So, now what?

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars to discuss the pressing issues surrounding biodiversity and conservation. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems, the challenges posed by climate change, and the innovative solutions being implemented to promote sustainability. The guests share their experiences and insights on policy-making, community engagement, and the importance of maintaining optimism in the face of overwhelming environmental challenges. They emphasize the need for evidence-based strategies and practical steps that individuals can take to contribute to conservation efforts.

takeaways

·         Biodiversity loss is a critical issue that affects all life on Earth.

·         The 30 by 30 initiative aims to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030.

·         Innovative solutions are needed to balance economic development and conservation.

·         Community engagement is essential for effective conservation strategies.

·         Monitoring and research are crucial for understanding biodiversity and its challenges.

·         Optimism and collaboration among diverse stakeholders can drive positive change.

·         Trade-offs in conservation require careful consideration of ecological and social factors.

·         Conscious consumerism can significantly impact biodiversity preservation.

·         Small actions, like creating space for nature in our gardens, can lead to larger ecological benefits.

·         Evidence-based approaches are necessary for effective conservation policies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation Challenges

03:53 Innovative Solutions for Biodiversity

10:03 The Role of Policy and Research in Conservation

18:47 Maintaining Optimism in Conservation Efforts

30:00 Making Trade-offs in Conservation

35:27 Practical Steps for Immediate Impact

In this episode of 'So Now What', host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars Jakub Szomalec, Raggenhilde Fregdaler, and Jansu Karabiak to explore how creative methods can address wicked problems in society. The conversation delves into the importance of arts in academia, the role of entertainment in cultural activism, and the power of personal stories in engaging audiences. The guests share their unique experiences and insights on how to effectively communicate complex issues in an increasingly noisy world, emphasizing the need for emotional connection and community engagement.

Takeaways

Creative methods can effectively address wicked problems.

Arts and academia should be funded for their impact.

Comedy can relay serious messages in engaging ways.

Stories are essential for activating empathy.

Entertainment can serve as a platform for activism.

Immersive experiences can change audience perceptions.

Adapting messaging is crucial for short attention spans.

Understanding technology is a parental responsibility.

Engaging with diverse communities enriches perspectives.

Real conversations foster better understanding and connection.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems and Creative Solutions

05:25 The Role of Arts in Academia

10:05 Entertainment as a Tool for Cultural Activism

13:30 Personal Stories and Vulnerability in Creative Work

18:38 Engaging Audiences Through Immersive Experiences

22:25 Adapting Messaging for Short Attention Spans

28:13 The Responsibility of Understanding Technology

32:23 Takeaways for Action and Engagement

Cansu Karabiyik received her PhD in medical science in 2021. Since then she has spent her days as a neuroscientist developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and her evenings as a standup comedian performing in clubs in New York City. 

Jakub Szamalek award winning novelist and video game writer, who co-created international bestsellers such as "The Witcher 3" and "Cyberpunk 2077", currently Narrative Director at Rebel Wolves, a game development studio he co-founded. Doctor of classical archaeology educated at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and a Cambridge Gates Scholar. His most recent book, "Inner Space", will come out in English in July 2025.

Ragnhild Freng Dale is a social anthropologist and senior researcher at the Western Norway Research Institute. Her research interests include energy imaginaries, justice in climate transitions and impacts of energy infrastructure on local and indigenous communities. She thrives working on projects that are multimodal and experimental, especially in collaboration with the performing arts field.

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway talks to Gates Cambridge scholars Kevin Beckford, Emma Soneson, and Blanca Piera Pi Sunyer to discuss the pressing issues facing today's youth. The conversation explores the importance of empowering young people, the role of community and culture in their development, and the need for systemic change in education and mental health support. The scholars share their insights on how to harness the energy of young people to create a brighter future, emphasizing the significance of supportive environments and the necessity of listening to youth voices in shaping policies that affect them.

Takeaways

• Young people are powerful agents of change.
• Community support is crucial for youth development.
• Mental health should be prioritized in education.
• Adversity can have cumulative negative effects on health.
• Empowering youth requires systemic change in institutions.
• Resilience should be reframed to focus on support, not just endurance.
• Education should promote exploration and self-discovery.
• Youth voices must be included in decision-making processes.
• Creating supportive environments can buffer against adversity.
• A visionary approach is needed to reimagine society for young people.

