Halftime Scholars

Episode Summary:In this episode of Half Time Scholars, we sit down with Shruti Sheshadri, a doctoral candidate in International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco, to discuss a critical yet often overlooked issue in global education: the persistent mismatch between early-grade language textbooks and the real learning needs of children in the Global South.Drawing from her research, Dismantling the Hierarchy of Skills: A Comparative Study of the Development of Language Textbooks in the Global South, Shruti explores how standardized textbook design fails to reflect contemporary pedagogy or meet the needs of diverse linguistic communities. Despite billions in investment and intensive planning, textbook development remains rigid, centralized, and out of sync with educational equity goals.We unpack the findings of her comparative case study across India, Senegal, Kenya, and Jordan, where she conducted interviews, textbook analyses, and document reviews to trace the institutional logics behind textbook development. Shruti reveals how language-in-education policies, community preferences, and institutional hierarchies shape the form and content of textbooks—and how these realities impact learning outcomes.This episode challenges listeners to think differently about educational materials in the early grades and invites educators, policymakers, and development practitioners to reimagine textbooks not as static tools, but as dynamic platforms capable of supporting inclusive and innovative literacy development.Key Themes:Why early-grade language textbooks are failing learners in the Global SouthThe institutional politics of textbook publishingThe hidden pedagogies embedded in textbook designComparative insights from India, Senegal, Kenya, and JordanThe transformative potential of generative AI and digital tools in reimagining textbooksAbout the Guest:Shruti Sheshadri is a researcher, editor, and consultant with deep expertise in global literacy and textbook publishing. She holds a master's degree in international education development from the University of Pennsylvania and serves as the Assistant Editor of the International Journal of Human Rights Education. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) as a Student Representative. Since 2018, she has worked on education program design, monitoring, and evaluation and currently consults for the Global Partnership for Education.

On this episode, our guest is Brittany Currenti is a final year PhD student at University of Adelaide focused on the philosophical critique of current understandings of convenience, and the conceptualisation of ‘overconvenience'—when too much convenience leads to negative outcomes for people, profit and planet. She is also one of the creators of Challenges and Changelings, the imaginal serious game for behaviour change, and the Director of Behavioural Research at Australian law firm MinterEllison. Please follow Brittany's work @ https://www.brittanycurrenti.com/

In this episode, we're joined by Meredith Bryan, a dedicated researcher, educator, and advocate whose work is transforming the way we understand and support autistic individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We also have a special guest host Carolyn Wade for this episode. Meredith Bryan trained as a secondary school teacher and has worked in schools in Sydney's inner and western suburbs. She is the proud mother of four sons. For the past decade she has primarily been supporting her youngest autistic son. As his needs have changed, she has had the privilege of returning to work and study. Having completed a Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies at Griffith University Meredith is continuing her studies at Griffith University's Autism Centre of Excellence and is halfway through a Master of Education and Professional Studies Research. In addition to her studies she also works part-time at the Autism Centre of Excellence. It is her family's lived experience of autism and her relationship with culturally and linguistically diverse autistic communities that inform her research. Meredith's research focuses on partnering with culturally and linguistically diverse autistic communities in Australia who have traditionally been underrepresented in autism research. The focus of her current research is South Asian caregivers' experiences of obtaining a diagnosis and early supports when raising an autistic child in Australia. She hopes this research will inform government policy in the health and education sectors to create culturally relevant services for the autistic community and remove barriers that currently prevent families from accessing autism diagnoses and supports in Australia. Her research findings will be translated into South Asian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Nepali, and shared with the community.

Welcome to Half Time Scholars - On this episode we're joined by Nicholas Hugman, a PhD researcher at the University of Queensland, whose work explores the nuances of conversational humour—the kind of humour that arises naturally in conversation, distinct from pre-prepared jokes. While much empirical research has examined conversational humour practices and their functions, there's been relatively little theoretical work conceptualizing this form of humour. Nicholas is addressing this gap by theorizing one of humour's essential features: incongruity. Traditionally studied in linguistic or cognitive terms, incongruity refers to deviations from default expectations. Nicholas's innovative approach examines incongruity through an interactional lens, offering fresh insights into how humour operates in everyday conversations. As he approaches the completion of his PhD, with plans to submit in June 2025

Welcome to Half Time Scholars. On this episode our guest is Ingrid Valladares is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Justice, Queensland University of Technology. She holds a Dual Bachelor of Economics from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and Université Pierre-Mendès-France, a Bachelor of Education from Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), and a Master of International Relations from the University of Queensland. Ingrid has primarily worked within the Ecuadorian government as an Electoral Officer and Policy Analyst. She has also served as an Office Coordinator for AIIA Victoria and is currently a board member at AIIA Queensland. Additionally, she has been a board member of the United Nations Association of Australia – Young Professionals (UNYP – Qld Division) and volunteered as a Senior Correspondent and Advocacy Team member for the Organisation for World Peace.

Welcome to Half Time Scholars. In this episode, we explore the reality of Indigenous education in northern Chile, where high rates of teacher turnover have disrupted the learning process for Indigenous students. Drawing from a qualitative study, we examine the skills and knowledge teachers need to succeed in rural, isolated Indigenous schools. Dr. Angela Baeza Peña, a lecturer at the Carumba Institute at Queensland University of Technology and a member of the Diaguita First Nation, leads the conversation. Her PhD research delved into the lived experiences of non-Indigenous teachers and the perspectives of Indigenous community members, revealing a gap between formal education and students' real-life experiences. By addressing the challenges teachers face in remote areas, Angela's work highlights the importance of culturally responsive practices and better teacher preparation to improve the quality of education for Indigenous students. This episode will shed light on the key factors influencing teacher experiences in rural Chile and offer insights into the broader implications for Indigenous education globally.

