary thinking enhances social enterprise effectiveness.
Diversity and adaptation are essential for tackling wicked problems.
Community ownership leads to sustainable outcomes.
Starting small and scrappy can lead to significant impact.
Humanizing innovation is key to successful implementation.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems and New Business Models

05:00 Innovative Approaches to Energy and Community Empowerment

09:56 The Role of Allyship and Co-Creation in Sustainable Solutions

14:54 Workarounds: Unconventional Solutions to Complex Problems

19:54 The Importance of Inclusivity in Energy Solutions

24:59 Interdisciplinary Thinking and Its Impact on Social Enterprise

29:51 So, Now What: Scaling for the Common Good

Leadership for the common good

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars Julie Pham, Chris Tooley, and Robin Scott to explore the nuances of leadership in turbulent times. The conversation delves into the importance of moral leadership, the opportunities presented by crises like COVID-19, and the significance of self-leadership and community building. The guests share their experiences and insights on how to lead effectively, emphasising curiosity, respect, and the power of local action.

Takeaways

Leadership is about bringing people with you, not telling them what to do.
Curiosity can transform workplace dynamics and leadership styles.
Crisis often creates opportunities for innovation and transformation.
Moral leadership is crucial in times of flux and uncertainty.
Local leadership is essential for meaningful change.
Self-leadership involves being open to learning from others.
Community building can counteract polarization and division.
Radical honesty in leadership fosters trust and collaboration.
Cultural forms of leadership can have transformative potential.
Leadership should be shaped by lived experience and engagement.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership in Turbulent Times

09:50 The Role of Moral Leadership

20:05 Crisis as Opportunity: Leadership During COVID-19

30:09 Self-Leadership and Community Building

Moral leadership in a time of crisis

Guests Catherine Barnard and Emmanuelle Auriol discuss how migration affects labour markets, legal protections and social cohesion, how economic incentives and border regimes shape who migrates and why, and what smarter, fairer migration policies could look like in the years ahead.

In this final episode of season 4, Richard Westcott is joined by Catherine Barnard (University of Cambridge) and Emmanuelle Auriol (Toulouse School of Economics) to unpack the economic, legal, and social dimensions of migration.

Drawing on insights from law and economics, the conversation explores how migration affects labour markets, legal protections, and social cohesion, from post-Brexit realities in Great Yarmouth to global questions of fairness and opportunity. The episode examines who moves and why, the limits of current border regimes, and what more effective and ethical migration policies could look like.

Season 4 Episode 10 transcript – Word / PDF
Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform
For more information about the Crossing Channels podcast series and the work of the Bennett School of Public Policy and IAST visit our websites at https://www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/.

Follow us on social media.

With thanks to:

Audio production by Steve Hankey
Associate production by Burcu Sevde Selvi
Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Aurore Carbonnel
More information about our host and guests:


How does migration change our world?

Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Benjamin Pitt join Richard Westcott to explore how speaking multiple languages shapes our identity, thinking, relationships, and boosts economic opportunities.

In this episode, Richard Westcott is joined by Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Benjamin Pitt to explore a big, everyday question: what is the value of speaking other languages? The conversation looks at how the languages we speak shape our sense of identity, influence how we think and reason, and affect how we relate to others. We explore how multilingualism can foster social cohesion, support cognitive flexibility, and even boost economic opportunities.

Our guests discuss why language is never just a tool for communication and why recognising its deeper value matters for how we design education, shape public policy, and navigate life in an increasingly interconnected world.

This episode is hosted by Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus), and features experts Benjamin Pitt (IAST) and Wendy Ayres-Bennett (Cambridge University). 

Season 4 Episode 9 transcript Word / PDF
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 bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk and 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

What is the value of speaking other languages?

What is a pet?  The answer may seem straightforward: they are animals kept in the home for pleasure and companionship. But our interactions with pets are far more complex, rooted as much in ownership and domination as in sentimentality and affection. 

The Cambridge Animal Alphabet series celebrates Cambridge's connections with animals through literature, art, science and society. Here, P is for Pet. Cultural geographer Dr Philip Howell and PhD student Makoto Takahashi examine both the lighter and darker sides of pet keeping as a national obsession.

The scale of contemporary pet keeping is remarkable. In the US, ‘fur babies’ outnumber human babies. In the UK, almost a quarter of households have a dog and almost a fifth owns a cat. Fish (often listed among pets) are even more popular.

The keeping of these pets is one of the most significant of all human-animal relationships. The majority of pets live as part of the family. At the same time, many are poorly treated and animal activists have called into question the legitimacy of keeping pets at all.
- See more at: http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/features/p-is-for-pet#sthash.RU4bwkzl.dpuf

P is for Pet

Richard Grisenthwaite, Lead Architect and Fellow at ARM, talks about how the ARM architecture and the computing ecosystem it enables has changed in the 25 year history of ARM Ltd. Aimed at a technical audience, this talk looks at how the architecture has been influenced, sometimes in unexpected ways, by the changing environment and fashions, of the computing industry. It draws out some general lessons of the process of balancing the developments in hardware and software learnt from the progression of ARM to be one of the most popular architectures in the world. 

A history of the ARM architecture, and the lessons learned while building it

Nehru's Tryst with Destiny speech, August 14/15 1947

Tryst With Destiny

One series at a time, we break down complex issues into simple questions. 
Subscribe to the podcast here: https://mind-over-chatter.captivate.fm/listen

In this first series, we’ll explore climate change. Climate change is likely to affect almost every area of our lives… like a toddler with sticky fingers. But how did it become this way? What are we doing about it now? And what does the future hold?

