Podcasts about norwegian institute

NTNU professor Marit Otterlei nearly threw out the contaminated cell culture where she and her colleagues were testing a new cancer drug.The problem arose on a hot summer day, in Trondheim, in a country not known for hot summer days. So they'd opened the lab's windows overnight.When they came back the next day, they found an uninvited guest, snuggled in with their cancer cell culture: Bacteria!!!Here's the thing, though: although the drug had been designed to work on human cancer cells, it looked like it had killed the bacteria, too!That was remarkable, because the cancer drug targeted a specific mechanism that human cells use to replicate. It looked like the drug also targeted the same mechanism in bacteria -- even though the tree of life had branched away from bacteria 3 BILLION years ago! How could that be?Today's podcast takes a peek into the challenging world of what it takes to bring a drug, especially an antibiotic, to market. But it's also an inside look into how some researchers, with their deep curiosity about the nuts and bolts of how life actually works, can come up with startling discoveries that may someday save our lives. Sometimes, the key to saving lives can be hidden in a protein that hasn't changed much over billions of years.Our guests on today's show are Marit Otterlei, a professor at NTNU's Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine; Siril Skaret Bakke, innovation manager at NTNU's Technology Transfer Office AS, and Christine Årdal , senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.Marit is a part-time CSO at APIM Therapeutics (https://www.apimtherapeutics.com/), which is developing the cancer drug that she was testing back in 2011, when an open window on a hot summer day led her to suspect that her substance might a possible antibiotic, too. That antibiotic, Betatide, is now undergoing testing that pharmaceutical companies require before investing in it.Here's a list of some of the key academic publications:Gilljam, Karin Margaretha; Feyzi, Emadoldin; Aas, Per Arne; Sousa, Mirta; Müller, Rebekka; Vågbø, Cathrine Broberg. (2009) Identification of a novel, widespread, and functionally important PCNA-binding motif. Journal of Cell BiologyNedal, Aina; Ræder, Synnøve Brandt; Dalhus, Bjørn; Helgesen, Emily; Forstrøm, Rune Johansen; Lindland, Kim. (2020) Peptides containing the PCNA interacting motif APIM bind to the beta-clamp and inhibit bacterial growth and mutagenesis. Nucleic Acids Research (NAR)Nepal, Anala; Ræder, Synnøve Brandt; Søgaard, Caroline Krogh; Haugan, Maria Schei; Otterlei, Marit. (2021) Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Peptide Kills Extracellular and Intracellular Bacteria Without Affecting Epithelialization. Frontiers in Microbiology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does China's unassailable lead in terms of naval power, the wording of recent US statutes and the adaptability of shipping, all have to do with how a chief financial officer eats their breakfast? It's all about how shipping perceives risk and uncertainty right now. Uncertainty has dominated the shipping industry in the past months. But this narrative that shipowners are paralysed by the geopolitical volatility is only part of the story. The global economy is at a crossroads. We are entering an era of superpower rivalry between the US and China that will fundamentally upend established trading assumptions and fragment shipping down geopolitical lines. Now, depending on who you are talking to, the response to that uncertainty results in either a barely concealed fist-bump of joy as they mentally run through the profitable opportunities ahead, or near term paralysis as they conclude that there is no value in strategic investment in the face of such unknowable odds. And that's because this isn't just the long -term disintegration of a rules-based order that we are talking about, although that is part of it. Near term that uncertainty is created by the fact that it is now security not economics that is driving the bus when it comes to US decision making, and that's confusing everyone. Agility is the new currency for shipping. We have to adapt to all these challenges – shipping's bullish elite told us. Volatility is the lifeblood of profitable shipping and certainty has never been a prerequisite for making decisions. So, why complain about exogenous shocks now? On stage, the message was defiant: shipowners paralysed by the geopolitical swings risk losing out. Off stage, their commitment to specific questions of progress and investment was generally more hesitant. But they still need to make decisions – and that's the focus of this week's podcast. Joining Richard this week on the podcast are: Øystein Tunsjø, Professor of International Relations, Head of Security in Asia Program, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Norwegian Defence University College Brian Maloney, Partner, Seward & Kissel Annicken Kildahl, CFO, Grieg Maritime Group Hing Chao, Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport

Morten Bøås (PhD) is a Research Professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. He works on violent conflict, insurgencies, and fragile states in Africa and the Middle East. From 2020 to 2023 Bøås was the Principal Investigator of the EU Horizon 2020 funded Project PREVEX – Preventing violent extremism in the Balkans and the MENA: Strengthening resilience in enabling environments. His latest book is “Resisting Radicalization: Exploring the Non-Occurrence of Violent Extremism.” Out of 9-11 attacks, one major conclusion is it was a Black Swan Operation which means it could happen, but intelligence services missed the signals. Grievances or underlying causes may push someone into a violent life due to lack of education, food insecurity, or poverty.  Soft Power programs, such as Peace Corps, UN assistance and USAID may provide a better life for people who are susceptible.  USAID is rated as an extremely efficient and effective self-help program. 

US-Präsident Donald Trump will Grönland kaufen. Was so absurd anmutet, folgt einem knallharten Kalkül. Die Arktis wird wirtschaftlich und geopolitisch immer wichtiger. Allein unter dem grönländischen Eis lagern riesige Vorkommen an Öl, Gas und seltenen Erden, die Schätzungen zufolge ausreichen, um 150 Jahre lang den weltweiten Bedarf zu decken. Der Klimawandel macht es möglich. Das Eis schmilzt und ermöglicht neue Verkehrswege und Infrastruktur. Nicht nur in den USA weckt die Arktis deshalb Begehrlichkeiten. Russland rüstet dort seit Jahren massiv auf, Europa und die Nato verstärken ihre Militärpräsenz. Wird die Arktis zur neuen Krisenregion? Gregor Papsch diskutiert mit Dr. Tobias Etzold –Politikwissenschaftler am Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Oslo; Dr. Volker Rachold – Leiter des Deutschen Arktisbüros am Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Berlin; Dr. Dorothea Wehrmann – Sozialwissenschaftlerin am German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Bonn

Tech oligarchs have risen to dominate global politics and public discourse, posing grave threats to democracy and governance. Under Donald Trump's presidency, the consolidation of power among Silicon Valley elites has exacerbated critical challenges, including the spread of misinformation, the weaponization of social media, and the unchecked development of artificial intelligence. These forces have not only deepened political polarization but also paved the way for the normalization of extremism, undermining the foundations of truth in the digital era. The intersection of technological exploitation, political radicalization, and the information war presents urgent questions for the future of democratic societies. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we unpack these critical dynamics with two distinguished guests. Andres Kasekamp, an expert on populist radical right movements and European governance, explores the historical and political parallels of authoritarian trends. Ron Deibert, a global authority on cybersecurity and digital rights, highlights the ways in which tech platforms enable political manipulation and disinformation campaigns. Together, they offer in-depth insights into the complex role of digital platforms in amplifying authoritarianism and discuss potential pathways for mitigating their impact on democracy. Andres Kasekamp is the Elmar Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies and Professor of History at the University of Toronto's Department of History and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. He is a leading scholar on Baltic politics, memory politics, and populist radical right movements. Formerly a Professor of Baltic Politics at the University of Tartu and Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute in Tallinn, Kasekamp has held visiting positions at esteemed institutions such as Humboldt University in Berlin and the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs. Among his acclaimed works is A History of the Baltic States, which has been translated into multiple languages and remains a definitive text in the field. His research explores European foreign and security policy and the intricate dynamics of cooperation and conflict in the Baltic Sea region. Currently, he is editing The Oxford Handbook of Modern Baltic History. Ron Deibert is a Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. A pioneer in cybersecurity and human rights, Deibert has led the Citizen Lab's groundbreaking investigations into cyber espionage, commercial spyware, and digital censorship, producing over 120 influential reports. These include the Tracking Ghostnet investigation into cyber-espionage and the Reckless series, which revealed spyware abuses targeting journalists and activists. Deibert is also the author of RESET: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society, a winner of the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award and the Order of Ontario. Beyond academia, he serves on advisory boards for organizations like Amnesty International and PEN Canada, making him a critical voice in addressing the intersection of technology, democracy, and civil liberties. Produced by: Julia Brahy

