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Experts from across UCL share their innovative solutions and ideas for addressing societal challenges, inspiring and encouraging us to think differently about local, national and global issues.
Grand Challenges has always supported colleagues at UCL to do things a little differently and disrupt the status quo. For over a decade, we have supported people from diverse disciplines to work together to tackle pressing global issues.
The idea of facilitating these problem-focused, cross-disciplinary partnerships flows from UCL’s tradition as a radical institution, and to expand our support for UCL’s radical thinkers, Grand Challenges has launched a new blog and podcast series to showcase novel ideas and critical thinking, called Disruptive Voices.
Disruptive Voices Podcast
Episode 1: Democracy and Place
Presented by Nina Quach and Siobhan Morris
In Episode 1, we speak to two academics from the Faculty of Laws, Dr Myriam Hunter-Henin and Professor Philippe Sands QC, about Democracy and Place. In this episode, we explore the role of international courts in shaping national identities and the role of individuals in the making and breaking of international law. Our guests also discuss how we can deliver justice at a ‘place-based’ level, drawing comparisons between Britain and France, and consider the relationship between politics and law.
Episode 2: AI and the Future of Work
Presented by Dr James Paskins
In this episode, Professor Rose Luckin (UCL Institute of Education) and Nimmi Patel (TechUK) discuss what AI developments could mean for the future of work in the UK and globally, and how we need to redefine our understanding of good work to harness AI’s potential for positive change.
- Read the transcript for Episode 2 here.
- Related UCL podcasts the 'Future of Work':
- Coronavirus: The Whole Story - What does the future of work look like?
- eWorkLife
Episode 3: Inside Parliament: Architecture and National Identities
Presented by Nina Quach and Siobhan Morris
In this episode, we speak to Professor Sophia Psarra (The Bartlett School of Architecture) to discuss how the architecture of parliament buildings across Europe influences the nature of political debates and contributes to shaping national identities.
Episode 4: Behaviour and Plastic Waste
Presented by Nina Quach and James Paskins
In Episode 4, we speak to Ayşe Lisa Allison, a PhD Student working with the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub. We explore some of the barriers to environmentally friendly action, and examine the links between behavioural science and design, focusing on biodegradable and compostable packaging and labelling. We also discuss the issue of disposable healthcare items, exploring some of the trade-offs when it comes to health and the environment.
Episode 5: Climate, Disasters and Health
Presented by Nina Quach
In this episode, we speak to Dr Marina Romanello and Professor Ilan Kelman, about climate change as a health disaster. We discuss how to better measure the impact of climate change on health, and crucially, how to protect the most vulnerable from its negative effects. Our guests also propose alternative framings to achieve the best health and prosperity for all in the future.
Episode 6: Celebrating Old Age
Presented by Nina Quach and Siobhan Morris
In this episode, Dr Mine Orlu (UCL School of Pharmacy) shares her positive perspective on ageing, and explains the need for a cultural change in ageing research and policy. She also shares some learning from actively involving participants in her own research and the outputs they have co-created.
Episode 8: Data-Empowered Societies
Presented by Huda Ahmed
Join us in this special episode as we explore UCL's evolved Grand Challenge, which aims to harness the power of data to tackle pressing societal issues and create more Data-Empowered Societies.
Episode 9: Menopause and Me
Presented by Dr Meena Khatwa and Dr Kelly Dickinson
In this episode, we're delving 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.
Mini-series on Critical Global Health
Presented by Catriona Gold
In this series, we ask scholars at UCL to reflect on the meaning and practice of Critical Global Health.
- Podcast introduction by Prof Sahra Gibbon
- Episode 1: Dr Lu Gram on Critical Interdisciplinarity
- Episode 2: Prof Ama De-Graft Aikins on Chronic Illness and Creativity
- Episode 3: Prof David Osrin on Urban Health
- Episode 4: Dr Rochelle Burgess on Community-Driven Research
- Episode 5: Prof Shabbar Jaffar on Ethical Partnerships
Read all the transcripts here.
Disruptive Voices Blog
Grand Challenges has launched the Disruptive Voices blog, taking a deep dive into new ways of thinking about research and global problem solving.
> Visit the Disruptive Voices blog
If you're interested in writing for the Disruptive Voices blog, or would be interested in appearing on a podcast to talk about your research or ideas, please contact Liz Almond (l.almond@ucl.ac.uk).