Life Solved

Life Solved is back for its 12th series and its 100th episode!

‘From Shelf to Global South’ lands on Thursday 10th August and is a special panel discussion, recorded at London’s Royal Institute of British Architects and hosted by Chief Presenter at the BBC News Channel, Maryam Moshiri.

You’ll hear experts from the University, the retail sector and charity, exploring why our plastic waste in the Global North often ends up in low-income countries - and the efforts that retailers are making to reduce plastics on the shelves, and create a more sustainable future.

Make sure you like and follow Life Solved so you don’t miss an episode. Alongside our special launch programme, we’ll be exploring everything from batteries to CSI and Chat GPT in the coming weeks.

You can find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/

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How close are we to seeing a global plastics treaty?

Last week countries gathered for the second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting to bring them a step closer to signing a legally-binding agreement to end plastic pollution.

Professor Steve Fletcher and Antaya March from the University of Portsmouth’s Global Plastics Policy Centre were at INC-2 in Paris, presenting the centre’s findings and research.

Today’s Life Solved episode will unpack what was agreed, look at the roadmap ahead, and give an insight into the upcoming PlasticsFuture 2023 conference.

USEFUL LINKS

INC-2: https://www.unep.org/events/conference/second-session-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-develop-international

Professor Steve Fletcher: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/steve-fletcher

Antaya March:

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

Revolution Plastics: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/events/the-revolution-continues

PlasticsFuture 2023 Conference:

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/events/plasticsfuture-2023/plasticsfuture-2023-conference-programme

Global Plastics Police Centre:

https://plasticspolicy.port.ac.uk/

DEFRA: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

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Despite what Barbie says, life in plastic isn’t always fantastic.

This week’s Life Solved looks at the plastics in our clothes, and how proteins which speed up chemical reactions are the latest trend in the fight against synthetic waste.

John Worsey is joined by Dr Victoria Bemmer, Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Enzyme Innovation at the University of Portsmouth, and Noorin Khamisani, Senior Lecturer in Fashion & Textiles and sustainable designer.

Together they explore the benefits – and the downsides - of using synthetic materials in our clothes. You’ll also hear about exciting research taking place at the University that could be a game-changer in the way the world recycles plastics.

USEFUL LINKS

Centre for Enzyme Innovation at the University of Portsmouth: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-groups/centre-for-enzyme-innovation

Revolution Plastics: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/events/the-revolution-continues

‘Plastic-eating’ enzymes to be deployed to combat waste polyester clothing: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/plastic-eating-enzymes-to-be-deployed-to-combat-waste-polyester-clothing

Plastics Future 2023 Conference: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/events/plasticsfuture-2023

Dr Victoria Bemmer: https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/victoria-bemmer

Noorin Khamisani: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/noorin-khamisani

Outsider: https://www.outsiderfashion.com/pages/designer-biography

Plastic Loop - Veolia (Veolia Huafei developed a high-end recycling process to produce fibre filaments from bottles): https://www.plastiloop.veolia.com/our-media/success-stories/new-paradigm-recycling-empty-bottle-becomes-new-dress#:~:text=Partnering%20with%20Danone%20and%20Decathlon,wear%20t%2Dshirts%20and%20backpacks

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There’s no doubt that public confidence in UK police has been damaged recently, quite often through news stories about London’s Metropolitan force.

This time our host Robyn Montague chats to Dr John Fox, former Senior Police Detective turned academic, about the authority of the Police service and the behaviour and attitudes of their officers.

Despite an overhaul, background checks for new police recruits have some way to go. This month, His Majesty's Inspector Of Constabulary, said that processes were inadequate in 13 of the vetting cases looked at.

So, what improvements to recruiting can still be made – and what is being done to ensure existing employees are being vetted on an ongoing basis?

