R&D Unplugged

Tackling complex challenges—whether in healthcare, education, or climate change—demands breaking down disciplinary silos and actively collaborating with diverse stakeholders. Traditional approaches often fall short, making it crucial to adopt longitudinal, process-driven methods.

This episode dives into how action-based research and co-design methodologies can deepen our understanding of complex problems and drive meaningful change. Through real-world, multi-year collaborative projects—including partnerships with the WHO on health guideline design, studies on managing online communities to advance cancer epidemiology, and challenge-based learning initiatives—we explore how to effectively bridge research and practice in dynamic, interdisciplinary settings.

In this episode, we welcome Seth Frey to explore how participating in small-scale democracies can shape better citizens for large-scale ones. The internet, with its countless online communities, serves as a modern laboratory for self-governance. But how do these groups unite limited resources around shared goals? Together, we examine three major platforms hosting self-governing communities and tackle key questions: What makes small-scale democracies thrive? How do they manage resources and maintain order? And what lessons can they offer for governing both online spaces and the world beyond? Tune in to discover the future of community-driven governance in the digital age!

In an era of climate instability, social fragmentation, and deep uncertainty, fostering collective intelligence is more crucial than ever. But how do we create the conditions for meaningful collaboration? In this episode, Marc Santolini explores the relational dynamics that enable sensemaking and coordination for systemic change. From psychological safety and deep listening to AI-driven network analysis, we discuss emerging frameworks that blend wisdom traditions with participatory methodologies to support collective flourishing. How can we shift from outcome-driven approaches to process-aware collaboration? Tune in to discover new insights at the intersection of science, technology, and human connection.

How do educators' views on knowledge, science, and values shape the way they teach? In this episode, we welcome Maria Angelica Mejia Caceres to explore how these perspectives influence educational practices—affecting not just what is taught, but how it is received. We discuss the impact of language, emotions, and underlying beliefs in the classroom, questioning the limitations of a purely scientific approach. Can optimism or pessimism about social change shape student engagement? Join us as we uncover how recognizing these influences can transform education into a dynamic force for critical thinking and social change.

In scientific crowdsourcing and citizen science, a striking pattern often emerges: a very small group of participants contributes the majority of the data. This phenomenon, known as participation inequality or the 90-9-1 rule, is evident in platforms like Google Local Guides, Wikipedia, iNaturalist, and OpenStreetMap.

In this episode, we dicuss this topic with Muki Haklay, a renowned expert in citizen science and crowdsourcing. Together, we explore why the 90-9-1 rule plays a pivotal role in projects that rely on crowd participation. What drives this pattern, and should we strive to change it? Tune in as we unpack these questions and consider the implications of participation inequality in collaborative initiatives.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim for a better, more sustainable future, but progress is slow, and in some areas, we are regressing. Evaluating the impact of policy on sustainability is key to understanding this stagnation.

In this episode, we speak with Serge Stinckwich, computer scientist and head of research at the United Nations University Institute in Macau. We discuss how artificial intelligence and social simulations can reveal the complex factors behind sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of modelling in guiding policy decisions.

Effective, data-informed policies require inclusive, representative data, and responsible modelling must be transparent and evidence-based, considering marginalized populations and future generations. How can AI-driven tools ensure diverse voices are included in decision-making? Serge shares innovative research projects from the United Nations University Institute in Macau.

In this episode, we sit down with Manon Sala, a second-year PhD student in Sociology and Learning Sciences at the FIRE Doctoral School at the Learning Planet Institute. Manon’s research delves into the institutionalization of Social and Ecological Transition Pedagogies in Higher Education in France, through a comparative analysis of various curricula.

Our conversation centers around the French government’s 2026 recommendations for Ecological and Social Transitions in Higher Education. We explore the role of educators as a “creative middle ground,” bridging the gap between structural changes and the development of psychosocial competencies in students. Together, we examine how these dual levels of action can transform learning cultures and contribute to building a more sustainable and caring society.

Teachers play a critical role in ensuring high-quality education for all, but top-down recommendations on proven teaching practices often miss the mark. In reality, teachers rely on their own experiences to navigate challenges in the classroom. While this experiential knowledge is widely shared, it’s often localized and intuitive, raising the question: can it become a trusted, shareable knowledge base for the profession?

In this episode, we talk with Ignacio Atal, founder of the Profs-Chercheurs program, a participatory research initiative designed to engage teachers in producing reliable and cumulative knowledge about their educational practices. Together, we reflect on five years of the program, exploring how collective intelligence can help teachers collaboratively tackle shared challenges. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the potential and obstacles of fostering teacher-driven research.

Nearly two years after the public release of ChatGPT and the widespread adoption of Large Language Models (LLMs), what have we learned about their relevance in real-world applications?

In this episode, we’re joined by Jean-Marc Sevin, a senior data scientist at the Learning Planet Institute, to tackle some of today’s most pressing questions: How can we effectively apply this technology to support learning around the Sustainable Development Goals? And should we shift the AI research agenda toward new disciplines to better understand the so-called magic behind LLMs?

Although we like to believe that we care about children and their future, studies on climate change and children's mental health reveal that their concerns about the planet and their actions are often undermined.

In this episode we will discuss with Laelia Benoit how childism, the prejudice against children, is prevalent in our daily lives. Additionally, we will discuss ways to become more aware of this issue, address childism as it occurs, and collaborate with children to overcome stigma and empower them to drive change.