Collegiate research university in Oxford, England
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In this episode of Drafting the Past, host Kate Carpenter is joined by historian Dr. Lyndal Roper. Lyndal is a professor at the University of Oxford and the author of six books on gender, religion, witchcraft, and German history. Her newest book out this year is a history of the sixteenth-century German Peasants' War titled Summer of Fire and Blood. The book follows the movement, beliefs, hopes, and actions of the peasants in this mass uprising. I loved the opportunity to talk with Lyndal about how she wrote about such a massive and relatively obscure event for a general audience, the way her own movement across the land shaped her work, why she prefers the screen to the handwritten page, and much more.
Plants have their own underground network with each other, but how do they use it? Thomas Scott, postdoctoral researcher in evolutionary theory at the University of Oxford, digs in to find out. Thomas Scott is a postdoctoral researcher in evolutionary theory at the University of Oxford. In his research, he uses mathematical models to tackle […]
"Cities are part of the extended phenotype for the kind of knowledge that is produced by human civilisation."Are you interested in how quantum physics is influencing the future of cities? What do you think about the connection between knowledge and urban evolution? How can we create better urban environments for knowledge creation? Interview with Chiara Marletto, Scientific Researcher at University of Oxford. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, the effects of scientific evolution, the best environment for knowledge creation, and many more as a special edition part of the Podcasthon 2025. Chiara Marletto is a Research Fellow at Wolfson College and the Physics Department, University of Oxford. She holds degrees from Oxford and the University of Turin. Her research focuses on the foundations of physics, spanning quantum information theory, condensed matter physics, quantum biology, and thermodynamics. Chiara has pioneered a novel approach to physics, constructor theory and has applied it to fundamental questions of control, causation and the nature of information in physics. Her work has also explored how essential features of living systems, such as self-reproduction and evolution, align with fundamental physical laws. Recently she has discovered a new method to test quantum effects in gravity, based on constructor-theoretic ideas. She is the author of The Science of Can and Can't, her first trade book.This is also a special episode to be part of Podcasthon 2025 - a globally coordinated effort for podcasts to highlight a charity of their choice. WTF4Cities is happy to participate in this 3rd edition of the Podcasthon with thousands of podcasts worldwide. The charity where you can support Chiara and her research is through Wolfson College at the University of Oxford with New Frontiers reference. Donations will be held in a dedicated fund, controlled by Chiara, and she'll be able to keep donors updated on the progress of her research and what their generosity has made possible. So if you want to help the research move ahead: Name: Wolfson College, University of Oxford Reference: New FrontiersLearn more about Chiara through these links: Chiara Marletto on LinkedIn Chiara Marletto website Chiara Marletto at Wolfson College Chiara Marletto on Wikipedia Chiara Marletto on Google Scholar Quantum New Frontiers Hub in Wolfson college The Science of Can and Can't - book by Chiara Marletto The Beginning of Infinity - book by David Deutsch The Fabric of Reality - book by David DeutschConnecting episodes you might be interested in: No.156 - Interview with Fanni Melles about urban conscious evolution No.180 - Interview with Ben Vass about knowledge creation No.272 - Interview with Frank Elavsky about philosophy No.307R - The Science of Can and Can't (book summary)What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in how quantum physics is influencing the future of cities? What do you think about the connection between knowledge and urban evolution? How can we create better urban environments for knowledge creation? Trailer for episode 308 - interview with Chiara Marletto, Scientific Researcher at University of Oxford. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, the effects of scientific evolution, the best environment for knowledge creation, and many more as a special edition part of the Podcasthon 2025. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
If you were hunting for some fossilised dinosaur footprints, where would you go? To a remote part of North or South America, perhaps? A deserted wilderness for sure... But how about Oxfordshire? We chat to Dr Duncan Murdock from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History about an incredible discovery made right on our doorstep. Photo © Dr Emma Nicholls / Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Humans are social creatures; we live in family groups, socialise with friends, and work with colleagues both in person and online. Yet, how many friends do you really have? Evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar says it won't be more than 150. Proposed in the 1990s, ‘Dunbar's number' puts a limit on the number of stable relationships humans can maintain at any given time, and his ‘social brain hypothesis' suggests that brain size is directly related to social group size in mammals. In short, the bigger the group, the bigger the brain. In this interview with our sister publication, Research Outreach, we find out how Dunbar's education moved from philosophy to psychology and how his research moved from primates to people, as well as why size matters when it comes to social groups and evolution.Read more in Research Outreach
How can cutting-edge nanoscience transform medicine and inspire groundbreaking startups within Oxford? In this episode, Susannah de Jager sits down with Professor Dame Molly Stevens, John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford. Together, they explore Molly's extraordinary journey in interdisciplinary research, the process of spinning out successful companies from academia, and the unique opportunities Oxford offers for scientific innovation. Molly also shares insights on fostering diverse teams, driving impactful research, and the future of quantum sensing in biomedical applications.(00:00) - Bringing Science to Society with Molly Stevens (00:18) - Meet Professor Dame Molly Stevens (03:59) - Innovative Biomedical Applications (04:38) - Breakthrough Technology: SPARTA (06:38) - Interdisciplinary Opportunities at Oxford (09:51) - UK-Wide and International Collaborations (11:08) - Spinning Out Companies: Challenges and Insights (23:10) - Championing Diversity in Entrepreneurship (27:44) - The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery About the Guest:Molly Stevens is the John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford, with part-time positions at Imperial College London and the Karolinska Institute. As a world-leading expert in biomaterial interfaces, her multidisciplinary research spans regenerative medicine, advanced therapeutics, and diagnostics. She is a serial entrepreneur, founding successful companies such as Spot by Discovery and she serves as Deputy Director of the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery. Recognised internationally, Molly is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and numerous other prestigious academies.Connect with Molly on LinkedInAbout the host:Susannah de Jager is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.Connect with Susannah on LinkedInVisit our website to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter - oxfordplus.co.ukIf you have a question for Susannah, please get in touch - oxfordplus.co.uk/contactOxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager, supported by Mishcon de Reya and produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.
Electric eels are pretty amazing creatures. Their bodies can release powerful electric charges - in some cases reaching 650 volts! So, what can scientists learn from these animals? Could nature hold the key to advancing our own energy solutions? We chat to Dr Yujia Zhang about how electric eels might inspire the batteries of the future.
John speaks with Dr. Nigel Biggar and Dr. Stephen Chavura to explore the complexities of history, challenging one-sided narratives of colonisation and conflict. Their discussion sheds light on the nuanced relationships between settlers and Indigenous peoples, revealing both moments of mutual respect and undeniable tragedy. The discussion emphasises an understanding of history within its true context, free from oversimplifications. They also examine contemporary issues affecting Indigenous Australians, including the widening gaps in remote communities despite progressive policies. Each of them advocate practical solutions that focus on integration, education, and equal justice, rather than divisive narratives perpetuating victimhood. Dr. Nigel Biggar CBE is Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, author and theologian. His most recent books are Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning (William Collins, 2023) and What's Wrong with Rights? (Oxford University Press, 2020). Dr. Stephen Chavura teaches European and Australian history at Campion College, Sydney. His most recent (co-authored) books are The Forgotten Menzies: The Mind of Australia's Longest-Serving Prime Minister (Melbourne University Publications, 2021), and Reason, Religion and the Australian Polity: A Secular State? (Routledge, 2019).
