Life Solved

Life Solved is back this Autumn with a brand new series, and to kick us off, we unpick the complex world of nuclear power plants.

As we look to a future of renewable energy options, nuclear energy is back on the table for discussion. Its low carbon footprint presents a greener alternative to fossil fuels, but how does it measure up to wind and solar power when you’re looking at costs, waste and environmental impact?

Professor Victor Becerra worked for a power generation company earlier in his career before going into research and academic posts. He came to the University of Portsmouth in 2015 where he’s led two projects on control and monitoring of nuclear plants.

He joins us to explain how nuclear reactors work and why they’re getting safer thanks to design and technology to make the handling and managing of nuclear power and nuclear waste better.

He also explains how new kinds of reactors are in development to help recycle waste as part of the system, and how Cybernetics has helped him consider whole energy systems (including the human element) of design, to make them work for us, safely.

USEFUL LINKS

Find out about Professor Victor Becerra and his work

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/victor-becerra

How do nuclear power stations work?

https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nuclear-101-how-does-nuclear-reactor-work

Is Nuclear energy renewable?

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/quick-questions/is-nuclear-energy-renewable.html

How the Fast Breeder Reactor Works

https://www.britannica.com/technology/liquid-metal-fast-breeder-reactor

Control Systems and Cybernetics

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/6709/cybernetics

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Have you heard of the Blue Economy? What has the sea got to do with national economies? What does the ocean mean to different nations? And how does the deep, blue sea hold the key to solving some of the most important issues facing our planet today?

In the final episode of the series we meet up with Professor Steve Fletcher to explore a step-change in the way we’re thinking about the oceans as a natural resource. Steve explains how human activity has accelerated changes in these epic ecosystems and what that means for our boundaries, economies and the stability of environments.

But he’s also revealing the exciting next step in the University of Portsmouth’s Revolution Plastics Initiative. Plastic pollution is damaging the health of people and environments worldwide but by putting research into action through international collaborations, there could still be hope to save our seas and reverse climate change.

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

Professor Steve Fletcher

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

Revolution Plastics @UoP Plastics

https://www.port.ac.uk/research/themes/sustainability-and-the-environment/revolution-plastics

What is the Circular Economy?

https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

The Blue Economy

https://www.un.org/regularprocess/sites/www.un.org.regularprocess/files/rok_part_2.pdf

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This time, hear how one researcher here at Portsmouth is taking a closer look at a pathogen that might be doing some mysterious good in our ecosystems.

Christina Scott had a career in water testing before returning to Portsmouth to study bacteria. Her background in marine biology and interest in the environment has caused her to ask the question: why is Legionella in our environment? We may all be familiar with the bad it can do, via Legionnaires’ disease, but Christina has been collecting seawater samples to culture different strains and find their hidden positives.

She also shares some thought-provoking ideas on our historical and cultural relationship with bacteria and pathogens.

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

Christina Scott at the “Pint of Science” festival

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/scientists-to-talk-at-portsmouth-pubs-as-part-of-worldwide-festival

What is Legionnaries’ Disease?

https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/what-is.htm

About Legionella

https://legionella.org

Microbiology at Portsmouth

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/scientists-to-talk-at-portsmouth-pubs-as-part-of-worldwide-festival

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It’s now 4 decades since the rapid escalation and resolution of the Falklands War, where over 900 soldiers were lost through sea, air and land conflict in the South Atlantic Ocean.

In this episode, top historians and researchers from the University of Portsmouth discuss the pattern of events of 1982 and ask whether such a conflict could happen again.

Ben, Matthew and Melanie share their take on changes in British defence policy and naval capabilities, as well as the cultural legacy and social impact of this war upon lives today.

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

Dr Melanie Bassett @melanie_bassett

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

Dr Ben Jones

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

Dr Matthew Heaslip

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

MA In Naval History at The University of Portsmouth

https://twitter.com/Naval_History

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The UK Space Sector is experiencing one of its most exciting periods in history as businesses, technology and industry seize upon the opportunities presented by science.

Professor Adam Amara shares an inspirational chat about why he loves astronomy, from dark matter to pub-table debates and discovering planets. He’s passionate about sharing space science with everyone, and helping everyone turn their brilliant ideas into experiments. He also explains why the South of England is such an exciting place to be working in space, and a booming sector for entrepreneurs too.

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

Professor Adam Amara

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/adam-amara

The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation

https://theicg.co.uk

Mission Space

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDc0ocbm_YA

The UK Space Sector is Booming

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2021/size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2021

https://www.ukspace.org

https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/uk-invest-10-space-clusters-22970017

Jobs in Space

https://spacecareers.uk

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January 2022 brought a very exciting moment for interwar historians – professional and amateur alike. The 1921 Census includes a survey of 38 million people living in England and Wales. This period followed a global pandemic and saw economic instability between two world wars. A team of hundreds of conservators have been working to conserve and digitise these 30,000 bound volumes of documents. Now they’re available to us all online.

This time on Life Solved, Glenn Harris chats with Deborah Sugg Ryan, Professor of Design History and Theory and Dr Melanie Bassett, Research Fellow in Public Engagement about the insights revealed by these documents, and a few of the mysteries they've been following through the archives too!

