Public lecture podcasts

Energy transitions in line with climate targets are often framed as largely technological challenges. But decarbonisation processes are affecting all aspects of human life. How can they best be managed, especially in regions that are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels? In this lecture, Professor Ricardo Garcia Mira (Professor of Social Psychology at the University of A Coruna, Spain) joins us to discuss the social aspects of the clean energy transition in Europe. This event took place on 16 May 2023. It forms part of the IPR's 'Polycrisis!' lecture series.

The Rt Revd Paul Bayes, former Bishop of Liverpool, patron of the Open Table Network and passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, reaches out with a message of support and encouragement on Bath University's Pride on Campus day 2023.

In this special IPR lecture, Professor Barry Eichengreen joins us to discuss his latest co-authored book, In Defense of Public Debt, which explores the origins, management, and uses and misuses of sovereign debt through the ages. This event took place on 24 April 2023. It forms part of the IPR's 'Polycrisis!' lecture series.

The oceans are vital to life on this planet. But they are under threat from unsustainable levels of exploitation. In this lecture, Professor Guy Standing discusses his latest book 'The Blue Commons', arguing that in addition to the already established ‘green politics’, we urgently need a ‘blue politics’ that is grounded in the principle of the commons. Guy Standing is a Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London and a founding member and honorary co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN). This public event took place on 13 March 2023. It was jointly hosted by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR), the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) and the Bath Earth System Governance (ESG) Research Centre. It forms part of the IPR's ‘Polycrisis!’ event series.

In this lecture, Professor Jonathan Haskel and Stian Westlake join us to discuss their latest book ‘Restarting the future: How to fix the intangible economy’. Our economies have become increasingly reliant on intangible assets that derive their value from ideas, knowledge and relationships rather than material properties. Haskel and Westlake explore how intangible assets differ from tangible ones and why it is important that the institutions that govern our economies keep up with the intangible revolution. This public event took place on 28 February 2023. It forms part of the ‘Polycrisis!’ event series hosted by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR).

Episode Three: How can we tackle preventable diseases? In Episode Three of the University of Bath’s Research with Impact podcast, Roland Pease discusses preventable diseases with three of the University’s world-leading experts, whose research focuses on improving health around the world. Professor Asel Sartbaeva – based in the Department of Chemistry and Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies – first joined the University in the Earth Sciences Department and went on to focus on the design and synthesis of zeolites and biomolecule. Asel’s work on vaccine stability using silica aims to do away with the need for refrigeration of vaccines. Dr John Campbell – from the Department for Health – collaborates with Bath Royal United Hospital, and national and international collaborators, to investigate how exercise augments anti-cancer immunity. John is currently leading a Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award exploring the impact of exercise on blood cancer immunotherapies. Professor Harry Rutter – from the Department of Social & Policy Sciences – is a member of numerous influential research teams which work on issues affecting public health policy across the UK and beyond. A previous medical doctor, Harry founded the National Obesity Observatory and has a strong interest in promoting greater active travel. Most recently Harry has used his expertise and experiences in assessing public health responses to Covid-19. For more information on our guests and the University of Bath’s Research with Impact Podcast please visit go.bath.ac.uk/research-with-impact or follow @uniofbath.

CDAS Co-Director Dr Kate Woodthorpe talks to Dr Helen Frisby and Dr Brian Parsons. They consider, ‘How does the past inform the present? by reflecting on the history of royal pageantry surrounding the death of a monarch, including ritual in the Georgian and Victorian eras.

In this masterclass Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE and Pete Dyson discuss how policymakers can use behaviour change evidence in practice, with examples of what works in environmental and transport policy. Lorraine Whitmarsh is Professor of Environmental Psychology at the University of Bath and Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST). Pete Dyson is a Doctoral Researcher in Transport & Travel Behaviour at the University of Bath and former Principal Behavioural Scientist at the Department for Transport. This public event took place on 7 February 2023. It was hosted jointly by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST).

Revd Canon Nigel Rawlinson, Bath University Chaplain, is joined by Local Visiting Faith Leaders: Dr Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour (Islam), Mother Sarah (Orthodox), Dr Jason Hart (Buddhist) and Iris Segall (Jewish). The panel focus their discussion on World Interfaith Harmony Week’s themes of ‘love of good’ and ‘loving your neighbour’.

In Episode Two of the University of Bath’s Research with Impact podcast, Roland Pease discusses the potential of big data for society with three of the University’s world-leading experts, whose research focuses on big data and digitisation. Professor Chris Budd – based in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and Institute for Mathematical Innovation – creates and analyses mathematical models of the real world. His work utilises historical data, ONS statistics, and medical imagery to provide insight in the fields of weather, climate change, disease control, and medical diagnoses. Professor David Ellis – from the School of Management – is a computational social scientist whose work bridges the gap between psychology and data science. David’s research explores behaviour in the digital age, and the psychological value and impacts of technology as it relates to privacy, security, health, and well-being. Professor Linda Newnes – of the Department of Mechanical Engineering - focuses on whole life value analysis (monetary, environmental and societal costs) from concept design through to the in-service and in-use phases. Linda is currently leading on a number of large cross University projects, including the Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation and the TRansdisciplinary ENgineering Design (TREND) research group. For more information on our guests and the University of Bath’s Research with Impact Podcast please visit go.bath.ac.uk/research-with-impact or follow @uniofbath.