Send us a textIn this video, I talk about how two years studying Theology at the world's most prestigious theology undergraduate program has impacted by development as a Christian. I share my honest reflections and thoughts about how it has opened my mind to non-Orthodox beliefs as well as a newfound appreciation of the depth in nuance and development in Christianity. I hope you enjoy these reflections. Support the show--------------------------If you would want to support the channel and what I am doing, please follow me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/christianityforall Where else to find Josh Yen: Philosophy YT: https://bit.ly/philforallEducation: https://bit.ly/joshyenBuisness: https://bit.ly/logoseduMy Website: https://joshuajwyen.com/
Join us as we delve into the world of RA/predoc positions in Economics with valuable insights and expert tips from Laura, a quantitative research assistant at the Department of International Development at the University of Oxford.
Word Forest is an ambitious charity. As well as aiming high to mitigate our climate emergency, we're also doing all we can to arm the leaders of the future with the information they need to make the best decisions possible. We've been working with Dr Fiona Whitehouse, Head of the Internship Office at the University of Oxford for the past few years. It has been a pleasure to offer their undergraduates a chunky range of internship opportunities that they can really sink their teeth into. In today's episode, find out about their amazing work and the opportunities we provide. Read this article here: wordforest.org/2024/10/21/our-internship-opportunities-with-the-university-of-oxford/ Donate to our fight against the climate crisis here: wordforest.org/donate/
Evolutionarily speaking, it makes sense to have a lot of children. At the very least, we might expect a population to replace itself, with each couple having an average of two children. However, this evolutionary logic is not mirrored by current data: birth rates are falling in the UK, with many people choosing to either have one child, or no children at all. We speak to evolutionary anthropologist Dr Paula Sheppard about the drivers, and consequences, of this observed trend.
Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with philosopher and author Mark Rowlands, exploring the themes of his book, The Happiness of Dogs._____LINKShttps://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/18/i-wag-therefore-i-am-the-philosophy-of-dogshttps://www.lovechildrenplanet.com/events/in-conversation-with-frank-schaeffer-bonus-episode-mark-rowlands_____I have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said.Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth.Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of Fall In Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy. Learn more at https://www.lovechildrenplanet.comFollow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube. https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTube In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast
What if we could predict the economy the way we predict the weather? What if governments could run simulations to forecast the effects of new policies—before they happen? And what if the key to all of this lies in the same chaotic systems that explain spinning roulette wheels and rolling dice?J. Doyne Farmer is a University of Oxford professor, complexity scientist, and former physicist who once beat Las Vegas casinos using his scientific-based methods. In his recent book “Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World” Farmer is using those same principles to build a new branch of economics called complexity economics—one that uses big data to help forecast market crashes, design better policies and find ways to confront climate change.But can we really predict the unpredictable? And how will using chaos theory shake up well-established economic approaches?
Nigel Biggar CBE is Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral Theology at the University of Oxford and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Pusey House, Oxford.In his recent book, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning Nigel Biggar addresses the crucial questions in eight chapters: Was the British Empire driven primarily by greed and the lust to dominate? Should we speak of ‘colonialism and slavery' in the same breath, as if they were identical? Was the Empire essentially racist? How far was it based on the theft of land? Did it involve genocide? Was it driven fundamentally by the motive of economic exploitation? Was undemocratic colonial government necessarily illegitimate? and, was the Empire essentially violent, and its violence pervasively racist and terroristic?Biggar makes clear that, like any other long-standing state, the British Empire involved elements of injustice, sometimes appalling. On occasions it was culpably incompetent and presided over moments of dreadful tragedy.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews Professor Nigel Biggar about his book. For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.
The 2024 edition of the AIG Global Trade Series explores the theme of ‘Back to the Future: A New Era of Managed Trade?'Digitally delivered services have experienced a four-fold increase in value since 2005 and now account for a significant share of all services exports. At a time of growing concern about the slowdown in global trade in goods, the boom in digital services trade is a comparative bright spot.But does this perception fully align with the reality? Are the pressures on the global trade system - such as geopolitics, the risk of trade fragmentation and non-tariff measures - really less disruptive of digital services trade than they are of trade in goods? How could the WTO help promote and protect digital trade and harmonise regulatory approaches to digital services? And what does a growth in digital services mean for development and inclusion?Panellists: Richard Baldwin, Professor of International Economics, IMD Business SchoolJennifer Hillman, Professor of Practice, Georgetown University Law Center; Co-Director, Center for Inclusive Trade and Development (CITD)Emily Jones, Director of the Global Economic Governance programme, Blavatnik School of Government, University of OxfordJane Drake-Brockman, Executive Director, Australian Services InstituteModerator: Rem Korteweg, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael InstituteThis podcast episode was recorded on 12 September 2024.___ The Global Trade Series is a collaboration between AIG and the following international organisations with leading expertise on global trade: the Aspen Institute Germany; CEBRI - the Brazilian Center for International Relations; Chatham House (UK); CITD - the Center on Inclusive Trade and Development at Georgetown University Law Center (US); the Clingendael Institute (The Netherlands); Elcano Royal Institute (Spain); ERIA – the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (Indonesia); ISPI - the Italian Institute for International Political Studies; the Jacques Delors Institute (France); RIETI - the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan); and the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity through Trade (Switzerland).
Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed a technological revolution to tackle the climate crisis. However, more recently, there has been a growing consensus about the role of nature and nature-based solutions in tackling, not only the Three Planetary Crisis but also various pressing societal issues, such as poverty. The goals of nature-based solutions are to restore, protect and sustainability manage both natural and modified ecosystems to benefit both society and nature. In fact, over a third of the climate mitigation required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement can be provided by nature-based solutions. Annually, flooding damages worth US $57 billion are averted by mangroves in India, China, the US, Mexico, and Vietnam. In this episode, I interview Seth Thomas, a research assistant at the University of Oxford's Nature-based Solutions Initiative. With projects across Asia, South America, and the UK, the program aims to enhance understanding of the potential of nature-based solutions to address multiple global challenges whilst supporting the health of ecosystems. Additionally, the program aims to involve and respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. In this episode, we discuss the concept of nature-based solutions, their challenges, and their potential. Seth also elaborates on his extensive research work which covers the socioeconomic benefits of the legal wildlife trade and a global review of the large carnivore reintroduction, rewilding, and translocation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anishbanerjee.substack.com
Vili Lehdonvirta discusses his book "Cloud Empires" and how digital platforms like Amazon and others are overtaking our lives. We explore how we can regain control. Vili is Professor of Economic Sociology and Digital Social Research at the University of Oxford. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest?
Summer is here, and with heatwaves forecast, how do we keep our homes cool without relying on air conditioning? In the UK, soaring summer temperatures can be brief but powerful. So, what can we do? Nicole Miranda, from the Department of Engineering, shares practical, energy-efficient and eco-friendly strategies to help you stay comfortable during the hot months. And yes, ice creams are encouraged! This is the final episode of this season. We hope that you have enjoyed learning the science behind the many weird and wonderful aspects of our world. If you have a big question, get in touch and we will try to find you an answer in the next season.
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: After growing up in a Zimbabwe convulsed by the legacy of colonialism, when I got to Oxford I realised how many British people still failed to see how empire had shaped lives like mine – as well as their own. By Simukai Chigudu. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
Scientists are returning to the moon, but when they get there, what time is it? Dr Carly Howett from the Department of Physics explains the basics: what time is, and how we found a globalised way of understanding time zones so we can meet for a 3pm coffee or international video call, and everyone is in the right place at the right time. But how does that translate to space and why could the consequences of incorrect timekeeping be disastrous for space craft docking missions? If you want to get to grips with the weird and wonderful world of lunar time, then tune in to our latest podcast to find out more!
