UCL Minds

Zainab Mahdi talks to Dr Dhiaa Kareem Ali, lecturer at the University of Kufa and Nahrein Network - British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI) Visiting Scholar. Dr Dhiaa talks about his work with the Mandaean community, both in Iraq and the Diaspora. Transcription link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/media/podcasts/transcript-conversation-dhiaa-kareem-ali Date of episode recording: 2024-04-25T0...

In the final episode of this series of Generation One, we take a look at cities and climate action. With many elections happening around the world, what are cities actually doing to adapt to climate change, mitigate climate impact on populations, and reduce emissions? Our hosts discuss urban adaptation and transformation with UCL Professor Lauren Andres (Director of Research at the Bartlett School...

How does our understanding of genetics shape the health of the public? In this month’s episode, our experts dive into the exciting world of genetics, exploring the latest technological breakthroughs and innovations. They discuss not only the value of these advancements but also the ethical considerations surrounding them, particularly in how they can enhance the health of the public. Dr Adam Ruthe...

Maddalena Italia & Mélissa Pires Da Silva: On Sanskrit Erotic Poetry Date of episode recording: 2023-11-23T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:29:32 Language of episode: English Presenter:Melissa Pires Da Silva Guests: Maddalena Italia Producer: Melissa Pires Da Silva

Maddalena Italia & Mélissa Pires Da Silva: On Sanskrit Erotic Poetry Date of episode recording: 2023-11-23T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:29:32 Language of episode: English Presenter:Melissa Pires Da Silva Guests: Maddalena Italia Producer: Melissa Pires Da Silv

In the Second Episode of Season Two Professor Mark Weeden talks about his current research across the Cuneiform World from hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Turkey to cuneiform tablets found in Iraq. You can see more about Prof. Weeden at the Departmental People page. Transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/sites/classics/files/markweedentranscript.docx Date of episode recording: 2022-03-...

Season Two begins with a discussion with Prof. Phiroze Vasunia who talks about his new inter-institution research project ‘Comparative Classics, Greece, Rome, and India’. You can see more about Prof. Vasunia at the Departmental People page and more on the project is situated on the Departmental Research pages. Transcript link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/sites/classics/files/phiroze_podcast_tra...

(Mis)understanding heroes: from Achilles to Superman In this episode, we embark on an exciting journey as Antony bills Achilles alongside Superman. Transcript link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/sites/classics/files/makrinospodcasttranscript.docx Date of episode recording: 2021-11-25T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:30:11 Language of episode: English Presenter:Mateen Arghandehpour Guests: Dr. Antony Makrin...

In this episode, Marta speaks about the political dimensions and implications, past and present, of Lucretius' poem On the Nature of Things. Transcription link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/sites/classics/files/marta_podcast_transcription_revised.docx Date of episode recording: 2021-07-20T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:20:06 Language of episode: 00:20:06 Presenter:Giovanna Di Martino Guests: Marta Martí...

In this episode, Melissa explores the reception of Homer and Virgil, and the concept of 'family' in their epics, in 20th-century Germany and France. Transcription link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/sites/classics/files/family_in_broch_and_giraudouxs_receptions_of_the_homeric_and_virgilian_epics_transcript.docx Date of episode recording: 2021-06-28T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:20:43 Language of episode...

In this episode Sofia takes us on a journey through the world of Seneca's tragedies. Transcription link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/sites/classics/files/episode_2_ucl_podcast.docx Date of episode recording: 2021-04-28T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:23:42 Language of episode: English Presenter:Mateen Arghandehpour Guests: Sofia Bongiovanni Producer: Sofia Bongiovanni

Welcome to this new podcast series featuring the research of UCL's staff and students on fascinating topics relating to the ancient world. In this episode Mateen speaks about the relationships between Greece and Persia during the Persian Wars, particularly focusing on the role played by religion. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/ancient-world-new-voices Transcription link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/clas...