Infectious diseases are a major cause of illness and death among older adults. Vaccines can prevent some of these diseases but the uptake of vaccination among older adults varies across settings and groups. Communication with their healthcare worker can help older people makes decisions about vaccination and this is explored in the July 2021 Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis of healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of communicating with people over 50 about vaccination. In this podcast, two authors of this synthesis, Simon Lewin from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Claire Glenton from the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, discuss why they did the review and what they found.

Infectious diseases are a major cause of illness and death among older adults. Vaccines can prevent some of these diseases but the uptake of vaccination among older adults varies across settings and groups. Communication with their healthcare worker can help older people makes decisions about vaccination and this is explored in the July 2021 Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis of healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of communicating with people over 50 about vaccination. In this podcast, two authors of this synthesis, Simon Lewin from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Claire Glenton from the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, discuss why they did the review and what they found.

There's no time like this time for Standard TimeIn most of Canada and the US, our clocks are “falling back” an hour as we switch to Standard time for the winter and as usual we're hearing mutterings about abandoning the time change.. Chronobiologists like Malcolm von Schantz, who study our internal circadian rhythms, are saying that if we do ditch the practice, we should revert to standard time instead of having permanent daylight time, because morning light is very important to regulating our circadian rhythms, as is having darkness in the evening time. Von Schantz recently co-authored a letter with the British Sleep Society, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, calling for the UK government to end to the practice.Sorry beavers and Polar bears – the unique Canadian animals are not what you thinkBiologists have investigated which animals, by range and evolutionary history, are most unique in Canada as part of an attempt to get a more accurate picture of Canadian biodiversity. The research, led by Arne Mooers from Simon Fraser University, highlights animals such as the mudpuppy, the osprey, the virginia opossum, and the two-tailed frog. At the top of the list is the spiny softshell turtle, which branched away from its family tree 180 million years ago. The research was published in the journal The Canadian Field-Naturalist. A corpse in a well makes a macabre myth realA story recorded in a 12th century Norse saga of a violent attack on a castle has been validated with the discovery and identification of human remains. The story goes that the invaders dropped a dead man into the castle well in order to poison its water supply before departing. That man's remains have now been found. Dr. Anna Petersén, an archeologist at the Norwegian Institute of Cultural Heritage Research, worked with a team to identify and date the remains of this 800 year old skeleton. Their study, published in the journal iScience, revealed he was between 30 - 40 years old, and had blonde hair and blue eyes.A wide range of animals take a tippleIndulgence in alcohol is seen as a largely human vice, but biologists have collected evidence that a much wider range of animals from insects to apes will seek out ethanol, often in fermented fruit, and will, on occasion, overindulge. Dr. Matthew Carrigan, an associate professor of biology at the College of Central Florida says that some birds that fly into windows have been found to have high levels of ethanol, and intoxicated fruit flies will make poor mating choices. The study was published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution.Tapping into science for a greater appreciation of artistic masterpiecesRecent studies of two of the world's most famous paintings by Dutch artists have provided surprising insights into the depths of their art. A new analysis of the entire sky in Vincent van Gogh's painting, The Starry Night, which includes 14 swirling eddies shows how the artist intuitively understood the nature of turbulence, an incredibly complex phenomenon of fluid dynamics. Francois Schmitt, an oceanographer and research director at France's National Centre for Scientific Research and his team published their research in the journal Physics of Fluids. To figure out what it was about Johannes Vermeer's painting, Girl with the Pearl Earring, that viewers find so captivating, the Mauritshuis museum where the artwork hangs in The Hague commissioned a neuroscientific study. Andries van der Leij, the research director of Neurensics — a consumer neuroscience company — and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, said they found that people's eyes were automatically drawn to the girl's eyes, mouth and pearl earring in a way that drew them in for an emotional experience.

Robert Ward hosts Dr Matsuda Takuya, Adjunct Lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University, Dr Vida Macikenaite, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of International Relations of the International University of Japan, and Dr Wrenn Yennie Lindgren, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Centre for Asian Research at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. Robert, Takuya, Vida and Wrenn discuss:  The recent development of Japan's relationship with the Nordic and Baltic statesJapan's security cooperation with the Nordic and Baltic states from defense equipment to cyber securityThe Nordic and Baltic approach to authoritarian powers, including their eyes on the potential cooperation between Russia and China in the High NorthThe similarities and differences in the security architecture of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on your podcast platform of choice. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us at japanchair@iiss.org. Date recorded: 6 September 2024  Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we understand the African Union's evolving position in a changing global order from its role in the G20 and its peace initiatives in Somalia and Sudan?In this episode of The World Stage, Solomon Dersso (Amani Africa) and Cedric de Coning (NUPI) discuss this topic.Solomon Dersso is the founding director of Amani Africa, an independent pan-African policy research, training and consulting think tank with expertise on the African Union's policy processes, including especially the work of the Peace and Security Council.Cedric de Coning is Research Professor in the research group on peace, conflict and development at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 12 June Russia celebrated its national day, “Russia day”. This day is marked with concerts and celebrations in all the regions in the Russian Federation. This year, alongside celebrations from Moscow, Novgorod, Buryatia and other Russian regions, the news on Russia's state-owned TV-channel Rossiya 1 showed images from the Kherson region, a Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in September 2022. In the clip, teenagers were making cookies glazed in the three colors of the Russian flag. According to the voiceover these cookies were to be given to participants in the “special operation in Ukraine” – a euphemism for Russia's war against Ukraine. In this way, Russian propaganda attempts to normalize a view of the “new regions” as part of Russia thus potentially expanding the boundaries of the Russian nation. In this episode of the NUPI podcast The World Stage, we take a closer look at everyday nationalism. This approach focuses on how people consume, reproduce and challenge the nation through ordinary daily practices. We also talk about everyday nationalist practices that take place in Russia and Ukraine amidst Russia's war against Ukraine. Finally, we talk about the propaganda regarding the war which is conveyed daily to ordinary Russians through state television. Here, you will hear from J. Paul Goode, McMillian Chair in Russian Studies and Associate Professor at Carleton University, Marthe Handå Myhre, senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and regional research (NIBR) and Natalia Moen-Larsen, senior researcher at NUPI. The podcast is produced as part of Russia Research Network (RUSSNETT) project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By Jared Samuelson Dr. Ian Bowers re-joins the program for a third tour to discuss Task Force 448, United Nations Interim Forces-Lebanon, and maritime peacekeeping. Ian is Senior Research Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Download Sea Control 533 – Maritime Peacekeeping with Dr. Ian Bowers Links 1. “Exploiting the Water: Naval Involvement … Continue reading Sea Control 533 – Maritime Peacekeeping with Dr. Ian Bowers →