In this episode of Half Time Scholars, our guest is Mr. Ben Levy, a scholar-practitioner with over 24 years of experience in higher education internationalisation, decolonisation, and indigeneity. Ben's career has spanned six continents, where he has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering equitable and sustainable partnerships across diverse contexts and cultures. As a Senior International Officer at a U.S. public tertiary institution, he played a pivotal role in advancing comprehensive internationalisation strategies and securing federal grants to support these initiatives. Currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Waikato, Ben's research focuses on the intersections of national, regional, and international priorities in the tertiary education systems of Oceania's island nations, including Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. His work critically examines how global rankings and internationalisation often perpetuate colonial legacies, advocating instead for strategies that center Indigenous Oceania values and knowledge systems. By employing context-bound methodologies such as talanoa, Ben aims to contribute to a more equitable and transformational approach to internationalisation in higher education. Join us as we explore the complexities of higher education in Oceania and discuss Ben's vision for decolonising and contextualising internationalisation to benefit Indigenous communities.

Welcome to Half Time Scholars, out guest on this episode is Dr Carla Tapia Parada a post-doctoral researcher whose project explored the relationship between teacher activist and pedagogic work in pursuing social justice in Chile. This qualitative study received the Award of Excellence in a Research thesis as well as best thesis award from the Association of Iberian and Latin American Studies of Australasia (AILASA). Carla's research interests include activism, gender, social justice, and critical pedagogies.

In this episode, our guest is Catherine Viens, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Development Studies in Sussex, UK, also serving as the scientific coordinator of the Canadian Research Institute on Humanitarian Crises and Aid (OCCAH), and the Risk and Safety Management training program coordinator at the same institute. Her research focuses on social movements against extractivism, fossil neoliberalism, environmental politics, and socioenvironmental conflicts, particularly in federal states such as India and South Africa. Catherine's specific focus lies in exploring questions related to access, control, and use of natural resources such as water, land, food, and energy, and examining how public policy, laws, and political decisions regarding development models impact and provoke conflicts and resistance. Her work intersects with Resources and Environmental Politics, Critical and Feminist Development Studies, and Comparative Political Science. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we feature, Agnese Pacciardi a PhD researcher at the Department of Political Science, where she focuses on borders, mobility, and security through critical lenses. Her research primarily delves into European external migration management in North and West Africa, exploring the impacts and implications of these policies. Additionally, Agnese is an active member of the feminist collective Fundación Luvo, dedicated to promoting emancipatory pedagogies and anti-racism through writing and educational initiatives. Agnese's current research project examines how individuals in Senegal encounter and navigate imposed restrictions on their mobility. Recognizing that African mobility to Europe faces significant constraints due to policies aimed at curtailing movement, her research investigates how people continue to move nonetheless, reclaiming and redefining movement in various ways. Conducting in-depth ethnographic fieldwork in several areas in Senegal, Agnese engages with Senegalese individuals and others from West Africa to explore their practices and perceptions of mobility. By situating her research geographically in Senegal, a place seemingly distant from the border, Agnese aims to comprehend the pervasive nature of border externalisation policies and practices that immobilize individuals even before reaching any physical border. She acknowledges the far-reaching effects these externalized borders have on those they seek to immobilize, as well as their families, friends, and communities. Join us in this episode as we dive into Agnese Pacciardi's groundbreaking research and insights on global mobility regimes and border externalisation practices. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we welcome, Dr. Markus Holdo an Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at Lund University, where he is deeply engaged in exploring possibilities for equality, inclusion, and solidarity. With a Ph.D. from Uppsala University in 2014, Dr. Holdo brings a wealth of experience from prestigious institutions like NYU and Harvard Kennedy School, where he served as a Visiting Democracy Fellow. His research spans a diverse range of topics, including protests, inequality, antiracism, and feminist ethics. Passionate about democratic innovation and social movements, Dr. Holdo frequently contributes to academic debates and publications, shedding light on pressing issues such as urban participatory democracy and the right to housing. Currently, he leads a project on sustainable farming practices in Europe, funded by the Swedish Research Council. Additionally, he is actively involved in discussions on mobilizing broad-based antiracist movements and examining masculinity's role in feminist movements. Drawing on his extensive research background, Dr. Holdo's teaching and supervision cover democracy, public administration, social movements, political theory, and qualitative methods. His expertise is further enriched by his affiliations with research environments like Gender and Politics, Global Political Thought, and Environmental Politics Research Group. Through his work, Dr. Holdo strives to inspire critical reflection and collective action towards a more just and equitable society. #AcademicResearch #SocialMovements #Equality #Inclusion #Solidarity #PoliticalScience #LundUniversity Link to Dr. Markus Holdo's https://www.svet.lu.se/en/markus-holdo --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Maria F. Larrea is a PhD candidate at Griffith University in Australia with extensive practical experience in aviation training, hospitality, and higher education, which underpins her research endeavours. She is interested in exploring the learning process and competence development in service-sector jobs, with a particular focus on the aviation and hospitality sectors.    Maria's doctoral project offers a holistic perspective on learning beyond formal training to enhance the competence of cabin crew members. She contends that their learning process transcends structured curricula as it evolves through the friction and negotiations of knowledge, values, and identity fostered in formal training and situated in work practice. This dynamic process sees cabin crew members consistently mediating their performance in routine and unexpected situations, shaping their professional competence and identity.    Central to Maria's research is the recognition that social interactions, beyond technical skills, play a pivotal role in shaping cabin crew competence. Her study aims to make empirical contributions by offering insights into these social dynamics during training and at work, providing airlines with a more comprehensive understanding of cabin crew learning experiences from an insider's perspective. Ultimately, Maria's work aims to assist airlines in improving cabin crew performance and fostering positive attitudes toward their roles as safety compliance enforcers and service providers.  Please follow Maria's work on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maria-larrea-544a5765 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Welcome to this episode of Half Time Scholars. In this episode, we're joined by Carolyn Wade, an Educational Leader with over twenty years of experience in curriculum design and school-community partnerships. Carolyn began her career in primary education before advancing to senior leadership roles. Recently, she embarked on a research project during a 12-month sabbatical to explore the impact of parent engagement on school leadership, culminating in her MEPSR study presented at education conferences from the Gold Coast to Toronto. Now pursuing a PhD at Griffith University, Carolyn is focused on enhancing educational practices and the relationship between schools and families. We'll dive into Carolyn's research, examining how school leaders navigate parent engagement in a culture of increased consumerism. Her work, based on interviews with school leaders, highlights the spectrum of impacts that parent engagement can have, from minimal to significant pressures on school administration. Carolyn will share insights on how these dynamics could inform changes in school leader development and parent engagement strategies. Expect a discussion that merges academic rigor with practical insights, offering valuable perspectives for educators, parents, and policymakers interested in the future of educational leadership and collaboration. #EducationLeadership #ParentEngagement #SchoolCommunityPartnership #AcademicInsights #EducationalResearch --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Priscyll Anctil Avoine is an Associate Senior Lecturer at the Department of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University, specializing in Feminist Security Studies. Holding a Ph.D. in Political Science and Feminist Studies from the Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada), she was a Vinnova/Marie Curie/SSHRC postdoctoral fellow at Lund University's Department of Political Science (Sweden). Actively engaged with the Fundación Lüvo collective (Colombia, Canada), she contributes to feminist and anti-racist projects, including the publication of Revista Lüvo. Her research, spanning over a decade, concentrates on embodied and emotional processes in contemporary wars, with a focus on the post-disarmament militancy of women ex-combatants. Her recent work delves into the political militancy of women ex-combatants in Nepal and Colombia, exploring leftist armed struggles' aftermath. Situated at the intersection of War and Gender Studies within Feminist International Relations, she has published extensively in prestigious journals and edited volumes, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects nationally and internationally. Priscyll's expertise extends to teaching and supervision, having designed innovative curricula in Gender Studies, Philosophy for Peace, International Relations, and Feminist Philosophy. With over 2500 hours of teaching experience in Colombia, Canada, and Sweden, she welcomes student research in International Relations, particularly in Feminist Security Studies, war, DDR, leftist insurgencies, and Colombian politics. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, she has lectured at various universities globally. For more information on her work, visit https://priscyllanctil.com/about/. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

On this epsiode we speak with Sarah Langman is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne Australia. Prior to academia, she worked as a primary school teacher and leader in regional Victorian government schools, and holds a MEd in Educational Leadership and Management.   Sarah's Ph.D. project examines datafication in spaces of educational leadership, with a specific focus on the digital data techniques and technologies utilised by those in positions of leadership. Her research uses poststructuralist theory, particularly assemblage theory (Deleuze & Guattari, 1987), to critically explore the logics that shape the policy landscape in Australian education as a result of the processes of data infrastructuring. She investigates digital data platforms deployed by the departments of education in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales and the role they play in reconfiguring school leadership, critically considering how datafication has created new possibilities for thinking and practising school leadership. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

On this episode our guest is Lana F. Zeaiter is a PhD candidate in Educational Studies at McGill University. Her research interests revolve around plurilingualism, language pedagogy, teacher education, and learners' identities. Lana's current doctoral research focuses on the integration of technology-mediated plurilingual pedagogy into language teacher training programs. Her work aims to develop sustainable teaching practices and promote plurilingualism. With extensive teaching experience in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada, Lana has gained valuable insights into diverse educational contexts. These experiences have shaped her understanding of the challenges and opportunities in language education. Currently, she is a lecturer in the B.Ed. TESL program at McGill University and the B.Ed. TESL and FSL programs at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM). Lana's dedication to academic excellence is evident through her numerous publications, active participation in conferences, and involvement in service roles. Notably, she serves as a member of the organizing team of the GradTalks at DISE and as a social media strategist for ACLA/CAAL. Follow Lana's work on Twitter (X) @ZeaiterLana9 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Dr. Nora Devlin grew up in Pennsylvania, lived in NJ from 2011-2022 and in 2022 returned to Pennsylvania. In early 2023, Nora completed her Ph.D. in higher education in the Higher Education department at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. Nora worked under the advisement of Dr. Barbara A. Lee studying higher education law. Her dissertation was a study of over 150 faculty free speech cases filed between 2006 and 2020. Nora is an expert on higher education law, especially faculty free speech and faculty discrimination cases. She is also a trained mediator and is a skilled resolver of conflicts. As an expert on conflict within academia, she is excited to find ways to apply her research and improve organizational culture by helping organizations learn to resolve conflict in kind and generous ways. Nora has also served as an editorial assistant for two scholarly journals including the Journal of College and University Law under the editorship of Dr. Ray Solomon (2018-2020) and Dr. Barbara A. Lee (2020-Present). Follow Nora's work on Twitter @noraannedevlin, and @ https://noradevlin.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Priscylla Joca, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Law at the University of Toronto, is deeply engaged in researching Indigenous Laws and Ecological Governance. Her academic journey includes a Doctorate in Law from the Université de Montréal and a Master's in Constitutional Law from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil. As a lecturer at both the Université de Montréal and the École d'études autochtones, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Priscylla's expertise spans Indigenous Laws, International Indigenous Rights, Human Rights, Climate Justice, Environmental Justice, and more. Her work centers on the complexities of implementing autonomous consultation and consent protocols by Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and traditional communities for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Through documentary analyses of diverse protocols from the Americas and an exploration of the protocols' recognition within the international human rights system, she reveals crucial insights. Her research reflects on the legal-political challenges of implementing FPIC and highlights the importance of recognizing communities' autonomy in determining consultation frameworks and guidelines. Ultimately, Priscylla's work underscores the potential of these protocols to implement FPIC while respecting the rights and cosmopolitics of the communities that authored them --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

