Crowd Control And Social Dynamics – Which Way Out? ResearchPod podcast

30:45

Space is a key feature of social life. But does the digitalisation of society affect its spatial dimensions, and if so, how? In this podcast, Leverhulme Visiting Professor Theodore Schatzki discusses his work exploring digitality, different types of space and notions of virtual realities, such as cyber space. With Dale Southerton and Leverhulme Visiting Professor Theordore Schatzki. This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally. The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.…

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Economic Projections in an Uncertain World 10:44

1 day ago10:44

10:44

Economic forecasting is particularly challenging during global crises, with predictions often hampered by uncertainty and external factors. Hwee Kwan Chow and Keen Meng Choy from Singapore Management University examine Singapore’s GDP and inflation forecasts during the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, uncovering the influence of government projections and herding behaviour that affect prediction accuracy. Read the original research: doi.org/10.1007/s00181-022-02311-8…

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Re-valuing urban health 27:40

2 days ago27:40

27:40

The first podcast for the TRUUD (Tackling the Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development) research programme explores how we value health and the opportunities to shape urban environments for healthier lives. Host Andrew Kelly interviews Daniel Black, TRUUD Research Co-Director and Professor Jim McManus, Public Health Wales, about the TRUUD programme, which examines the interplay between property, transport systems, and public health, aiming to reduce non-communicable diseases and health inequalities through preventative measures. Discussions cover the definition of upstream determinants of health, the barriers to implementing preventative public health policies, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration and assigning value to health outcomes. Examples of successful initiatives in Wales and inspiration from other countries are highlighted, along with book recommendations for further learning. Funded by the UK which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry. Six partner universities bring expertise and skills from public health, law, psychology, management, systems engineering, environmental and health economics, real estate, planning, urban development, policy and public involvement disciplines to the £10m programme with several industry, public and third sector partners. Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/ Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music Produced by Beeston Media.…

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Policy and governance challenges 27:52

2 days ago27:52

27:52

The second podcast in the series from the TRUUD research programme explores the challenges of translating urban health research into effective government policy and action. Host Andrew Kelly is in conversation with Professor Sarah Ayres, University of Bristol, and Dr Geoff Bates, University of Bath, about their work on the TRUUD project, specifically examining how to make government take notice of evidence and implement long-term preventative strategies. They discuss the Health Appraisal of Urban Systems model for understanding the costs of unhealthy urban environments, the importance of cross-departmental collaboration, and the potential of devolution and a focus on wellbeing economies. The conversation also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 and concludes with an optimistic outlook on achieving meaningful change through sustained engagement with civil servants.” Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry. Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/ Books recommended in the episode: Sarah Ayres: Managing Complex Networks by Walter Kickert, Erik Hans Klijn , Joop Koppenjan Managing Uncertainty in Networks by Joop Koppenjan Geoff Bates: Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely Bodybuilder by Samuel Wilson Fussell Andrew Kelly: The Child in the City by Colin Ward Other recommended resources: About The Green Book from HM Treasury to appraise policies, programmes and projects. Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music Produced by Beeston Media.…

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Creating long-term, lasting change in a complex system 23:31

2 days ago23:31

23:31

The third podcast episode from TRUUD explores the complexity of achieving long-term, lasting change within urban development to foster healthier lives. Host Andres Kelly discusses with Dr Krista Bondy, University of Stirling, and Dr Neil Carhart, University of Bristol, how current systems struggle to address interconnected challenges, often leaving practitioners feeling powerless. The conversation emphasises the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach and systems thinking to understand the various influencing factors and overcome short-term perspectives. This episode investigates how to create interventions that are sustainable and prioritise health and equity for current and future generations, suggesting a need to reconsider societal values and decision-making processes. Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry. Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/ Recommended reading from episode Krista Bondy: Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal Justice and the Politics of Indifference by Iris Marion Young Neil Carhart: Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows Andrew Kelly: The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short Term World by Roman Krznaric Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music Produced by Beeston Media.…

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How can communities participate in health policy? 27:33

2 days ago27:33

27:33

The fourth podcast episode from the TRUUD programme explores public engagement in shaping healthier urban environments. Hosted by Andrew Kelly in conversation with Dr Andy Gibson, University of the West of England and Dr Miriam Khan, GP and member of the TRUUD Public Advisory Board, they explore the importance of involving communities and listening to their lived experiences in policy creation. They examine methods for effective engagement, such as deliberative approaches and the use of visual aids, highlighting challenges and successes in projects like low traffic neighbourhoods. The guests also recommend books that underscore the principles of people-centred urban development and the accessibility of scientific information. Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry. Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/ Books recommended in the episode Dr Miriam Khan Happy Cities by Charles Montgomery Dr Andy Gibson Bad Science by Ben Goldacre Andrew Kelly The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music Produced by Beeston Media.…

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The future of urban development 25:11

