Arqus Knowledge Pills

Are We Ready for AI Twins? Legal and Ethical Challenges Ahead: Innovation, Privacy, and the Future of Digital Identity — Explore everything behind the topic in the latest Arqus podcast episode!What are AI twin assistants and how could they change the way we work, create, and interact? What legal and ethical questions do they raise around data privacy, ownership, and identity? These are the core questions addressed in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast.In this brand-new episode, we welcome a very special guest: Dr Paulius Jurčys, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University and expert in data privacy, copyright, and emerging technologies.Together, we explore the fascinating world of AI twin assistants: digital versions of ourselves that can write, speak, and act on our behalf. How do they work? Who owns the content they generate? And what are the legal and ethical risks when our voices and identities can be cloned?From data ownership to AI-generated creativity, and from deepfakes to digital fairness, this episode dives into the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, law, and innovation. Tune in to discover how AI twins could reshape our understanding of creativity, fairness, and personal data in the digital future and why now is the time to think critically about the rules that will shape it.Learn more about Paulius Jurčys:Paulius Jurčys is a senior lecturer at Vilnius University Law Faculty where teaches data privacy and copyright law courses at Vilnius University Law Faculty and serves as an affiliate fellow with Harvard's CopyrightX program. A technology lawyer and admitted to practice law in California. He is also a co-founder of Prifina, a San Francisco company that builds personal-data technologies for individuals. Paulius Jurčys holds an LL.M. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Kyushu University, and in 2025 became a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley School of Law. In 2025, he won the MyData Global “Thought Leadership” award. He served as an expert member of the International Law Association committee on Intellectual Property, which drafted the 2021 Guidelines on Intellectual Property and Private International Law. 

What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace? Explore this forgotten policy and its surprising legacy in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast!In the 20th century, many countries enforced so-called "Marriage Bars" – rules that required women to leave their jobs once they got married. While most countries abolished these policies by the 1950s, Ireland maintained its Marriage Bar until the 1970s. What impact did this have on the lives of Irish women, and what can we learn from it today?In the 39th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, Dr Irene Mosca, lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University, takes us on a journey through her research on Marriage Bars in Ireland and beyond. Drawing on data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), she reveals the lasting economic and social consequences of this institutionalised form of gender discrimination.Dr Mosca explains how women affected by the Irish Marriage Bar tended to have shorter working lives and lower personal incomes, yet also more children, more educated children, and – paradoxically – greater household wealth. She also sheds light on the political and social arguments that kept such policies in place and reflects on how the legacy of the Marriage Bar still echoes in today's debates on gender equality.Learn more about Irene Mosca:Dr Irene Mosca is a lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University and has a strong track record in applied health, population, and labour economics. She is also a research fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics and the Global Labor Organisation, and an Executive Committee Member of the Irish Society for Women in Economics.

What impact do intergenerational relations have on our society? What initiatives are needed between generations to ensure the effective transfer of knowledge, education, and resources? How can we fight ageism and discrimination to create a more inclusive world? These are the key questions explored in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast. In this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, we explore these critical questions with Carolina Campos, a researcher at the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada. Dedicated to bridging the gap between generations, the Macrosad Chair plays a vital role in shaping policies and programs that ensure knowledge is shared, education is strengthened, and wealth is distributed sustainably across time—between those who have been, those who are, and those who will be.Carolina shares insights on the significance of intergenerational research, the challenges of fostering meaningful connections, and how knowledge transfer can drive real-world impact. She also highlights a key issue: despite the clear benefits and urgent need for these connections, institutional and legal frameworks often create barriers that separate age groups rather than bringing them together—whether in education, housing, or care systems.As the world rapidly changes, ensuring sustainability over time requires meaningful connections between people of all ages. Tune in to this insightful conversation and discover how we can build a more connected and inclusive future—together.Learn more about Carolina Campos Rueda:Carolina Campos Rueda is member of the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada, where she has been a research staff member since 2019. Graduated in Occupational Therapy and specialised in Intergenerational Projects, she has specific training in intergenerationality, such as the certificate “Together Old and Young: An Intergenerational Approach”, or the “International Certificate in Intergenerational Learning”, as well as training in qualitative and quantitative research techniques.At the Chair, she carries out research, training and dissemination work, as well as all those activities that derive from the lines of action of the Chair. Her work is also closely connected to CINTER (Macrosad's Intergenerational Reference Centre in Albolote, Granada); to the research projects led by the Chair (currently focused on the validation of Intergenerational Contact Zones in Andalusia and Extremadura, or on the development of quality indicators in intergenerational practices and spaces); and to practical actions such as the intergenerational project “Harmonía” or the national coordination of the worldwide movement “Global Intergenerational Week”.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine, threatening the effectiveness of treatments and putting millions at risk. But what if the key to overcoming this crisis lies in nature itself? This month's episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast features Dr Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach, a microbiologist at the University of Wrocław, who explores groundbreaking and sustainable antibacterial therapies.Dr Dorotkiewicz-Jach discusses alternative treatments such as bacteriophages, plant-based compounds, and anti-virulent therapies, highlighting their potential in fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She also shares insights on the impact of climate change on antimicrobial resistance and the need for global cooperation.For the 37th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Agata explores how research and interdisciplinary approaches can help shape the future of medicine.Learn more about Dr Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach:Dr Dorotkiewicz-Jach specializes in alternative antibacterial therapies at the University of Wrocław. She has led research on innovative treatment strategies and plays an active role in the Arqus Alliance, coordinating climate change and sustainability initiatives.

What misconceptions lie beneath this widely used technology? What ethical and societal debates about its use are emerging? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Helena Machado discusses her work in this episode of Knowledge Pills. Facial recognition technologies, while promising convenience and security, raise critical issues like invasion of privacy, surveillance normalization, discrimination, and inaccuracies. This episode delves into these technologies' societal impacts, examining how they shape citizenship and public engagement. In this episode, Professor Helena Machado discusses the project fAIces, which integrates diverse perspectives to reshape technology's societal role, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire creative, activist-driven approaches to ethics and engagement. For the 36th episode of Arqus Knowledge Pills, “Facial recognition and ethics,” she highlights her efforts to develop innovative ethical frameworks, such as “etho-assemblages,” and explore alternative futures for facial recognition technologies that prioritize inclusivity, creativity, and public empowerment. Learn more about Helena Machado  Helena Machado is a leading researcher in the sociology of science and technology. Full Professor of Sociology at the Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), she is the Director of the PhD Programme in Sociology; and founding member and coordinator of the AIDA Social Sciences Network, a social sciences' research initiative focusing on artificial intelligence, data, and algorithms. 

What strategies can effectively promote constructive online interactions? How can we effectively moderate content on social media platforms? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jana Lasser discusses her work in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills. From developing counter-speech strategies to tackle online hate to exploring how data management can improve social interactions, this episode explores how data can offer positive alternatives to moderation and counters to hate speech in online spheres. In this episode, Professor Jana Lasser outlines the functionality and importance of such efforts from a data analysis perspective and provides a deeper understanding of the intersection between data science and social issues.  For the 35th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Jana discusses the work she has done to develop countermeasures to hate speech in online spaces. Social media platforms are constantly changing, and she offers some insight into possible solutions. Learn more about Jana Lasser: Jana Lasser is a Professor of Data Analysis at the University of Graz where she leads the research group of Complex Social and Computational Systems at the interdisciplinary research centre IDea_Lab. She researches emergent phenomena in complex social systems, employing methods from machine learning, data science, natural language processing, and computational and statistical modelling to understand how humans behave in socio-technical environments. Her current research interests include the effectiveness of counter-speech strategies, the spread of misinformation on social media platforms, and the impact of social media content recommendation algorithms on societal outcomes.

What role does ecohydrology play in addressing the climate crisis and ensuring fair water distribution? How can research help us adapt to the changing environment? These are the key questions explored in Professor Andrea Rinaldo's work, discussed in this podcast. In the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, we dive deep into the world of eco-hydrology with a special guest, Professor Andrea Rinaldo, a leading expert in water resources and hydrology. Professor Rinaldo is a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Padua and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He was awarded the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize in 2023 for his outstanding contributions to the field of water research. In this episode, we explore the critical importance of ecohydrology, a field that studies the interactions between water systems and ecosystems. Professor Rinaldo discusses the value of natural capital and how understanding the relationship between water, ecosystems, and human activities is vital to addressing the challenges of climate change, water distribution, and resource management. He also delves into the concept of “beauty” in the landscape, sharing how the cultural value of natural environments can be integrated into our development plans. As we face increasingly urgent issues like droughts, floods, and pandemics, Professor Rinaldo reflects on how his research provides insights into adapting to these changes, ensuring the fair distribution of water resources, and preventing future health crises. Additionally, the episode touches on his personal connection to Venice, his hometown, where his research into water governance and environmental protection is especially pertinent. Professor Rinaldo shares his thoughts on the future of this iconic city as it grapples with rising sea levels and other climate-related challenges. Learn more about Andrea Rinaldo: Andrea Rinaldo is an Italian hydrologist and engineer, widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to ecohydrology and water resource management. He is Professor of Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Padova and Director of the Laboratory of Ecohydrology (ECHO) at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the world's first laboratory dedicated to ecohydrology, which he founded in 2008.He has also collaborated with institutions like MIT and Princeton University. In 2023, he received the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize for his impactful research in hydrology, hydrogeomorphology, and epidemiology, advancing strategies to protect biodiversity and control waterborne diseases. Rinaldo played for Italy's national rugby team in the 1970s and remains active in the sport at the managerial level. He is a member of several prestigious academies, including the National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. With over 320 peer-reviewed publications, he has also written works for a broader audience, including Del rugby. Verso una ecologia della palla ovale (2017) and Il governo dell'acqua (2023), exploring environmental and climate issues.

After the rise of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the key challenges organisations face in balancing flexibility with maintaining team cohesion? And what role can scientific research play in improving the future of remote work? These are the questions at the heart of Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė's podcast episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills. As the demand for telework continues to rise, organisations must address critical challenges such as ensuring productivity, balancing flexibility with structure, and supporting employees' mental health. The discussion explores practical strategies for overcoming these hurdles and emphasises the importance of research-based approaches to improving telework implementation. For the 33rd episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How will teleworking shape our work in the future?”, Professor Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė shares her experience with remote work and offers a glimpse into how scientific research can guide the development of more sustainable, flexible work models. -- Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė is a professor at Vilnius University and heads the Organizational Psychology Research Centre. Her research focuses on the impact of flexible work arrangements on employee well-being and performance, with particular attention to work engagement burnout, and work-life balance.

How have ideas about food, health and the body evolved throughout history? What impact do these concepts have on inclusion and exclusion, and on society in general? These are the questions at the heart of Nina Mackert's research fields. Nina Mackert is a historian working in the interdisciplinary LeipzigLab "Global Health" at Leipzig University. In this episode, she shares her perspectives on how food and health have influenced society through the years and explores the complex relationship between body image and societal norms. As she is finalising her second book, which delves into the history of calories, she provides a thought-provoking discussion on how our understanding of food and health continues to impact modern life. With her extensive research and knowledge, Nina Mackert offers valuable insights that reshape how we think about food, health and the body.

How is the teaching profession dealing with the increasing shortage across the world?  What are the common factors fueling this global crisis? What are the strategies to implement to support these challenges? These are the questions at the heart of Maria Assunção Flores's research fields, which are discussed in this podcast. For the 31st episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How critical is the shortage of teachers today?” We invited Maria Assunção Flores, an Associate Professor at the Institute of Education of the University of Minho, specialising in teacher education. In this episode, she provides her analysis and perspective on the current global education crisis, explores the impact of the integration of technology in education, and discusses potential actions to improve the educational landscape. With her extensive research background and leadership in the field, Assunção Flores offers invaluable insights into addressing this urgent issue. Learn more about Maria Assunção Flores: Maria Assunção Flores concluded her Degree in Teaching of Portuguese and French and her Master Degree in Education, both at the UMinho. She received her PhD in Education from the University of Nottingham, UK and was a visiting scholar at the Universities of Cambridge and Glasgow, UK. She was also the Chair of the International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching (ISATT) (2013-2015) as well as of the International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET) (2011-2015). At the moment, Assunção Flores is the director of the Research Centre on Child Studies, a professor with habilitation at the Institute of Education of the University of Minho as well as Chair of the Council of the Institute of Education

How can physical activity impact people with chronic illnesses? What role do sports have in these patients' lives and in the societal perception of health? These are the questions at the heart of Claire Perrins's research fields, which are discussed in this podcast. For the 30th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How do sports impact chronic illness?” we invited Claire Perrin, a sociologist of sport and health and professor at the University of Lyon 1, specialised in Vulnerabilities and Innovation in Sport. In this episode, she discusses the transformative potential of sport for chronic patients, the role of sociology in shaping health practices, and the broader implications for social inequality. As the Paris Olympics kick off, don't miss this insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of sport and health! Learn more about Claire Perrin: Claire Perrin is a sociologist of sport and health, professor at the University of Lyon 1, and member of the Laboratory on Vulnerabilities and Innovation in Sport. Her research focuses upon the sociologies of adapted physical activity, the body, chronic illness and health. She is President of the Institute for Collaborative Research on Physical Activity and Health Promotion (ReCAPPS).

What exactly are the altmetrics? How are altmetrics reshaping the way we measure research impact? What role do AI and big data play in this transformation? These are the questions at the heart of Wenceslao Arroyo Machado's research fields, which are discussed in this podcast. For the 29th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “How do altmetrics influence the research methods today?” We invited Wenceslao Arroyo Machado, who holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies from the University of Granada (UGR), specialising in altmetrics and big data challenges. In this episode, he shares his journey into this field and dives into the challenges posed by big data, the impact of AI on his research, and his significant contributions to the academic world. Learn more about Wenceslao Arroyo Machado: Wenceslao Arroyo Machado holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies from the University of Granada (UGR), specialising in altmetrics and big data challenges. His academic journey combines his studies in the Degree of Information and Documentation and the Official Master's Degree in Data Science and Computer Engineering, with a particular focus on Data Science, both also at UGR. With more than 20 publications in JCR (Journal Citation Reports), his prolific research output is noteworthy. Additionally, he has been an active participant in four research projects under the National Plan in Spain. In the realm of EC3metrics, a spin-off from the UGR, he holds the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). He plays an instrumental role in the research field, particularly in the past few years where he has significantly contributed to EC3metrics in preparing institutional reports and in teaching specialised courses. His unique combination of academic and professional experience has allowed him to integrate novel techniques in bibliometric reports and develop practical methodologies for research.

How do magnetic materials technologies affect our daily lives? Have you ever wondered what is behind the speakers we use to listen to music, or behind certain medical devices and treatments? These are the questions at the heart of Alina Bienkos' research areas, which are discussed in the latest Arqus Knowledge Pill podcast. For this 28th episode "How are magnetic materials part of our daily lives?" we invited Alina Bieńko, Professor at the University of Wrocław, where she completed her PhD in the Molecular Magnetism and New Materials Group and is currently Head of the Magnetic Materials Group. In this episode, she provides insightful perspectives on the importance of magnetic materials in the life of an average person and the use of magnetic materials in the field of medicine.

For this 27th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “Should artificial intelligence decide over human intellect?”, we invited Matthias Wendland, professor at the Institute of Corporate and International Business Law at the University of Graz and holder of the Chair of Business Law, Artificial Intelligence Law and Data Protection Law. In this episode, he provides insightful perspectives on the role of artificial intelligence in decision-making processes, offering valuable insights into the intersection of law, ethics, and technological advancements.

How does motherhood impact mothers' lives? What are the main challenges that migrant mothers face in their daily lives, and how can we get a better understanding of this complex experience? These are the questions at the heart of Eglė Kačkutė's research on motherhood studies, which looks into the stereotypical but still relevant care chains, into who is caring for the very young and the elderly, under which circumstances and their sustainability in the future.