In today's episode, we delve into the emerging sector of rural entrepreneurship and the creation of entrepreneurial ecosystems in low-density territories. Our guest today is João Almeida, a researcher and entrepreneur dedicated to exploring the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and rural development. João holds a BA degree in Languages and Business Relations, an MSc. in Management, and is currently a PhD candidate in Business and Economics at the University of Aveiro. He is also a research fellow at the Research Unit in Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policy (GOVCOPP). João's research focuses on entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and the role of innovation in rural areas. He strongly believes in the untapped potential of rural and low-density territories to address the world's challenges while offering unique opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. In today's episode, João will share insights from his PhD research, which aims to shed light on the creation and development of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs) in low-density territories, with a particular focus on Portugal. Join us as we explore the motivations, drivers, and barriers behind the emergence of EEs in these areas and uncover strategies to promote sustainable local development. Follow João's work on Twitter @joao_mlalmeida --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Dr. Shamara Wettimuny, a distinguished historian and specialist in ethno-religious conflict and discrimination, in Sri Lanka. Dr. Wettimuny's extensive research and unique perspective have shed new light on the 1915 anti-Moor pogrom, a pivotal episode in Ceylon's history. With a background in International Relations and History from the London School of Economics, as well as a D.Phil from the University of Oxford, Dr. Wettimuny possesses a wealth of knowledge and academic expertise. As a Beit Scholar, she has honed her understanding of identity formation across majority and minority communities in Sri Lanka, focusing on the Sinhalese and Moor populations. In her thesis, Dr. Wettimuny critically examines the roots of ethno-religious violence, drawing attention to the role of colonial policies and discourse that exacerbated tensions between the Sinhalese and Moors. By re-evaluating existing historiography and popular narratives surrounding the pogrom, she offers a fresh perspective on the outbreak, spread, and aftermath of this tragic event. Moreover, Dr. Wettimuny's research unearths a comprehensive history of ethno-religious violence, exploring the complex interplay between indigenous practices, colonial legislation, and global influences. Through her meticulous analysis of religious, economic, and social spheres, she illuminates the evolution of ethnic and religious identities in Sri Lanka from the mid-nineteenth century onward. As the Lead Researcher for the Minor Matters' Virtual Museum on Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka, Dr. Wettimuny not only unearths hidden narratives but also advises Sri Lankan and international organizations on countering hate speech and disinformation targeting minority communities. Follow Shamara's interesting work @shamara4w on Twitter. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Welcome to Half Time Scholars, the podcast series that features the interesting work of independent and emerging researchers, who share their research, interests, and experiences. In this episode, we are joined by Li Xie-Carson, a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland Business School in Australia. Li's current research focuses on non-human influencer, virtual influencer, and influencer marketing in tourism. With over eight years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Li brings a unique perspective to her research. During her PhD, Li has been actively engaged in research, receiving numerous awards, including the Best Graduate 3-Minute Thesis Award at TTRA 2021 and the Best Poster Award at CAUTHE 2023. She is also open to research and teaching opportunities within and across disciplines when she graduates. In this episode, Li will discuss her research on non-human influencers and virtual influencers, the challenges and opportunities of influencer marketing in the tourism industry, and her experience in both industry and academia. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Welcome to this episode of Half Time Scholars, where we delve into the world of circular economy and digitalisation with PhD candidate Agnes Toth-Peter. Joining us from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, Agnes is a recipient of the QUT Postgraduate Research Award scholarship and is a part of the QUT ACE Centre and the QUT Centre for a Waste-Free World. In this episode, Agnes shares her expertise on the link between digitalisation and circular economy, highlighting potential solutions for sustainable development through new business models. Specifically, she discusses the benefits and opportunities of Industry 4.0 tools and how digital technologies can support the implementation of circular economy principles, enabling a shift towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns. With a background in systems thinking and system dynamics, Agnes believes that the solution to any complex problem starts with a shift in our mindset and mental models. Prior to her Ph.D. studies, Agnes completed her undergraduate studies in London, Paris, and Valencia, and a Master of Business at the University of Queensland, where she received the Dean's Honour Roll Award for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Social Impact & Sustainability. Tune in to gain insights from Agnes Toth-Peter on how circular economy and digitalisation can contribute to sustainable development and the shift towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Vibhuti Rao, a PhD candidate from Western Sydney University, is researching Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a complex disorder affecting Indian women. She's exploring the potential of Ayurvedic diet and yoga therapy to manage the condition and provide alternative, sustainable, and effective lifestyle options. Her study focuses on assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a standard Ayurvedic lifestyle program for overweight/obese ethnic Indian women with PCOS. PCOS has no cure and there is a need for alternative, sustainable, and effective lifestyle options. Lifestyle modification is the first-line treatment of PCOS, however has limited research. Ayurveda and yoga are traditional medicinal systems originated in Indian sub-continent, are now popular worldwide for their effect in managing various chronic and lifestyle-related. A lifestyle program constituting the Ayurvedic diet and yoga therapy (AY) based on Ayurvedic principles may help reduce weight and improve metabolic and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS. This exploratory, sequential and mixed-method study will be conducted in Australia and India, aiming to present a standard AY lifestyle program and assess its feasibility, acceptability, and safety in ethnic Indian women with PCOS who are overweight/obese. This study will include a randomised feasibility trial of over 12-weeks. Follow Vibhuti's interesting work on twitter @drvibhutirao --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Ryan Payne, a Ph.D. candidate from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia. Ryan's thesis looks at how biometrically tracking customers in real-time can be used to adapt the price of goods. His research also develops new privacy concepts such as individuals' collective privacy, privacy variance, and the novel use of eye tracking technology. Ryan is excited to be a part of the BEST Centre while completing his doctoral research and his broader research focuses on how adaptive technology can disrupt current consumer behavior literature. So, join us as we dive into the world of biometrics, privacy, online profiling, and access to information, and how they influence behavioral outcomes. Follow Ryan's work on Twitter @RyanPayneTweets --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suren-ladd/message