By Jared Samuelson Dr. Ian Bowers and Dr. Deborah Sanders join us to discuss coalition navy operations during the Korean war. Ian is Senior Research Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Deborah is a Professor of Contemporary conflict and strategy at the Defence Studies Department at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. … Continue reading Sea Control 532 – Coalition Naval Operations during the Korean War with Dr. Ian Bowers and Dr. Deborah Sanders →

rWotD Episode 2609: Henrik Thune Welcome to random Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a random Wikipedia page every day.The random article for Tuesday, 25 June 2024 is Henrik Thune.Henrik Thune (born 1969) is a Norwegian academic, writer and diplomat, who is State Secretary/Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway. He is the former director of the Norwegian Center for Conflict Resolution (NOREF). He was previously a senior research fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and head of its Middle East Programme.Thune holds a PhD and two master's degrees in international relations from the University of Oslo and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has served five years as a diplomat in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2009 to 2012 he was a project manager at the Secretariat of the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.Thune has published numerous books and articles on international relations theory, the Middle East, Norwegian foreign policy, and the role of the news media in international relations, and he is a commentator and columnist in Norwegian newspapers.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:30 UTC on Tuesday, 25 June 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Henrik Thune on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Amy Neural.

In this special edition of the RECET transformative podcast, we revisit the recent RECET festival, where speakers from around the globe discussed ‘Green Transformations.' In this excerpt, three panelists charted the history of nuclear energy—from its ‘dark past' to, perhaps, its ‘green future.' Stephen Gross is the author of Energy and Power: Germany in the Age of Oil, Atoms and Climate Change (Oxford University Press, 2023). He was joined by Elisabeth Röhrlich, author of Inspectors for Peace: A History of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2022). They spoke alongside Anna Weichselbraun, from the University of Vienna, who is currently finishing a manuscript on knowledge production at the International Atomic Energy Agency. The discussion was moderated by Rosamund Johnston (RECET). Stephen G. Gross is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Center of European and Mediterranean Studies at New York University. After working at the Bureau of Economic Analysis (Department of Commerce) in Washington DC, he received his PhD in history from UC Berkeley. He is the author of Energy and Power: Germany in the Age of Oil, Atoms, and Climate Change (Oxford University Press, 2023) and Export Empire: German Soft Power in Southeastern Europe, 1890-1945, which explores the political economy of the Nazi Empire. His research has been supported by the Fulbright Fellowship, the German Academic Exchange Program, the Institute for New Economic Thinking, the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, and the Andrew Mellon New Directions Fellowship, through which he earned a certificate of sustainable finance at Columbia University. Elisabeth Röhrlich is Associate Professor at the History Department of the University of Vienna and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies. Her expertise is in twentieth century global and international history, the history of international organizations, the history of the nuclear age and the Cold War, and Austrian contemporary history. She received her PhD in history from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and has held fellowships at the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies, the German Historical Institute and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (both in Washington D.C.), and Monash University South Africa. She is the author of a prize-winning book about the former Austrian chancellor Bruno Kreisky (Kreiskys Außenpolitik, Vienna University Press, 2009), and her writings on the history of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been published in journals such as the Diplomacy and Statecraft, Cold War History, and the Journal of Cold War Studies. Her monograph "Inspectors for Peace" on the history of the IAEA was published with Johns Hopkins University Press in 2022. Anna Weichselbraun is a postdoc researcher at the Department of European Ethnology at the University of Vienna. She works at the intersection of historical anthropology of knowledge, semiotics and science and technology studies with an empirical focus on the global governance of technology in the long 20th century. She is currently revising her book manuscript on nuclear knowledge practices at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Rosamund Johnston is the Principal Investigator of Linking Arms: Central Europe´s Weapons Industries, 1954-1994 at RECET. She is the author of Red Tape: Radio and Politics in Czechoslovakia, 1945-1969 which appeared with Stanford University Press in March 2024. Her research has been published in Central European History and a number of edited volumes. She has also written for the Journal of Cold War Studies, East Central Europe, Harvard Ukrainian Studies, Scottish newspaper The National, and public broadcaster Czech Radio. Johnston is the author of one book of public history, Havel in America: Interviews with American Intellectuals, Politicians, and Artists, released by Czech publisher Host in 2019.

Episode 16 of the “Aerospace Ambition Podcast” featuring Dr Adam Durant from SATAVIA is out!Talking Points• Why did Adam switch from an academic to an entrepreneurial career?• What makes SATAVIA a startup, and why is a for-profit setup the best way to success?• How does SATAVIA perform contrail avoidance, and how does it integrate with existing flight planning?• How can airlines get locked in to do contrail management beyond one-off marketing events?• What makes Adam confident that his carbon credit scheme will find widespread adoption?• How much better is SATAVIA's weather model than what is publicly available?• What are the results from trials with 12 airline operators & is uncertainty really a problem?• How will AI transform the weather prediction pipeline in the future?GuestDr Adam Durant is a distinguished figure at the nexus of environmental science and the aviation industry. With a foundational career in volcanic ash research, his work gained prominence following the Icelandic eruptions in 2010, which significantly impacted European aviation. This experience led to crucial collaborations with Airbus and EasyJet, flight-testing volcanic ash detection technology. In 2013, leveraging his expertise and entrepreneurial vision, Adam founded SATAVIA, a Cambridge-based company focused on providing decision intelligence for aviation. It was founded to transform the relationship between aviation and the atmospheric environment. Prior to SATAVIA, he held positions at the University of Cambridge and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, contributing significantly to the field of atmospheric science and aviation safety.ResourcesSATAVIA: https://satavia.com/Study with KPMG: https://kpmg.com/ie/en/home/insights/2024/01/contrails-aviation-2030.htmlLinkedin ProfilesAdam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjdurant/Marius: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariuswedemeyer/AAMBITION Newsletterhttps://mailchi.mp/55033eb444bd/aambition-n

At the big COP climate summit last December, more than 20 countries pledged to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050 to help cut carbon emissions. The signatories included familiar nuclear names such as the US, France and Japan...but also newcomers, like Ghana. Although Ghana doesn't currently have any nuclear power plants, president Nana Akufo-Addo says he wants to build one or two by 2030. So why is this African nation turning to nuclear? How will it pay for the multi-billion-dollar power plants? And will this help fight climate change?Presenter Graihagh Jackson is joined by: on-the-ground reporter Thomas Naadi; Dr Michael Bluck, Director of the Centre for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College London; and Dr Kacper Szulecki, research professor at the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs. Production team: Octavia Woodward, Ben Cooper, Brenda Brown, Simon Watts, Matt Willis. Sound design by Tom Brignell.

Sashko and his mum were separated after being captured by Russian soldiers in Mariupol. Now 13, Sashko hasn't seen or heard from his mother for almost two years. Along with his grandmother, he tells Victoria and Irena their story and how they've not given up on their search for her. And are Nato members pulling their weight when it comes to defence spending? Donald Trump claims he'd encourage hostile states to attack Nato countries who he says aren't paying enough. Victoria and Irena discuss this with Professor Katarzyna Zysk, from the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, and put some listener questions to her. Today's episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Irena Taranyuk. It was made by Keiligh Baker. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Lucy Boast. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480.You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord.

