Life Solved

Have you ever heard of a ‘resource curse’? Too much of one good thing really can stunt a developing nation’s economy, according to Professor Andy Thorpe. He says a diverse economy is a healthy one.

In this episode of Life Solved, we gain an insight into the complex and far-reaching world of Development Economics. The University of Portsmouth’s Professor Andy Thorpe tells us about carrying out research in remote locations or in volatile or changing situations, in order to uncover how distinct factors can build up the economic puzzle of a nation.

From politics to war and climate change, how can governments best secure the future of their nation? The big picture can look a little different in the face of short-term tensions.

Points of Interest:

Follow our latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Professor Andy Thorpe – https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/andy-thorpe

Solve Magazine - port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Life Solved, Professor Tamsin Bradley explains how innovative research into violence against women is informing international development organisations on how to respond to crises.

Professor Bradley has been working with international community projects in areas like Nepal, South Sudan, Myanmar and Bangladesh to explore women’s experiences of violence after economic or environmental hardship.

She realised that peer networks and support groups outside the home offered a safe space for women to disclose information, share and access support.

What’s more, her research has added nuance to common perceptions about violence against women and intimate partner violence, revealing tensions in cultures that organisations can work to relieve.

Tamsin explains learnings that could help challenge violence and control and nurture sustainable development for girls and women who have experienced violence.

Points of Interest:

Follow our latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Professor Tamsin Bradley – https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/tamsin-bradley

Likikiri Collective @likikiri on Twitter - https://twitter.com/likikiri?lang=en

Heritage, Dignity and Violence (blog) – https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/democratic-citizenship/british-academy-awards-funding-to-portsmouth-academic

Solve Magazine - port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vodka distilled from grain and water sourced in a nuclear disaster zone?

Normally when alcohol inspires world-changing ideas, they don’t turn out that well, but this University of Portsmouth Professor is clear-headed about how to help kick-start Chernobyl’s economy.

Professor Jim Smith explains his findings after years of studying the impact of radiation upon wildlife and the food chain in nuclear exclusion zones. It turns out that people living in semi-evacuated areas aren’t experiencing life-limitations as a result of radiation as much as the limited economic opportunities.

In Life Solved, Jim battles the myth of Chernobyl as exacerbated by popular culture, and explains how his safe, good-tasting and high-quality vodka is the first consumer product to come out of the area since the 1986 disaster.

He argues that land is now safe to grow crops and plans for 75% of the products sales to go back into the local community and wildlife conservation projects.

It’s his hope that the Chernobyl Spirit Company’s Atomik Vodka will be the first of many innovations to change the fortunes of people living in the area, and showcase the real Chernobyl to the wider world.

Points of Interest:

Chernobyl Spirit Company: Atomik Vodka

https://www.atomikvodka.com

The First Liquor Grown from Crops in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49251471

https://allthatsinteresting.com/chernobyl-atomik-vodka

Follow our latest research - https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Professor Jim Smith - http://www2.port.ac.uk/school-of-earth-and-environmental-sciences/staff/jim-smith.html

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Where we're looking at these emerging contaminants. I still don't know what their fate is. So where does it end up if it's in the sediments? What are the processes that's happening there? Is it being broken down or is it just building up?”

In the final episode of Life Solved series 2, we hear about the Portsmouth technology that’s changing the game for water quality, and which may even help reduce our water bills! Professor Gary Fones has spent a career analysing freshwater and seawater environments to find out how pollutants end up in waterways and what impact this has on water quality and environments. From estuaries to rivers and lakes, he's sifted through the silt to do the science

In this episode Professor Fones tells Emma Fields how he’s travelled the world for work and developed amazing technology to help water companies stay one step ahead of keeping our supplies clean and clear through sampling.

Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved

You can find out more about research taking place at the University of Portsmouth at port.ac.uk/SOLVE.

Points of Interest:

Professor Gary Fones: Professor of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/gary-fones

Chemcatcher – the passive water quality sampler

https://chemcatcher.ie

https://www.waterindustryjournal.co.uk/chemcatcher

Monitoring aquatic pollution

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/our-facilities/lab-and-testing-facilities/monitoring-aquatic-pollution

Follow the latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links-

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“People switch off on water... in this country. We have a disconnect. In lower income countries, people have a much greater connection with the environment because they're in contact with it more."

Beneath our feet, at the end of our roads, or hidden out of site, there’s a whole world of water and waste! Managing this is key to human health, from tackling the increasing levels of chemicals entering our water systems, to meeting demands for development. Professor Williams tells us how Portsmouth is rethinking systems, all whilst creating innovative new approaches to our environment and economy.

Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved

You can find out more about research taking place at the University of Portsmouth at port.ac.uk/SOLVE.

Points of Interest:

Professor John Williams: Professor of Environmental Technology and research lead for the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying.

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/our-academic-structure/faculty-of-technology/school-of-civil-engineering-and-surveying

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/john-williams

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/features/plumbing-new-depths-of-sustainable-behaviour

Follow latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links-

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"the thrill or the unpredictability or the letting one's hair down...is really important, but comes with those risks...I think the whole point of femininity is that it's full of contradictions."

How does a night on the town change how feminine or masculine our behaviour is? Dr Emily Nicholls takes us through her research on how gender is performed through drinking and sobriety in British culture.

Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved

You can find out more about research taking place at the University of Portsmouth at port.ac.uk/SOLVE.

Points of Interest

Dr Emily Nicholls - Senior Lecturer in Sociology - https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/emily-nicholls

Emily’s Book Negotiating Femininities in the Neoliberal Night-Time Economy - https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319933078

Follow latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links-

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Having the correct number of holes in the film, depending on the fruit...can double the shelf life for raspberries or blueberries."

Less packaging isn’t always better for the environment. Professor Paul Trott explains how innovative food packaging can help tackle problems of food waste in society. But what problems are making it worse and who holds the power to make change?

Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved

You can find out more about research taking place at the University of Portsmouth at port.ac.uk/SOLVE.

Points of Interest:

Professor Paul Trott – Head of Strategy, Enterprise and Innovation - https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/paul-trott

Is plastic packaging bad for the environment? https://www.bpf.co.uk/packaging/environment.aspx

Follow latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links-

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"more children drown than die in fires or die on a bicycles. And yet we have cycle proficiency, we have fire training. We have adverts on national television about smoke detectors. You'll never see anything on television about drowning"

What should you do if you find yourself drowning in cold water? Drowning kills 320,000 people worldwide per year but Mike Tipton says basic education in schools could transform this figure. He explains how he’s getting the word out on how to stay safe in the water.

Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved

You can find out more about research taking place at the University of Portsmouth at port.ac.uk/SOLVE.

Points of Interest:

Professor Mike Tipton – Professor of Human and Applied Physiology

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/mike-tipton

RNLI respect the water - https://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water

Respect the Water campaign - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGsW22USnEg

Float to Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7gnYgOMpcA

Follow latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve - https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links-

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life Solved, the podcast from the University of Portsmouth, showcases world-class research that's about to change our lives for the better. In series 2 we've looked at lots of topics relating to our work in the enviornent and sustainability, but we're taking a little break for Christmas. This episode gives you a sneaky peak of some of the conversations still to come when we're back on the 5th of January 2021.

Take a listen to hear how plastic packaging could actually help reduce food waste with Professor Paul Trott. We've got a clip of Dr Emily Nicholls explaining how the traditional 'Girls' Night Out' is being redefined along with gendered social narratives around alcohol. Hear how Professor Mike Tipton is tackling the under-addressed problem of deaths by drowning in the UK and get a preview of a gory story about our drainage when Professor John Williams returns to talk about sustainability in hidden systems.

And you can hear the stories in full when we'll be back on the 5th of January 2021 - here's to a bright year ahead.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"there is evidence that quite a high proportion of us are colonized with multi-resistant organisms in our gastrointestinal tract... Manuka Honey has been shown to have anti-microbial properties for a long time"

Your kitchen cupboard could hold the key to future-proofing our hospitals against infection. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, Dr Fouch and her team have been looking at alternative solutions for the most pressing scenarios, such as hospitals. It’s led to a sweet bit of research: Manuka honey, used in catheters, is proving effective in tackling infection. Could this be a solution for the future?

Subscribe for a new episode every week, and share the big idea #lifesolved

You can find out more about research taking place at the University of Portsmouth at port.ac.uk/SOLVE.

Points of Interest:

Dr Sarah Fouch – Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/sarah-fouch

Can honey fight superbugs? https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/can-honey-fight-superbugs-like-mrsa/

Antimicrobial resistance as a global concern - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance

Antimicrobial resistance and Antibiotics – NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antibiotics/antibiotic-antimicrobial-resistance/

Follow latest research- https://www.port.ac.uk/research

Solve Magazine- port.ac.uk/solve https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/magazines/solve-magazine

Portsmouth Social Media Links-

Facebook - facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

Instagram -instagram.com/portsmouthuni/

Twitter - twitter.com/portsmouthuni

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/school/university-of-portsmouth/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.