A new project at the University of Leeds is seeking to boost the recognition and celebration of learning disabled artists. Working closely with Leeds-based disability art studio Pyramid, it’s investigating ways to better support their professional artistic development. Lead researcher Jade French outlines the innovative and experimental ways the project brings together the worlds of arts practice and social care support.

Jade French - Becoming an ‘Irregular’ Art School

The Rohingya in Myanmar, the Uyghurs in China, and the Yazidi in Iraq – the last few years have seen the dramatic resurgence of violent atrocities across the world. Such crimes generate massive human suffering, with enormous global impact. After the Holocaust of the Second World War, we promised ‘Never again’. Cristina G. Stefan asks, what does it take for the world to act together to stop such atrocities? For that same promise not to be uttered again – and again, and again?

Dr Cristina G. Stefan - Preventing atrocities; How together we can take on this global challenge

Lucy Ziegler’s research in oncology took on a very personal significance when her own mother died of breast cancer. Her personal loss and passion for her research made her determined to improve the way we care for those nearing the end of their lives. 

Her research contributed to a landmark breakthrough when St Gemma’s became the world’s first University Teaching Hospice. Now its work not only serves the local Leeds community but also helps reduce inequalities in palliative care across the world.

Dr Lucy Ziegler - A university without walls

What if girls were taken seriously as the producers of art, film and literature, rather than merely as subjects? Images of women shape attitudes and beliefs about women. Elspeth Mitchell and Gill Park wanted to put the power to make these images into the hands of girls.

Dr Elspeth Mitchell & Dr Gill Park - Art School for Rebel Girls

For students and staff to thrive at university and beyond, we need a campus culture where everyone feels they belong. This is about how we teach as much as what we teach. Bridgette Bewick explores how her conversations with students and staff are helping the University of Leeds become a compassionate campus.

Dr Bridgette M Bewick - Why do we need a compassionate campus? And how do we get there?

Digital technology is often promised as the key to widening participation in university education for more students. But such technology isn’t neutral, and not all learners have the same access to it. Bronwen Swinnerton has been looking at how the ‘digital divide’ affects students in the UK and across the world. And she describes how the University of Leeds’ mission to tackle such inequalities is starting right at home.

Dr Bronwen Swinnerton - Can digital technology open up university education for all?

Digital transformation is at the heart of the University of Leeds’ vision for the next ten years. This transformation will enhance students’ learning and enrich research activity, as well as improve the University’s own institutional operations. Leeds’ ambition is to use digital technologies and approaches to fulfil its desire to be a university that makes a difference. However, digital transformation begins not with technology but with people, Leah Henrickson argues. She explains what makes us ‘digitally literate’ and how digital literacy helps us get the most from the digital in our lives.

Dr Leah Henrickson - Digital transformation begins with people; How do we become digitally literate?

We are surrounded by colour, but its significance in our lives goes far beyond simple aesthetic impressions. It has practical applications that help us navigate our environment. It can affect our mood. And in societies across the world, colour has extensive historical, cultural and symbolic attachments. It is often used, subtly or explicitly, to carry and influence the values of our society. Vien Cheung reflects on the power of colour to shift our judgements – and how it might help us move towards a fairer and more balanced world.

Dr Vien Cheung - Colour: its influence and impact on the way we live

When Jasjit Singh was researching media portrayals of British Sikhs, he wanted to make sure his research was a true representation of the people whose lives he was talking about. Working with the community then gave him the authority to take the findings forward to influence national and international policy.

Dr Jasjit Singh - Not ‘hard to reach’ but ‘hardly reached’; Empowering communities

Infections that would have quickly killed us a hundred years ago are rarely a cause for concern nowadays. Antimicrobials protect us from infections caused by microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. But the speed at which microbes are becoming resistant to these drugs is accelerating rapidly. What will happen if the drugs stop working? Jessica Mitchell is exploring effective ways for our communities – global, national, and local – to come together and respond.

Dr Jessica Mitchell - What if the drugs don’t work? Solutions start with communities

From medicine to agriculture, chemicals bring us important benefits. But wastage during manufacture and use can inadvertently have a serious impact on our health and on the environment. It’s a global concern.

Laura Carter’s research has found hazardous traces of chemicals in plants, soil and water from Yorkshire to remote rivers in Nepal. Now she’s creating an international network of academics, industry and regulators to pool knowledge and draw up frameworks so we can better manage such pollution crises across the world.