00:00

Introduction to youth empowerment and impact

02:58

Harnessing the energy of young people

06:07

The role of community and culture in youth development

08:54

Exploring opportunities for young people

12:03

The importance of mental health in education

15:04

Creating supportive environments for adolescents

18:12

Reimagining education for young people

20:58

The need for systemic change

23:55

Resilience vs. hustling: a new perspective

27:01

Global perspectives on youth challenges

29:56

Visioning a better future for young people

Kevin Beckford [2011] is the co-founder and a board member of The Hustlers Guild, a non-profit that uses hip hop to expand access and opportunity to Black and Latinx youth in the innovation space. He is also Senior Associate, Parnerships and Engagement at the Pretrial Justice Institute. From 2020 to 2022 he was an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity from 2020 to 2022 and from 2014-2016, Kevin worked in the White House Presidential Correspondence Office. He also served as a special advisor to Secretary Julian Castro at the US Department of Housing and Development. 

Blanca Piera Pi-Sunyer [2021] is a final year PhD student at the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge working on social inequalities and socioemotional difficulties during adolescence. 

Emma Soneson [2018] is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry. She maintains a broad research profile within the field of child and adolescent mental health but is especially interested in the intersections between mental health and education.

We discuss the need to make healthcare better for all, focusing on issues such as gender inequality, mental health, and access to medicine and highlighting the importance of investing in women's health and the role of grassroots organisations in advocating for change. The potential of AI in improving healthcare is also explored, with a focus on care robots and the democratisation of information. The conversation also addresses the inequitable access to drug treatments and the need for public-private partnerships. The guests provide silver buckshot solutions, including economic policies, challenging social norms, and asking critical questions.

Takeaways

• Investing in women's health is not only a medical and humanitarian imperative but also makes economic, social, political, and climate sense.
• AI has the potential to improve healthcare by assisting carers, providing reminders for medication, and democratizing information, but caution is needed to ensure safety and quality.
• Equitable access to drug treatments requires public health approaches, government action, and citizen engagement to hold corporations accountable.
• Improving healthcare for all requires addressing social norms, investing in grassroots organizations, and challenging economic policies that perpetuate inequality.
• Asking critical questions, such as why rich countries are rich and why pre-industrial variables continue to cause inequality, is essential for driving change.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Setting the Context

05:31

Gender Inequality in Healthcare

08:26

The Potential of AI in Healthcare

22:11

Equitable Access to Drug Treatments

25:44

Investing in Women's Health

28:28

AI and Grassroots Organizations

32:20

Challenging Economic Policies

34:17

Asking Critical Questions

35:42

So, now what? And Season Wrap-up

The conversation explores the role of culture in peacebuilding and the need to challenge narratives of conflict and division. The guests discuss their experiences in conflict-affected regions and the importance of empathy, healing, and resilience in creating cultures of peace. They highlight the need for education systems to promote peace and inclusion, and the importance of dismantling oppressive narratives and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. The conversation concludes with a call to action to reform education, support cultural workers, and create spaces for dialogue and understanding.

Takeaways

• Culture plays a crucial role in peacebuilding and can challenge narratives of conflict and division.
• Empathy, healing, and resilience are essential in creating cultures of peace.
• Education systems should promote peace, inclusion, and critical thinking to challenge oppressive narratives.
• It is important to amplify the voices of marginalised communities and provide spaces for dialogue and understanding.
• Dismantling oppressive narratives and supporting cultural workers are key steps in creating a more peaceful world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

08:17 The impact of conflict on culture

11:31 Witnessing violence and building peace

16:39 Challenging conflict-based worldviews

20:59 Weaponisation of culture and fighting back

24:47 Erasure of culture and missing voices

27:14 Measuring success in peacebuilding

31:28 Creating cultures of empathy and Ubuntu

36:39 Reforming education for peace and inclusion

38:55 Dismantling oppressive narratives

41:43 Amplifying marginalised voices

44:32 Supporting cultural workers

45:27 Conclusion

The podcast episode explores the concept of tolerance and how to create a more tolerant world. The guests discuss the importance of face-to-face interactions, trust, and cooperation in building tolerance. They also examine the role of technology and social media in promoting or hindering tolerance. The guests share their perspectives on using music, arts, and creativity as tools for fostering tolerance and empathy. The episode concludes with the call to volunteer, challenge personal narratives, and imagine a better future.