Discover how the ancient art of origami is revolutionising sustainable energy! Researcher Jingyi Yang, from the Department of Engineering Science, has loved origami since childhood. Now she's channelling that passion to tackle engineering challenges. Using the intricate papercraft to develop clam-like models, Jinyi's creative engineering may be the key to improving the efficiency of energy produced by the waves hitting the UK's coastline. Find out more about this imaginative approach to scientific discovery in this podcast!
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week's episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
When you think of fossils, you probably imagine dinosaurs. But did you know that soft body parts, like the brain, can become fossils too? In this episode, forensic anthropologist Alexandra Morton-Hayward explores the science of brain fossilisation. Skeletons have been found in wells, Incan temples, salt mines and many other unusual locations, often with no other organs, hair or skin preserved. With only a brain nested in the skull, we are asking … how can this happen? Listen now to find out and discover how this research is unravelling ancient human history!
One of Asia's most elusive predators is the Clouded Leopard. Until 2006, the term clouded leopard referred to one ubiquitous species found across the Eastern Himalayas, mainland Southeast Asia, and the islands of Borneo and Sumatara. However, extensive genetic analysis of various populations revealed two sister species of clouded leopard. The first is the Mainland Clouded Leopard, distributed discontinuously across the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, South China, and South East Asia. The second species, the Sunda Clouded Leopard, is restricted to rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Physically, the latter has a darker and smaller cloud pattern than the former. Studies suggest that both species diverged relatively recently (in evolutionary terms), approximately 2-0.9 million years ago. This has been attributed to the submergence of the land bridge connecting the Sumatran and Bornean rainforests to mainland Asia, hence resulting in extreme geographic isolation and hence speciation. The population of both species has declined significantly below 10,000 individual adults. None of the subpopulations of the two species have more than 1,000 individuals. Consequently, both species have been considered “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species. Habitat fragmentation, due to unprecedented levels of deforestation, and commercial hunting for the illegal wildlife trade are the primary threats faced by clouded leopards.In this episode, I speak to Chrishen Gomez, a Ph.D. student at the University of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. He is currently a part of WildCRU's Clouded Leopard Programme. Established in 2010, the program has since conducted long-term ecological studies on both species of clouded leopards across their range, with the aim of improving the species conservation. Tune in to learn more about Chrishen's and WildCRU's research on Clouded Leopards. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anishbanerjee.substack.com
In this episode, we sit down with economist and author Professor Sir Dieter Helm to discuss his vision for a sustainable economy. Helm asks the question, "what would it look like to live in a sustainable economy?" and offers a framework for understanding and addressing climate change. He argues that the current narrative around net-zero is unrealistic and that a more balanced approach is needed, one that takes into account the realities of the global economy and the need for sustainable economic growth. Helm emphasises the importance of focusing on capital assets, rather than just flows, and of considering the intergenerational impacts of our actions. He also discusses the need for a new kind of economic thinking that takes into account the realities of the 21st century, rather than relying on outdated models from the 20th century. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the challenges and opportunities of achieving a sustainable future. This episode is brought to you by United Renewables in association with the University of Oxford. REFERENCES Website: https://dieterhelm.co.uk Books: https://dieterhelm.co.uk/books ******** This episode of Conversations on Climate is a podcast brought to you in association with UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. We bring together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change – from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs. For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter. We'd love to have you join us! Don't forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms. We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter. Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES. Tune into both the video and audio versions of this podcast NOW: https://www.unitedrenewables.co.uk/podcast Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE: https://bit.ly/3GZpd7R and ring the notification bell Join us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3MnhuSf Join us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Q5UKcj Join us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3tFEnK3 #leadership #organisationalbehaviour #climateaction #renewableenergy #conversationsonclimate #politics
In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.This is the third episode in the series. In this episode, I present results from the world's first large-scale survey of beauty in science. You can see the slides from the presentation on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoN Following this presentation we'll have a discussion among panelists and Q&A from the audience.Support the Show.
In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at Magdalen College the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.You can see the slides from the panelists' presentations on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoNThis is the second episode in the series; in our last episode we heard from Dr. Ben MacArthur and Dr. James McAllister. In this clip we're going to hear from three panelists:Dr. Milena Ivanova is Bye-Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. She is the co-editor of The Aesthetics of Science: Beauty, Imagination and Understanding (Routledge, 2020), author of Duhem and Holism (Cambridge University Press, 2021), The Aesthetic Nature of Scientific Experiments (Routledge).Dr. Robert Gilbert is Professor of Biophysics in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and Director of the University of Oxford's Medical Sciences Graduate School. He is the author of Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty (Routledge, 2018).Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder is the author of Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray (Basic Books, 2018) and Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions (Viking and Atlantic Books, 2022) and creative director of the YouTube channel “Science without the gobbledygook.”Support the Show.
In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at Magdalen College at the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.We're going to share this conversation with you over the next few episodes. You can see the slides from the panelists' presentations on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoNIn this first clip, we'll hear from Dr. Ben MacArthur, who is Director of AI for Science and Government and Deputy Programme Director for Health and Medical Sciences at the Alan Turing Institute. He is also Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Southampton.Following that we'll hear from Dr. James McAllister, who is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Leiden University. He is the author of Beauty and Revolution in Science (Cornell University Press, 1996). We'll hear from our other panelists in our next episode.Support the Show.
Your Infinite Health: Anti Aging Biohacking, Regenerative Medicine and You
Leslie Kenny is the Founder and CEO of Oxford Healthspan, a nutraceutical company based on Oxford research into healthy ageing compounds which can naturally slow down the effects of ageing. Oxford Healthspan bridges the gap between Eastern wisdom and Western science in the longevity space.In her early thirties, Leslie Kenny was diagnosed with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism. However, by harnessing the power of nutrition, immune balance, and targeted supplementation, she defied the odds. Now, at 59, she boasts the biological age of a 21-year-old and lives free from the autoimmune diseases that once dictated her life.Leslie's story isn't just one of personal triumph; it's a blueprint for those looking to actively participate in their health and longevity. She introduces the concept of spermidine, a compound found in foods such as legumes, mushrooms, and peas, which has profound effects on cellular turnover and anti-aging. By understanding the body's needs and providing it with the right support, Leslie Kenny believes anyone can change their health destiny.TakeawaysLifestyle and diet impact autoimmune conditions.Collaborate with providers for better treatment.Spermidine-rich foods improve cellular health.Connect with Leslie KennyWebsite: https://oxfordhealthspan.comWebsite: https://oxfordlongevityproject.orgYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@LesliesNewPrimeConnectDr. Trip Goolsby & LeNae Goolsby are the co-founders of the Infinite Health Integrative Medicine Center, and are also the co-authors of the book “Think and Live Longer”.
House plants can be a cheerful pop of colour in your home. But do you find after the initial burst of life, your plants start to fade, looking sad and unhealthy? M Garrido Davies, from the Department of Biology, shares top tips for helping house plants to flourish, starting with learning more about the biology of how plants grow in their natural environment. Did you know that when you add too much water to your house plants, it starves their roots of oxygen, damaging the root system and actually creating a drought? And have you considered how much light and ventilation your household greenery is getting? Discover more biology behind the blooms in this podcast!