Päättyvänä vuonna vanhat sodat ovat jatkuneet ja uusia alkanut. Maailmanpolitiikan arkipäivää-ohjelma yrittää vaikeaa tehtävää, myönteisten asioiden löytämistä synkästä uutisvirrasta. Positiivisia kehityskulkuja pohtivat professorit Vesa Kiviniemi Oulun yliopistolta, Katarzyna Zysk International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies-instituutista, johtaja Ola Rosling Gapminder-säätiöstä ja professori Tarja Väyrynen Tampereen yliopistolta Rauhan- ja konfliktintutkimuskeskus Taprista. Maailmanpolitiikan arkipäivää -ohjelman toimittaa Erja Tuomaala ja tuottaa Paula Vilén. Äänitarkkailijana on Juha Sarkkinen. Kuva: Tuuli Laukkanen/Yle.

The world's burgeoning billions have been kept fed thanks to the "Green Revolution" of the 20th century, which featured new hybridized crops with enhanced yields. Often deemed a miracle of science, it was also made possible by energy-intensive industrial fertilizers. Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch were each awarded the Nobel Prize for their contributions to the widely used processes for synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen taken from ambient air and hydrogen derived from fossil fuels. These ammonia-based nitrogen fertilizers, along with mined fertilizers, today help to feed the world, something Thomas Robert Malthus never envisioned in his 18th century writings warning of overpopulation. Today we are concerned with another green revolution that seeks to end the use of fossil fuels, which when burned create emissions that are dangerously warming the atmosphere and creating the need for a second agricultural revolution to ensure the world's billions can still be fed in the face of drastic climatic extremes. So as we look to decarbonize the world's economy and phase out the use of fossil fuels, what is the fertilizer industry doing to green its highly fossil fuel-dependent industrial and mining processes?We talk with Alzbeta Klein, CEO of the International Fertilizer Association, freshly returned from COP28 in Dubai, where for the first time the world's nations agreed to the need to phase out fossil fuels to temper the runaway climate change we are experiencing. "Food is energy, and we need to understand that connection," Klein says. "We need to understand the transition for the energy markets, and we need to understand the transition for the food market because the two go hand-in-hand."We also hear from Hiro Iwanaga of Talus Renewables, a nitrogen fertilizer startup at the forefront of using photovoltaics to crack hydrogen from water, rather than fossil fuels. Also freshly returned from Dubai, Iwanaga talks about his company's demonstration project now under way in Kenya, and the company's next projects here in the United States. "The green hydrogen tax credit that was passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act makes our product cost-competitive," he explains.Also, Brandon Kail of Rocky Mountain BioAg speaks to his company's approach employing soil microbes as the foundation of a non-fossil fuel-based approach to plant nutrition, and Divina Gracia P. Rodriguez of the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research tells us about an EU-funded project in Ethiopia she is spearheading that seeks to address barriers to the adoption of human urine-based fertilizers.Support the show

Adam Hart investigates the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family – the wolverine. They're far more than just a superhero played by Hugh Jackman! With a reputation for gluttony and ferocity, these solitary killers use snowstorms to hunt much larger prey. Found in the snowy tundra and boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere, their future looks uncertain – they've come into conflict with Scandinavian farmers by hunting their reindeer and are threatened by climate change in North America and Mongolia. But have we misunderstood wolverines? And can we learn to co-exist with them? Contributors: Rebecca Watters is founder and director of the Mongolian Wolverine Project, as well as the executive director of the Wolverine Foundation, a non-profit that's dedicated to advancing science-based conservation of wolverines. Jenny Mattisson is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, who is involved in the monitoring of wolverines in Scandinavia. She has studied interactions between wolverines and Eurasian lynx, as well as their predation of reindeer. Presenter: Professor Adam Hart Producer: Jonathan Blackwell Editor: Holly Squire Production Coordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Manager: Donald MacDonald (Photo: Wolverine, Credit: Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

As we aim toward a 1.5 degree future, we need to fundamentally shift the way we lead our cities. One substantial change is that cities need to look to a new form of governance - one that places climate action at its heart. A critical tool for cities is a climate budget: a governance system that offers a way for cities to turn climate commitments into funded and measurable actions across their government. C40 recently worked with a group of international cities to adapt climate budgeting to their own unique urban and social contexts, and this in turn will support other cities who can more easily adopt the policy now that they can learn from these proven examples.Featured guests:Catrin Robertsen is Head of Climate Budgeting at C40, a new programme supporting cities to improve their governance systems to operationalize and deliver climate targets. Before joining C40, Catrin worked for the Climate Agency for the City of Oslo as the lead technical advisor on Oslo's climate budget. Prior experiences include national emissions inventories and impact assessments at the Norwegian Environment Agency. Catrin holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and a Master's degree in Economics, specializing in development and natural resource economics, from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.Trond Vedeld currently works at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) at Oslo Metropolitan University as a research professor in urban and international studies. Trond does research in Political Economy, Public Administration and Urban Politics, Climate Governance, and Climate services and has published extensively on issues of political economy, public administration and urban politics, climate governance, and collaborative governance/co-creation in European and African cities.Links for this episode:C40 Knowledge Hub's Landing Page for all things climate-budget related“Why New York and London are betting on climate budgets” by C40 Chair, Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and Mayor Eric Adams of New York CityNorwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research"How to lead collaborative governance for climate transformation: A guide for city leaders and decision makers", by Hege Hofstad and Trond Vedeld, Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy"Oslo is Demonstrating Ambitious Leadership through its Climate Budget" by Governing Mayor Raymond Johansen, Journal of City Climate Policy and EconomyImage credit: © Rosanna Wan - C40If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy. Our executive producers are Isabel Sitcov, Peggy Whitfield, Jessica Abraham, Claudia Rupnik, and Dali Carmichael.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

There has been recent reports and concerning articles suggesting that COVID-19 is leading to an uptick of new cases of Type 1 Diabetes in kids but is this potential link something parents and kids have to worry about? Dr. Lars Stene joins Dr. Eeks on the podcast to discuss risk factors for Type 1 Diabetes and the trend of diagnosing new cases in kids over the last several years. He then discusses the potential, talked-about link between COVID and Type 1 Diabetes and provides his perspective on the current evidence. He discusses relative risk vs absolute risk (a good lesson for everyone), his current research on risk factors for Type 1 Diabetes and also talks about the "exposome." Dr. Stene is a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. For over 20 years, his focus is researching environmental factors, infections, nutritional factors and gene-environment interactions that may be risks for Type 1 Diabetes.  You can learn more about his work here. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here.Support the show

How should we regulate AI? How will AI impact the power balance between the US and China? And how does Microsoft navigate this complex landscape?In this episode, Brad Smith Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, shares his unique insights on these questions and more. We are also joined by Ulf Sverdrup, the leader of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, who will be offering his commentary. Ulf is a world-leading expert in international politics, making him the perfect guest for a discussion on the intersection of AI and geopolitics. We will be releasing this episode in collaboration with NUPI PODCAST: The world stage | NUPIThis episode was produced by PLAN-B's Nikolai Ovenberg and Niklas Figenschaug Johansen. Background research was conducted by Sigurd Brekke, with input from portfolio manager Richard Green. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we listen to a discussion on Asian-Nordic collaboration in the Arctic.The speakers are:Aileen Aseron Espiritu, Researcher & Network leader, The Arctic University of NorwayJacob Isbosethsen, Head of Representation in Beijing, Government of GreenlandKristín Ingvarsdóttir, Assistant Professor, University of IcelandMarc Lanteigne, Associate Professor, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayWrenn Yennie Lindgren, Senior Research Fellow, NUPI, The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs; Associate Research Fellow, UI, The Swedish Institute of International AffairsThe discussions are moderated by Juha Saunavaara, Associate Professor, Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University, Japan.This event originally took place at the 2023 Arctic Circle Japan Forum and was organized by: the University of Iceland 