Happy Earth Day! This episode’s focus is on entrepreneurial climate action: what are businesses – particularly the AI sector – doing to combat the climate crisis and help reach net zero?  Helping our hosts Mark and Simon answer these questions are Sims Witherspoon (current UCL student studying for MSC in climate change and Climate and Sustainability Lead at Google DeepMind), Buffy Price (COO and C...

To mark World Haemophilia Day, we sit down with Professor Amit Nathwani of the UCL Cancer Institute to explore his journey to commercialising the groundbreaking haemophilia A treatment, Roctavian. Host Nigel Campbell is joined by Prof Nathwani and Dr. Rick Fagan, UCLB Director of Biopharm, to explore how Amit’s work looking after patients with haemophilia in the NHS instilled a mission to develop...

In this podcast, we examine what 'decent' living standards mean for people in low-income countries – including energy access and transport infrastructure – and how these are critically linked with the urgent need to reduce global carbon emissions. Join UCL experts Professor Priti Parikh, Professor Jing Meng and Dr Simon Chin-Yee as they discuss what's needed to lift living standards for low-income...

What are individuals doing to fight climate change and how important is the role of local activism? This episode will be focusing on individual climate action, with our guests chatting to our hosts about the role of activism in initiating change. Featuring Louise Harris (songwriter and Just Stop Oil activist), Versha Jones, (Climate Reality Project - Volunteer National Coordinator, UK) Annabel Ric...

Date of lecture: Tuesday 19 March 2024 About the lecture: Beauty and aesthetics have always played a multi-faceted role in human society. During the last decades, smile attractiveness has become a very important factor influencing both personal and professional aspects of everyday life. This has been compounded by the effect of social media and marketing. Dentistry has also evolved significantly o...

About the Lecture: A tapestry of cosmic events stretching over the past 13.8 billion years have shaped our existence in a vast universe. This lecture will explore how the computer simulations to study the cosmos have developed in tandem with more down-to-earth pursuits like weather forecasting. We will see how the resulting computer codes have unlocked our understanding of the universe, from galax...

About the Lecture: Understanding reproductive health is key for everyone, whether we want children or not. Since writing a book called Your Fertile Years, Professor Harper has been researching into all aspects of reproductive health education and heads the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration who aim to deliver reproductive health education to everyone. She created a survey to...

In part two of a two part medical special we focus on the question 'If I am good at Maths and Biology and I want to go into Neurosurgery and Science, do I have to start out as an ordinary doctor? I am also interested in Pathology, where do I start with this?' In this episode we focus on the second question and Dr. Shoba Poduval talks us through a career in Pathology. Date of episode recording: 202...

In part one of a two part medical special we focus on the question 'If I am good at Maths and Biology and I want to go into Neurosurgery and Science, do I have to start out as an ordinary doctor? I am also interested in Pathology, where do I start with this?' In this episode we focus on the first question and Dr. Shoba Poduval talks us through applying for medical school and how to pursue a career...

This week we’re looking at disputes between states and international investors. How are they resolved? And why should every one of us care about them? Date of episode recording: 2024-02-29T00:00:00Z Duration: 38:13 Language of episode: English (UK)

 Presenter: Prof Alan Renwick Guests: Lauge Poulsen Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham

This week we’ll be examining online death threats and asking how online platforms ought to respond. Date of episode recording: 2024-02-22T00:00:00Z Duration: 31:27 Language of episode: English (UK)

 Presenter: Dr Emily McTernan Guests: Jeffrey Howard and Sarah Fisher Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham

This week we ask: how should the European Union handle the political, social, and economic diversity amongst its member states – and what can it do about democratic backsliding? Date of episode recording: 2024-02-15T00:00:00Z Duration: 39:08 Language of episode: English Presenter: Dr Emily McTernan Guests: Richard Bellamy Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham

Marking LGBT+ History Month, this week we’re looking at the battle for LGBT+ rights around the world. How great are the challenges facing rights campaigners today? And how could they be addressed? Date of episode recording: 2024-02-08T00:00:00Z Duration: 40:42 Language of episode: English Presenter: Prof Alan Renwick Guests: Phillip Ayoub Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham