Disinformation, whether it’s about climate change, COVID-19 or the war in Ukraine, is plaguing the online spaces we rely on to understand and engage with the world around us. Social media platforms and governments are taking steps to curb this phenomenon online, but the supply of deceit shows no signs of abating – if only, it’s growing more sophisticated by the day. So what are proven, effective tactics to fight disinformation on social media? Researchers at Utrecht University are still grappling with this question, but they warn many of the existing measures fail to address the number one motive that makes disinformation thrive in the first place: too often, lies are more profitable than the truth. And that’s a wicked incentive for content producers and influencers who, in the age of social media, can be anyone of us.

In our audio stories we explore how researchers at Utrecht University tackle social issues and work towards a better world.

Voice recording created by ElevenLabs.

In this episode, Max Ireland-Stanley and Amanda Annemans speak with Rahel Abraham and Amaryllis Lee about the process of building and sustaining spaces in academia for students of color. They discuss the trials and tribulations of working within the university institution, the importance of student-led initiatives, and what keeps them motivated through it all.

You can keep up with POC-Co at: https://www.instagram.com/ucu__poc/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Follow ACHN at: https://www.instagram.com/achn_nl/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Amaryllis Lee is the current president of the African and Caribbean Heritage Network (ACHN). She studies Applied Artificial Intelligence at the HU.

Rahel Abraham is a founding member and external relations manager of University College Utrecht’s POC Committee. She is the former secretary of the ACHN. She studies Law and Politics at UCU.

If you want to continue learning more about topics covered in today’s conversation, we’d recommend checking out:

Association of Students of African Heritage: https://www.asah-eur.nl/

Black in Academia: https://www.youtube.com/@BlackInAcademia/videos

The Malcolm Effect: https://kultural.podbean.com/

The Blackademic Life: https://nupress.northwestern.edu/9780810140998/the-blackademic-life/

Academia Isn’t a Safe Haven for Conversations About Race and Racism: https://hbr.org/2020/06/academia-isnt-a-safe-haven-for-conversations-about-race-and-racism

UvA Let’s Do Diversity report: https://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/about-the-university/diversity-and-inclusion/policy-framework/policy-framework.html

ABOUT

Brought to you by the UGlobe Decolonisation Group

Hosted by Max Ireland-Stanley and Amanda Annemans

Sound by Max Ireland-Stanley

Music by CarlosCarty (CC-BY-3.0)

Special thanks to our guests Rahel Abraham and Amaryllis Lee

This is the first episode in our new series of Microcasts, where we discuss key points from our podcast episodes in another language. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Gillett is joined by Valérie-Ann Edmond-Mariette, Bérénice Boukaré and Amanda Annemans to discuss how the history of colonialism is present in the popular music of Martinique. Their conversation explores the legacy of the musician Eugène Mona, whose songs such as “Bois brulé/Bwa Brilé” have come to define an entire nation.

Listen to Eugène Mona’s music here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO4l2ts6?si=ba6614ee314a4202

ABOUT

Brought to you by the UGlobe Decolonisation Group

Hosted by Rachel Gillett, Bérénice Boukaré and Amanda Annemans

Sound by Maren Smith

Music by CarlosCarty (CC-BY-3.0)

Special thanks to our guest Valérie-Ann Edmond-Mariette (https://www.instagram.com/valycherche/)

In this episode, Dr. Rachel Gillett is joined by Valérie-Ann Edmond-Mariette, Bérénice Boukaré and Amanda Annemans to discuss how the history of colonialism is present in the popular music of Martinique. Their conversation explores the legacy of the musician Eugène Mona, whose songs such as “Bois brulé/Bwa Brilé” have come to define an entire nation.