Alex Teytelboym, Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and Director of their Business Economics Programme, and Fiona Czerniawska, Founder & CEO at Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source's Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Alex and Fiona shared their insight on the following matters and more: Climate change can be viewed as a failure of the market—in theory, this means that solving it could make everyone better off. Policy responses and regulation are lagging behind what is happening to the planet. It's very difficult to predict how the risks will manifest, but they will be complex and unpredictable. Business leaders should think about climate change as being about operating in a complex and unpredictable environment. That means we need to build in resilience and redundancy. There is going to be a lot of creative destruction. Successful businesses need to innovate early and broadly, thinking about innovation in terms of a portfolio. Consultants need to talk to clients about the long-term view and about the real problems climate change poses—this can be counterintuitive to consultants who like to be optimistic and target near-term wins. Voluntary carbon markets and carbon offsets are potentially a terrible way for businesses to meet their climate goals. Regulation is not sufficient and there are reputational greenwashing risks attached. Carbon measurement should be simple, but there's still a lot of difficulty measuring complex supply chains. The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is set to accelerate progress, and consulting firms will be in demand to help clients comply with this. It's going to be harder to be an average manager with so many different goals to meet. This means it is going to be even more difficult for businesses to incentivise their people appropriately. We used to think about climate change as a slow process, but that's no longer true. To succeed in this space, businesses must move early and create a portfolio of innovations. Seventy-five percent of clients think that the way they are approaching sustainability needs to change. If you enjoyed this conversation, don't miss our sister podcast, Business Leader's Voice. In our latest episode, we set out the big business challenges that clients say they'll be facing in the year ahead.
In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino sits down with Oomar Paurobally, a fellow Oxford alumnus and leader in hospitality megaprojects in South East Asia and Korea, to discuss his dissertation and his unique perspective on the Iron Triangle. The pair cover everything from stakeholder management and the universal complexity of major programmes to the interesting outcomes that can arise from a megaproject's royal flush. “What we found is that the more you look at an aggregate level, when you're looking at an aggregated industry level, you find that the root causes tend to be the same. So, the same root causes we learned during our programme as areas affecting major infrastructure projects were the same that were impacting our industry, which were stakeholder management processes, product management skills in itself across portfolios; the root causes were similar. But what was really interesting insight was, so what? Now what? So we know, that's a core issue. But what does it really mean to us?” – Oomar Paurobally After a degree in law, Oomar went to Dubai with a major project constructing a multi-billion dollar resort and waterpark. He has opened hotels, resorts and restaurants across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Now, he has pivoted his career into real estate in the tech industry. Key Takeaways:Is the hospitality industry immune to the iron law of major programmes? The similarity of Iron Triangle root causes in civil infrastructure major programmes and luxury commercial megaprojects: Infrastructure stakeholder management and leadership management Delays as strategy in private sector of hospitality major programmes; the sharp contrast from civil major programmes Oomar's dissertation research methodology; the successes and failures of thematic analysis and quantitative survey researchThe importance of pivoting to manage research bias The royal flush in hospitality megaprojects and the interesting outcomes they can bring If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. The conversation doesn't stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedInFollow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedInFollow Oomar Paurobally on LinkedInRead Riccardo's latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com Transcript:Riccardo Cosentino 00:05You're listening to Navigating Major Programmes, a podcast that aims to elevate the conversations happening in the infrastructure industry and inspire you to have a more efficient approach within it. I'm your host, Riccardo Cosentino. I bring over 20 years of Major Programme Management experience. Most recently, I graduated from Oxford University Saïd Business School, which shook my belief when it comes to navigating major programmes. Now it's time to shake yours. Join me in each episode as I press the industry experts about the complexity of Major Programme Management, emerging digital trends and the critical leadership required to approach these multibillion-dollar projects. Let's see where the conversation takes us. Riccardo Cosentino 00:51Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of Navigating Major Programmes. We're here today with Oomar Paurobally. How are you doing, Oomar? Oomar Paurobally 01:02I'm doing great Riccardo, it's great to be here. Riccardo Cosentino 01:04Thank you for joining me today. Really, really excited to have you on. I believe today you are calling from Singapore. Am I correct? Oomar Paurobally 01:13That's right. Beautiful island of Singapore. Riccardo Cosentino 01:15There you go. And I'm in Toronto so I think we are covering most of the time zone around the globe today. We're here today to talk about, I mean, you attended the Master in Major Program Management with me, we were in the same cohort. And today I invited you to the podcast to talk about your research, your dissertation. But maybe before we do that, that you might introduce yourself a little bit. Tell us a little bit about your background and what did you do before Oxford, what are you doing now, and things like that. Oomar Paurobally 01:46Thank you so much, Riccardo. Well, pleasure to be on the podcast and invest. Here I'm standing on shoulders of giants who came before me and we're on the fourth podcast. So if you ask myself, I actually did not start in life thinking I was going into major programmes. I read law and management in my very first degree. But I was tapped on the shoulder for a very interesting project, my first major programme in Dubai, which was to join the project management team building the Atlantis in Dubai. So that was approximately 15 years ago now. And that's how I joined this world in this realm. After that. I've been plodding along in the world of construction, building hotels and resorts across Asia, Middle East and Africa. The programme was a seminal point in my life and my career because I did pivot into a different industry, into the technology industry, right after looking still looking after spaces, but in a very different way. Riccardo Cosentino 02:42Very interesting, your background is very different from mine, I mean, you do construction, but you did a different type of construction. So I was very intrigued by your dissertation because it looks a case study that is very different from what I used to know. What I found from the dissertation for your research even though the case study is a different day, the issues are similar because upon the the level of complexity of the problems that you were looking at, is as high as any other major programmes that I looked at. So that was why I was interested in that, I was very keen to have you on because when we think of major programmes, in my circle, we always think of the major civil project is very complex and like well, tunneling, big dams and power plants. But you'll be looking at major programme from a different perspective. And so I was very, very keen to have a different perspective on the podcast. Oomar Paurobally 03:38Thank you so much, Riccardo. I guess first, let me start by saying obviously, the views I'll be sharing today are mine and mine alone and do not reflect any of the views and perspectives of my previous or current employers. So now that that's out of the way, let's talk about perspective. So it's very interesting, actually, I joined the programme itself, I was asking myself that question, major programme is programmes that are currently focused on major infrastructure projects (inaudible) start, whereas I was coming from a commercial lens at this project philosophy commercializing it from day one. And the added element to this was the complexity of the programmes I was managing was due to scale. So they had already scaled. So, if you looked at each individual project I was working on, they would not make up a programme. They would fall very clearly within the realms of what we define as project management, that when you start multiplying, and you start building in different countries with different stakeholders, at the same time, then the complexities became the same complexities you would face at a major programme level. So for me, that's where the similarities were, as we started engaging into the programme. Riccardo Cosentino 05:00And maybe we can have a bit of a debate as I've had this debate in the past with other people. So obviously, you're saying one building is probably not a major project but when you are combining a portfolio of building projects, then that's when it becomes a major programme. So a portfolio does reach a level of complexity that brings something to the level of major programme with some (inaudible). And I don't like I never like to measure major programmes by the size, you know, either financial size or like, even one bedroom size. I always look at, it's a major programme when the complexity is high. And so I think when you have a portfolio, by their nature becomes very complex because