Takeaways

• Tolerance requires face-to-face interactions, trust, and cooperation.
• Technology and social media can both promote and hinder tolerance.
• Music, arts, and creativity can be used as tools for fostering tolerance and empathy.
• Volunteering, challenging personal narratives, and imagining a better future are ways to promote tolerance.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

06:06 Building tolerance: face-to-face interactions and cooperation

10:25 The role of technology in promoting tolerance

13:13 Using music and arts to foster tolerance and empathy

25:12 Conclusion and call to action

The episode explores the topic of political legitimacy in a polarized world. The guests discuss the psychological and cognitive components of political beliefs, the impact of polarization on journalism, and the importance of understanding the perspectives of people on the ground. They emphasize the need for flexible thinking, reevaluating our own dogmas, and engaging in meaningful conversations with others. Practical actions include supporting reliable news organizations, encountering different cultures through literature and media, and rethinking our own biases.

Takeaways

• Political legitimacy is not just a sociological or political issue, but also has psychological and cognitive components.
• Polarization poses challenges to journalism, and it is important to support news organizations that provide reliable information.
• Engaging with people on the ground and encountering different perspectives can lead to a better understanding of political legitimacy.
• Flexible thinking is crucial in navigating a polarized world and reevaluating our own dogmas.
• Practical actions include supporting reliable news organizations, encountering different cultures through literature and media, and rethinking our own biases.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction: The Challenge of Political Legitimacy in a Polarized World

05:04

Understanding the Psychological and Cognitive Components of Political Legitimacy

11:16

The Impact of Polarization on Journalism and the Media Environment

15:59

Engaging with People on the Ground to Understand Political Legitimacy

29:48

Practical Actions to Strengthen Political Legitimacy

The conversation delves into the urgency of addressing concerns about artificial intelligence, the impact of AI on society, and the need for ethical considerations. We explore the challenges of bias, misinformation, and the environmental impact of AI. The guests discuss the role of academia, big tech, and the public in shaping the future of AI. They also highlight the importance of transparency, regulation, and public awareness in navigating the complexities of AI.

Keywords

artificial intelligence, AI ethics, bias, misinformation, environmental impact, academia, big tech, public awareness, transparency, regulation

Takeaways

·         The urgency of addressing concerns about artificial intelligence and the need for ethical considerations

·         Challenges of bias, misinformation, and the environmental impact of AI

·         The role of academia, big tech, and the public in shaping the future of AI

·         Importance of transparency, regulation, and public awareness in navigating the complexities of AI

Chapters

00:00 The Urgency of AI Ethics

10:13 Challenges and Considerations in AI Development

30:30 Transparency, Regulation, and Public Awareness in AI

The episode explores the topic of extreme weather and its impact on communities and asks: What does extreme weather mean for us?

The speakers highlight the importance of connecting research to real-world impacts and the need for collective action. They discuss the devastating losses of climate disasters, the challenges of adaptation and the power of nature. They also emphasise the importance of empowering marginalised communities and amplifying their voices in climate action. 

In addition, the episode explores innovations in policy, including capacity building, local action and storytelling - getting local communities affected by climate change to tell their stories. 

We conclude by encouraging listeners to ask questions, take climate action, and connect to local initiatives.

Takeaways

• Extreme weather events have devastating consequences, including the loss of traditions, cultures, and intangible heritage.
• Collective action and collective intelligence are crucial in addressing climate change and its impacts.
• Youth empowerment and inner well-being are essential for building resilience and creating a sustainable future.
• Data, responsible AI, and storytelling play a significant role in tackling misinformation and driving climate action.
• Innovations in climate policy include capacity building, community empowerment, and inclusive decision-making.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Climate Reality

