Public lecture podcasts

Dr Jane Davis tells stories about the value of great books in ordinary lives. Jane left school at 16 with 2 GCSEs but now leads an organisation which wants a bigger place in the nation's heart for books and reading. Later in life she returned to education and graduated with a 1st class degree in English and spent 3 years writing a PhD.

Professor Anil Markandya, from the Department of Economics & International Development, gives the Charter Day lecture in which he explores more sophisticated ways of measuring a country's wellbeing than just looking at GDP; these include assessing its ecological footprint, rating in the Corruption Perception Index and number of happy life years. Using these techniques, there are some surprising wi...

Professor Chris McMahon, from the University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, considers some of the most complex design challenges faced by engineers through the ages, from designing ships in the 17th century, to the modern computer-assisted design of cars and planes

Professor Melanie Welham and Dr Paul De Bank from the University's department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology talk about stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

Professor Chris Eccleston, Dr Linda Bauld and Professor Chris Garland talk about their research and how it is helping to improve health and healthcare.

Dr Steve Dorus from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry reveals how cataloguing the DNA blueprint of humans is revealing the evolution of human traits.

General Sir Rupert Smith, the general who commanded the British Armoured Division in the first Gulf war and led the UN protection force in Bosnia, questions how military force is used to solve political problems.

Professor Phil Diamond, Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, talks about the research activities at the observatory, home to one of the world's biggest and most powerful radio telescopes.

Professor Allan Kellehear, Professor of Sociology at the University of Bath's Centre for Death & Society, gives an overview of the changing attitudes and behaviour of human beings and other hominids in their response to death, dying and loss over the last two million years.

Professor Steven Blair, from the University of South Carolina, USA, talks about the causes of the obesity epidemic in the US, the relationship between weight and fitness levels, and the importance of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle.

Professor Geoff Hammond, Director of the interdisciplinary International Centre for the Environment (ICE) at the University of Bath, looks at the global challenges and local opportunities for lowering our carbon footprint.

In this Charter Day lecture, Professor Tamas Szekely, from the University of Bath's Department of Biology & Biochemistry, talks about conflict and cooperation in the family life of birds.

Dr Ken Bray, from the Sport & Exercise Science group in the University's School for Health, reveals the science behind the swerving free kick, using scientific videos and match footage.

Award-winning space historian, Piers Bizony, presents an illustrated account of the Space Age, from the first tiny satellites to America's colossal project to land men on the moon.

Philippe Blondel from the University's Centre for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences takes a planetary journey through the solar system and discusses whether the discovery of water means there must be life on other planets

Professor Saiful Islam, of the University's Department of Chemistry, gives a flavour of the fascinating chemistry behind green technologies such as hybrid petrol-electric cars and fuel cells.

Paul Stallard, Professor of Child & Family Mental Health at the University of Bath and a chartered clinical psychologist with the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Care Partnership Trust, describes CBT, its use with children and young people and takes a critical look at its future use.

Leading figures from a range of social science disciplines discuss whether the theory of natural selection has anything to offer present-day students of cultures and societies.

Lord Rees-Mogg, former Editor of The Times, gives a free public lecture on the changing international scene.

Dr Adrian Scott, from the University's Department of Psychology, considers the fallibility of human memory and how past experience and knowledge of the world influence recollection.

Professor Ismet Gursul talks about his research into the most efficient wing structure for a tiny aircraft. He has found this is similar to the structure of insect wings.

Duncan Morrow shares his experiences of working in the community, including as Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, which funds and develops inter-community relations practice and policy in Northern Ireland.

Lord Paddy Ashdown - former High Representative in the successful reconstruction of Bosnia and a former leader of the Liberal Democrats - severely criticises the reconstruction of Iraq, calling it a 'catastrophic failure' in which 'daily carnage' is taking place. This lecture was organised by the University of Bath and the Royal Society of the Arts.

Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust archaeologist for Avebury, describes how a fresh look at the Neolithic Cotswolds brings to light how its people lived their lives.

Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, describes why he believes that creationism is wrong and evolution is right at a lecture organised by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bath.