UCL launches new podcast on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

UCL’s community of staff and students are playing a leading role in responding to the challenges set out in the UN SDGs. The university established the UCL SDGs Initiative (SDGI) in 2021 to maximise its impact on the 17 Goals and the targets within them.  

To build on this, the SDGI has launched a new podcast series, Unlocking the SDGs: A Blueprint for the Future, focusing on removing boundaries and working together to address the Goals.

Co-hosted by Professor Monica Lakhanpaul, (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health) and Dr Priti Parikh (Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction), the podcast explores a new theme each episode – from climate to Covid.

Split into two parts, each episode starts with a discussion between UCL experts, exploring the Goals and discussing their strengths and weaknesses. In part two, the hosts speak to a range of guests – from UCL students to university leaders overseas and experts at charities and NGOs in the UK. 

“The range of guests in the series from within and beyond UCL demonstrates how different disciplines and organisations are all working in partnership to address the SDGs,” said Simon Knowles, UCL Head of Coordination (SDGs), who manages the SDGI. 

Dr Parikh said: “The SDGs are at the heart of everything I do at UCL, so getting the opportunity to discuss the importance of the Goals with so many different people has been a pleasure.” 

Professor Lakhanpaul added: “For global problems, we need global solutions. We can only do this through debate and dialogue. Being a co-host of Unlocking the SDG’s provides me with a unique opportunity to be part of inspiring conversations that are instrumental for addressing inequalities across the globe.”

The first two episodes, available on UCL Minds, are out now.

Links

• Listen to Unlocking the SDGs: A Blueprint for the Future on UCL Minds
• UCL SDGI
• Professor Monica Lakhanpaul’s academic profile
• Dr Priti Parikh’s academic profile
• UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
• UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences
• UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction
• UCL Faculty of the Built Environment