UCL experts engage public through podcasts on coronavirus

A series of podcasts explores the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of UCL’s experts.

A unique series of podcasts examining the variety of issues surrounding the COVID-19 global pandemic has been produced by UCL.  

The Coronavirus: The Whole Story is hosted by writer and broadcaster UCL alumna Vivienne Parry (OBE), who examines a range of topics with a panel of academics drawn from UCL’s breadth of disciplines, from intensive-care medicine and education to economics and health psychology. 

““The series aims to demonstrate to the public the value that our experts can bring.” 

“The series aims to cut through the traditional media and government announcements to demonstrate to the public the value that our experts can bring to cultural, medical, social or financial challenges facing the world resulting from the global pandemic,” says Stephanie Limuaco, UCL Campaigns Manager, who manages the podcast series. 

In their first 7 months the podcast series received more than 30,000 listens from over 50 countries, and featured at the Cheltenham Science Festival. 

Over the 20 (and counting) episodes the podcasts have tackled questions as varied as ‘How close are we to finding a cure?’, ‘How has the pandemic highlighted BAME inequalities?’, ‘How do we kick-start the economy?’, ‘When will we go back to the office?’ and ‘Are children learning under lockdown?’. 

The series was produced by UCL Minds, which seeks to share the knowledge, insights and ideas of the UCL community through a wide range of public events and activities, with support from UCL Health of the Public and UCL Grand Challenges.