At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, a handful of rapidly assembled ‘Mega-Labs’ were put together to process the 100,000’s of COVID-19 tests. Staffed by individuals with a wide variety of individuals, these facilities worked 24/7. This week Brad Elliott has a Different Conversation with Dr Oliver Hayworth, Lecturer in Biochemistry in the School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, about his time working night shifts in one of these labs in parallel with his ‘day job’ at the University of Westminster. They discuss sleep deprivation and holding down two full time jobs, how people came together during a national crisis, and the parallels between ultra-endurance running and the academic lifestyle.

Find out more about Dr Oliver Hayworth here - https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/haworth-oliver

Conversations with Professor Lewis Dartnell are always wide ranging and lead in unexpected directions. In short, they’re Different Conversations. Lewis is Professor of Science Communication at the University of Westminster, leads a research programme on how to find life on Mars, is a noted science communicator and award-wining author. Join Brad Elliott and Lewis Dartnell in this Different Conversation about lockdown recipes, the bizarre complexity of simple objects like pencils, and biological teleportation.

Find Professor Lewis Dartnell on Twitter - @Lewis_Dartnell

Or online at https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/dartnell-lewis

Guy Osborn is Professor of Law in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Westminster and a passionate advocate of music and theatre for all. Guy’s research, activism and plain hard work have kept alive the alternative music and theatre history of the University of Westminster. join Brad Elliott and Guy Osborn in this Different Conversation about Jimi Hendrix, Disrupting the Everyday, and subversive performances inside a basement carpark.

Find Professor Guy Osborn online - @prof_guy_osborn

Information about Disrupting the Everyday can be found at https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/centre-for-law-society-and-popular-culture/projects/disrupting-the-everyday

Or on twitter - @thesohopoly

Dr David Gaze’s research into heart disease and health is wide ranging. The type of person you sit down to talk about biomarkers of heart failure, and why they’d possibly be elevated in COVID19 patients, and you end up discussing the Jane Goodall Foundation and the hazards of trying to diagnose gorillas.  Join Brad Elliott and David Gaze in this Different Conversation about COVID19, heath health and 160 kg cousins.

The discussed articles - https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-c-gaze-312661/articles

Or find out more about Dr Gaze and his academic research here - https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/gaze-david

As the UK comes out of a 3 month lockdown, how might we deal with anxiety about this?

Professor Damien Ridge is Director of Research for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, a practicing physiotherapist and an expert in depression, mental health, and representations of gender. In this episode, Damien and Brad discuss ways to train yourself to be more positive and 'realistic optimism' in negotiating life's challenges. 

As the UK comes out of a 3 month lockdown, how might we deal with anxiety about this?

Professor Damien Ridge is Director of Research for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, a practicing physiotherapist and an expert in depression, mental health, and representation of gender. 

Find out more about Damien’s research – https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/ridge-damien

Or follow on twitter - @damienridge 

Find out more about Campaign Against Living Miserably here - https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Professor Rachel Aldred’s unique background in sociology combined with her current post as Professor Of Transport combines for a dynamic and passionate academic whose research into active transportation may well change the shape and improve functioning of cites for generations.   Read about some of here Research findings on the Conversation  https://theconversation.com/road-safety-switch-to-cycling-to-keep-others-safe-131964  Find out more about Rachel’s work - https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/aldred-rachel  or follow her on Twitter @RachelAldred.  Find out more about the Active Travel Academy - http://blog.westminster.ac.uk/ata or find them on Twitter @Active_ATA

Mykaell Riley's background is as interesting and diverse as his current research programme. Join Brad Elliott as he has a Different Conversation with Mykaell about the British music scene in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, casual racism throughout his career, and touring with Steel Pulse, the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra and Bob Marley. 

Find out more about Mykaell's work and reserach at http://basscultureduk.com

A brief promo by Brad Elliott about Different Conversations, a new podcast by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Westminster that aims to showcase the diversity of talent within the College.