Rubina Mulchandani is a graduate in Life Sciences and post graduate in Clinical Research, currently a PhD scholar in Clinical Research at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Public Health Foundation of India. Her research area is interdisciplinary and combines the fields of cardiovascular epidemiology and pharmacovigilance. Rubina is actively involved in teaching post graduate students and health professionals in the ongoing academic programmes and short-term training at the institute. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for a third of all global deaths a majority of which occur due to heart attacks and stroke. About 80% of these deaths occur in the developing countries, with mortality being the highest for the low- middle income countries. Rubina's research includes establishing a cohort to assess the neuro-cognitive changes among statin users over time. This is a longitudinal study where adults prescribed statins for dyslipidaemia in the last 1 year have been recruited from the Cardiology Out Patient Department of the study hospital. Her study hopes to add to the knowledge pool for this under-researched area of study in Asians, hopefully shedding light on the statin safety profile. This could help generate new hypotheses and provide a leeway for larger studies, with the ultimate aim of enhancing patient care. Please follow Rubina's interesting work on Twitter @Rubina_BigB_EF --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we speak with Isabella Gonçalves, a Brazilian second-year doctoral candidate at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, and a recipient of a DAAD Scholarship. Isabella currently researches the stereotypical framing of migrants and refugees in media coverage comparing Brazil and the United Kingdom (UK). Isabella is also the head of the Brazilian team on the Digiworld scientific network. Isabella's interests focus on the interactions between ingroups and outgroups, media framing of marginalized groups, political communication, and comparative approaches, including countries from the Global South and Global North. Follow Isabella's interesting work on Twitter @bellasgon and https://www.igoncalves.com/homepage --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Enas Aref is a board-certified Ergonomist, researcher and instructor with experience in the areas of Ergonomics, Occupational Safety, Human Factors, Usability, Statistics Product Design, and Project Management. An Ergonomist designs or modifies the work to fit the worker, not the other way around. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Lucas Whittaker is a PhD Candidate at the Centre for Behavioural Economics, Society and Technology (BEST Centre) at the Queensland University of Technology. His research focuses on the application of synthetic media such as ‘deepfakes' within marketing contexts and psychological factors which may influence consumer appraisal of such media. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning have given rise to the deepfake, a method of creating highly realistic yet inauthentic digital audio, images, and videos. For marketers, deepfakes present new opportunities for customer value creation and engagement, but factors such as the level of realism inherent in the media and the presence of disclosure may influence consumer appraisal. Cognitive biases and predispositions to modes of information processing may also influence how deepfakes are perceived. Lucas' PhD conceptually and empirically explores such factors pertaining to deepfakes and the wider implications of such synthetic media for marketing. Please follow the Lucas's interesting work on Twitter@LucasWhittaker --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Enas Aref is a board-certified Ergonomist, researcher and instructor with experience in the areas of Ergonomics, Occupational Safety, Human Factors, Usability, Statistics Product Design, and Project Management. An Ergonomist designs or modifies the work to fit the worker, not the other way around. The goal is to eliminate discomfort and risk of injury due to work. Ergonomics can roughly be defined as the study of people in their working environment. Enas has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Master's in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management, and is Enas has over 10 years of experience in several engineering and managerial positions including Industrial Production, Production Planning, Project Management, Sales, Import and Export --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Dr. Pradyumna Jairam's research is placed within the broader domain of how the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party constructs its idea of Indian history through an identity-centric rubric. Using history textbooks, the party prescribed in the north-western state of Rajasthan in 2017. His research uncovers how in order to branch out its national ideology of Hindutva to suit a regional context, the party regionalises the history of the nation, in order to satisfy a state-oriented narrative. Dr. Pradyumna Jairam completed his PhD in Politics and Education from King's College, London in 2022. His research examines how the Bharatiya Janata Party constructs a particular narrative of Indian Identity, centred around Hindu majoritarianism in the school history textbooks of Rajasthan. He is at present a Teaching Fellow at the Department of Politics, School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He is also a yearly Visiting Lecturer at City, University of London. He was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of War Studies, King's College from 2017 to 2021, and prior to his PhD was a school history and political science teacher in New Delhi, India from 2012 to 2016. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Massimiliano Zanotto is completing a Ph.D. programme at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) on Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I am working along with Prof. Teresa O'Hara, Prof. Paolo Landoni and Prof. Paul Liston and the title of my project is "Understanding Incubators and Accelerators: analysis of their social and economic impact on innovation and entrepreneurship. It is estimated that more than 7000 incubators exist across the globe. Both governments and the private sector are increasingly using incubators as an entrepreneurship development tool for economic and social development, both at a regional and national level. A tool able to solve both social and business challenges with a dynamic approach. Hence, notwithstanding the growth of research in this domain since the early efforts to provide frameworks that link business incubation with the incubated development process, there is still a need to understand ‘how' and ‘why' incubated firms grow in a business incubator environment. Massimiliano's research aims to address these shortcomings, with a particular focus on the social related aspects, that see incubators as one of the main instruments to address and solve impelling social challenges, as they have a positive impact on the development of social start-ups, and they increase their possibility of surviving and of scaling their business. Follow Massimiliano's interesting work @ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we speak with Arnela Colic who is a doctoral fellow (PhD) in International and Comparative Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She examines education's role in nation building in multiethnic, post-conflict contexts and the influence of international organizations on national education policies and systems. Her current work is focused on countries of the former Yugoslavia in Eastern Europe. The intent of her research is to explore how political and social forces shape education and contribute to or hinder the peacebuilding and nation (re)building efforts in states emerging from conflict. Arnela's broader research interests include education in emergencies and education for peacebuilding. Prior to pursuing doctoral studies, Arnela completed her masters in International Education Policy Analysis at Stanford University and served as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Kosovo. She also holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in Political Science with studies in Peace and Conflict and Russian Language, Literature, and Culture. You can find her online at linkedin.com/in/arnelacolic or on Twitter @arnelacolic --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we speak with Giuliano Sansone who holds a PhD in Management from Politecnico di Torino. He has been visiting Ph.D. Student at the MIT Sloan School of Management under the supervision of Fiona Murray in 2018. Broadly, Guiliano's work focuses on working on Entrepreneurship in three distinct areas: 1. Organizations that support the creation and the development of startups (e.g., Incubators, Accelerators, Startup Studios, Science Parks, etc) 2. Social entrepreneurship (e.g., for-profit organizations with strong positive social/environmental aims) 3. Entrepreneurship education and student entrepreneurship. Currently, Guiliano is a post-doc researcher at Prague University of Economics and Business in the Department of Entrepreneurship under the supervision of Martin Lukeš. Giuliano's research is dedicated to entrepreneurial creation and development and social entrepreneurship. His research was published in international journals such as Technological Forecasting and Social Change and International Entrepreneurship. His research was presented at more than 10 international conferences such as R&D, IPDMC and CINet. Giuliano also worked for the European+ project named Entrepreneurship Education Ecosystems in Engineering and Technology (E4T) and he is working for an international research team named Social Innovation Monitor (SIM). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Melissa Vasi is a doctoral candidate in Business Administration at Uninettuno University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Vincent English. Her research focuses on the influence of open innovation and dynamic capabilities on the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involves the implementation of a practical framework that supports firms in preparing for, during and recovering from an economic crisis caused by exogenous factors like pandemics, climate emergency, trade wars. Melissa received her B.Sc. in Computer Science in 2015 from University of Milano-Bicocca with a thesis on IT architectures that enable marketing communications and CRM development. She obtained her MBA in Business Administration and Digital Technologies (summa cum laude) in 2020 from Uninettuno University with a thesis on digital innovations and business models applied to insurance processes. Please follow Melissa's interesting work on Twitter: @melissavasi or visit her website Website: www.melissavasi.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we feature the work of Myuri Komaragiri (she/her) who is a first-generation Canadian, who is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). From field experience in Guatemala, Morocco, and Jordan, as well as her MA dissertation on higher education pathways for refugees, Myuri is interested in the intersections between forced migration, higher education, conflict and peace. Though previously focusing on access to quality higher education for forcibly displaced populations, she is now increasingly interested in how targeted attacks on education during times of conflict act as drivers for migration, particularly for students and academics. Myuri works as an Education Policy Analyst at Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and is a lecturer at the University of Toronto, teaching a course on the role of education in (re)producing and transforming inequities. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Chronic respiratory disorders like asthma affect around 600 million people worldwide. although these illnesses are widespread, they can have several different underlying causes, making them difficult to treat. On this episode we chat with William Reay a researcher from the University of Newcastle, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, whose work focuses on integrating statistical genetics with systems biology to further our knowledge of the biological processes involved in complex disorders and how this could be leveraged for treatment in the future. William is particularly passionate about the application of this approach to psychiatry, as novel interventions remain urgently required to improve patient outcomes.  His research has thus far been published in prestigious journals including Molecular Psychiatry and Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity and presented at conferences including the World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics and Schizophrenia International Research Society. Follow William's interesting work on Twitter @williamreay96 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we explore how recently, governments have shown significant interest in disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). For example, recently launched national strategic AI plans. However, AI adoption in the public sector is an emerging trend, hence, there is enormous ambiguity about the optimal deployment. Our guest is Samar Fatima is a Ph.D. scholar in the Queensland University of Technology Business School. Her research interest focuses on exploring the role of artificial intelligence in the public sector. Through her research, she aspires to explain the role of technology in societal development initiatives. The first study identifies what approach each country is adopting towards AI through national strategic plans. The second study explores why the countries approached AI in a certain way. The third study focuses on how public agencies develop the readiness to design and deliver AI-enabled public services. The third study presents renovation in business models of public agencies for such disruptive transformation. By using a combination of data sources (primary and secondary) and employing a set of methodologies such as content analysis, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and design science research methodology, the dissertation covers a variety of theoretical and empirical avenues. The dissertation answers the what, why and how affairs of AI in countries. Besides extending knowledge on strategic planning of governments, the dissertation sheds light on various societal (e.g. ethics) and practical (policy implication) issues related to AI adoption and anticipates future of AI in countries. Follow Samar's interesting work @ Twitter: https://twitter.com/samarfhatimaand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samar-fatima --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we speak with Sudhir Selvaraj of King's College London about his research study looking at religious freedoms for minorities in India. Article 25 of the Indian Constitution provides for the 'Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion'. However, in the recent past there has been an increase of violence against religious minorities. Sudhir's study adopts Norwegian political scientist Johan Galtung's framework which advocates for a broad conception of violence which includes direct, structural and cultural factors. Galtung also suggests a causal flow of violence from its cultural forms to its structural forms and finally to its direct forms. Sudhir's study argues that both structural and physical violence are rooted in and justified using the Hindutva ideology which portrays Christians as "foreigners" intent on destroying the integrity of the Hindu nation through religious conversions. Mainly, conversions are portrayed as a threat to the "Hindu State" in two ways. The first is its role in targeting "vulnerable" Hindu populations, particularly Dalits and Tribals. Secondly, conversions are presented as a tool of "foreigners" to influence India's politics. This broader conception of violence facilitates a challenge to existing notions that violence against Christians in the country began its proliferation in the late 1990s. Follow Sudhir's work on Twitter @SudhirSelvaraj and also @ https://www.sudhirselvaraj.com/. Programming note: The Episode was recorded under available internet connection --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