2 days ago25:11

25:11

The fifth and final TRUUD podcast explores the future of urban development and the necessary investments for creating healthier places. Host Andrew Kelly with experts Daniel Black, TRUUD Research Co-Director and Thomas Aubrey, Credit Capital Advisory, discuss the issue of short-termism in planning and the importance of long-term vision, drawing parallels with historical and European examples. They highlight the need for integrated planning that includes transport, green spaces, and social infrastructure alongside housing. The conversation examines methods for measuring the impact of urban development on health and the economy, introducing the HAUS model from TRUUD. Financing models, including land value capture, are considered crucial for delivering sustainable and high-quality urban environments. The podcast also touches on the significance of leadership, devolution, and community involvement in achieving these goals. Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry. Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/ Books recommended in the episode Daniel Black: The Death of Rural England by Alan Hawkins Small Is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher How Institutions Think by Mary Douglas Thomas Aubrey: Good Cities, Better Lives: How Europe Discovered the Lost Art of Urbanism by Peter Hall, with contributions from Nicholas Falk. Andrew Kelly: The film They Came to a City (1944) directed by Basil Dearden and adapted from a play by J.B. Priestley. Available on BFI Player. Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music Produced by Beeston Media.…

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Crowd control and social dynamics – which way out? 11:43

8 days ago11:43

11:43

Crowd management is key to evacuation safety. Yet, evacuation simulation programmes often lack experimental verification due to the inadequacy of benchmarks with real-world experiments. Ilias Panagiotopoulus, Jens Starke, and Wolfram Just from the University of Rostock, Germany, have developed a model-free approach to analyse field experiments. This innovative method provides quantitative benchmarks and extends our understanding of crowd dynamics. Read more in Research Features Read the original research: doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043190…

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Pulsars and prizes: In conversation with Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell 21:53

15 days ago21:53

21:53

In the late 1960s Cambridge PhD student Jocelyn Bell Burnell was studying quasars (very luminous active galactic nuclei) when she reported anomalous data which was later identified as pulsars (‘pulsating stars’). While she was controversially missed off the list for the Nobel Prize awarded in 1974 for this discovery, Bell Burnell continued to be a pioneer in the field. Now nearing the end of her career, Dame Jocelyn tells Research Features what it was like to grow up in Northern Ireland, be the only woman in a male-dominated environment, and what space research looks like in the era of AI technology. Read more in Research Features…

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Excellence Through Inclusiveness: Shaping the COST COSY Community 12:17

22 days ago12:17

12:17

The COST COSY Action is redefining scientific collaboration by fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion across chemistry, physics, and materials science. Led by María Pilar de Lara-Castells, the network of 400+ researchers from 45 countries is breaking barriers in academia by supporting women in science, early-career researchers, and underrepresented scientists. Initiatives like FemCOSY, mentorship programs, and leadership training are transforming the research landscape, proving that inclusivity drives excellence. Visit their website: cost-cosy.eu…

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Confined systems in astrochemistry 10:24

29 days ago10:24

10:24

In this episode, we’re looking at research from an interdisciplinary network named COSY, funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) agency. Their workgroup researching ‘Confined systems in Astrochemistry’ is led by Professors Lauri Halonen from Helsinki University in Finland and Malgorzata Biczysko from Wroclaw University in Poland. They are engaged in laboratory and computational experiments on new molecules detected in the interstellar medium. Visit their site: https://cost-cosy.eu/…

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Geographies of Storage: Reshaping Contemporary Environments 11:06

5 weeks ago11:06

11:06

Storage plays an important role in managing global resources, from energy and water to carbon and data, shaping landscapes, supply chains, and environmental systems. Sayd Randle from Singapore Management University investigates resource storage, examining its types—including stockpiling, warehousing, and containment—and their impacts on socio-economic and environmental systems. Her research highlights how storage is not just a logistical necessity but a key force in addressing modern challenges like climate change and resource sustainability. Read the original research: doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12733…

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Enduring influence of EAST on Chinese society: A deep dive 12:18

6 weeks ago12:18

12:18

The directions of Chinese politics and economics echo restrictive practices that may hinder China’s technological and economic competitiveness. Professor Yasheng Huang’s The Rise and Fall of the EAST has shaken perspectives outside academia. He focuses on how exams, autocracy, stability, and technology (EAST) have historically shaped China’s governance, impacting both prosperity and creativity. Read more in Research Features Read the book: yalebooks.co.uk/9780300274912/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-east…

ResearchPod

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Science in the spotlight with Robin Ince 1:05:54

7 weeks ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Comedian, performer, and writer Robin Ince has been asking questions about the world around him for as long as he can remember. Perhaps most famous for his radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage which he co-hosts on BBC Radio 4 with Professor Brian Cox, Ince has been bringing science to the masses in new and hilarious ways since the 90s. In this interview with our sister publication, Research Features , we discover what it's like performing 'science' at Glastonbury, why people may be frightened of science, and neurodivergence in STEM.…

ResearchPod

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A few words with… Professor Gene Feder OBE 16:42

8 weeks ago16:42