you're now dealing with multiple stakeholdesr, multiple jurisdictions. So yeah, I, you know, to me, and I would like to get your view, is like, is it appropriate to define major programme by the level of complexity or should we have a discussion about the financial size? Well, what would be your experience during your research? Oomar Paurobally 06:08Well, I think just financial size of your portfolio matters, because it will determine the level of interest that there is from different stakeholders on managing a portfolio of let's say, you have 50 assets, but which are worth 10 million versus 20 assets that are worth $100 million each, it's very different. So I think the financial element plays a part, plays a role because the bigger the financial elements that you're working with, the higher the level of pressure. In my context, and it is about assets that are owned, mostly by conglomerates or high-net-worth individuals. So the pressure to perform can can be quite different, versus assets that are owned, or heavily subsidized by banks, for example, where timing becomes very important and staying within limits of initial plan execution. It's more critical. Riccardo Cosentino 07:11Interesting. Okay, switching gears a little bit, shall we talk about your dissertation? Well, what was your word? What was your area of research? What did you research when you were at Oxford? Oomar Paurobally 07:21I was looking in the hospitality industry and whether the iron law of major programme was also relevant there, which is, you know, programmes are delayed and produce under benefits over and over again. Across the industry and across different brands, we found that to be true and that as an industry, it was not immune to the iron law of major programmes. Riccardo Cosentino 07:49And did you find that, you know, I think we all are aware, people who listen to the podcast are aware (inaudible) of what is analysis of the root causes of the iron triangle? Did you find that it's very similar root causes of your currents of the iron triangle or you've done with different root causes in your industry? Oomar Paurobally 08:16Oh, that's a really interesting question, Riccardo, because what we found is that the more you look at an aggregate level, when you're looking at an aggregated industry level, you find that the root causes tend to be the same. So the same root causes we learned during our programme as areas affecting major infrastructure projects were the same that were impacting our industry, which is your stakeholder management processes. You're talking about project management skills in itself across portfolios. The root causes were similar but what was really interesting insight was, so what? Now what? So we know that's a core issue. But what does it really mean to us? And the answer, and what added to the complexity or the beauty of portfolios is it really depends. It depends on the organization you're working with. What are the different stakeholders we're working with? And for some organizations, being delayed was a good strategy. Well, it was a strategic decision to do so because unlike infrastructure projects, where you're using, again, Epic Funds to build something and you have an imperative all the time of making sure that every dollar counts when you're going into the private sector, there might be an erosion framework, and yet, you might have invested a bit too early, but it makes more sense for conglomerate to wait, better headwinds, better travel industry patterns. COVID was a fantastic example of that. It might have been the middle of construction, while opening you better wait buddy. Let that thing pass before you can even (inaudible) means having to keep certain fixed expenses. Riccardo Cosentino 10:02That's very, yeah, for sure. That's not something that we see in my project, you know, we build, like, right, like rapid transit system that you can never open there soon enough also, because the idea is these projects, these mega projects in the public realm, and I know I'm not subjected to the economic ups and downs, right? I mean, and then they're typically long overdue. Yeah. So I can see, I can see how the government capital plays a part in the strategic decision of the major programmes that you look at. What are the interesting findings? And finally, the deal, I mean, you always see, maybe you want to talk a little bit about your methodology for the research is something that we always talk about, but you know, Oxford has a very rigorous research methods. And we as a Master's student, we are asked to form a very, very specific research guidelines. So do you want to maybe talk a little bit about your process? Oomar Paurobally 11:02Sure, I guess, rigorous is a bit of an understatement. It was like it was very interesting. I took an approach over here because I was looking at an industry in general, of doing a whole literature review first. And then I went into interviews. The reason I started with a literature review approach, which is, you know, scour the web and websites like Web of Science, Scopus, where we really have, you know, the majority of academic articles are listed. It is really scour websites to find out how much information, how much literature had been written on these aspects of major programming. But the performance of major programmes in the hospitality industry there wasn't a lot I mean, when individual it's a lot, it's a lot to go through, I went to thousand plus abstracts to be read and filtered down to get to the core articles that we wanted to analyze where the approach was a literature review approach to really understand what was the status of knowledge with regards to major programmes in that industry. What was interesting is that 5000 as a number can sound like a lot, it is not when you look at it in other industries, you're talking about hundreds of thousands. So the first insight was it was an interesting dissertation because not a lot was written on the subject. And when you look at the conclusion of 90 odd articles in the selected foreword station and to really analyze it was a handful of offers. So there, the interest, the academic interest in the industry was not very high, which for me was really interesting because it really open up more opportunities for study. Riccardo Cosentino 13:09So you went for a qualitative versus quantitative research so you qualitatively assessed the issue, rather than quantitatively which means you basically interview, how did you select your participants in the research and you know, how big was the pool? Oomar Paurobally 13:26The pool was leaders in the sector, across major hotel organizations in Southeast Asia. (Inaudible) basic geographic delineation around the dissertation, which is it studies the industry from an Asian perspective, which is also where most hurdles have been built in recent years. Riccardo Cosentino 13:54Okay, so you interview your participant, you gather the data? And then what do you, and then I'm assuming you analyze the data using a specific model that you probably had built? Sorry, I'm going for this because I, I just realized that I'm not over, you know, I invite a lot of guests and we talk about their dissertation and give it, I always assume that people know what the process of a dissertation and I realize that they don't So, I'm not, I'm putting you for this just to give a sense of why it's important to have guests like you on the podcast to talk about your research and to actually explain the rigor and what we do. So yeah, but I was asking you, you know, once you have all the data, you actually you know, I think we all do it, we actually create a model to analyze and assess the data, right? Oomar Paurobally 14:46Correct. And the methodology I used was a methodology from have Mahler and key platinum book, which explains the different methodologies available when doing interviews and more specifically when writing dissertations. And the approach I took was a thematic approach, meaning you would run the interview and you would give full, obviously, full freedom, full length for the interviewees to give their point of view. But after the fact, you will look at how many times a fear would come up during the conversation without being prompted. Right. So he got really hard because you really don't want to influence the interviewee to keep on one subject, but you would let it naturally flow during the conversation. And what would happen is after a little while up to two or three questions, and as we go into our root causes, of performance or underperformance, each stakeholder start developing a fear as to why they shake (inaudible) I will then note the number of times that fear is coming up. So I would do that for all the interviewees. And at the end of the interview, I would highly tally shall be able to look at how many times project management skills or lack of knowledge of project management skills was coming up, the number of times stakeholder management was coming up. And that was the approach and the tricky part of the approach is, there's an inherent bias when you're selecting interviewees, because the higher up the corporate ladder you're going, the more the leaders would be guarding up stakeholder management, because that's where a bigger portion of their time is spent. While you're going to get the teams and within the teams then project management skills is really coming up soon. You're going to manage those different biases and try to find finely balance the interviewees you're looking for in the first place to make sure that the data doesn't go in one direction versus the other purely because of the set of interviewees that are on the pool. Riccardo Cosentino 17:05Thank you for explaining that. Because I think it's yeah, I think it's interesting and worth mentioning, as you said, these are experienced individuals, experienced participant, people who are, been working in the industry for a long time. So their views are very, very valid. And looking at patterns and models view of practitioners who have similar experiences, is what the research is about. And I found that a very, very interesting process because you do get a cross section of the industry or you do get a cross section of what's happening. So you talked about