Exploring Global Problems

In this episode, in discussion with Elin Rhys, Dr Rhian Meara, Senior Lecturer in Geography discusses the eruption of the Eldfell volcano in 1973, on the island of Heimaey, Iceland. The eruption itself is famous as the small town was saved by spraying cold sea water onto approaching lavas. Although the story of the eruption is well-known to many, the stark realities of life during this unexpected...

Yn y bennod hon, mewn trafodaeth ag Elin Rhys, mae Dr Rhian Meara, Uwch-ddarlithydd Daearyddiaeth, yn trafod echdoriad llosgfynydd Eldfell ym 1973 ar Ynys Heimaey, Gwlad yr Iâ. Mae'r echdoriad ei hun yn enwog oherwydd achubwyd y dref fach drwy chwistrellu dŵr oer y môr ar y lafâu wrth iddynt nesáu.   Er bod hanes y echdoriad yn adnabyddus i lawer o bobl, nid yw gwirioneddau llym bywyd yn ystod y e...

Dr Gulzat Botoeva takes listeners on a journey into the intricate socio-economic landscape of small-scale gold mining in Kyrgyzstan's Naryn region, exploring local communities' involvement in protests against and in support of official mining companies.   Through insightful research and analysis, Dr. Botoeva uncovers the broader socio-economic conditions that shape individuals' stances towards gol...

The debate surrounding the inclusion of transgender and Difference in Sex Development (DSD) athletes in the female category has sparked significant controversy, particularly in elite sport and considering factors like inherent advantage and biological differences. So to maintain fair competition should we retain sex-based categorisations or adopt more inclusivity focused policies? In this episode,...

Wales has a long history of welcoming those fleeing persecution. It is estimated that there are 10,000 refugees in Wales, which is about 0.3% of the population. Barriers to accessing healthcare can arise from immigration status. It is important to understand the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. As defined by Amnesty International, ‘an asylum seeker is a person who has left their country and...

As the world population continues to grow, the demand for increased food production similarly rises. Crop pests pose a serious threat to food production and climate change is contributing to insect prevalence and the spread of vector-borne diseases. Chemical pesticides cause direct damage to human and animal health such as cancer and other diseases, but also indirectly through polluted water and i...

Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy explores the concept of trust. With the danger posed by disinformation during societal crises (such as the pandemic or climate change), trust in facts and science seems more important now than ever. Does the public trust politicians and scientific experts? Conversely how much does the public feel trusted by those in power?   Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy gained a bachelor’s degree in p...

Joanne Davies discusses how highly trained educators and sim technologies; high-tech mannequins and the world's largest installation of immersive wall technology simulation are advancing healthcare education.

In this episode Professor Brian Garrod in conversation with Dr Sam Blaxland, sheds light on the hurdles faced by neurodivergent children and their families on holiday and delves into how the tourism industry could adapt to be more accessible and welcoming. Brian Garrod is a tourism marketing and management expert and professor at Swansea University. His teaching focus is on sustainable tourism. He...

In this episode, in discussion with host Dr Sam Blaxland, Dr Luca Trenta uncovers states’ use of covert action, with a spotlight on the US Governments involvement in state-sponsored assassinations. Spanning the time period from the Cold War through to contemporary times, Dr Trenta unearths the intricate dimensions of these clandestine operations. Dr Luca Trenta is an Associate Professor in Interna...

Climate change is no longer something that we can think of as a problem of the future or only a matter of concern elsewhere in the world – it is already with us and can be viewed as the defining global challenge of our age. Our current situation is undoubtedly worrying, but there is a great deal that can be done to mitigate the worst consequences of climate change, adapt to those that cannot be av...

Beth yn union yw ffuglen wyddonol, a sut mae genre o’r fath yn ein helpu i archwilio’r problemau byd-eang sy’n ein hwynebu o ddydd i ddydd? A all genre sy’n cael ei weld fel genre sy’n drwm dan ddylanwad diwylliant ‘Eingl-Americanaidd’, ac sy’n portreadu heb eu tebyg, fod yn berthnasol i ddiwylliannau lleiafrifol heddiw? Yn y bennod hon, mae Dr Miriam Elin Jones, mewn sgwrs ag Elin Rhys, yn trafod...

