In this second half of our special double episode of Sustainability Matters, we take a look at the impact of generative AI on academic culture. Should AI tools be used for peer review, grant writing, performance assessments, and the like? What makes “imperfect” human writing still worth defending? And finally, what happens to the value of voluntary reading in a world saturated with autogenerated content?

All this and more with Dr. Naomi S. Baron, author of the chapter, “AI and Human Writing: Collaboration or Appropriation?” which is part of The De Gruyter Handbook of Robots in Society and Culture, published by De Gruyter Brill.

Guest: Dr. Naomi S. Baron 

Host: Ramzi Nasir

This month on Sustainability Matters, we discuss the persistent underrepresentation of Global South scholars in leading English-language journals. From editorial appointments to peer review practices, structural biases continue to shape who gets published—and whose knowledge is valued. While efforts are being made to address these imbalances, the question remains: what more can be done?

All this and more with Dr. Eve Ng and Dr. Melissa A. Click, authors of the article “Democratizing publishing in communication/media studies: a case study of Communication, Culture & Critique”. The article is published in a special issue of the De Gruyter Brill journal Online Media and Global Communication.

Guests: Dr. Eve Ng and Dr. Melissa Click

Host: Ramzi Nasir

In honour of Pride Month, on this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore the politics, practice, and perceptions of gender-fair language. Is it the same as gender-neutral language, or something more expansive? How do linguistic reforms for inclusivity play out across the evolution of a language? And what motivates scholars to adopt—or reject—more inclusive forms of writing?

All this and more with Dr. Christine Ivanov and Dr. Maria B. Lange, authors of the chapter “Motivations for the Use of Gender-Fair Language in Research Literature in German Academia” from the book Public Attitudes Towards Gender-Inclusive Language, published by De Gruyter Brill.

Host: Ramzi Nasir

Guests: 

Dr. Christine Ivanov (Ln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-ivanov-77518a2b2/)

Dr. Maria B. Lange (Ln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-maria-b-lange-b2b35b2b1/)

If you’re interested in delving further into gender-inclusive language in academia, here’s a reading list curated by the guests:

1. https://doi.org/10.1080/0163853X.2023.2199531.

2. https://doi.org/10.32872/spb.13719

3. https://doi.org/10.1080/01690960701702035

4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13428-013-0409-z 

5. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01437

6. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.1.206

7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00369

8. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2015.1067611

9. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0261927X01020004004

10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-023-01411-8

In this first half of a special double episode on Sustainability Matters, we unpack how generative AI is challenging traditional ideas of writing, learning, and originality. Are large language models truly that revolutionary, or just glorified predictive text tools? How are universities responding to this shift? And—perhaps most importantly—where does morality come into the equation?

All this and more with Dr. Naomi S. Baron, author of the chapter, "AI and Human Writing: Collaboration or Appropriation?" which is part of The De Gruyter Handbook of Robots in Society and Culture published by De Gruyter Brill.

Host: Ramzi Nasir

Guest: Dr. Naomi S. Baron

In this episode of Sustainability Matters, we get into the numbers behind scholarly publishing. We unpack why publishing consumption patterns vary so widely across countries, how data can inform efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how it supports progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, we explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of data and sustainability in publishing.

All this and more with Dr. Michiel Kolman and Rachel Martin, authors of the article “What Can Data Tell Us about Publishing? How data can potentially drive progress in sustainability” published in the Brill journal Logos.

Host: Ramzi Nasir

Guests: Dr. Michiel Kolman and Rachel Martin

In this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore what responsible research and innovation (RRI) means. How can science move beyond disciplinary siloes to embrace transdisciplinarity? What does it mean to conduct research that is truly socially responsible?  And is the commitment to sustainable research declining?

All this and more with Dr. Siri Granum Carson and Dr. Matthias Kaiser, authors of the concluding chapter “A sea change in science and technology ecologies? Prospects of socially responsible research and innovation towards 2030” from the book The Fragility of Responsibility, published by De Gruyter Brill.

Liked this podcast? Have thoughts on the topic? Want us to address a specific theme in the future? Write to us at [email protected].

Host: Ramzi Nasir

Guests: Dr. Siri Granum Carson and Dr. Matthias Kaiser 

On the first episode of Sustainability Matters (formerly Humanities Matter), we explore the complexities of diversity and inclusion in higher education. Do the frameworks in US universities today advance equity, or merely mask deeper systemic issues? How can academia move beyond optics to genuine transformation? And what does diversity and justice in higher education truly look like? All this and more with Dr. Nimisha Barton, author of “Diversity Practitioners and Institutional Whiteness”, a chapter in her book A Just Future, published by Cornell University Press—a partner of De Gruyter Brill.

Liked this podcast? Have thoughts on the topic? Want us to address a specific theme in the future? Write to us at [email protected].

Host: Ramzi Nasir 

Guest: Dr. Nimisha Barton

This month on Humanities Matter, we discuss the variation in literacy rates among India’s social strata, the importance of considering a gendered perspective in adult education policies within the country, and how such policies can empower marginalized communities and bring about social change.

All this and more with Dr. Preeti Dagar, author of “Subaltern Perspectives in Adult Education”, a chapter in the book Adult Education in India, Volume 35 in the series International Issues in Adult Education, published last year by Brill.

Liked this podcast? Have thoughts on the topic? Want us to address a specific theme in the future? Write to us at [email protected].

Host: Ramzi Nasir
Guest: Dr. Preeti Dagar

In this episode of Humanities Matter, we take a closer look at the documented sightings of the so-called Gloucester Sea Serpent over the years. Are there truly monsters lurking in the deep? Or do these stories reveal a stark truth about marine sustainability and the lasting impact of human fishing practices on our oceans?

All this and more with Dr. Robert France, author of Disentangled: Ethnozoology and Environmental Explanation of the Gloucester Sea Serpent, published by Brill.

Liked this podcast? Have thoughts on the topic? Want us to address a specific theme in the future? Write to us at [email protected]. 

Host: Ramzi Nasir
Guest: Dr. Robert L. France

In the second half of this episode on Humanities Matter, we examine when countries might deploy autonomous weapons systems, whether these weapons could better follow international human rights law than humans if properly programmed, the feasibility of a global ban, and the challenges in regulating or limiting their production.

All this and more with Dr. Barry de Vries, author of Individual Criminal Responsibility for Autonomous Weapons Systems in International Criminal Law, which is volume 65 in “International Human Law Series” published by De Gruyter Brill. 

Liked this podcast? Have thoughts on the topic? Want us to address a specific theme in the future? Write to us at [email protected].

Host: Ramzi Nasir
Guest: Dr. Barry de Vries