In this episode, we dive into the importance of bioplastics in mitigating the plastic pollution crisis. Are bioplastics a more sustainable option than traditional plastics? Is there a way to manage them in an environmentally and economically viable manner? These are the questions at the heart of Dominique Rocher's research project, which was selected for COP28 in Dubai and has recently won the EDHE Awards 2023 in South Africa. Learn more about Dominique Rocher: Dominique Rocher is dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. With a background in environmental science, biotechnology and entrepreneurship, she is currently pursuing a PhD at Stellenbosch University and the University of Padua, with one of the prestigious Arqus Talent Fund scholarships. Her journey is driven by a belief in the necessity of tackling the plastic pollution crisis on a worldwide scale. She is also the co-founder of the startup Urobo Biotech, together with Wessel Myburgh. This company is actively contributing to the broader goal of decarbonization and sustainability.

Are love duration and happiness predictable? Is there a mathematical model to predict the evolution of a relationship and plan a happy long-lasting one? Discover the quest for a mathematical relationship model in the latest Arqus podcast. For this 24th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills “Can love be explained through maths?”, we invited Professor Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Associate Professor and Researcher at the Camille Jordan Institute from the University of Lyon 1, where we dive into the correlation between love and maths, and how love psychology can be explained through mathematical parameters and models. Laurent Pujo-Menjouet is Associate Professor and Researcher at the Camille Jordan Institute of the University of Lyon 1. His research areas encompass a wide range of topics, from blood-related pathologies (such as leukemia and dialysis), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob), to other themes including radiobiology, bone formation, epidemiology (HIV), endangered language dynamics, dietary patterns, and love dynamics. He is the author of the book “Le jeu de l'amour sans le hasard: Mathématiques du couple” (Éditions des Équateurs / Humensis, 2019).

Last 27th October, Arqus participated in the Leipzig Science Festival Globe 2023 with a special live podcast episode of the “Arqus Knowledge Pills”: Bologna 2.0.? How European Higher Education Alliances are Changing Research and Studies? The Leipzig Science Festival Globe23 was aimed at finding answers to relevant questions, creating orientation and designing new questions. To this end, it created creative spaces for unusual encounters between research, art, civil society and politics. With young and old, the festival celebrated critical curiosity and scientific knowledge as well as cross-border dialogues on and about “Life in Transition”, the theme of this year's festival, at the Paulinum building of the Leipzig University and other venues in the city. In the framework of this festival, Arqus participated in the Globe Forum about transformation processes in the European Higher Education landscape with this special 1-hour podcast. The participants of this podcast are: Claudia Wendt, PhD student in the Research Training Group “Science Management and Science Communication (WiMaKo)” at the Institute for Higher Education Research. She is writing her doctoral thesis on the conditions for success in international university cooperation, using the example of the European University Alliances. Dr. Harvey Charles, Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In this role, he leads the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance and advances the University as a global leader in international teaching, research and outreach. Fernando Galán, Arqus Consortium Manager with more than 10 years of experience working on European Higher Education policies.

We suggest you listen to this 22nd episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills while going for a walk or a run - it will make you want to exercise! This time, we welcome Francisco B. Ortega, Professor at the Faculty of Sport Sciences at the University of Granada, to discuss a really important topic for our overall health: sports. In this episode, we dive into the importance of exercising for everybody but more specifically for children. The professor explains the link between physical activity and cognitive development and tells us about a fascinating survey he conducted in Granada. To end the podcast, he gives really easy and practical advice to add more physical activity to our daily lives.

For the 22nd episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, we talked to Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa from the University of Wrocław. She is a Professor at and head of the Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology at the Faculty of Biological Sciences. In this episode, she helps us understand what phage-derived enzymes are. They can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in fighting illnesses and represent hope against antibiotic resistance. Zuzanna explains how the enzymes work and gives us examples of their application in current medicine.

We are celebrating this month's milestone with the 20th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills. Thank you for listening and a special thanks to all the participants so far! Our guest in this episode is José Manuel González Méijome, Professor of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Minho. He introduces us to myopia, a very common disease that currently affects more than 20% of the world's population - a number that is on the rise! By 2050, this visual impairment could affect 50% of the population. The professor explains what it is and how it can be treated. We also study the effects of screen work and blue light on myopia and Professor Méijome gives us some advice to see better for longer.

