Arqus Knowledge Pills

How have ideas about food, health and the body evolved throughout history? What impact do these concepts have on inclusion and exclusion, and on society in general? These are the questions at the heart of Nina Mackert’s research fields.

Nina Mackert is a historian working in the interdisciplinary LeipzigLab "Global Health" at Leipzig University. In this episode, she shares her perspectives on how food and health have influenced society through the years and explores the complex relationship between body image and societal norms.

As she is finalising her second book, which delves into the history of calories, she provides a thought-provoking discussion on how our understanding of food and health continues to impact modern life. With her extensive research and knowledge, Nina Mackert offers valuable insights that reshape how we think about food, health and the body.

How is the teaching profession dealing with the increasing shortage across the world?  What are the common factors fueling this global crisis? What are the strategies to implement to support these challenges? These are the questions at the heart of Maria Assunção Flores’s research fields, which are discussed in this podcast.

For the 31st episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How critical is the shortage of teachers today?” We invited Maria Assunção Flores, an Associate Professor at the Institute of Education of the University of Minho, specialising in teacher education. In this episode, she provides her analysis and perspective on the current global education crisis, explores the impact of the integration of technology in education, and discusses potential actions to improve the educational landscape. With her extensive research background and leadership in the field, Assunção Flores offers invaluable insights into addressing this urgent issue.

Learn more about Maria Assunção Flores:

Maria Assunção Flores concluded her Degree in Teaching of Portuguese and French and her Master Degree in Education, both at the UMinho. She received her PhD in Education from the University of Nottingham, UK and was a visiting scholar at the Universities of Cambridge and Glasgow, UK. She was also the Chair of the International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching (ISATT) (2013-2015) as well as of the International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET) (2011-2015).

At the moment, Assunção Flores is the director of the Research Centre on Child Studies, a professor with habilitation at the Institute of Education of the University of Minho as well as Chair of the Council of the Institute of Education

How can physical activity impact people with chronic illnesses? What role do sports have in these patients’ lives and in the societal perception of health? These are the questions at the heart of Claire Perrins’s research fields, which are discussed in this podcast.

For the 30th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How do sports impact chronic illness?” we invited Claire Perrin, a sociologist of sport and health and professor at the University of Lyon 1, specialised in Vulnerabilities and Innovation in Sport. In this episode, she discusses the transformative potential of sport for chronic patients, the role of sociology in shaping health practices, and the broader implications for social inequality. As the Paris Olympics kick off, don’t miss this insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of sport and health!

Learn more about Claire Perrin:

Claire Perrin is a sociologist of sport and health, professor at the University of Lyon 1, and member of the Laboratory on Vulnerabilities and Innovation in Sport. Her research focuses upon the sociologies of adapted physical activity, the body, chronic illness and health. She is President of the Institute for Collaborative Research on Physical Activity and Health Promotion (ReCAPPS).

What exactly are the altmetrics? How are altmetrics reshaping the way we measure research impact? What role do AI and big data play in this transformation? These are the questions at the heart of Wenceslao Arroyo Machado’s research fields, which are discussed in this podcast.

For the 29th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How do altmetrics influence the research methods today?” We invited Wenceslao Arroyo Machado, who holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies from the University of Granada (UGR), specialising in altmetrics and big data challenges. In this episode, he shares his journey into this field and dives into the challenges posed by big data, the impact of AI on his research, and his significant contributions to the academic world.

Learn more about Wenceslao Arroyo Machado:

Wenceslao Arroyo Machado holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies from the University of Granada (UGR), specialising in altmetrics and big data challenges. His academic journey combines his studies in the Degree of Information and Documentation and the Official Master's Degree in Data Science and Computer Engineering, with a particular focus on Data Science, both also at UGR. With more than 20 publications in JCR (Journal Citation Reports), his prolific research output is noteworthy. Additionally, he has been an active participant in four research projects under the National Plan in Spain. In the realm of EC3metrics, a spin-off from the UGR, he holds the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). He plays an instrumental role in the research field, particularly in the past few years where he has significantly contributed to EC3metrics in preparing institutional reports and in teaching specialised courses. His unique combination of academic and professional experience has allowed him to integrate novel techniques in bibliometric reports and develop practical methodologies for research.