USEFUL LINKS

Dr John Fox:

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

College of Policing:

https://www.college.police.uk/

Metropolitan Police Force:

https://www.met.police.uk/

Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC):

http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/

Sarah Everard case: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c8657zxk82wt

Operation Hotton IOPC learning report:

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Operation%20Hotton%20Learning%20report%20-%20January%202022.pdf

Hillsborough disaster:

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/hillsborough

University of Portsmouth research: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/

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The case of Nicola Bulley, who went missing in a rural English village in January 2023, highlighted the concerns that many people have over true crime coverage, unregulated on the internet. 

But true crime amateurs and ‘armchair detectives’ have been known to solve crimes and create awareness; often using unique methods.

For this episode, Robyn Montague is joined by Dr Megan Hoffman and Dr Simon Hobbs from the School of Art, Design & Performance at the University of Portsmouth to explore the possibilities and the pitfalls of true crime coverage in the 21st century.

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Simon Hobbs: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/simon-hobbs

Nicola Bulley death: man arrested over alleged malicious communications: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/08/man-arrested-malicious-communications-nicola-bulley-death

Gabby Petito: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/gabby-petito-timeline-brian-laundrie-b1942190.html

The Survivors Guide to True Crime: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPfiuzmmkdg1J6jYyX-O6A

Sarah Turney: https://twitter.com/SarahETurney?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

University of Portsmouth research: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/

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To mark Zombie Awareness month and off the back of the success of ‘The Last of Us’ TV series, it felt fitting to dedicate this episode to the undead themselves.

Three experts join Robyn Montague for a round-table discussion on how to survive a zombie apocalypse (according to science).

Dr Sarita Robinson is an expert in disaster and emergency psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, Dr John Leach is a survival expert and visiting research psychologist at the University of Portsmouth, and Dr Matthew Higgins is a Lecturer from the School of Creative Technologies, who’s also a big fan of zombie pop culture! 

They reveal how your reaction to a fictional apocalypse could well inform how you’d behave in a real-world scenario.

USEFUL LINKS

Dr John Leach: https://globalbushcraftsymposium2022.com/speakers/john-leach/

Give-up-itis: when people just give up and die: https://theconversation.com/give-up-itis-when-people-just-give-up-and-die-103727

Dr Sarita Robinson: 

https://www.uclan.ac.uk/academics/sarita-robinson 

Metro article on Dr Robinson: https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/25/woman-who-predicted-the-pandemic-now-preparing-for-meteorites-and-solar-pulses-13691076/

Matthew Higgins: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/matthew-higgins

The Last of Us: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3581920/

University of Portsmouth research: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/

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In this episode of Life Solved, we explore the little-known ‘Ice Ivory’ market. Hear Dr. Caroline Cox, Senior Lecturer at Portsmouth Law School and Dr Luke Hauser, a Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, describe how mammoth ivory is being sold, in place of elephant ivory; often illegally.

You’ll hear why the trade in mammoth ivory - surprisingly - isn’t necessarily unlawful, but that the approach to digging it out of the Siberian permafrost can be. Plus, the long-term environmental damage that comes from digging up the ancient beasts, and how this could affect our present-day elephant population.

The conversation covers law, ethics, poverty, trade and the environment - with some surprises along the way - and we discover why Luke might be the world’s first ‘geo-criminologist’.

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Caroline Cox

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

Dr Luke Hauser: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luke-Hauser

Caroline’s work on Ivory Trade legislation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jBc31v0If8&list=PLNBoG5RueAf_kumrlSApeiWBpkO7OS6d9

The Ivory Project: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-projects/the-ivory-project

The Ivory Act 2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ivory-act-2018-enforcement-and-civil-sanctions/ivory-act-2018-enforcement-and-civil-sanctions

Ancient beasts unearthed in Siberia’s rush for mammoth ice-ivory

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/ancient-beasts-unearthed-in-siberia-s-rush-for-mammoth-ice-ivory-1.4691671

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International Jazz Day takes place on Sunday (30 April), and in this episode of Life Solved Robyn Montague speaks with George Burrows, Professor of Music and Theatre at the University of Portsmouth, about a band leader who moved to his own rhythm, decades before the 1960s pop revolution.