For the 19th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, we welcomed an expert on “social tipping”, Jordan Everall. He is a member of the research group “Social Complexity & System Transformation” at the University of Graz.  Social tipping processes describe how social, political, economic or technological systems can move rapidly into a new system state if cascading positive feedback mechanisms are triggered. During the episode, we discuss his research on rapid social change and its connection to climate change. Jordan explains also how to quantify inequality and how these topics are all connected before he answers the tricky question: "Is it still possible to save the Earth?”

In the 18th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, we go underwater! Professor of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Padua, Sandro Mazzariol, explains the human impact on Cetaceans. He takes us through a marine mammal rescue and declares his favourite species of whale as alien. Sandro graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Padova in 2002. His main research fields are the study of marine mammals pathology and, in general, of free-ranging and captive wildlife, focusing on anthropic impaction and related diseases. In particular, he studies forensic diagnostic techniques to confirm any human-induced injuries or mortality and the existing relationships between pollutants and tissue changes. 

For this 17th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, we head to the planet Mars! The professor Cathy Quantin-Nataf, specialist in space exploration at the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, takes us along on her exciting Mars expeditions with both the American and the European Space Agencies, NASA and ESA respectively. In her podcast "Is there life on Mars?", she explains the interest of exploring this planet, the difficulties it involves and tells us about her role in these missions as a professor and researcher.

In the 16th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, we explore the topic of romantic love together with Victor de Munck, Professor of Sociocultural, Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Vilnius University. Victor addresses the question “Can romantic love end?” and gives us an overview of how the traditional model of monogamous romantic love has been challenged by contemporary lifestyles. Is love a constraint to our freedom? Could polyamory be the modern-day solution? Discover what his research conducted him to answer!

Philosophy is one of the oldest academic disciplines, its origins dating back more than two thousand years. In the 15th episode of the series Arqus Knowledge Pills “Is philosophy relevant nowadays?”, Sebastian Rödl, Professor for Practical Philosophy at Leipzig University, talks about the relevance it still has today and why we should not look for its “usefulness”. Sebastian shares his experience working in this field, describing it as a rollercoaster ride between moments of pure joy as well as deep frustration. And he explains what it takes to study philosophy – the most important prerequisite being an unquenchable thirst for complete understanding.

In this episode, Alberto Fernández, from the University of Granada, explains how to foster creativity in Artificial Intelligence, what amazing things they are already capable of and how we should deal with the enormous possibilities that Artificial Intelligence offers today, and in the near future. In the podcast, Alberto also talks about his interests in reading a novel or listening to a song that was not devised by a human being, and whether his research work has made him more creative in his everyday life.

Olfaction is of great importance for our psychological well-being. Psychologist Anna Oleszkiewicz from the University of Wrocław explains in this episode how our sense of smell and our state of mind are connected. Anna investigates how olfactory input influences our ability to function socially and psychologically. Also, she works on improving the so-called “Sniffin' Sticks” tests, which are an essential tool in the field of olfactory training: approximately 5 % of the general population has a dysfunctional sense of smell and a further 20 % has a severe olfactory impairment. Anna's goal is to bring medical knowledge on human olfactory processing and psychological science closer together.

Joana Azeredo is an Associate Professor at the University of Minho Department of Biological Engineering (Portugal). In this podcast episode, Joana explains how and why she researches a special kind of virus that can kill potentially dangerous bacteria. These viruses are of great therapeutic interest and can be used to control infectious diseases. Joana Azeredo's team recently also stood out by creating a “virus bank” to treat diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, one of the biggest health problems worldwide.

Teaching and learning are two fundamental concepts for those who do research and work at the university. But how is it possible to improve them, taking into account the differences in the fields of study? One of the tools available is the "Challenge-based learning program", a working method that allows you to analyze a subject from different perspectives, thanks to different expertise. Klaudijus Melys, from the University of Vilnius, tells us about it.

For nineteen months, Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl will sail over 55 000 nautical miles and visit 36 ports worldwide. The aim of the “One Ocean Expedition” is to share and spread knowledge about the crucial role of the ocean for sustainable development from a global perspective. Katja Enberg, professor at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Bergen, will be part of the crew. Shortly before her departure, she explains how students benefit from this unique teaching environment and how she personally expects to grow and change during this journey.