On this episode we explore how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence offer great opportunities, but also pose existential threats to humanity and the natural world. Our guest is Rebecca Johnson a PhD researcher from the University of Sydney, Faculty of Sciences. Rebecca's work specifically looks at the ethics of artificial neural networks; the deep learning side of AI with a view to contribute to experts making better choices when deploying these new technologies into our world. Tools such as AI have no capacity for a sense of morality and values, yet we increasingly permit artificial agents to make choices and decisions for us. From autonomous vehicles to recidivism risk algorithms, distribution of health care services to algorithmically adjusted school grades, hiring of new employees to management of non-renewable sources; we have given huge amounts of agency to our artificial agents. Rebecca has long been fascinated by the interplay between humans and technology - sociotechnical systems. Sociotechnical systems (STS) approaches help us to better understand relationships between technologies, social structures, and the emergent phenomena that arise from those relationships. Follow Rebecca's fascinating work at @https://sts4ir.com/, or Twitter: @VoxBec --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

In this episode we speak with Dr Amanda Källstig who did her PhD in Politics at the University of Manchester, whose research explored what stand-up comedy in Zimbabwe can tell us about resistance and subjectivity. Amanda's research interests include comedy, postcolonial international relations theory, resistance, and subjectivity particularly in the context of the African continent. Amanda's research deals with what stand-up comedy in Zimbabwe can tell us about resistance and subjectivity. Through a fieldwork-based approach she looks at how stand-up comedy intervenes politically exploring how the genre interrupts the way both state and society constructs 'Zimbabwean-ness'. Follow Amanda's work on twitter @DrKällstig. Amanda joined the Stockholm University in August 2021 as a lecturer in International Relations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

In this episode, we explore how women pursuing flexible education frame their narratives of self-fulfillment in Chennai, India. My guest is researcher Meenakshi Krishnaraj from the University of Sydney, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Meenakshi's study explores the relationship between women's pursuit of flexible education frames their narratives of self-fulfillment and analyzes the perceived efficacy of flexible education in supporting the roles, aspirations, and capacities of women. The education of women in India has focussed on collective identities, resulting in the marginalization of individual identities, beliefs, and notions of fulfillment. The study acknowledges the diversity of lived experiences and moves away from a homogenous collective representation of ‘women.' Further, education systems often legitimized certain aspirations and values over others, and also acted as instruments for gender regulation. Flexible education on the other hand is said to be learner-centered. Furthermore, the study explores the extent to which flexible education supports individual learners, particularly women, with respect to their idea of self-fulfillment. Content Warning This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners.  Mentions of violence against women. An acid attack incident and descriptions of its aftermath from 28min09sec to 31min50Ssec. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

In this episode, we discuss the concerns of government-mandated teacher professional development programs of Indonesia on teacher self-efficacy beliefs. Where evidence indicates the minimum impact on teacher practices. These concerns are more apparent in mandatory professional development programs implemented in less privileged regions. My Guest is Dr. Ria Asih, from the School of Education @ UNSW Australia. Ria's study explores the relationship between teacher perceptions of mandatory professional development and teacher self-efficacy beliefs. Ria graduated from the School of Education of UNSW with the focus of study in teacher mandatory professional development programs in Indonesia's less privileged regions. Her research expands the current knowledge on teacher self-efficacy beliefs, in which her research model has proved that the construction of such beliefs which are highly influenced by the cultural and environmental contexts. Ria is a lecturer at the Masters of Pedagogy, Directorate of Postgraduate Program of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia. Episode Note - Please note this episode was recorded on available sound and internet quality. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

The sublime is an ancient concept, one that constantly poses questions about humanity's relationship to nature. My thesis charts the development of the sublime from Kant's eighteenth-century theory in the Critique of the Power of Judgment to its presence within the field of contemporary environmental aesthetics in the form of the “environmental sublime.” Developments in the natural sciences have led to changes in the ways that people perceive and respond to the natural world. Biology tells us that human beings are but one species among others on earth. Technological leaps in the field of geology have confirmed the relatively short span of human life on earth in comparison with other forms of life and the age of the earth itself. Life in the age of the Anthropocene means that humans, nature, and technology have become entangled in such a way as to blur their distinctions: humans and nature are irrevocably fused. Yet experiences of the overwhelming complexity or power of the natural world still have the capacity to instil awe and wonder into the hearts of human observers. People are drawn to the types of difficult experiences designated as sublime because they represent gaps in human knowledge. The contemporary environmental sublime is a concept that allows people to think about nature as other, or separate from the human being, despite the homogenizing demands of the Anthropocene. This thesis will argue that changes in the ways that people situate themselves in the natural world have caused a shift in the sublime from an anthropocentric conception of nature, seen in Kant's theory, towards a perspective that appreciates the intrinsic value of nature outside human experience. In this way, my research examines how the sublime can be harnessed in the pursuit of an environmental ethic that seeks to protect nature for its own sake. On this episode we explore the ancient concept of the sublime, a concept that constantly poses questions about humanity's evolving relationship to nature.My Guest is Nanda Jarosz a researcher from the University of Sydney. In the International Comparative & Literary Studies discipline. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Development’ discourse in the mainstream, is often defined in terms of economic growth that privileges modernity, urbanization, and scientific expertise. Across the Global South, this model has been internalized and reflected in a national focus on science—and recently STEM—education. Our guest today is Aizuddin Anuar a researcher from the University of Oxford Department of Education specializing in Comparative and International Studies. In this episode, we explore and focus on rural young people’s aspirations related to development, as they engage with (STEM) education as the state’s instrument for national development in Malaysia. Please follow Aizuddin’s work @aizuddin_anuar. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

