UCL Minds

In this special episode hosts Mark Maslin and Simon Chin Yee give us behind the scenes insights and their verdicts on the outcome of COP29. This COP was mainly about the money and went into extra time, but our hosts unpack it and take a deep dive into the key results with the help of special guests in the studio Priti Parikh, Professor of Infrastructure Engineering and International Development, a...

In the lead-up to COP29, please join Hope Dillarstone and Elaine Flores for an insightful lecture exploring the complex nexus between climate change, mental health, and reproductive decision-making.

In this special episode, The SDGs and India, Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Professor Sumit Malhotra, from the Centre of Community Medicine at AIIMS and Professor PVM Rao from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi. In this episode, we’re going overseas to take a special focus on the role of the SDGs on research in India, and how Indian research...

In episode 6 of Oral Health Matters, Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is in conversation withDr Benoit Varenne from the World Health Organisation and Dr Dympna Kavanagh, Chief Dental Officer in the Department of Health, Ireland. Together they discuss current and forthcoming developments in global and national oral health policy and how the research commu...

Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Professor Essi Viding and Professor Argyris Stringaris, from the UCL Division of Psychiatry and Psychology and Language Sciences and joint PVPs to the UCL Grand Challenge of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Following initial discussions from series 2, they’re taking a deeper dive on the issue of mental health and wellbeing relating to education and research. Date o...

Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Professor Catalina Turcu, Professor of Sustainable Built Environment, Bartlett School of Planning and Professor Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health in the UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction. Today they’re discussing the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals and climate change. Goal 13 calls...

Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Dr Maria Perez Ortiz, from the UCL Department of Computer Science, and Professor Jack Stilgoe, from the UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies.  They’re taking a look at the role of technology and artificial intelligence, or AI, in supporting the implementation of the goals. AI is a rapidly evolving field, but what is i...

In this episode, Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Anoushka Jain, a student from UCL Dept of Political Science and Vasiliki Kioupi from University of Leeds. They’re focusing on education and the role of Education for Sustainable Development, or ESD, exploring how sustainable development can be integrated into the curriculum, and what that might mean for the next...

This lunch hour lecture will focus on the benefits and challenges of work for our mental health.

This lunch hour lecture will focus on the case for recognizing the role of the ‘depressogenic’ environment.

Glyn Lewis and Gemma Lewis will discuss the antidepressant controversy in this Lunch Hour Lecture.

Presented on 24/10/24, Dr Thomas Gift discusses 'What can we expect in November’s election? Will both sides accept the result as legitimate? Thomas Gift will address these and other pressing questions in this timely primer on the 2024 US Election.'

In episode 5 of Oral Health Matters, Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is in conversation with Professor Sharon Friel from the Australian National University. and Professor Delan Devakumar, from University College London. Together they discuss developments in the broader global health research agenda and highlight the burning issues specifically linked to...

Professor Philip Schofield sits down with Dr Luciano Rila, from the Department of Maths, to delve into the history of the UK’s first university-affiliated Gaysoc, founded by Jamie Gardiner in 1972, at UCL. Dr Rila discovered archival materials in UCL’s Special Collections revealing that though the society was initially met with backlash, UCL’s liberal tradition prevailed, and the movement gained m...

In this debut episode of The EDI Chronicles at Brain Sciences, Beverley Isibor speaks with Dr. Natalie Marchant, an Associate Professor at UCL and Chair of the Research Culture Community Steering Group. Together, they explore the significance of inclusive research, especially in the context of dementia research. Dr. Marchant provides insights into the real-world applications of inclusive research...

In this engaging episode of The EDI Chronicles at Brain Sciences, Beverley Isibor speaks with Professor Sara Mole, UCL’s Envoy for Gender Equality, about the relevance of the Athena SWAN Charter in 2024. With Brain Sciences’ high engagement and UCL's impressive institutional and departmental track record in securing bronze, silver, and gold Athena SWAN awards, they explore the true impact of these...

The host, Beverley Isibor sits down with Rikesh Rajani, a senior research fellow and advocate for disability equity, about his personal experience living with Long Covid. Rikesh opens up about the challenges of managing a chronic condition while balancing professional responsibilities at UCL since March 2022. Together, they unpack the implications of Long Covid on work, study, and mental health, s...

What do vultures in India and beavers in West London have to do with protecting our ecosystems? What’s the link between biodiversity loss and human-driven climate change? Why does Simon love beavers so much? And what exactly is “COP16”? This episode explores some of the key issues at play – focusing on global ecosystems and local conservation efforts, and coincides with the Sixteenth Convention on...

This is Generation One, the climate podcast from University College London – turning climate science and ideas into action. Hosted by Dr Simon Chin-Yee from the School of Public Policy, and Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth Systems Science at UCL. We’re going to be tackling climate action in all its forms, from innovative business and tech solutions, to inspiring stories from the frontlines of colle...

In this episode, we host Dr. Özge Samanci from Northwestern University - School of Communication. We talk about her latest work "Evil Eyes Sea", as well as how she started her career and what her future projects are. Transcription link: https://web.descript.com/eba89e5c-6cc5-46b5-97fa-de5bb84c6c47/db319?editorVariant=default Date of episode recording: 2024-06-28T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:34:05 Langua...

Professor Philip Schofield discusses queer aesthetics and the idea of a racialised panoptic gaze with Dr Xine Yao, the co-director of qUCL and an expert on American literature in the Department of English. They dig into the archive of bestselling, but now forgotten, American novels, and tease out the ways in which the biggest issues of the 19th century still resonate in everyday life today. Host:...

This week we’re talking about the politics of hope, the climate crisis, and the importance of learning outdoors. In this episode, host Dr Emily McTernan is joined by Professor Cathy Elliot from UCL’s Department of Political Science to explore the politics of hope in the face of the climate crisis and the role of outdoor learning in cultivating that hope. Amidst growing climate anxiety, especially...

Professor Philip Schofield hosts Social Scientist Dr Jonathan Galton, to explore his research into the perceived political tension on the progressive left between queerness and Islam. Discussing the historical and cultural context surrounding queerness and Islam, they find surprising affinities between Bentham’s writing on freedom of religion and sexual liberty, and the contemporary theological wo...

Dr Meena Khatwa and Dr Kelly Dickson delve into the bio-psychosocial impacts of menopause with special guests Lauren Chiren (CEO, Women of a Certain Stage); Sonia Abrams (UCL Head of Events OPVA) and Josephine Falade (Associate Professor, UCL School of Pharmacy). Together, they explore menopause awareness, acceptance, and the transition process. This podcast is part of the wider UCL Grand Challeng...

Public spaces like parks are increasingly becoming less accessible. This phenomenon, observable from London to Lima, affects how we socialise, engage in physical activities and participate in our communities. One reason for this lack of access is the commodification of these spaces but what are the consequences of charging a fee to access a park? In this episode, Onya speaks with Nadir Chioino, an...