Listen to Eugène Mona’s music here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO4l2ts6?si=ba6614ee314a4202

ABOUT

Brought to you by the UGlobe Decolonisation Group

Hosted by Rachel Gillett, Bérénice Boukaré and Amanda Annemans

Sound by Maren Smith

Music by CarlosCarty (CC-BY-3.0)

Special thanks to our guest Valérie-Ann Edmond-Mariette (https://www.instagram.com/valycherche/)

Orlanda Lie is professor emerita middeleeuwse cultuur van de Universiteit Utrecht. Zij kwam via Suriname en de Verenigde Staten terecht aan de Universiteit Utrecht, gegrepen door de middelnederlandse Arthur-literatuur. Via haar promotor Wim Gerritsen ontmoette zij ‘tante Maartje’, met wie zij haar hele leven een goede band zou houden.

In dit tweede deel van Orlanda’s tweeluik, vertelt ze over haar eigen ervaringen als vrouw van Surinaams/Aziatische afkomst in de Nederlandse wetenschap, en beargumenteert ze waarom Maartje Draak volgens haar te vergelijken is met beroemde vrouwen uit de middeleeuwse literatuur zoals Marie de France en Christine de Pizan. Benieuwd? Zet de aflevering maar aan!

Deze aflevering gaat over een thema in de veehouderij: kalf bij de koe. Willen we het kalf bij de koe houden? Wat zijn de voor- en nadelen en wat is de huidige status? Aan tafel: expert Margret Wenker, dierwetenschapster die haar promotieonderzoek naar kalf bij koe heeft gedaan.

Evaluatie: bij onze podcast hoort ook een evaluatie. Helpen bij verbetering van het onderwijs in de toekomst? Dat kan door het invullen van de volgende evaluatie: https://survey.uu.nl/jfe/form/SV_5orZsP2D5xS6R70.

Dankjewel!

Publicaties van Margret Wenker

- Motivatie koe om bij kalf te komen: Wenker, M. L., Bokkers, E. A. M., Lecorps, B., von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., van Reenen, C. G., Verwer, C. M., & Weary, D. M. (2020). Effect of cow-calf contact on cow motivation to reunite with their calf. Scientific Reports, 10(1), [14233]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70927-w

- Nieuwste publicatie: Wenker, M. L. (2022). Welfare implications of prolonged cow-calf contact in dairy farming. [internal PhD, WU, Wageningen University]. Wageningen University. https://doi.org/10.18174/564225

- https://kalfjesbijdekoe.nl

- Link enquête podcast Diergeneeskunde en haar dilemma’s: https://survey.uu.nl/jfe/form/SV_5orZsP2D5xS6R70

- Brochure verkenning kalf bij de koe: https://edepot.wur.nl/441028

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Over de podcast:

In “Diergeneeskunde en haar dilemma’s” worden allerlei thema’s besproken, die spelen in de maatschappij op diergeneeskundig vlak. Onderwerpen die op verjaardagen worden aangesneden en waar jij als student Diergeneeskunde misschien wel een mening over moet of wilt vormen. Maar hoe kom je tot je eigen mening in een web van emoties, wetenschap en politiek? Met deze vraag in haar achterhoofd is Sarah Kuiper, juniordocent Sustainable Ruminant Health aan de faculteit Diergeneeskunde, met deze podcast begonnen.

In 2018, dr. Lauren Gould and Prof. dr. Jolle Demmers founded The Intimacies of Remote Warfare programme to investigate how and why Western advanced militaries increasingly turn to remote forms of interventionism. They set out to think through what this remoteness does with our understanding of what war is and our willingness to wage war, as well as reflect on how remoteness in turn creates new and unforeseen intimate relationships and conflict dynamics. In this podcast Jolle and Lauren reflect on what the programme has achieved in the last 5 years and what it sets out to achieve in the coming 5 years.

The Intimacies of Remote Warfare is an evidence-based research program that aims to inform academic, public and policy debates on the intimate realities of remote wars waged by advanced militaries. It investigates the politics, operations, technologies, and political economy of remote warfare, as well as its impact on civilian harm and blowback. IRW engages with key stakeholders to participate in expert round tables, co-create knowledge, and formulate policy recommendations. For more information and current research see https://intimacies-of-remote-warfare.nl/

The podcast was produced as part of a research lab in the master's program Conflict Studies and Human Rights at UU.