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

Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan @deborahsuggryan

Professor of Design History and Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries.

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/deborah-sugg-ryan

Dr Melanie Bassett @melanie_bassett

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

Where can you access the 1921 Census? 

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20s-people/the-1921-census/where-can-i-access-the-1921-census/

Findmypast has access to the census :

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/1921-census

Melanie is also website manager of Port Towns and Urban Cultures:

www.porttowns.port.ac.uk

Deborah’s exploration of house history:

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/democratic-citizenship/ideal-homes-revealed-in-the-1921-census

https://moda.mdx.ac.uk/a-place-we-call-home/house-histories/1921-census/

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Cybercrime is now one of the most prevalent and due to its international scope, can be difficult to track and prosecute for. So how vulnerable are individuals and businesses from attacks?

And is cyber crime also being used in warfare and state-backed activity? 

In this episode of Life Solved, hear insights from Professor Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, a Reader in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity on how governments and laws are adapting to crime in the complex and evolving digital world.

And find out about work that’s going on to protect vulnerable people, educate citizens and proof businesses against attacks.  

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

Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos:

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

In the episode, Vas mentions how you can find out more and protect yourself and your business against cybercrime:

National Cyber Security Centre:

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/actions-to-take-when-the-cyber-threat-is-heightened

Data Protection via the Information Commissioner’s Office:

https://ico.org.uk

Data Guidance for Organisations:

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/

Is there a heightened Cyber Threat right now?

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/keep-up-to-date/heightened-threat

What is Hacktivism?

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/publications/a-short-history-of-hacktivism-its-past-and-present-and-what-can-w

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/hacktivism

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This episode’s guest may have started his career as "the world’s worst commercial fisherman", but Dr Ian Hendy soon found his calling as a conservationist.

As a Tropical Marine Ecologist and Course Leader for Marine Biology here at the University of Portsmouth, he’s leading innovative research into how restoration of ecosystems can help us fight climate change and biodiversity loss, by locking away carbon.

Ian shares insights into how conservation work can go hand in hand with supporting coastal livelihoods. He also tells how ground breaking projects along UK coastlines are offering hope for carbon capture and storage.

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

Dr Ian Hendy is passionate about bringing marine conservation to the public

https://www.drianhendy.com

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/ian-hendy

Find out about Ian’s work in this award-winning documentary

https://www.terramater.at/productions/islands-in-time/

Kelp restoration in Sussex

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/projects/the-fate-of-kelp-derived-carbon-in-sussex-waters

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19191614.trawler-ban-vital-seabed-off-sussex/?ref=rss

https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/helpourkelp

https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/projects/sussex-kelp/

Blue Carbon and Nature Based Solutions

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/projects/from-marine-protected-areas-to-nature-based-solutions

https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/blue-carbon

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Can schools cope under the strain of increased social need? And where are the UK’s health and care systems failing the most vulnerable in society? Dr Bethany Simmonds and Dr Emma Maynard share their insights, perspectives and solutions on two vital areas of social support in the UK.

Amidst funding restructures, privatisation and the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s public services are increasingly undergoing change. From care home homes and emergency services to hospitals and schools, the pressures on the people delivering this care is ever-present.

So what does the future hold for social care and the family support services provided by schools? How will this impact the most vulnerable in society? And what can be done to prevent crises in our social services deepening?

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

Dr Emma Maynard

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

Dr Bethany Simmonds

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

44% of School teachers plan to quit within 5 years due to stress and unmanageable workloads

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/apr/11/teachers-england-plan-to-quit-workloads-stress-trust

Bethany’s book, Ageing and the Crisis in Health and Social Care (Global and National Perspectives)

https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/ageing-and-the-crisis-in-health-and-social-care

Vulnerable adults left without care in England and staff crisis worsens

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jan/15/vulnerable-adults-left-without-care-in-england-as-staff-crisis-worsens

Schools need urgent funding to prevent mental health crisis

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/schools-need-urgent-funding-to-prevent-mental-health-crisis/

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This time, Dr Lisa Sugiura opens up the conversation on how technology is enabling domestic abuse and coercive control, and what needs to happen to put a stop to it.

In Life Solved we feature cutting-edge research from the University of Portsmouth. Dr Sugiura explains how her team collaborated with other organisations to explore the extent to which social media and online platforms, technology and other online media are allowing abusers to stalk, control, threaten or harm victims.

She found out that in most domestic abuse cases, technology was involved, so what needs to change in our justice system to empower police investigators and victims to recognise and challenge these harmful and even life-threatening activities?

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

If you believe you or someone else is in danger, call the police on 999.

If you are concerned for yourself or others, you can find further information via Refuge 

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Or find out more at https://enough.campaign.gov.uk

You can find out more about Dr Lisa Sugiura and her work here at: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/lisa-sugiura

Lisa recently appeared in ITV’s “The Truth About Stalking”

https://www.itv.com/news/2022-03-09/louise-minchin-the-truth-about-stalking-itv-tonight

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