01:19

Experiences in Extreme Environments

04:01

Impact of Extreme Weather Events

05:56

Bringing People and Voices into Climate Action

06:26

Unseen Consequences of Extreme Weather

09:49

Loss of Traditions and Indigenous Knowledge

10:12

Finding Balance and Adapting to Extreme Weather

12:36

Challenges in Super Tanker Countries

13:31

Proving the Urgency of Collective Action

14:59

Leveraging Data and Responsible AI

16:27

Innovation in Climate Policy

20:33

Recognizing the Importance of Nature

22:46

Inner Development Goals and Wisdom

25:11

Tackling Misinformation and Polarization

27:31

Innovation in Policy and Climate Action

32:46

Taking Action and Asking Questions

Bios:

Dr Ramit Debnath @RamitDebnath is a university assistant professor and an academic director at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of Churchill College and Cambridge Zero and has visiting role at Caltech. Ramit sits on the steering committee of Cambridge's new Centre for Human-Inspired AI (CHIA). With a background in electrical engineering and computational social sciences, Ramit designs collective intelligence approaches to provide a data-driven, complex system-level understanding of barriers to climate action in the Anthropocene, their interactions, and how these translate to leverage points for policy and behavioural interventions at scale.

Songqiao Yao @songqiaoyao is the founder of WildBound, an innovative sustainability and education venture that empowers sustainability leadership through expeditions, advocacy and creative expressions. Prior to founding WildBound, Songqiao gained her interdisciplinary and cross-cultural experience as a researcher, activist and entrepreneur working on global issues such as food, water and climate change. She has worked on China-EU, China-US projects on climate change and has consulted for agriculture and private sector development in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.

Victoria Herrmann @VSHerrmann is the managing director of The Arctic Institute, a National Geographic Explorer and Assistant Research Professor at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service where her research focuses on Arctic cooperation and politics and climate change adaptation in the US and US Territories. Herrmann is also an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) IF/THEN Ambassador and works to empower girls and women in STEM. She has been named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 40 under 40 list, a North American Young Leader by Friends of Europe and one of 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy worldwide by Apolitical.

Best-selling author Tara Westover, researcher Aliya Khalid and Thabo Msibi Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, tackle the issue of what education should be for. They stress the idea that small actions can have a significant impact on making a difference in the world and emphasise the power of individuals to create change within their own sphere of influence. 

We explore their own perspectives and discuss their own powerful personal stories, highlighting the importance of diverse stories in education, the impact of education on women and gender and the power of education to challenge norms and beliefs. They also emphasise the role of education as a journey of self-discovery and unlearning, as well as a tool for social justice and empowerment. In addition, the episode discusses the need for curriculum reform and inclusivity, the role of technology in education and personal stories of overcoming educational challenges.

Takeaways

• Education as a lifelong journey of learning and personal growth.
• Education has the power to empower individuals, promote social justice, and transform communities.
• Listening to and learning from communities is crucial in developing effective educational practices.
• Small acts of support and encouragement can make a significant difference in education.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:31 The purpose of education

01:13 Guest introductions

05:24 Education and gender

06:24 Education as empowerment

08:21 The value of questioning and doubt in education

10:10 Education as a tool for social justice

12:56 Education in disadvantaged communities

15:17 The importance of listening and learning from communities

19:19 Personal teachable moments

20:14 Motivation for education

23:05 The transformative power of education

25:59 Unlearning and overcoming challenges in education

29:30 Curriculum reform and empowerment

31:40 Moving forward: Taking action in education

37:12 So, now what? 

Bios

Tara Westover @tarawestover is a memoirist and historian. Her first book, Educated (2018), debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and was a finalist for a number of awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, the LA Times Book Prize, and the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. The American Booksellers Association named it the Nonfiction Book of the Year, and to date, the book has been translated into 47 languages. For her staggering impact, TIME magazine named Westover one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019, and in 2023, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Biden. 

Thabo Msibi is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning and a professor of Curriculum Studies in the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Msibi has published research in South African and international journals and books and is author of the book Hidden sexualities of South African Teachers: Black male educators and same-sex desire. He has also co-edited a book entitled Gender, Sexuality and Violence in South African Educational Spaces, with Deevia Bhana and Shakila Singh.

Aliya Khalid @khalidaliya1 is a Lecturer in Comparative and International Education in the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, UK. She works on issues of educational equity with a focus on gender. Her areas of interest include the capability approach, negative capability, epistemic paradoxicality and justice, Southern epistemologies, politics of representation and knowledge production.