biases. And so did you try to balance off some of the biases by the type of participants? So you mentioned you had experienced project manager? Did you also try to balance so we'd, like, less experienced project manager to see if the (inaudible) a different views? Oomar Paurobally 18:02That's correct. You know, sometimes we talk about the things that work. But let me share something that did not work. My first approach was not an interviewing approach. My first approach was a survey approach. And it feels to be reserved, because I hadn't read the room correctly. You know, for context, while I was writing the dissertation, we were coming out of COVID years, and COVID had had a tremendous impact on, you see, with hospitality industry. So you can imagine how it would feel when you receive a survey telling you about, you know, what project is going wrong, the type of answers you would get shared good quality bias or influence, but there was certainly COVID looming behind the surveys, and I was trying to go for quantity and pushed it out to as many folks as possible are creating a wide region, the data that came in was just unworkable, because, you know, you get to read the room correctly for the balance correctly. So I had to pivot on the approach to get a better quality of data and to be able to get stock hurdles. So when you talk about biases, it was easier during an interview, to have a different conversation of COVID. But also, let's get COVID aside, you have X years of experience in the industry. Let's talk about those and what they taught you. It also covered of course, but you know, let's talk about your overall experience. So one way to reduce the bias was when looking at length of experience within various industries. So if somebody had joined the industry right before COVID or during COVID, I would not be interviewing them because of experience without being bothered by that (inaudible). Riccardo Cosentino 19:47Thank you for clarifying and thank you for your vulnerability. You're telling us that went down the wrong path that led to, but that's part of the research, right? That's exactly part of the research. It's you know, you try things and you try something different and the ending worked. Okay, so you did the literature review, you select your participant, you tailored questionnaire, you interview the participant, you gather the data, you analyze the data. And then I'm assuming you roleplay the discussion and then a conclusion. And maybe you can walk us through if you can on what were the main themes of your of your recent work. What came out as the main themes from interviewing a participant then what conclusions did you draw from the data that you collected. Oomar Paurobally 20:35Sure. The first elements, I guess, in a nutshell, we're very similar again to the infrastructure programs before project management came up, stakeholder management, lack or lack of stakeholder management came out. Those were the first set of answers that were coming out from the interviews, we hadn't gone to the level and we talked about biases a bit earlier, we hadn't gone to a level of, of bias yet, which I purposely bought into a question in the interviews to say, well, is poor project management a symptom? Is lack of stakeholder management a symptom of the bigger issue of the bias? And for me, this is where it became interesting, because when we looked, not only was the symptom similar, the biases are similar, I believe that's at major programme, so it's, it was an insight, which was interesting for me because there was also what when it came to the bias, first if we talk about biased strategic misrepresentation, right, so they could happen on many different levels, they could happen on the stakeholder level, not necessarily from the leaders of the programme, strategically misrepresenting this amount of time is going to build and get commitment to build. But there was a very (inaudible). So what? We knew that. You simply look at the past to know that it's going to take time and we see something we can live with. So what was interesting is our conversation of how much can, how much of the performance can we leave with before we decide to call it quits? So that was an interesting conversation, which I didn't find when talking to fellow colleagues or looking at the infrastructure. There are some fact in there. And so yeah, we know plus minus six months, that you plus two years, nobody's doing that. Versus in the commercial world yeah, it's two years, no problem as long as the conglomerate is still healthy and still working very well and the economy is right and ripe for the picking when you open. So I think that was interesting and that was different from infrastructure programmes. So, yeah, there is this strategic misrepresentation. Riccardo Cosentino 23:08So I think we touched upon why it's different, at the beginning you mentioned that there are, because I think it's important to dwell on the thought that yeah, when you delivered public infrastructure, it was always long overdue when the confession starts, because you know, thing takes a long time to get this project approved. And so the need for the infrastructure is already there, even before it gets built. And so then, therefore, a delay, all it creates is even more, you're already late when you start because you probably should have built that transit system 20 years ago, and so the further delays are not going to be acceptable. But in my field, we call that revenue transactions, where the asset is actually going to generate monetary revenues on the back end. And it could be yeah, I mean, there could be other reasons why a project, it could be delayed, or it's acceptable for a project to be delayed, because there are revenue consideration and cost consideration on the back end, something that doesn't really exist when you're building a public transit. I mean, it should exist, because ultimately, these are assets that generate benefits for the community. So your financial benefit should always be taken into consideration, but because the reason that exchange of money from the user or not a commensurate exchanging money for the user, that aspect, is that forgotten. And so sometimes being able to trade off delays with revenues or considering other reasons, it could be advantageous, but really, and we don't see that in the public realm. Oomar Paurobally 24:51Correct. I think the second element to your question of the findings were first, the first finding was a reaction of, sure what? Right? Set it to a bar set. So we've got it, it's an economic reality, which we live with. And because we were running a P&L, we manage a P&L, and as long as we're doing well, it's okay, let's live with it and move forward. So we don't dwell on it. But the second limit, which was not immediately coming across, but you would see, as we, you know, I was reading for the interviews was a collection of organizational inertia. So, for the inertia of a or I call it a (inaudible) company, that's managing the portfolio can slow down to a portfolio of projects itself. So if you're looking at a project, by definition, it's, it has a, an end date, it gets delayed, but there's an end date. If your teams are very nimble or if they're working like little organizations themselves. What's different in the hospitality industry is you, you have big organizations behind them. And what we saw is that to that nimbleness, sometimes we get lost at an individual project level, because you need to wait for the bigger organization for decision making. So organizational inertia, of bigger organization impacting individual project was also something that came up, which wouldn't exist in infrastructure programs, because we have one organization and designed for that speed and pace. Riccardo Cosentino 26:37Interesting, interesting. And so in your research in your conclusion, the way you're able to look at, okay, you look at so what and where you will also be able to look at now what? So what is supposed the solution or that was beyond the scope of research? Oomar Paurobally 26:57Yeah, look, we started to look at opportunities, right? I think I'll start with organization inertia first. I wonder who said that there was a code, that snow melts at the periphery. I won't be quoting him wrong, but it was Andy Grove of Microsoft, talking about this. And his point was that organizations can get too big before snow melts at the center and the center knows about it, it already melted everywhere else. And it sure felt that way. When I was studying the industry for a nation that where COVID had a major impact was redefining the industry. But it was also creating opportunities within the industry. So for example, Foodie Kiwi business was never hired while during COVID. And organizations that were nimble were able to take advantage of it so the term Goose Kitchens became popular. They werew opening up all over the place. Delivery services became massive and even after COVID they're still around and having taken with food for delivery services is now a thing. So what this created was a reckoning in the world of hospitality around the business opportunity that existed in that food and beverage area versus what was traditionally a very rooms focused, focused business. So a recommendation was to keep an eye on the periphery and what offers businesses coming up to adapt. Otherwise, if you look up the hotel today, it seem very different when I (inaudible) in the 1960s as it wounds through reception, and there is a (inaudible) on the right hand side. So it did give a moment of reckoning for the industry, which was quite interesting. Riccardo Cosentino 29:11Thank you for that perspective. Yeah. Very, very interesting. Yeah, I think we all anecdotally understand that but to hear it from professional from the hotel industry is very interesting. Okay, I think we come in towards the end of the podcast. And I have one final question before I let you go. But before I get to the final question at any other particular discovery from your research or you think you have you presented all your findings or what was there something else in your research that you want to share with the audience? Oomar Paurobally 29:45So the (inaudible) was interesting from the