Last year, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our eleventh deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Bovanenkovo Gas Field: a major natural gas formation in Arctic Russia. The Bovanenkovo Gas Field holds 6.05 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, giving it the potential to emit 11.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide. But beyond climate and environmental issues, Bovanenkovo presents another major concern: revenue from that natural gas is funding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today, we explore how Bovanenkovo gas affects the surrounding community, how it ties into the war in Ukraine, and what needs to happen for Russia, Ukraine, and NATO to achieve a more sustainable and peaceful future. With special guest Dr. Katarzyna Zysk: Professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. CREDITS Writers: Emma Jones, Owen Reith, Velina Georgi, Ethan Brown Fact Checker: Alia Bonanno Editor: Megan Antone Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith Ad Voiceover: Maddie Salman Music: Brett Sawka The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Following the Wagner mutiny in Russia, and with fighting intensifying as Ukraine presses on with its counter-offensive, there's concern about increasing instability around potential use of nuclear weapons. President Putin has threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Gary O'Donoghue asks how likely this is, and if the nuclear threat level is rising across the world. Are countries around the world looking at what is happening in Ukraine and adjusting their nuclear thinking? As China seeks to increase its own nuclear arsenal, experts are talking increasingly of Tripolar nuclear competition, taking in Russia and the US. In this uncertain world, what role - if any - is there for nuclear non-proliferation treaties and how can the nuclear threat be contained ? Contributors Nikolai N Sokov: The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Robert Litwak: Director of international security studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Henrik Hiim: Associate Professor, the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies Rose Gottemoeller: former Deputy secretary general of NATO, now at Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Presenter: Gary O'Donoghue Producer: Phil Reevell Researcher: Anoushka Mutanda -Dougherty Editor: Tara McDermott Technical producer: Nicky Edwards (Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launched during exercises on October 26, 2022. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry via Reuters)

Links1. Navigating Breakup: Security Realities of Freezing Politics and Thawing Landscapes in the Arctic, edited by Karsten Friis, Elana Wilson Rowe, Mike Sfraga, and Ulf Sverdrup, with Pavel K. Baev, Troy J. Bouffard, Marc Lanteigne, Marisol Maddox and Jan-Gunnar Winther, The Wilson Center and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, January 2023.2. Marisol Maddox's Twitter Feed.

We're going nuclear today with Jayita Sarkar! Jay is a Senior Lecturer in Economic and Social History at the University of Glasgow. Before settling down in Scotland, she was an Assistant Professor at Boston University and a Niehaus Fellow at Dartmouth College. She was also a Fellow with Harvard University's Weatherhead Initiative in Global History, an Ernest May Fellow in History and Policy, and a Stanton Postdoctoral Fellow, all also at Harvard. She received her Ph.D. in History from the Graduate Institute Geneva, an MA at the University of Paris IV, Sorbonne, and a BA and MA in Political Science and International Relations at Jadavpur University. Jay is the author of Ploughshares and Swords: India's Nuclear Program in the Global Cold War (Cornell), which was a 2023 Honourable Mention for the Best Book Award of ISA Global Development Studies Section. Her articles have appeared in Cold War History, the Journal of Cold War Studies, the Journal of Strategic Studies, and the Journal of Global Security Studies, among others. Her 2018 article in Nonproliferation Review entitled “U.S. Technological Collaboration for Nonproliferation: Key Evidence from the Cold War”  (With J. Krige) won the 2018 Doreen and Jim McElvany Nonproliferation Award. Her second book, Atomic Capitalism: A Global History, is under contract with Princeton University Press. Jay has received grants from the Stanton Foundation, The Hoover Institution, The Swiss National Science Foundation, and the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, to name just a few. She was recently granted a British Academy Award to support “Partition Machine,” an upcoming conference she has organized on territorial partitions. Jayita sits on the Editorial Board of Cold War History, the Editorial Advisory Board of Global Nuclear Histories Book Series at McGill-Queen's University Press, and the Board of Directors of the Arms Control Association. She is a member of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. On top of all that, she's a polyglot who speaks Bengali, English, and French fluently with a little German, Hindu and Urdu thrown in for good measure. Join us for a delightful and really interesting chat with Jay Sarkar - we'll talk India's nuclear policy, Glasgow v. Edinburgh, Scottish Straight Cats, Diego Maradona, and Pink Martini, among many other topics! Rec.: 04/21/2023

This week we are joined by Tine Gade, a Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. Tine talks about her new book, Sunni City: Tripoli from Islamist Utopia to the Lebanese ‘Revolution', published by Cambridge University Press in November 2022. In the book, Tine looks beyond typical understandings of Lebanon's second city, Tripoli, that have focused on the city as an Islamist or even Jihadi political centre. Instead, she argues, the city has a much deeper history of resistance and collaboration with the state and wider region.

Did the probability of Russia attacking Norway decrease? Karsten Friis, a Senior Research Fellow from The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, thinks it does, but there are also a few buts. So we have discussed what is the biggest concern of Norway regarding Russia, also taking into account that Finland and Sweden are, hopefully, on their way to NATO. He explained how Norway is helping Ukraine and if Oslo could and should do more. We also talked about the militarization of the Arctic, and about NATO Secretary General and former Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg. And does Karsten like the famous TV series Occupied about the Russian occupation of Norway that was supported by the European Union? Listen to our conversation. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you. https://ko-fi.com/amatisak  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andrej-matisak/message

John Warden III was an exceptionally influential air power strategist whose name is inextricably connected with Operation Desert Storm, the 1991 coalition campaign to free Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion. We discuss his influence with Colonel Dr John Andreas Olsen of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Warden was a pupil of theorist Carl von Clausewitz, taking from him his concept of the ‘centre of gravity', which Warden multiplied concentrically to identify five targets for air bombardment that would bring an enemy power to its knees – his ‘five rings'. But he also rejected Clausewitz's emphasis on a decisive battle between land forces to achieve the same outcome. In an almost ‘Douhetian' fashion, Warden made the case that air power on its own could bring about a decision in war – but very much unlike the Italian general, Warden wanted to spare the enemy civilian population, targeting above all the enemy's centre of power. Our guest, Col Dr John Andreas Olsen, is currently assigned to NATO Headquarters in Brussels. He is a professor at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, and a fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. He completed a doctorate in history and international relations at De Montfort University, and he holds further degrees from the Universities of Warwick and Trondheim.