How do magnetic materials technologies affect our daily lives? Have you ever wondered what is behind the speakers we use to listen to music, or behind certain medical devices and treatments? These are the questions at the heart of Alina Bienkos' research areas, which are discussed in the latest Arqus Knowledge Pill podcast.

For this 28th episode "How are magnetic materials part of our daily lives?" we invited Alina Bieńko, Professor at the University of Wrocław, where she completed her PhD in the Molecular Magnetism and New Materials Group and is currently Head of the Magnetic Materials Group. In this episode, she provides insightful perspectives on the importance of magnetic materials in the life of an average person and the use of magnetic materials in the field of medicine.

For this 27th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “Should artificial intelligence decide over human intellect?”, we invited Matthias Wendland, professor at the Institute of Corporate and International Business Law at the University of Graz and holder of the Chair of Business Law, Artificial Intelligence Law and Data Protection Law. In this episode, he provides insightful perspectives on the role of artificial intelligence in decision-making processes, offering valuable insights into the intersection of law, ethics, and technological advancements.

How does motherhood impact mothers’ lives? What are the main challenges that migrant mothers face in their daily lives, and how can we get a better understanding of this complex experience? These are the questions at the heart of Eglė Kačkutė’s research on motherhood studies, which looks into the stereotypical but still relevant care chains, into who is caring for the very young and the elderly, under which circumstances and their sustainability in the future.

In this episode, we dive into the importance of bioplastics in mitigating the plastic pollution crisis.

Are bioplastics a more sustainable option than traditional plastics? Is there a way to manage them in an environmentally and economically viable manner? These are the questions at the heart of Dominique Rocher's research project, which was selected for COP28 in Dubai and has recently won the EDHE Awards 2023 in South Africa.

Learn more about Dominique Rocher:

Dominique Rocher is dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. With a background in environmental science, biotechnology and entrepreneurship, she is currently pursuing a PhD at Stellenbosch University and the University of Padua, with one of the prestigious Arqus Talent Fund scholarships. Her journey is driven by a belief in the necessity of tackling the plastic pollution crisis on a worldwide scale. She is also the co-founder of the startup Urobo Biotech, together with Wessel Myburgh. This company is actively contributing to the broader goal of decarbonization and sustainability.

Are love duration and happiness predictable? Is there a mathematical model to predict the evolution of a relationship and plan a happy long-lasting one? Discover the quest for a mathematical relationship model in the latest Arqus podcast.

For this 24th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “Can love be explained through maths?”, we invited Professor Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Associate Professor and Researcher at the Camille Jordan Institute from the University of Lyon 1, where we dive into the correlation between love and maths, and how love psychology can be explained through mathematical parameters and models.

Laurent Pujo-Menjouet is Associate Professor and Researcher at the Camille Jordan Institute of the University of Lyon 1. His research areas encompass a wide range of topics, from blood-related pathologies (such as leukemia and dialysis), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob), to other themes including radiobiology, bone formation, epidemiology (HIV), endangered language dynamics, dietary patterns, and love dynamics. He is the author of the book “Le jeu de l’amour sans le hasard: Mathématiques du couple” (Éditions des Équateurs / Humensis, 2019).

Last 27th October, Arqus participated in the Leipzig Science Festival Globe 2023 with a special live podcast episode of the “Arqus Knowledge Pills”: Bologna 2.0.? How European Higher Education Alliances are Changing Research and Studies?

The Leipzig Science Festival Globe23 was aimed at finding answers to relevant questions, creating orientation and designing new questions. To this end, it created creative spaces for unusual encounters between research, art, civil society and politics. With young and old, the festival celebrated critical curiosity and scientific knowledge as well as cross-border dialogues on and about “Life in Transition”, the theme of this year’s festival, at the Paulinum building of the Leipzig University and other venues in the city.

In the framework of this festival, Arqus participated in the Globe Forum about transformation processes in the European Higher Education landscape with this special 1-hour podcast.

The participants of this podcast are:

Claudia Wendt, PhD student in the Research Training Group

Dr. Harvey Charles, Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In this role, he leads the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance and advances the University as a global leader in international teaching, research and outreach.

Fernando Galán, Arqus Consortium Manager with more than 10 years of experience working on European Higher Education policies.