Dr Laura Carter - Chemical pollution knows no borders; Global problems need global solutions

The Black Dyke Band - The Bragg Fanfare

Feeling the stable ground and letting go 

As we go through our day-to-day life, we accumulate tension and worries, and carry them in our bodies and minds. This practice will guide you to release them through getting in touch with a feeling of the stable support of the ground beneath you. Grounded embodied awareness can puts you in a good position to let go of your worries and thoughts that you do not need to attend to at that point.

Coming Down To Earth

Dropping anchor – attentional anchors to rest in

This practice takes you through a range of different focal points for your attention. This will enable you to feel more present in your immediate bodily experience and to drop away from the busyness and running commentary in your mind. You are encouraged to select which attentional anchors feel safe and comfortable for you. Once you have practiced it a few times, the technique will offer a method of resting your attention whenever you need to.

Dropping Anchor

Dr Andy Lee explains the DNA Origami outreach work with schools and the positive impact it aims to have on future generations.

Small science, big thinking (shorter discussion)

Andrew Lee, Neil Thomson, Christoph Walti, Ilaria Sandei, and Gayarithi Mohanan discuss how working with DNA origami impacted their research and helped build cross-disciplinary opportunities.

Small science, big thinking (longer discussion)

Professor Michelle Morris and Kylie Norman explain why they think it’s vital to recruit from a wider pool of talent – and help others do the same.

Improving representation with values-based recruitment

Dr James Van Alstine is an Associate Professor in Environmental Policy and the Director of Masters Education within the Leeds School of Earth and Environment, heavily involved with the delivery of the online Sustainable Business Leadership Masters. With around fifteen years of experience teaching sustainability at the University of Leeds, he is an expert in his field with a particular passion for environmental and climate policy and governance.

In this Q&A, we speak to James about his experience, research interests, the benefits of studying the course, faculty partnerships and more.

Read the full blog here: https://pg-online.leeds.ac.uk/blogs/sustainable-business-leadership-associate-professor/

Find out more about the course here: https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/d004/sustainable-business-leadership-msc

Timestamps:
•	Introduction (00.00-00.32)
•	Please could you begin by introducing yourself? (00.33-00.47)
•	Could you tell us a little bit more about your experience and how you got to where you are today? (00.48-03.22)
•	Why sustainability, where does your passion for this subject stem from? (03.23-04.27)
•	What would you say your main area of expertise in sustainability is? Do you have any research interests? (04.28-06.13)
•	Could you tell us a little bit more about the Sustainable Business Leadership course? What does it involve and who's it for? (06.14-07:55)
•	What is online learning like and how much interaction do you have with students? (07:56-09:02)
•	What are you hoping students will get out of the course? (09:03-10:02)
•	Why did you choose to join the University of Leeds? (10:03-11:19)
•	What's it like being a part of the Leeds School of Earth and Environment? (11:20-13:01)
•	What are the faculty partnerships like and how do you think they benefit the course? (13:02-14:57)
•	Could you give us a bit of a flavour of some of the kinds of companies and roles that graduates of the course go into? (14:58-16:48)
•	If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering studying Sustainable Business Leadership with the University of Leeds, what would it be? (16:49-17:59)

Meet the Associate Professor for Sustainable Business Leadership

Studying at a large university can be daunting, especially if you feel under-represented amongst the staff and student body. Rachael O’Connor describes how ‘micro-communities’ within enormous institutions can bring students and staff together – and give them the confidence to speak out for broader cultural change that influences and develops the macro-level culture.

How ‘micro-communities’ can bring about big change by Associate Professor Rachael O’Connor

It’s easy to be sceptical about public consultations. Do our perspectives and hopes really make a difference? Helen Graham and Phil Bixby are determined they should. They’ve been developing a new approach that puts dialogue and shared vision right at its heart.

Moving public consultation beyond engagement to impact by Helen Graham and Phil Bixby

Everyone needs equal access to public services. But not all of us get it. The reasons some groups are excluded are complex and interlinked. And complex problems require complex solutions. Ghazala Mir argues that cracking them will require radical transformation across many levels at the same time.

Fair services for all: why inequality matters to everyone by Professor Ghazala Mir

​​​Peoples’ experiences of health services are a vital resource for researchers working to improve them. But is it possible for researchers and people with direct personal experience to have equal power within a project? Cara Gates, Kate Farley and Natalie Mark reflect on the challenges and opportunities of co-production.

