You Need to Shut Up

In this episode I introduce the big ideas I'm tackling in the podcast: academic freedom, research silencing and contested science. I interview Ketan Joshi and Debbi Long.Read my PhD thesis here (if you really want)Check out Scientia Professor of Evolutionary Ecology Rob Brooks' article about research failing the 'pub test' hereFind more from energy, science and technology expert and all-round legend Ketan Joshi hereRead some of the stuff anti-wind groups said about me hereWatch Vice Chancellor of Oxford Louise Richardson's on 'uncomfortable' education from a CNN interview hereRead Jackie Ashley's 'safe spaces' article here

In this episode I talk about all things gut reactions. I interview Dr Kirsten Bell, Dr Michael Mair, Professor Simone Dennis and Associate Professor Michael Gard.Read legendary anthropologist Mary Douglas on disgust, purity and danger hereCheck out Professor Mike Smithson's work on taboo matters hereRead Chapman and Anderson systematic review and synthesis of moral disgust literatureFind anthropologist Kirsten Bell's work hereBuy Professor Simone Dennis' incredible book hereFind a copy of Michael Gard and Jan Wright's book on obesity here

In this episode I talk about polarisation: opposites, tribes and enemies. I interviewed Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Michael Mair, Dr Kirsten Bell and Professor Mark Largent.Find more of Professor Wayne Hall's work hereRead more of Dr Michael Mair's stuff hereCheck out Professor Mark Largent's work and links to his books hereRead James Delingpole's full list for Breitbart here and watch the rant here

In this episode I talk about today's envelope pushers. I interviewed Auguste Comte in Social Epistemology Steve Fuller, Katherine Flegal, Professor Emeritus Anthony Miller, Dr Lindy Orthia and Stanton Peele. Find more of social epistemologist Steve Fuller's work hereRead Katherine Flegal's envelope-pushing papers here and hereCheck out Professor Emeritus Anthony Miller's mammography study hereBuy Dr Lindy Orthia's book on Dr Who and race here Find more from Stanton Peele here, and watch the videos I used in the episode here and also here from HuffPost Live

In this episode I talk about how universities define, defend and sometimes undermine academic freedom. I interviewed Professor Paul Frijters, social epistemologist Steve Fuller and Professor Brian Martin.Read Paul Frijters and Redzo Mujcic's racism discussion paper hereCheck out Professor Brian Martin's work here and his response to attacks on Judy Wilyman here

In this episode I talk about how when identity clashes with science, anything goes. I interviewed Emeritus Professor Simon Chapman, Associate Professor Michael Kasumovic and Dr Lindy Orthia.Find more of Emeritus Professor Simon Chapman AO's work hereRead Associate Professor Michael Kasumovic's original paper here and the pop science article from The Conversation here

In this episode I talk about how the myth of objectivity in science makes attacks on researchers worse. I interviewed social epistemologist Steve Fuller, Professor Simone Dennis, Professor Mark Largent and Dr Lindy Orthia.Find the brilliant Alice Dreger's work here, as well as the article I quoted here

In this special bonus episode, I give my take on five big academic freedom issues from this year: Ramsay Centre, ministerial vetoes, the 'free speech crisis', academic mobbing and anonymous journals.Links:Read about the Ramsay Centre here. Read the full statement from ANU Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor here. Read some of the backlash against the ANU’s decision here and here. Read about former Education Minister Simon Birmingham’s vetoes here. Read the IPA’s latest Campus Free Speech audit here. Read Glyn Davis’ full speech about the confected free speech crisis here. Read the petition against Dr Noah Carl’s new Fellowship here. If you want to make up your own mind on Dr Noah Carl’s work, look here. Read Joanna Williams’ Spiked article on mobbing of Dr Noah Carl here. Read about the new Journal of Controversial Ideas here.