In this episode we chat with Francesco Bettella, a researcher at the University of Padua and a Paralympic swimmer who already won several medals. He tells us how he prepares for a swimming race, what feelings he experiences during the tournament and how all of his know-how pours into his research about exoskeletons. Also, he reveals to us his next objectives both in sports and in academia, and describes how both fields are sometimes quite similar.

Migrants are often more active as entrepreneurs than the natives of their host countries – even though they undoubtedly face several challenges during and after their move. What inspires them to become self-employed in spite of all the hardships that come along, how can we collaboratively facilitate their entrepreneurial process and why is this actually boosting host and home economies? In this episode of “Arqus Knowledge Pills”, we talk with Eunice Cascant of iae School of Management at Magellan Laboratory (Université Jean Moulin, Lyon) about these questions.

A PhD degree offers a broader variety of career opportunities than just the classic academic path. But how can young researchers succeed in the private business sector? How can they find their own start-up based on their scientific findings? Students from all Arqus universities recently came to Graz to dive deeper into this topic. Listen to the participants of the “Arqus PhD Week for Careers outside Academia” and find out more.

The young generation is hungry for science!”, says Dominik Becher. He is in charge of the Children's University at the University of Leipzig – a very important way to introduce children to the world of research and academia. He describes how he goes about planning the programme, why this kind of work is particularly rewarding and how researchers should prepare themselves for an audience that always asks the right questions. This will be the last episode of Arqus Knowledge Pills before the summer break. Stay tuned, we'll catch up with you in autumn.

In the fifth episode of the "Arqus Knowledge Pills", we talk to Valentina Dagienė, a professor of informatics at Vilnius University. She is one of the founders of the “Bebras Project”, a worldwide network that strives to kindle enthusiasm for Computer Science in children, teenagers and teachers. Valentina tells us how the challenges are organized in the partner countries around the world, why it is so important to foster computational thinking and also why a beaver is the mascot of this project. Find more information also on https://www.bebras.org.

In the fourth episode of the Arqus podcast, we tackle yet again basic research. This time our topic is the design and development of drug delivery nanosystems, namely nanomedicines, for cancer therapy. A promising approach in this field is to engineer nanomedicines to stimulate a specific immune response against cancers. Giovanna Lollo from the Laboratory of Automatic Control, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering of the Université de Lyon explains this approach to us. Note: The vaccines Giovanna refers to are the ones developed by Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer. In the time that has passed between the recording and the publication of this podcast, those two have gained international recognition as they were among the first authorized vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 .

The European Research Council (ERC) is one of the biggest institutions in Europe providing funding to carry out basic research. Receiving an ERC grant is a prestigious accolade for any researcher. Recently, the ERC faced the imminent danger of losing a big part of its budget. As a consequence, 19 leading international scientists and universities from 8 different countries formed the “Friends of the ERC” initiative, which included a petition to protest against the cutting of the ERC's budget. In this third episode of the “Arqus Knowledge Pills”, we talked with Prof. Eystein Jansen from the University of Bergen, who administered the initiative, about its goals and about the worth and relevance of basic research. Note: When this episode was recorded, the outcome of the “Friends of the ERC” campaign was yet unclear. In the meantime, the combined pressure that this one and other similar campaigns have had, has been in part successful. In the end, the budget amounted to 16,1 billion Euros, which is substantially higher than the originally intended sum. Website: https://friendsoftheerc.w.uib.no/ Twitter: @FriendsoftheERC

The second episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills invited Francesca Helm and Claudia Padovani to talk about researchers who are working under precarious circumstances. These indeed include even life-threatening conditions, as the recent example of Ahmadreza Djalali, who is currently imprisoned in Iran, shows. Francesca and Claudia explain why it can be dangerous to be a researcher and tell you how you can be of support. Both women teach and conduct research at the University of Padua and are actively engaged in the Italian section of Scholars at Risk, a non-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring a harm-free environment to scientists worldwide.

In the first episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, the pharmacist Andreas Kungl, professor at the University of Graz, will talk about his research project “Stop Covid-19”. In the frame of this research project, Prof. Kungl and his team are investigating how the coronavirus can be stopped from entering human cells. This research project is accompanied by a fundraising initiative open for everyone – a novelty in Austria.