The World in Question

This episode looks at where we are in the climate crisis, how recent events including war and economic crises have affected the priority of environmental issues and whether we still have time to make a difference.

It features two academics from the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King’s College London who explore whether we are at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis.

Professor Frans Berkhout, from King’s Department of Geography, outlines some of the impacts of global warming that are we already seeing, discusses whether he thinks we will be able to adapt to our new world and assesses where we are on progress against global commitments.

Dr Duraid Jalili, from King’s Defence Studies Department and Co-director of its Environmental Security Research group, highlights ways in which environmental issues have already affected the geopolitical, economic and social order of our world, looks at how the war in Ukraine has affected public focus on climate change and discusses whether we are at a critical moment in public and political understanding of the need to take action.

They also share their thoughts for the future, including how hopeful they feel about our ability to take the steps needed to address climate change, and what we can all do to play our part.

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What shapes and enables women's rights to be fully enacted in a world where sexual reproductive health is politicised? What exactly is the reproductive justice movement? And how important is it to understand our past when it comes to making informed decisions about women's bodies?

In this episode, PhD student Annabel Sowemimo shares how she first got into sexual reproductive health, more about her day job as a Community Sexual Reproductive Health Registrar and why she founded the Reproductive Justice initiative. She also talks about a piece called, 'The secret lives of Britain’s first Black physicians', which she wrote for Wellcome Collection and about her great, great grandfather – one of the first West African graduates of medicine in the UK.

Hear Annabel explore her findings with Dr Rishitia Nandagiri, Lecturer in Global Health and Social Medicine (Bioethics & Society).

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This podcast episode looks at the huge political consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and how its effects are still being felt at every level around the world today.

It explores how the pandemic affected the standing of global leadership organisations, as well as challenging previously held ideas about effective leaders and political systems.

It also looks at how the pandemic caused the downfall of the British Prime Minister and is still determining key UK government priorities, plus discusses ways in which the far-right exploited the chaos and confusion surrounding COVID-19 to recruit new followers.

It features Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Professor Andrew Blick and Blyth Crawford, who are all based in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King's College London.

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What can we do to protect our oceans? Are 'Marine Protected Areas' an effective method of ecosystem management? These are some of the questions that PhD Candidate, Constance Schéré, aims to answer through her research.

Hear Constance discuss her research with Kate Schreckenberg, Head of King’s Department of Geography and Professor in Environment and Development.

You can find out more about the organisations Constance mentions in the podcast through the links below:

• Coastwatch: https://coastwatch.org/europe/
• Seasearch: https://www.seasearch.org.uk/
• ORCA: https://www.orcaweb.org.uk/

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This episode explores the important role of energy in the geopolitical order on our planet.

It explores how China can meet its energy needs and climate commitments, the potential impact of the war in Ukraine on Russia's role as an energy superpower, plus why we are still so reliant on fossil fuels to power our daily lives.

It features Dr Thomas Froehlich, Kalina Damianova and Isabel Hilton, all of whom are part of the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy at King’s College London.

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With the mass incarceration of women quintupling in Guatemala as a result of the 'war on drugs', Gloriana Rodriguez Alvarez, PhD candidate and human rights advocate, asks how the country's policies and institutions perpetuate social prejudices and impact marginalised communities.

In this episode, Gloriana speaks with David Mwambari, Lecturer in African Security and Leadership Studies at King’s African Leadership Centre, about her research, her time interviewing inmates in Guatemalan prisons and the importance of being an empathetic researcher.

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The invasion of Ukraine has shown how new technologies are now used alongside more traditional means of waging war.

This episode, the second on the Changing Face of War, looks at how space has become an integral part of military and security operations today, how countries around the world and private individuals are expanding their activities into space, and how closely these are linked to what is happening on Earth.

It also explores whether we need to put in safeguards now, how we can learn lessons from the past and why we should encourage international collaboration to ensure space doesn’t become dangerous overcrowded by satellites and space debris.

The episode feature Dr Sophy Antrobus, Dr Mark Hilborne and Julia Balm, who are all based in the School of Security Studies in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy.

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In this episode Dr Tim Stevens and Dr Kenneth Payne, both based in the School of Security Studies in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King's College London, explore the role of cyber operations, social media and artificial intelligence in modern warfare.

They explain how our reliance on digital systems is creating new vulnerabilities, look at the ways that social media is broadening out conflicts today and explore whether cyber operations could ever be an alternative to sending in troops on the ground.

And what about artificial intelligence or AI? what role is that already playing in modern-day warfare? Could it replace humans on the battlefield and will we have AI swarms or shoals roaming the skies or swimming through the oceans hunting down our enemies?

This is the first of two episodes on the Changing Face of War. The second, due out later this month, will look at how space is now an integral part of modern warfare and defence and whether the world is ready for the challenges involved in moving into this new frontier.

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How does foreign policy interact with health? And how is power intertwined with health policy?

In this episode, Maria Berta Ecija Salgado, PhD alumnus, discusses her research on soft and hard power in Brazil foreign affairs. This included conducting field work in Mozambique to explore the role of Brazil in establishing a factory for antiretroviral drugs.

Hear Maria Berta discuss her research with Anthony Pereira, Professor of Brazilian Studies.

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