Sharing things

In this episode, guests Svenja O'Donnell and Shannon Vallor discuss data biases, the danger of apathy, saucepan-enabled smuggling and more.

Svenja is a writer, journalist, commentator and  freelance adviser on Brexit, and UK and EU Politics. She previously worked as a foreign, economics and politics correspondent at Bloomberg News and Businessweek. Her articles have appeared in various publications, including the Financial Times, Sunday Times and Independent. She was awarded the Washington National Press Club Breaking News Prize in 2017 for her coverage of the Brexit referendum and her first book, ‘Inge’s War: A Story of Family, Secrets and Survival under Hitler’ was published in August 2020.

Shannon is the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), and Professor in Philosophy.

Prior to joining the University, Shannon was a Visiting Researcher and AI Ethicist at Google. Her research explores how new technologies, especially AI, robotics, and data science, reshape human moral character, habits, and practices. Her first book, ‘Technology and Virtues: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting’ was published in 2016, and she is currently working on ‘The AI Mirror: Rebuilding Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking’.  

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Helen Bond and Daniel Mutia talk about gifts that mean something, the concept of home, being out there and more.

Helen is Professor of Christian Origins and Head of the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. Her published works include 'Pontius Pilate in History and Interpretation' (1998), 'Caiaphas: High Priest and Friend of Rome?' (2004), and more recently, 'The First Biography of Jesus: Genre and Meaning in Mark's Gospel' (2020). She has acted as historical consultant and contributor for a number of television programmes and presented 'Jesus’ Female disciples: the New Evidence' for Channel 4 (2018). 

Daniel is an Electronics and Electrical Engineering student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh. He is the Vice President Inclusion at Edinburgh University Sports Union for 2020/21, having previously served as International Participation Officer in 2019/20. He was named as one of the Queen's Young Leaders of 2018 for his efforts towards fighting for education and equal opportunities for young people. 

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Claire Askew and Rowland Kao chat about vintage stuff, lost meanings and viral transmission.

Claire is an award-winning poet and novelist. Her debut novel, 'All the Hidden Truths', featuring the character DI Birch, won the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize as a work in progress, and was selected as a Times Crime Book of the Month. The second novel in the DI Birch series, 'What You Pay For' was published in August 2019 and the latest, 'Cover Your Tracks', came out this summer.

Rowland is Chair of Veterinary Epidemiology and Data Science at the Roslin Institute, part of the University of Edinburgh. He is a member of the Science Advisory Council at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and is working with Public Health Scotland on coronavirus modelling.

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Daisy Narayanan and Dalia Al-Dujaili talk about childhood excitement, happy folders, love over hate and more.

Daisy is Director of Urbanism at Sustrans, a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. While on secondment to the City of Edinburgh Council between 2018 and 2019, Daisy led the Edinburgh City Centre Transformation project.

Dalia is a final year English Literature student who has recently started a platform and newsletter showcasing emerging creatives called MISFiT. She was formerly editor-in-chief at Mxogyny, an online platform for marginalised creatives to share poetry, art and writing related to prevalent social issues.

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Charles Cockell and Rianna Walcott talk about woolly mammoths, deep sea gigantism, knowing your place in the family hierarchy and more.

Charles is Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. His group focuses on the study of life in extreme environments and understanding the diversity, processes and biosignatures of life in extremes, and the potential habitability of extraterrestrial environments.

Rianna is a PhD candidate at King's College London researching Black women's identity formation in digital spaces, and a graduate twiceover from the University of Edinburgh.

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

Season three embraces the uncertainty and unpredictability of 2020 by playing fast and loose with the Sharing things format. In our opening episode we bid a fond farewell to 2020 politics graduate Amalie, our first and now former host, and say a big hello to our new host and conversational guide, Richenda. Join our hosting duo as they talk about new skills, impostor syndrome and sudden departures.

Richenda is a final-year medical student and your Sharing things host for season three. She's interested in health economics and global health priority setting and is a student researcher with the Global Health Governance Programme.

She took a step out of her comfort zone and joined Edinburgh University Shinty Club as a complete beginner in her third year at university and is now its President.

Amalie hosted and produced the first two seasons of Sharing things. Whether through her contributions to university radio or as a facilitator for student council, she's always been curious about people and their lives.

Having graduated with a degree in politics this summer, we invited her back to kick off season three and finally reveal what her own special object is.

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

Sharing things is back and embracing the world of remote recording, technical gremlins and unexpected guests. Join us from Thursday 24 September for season three and a very special opening episode featuring a proper Sharing things send off for Amalie, 2020 graduate and our departing Sharing things host. In the meantime, here is a sneak preview of what to expect from season three.

Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.

You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

In this episode, guests Andrew Wilson and Jennifer Culbertson talk about linguistics, widening participation, dog borrowing and more.

Andrew is the President of Edinburgh University Students’ Association for 2019/20. Pausing his studies in English Language and Linguistics this academic year, Andrew’s instead been focused on widening participation to higher education and making the cost of student living more affordable. 

Jennifer is a Reader in the Centre for Language Evolution at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on understanding how languages are shaped by learning and use. In 2019 she won the Chancellor’s Award for Rising Star, recognising outstanding contribution towards enhancing the research reputation of the University.

She received her PhD in Cognitive Science from Johns Hopkins University in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

All episodes of season two of Sharing things were recorded before the 23 March 2020 (COVID-19 lockdown in the UK).

In this episode, guests Niamh Martin-McGarrigle and Hollie Davidson talk about social media trolls, changing paths, finding confidence in yourself and more.

Niamh is a second-year French and Linguistics student at the University of Edinburgh. She is also the Projects Manager at FreshSight, a student-led consultancy that aims to create positive social impact through the provision of practical, sustainable and innovative business solutions. 

Hollie is Scottish Rugby’s first contracted female referee. She had played for Scotland U20 but after a shoulder injury, she hung up her playing boots and picked up the whistle instead.

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 2014 in Economic History, Hollie worked in finance for two years. She has refereed in a number of major tournaments including the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Rugby World Cup Sevens, and the 2019 Women’s Six Nations Championship.

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

All episodes of season two of Sharing things were recorded before the 23 March 2020 (COVID-19 lockdown in the UK).

In this episode, guests SJ Sandhu and Mona Siddiqui talk about the flying frisbee of death, evocative smells and taking ownership of faith.

Sanjeevan, aka SJ, is a second-year medicine student at the University of Edinburgh. He’s originally from London, although according to everyone who knows him, he’s actually from Essex.

When he isn’t studying or attending his 9am classes, SJ loves to play sports and represents the University at futsal. Along with six of his closest course mates, he is currently creating his own podcast, ‘Medic Matters’, as part of a second-year project. 

Mona is Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She also holds the position of Assistant Principal for Religion and Society, and Dean International for the Middle-East. 

Mona studied Arabic and French at the University of Leeds, followed by a Masters in Middle-Eastern Studies and PhD in Classical Islamic Law at the University of Manchester. She is a regular guest on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Thought for the Day’ and became a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s award-winning ‘The Moral Maze’ in 2016. 

Her contributions to interfaith services were recognised with an OBE in 2011 and she was awarded the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation in 2019. 

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

All episodes of season two of Sharing things were recorded before the 23 March 2020 (COVID-19 lockdown in the UK).