Find out more about how the swing band, ‘Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy’, helped place popular music at the centre of cultural change in the 1920s and 1930s, and how echoes of early 20th century jazz continues to influence 21st century music. Addressing race, gender and even the development of technology, Kirk’s band created a style that attracted white and black audiences in equal measure.

George also introduces us to Mary Lou Williams, one of the early band members, who went on to be a jazz superstar in her own right - contrary to the male-dominated jazz industry of the time.

And if you’re not familiar with jazz music, hear some of the artists discussed, using the links below.

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

USEFUL LINKS

George Burrows

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/george-burrows

The Recordings of Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Recordings-Clouds-Oxford-Studies-Recorded-ebook/dp/B07QNLH12T/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1682504796&refinements=p_27%3AGeorge+Burrows&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Musical Theatre and all that jazz

https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-projects/musical-theatre-and-all-that-jazz

Andy Kirk

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO3KnwpL

Mary Lou Williams

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO3HR2KF

The Bad Plus

https://www.thebadplus.com/

James Mainwaring/ Roller Trio

https://rollertrio.bandcamp.com/album/new-devices

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Life Solved is back for its 11th series – and as it’s International Dark Skies Week in this first episode, John Worsey speaks with Dr Jen Gupta, Dr Lucy King & Dr Chris Pattison from the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth.

They explore some of the biggest mistakes made in space research. From Apollo 13 to Elon Musk, when things go wrong it’s often headline news. But what if those ‘fails’ are exactly what’s needed to progress?

They also give an insight into how the University is fast becoming a leading partner in today’s UK space development, as part of PRISM - the Portsmouth Research Institute for Space Missions. In this episode, you’ll hear how success and failure continues to inform space research both globally, and right here in the south of England.

Finally, Lucy, Chris and Jen explain the exciting discoveries already being made by the JWST space telescope - and how space research helps with the day-to-day technology we use down here on earth!

You can find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Jen Gupta

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

Dr Christopher Pattison

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

Space Research At The University Of Portsmouth

https://www.port.ac.uk/research/space

PRISM

https://www.port.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-11/Portsmouth%20Space%20Brochure.pdf

JWST telescope detects dust storm on distant world

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65040983.amp

Chris Pattison Cosmo YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisPattisonCosmo

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Stroke patients have been benefiting from recuperation thanks to cutting-edge research in robotics and biomechanics.

In this episode of Life Solved we meet Amy Wright, who takes us through how biomechanical data informs artificial intelligence and robotics to help people recover the use of their limbs.

Amy explains how far rehab has come in just 20 years, thanks to motion capture techniques like those used in the entertainment industry. That means that in spite of an increasing number of stroke survivors, the options available to them to rehabilitate are expanding too.

There are loads of benefits to this, including decreased strain on health services, complementing traditional physiotherapy and greater autonomy for patients to go at their own pace.

In addition, the University of Portsmouth is collaborating with the University of Winchester and Hobbs Rehabilitation on the development of bionic limbs.

You can find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-projects

USEFUL LINKS

Amy Wright is Senior Lecturer at the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science @amywright_92

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

How a bionic leg can help increase mobility in stroke patients

https://www.newson6.com/story/6377d5be674d0a08f035901e/bionic-leg-technology-helps-increase-mobility-in-stroke-patients

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/publications/effect-of-combined-home-based-overground-robotic-assisted-gait-tr

How gait analysis data can help with physiotherapy

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/publications/reliability-of-a-trunk-mounted-accelerometer-when-determining-gai

What is physiotherapy like after a stroke

https://www.stroke.org.uk/resources/physiotherapy-after-stroke

just double checking the US spelling is preferred?

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