In this episode, you can listen to a conversation between Stefka Eriksen, Research Professor at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research, and Karin Kukkonen about the emotional world of Vikings, Old Norse manuscripts, and international book culture in the 1200–1300s, and how an environmental crisis – the little ice age – may have impacted the (re)production of the sagas. Stefka's reading recommendation Njal's saga, (ed.) Leifur Eiricksson, Robert Cook, trans. Robert Cook. Penguin Books, 2006. Egil's Saga, trans. Bernard Scudder, edited with and introduction and notes by Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir, Penguin Books, 2004. Post-production: Bård Ingebrigtsen & Vera Syrovatskaya. Written alternative

Following the Japanese prime minister Kishida Fumio's recent warning that his country's demographic crisis was approaching a tipping point, Katie Stallard speaks to Vegard Skirbekk, a population economist at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and author of Decline and Prosper: Changing Global Birth Rates and the Advantages of Fewer Children. They discuss why birth rates in many countries are falling, how the global population is ageing, and why this doesn't have to end in disaster. Plus, they examine the parallels between tackling the global climate crisis and preparing for an ageing world. Read more:The global ageing crisis is becoming unignorableThe question is not why the birth rate is falling – it's why anyone has kids at allSeventy per cent of British voters say the cost of childcare keeps mothers at home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soil is a crucial component of many ecosystems, and healthy soils are necessary for the growth of plants, the provision of food and clean water, and the regulation of climate. However, it seems that the bureaucrats and funders of the research and development work are frustrated with the lack of progress made by the research community in solving the problem despite decades of research on soil erosion, soil carbon, soil aggregation, soil fertility, and soil biology. There is likely a gap between the research and the implementation of solutions on the ground. To focus on the soil as a part of their mission is likely due to the interconnectedness of soil health with other environmental and societal issues. The European Commission has invested significant funding into a "soil mission" as part of its five main missions for the next decade. These missions include adapting to climate change, finding a cure for cancer, creating sustainable cities, protecting oceans and waterways and clean water, and saving soils. The soil mission aims to address the problem of soil degradation and loss, which is a significant environmental and economic concern. The specific plans and actions of the soil mission are not specified, but it likely involves research and development, conservation and restoration efforts, and promoting sustainable land use practices.  ---------- Who is Adam O'Toole? Adam O'Toole is a soil scientist and communicator working for the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy. He did his Ph.D. research on the Agronomic and Environmental Effects of Biochar under Norwegian conditions. He is currently involved in a European-wide project called Prepsoil which is educating Europeans about the importance of taking care of soils. This is part of a wider initiative called the European Soil Mission which has the ambition to establish 100 living labs where farmers, researchers, and innovators devise, test, and demonstrate methods that can lead to healthier soils in Europe. ---------- Website: https://prepsoil.eu/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/prepsoil Twitter: https://twitter.com/prepsoil Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prepsoil ---------- Regen Rays' - 7 Ways to Supercharge Your Soil & Save the Planet GuideGet the guide - https://secretsofthesoil.com/7-ways/ As the host of the Secrets of the Soil podcast, I've had the privilege of speaking with some of the most innovative and inspiring experts in regenerative agriculture. Through these conversations, I've learned so much about the power of nurturing soil and promoting regeneration. Now, after many podcast recordings and countless hours of research and reflection, I'm thrilled to share this kick-ass guide with you. “Regen Rays 7 Ways to Supercharge Your Soil & Save the Planet” is a distillation of the most important and actionable insights from my podcast guests, along with some fun and empowering tips to help you take your soil to the next level. So whether you're an experienced farmer, a gardening enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about the planet, I hope this guide inspires you to take action and make a positive impact on the world around you!Get the guide - https://secretsofthesoil.com/7-ways/- Get my PDF guide - 7 Ways to Supercharge your Soil: https://secretsofthesoil.com/7-ways/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity summit, currently taking place in Montreal Canada, intends to develop ways of reducing the global loss of biological diversity by drawing up a series of international commitments to help humanity to live more harmoniously with nature. The scientific evidence paints a grim picture of species decline and extinction, pollution and destruction of natural habitats. The aim of the meeting is to find ways to stop and even reverse such decline. We meet leading figures involved in the negotiations, including: Elizabeth Mrema, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Inger Andersen Executive Director of UN Environment Programme Indigenous leaders Viviana Figueroa and Lakpa Nuri Sherpa And scientists Professor Sandra Diaz from the University of Cordoba Dr Marla Emery Scientific Advisor with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. BBC Inside Science is produced in partnership with the Open University.

To take us on a journey through coexistence and the evolving philosophy of conservation, in this episode we're sitting down with John Linnell, PhD, Senior Researcher Scientist and Professor at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. John and I have one of the most philosophical conversations I've had yet on the show. We explore large carnivores' history across the European continent using the lynx as a model species, what the term coexistence means to him, where the Rewilding Europe initiative fits into carnivore restoration, and what conservation actually means in 2022. See full show notes at rewildology.com. If you're liking the show, please hit the follow button and share with someone you think would enjoy this episode. Sharing is the best way to help the show grow! Check out ways to support the podcast! https://rewildology.com/support-the-show/ Recording gear provided by Focusrite: https://store.focusrite.com/en-gb/categories/focusrite/vocaster/vocaster-one Discover more ways to watch, listen, and interact: https://linktr.ee/Rewildology Join the Rewildologists Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rewildologists Follow Rewildology Instagram: https://instagram.com/rewildology/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rewildology Twitter: https://twitter.com/rewildology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxNVIeC0km8ZGK_1QPy7-iA

Africa has had more UN peacekeeping missions than any other region in the world. Today more than fifty thousand troops are deployed with UN operations on the continent. Despite this, violence still continues in some of these areas and in some places, there is anger over the UN's continued presence. Just last month, anti-UN protests erupted in Goma and Butembo, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, when citizens accused the UN of failing to contain violence by armed groups. While in Mali, UN troop rotations were suspended for a month after the government arrested 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast, saying they had arrived in the country without permission. Ivory Coast said the soldiers were part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. So, what is the future of UN peacekeeping in Africa? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Dr. Cedric de Coning, a research professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Senior Advisor at the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes and Dr. Yvan Yenda Ilunga, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Salve Regina University.