We’ll ask smart people some simple questions and see what happens!

New episodes every Thursday.

From the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Zero

Welcome to Mind Over Chatter, the Cambridge University Podcast!

Climate change is likely to affect almost every area of our lives… but how did we get to this point? When and why did we first take notice of climate change? And why has climate change evaded our collective attention and action for so long?

We talked with professor of human geography, Mike Hulme,, science historian and journalist Dr Sarah Dry and environmental economist Dr Matthew Agarwala to try to figure all of this out. Along the way, we discovered new ways of thinking about climate change, from a tragic story where the issue is constantly caught between opposing forces, to more hopefully thinking of it as a source of generative change and innovation. 

This episode was produced by Nick Saffell, James Dolan and Naomi Clements-Brod. 

From the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Zero

Navigating the values of climate change

Last episode, we talked about how we got to where we are now with climate change, but do we even know what’s going on with climate change right now? In this episode we’ll talk about what tipping points we’re approaching, how and why we’re still struggling to gain momentum toward action on climate change, and what difference it would make if carbon dioxide was a brown smelly substance.

To figure all of this out, we talked to a mathematician, Emily Shuckburgh, an engineer Hugh Hunt and a psychologist, Sander van der Linden. 

Along the way, we discuss solutions like geoengineering, creating a fake news ‘vaccine’ and opportunities for businesses to be more transparent about how their activities contribute to climate change. If you’re curious to find out more specific ideas about how we can build a greener future, check out Cambridge Zero’s Green Recovery Report here: https://www.zero.cam.ac.uk/green-recovery-report 

This episode was produced by Nick Saffell, James Dolan, and Naomi Clements-Brod.

What are we (as a global community) doing right now?

The future is becoming harder to predict thanks to climate change and a global pandemic. But a large part of what the future will look like is in our own hands. The biggest challenge to creating a better future may be political rather than scientific or technological. 

Subscribe to the podcast here: mind-over-chatter.captivate.fm/listen

In this episode, Diane Coyle, professor of public policy, Laura Diaz Anadon, professor of climate change policy, and architectural engineer, Ruchi Choudhary, join us to talk about how we can build a future that might not be anything like the past.

We cover topics like innovation, GDP, and how the uncertainty created by climate change can help propel policy and economic decisions. Plus, we look at some of the benefits that come with building a greener future together. 

Please take our survey. https://bit.ly/38uXJaG
How did you find us? Do you want more Mind Over Chatter in your life? Less? We want to know. So we put together this survey. If you could please take a few minutes to fill it out, it would be a big help.

This episode was produced by Nick Saffell, James Dolan, and Naomi Clements-Brod.

Creating a future that is not like the past

How and what we eat, and where our food comes from, these everyday choices that we often think very little about, have become increasingly relevant to climate change. 

Subscribe to the podcast here: https://mind-over-chatter.captivate.fm/listen 

With a global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, it is not unreasonable to ask: how are we going to feed all these people... and without causing more damage? 

In this episode we’ll cover everything from how climate change will affect the way we grow and eat food, to the pros and cons of ‘non-poo’ fertiliser. Sound appetising?

Giles Oldroyd, professor of plant science at the new Cambridge Crop Science Centre, Helen Anne Curry, lecturer in the history of modern science and technology, and developmental economist, Shailaja Fennell, helped us connect the dots between food and climate change. They discuss how we ensure people around the world will still have food to eat as the climate becomes more unpredictable.

This episode was produced by Nick Saffell, James Dolan, and Naomi Clements-Brod. 

Please take our survey. https://bit.ly/38uXJaG
How did you find us? Do you want more Mind Over Chatter in your life? Less? We want to know. So we put together this survey. If you could please take a few minutes to fill it out, it would be a big help.

Guest Bios: 

Dr Helen Anne Curry (@hacurry)

My current research focuses on the history of efforts to understand and use crop diversity as a resource for agricultural development. In August 2020 I launched the project 'From Collection to Cultivation: Historical Perspectives on Crop Diversity and Food Security'. This project has its origins in my investigation of history of genetic conservation, especially the preservation of seeds and other plant materials in seed and gene banks. It is also the subject of my current book project, Endangered Maize: Indigenous Corn, Industrial Agriculture and the Crisis of Extinction. 

Dr Shailaja Fennell (@shailajafennell) 

Shailaja Fennell is a Co-Investigator on TIGR2ESS, a research programme to study how to improve crop productivity and water use, identify appropriate crops and farming practices for sustainable rural development. She is also a Co-Investigator on MillNeti, a sister research programme (2019-2021) that is focussed on how to improve iron nutrition status of people living in Ethiopia and The Gambia by assessing the bioavailability of iron from biofortified millet. Her work package focuses on the use of quantitative and qualitative surveys to understand how millets are currently grown, processed, cooked and consumed in focus villages in The Gambia and Ethiopia. 

Professor Giles Oldroyd (@gilesdoldroyd) 

Professor Giles Oldroyd studies the mechanisms by which plants form beneficial interactions with micro-organisms, both bacteria and fungi, that aid in the uptake of nutrients from the environment, including nitrogen. A long-term aim of this research is to reduce agricultural reliance on inorganic fertilisers and he currently heads an international programme funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to engineer nitrogen-fixing cereals.

University of Cambridge

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