Contributor(s): | How did the transatlantic slave trade and British colonial rule shape modern race relations in the UK?

This film explores the deep and often overlooked ties between Britain and the Anglophone Caribbean—and how centuries of empire, slavery, systemic racism, and neglect laid the foundations for the racial inequalities we see in Britain today.

Focusing on Britain’s colonial legacy in the British West Indies—including Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad—Dr Imaobong Umoren traces the economic and ideological roots of empire, from plantation slavery to the Windrush scandal. Her research connects these histories to 20th-century migration, particularly the arrival of the Windrush generation, and to ongoing debates about race, citizenship, and national identity in modern Britain.

🔴 Check out the new book by Imaobong Umoren on this research: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/443176/empire-without-end-by-umoren-imaobong/9781911717034

🔴 Dr Imaobong Umoren is an associate professor of International History at LSE: https://www.lse.ac.uk/International-History/People/academicStaff/umoren/umoren

Contributor(s): | Could artificial intelligence already be conscious? Are today’s AI systems truly aware — or are we just projecting human qualities onto machines? We speak to Professor Jonathan Birch to explore the science and ethics of AI sentience. As machine learning systems like ChatGPT become more advanced, questions about consciousness in AI are becoming impossible to ignore. From unexplained emergent behaviours to the possibility of strange new forms of awareness, could we be facing a moral blind spot?

Contributor(s): | Is artificial intelligence the solution to the National Health Service? Can we use technology to help reduce wait times in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at hospitals in the UK?

As the NHS celebrates its 76th anniversary, we talk to Dr Laura Gilbert who tells us about how AI can help with simple processes that can give time back to NHS workers. How AI isn’t about taking away jobs in the NHS but giving doctors, nurses and pharmacists more time with patients.

Contributor(s): | From writing emails and generating art to reshaping industries, artificial intelligence is transforming daily life. But what powers artificial intelligence? And how stable is the infrastructure it's built on?

AI isn’t just software — it’s hardware, geopolitics, rare earth mining, and an energy-hungry race for dominance. As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, the need to understand its material foundations has never been more urgent.

In this video, we explore the fragile and often invisible supply chain behind AI, including the mining of rare earth metals, the role of GPUs and semiconductors, and the massive energy demands driving this new digital gold rush. From TSMC's advanced microchip manufacturing in Taiwan, to ASML’s one-of-a-kind EUV lithography machines in the Netherlands, and NVIDIA’s dominance in powering generative AI, we break down the six key stages behind today’s most powerful AI systems.

Dr Nils Peters explains why even a small disruption to this global network could have huge consequences — not just for big tech, but for all of us.

Contributor(s): | In this film, we explore how cutting-edge artificial intelligence is being developed to assist event security and police forces in managing public safety at large-scale gatherings. We speak with Professor Tom Kirchmaier about a groundbreaking project in collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, aiming to predict and prevent crowd crush incidents, like the Astroworld disaster before they turn deadly. This emerging technology could shape the future of crowd control—and save lives. To find out more about N-AI: www.n-ai.com

Contributor(s): | Will artificial intelligence and automation cause huge unemployment? Is the tech revolution going to deliver on its promises of transformational change to workplaces, the economy and beyond? We speak to Professor Judy Wajcman to uncover the truth behind the hype, and separate AI myths from reality. Whilst Silicon Valley might have captured our imagination about the future of work, and have its own ambitions for workforce disruption, with a few lessons from history and a refocusing on what matters, perhaps we can rewrite the AI revolution.

Contributor(s): | How reliable is artificial intelligence in critical, high-stakes situations? We speak to Professor Elizabeth Stokoe to explore the limitations of AI in emergency service calls. Through conversation analysis, we break down the science behind the viral 911 pizza delivery call—revealing the hidden signals that AI-powered dispatch systems or voice assistants might miss. Can AI truly support police and ambulance dispatchers in life-or-death moments, or are human instincts and reactions still essential?

Contributor(s): | Governments worldwide invest heavily to project a positive image on the global stage, spending billions to host events like the #WorldCup or #Olympics in hopes of building prestige and soft power.

What happens when the unity and success they aim to showcase clash with the real struggles of their people? What happens when citizens flood the streets to challenge this glossy narrative and offer a different vision of national identity? #Brazil’s protests before the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics may provide clues to these questions.

Dr César Jiménez-Martínez is Assistant Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE: https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/people/academic-staff/cesar-jimenez-martinez

#Football #Brasil

Contributor(s): | Visit our dedicated hub showcasing LSE research and expertise on global politics through short films, blogs, articles and events here.

Contributor(s): | Visit our dedicated hub showcasing LSE research and expertise on global politics through short films, blogs, articles and events here.