Chad's transitional government and opposition have signed a peace agreement to end decades of turmoil in the country. But with the main rebel group refusing to take part, will this accord hold? And if it does, how far off is democracy in the Central African nation? Join host Mohammed Jamjoom. Guests:  Remadji Hoinathy - senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies. Enrica Picco - director of the Central Africa Project at International Crisis Group. Andrew Yaw Tchie - senior researcher at Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. A recent report shows mankind is far more dependent on nature than many believe. For example, humanity uses about 50,000 wild, non-farmed, species for food, medicines, wood and fuel and even tourism. This includes more than 10,000 wild species harvested directly for human food.  The report from the United Nations' science advisory panel for biodiversity, known as IPBES, which was released in early July, found that 70 per cent of the world's poor are directly dependent on wild species. And one in five people rely on wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and income. And yet over-exploitation, including the illegal trade of animals and plants, is endangering nature and threatening the lives of billions of people.  In this episode, The Straits Times' environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty discuss the importance of wild species with report co-chair Dr Marla Emery, a research geographer with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:53 Why are wild plants and animals important to humans?  4:54 What are some threats that wild species face?  9:29 How are the various threats to nature interacting with one another?  10:42 How can species be used sustainably?  16:17 What are steps that mankind can take to ensure sustainable use of species? Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Subscribe to Green Pulse Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas The Big Story: https://str.sg/wuZe Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. A recent report shows mankind is far more dependent on nature than many believe. For example, humanity uses about 50,000 wild, non-farmed, species for food, medicines, wood and fuel and even tourism. This includes more than 10,000 wild species harvested directly for human food.  The report from the United Nations' science advisory panel for biodiversity, known as IPBES, which was released in early July, found that 70 per cent of the world's poor are directly dependent on wild species. And one in five people rely on wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and income. And yet over-exploitation, including the illegal trade of animals and plants, is endangering nature and threatening the lives of billions of people.  In this episode, The Straits Times' environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty discuss the importance of wild species with report co-chair Dr Marla Emery, a research geographer with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:53 Why are wild plants and animals important to humans?  4:54 What are some threats that wild species face?  9:29 How are the various threats to nature interacting with one another?  10:42 How can species be used sustainably?  16:17 What are steps that mankind can take to ensure sustainable use of species? Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Subscribe to Green Pulse Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas The Big Story: https://str.sg/wuZe Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The development of agriculture some 12,000 years ago changed the way humans live. As technologies have developed we've become more and more efficient at producing large amounts of food and feeding an ever growing population, often with the help of synthetically produced nitrogen fertiliser. These fertilisers can damage ecosystems. They also produce a potent greenhouse gas called Nitrous Oxide which is 265 times more warming than carbon dioxide. It's estimated that the manufacturing and use of this fertiliser contributes 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But is it feasible to ban synthetic nitrogen fertilisers or would that risk plunging the world into mass food insecurity? Join presenters Qasa Alom and Graihagh Jackson as they journey from an urban garden in Sri Lanka, where a radical fertiliser ban caused chaos, to eastern Africa where Kenyan farmers are mixing tradition with new technology to try and save the world's climate, and its soils. With thanks to: Dr Rona Thompson, Senior Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Air research, Norway Professor Manish Raizada, dept. of Plant Agriculture, at the University of Guelph, Canada Dr David Lelei, research associate at CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya Elijah Musenya, farmer, western Kenya. And Phelystus Wayeta, for travelling to Western Kenya to report on farmers and farming practices. Producer: Lizzy McNeill Reporter: Aanya Wipulasena, Colombo, Sri Lanka Researchers: Imogen Serwotka Production co-ordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross , Siobhan Reed. Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Sound Mix: Tom Brignell

In this episode, Katherine speaks with John-Arne Røttingen, Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway. Whether it's continuing to fight against Covid-19 through increasing equitable access to vaccines and therapies; understanding how the Financial Intermediary Fund fits into the global health funding framework; what the global response to Monkeypox tells us about the state of international cooperation on health; or addressing the threat of AMR, Ambassador Røttingen reminds us that investing in health security and pandemic preparedness is investing in a global public good. But what do global health public goods look like exactly? And what lessons can we draw from our experiences in managing Covid-19 that can inform the response to emerging challenges such as Monkeypox and AMR? John-Arne Røttingen is Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway. He is Adjunct Scientific Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Visiting Fellow of Practice at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University, and was the founding interim Chief Executive Officer of CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

When we hear the word research, most of us think of innovative breakthrough treatments and technologies. But applied clinical research could not be possible without another type of research called basic science research in which scientists study the fundamental processes of the human body. In this episode, we'll learn what basic science research is and how it applies to the area of kidneys and kidney disease.   In this episode, we spoke with: Hannah Wesselman Hannah Wesselman is a PhD candidate at the University of Notre Dame studying the genetic mechanisms underlying kidney development in Dr. Rebecca Wingert's lab. Prior to her dissertation work, Hannah worked with Dr. Larissa Myaskovsky at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care, and their collaboration continued as Dr. Myaskovsky moved to the University of New Mexico Center for Healthcare Equity in Kidney Disease. During this time, Hannah worked directly with kidney transplant patients, and later published in CJASN on social determinants and race disparities in kidney transplant. Inspired by the strength of the kidney community, Hannah has returned to bench science in the hopes of identifying new treatment targets and has continued to connect with kidney patients through NKF advocacy. Holly Kramer, M.D., MPH Holly Kramer, M.D., MPH, is a practicing nephrologist who conducts research connecting nutrition and kidney health. Her connection to the National Kidney Foundation was inspired by her mom, who was a dialysis nurse and helped create some of the first dialysis units in Northwest Indiana. Dr. Kramer finds being on the NKF Board important, because it is the largest, patient-centered organization focusing on kidney disease. Her long-term goal is to increase national funding for kidney disease research and to heighten awareness about chronic kidney disease. Joseph V. Bonventre, M.D., PhD Dr. Bonventre is the Samuel A. Levine Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Constantine L. Hampers Distinguished Chair at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is Chief of the Renal Division and Founding Chief of the Engineering in Medicine Division of the Brigham and Women's Hospital. In addition to his B.S. with distinction in Engineering Physics from Cornell, Dr. Bonventre holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in Biophysics from Harvard University.  He has honorary doctorate degrees from Mt. Saint Mary's College and from the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology in Norway. He was Director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology for 10 years.    Additional resources: Kidney Research NKF Research Connect NKF Patient Network Become an Advocate   Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!