research was the importance of the country in which you're operating. So we discussed a bit earlier about complexity will be coming from jurisdiction in which you're operate and when you look at this part of the world in specific, we tend to put acronyms to things we'll say this is Southeast Asia, there's tens of countries, and the laws are very, very different. So when you are operating across them, having those acronyms in mind and thinking, oh, it's just one project under that acronym, how hard can it be? I think you can never discount the jurisdiction element. And again, that's a point of difference in I think, big infrastructure projects. But we know the country in which it's happening, if it's something that's being built between the countries, we're also very specific about those two, whereas when it's the portfolio, and it's across different countries, and different stakeholders we have in those countries being able to navigate, those jurisdictions become very, very important skill. Riccardo Cosentino 30:55Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Very interesting point. It's very peculiar to your industry. Also because you have an ongoing like with mega projects, either they get handed over to somebody else, but the operation politics is well entrenched into the business, right? So it's not just about the power, it's all of the facility. It's about running afterward. Okay, before I go, and hopefully you can you can answer these questions. I don't think this triggers any confidentiality. But I think you while we were in Oxford, you were telling us almost very specific commissioning process that the hotels, group of hotels, have to go through. Can you tell us what the royal flush is? Oomar Paurobally 31:44Well, one very, one very specific project that (inaudible) when you're you're commissioning a property, and you want to make sure all the mechanical and engineering systems and the pipings are working well. You test all the products and amenities in a room that includes turning on all your TVs, etc. And when it comes to the flush, it's about opening every faucet there is, from the bathtub to the shower to the water closet and picking and choosing the big button and flushing and doing it all at the same time to check your equipment. There have been some interesting outcomes of (inaudible). Riccardo Cosentino 32:32(Inaudible) as a civil engineer that as commissioned projects, you know, that part of the commissioning (inaudible), so thank you for sharing that. And now, on that line note, I want to thank you for joining me today. It was a fascinating conversation. Thank you for sharing with us your dissertation, your process, your findings, and I wish you all the best for your new endeavor. And thank you for joining me. Oomar Paurobally 32:55Thank you, Riccardo, always a pleasure. Riccardo Cosentino 32:59That's it for this episode of Navigating Major Programmes. I hope you found today's conversation as informative or provoking as I did. If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. I would also like to personally invite you to continue the conversation by joining me on my personal LinkedIn at Riccardo Cosentino. Listening to the next episode, we will continue to explore the latest trends and challenges in major programme management. Our next in-depth conversation promises to continue to dive into topics such as leadership risk management and the impact of emerging technology in infrastructure. It's a conversation you're not going to want to miss. Thanks for listening to Navigating Major Programmes and I look forward to keeping the conversation going. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast do not necessarily represent or reflect the official policy, opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Disenyo.co LLC and its employees.
Cats are pretty adorable! Those big eyes, fluffy paws and cheeky personalities mean that most people find felines cute. But what is the science behind this reaction? Neuroscientist Professor Morten Kringelbach reveals how special technology can track what happens to signals in the brain in response to sounds and images of babies and small animals. In just a thousandth of a second, our brain decides that something is cute. This almost instantaneous cuteness reaction is thought to be a deep-rooted evolutionary feature of humans, encouraging us to look after young babies and animals to help species to survive. Cats (and other fluffy pets) can bring us so much joy, so next time you find yourself smiling at a cat video or your beloved pet, make sure to spread the love and bring someone else a dose of happiness.
You might have seen them in a hotel. You might have read about them in the news. Maybe you've seen them star in social media videos filmed on the London underground. But should we really be worried about bed bugs? The little critters evolved from feeding on bats and birds to humans thousands of years ago and were part of society for hundreds of years. But with the invention of synthetic pesticides, bed bug populations declined significantly after the Second World War. However, as pesticide resistance grows and the world becomes increasingly connected, bed bugs are making a resurgence. Entomologist Liam Crowley, from the Department of Biology, tells us what to look out for and how to keep them at bay in our latest podcast. But don't worry, they're not as common as you might think!
Join Joe Seddon on a journey from Morley to CEO and Founder of Zero Gravity. In this episode, Joe reflects on the cultural shift from Yorkshire to the big city, where introductions are based on your name and passions rather than job titles. Hear how Joe's intrigue about Oxbridge from his appearance on BBC Leeds Radio on GCSE results day fueled his determination to defy the odds. Recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30, named Tech Entrepreneur of the Year in the 2023 UK Business Tech Awards, and honored in King Charles' Birthday Honours List, Joe shares insights into his path as one of Europe's leading social entrepreneurs. Discover the sacrifices, challenges of 'shouldism,' and the mission-driven ethos behind Zero Gravity. Joe #youareaclassofyourown Guest: Joe Seddon https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeseddon https://www.joeseddon.com https://www.zerogravity.co.uk Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-class-of-their-own/id1732288997 Watch on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aclassoftheirownpodcast/podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Apq2pSbmvytPjABrlidpN?si=4d62eba56abb45ad Social media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aclassoftheirownpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aclassoftheirownpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aclassoftheirownpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclassoftheirownpodcast Website: https://www.playforchange.co.uk/aclassoftheirownpodcast Host: Mira Magecha https://www.linkedin.com/in/miramagecha https://www.instagram.com/mira_magecha Creative Director: Alex Payne https://www.instagram.com/alexjamespayne Editor: Josh Partridge https://www.instagram.com/joshfilmmaker Music: Jay Witsey https://www.instagram.com/jay.witsey Sponsor: play for change https://www.playforchange.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/play_forchange https://www.linkedin.com/company/playforchangeltd
In this episode, we journey through the vast cosmos with Professor Chris Lintott, a distinguished astrophysicist and presenter of the BBC's 'Sky at Night.' Our discussion revolved around his latest book, "Our Accidental Universe," where Chris eloquently unraveled the accidental nature of astronomical discoveries. From the diverse worlds in our Solar System to the outer reaches of the observable universe, he shared captivating stories and insights. We delved into the charm of lazy astronomy, the profound connection to the cosmos, the allure of a dark night sky, and even the mysteries behind why Uranus and Neptune share the same colour. OUTLINE: Here's approximate timestamps for the episode. 00:40 Introducing Chris 00:57 Weather effecting stargazing! 01:45 Dogstars Podcast (will come back to this later in episode!) 02:26 Cosmic perspective 04:30 The Moon 06:27 Accessibility of astronomy and Jupiter 08:44 Fascination with Space 10:28 Uranus and Neptune are the same colour! 17:45 Keeping an open mind to astronomy 19:00 Vera Rubin Observatory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_C._Rubin_Observatory 20:28 SETI 21:56 Chris's predictions for the future 24:20 Oumuamua - what was it? 27:40 Sky At Night 28:30 Challenges/Joy's of presenting Sky At Night/Science Communication 30:53 Our Accidental Universe Pre-Order Now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Accidental-Universe-Discovery-Asteroids/dp/1911709186 31:25 Dog Stars Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dog-stars/id1663196276 33:22 Wrap Up and Socials Follow Chris Lintott X: https://twitter.com/chrislintott Sky At Night Profile: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/4jgzzH6CBH7b5K0qblb73nZ/professor-chris-lintott Book Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Accidental-Universe-Discovery-Asteroids/dp/1911709186 Stay connected with us! Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us! Youtube: www.youtube.com/@astrobenpodcast Website: www.astroben.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/ X: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrobenpodcast/
People have been interested in wine growing and quality vintages since the Roman times, but as the climate warms, what does this mean for the future of wine growers in the UK (and beyond)? Andrew Wood, from the Department of Biology, has been studying the records of wine critics, which reveal much more than whether the bottle is a good vintage or not. The vintage can tell scientists what the growing conditions were like for the grapes in a given year – was it hot or cold? Was there flooding or drought? Was light more intense? As the UK experiences more ‘BBQ summers', we may see new grape varieties flourishing, producing new flavours of wine. But it's not good news for all vineyards. Find out why in our latest podcast!