In it together: where research and real world experience meet by Gates, Farley and Mark

For a long time, people thought heritage had little in common with development. But this misses so much of what heritage is about and what heritage research and practice can fulfil. Francesca Giliberto considers how heritage projects around the world are finding fresh ways of approaching global challenges.

Bridging past, present – and future: how can heritage support development? By Francesca Giliberto

Getting good outcomes from major surgery doesn’t just depend on what happens during the operation. The whole journey counts – from the decision to operate, through preparation for surgery, the operation itself, and the care we receive afterwards. Simon Howell outlines how ‘perioperative care’ could be the next big revolution in surgical medicine.

Safer journeys: giving each surgical patient the best prospects by Dr Simon Howell

Queering the curriculum shows LGBTQIA+ students that academia is a place in which they belong – and by which they are valued. Roseanna Ramsden reveals how uncovering queer histories inspired her teaching practice, and how opening up the past can bring about a more inclusive future.

Writing queer history: uncovering hidden pasts for a more inclusive future by Dr Roseanna Ramsden

The fashion industry is a huge contributor to pollution and climate change, but how do we ensure the clothes we buy are sustainable? How can we know if they are made ethically and how do we make fashion more accessible? 

Host Rich Williams is joined by Mark Sumner, Lecturer in Sustainability, Retail and Fashion, Bethan Bide, Lecturer in Design and Cultural Theory, and Matthew Davis, Associate Professor in Organisational Psychology. 

Resources: 
Cotton’s Hidden Voices: https://sustainablethreads.leeds.ac.uk/ 
Durability study: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-working-business/news/article/5346/why-price-does-not-indicate-how-long-clothes-will-last 
Supply chains: https://modernslaverypec.org/assets/downloads/Research-summary-India-fashion-supply-chains.pdf 

Presented by Rich Williams. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio Production: Jade Bailey. Design:

James Parrett. Lead Producer: Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. HOW TO FIX… is a Podmasters Production for the University of Leeds Communications and Engagement team.

How do we make fashion fair?

Winter is fast approaching and with it the familiar feeling of dread for the arrival of heating bills. How do we ensure we stay warm and what support can be provided for those who are struggling? Additionally can we combine our needs for heating with our aims to decarbonise? 

Host Rich Williams is joined by University of Leeds academics Lucie Middlemiss, Professor of Environment and Society, Dan Edmiston, Associate Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, and Fleur Loveridge, Professor of Geo-Energy Engineering. 

Resources: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/energy/dir-record/profiles/15356/the-reality-of-life-in-fuel-poverty 
Home temperature EU study: https://www.tado.com/gb-en/press/uk-homes-losing-heat-up-to-three-times-faster-than-european-neighbours
UK government energy bills support scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bills-discount-scheme

Presented by Rich Williams. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio Production: Jade Bailey. Design: James Parrett. Lead Producer: Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. HOW TO FIX… is a Podmasters Production for the University of Leeds Communications and Engagement team.

How do we make sure everyone has a warm home?

Violence against women and girls is at a critical point. Where do women experience violence and how can we tackle it at the root cause? What new measures are being implemented to ensure we think with safety in mind and how can we work with researchers to ensure our public spaces are safe? 

Host Rich Williams is joined by Sam Lewis, Associate Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Alison Lowe OBE, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) in West Yorkshire, and Anna Barker, Associate Professor in Criminal Justice & Criminology.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode or would like to know more please contact: End Violence Against Women

Resources: 
Refuge: https://refuge.org.uk/ 
Women’s Aid: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
Sikh Women’s Aid: https://www.sikhwomensaid.org.uk/ 
Southall Black Sisters: https://southallblacksisters.org.uk/
Galop: https://galop.org.uk/ 
ManKind: https://mankind.org.uk/ 

Presented by Rich Williams. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio Production: Jade Bailey. Design: James Parrett. Lead Producer: Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. HOW TO FIX… is a Podmasters Production for the University of Leeds Communications and Engagement team.

How do we stop violence against women?

With food prices on the rise, we’ve all been conscious of how to keep our families fed and our budgets in check. Who are the communities hardest hit – and how can we help? How do we stay healthy while reducing the cost of food? Can more investment in traditional markets change how we consume food? 

Host Rich Williams is joined by University of Leeds academics Michelle Morris, Professor of Data Science for Food, Effie Papargyropoulou, Associate Professor in Sustainable Food Networks and Sara Gonzalez, Professor at the School of Geography. 

