Why We Should Love Wasps, featuring Professor Seirian Sumner

A cup of tea with Professors Judy Stephenson and Daniel Miller

AI is becoming increasingly anthropomorphised and integrated into all aspects of our lives. Join Professors Judy Stephenson and Daniel Miller, Professor of Anthropology, as they discuss the different meanings and values that people assign to AI. Plus, learn more about what inspired Prof Miller to enter the field of anthropology. Daniel Miller is director of the Centre for Digital Anthropology at UCL. Most recently, he co-edited An Anthropological Approach to mHealth alongside Dr Charlotte Hawkins and Patrick Awondo. This book, available as a free PDF from UCL Press, proposes a radically different anthropological approach to the development and dissemination of mobile health (mHealth), a rapidly growing sector in healthcare.

Universities and Climate Action, featuring Professor Tristan McCowan

Universities must be at the heart of climate action, and not just through research and tech. In this episode, Professor Tristan McCowan, Professor of International Education, highlights the power of community partnerships, indigenous knowledge and grassroots initiatives to drive local change. Professor McCowan argues that from resisting climate denial to modelling sustainable communities, universities have both the responsibility and the potential to help shape a just climate future.

Why We Should Love Wasps, featuring Professor Seirian Sumner

More than just picnic pests, wasps are vital to our ecosystems, but are deeply misunderstood. Joining Professor Philip Schofield in this episode is Professor Seirian Sumner, Professor of Behavioural Ecology and avid defender of wasps. Professor Sumner dissects the evolutionary role of wasps as ancestors of bees and ants, their potential in cancer research, and their overlooked ecological value: making a case for embracing wasps as allies in biodiversity and science.

Ecosystems and Disease, featuring Dr Rory Gibb

Rising temperatures and ecosystem disruption are reshaping the global landscape of infectious disease. Computational biologist Dr Rory Gibb joins Professor Philip Schofield to discuss how climate change and social inequality are fuelling increases in mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever and West Nile virus. From cutting-edge vaccines to rethinking urban design, Dr Gibb explains why tackling infectious disease requires urgent action; especially for the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Biodiversity Loss, featuring Professor Jon Bridle

Step into the minds of leading academics with UCL Press Play: a podcast and documentary series featuring groundbreaking voices and cutting edge ideas. Join UCL academics as they uncover groundbreaking new ideas and fresh insights on diverse topics such as queer histories, neurodiversity, and climate justice.