Episodes

  • Immigrants and refugees: how does the media shape our opinions?
    Nov 18 2024

    Have you ever wondered why immigration is such a contentious issue when it's discussed in the news or on social media?

    Part of Dr Nour Halabi's work at Aberdeen is to help students understand how to think critically about what they read, hear and watch.

    Nour is an interdisciplinary fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations, and the author of Radical Hospitality. She explores the role and impact of the media in our everyday lives – particularly when it comes to conversations about immigration and refugees.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • How can we make healthcare eco-friendly? Moving to sustainable health systems
    Nov 11 2024

    The world's combined healthcare systems contribute 5% of emitted greenhouse gases.

    If global healthcare was a country, it would rank as the world's fifth biggest greenhouse gas emitter.

    In this episode, Tamsin and Swathi hear what is being done at Aberdeen and elsewhere to improve this situation - with Dr Laura McCrimmon, a junior doctor and expert on sustainable healthcare.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Do our fashion choices put workers at risk? Ethics in clothing supply chains
    Nov 4 2024

    When you shop for new clothes, do you ever think about the working conditions of people in the garment factories where they are made?

    Muhammed Azizul Islam - who goes by Aziz - is a professor in Aberdeen's Business School.

    He grew up around garment factories in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, and now works on finding ways to make things more equitable for workers. His specialism is in Sustainability Accounting.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • Are we spoiling our oceans for renewable energy? Marine conservation and offshore power
    Oct 28 2024

    There is so much we still don't understand about life under the waves - yet the race is well underway to install infrastructure and machines to harness offshore wind and tidal energy.

    Professor Beth Scott has spent her entire life studying (and playing in) the sea, and has an important role advising on the ecological impact of offshore energy installations.

    Where better to study marine ecology than with Beth in the world-famous port city of Aberdeen, on the North Sea's rugged and windswept coast?

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Is hydrogen the future of energy? Tackle the climate crisis at Europe's energy capital
    Oct 21 2024

    Aberdeen, Europe's energy capital, is at the forefront of developing sustainable energy

    systems to help fight climate change.

    Studying here will put you at the heart of a network of real-world projects including

    water electrolysis to generate hydrogen energy, using AI to make energy systems

    more efficient, and so much more.

    Senior lecture in engineering Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe tells Tamsin and Swathi about the

    opportunities presented by the push for net zero - not just for engineers, but

    across subjects and disciplines.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    26 mins
  • Is your protein shake worth it? The science of sport and nutrition
    Oct 14 2024

    Protein supplements, performance shakes, isotonic powders... there are so many expensive things you can buy to support your gym routine.

    But do any of them actually do anything useful?

    This episode is for regular gym-goers and high-performance athletes alike, as we go beyond boundaries of sport and nutrition with Dr Derek Ball, until recently the Head of Sports Science at the University of Aberdeen.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • Would you pass the Turing test? The past, present and future of artificial intelligence
    Oct 7 2024

    You might think artificial intelligence - or AI - is a relatively modern concept, but the science goes back to World War 2, and a remarkable British mathematician Alan Turing.

    Who better to introduce us to the history of AI, than Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Director for Data and AI, Georgios Leontidis.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    20 mins
  • Can a museum be racist? Understanding decolonisation
    Sep 30 2024

    What does it mean to 'decolonise' a museum? And what is the difference being being 'not racist' and being 'anti-racist' in the way you showcase artefacts and exhibits?

    Aberdeen, as an ancient university, has acquired museum pieces from all over the world - and sometimes needs to make very tricky ethical decisions about what should happen to them.

    This introduction to decolonising is with Museum Studies lecturer Dr Rachel Smith, and the University's Head of Museums & Special Collections Neil Curtis.

    Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.

    Show more Show less
    27 mins