Videos: 1.Tucker Carlson Tonight – Friday, June 17 (12:30) 2. America's wars: The invented reason and the real reason (2:12) 3. William Mandel Denounces HUAC: “This Collection of Judases” 4. NATO is a paper army (7:01) 5. What It's Like Living in California Now (8:37)    Pistachios may lower vascular response to stress in type 2 diabetes Penn State University, June 17, 2022 Among people with type 2 diabetes, eating pistachios may reduce the body's response to the stresses of everyday life, according to Penn State researchers. “In adults with diabetes, two servings of pistachios per day lowered vascular constriction during stress and improved neural control of the heart,” said Sheila G. West, professor of biobehavioral health and nutritional sciences. “Although nuts are high in fat, they contain good fats, fiber, potassium and antioxidants. Given the high risk of heart disease in people with diabetes, nuts are an important component of a heart healthy diet in this population.” West and her colleagues investigated the effects of pistachios on responses to standardized stress tasks in patients with well-controlled Type 2 diabetes who were otherwise healthy. They used a randomized, crossover study design in which all meals were provided. Each of the diets contained the same number of calories. After two weeks on the typical American diet — containing 36 percent fat and 12 percent saturated fats — participants were randomized to one of two test diets. During the four-week test diets, participants ate only food supplied by the study. The researchers reported the results of this study in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association. “We found that systolic blood pressure during sleep was particularly affected by pistachios,” she said. “Average sleep blood pressure was reduced by about 4 points and this would be expected to lower workload on the heart.” The researchers found that the pistachio diet lowered vascular constriction during stress. When arteries are dilated, the load on the heart is reduced. The physical challenge involved immersing one hand into icy water for two minutes. Study finds curcumin, the main polyphenol in turmeric, as effective as Prozac in treating depression Government Medical College (India), June 6, 2022 A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research shows that curcumin, the main polyphenol in turmeric, is as at least as effective as fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating depression. Not only can it help ease symptoms of depression, but it does so safely, without the potential to cause suicidal thoughts, weight gain and even changes in blood pressure and heart rate that can lead to shock and death — some of the many side effects which have been linked to Prozac.  The study, conducted by researchers from the Department of Pharmacology at the Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, India, assessed groups of people who took curcumin capsules and Prozac, either individually or combined.  Twenty people took 500 mg curcumin capsules twice daily, 20 took 20 mg of Prozac daily, and the remaining 20 people took a combination of the two.  The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a questionnaire designed to gauge the severity of a person's depression level, was given to assess any changes in mood among the individuals who participated in this study. The findings showed that curcumin worked just as well as Prozac, acting as the “first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders.” (1, 3) MDD stands for “Major Depressive Disorder.” Monkeys that eat omega-3 rich diet show more developed brain networks University of Oregon, June 13, 2022   Study gives new insight into similarity of complex brain networks in monkeys, humans Monkeys that ate a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids had brains with highly connected and well organized neural networks — in some ways akin to the neural networks in healthy humans — while monkeys that ate a diet deficient in the fatty acids had much more limited brain networking, according to an Oregon Health & Science University study. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, provides further evidence for the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in healthy brain development. It also represents the first time scientists have been able to use functional brain imaging in live animals to see the large-scale interaction of multiple brain networks in a monkey. These patterns are remarkably similar to the networks found in humans using the same imaging techniques. The study measured a kind of omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, which is a primary component of the human brain and important in development of the brain and vision.  The study found that the monkeys that had the high-DHA diet had strong connectivity of early visual pathways in their brains. It also found that monkeys with the high-DHA diet showed greater connections within various brain networks similar to the human brain — including networks for higher-level processing and cognition ‘Mini-strokes' lead to PTSD and other psychiatric disorder University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany  June 15, 2022  Transient ischemic attacks are commonly referred to as “mini-strokes,” but this does not make them any less serious than major strokes. In fact, a recent study has found that around 30% of patients who have transient ischemic attacks go on to develop the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) occur when the flow of blood to the brain is disrupted temporarily, often by blood clots or other debris. They differ from major strokes in that the flow of blood is only blocked for a relatively short time – usually no more than 5 minutes.  Despite only disrupting blood flow temporarily, TIAs serve as warning signs for future major strokes. They indicate that there is a partially blocked artery or a clot source in the heart. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that between 10-15% of people with TIA will experience a major stroke within 3 months.  “We found 1 in 3 TIA patients develop PTSD,” says study author Kathrin Utz from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. “PTSD, which is perhaps better known as a problem found in survivors of war zones and natural disasters, can develop when a person experiences a frightening event that poses a serious threat.” The researchers found that about 30% of the TIA patients reported symptoms of PTSD and 14% showed signs of a significantly reduced mental quality of life. Around 6.5% of the participants also had a reduced physical quality of life.  TIA patients who showed signs of PTSD were also more likely to show signs of depression, anxiety and a lower overall quality of life than those who did not.  Exercise linked to brain cell growth and improved memory University of Jyvaskyla (Finland), June 14, 2022 New research out of the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland has shown that exercise helps with preserving brain cells and preventing loss of memory, cognitive issues and general memory problems. In the Finnish study, aerobic activity in particular was found to support healthier brain cells and prevent memory problems better than other exercise types studied, including weight lifting and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). While weight lifting and HIIT have better fat burning properties, moderate aerobic exercise seems to cultivate healthier brain cells and protect against loss of memory. For the study, University of Jyvaskyla researchers put groups of rats on three different workout programs to determine their effects on memory and overall brain health. Weight lifting, running and high-intensity interval training were the three types studied. The training regimens created were made to model approximately what the typical human might do in a workout program. The running group used a treadmill much as humans do, and the weight lifting group climbed a ladder with little weights attached to their tails. The HIIT group alternated short durations of sprinting and jogging. By study's end, while all of the rats showed general fitness gains, the weight lifting group and the HIIT group showed no signs of neurogenesis, or new brain cell growth. By contrast, the running group demonstrated growth in brain cells as well as a reduction in the loss of memory and memory problems. Organic food consumers have a 21% lower risk of pre-eclampsia Norwegian Institute of Public Health, June 15, 2022  Pregnant women may be able to lower their risk of a potentially deadly complication known as pre-eclampsia by more than 20 percent simply by eating more organic vegetables, according to a study conducted by researchers from the National Institute for Consumer Research and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and published in BMJ Open. “The result is intriguing and supports that diet during pregnancy can influence the risk of pre-eclampsia,” researcher Hanne Torjusen, PhD, said. Pre-eclampsia is a complication of late pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. The cause of the condition is not known, although it has been linked to a variety of risk factors including some of the same risk factors as cardiovascular disease. Mild cases may resolve without problems, but severe cases may progress into a life-threatening condition that can only be alleviated through premature delivery of the baby. The new study is the first to show a connection between organic food consumption and lower pre-eclampsia risk.

As the Arctic region continues to warm, it is becoming more congested and contested.  Space domain awareness and space-based communications networks are playing an increased role in regional cooperation.  The US, Russia and other Arctic states are seeing more shipping and interest in natural resources, while non-Arctic states like China may also be seeking advantage. How do national space activities and geopolitics intersect in the region?  How do critical undersea data networks play a role in the world economy? Join our expert Samira Patel (Policy Analyst, The Center for Space Policy & Strategy) as she talks to Dr. Katarzyna Zysk (Professor, Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies), an expert in military activities and Russia in the Arctic, and Dr. Mia Bennett (Asst. Professor, University of Washington) who focuses on Chinese activities in the Arctic.  

What are the benefits of a liberal world order? And how will the war in Ukraine impact the future order? Is it democracy or autocracy that will dominate the 21st century?Guests: Anne Applebaum, author and staff writer at The Atlantic and Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Ulf Sverdrup, director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

Putin tells his troops they are fighting for their motherland. Former Russian MP Sergei Markov and advisor to Vladimir Putin gives the Kremlin's point of view on the day his country celebrates victory at the end of the Second World War, against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine. They analyse his claims, as well as President Putin's speech, with the help of Liza Fokht from the BBC Russia service. Katarzyna Zysk, professor of international relations and contemporary history at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies explains why Russia's military force wasn't on full show. This episode of Ukrainecast was made by Estelle Doyle with Chris Flynn and Phil Marzouk. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 0330 1234 220.

On today's episode, Andrew is joined by Vegard Skirbekk, author of Decline and Prosper! Changing Global Birth Rates and the Advantages of Fewer Children. Vegard Skirbekk is a professor at Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University and a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. His research focuses on understanding the links between aging, health and individuals productivity in countries undergoing demographic change around the world. He is currently interested in looking at differences across countries in terms of health and cognitive skills and relationships with investments in education and health. He is also interested in comparing variations in life trajectories in health across societies and countries. Skirbekk has published widely in academic journals (Demography, Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science) and his research has received attention in global media (e.g., BBC, the New York Times, The Economist, New Scientist). He has received research support from EU funding bodies (including the European Research Council), and research councils from several countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the north of Ukraine, a convoy of Russian vehicles appears to be stalling as it attempts to advance on the capital Kyiv. Russian military expert at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies Dr Katarzyna Zysk tells Victoria and Gabriel why that may be and how it is impacting Russia's strategy. Last Thursday, we spoke to Hussein, a Pakistani man who lives in Kherson in the south with his wife and three-year-old daughter. He tells us how the occupation of the city is affecting local people as food supplies run low and many, including himself, consider attempting to leave. Russia editor at BBC monitoring Vitaly Shevchenko joins us to explain his thoughts on the use of the letter Z by Russians to show their support for the invasion and we hear an update on Anna: the 25-year-old girl from Kharkiv who spoke to us last Wednesday from the bathroom in which she was sheltering. This episode of Ukrainecast was made by Estelle Doyle with Emma Forde, Alix Pickles and Phil Marzouk. The studio director is Ash Taylor. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.