Resources https://medium.com/globalfoodleeds/food-hubs-support-communities-against-food-poverty 7f1523f6b59 
Healthy Choices Healthy Lives: https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/research-projects/healthy-choices-healthy-lives/ 
Priority Places for Food Index: https://priorityplacesforfood.which.co.uk/ Trussell Trust: https://www.trusselltrust.org 

Presented by Rich Williams. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio Production: Jade Bailey. Design: James Parrett. Lead Producer: Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. HOW TO FIX… is a Podmasters Production for the University of Leeds Communications and Engagement team.

How do we cut the cost of healthy food?

Air pollution is a key problem in our cities. Why is the air that we breathe so poor – and how do we fix it? Are ‘clean air zones’ working? How can we protect ourselves and children from the harmful pollutants that contaminate our air? 

Host Rich Williams is joined by University of Leeds academics Jim McQuaid, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Composition, Cath Noakes, Professor of Environmental Engineering for Buildings, and James Tate, Associate Professor in ITS. 

Resources: Living Lab for Air Quality: https://sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/news/living-lab-for-air-quality/ Schools’ Air Quality Monitoring project: https://samhe.org.uk/about 

Presented by Rich Williams. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio Production: Jade Bailey. Design: James Parrett. Lead Producer: Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. HOW TO FIX… is a Podmasters Production for the University of Leeds Communications and Engagement team.

How do we clean up our air?

Audio Hidden Histories

Cars have become a staple of modern society, but they can create all sorts of problems. Vehicles have a costly effect on the environment, and research shows that cars are only in motion for 4% of the day – but what are the alternatives? How can we make public transport more reliable? What would a future where we don’t need to own a car look like?

Host Rich Williams is joined by Greg Marsden, Professor of Transport Governance, Dr Ian Philips, Senior Research Fellow exploring sustainable and equitable transport, and Jillian Anable, Professor of Transport and Energy at the Institute of Transport Studies. 


How can we build a future where we don't need to own a car?

More and more of us are adopting a meat-free diet, it’s estimated that 16% of the UK population are vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian. Those of us participating in ‘Veganuary’ this year may already be familiar with meat-alternatives such as Beyond Meat or Quorn, but we may not know what these products are actually made of. Why are alternative proteins so important? What needs to be done to ensure these products are healthy, tasty and affordable? How can we meet our future protein needs sustainably?

Host Rich Williams is joined by three members of the National Alternative Proteins Innovation Centre (NAPIC): Professor Anwesha Sarkar, Director of Research and Innovation for the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds; Professor Louise Dye, Co-Director of the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable Food and Professor Derek Stewart, Director of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at The James Hutton Institute.

How can we meet our future protein needs sustainably?

An estimated 4.4 million adults in the UK now use dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble in their search for the perfect partner, with these platforms generating a staggering £150 million in annual revenue. While many people do find the love of their life online, concerns are mounting over reports that some services perpetuate racism, are losing users, and can even promote gambling through their paid subscription models. So, how can we build a healthy relationship with dating apps?

“One thing people need to realise is that they’re stepping into an environment designed to benefit the company—always. It’s like walking into a casino: the house always wins.” – Dr Luke Brunning
Host Rich Williams is joined by three guests from the University of Leeds who are searching for the answers: 

- Dr Luke Brunning, Lecturer in Applied and Inter-Disciplinary Ethics at the IDEA Centre, with research interests in the philosophy of romantic life, ethics and philosophy of emotion 
- Dr Natasha McKeever, Lecturer in Applied Ethics at the IDEA Centre, researching the philosophy of love and sex
- Dr Alessandro Birgalia, Associate Professor of Marketing at Leeds University Business School who researches consumer behaviour and psychology, branding and more.


How can we have a healthy relationship with dating apps?

How to improve the quality of child's packed lunch

We live in a society that is biased in favour of vocal people. A society that rates proposals more highly when they are formulated by those who speak loudly and confidently and frequently express themselves. As a consequence, those people play a prominent role in the group process. I don’t think this always yields the best outcomes. It may be like an orchestra and the symphony it is playing: balance is essential. If only the loudest and largest instruments get a chance, many beautiful, but less boisterous ones can’t contribute. As a result there is little harmony, and the symphony does not sound remotely like it could and should.

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Simone Buitendijk on the importance of listening

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