Dr. Oliver Scott Curry joins Jaclyn to discuss the groundbreaking research he is leading at kindness.org, how kindness has shaped his career, and understanding the science of kindness.Dr. Curry is Chief Science Officer at kindness.org, leading the innovative research hub, Kindlab. He is also a Research Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford. He received his PhD from the London School of Economics in 2005.As CSO at Kindness.org, Oliver and his team are working to answer questions like: Why are people kind? How kind are people, really? Why aren't people kinder? What are the most effective kind acts you can do? And, how can we make the world a kinder place? The work involves both pure and applied research on the causes and consequences of kindness.This podcast is one of the many ways we live out our organization's mission to educate and inspire people to choose kindness. Visit our site kindness.org and sign up to become a part of our global community which spans more than 100 countries. It's free to join and when you do you'll be the first to get access to our latest research, tools, and even episodes of this podcast. Let's build a kinder world, together. Contact us at podcast@kindness.org or on social at @kindnessorg. Sponsored by VerizonImportant links from this week's episode:kindness.orgFollow Oliver on social:Twitter: @Oliver_S _CurryCredits Host: Jaclyn LindseyGuest: Dr. Oliver Scott CurryProducer: Melissa MaloneAssociate Producer: Becca ReedAssistant Producer: Nina Zaborney KlineMusic Composition: Chris ChristianaDesign: Ben Gibson, Christine Do, Smithfield StudioTranscript available at this link.
Lions are iconic species, but they are threatened with extinction. In Zambia, researchers and conservationists are working together to find ways of conserving these majestic animals and preventing them from becoming by-catch of poaching. In this new episode of the Big Questions podcast, we speak to Dr Egil Dröge from the Department of Biology to share the steps involved in bringing lions back to a national park in Zambia. Careful selection of a few young female lions which are genetically similar to those lost from the national park, and collaboration with local communities could pave the way for lions to return to the area over the next decade.
Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Barbara Petrongolo is a Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford. She is Fellow of the British Academy, Director of the CEPR Labor Economics Program and a Research Associate at the Centre for Economic Performance of the London School of Economics. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scientificsense/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scientificsense/support
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Welcome to an interview with the director of the Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, Dr. Andrew White. In this episode with Dr. Andrew White, we delved deeply into the changes and challenges of leadership, as well as the reason behind the negative tone of discussions around leadership. Dr. White also discussed how to know if you are approaching leadership in the right way, the indicators of healthy leadership, and how leaders can assess themselves to be better leaders. Dr. Andrew White is the host of the Leadership 2050 podcast, on which he has interviewed the likes of former Unilever CEO Alan Jope and Mercedes F1 team CEO Toto Wolff. He is also the CEO of Transcend.Space, a leadership coaching company. Dr White's work focuses on the type of leadership needed to transcend 21st-century challenges. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo
Episode Notes
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2020: What links an eccentric Oxford classics don, billionaire US evangelicals, and a tiny, missing fragment of an ancient manuscript?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 378, an interview with the director of the Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, Dr. Andrew White. In this episode with Dr. Andrew White, we delved deeply into the changes and challenges of leadership, as well as the reason behind the negative tone of discussions around leadership. Dr. White also discussed how to know if you are approaching leadership in the right way, the indicators of healthy leadership, and how leaders can assess themselves to be better leaders. Dr. Andrew White is the host of the Leadership 2050 podcast, on which he has interviewed the likes of former Unilever CEO Alan Jope and Mercedes F1 team CEO Toto Wolff. He is also the CEO of Transcend.Space, a leadership coaching company. Dr White's work focuses on the type of leadership needed to transcend 21st-century challenges. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo
Professor Kuyken suggests that over the next 50 years that will see mental health and wellbeing become a human right that is fundamental to human flourishing. This requires a public health and societal approach to tackle as from about 7 billion people in the world, of which about a 3.5 billion will at some point encounter mental health problems themselves or with their loved ones. How we think about mental health will be the equivalent of passive smoking ~50 years ago.Why school culture and not mindfulness curriculum improve mental health in young people in schools. Professor Willem Kuyken, University of Oxford discuss the unexpected findings from the $6 million pound Wellcome Trust published Myriad trial (My Resilience in Adolescence).Professor Willem Kuyken, a leading expert in mindfulness and psychological science at the University of Oxford published the Myriad trial, showing that the school environment correlated with mental health was the culture and climate and not the mindfulness curriculum as the primary outcomes. A school that has a sense of safety, respect, trust, and overall psychological and physical comfort was found to be associated with better mental health in adolescent students. These factors, changeable in nature, present an interesting opportunity for enhancing student wellbeing. Interestingly, external factors seemed to contribute more to variations in young people's mental health than factors within the school, suggesting that schools alone cannot shoulder the entire responsibility for mental health interventions. The epidemiological findings from their large and representative study reaffirmed existing knowledge that about one in three young people (ages 11-14) reported significant mental health challenges, with higher incidences among girls than boys. Professor Kuyken started his career as a scientist who was interested in evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for adults. However, he realized that these individual therapies were not enough to make a major impact on mental health and well being at a population level. The Myriad Study concluded that mindfulness training did not have a clear advantage over normal school provision or social and emotional learning in promoting mental health and well being among adolescents. However, the study also highlighted some potential benefits and challenges of mindfulness training for teachers in schools, and suggested directions for future research and practice.https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/team/willem-kuykenKuyken, W. et al & MYRIAD Team Group. (2022). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training compared with normal school provision in reducing risk of mental health problems and promoting well-being in adolescence: the MYRIAD cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Evidence-Based Mental Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2021-300396Covers the primary outcomes of the trial with a focus on the impact on young people.Kuyken, W. et al (2022). Effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training compared with normal school provision on teacher mental health and school climate: results of the MYRIAD cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Evidence-Based Mental Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2022-300424Covers some of the secondary outcomes such as the impact of Mindfulness training on the teachers delivering it and the school climate as a whole.Support the showSubscribe and support the podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/newLearn more at www.profselenabartlett.com
Nuala speaks to a woman who discovered by chance that her fiancé was secretly filming her naked in the home they shared. Victoria, not her real name, reported him to the police and he later pleaded guilty and was convicted on voyeurism charges. Last month she also won £97,000 in compensation, some of which she is aiming to put towards trying to remove the images he made of her without her consent from the internet. According to data gathered from a global network of health scientists, five-year-olds in the UK are on average up to seven centimetres shorter than their peers in other wealthy nations. To discuss the contributing factors Nuala is joined by Anna Taylor, Executive Director of nutrition charity, The Food Foundation and also by Henry Dimbleby the former government food adviser who's also written a book "Ravenous" about our consumption of ultra processed food. In India, the majority of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in the later stages and between 2019 and 2021 less than 1% of women had undergone screening. But a team of blind and partially sighted women are trying to change this by training to become Medical Tactile Examiners where they use their hands to help detect the cancer at its earliest stage. Nuala is joined by Shalini Khanna, Director of The National Association of the Blind India Centre for Blind Women and Leena Chagla, President of the Association of Breast Surgery to discuss. Professor Irene Tracey is only the second ever female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. In the last few weeks she has had to deal with several angry protests in Oxford over the appearance of Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union. She allowed the talk to go ahead, saying, ‘we have to defend free speech'. Professor Tracey joins Nuala to talk about the battle over free speech, as well as what it's like being a woman in the world of academia. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel
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