What exactly is science fiction, and how can it help us make sense of global problems we face in day-to-day life? Can a genre traditionally viewed as an ‘Anglo-American’ genre, portraying roaring machines and advanced technology, be relevant to a minority language culture? In this episode, Dr Miriam Elin Jones discusses with host Elin Rhys, her interest in science fiction, and how what could poten...

A regular menstrual cycle is extremely important and a vital sign of good health and overall well-being. Nevertheless, women, girls and individuals who menstruate, often contend with debilitating symptoms associated with menstruation, such as fatigue, menstrual cramps, mood fluctuations, disrupted sleep, and headaches. Managing these symptoms pose a significant barrier to the participation in phys...

Autistic people have worse physical and mental health than their allistic (non-Autistic) peers. This includes dying between 16 and 30 years early. Deficit narratives of Autism, discrimination towards Autistic people and significant healthcare inaccessibility all contribute to this. In this episode, Dr Aimee Grant with host Sam Blaxland discuss how their research looks to uncover Autistic people’s...

Generative Artificial Intelligence is a branch of artificial intelligence that uses deep learning algorithms, trained on large datasets, to generate content such as text, images, videos, and music. ChatGPT is just one example of generative AI that can generate human-like responses to text prompts and can be used in a variety of applications such as chatbots, language translation, and content creat...

England and Wales currently has one of the highest prison populations per 100,000 capita in the western world. Current reoffending rates of those released from prison are between 40% - 60%. Many aspects of the penal system are not working.  Dr Gemma Morgan in discussion with host Sam Blaxland explores the real challenges people face when leaving prison, and how harnessing digital technology in inn...

Commercial self-driving passenger and freight services has the potential to revolutionise public transport and passenger travel with many benefits that include reduced road traffic accidents due to human error, to improved connectivity to remote areas for goods and healthcare services. Yet building public trust and acceptance in autonomous systems and overcoming the perception of risk will be chal...

We know from transport research that most car journeys in the UK are less than five miles with just one person in the vehicle, so how can we encourage people to use more sustainable travel options? In this podcast episode, Professor of Environmental Psychology Ian Walker explores the phenomenon of ‘Motor Normativity’. This is the idea that people have concluded without question that the world orde...

Warning: This podcast episode contains discussions about suicide, which may be distressing  to some individuals. We encourage listener discretion and self-care. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, please seek help immediately. Below are links to organisations in the UK and Wales that can provide support and assistance:   1. Samaritans: The Samar...

In this episode, Professor Gareth Jenkins, in discussion with Dr Sam Blaxland, reveals how DNA can be mutated, how these mutations cause cancer, and how the chemicals around us, our lifestyle choices and our habits can increase or decrease the likelihood of our DNA mutating and developing into cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Fi...

With almost 60% of all plastic ever produced still polluting our planet, there are enormous issues posed by the massive volume of plastic waste present in our environment. However, by repurposing this massive stockpile of plastic waste into something more valuable we can turn this problem into a solution that benefits us all and paves the way for a brighter, cleaner future In this episode, in disc...

In this episode of Exploring Global Problems, our host Dr Sam Blaxland is joined by 2021 Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges scholars, Felicity Mulford and August Dichter, along with Politics lecturer Dr Bettina Petersohn. Felicity discusses her research, which focuses on mass starvation as a weapon of war, while August shares his research on state sponsored disinformation campaigns and weapo...

Children’s physical activity levels are associated with both physiological and psychosocial health. Current physical activity guidelines recommend children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. However, despite this, it is estimated that over a third of children fail to meet these recommended guidelines, with a common barrier suggested to be technolo...

Professor Stuart Macdonald discusses his research into counterterrorism with our host Dr Sam Blaxland in this episode of Exploring Global Problems. The episode explores Stuart’s work on terrorist’ use of the internet, particularly cyberterrorism and online propaganda and radicalisation.   Stuart’s most recent work on terrorist propaganda has examined violent jihadist narratives, their disseminatio...