Key readings:

Demmers, J. & Gould, L. M. (2018). An Assemblage Approach to Liquid Warfare: AFRICOM and the 'hunt' for Joseph Kony. Security Dialogue 49(5), 364-381.

Demmers, J. & Gould, L. (2020). The Remote Warfare Paradox. In Remote Warfare: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. E-International Relations Publishing Collected Volume.

Gould L & Stell N (2021). Strategic ignorance and the legitimation of remote warfare: The Hawija bombardments. Security Dialogue 53 (1): 57-74

Gould et al. (2022). In After the Strike: Exposing the Civilian Harm Effects of the 2015 Dutch Airstrike on Hawija. Utrecht University/PAX/Al-Ghad.

Gould, L.M. et al. (2023). Innovating Algorithmic Warfare: Experimentation with Information Manoeuvre beyond the Boundaries of the Law. Global Society.

In this episode, Dr. Rachel Gillett and Maren Smith speak with Dr. Bruce Mutsvairo about digital activism and the significant role that the Internet plays in political communications today. Bruce also takes us behind the scenes of his upcoming book Platforms, Power, and Politics: An Introduction to Political Communication in the Digital Age, sharing his insights on the importance of creating resources for students.

Get your own copy of Bruce’s book here:

https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=platforms-power-and-politics--9781509553570&fbclid=IwAR0qhMg8n4OLgGo0ucxHYcTwtdXSF38ZpYbDYYCLmcCNpZIEWuf3tCuSsv4

Dr. Bruce Mutsvairo is a professor and the chair of Media, Politics & the Global South at Utrecht University. With a background as a journalist for the Associated Press, his research focuses on the complex relationship between journalism, technology and democracy, particularly in non-Western contexts.

ABOUT

Brought to you by the UGlobe Decolonisation Group

Hosted by Rachel Gillett and Maren Smith

Sound by Max Ireland-Stanley

Music by CarlosCarty (CC-BY-3.0)

Special thanks to our guest Dr. Bruce Mutsvairo

Zwarte gaten, een klein beetje string theory (wat is dat?), de films Interstellar + Oppenheimer en ‘raad het geluid’ met Professor Stefan VanDoren!

Orlanda Lie is professor emerita middeleeuwse cultuur van de Universiteit Utrecht. Zij kwam via Suriname en de Verenigde Staten terecht aan de Universiteit Utrecht, gegrepen door de middelnederlandse Arthur-literatuur. Via haar promotor Wim Gerritsen ontmoette zij ‘tante Maartje’, met wie zij haar hele leven een goede band zou houden. In dit eerste deel van Orlanda’s tweeluik, vertelt ze over de colleges die ze volgde bij Maartje Draak, en leest ze twee verhalen voor die allerlei herinneringen terugbrengen aan Maartje maar ook aan Orlanda’s eigen tijd in Utrecht - bijvoorbeeld over die muis op haar balkon!

Literatuur:

Meuwese, M.L., Lie, O.S.H., Aussems, Mark & Joldersma, Hermina (2015). Christine de Pizan in Bruges - Le Livre de la Cité des Dames as Het Bouc van de Stede der Vrauwen (London, British Library, Add. 20698. Hilversum: Verloren.

Lie, O.S.H. (17-04-2013). Vrouwengeneeskunde in de middeleeuwen: fysiologie en beeldvorming. In E. Slager (Eds.), Reproductieve geneeskunde, Gynaecologie en Obstetrie anno 2013 (pp. 193-198) (6 p.). Haarlem: dchg medische communicatie, 19e Doelencongres Infertiliteit, Gynaecologie en Obstetrie.

Lie, O.S.H. (18-11-2005). Wat bezielt een mediëvist? Mastering the Middle Ages. (36 p.). Utrecht: Universiteit Utrecht, Faculteit der Letteren, de inaugurele rede is deels in het Nederlands, deels in het Engels.

Lie, O.S.H. (1987) The Middle Dutch Prose Lancelot Study of the Rotterdam Fragments and Their Place in the French, German and Dutch Lancelot Prose Tradition.