In this episode, we examine how the Australian and Taiwan governments produced higher education enrolment policies between 2005 to 2009. These policies transformed both country's higher education systems in an endeavor to meet the national priorities. My guest is Leo Ren-Hao Xu a researcher from the University of Sydney, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Their enrolment policies include the 2008 Bradley review and the Labor government’s response, 2009 Transforming Australia’s Higher Education System (colloquially called the demand-driven system), in Australia; and the 2009 Conditional Standards of Developmental Enrolment and Resources for Tertiary Education and the amended University Act of 2005, in Taiwan. In an endeavor to meet the national priorities, both policies were shaped as a way of governing student enrolment through changing the quantity of government-supported university places within different areas of study. This study adopts Foucault’s concept of Governmentality and Bacchi’s ‘What’s the Problem Represented to be (WPR) to frame the understanding of how governmental interventions were produced in the specific political-cultural climates. This qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews (n=40) and policy document analysis. Data are primarily drawn from 19 interviews with senior politicians, policymakers, and university executives in Taiwan who engaged in the formation of selected policies between December 2019 and March 2020; and 21 equivalents in Australia from June to August 2020. Beyond these interviews, a considerable corpus of archival sources (e.g., policy documents and gazettes) was collected from the National Central Library of Taiwan and Parliamentary Library of Australia, and used in the analysis to support and complement the interview data. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Grace Tidmarsh is a Researcher at the University of Birmingham, UK. The PhD is a collaborative project with St Basils’ housing support service for youth (16-25 years) experiencing homelessness. Grace’s PhD research is part of a wider project in which a mental skills training programme (MST4Life) is delivered to service users. Outcomes from the programme include improved mental health, improved life skills and re-engagement in education, employment or training. The research itself focusses on process evaluations to develop a deeper understanding of mechanisms that work or do not work with regards to 1. Delivering positive youth development programmes in complex community settings and 2. The extent to which it is possible to train front-line service staff to deliver these psychologically informed interventions with high fidelity. The PhD includes a fidelity assessment of the delivery style of MST4Life, a systematic review on process evaluations of PYD programmes for disadvantaged youth, evaluation of young people’s feedback on the programme and finally a protocol of evaluating the fidelity of training delivered to frontline service staff. Thank you for your support of Half Time Scholars. Get in touch! Instagram: @Halftime_Scholars Twitter: @surenladd --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Individualised Cognitive and Motor learning for the Elderly (ICOME) Motor sequence learning in the elderly is crucial to improve their motor function after serious health conditions such as strokes. Existing motor learning programmes neglect individual cognitive and motor differences, resulting in significantly varied improvements in motor function. An EU-funded project aims to offer a management solution to the ageing demographic in the EU. It hopes to create an efficient method to provide a personalised approach to motor sequence learning in the elderly. With goals to contribute to improving health management policies and future applications of advanced brain-computer interfaces. On this episode, we speak to neuroscientist Dr Russell Chan from the University of Twente, who is one of the senior researchers apart of this project. Please follow Russell Chan's work @PrimeYourMind on Twitter.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Over the past 30 years, shifts in language-in-education policies have resulted in the marginalisation and exclusion of world languages in the Australian education system. This has resulted in an English-for-all literacy mindset. These policy shifts have reduced access to world languages education in Australia. On this episode, we speak with Danielle Heinrichs from the Faculty of Education at the University of Queensland. Who draws on disciplines such as sociolinguistics, and critical theories to explore the notion of response-able language practices with relation to Spanish as a world language in the Australian education system?. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Sri Lanka's experience of war and the tensions in its aftermath were actively narrated by way of photography. Since the 1980s, the island's visual identity has been framed as a paradise-under-siege. What does popular photography reveal about experiences of conflict and post-war political articulation? On this episode, we speak with Dr. Vindhya Buthpitiya, from the University College London, whose research explores popular photographic practices among members of the Northern Tamil community, by examining the relationship between photography, conflict, and the expression of political sentiments in the post-war context. Please follow the link below to learn more about her interesting work . --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

 Colombia has a long complex history of conflict.  The government of President Juan Manuel Santos signed a peace agreement in 2016 with the guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army,  which sought to end fifty years of war.  The Santos government spent great efforts negotiating with the guerrilla group but failed to communicate the value of lasting peace to the Colombian people. On this episode, we talk with author, film maker and researcher Dr Gwen Burnyeat from the University College London on her ethnographic study of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, the government department responsible for peace negotiations and for explaining the peace process to the Colombian people. Dr Gwen Burnyeat is currently a Junior Research Fellow in Anthropology at the University of Oxford, please follow the link below to learn more about her interesting work. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message

Accross many domains, the limits to current human-centric boundaries like speed, knowledge and flexibility are being pushed forward by the use of Robotic and Autonomous Systems. However, with the use of these Systems brings many opportunities and significant challenges, both in terms of ethical and practical issues within the military and non-military settings. On this episode we discuss the public perceptions, challenges and vulnerabilities to the application of Robotic and Autonomous Systems with Bianca Torossian, a Strategic Analyst with the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. Bianca Torossian is a Strategic Analyst at HCSS. Her studies at The University of Sydney, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Leiden University (The Hague), earned her a Bachelor degree in political science, political economy and sociology, and a Master degree in political science and international organization. At HCSS, Bianca primarily focusses on security and diplomacy. A specific area of interest is the field of technology and AI in defense contexts, which ties into a HCSS research project that critically analyzes the challenges and opportunities posed by robotic and autonomous systems in the military. She contributes to a range projects commissioned by the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/suren-ladd/message