Ideas Lab http://www.ideaslab.bham.ac.uk Each Ideas Lab Predictor Podcast features a different academic expert scanning the horizon in their specialist field to give insider knowledge on new trends and key issues. It's a quick heads-up on what to watch out for over the next 18-24 months, given by those in the know. The series covers a wide range of topics, from energy and archaeology to animal intelligence and food engineering. en-us Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:13:10 GMT tdscripts.com Podcast Generator a.tootell@bham.ac.uk (Andy Tootell) 1 Ideas Lab's Project Administrator, Andy Tootell, talks about the project's forthcoming 'Predictor Podcast'. Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:13:10 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Dr Henry Chapman from the University of Birmingham about new developments in archaeology. Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:45:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Dr Jackie Chappell, Lecturer in Animal Behaviour in the University of Birmingham’s Department of Biosciences. She also runs the Cognitive Adaptations Research Group. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:30:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Professor Richard Green, Professor of Energy Economics at the University of Birmingham, and Director of the Institute for Energy Research and Policy, about the future of energy in the UK. Fri, 9 Jul 2010 17:15:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Dr Phil Cox, lecturer in food micro-structural engineering at the University of Birmingham. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:15:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Professor Karen Rowlingson, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham and Director of CHASM, about personal finance in relation to the gloomy economic outlook. Fri, 6 Aug 2010 15:00:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Dr Jackie Blissett, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Birmingham, with a special interest in food and eating. She discusses the psychology behind comfort eating. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:00:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Professor Isabelle Szmigin, Professor of Marketing at Birmingham Business School, about consumer behaviour, alcohol and binge drinking. Fri, 3 Sep 2010 16:00:00 GMT Lucy Vernall chats to Dr Robin May, Senior Lecturer in Infectious Disease and Lister Fellow at the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences, about opportunistic pathogens and the vast number of bacteria we all carry in and on our bodies. Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:00:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, chats to Dr Eliot Marston, BUPA Translational Research Manager at the University of Birmingham's College of Medical and Dental Sciences, about obesity in children and bariatric surgery as a front line treatment. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:00:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, interviews Dr Chris Allen, a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham's Institute of Applied Social Studies. Chris talks about the causes and ramifications of Islamophobia. Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:00:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, chats to Dr Matt Bridge, Senior Lecturer in Coaching and Sports Science at the University of Birmingham's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, about young people's engagement with sport in school. Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:30:00 GMT Lucy chats to Professor Kai Bongs, Professor of Cold Atom Physics at the University of Birmingham's School of Physics and Astronomy, and the local head of the Midlands Ultracold Atom Research Centre, about cold atoms and quantum computing. Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:30:00 GMT Lucy chats to Prof Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies at the University of Birmingham and editor of the news and current affairs site EA WorldView, about what's next for President Barack Obama, the rise of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:30:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director and Project Administrator, Lucy Vernall and Andy Tootell, take us through a Christmas compilation of some of the best bits from the last six months of the Ideas Lab Predictor Podcast. Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Ken Hamilton, concert pianist and Reader in Music at the University of Birmingham's Department of Music, about improvisation in musical pieces during performances and differences in the sound of 18th century instruments. Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:00:00 GMT Ideas Lab's Project Director, Lucy Vernall, chats to Professor Wendy Scase, Geoffrey Shepherd Professor of Medieval English Literature at the University of Birmingham, about her tireless work to bring The Vernon Manuscript to a wider audience. Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Professor Jon Glasby, Prof of Health and Social Care and Director of the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham, about the positive and negative aspects of the reforms outlined in the Health and Social Care Bill. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Anna Phillips, a Roberts Research Fellow and health psychologist in the University of Birmingham’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, about the results of a recent study into bereavement and subsequent ill health in the elderly. Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Joe McLeery about how current research at the University of Birmingham’s ‘Babylab’ is shedding light on the science behind the viral YouTube hit of baby Micah laughing as his dad rips up a job rejection letter. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr John Bridgeman, Reader in Environmental Engineering in the University of Birmingham's School of Civil Engineering, about global water scarcity and what can be done to tackle the problem. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Amitava Banerjee, a Clinical Lecturer in Cardiovascular Medicine, about value-based pricing of medicines, which, from 2014, would see drugs priced according to their effect on patients and the value society places on those drugs. Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Professor Ewan Fernie, Chair of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute, about ‘Redcrosse’, a new poetic liturgy, which aims to reinvigorate and offer a new exploration of St George and Englishness. Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Emma Carter, Research Fellow at the Micro-engineering and Nano-technology Research Group at the University of Birmingham, about MEMS devices (Microelectromechanical systems) which can be found in equipment we use every day. Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Celine Tan about international economic law. Celine talks about how the least developed nations struggle to cope with climate change, and explains how international trade laws can impact heavily on smaller, developing countries. Mon, 16 May 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy talks to Dr Danielle Beswick, lecturer in International Development at the University of Birmingham, and Research Associate for the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes of Central Africa, about London-based Rwandan exiles under threat. Tue, 24 May 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Jo Renshaw, lecturer in biogeochemistry at the Water Sciences Group at the University of Birmingham, about her research into the spread of contaminants in the environment, and the restoration or remediation of those environments. Mon, 30 May 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Luis Cabrera, senior lecturer in Political Theory in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Birmingham, about the Millennium Development Goals and the launch of Academics Stand Against Poverty. Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Nicole Metje, senior lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham, about the 'Mapping the Underworld' project, a 25-year vision to locate and map the network of buried utilities under Britain's roads. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Imran Rahman, NERC Research Fellow in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, about his work with 500 million year old fossils. Images: http://www.twitvid.com/videos/ideaslabproject Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Pierre Purseigle, senior lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham, about the approaching centenary of the First World War in 2014, and the ways in which Britain and other nations are planning to mark the occasion. Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy chats to Dr Nick Hawes, lecturer in Intelligent Robotics at the University of Birmingham, about the robots currently in operation today and the special purpose 'service robots' we may well be relying on in the not too distant future. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy joins Dr Vikki Burns, Senior Lecturer in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences and the School’s Head of Quality Assurance and Enhancement, to discuss the problems students encounter when they begin university life, and the support available. Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:30:00 GMT With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Lucy chats to Dr Chris Allen, lecturer in Social Policy in the Institute of Applied Social Studies at the University of Birmingham, about what's been achieved over the last ten years to combat Islamophobia. Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:00:00 GMT Birmingham Policy Commissions podcast! Lucy chats with Professor Martin Freer, Head of the Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Birmingham and Director of the Birmingham Centre for Nuclear Education and Research, about the future of nuclear power. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:00:00 GMT Birmingham Policy Commissions podcast! Lucy chats with Professor Jean McHale, Professor of Health Care Law at the University of Birmingham, about the policy and political implications of healthy ageing in the UK. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:00:00 GMT Birmingham Policy Commissions podcast! Lucy chats with Professor Tony Bovaird, Professor of Public Management and Policy at the University of Birmingham, about the future of public services in the UK. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:00:00 GMT Lucy talks to Dr Rebecca Stack, a Research Fellow in Health Research within the School of Immunity and Infection at the University of Birmingham, about her work as a Research Psychologist and her interest in patient decision-making. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:00:00 GMT Andy talks to Dr Sadiah Qureshi, lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham, about her fascinating new book, which looks at the commercial exhibition of living foreign peoples in the 19th Century. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:00 GMT Lucy talks to Dr Andrew Davies, lecturer in Intercultural Theology and Pentecostal Studies in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, about the changing face of Christianity in the UK. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:00:00 GMT Lucy talks to Professor Vince Gaffney, Director of the Visual and Spatial Technology Centre at the University of Birmingham, about recently discovered evidence of two huge pits positioned on celestial alignment at Stonehenge. Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:00:00 GMT Andy talks to Dr Stuart Derbyshire, Director of Pain Imaging at the University of Birmingham and a Reader in Psychology, about his research into chronic functional pain, which affects between 5% and 20% of the population. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 GMT Lucy joins Julia Hyland, Wellcome Funded medical effects make-up artist and Outreach Officer for the History of Medicine Unit at Birmingham University, as she applies prosthetic dermatological conditions to medical students with different skin colours. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT Andy speaks with forensic archaeologist Caroline Sturdy Colls about her fieldwork at the site of the Treblinka extermination camp in north-east Poland, where she is attempting to find the graves of 800,000 people killed there during the Holocaust. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy speaks with Dr Bharat Malkani, lecturer at Birmingham Law School, about human rights issues and looks at the balance between human rights law and the need to have an effective criminal justice system the public has confidence in. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT Following her recent appointment as Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham, Andy headed down to the Lapworth Museum to meet with anatomist, author and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts. With typical enthusiasm about the challenge ahead, Alice talks about her new role at the university, which involves making science accessible to as wide an audience as possible, making it easier for academics to talk about their research with the public, and encouraging young people to think about science as a career. She also explains how public engagement isn't just about academics educating the public, but about engaging them in a conversation. Alice also has valuable advice for any academics who are reticent or worried about engaging with broadcast media (but you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out!). Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT After a week of artistic and music-related activities involving a small group of unemployed young men from the multiply deprived Bromford estate in east Birmingham, Andy caught up with Dr Chris Shannahan, research fellow in Urban Theology at the University of Birmingham, to find out how the event had gone. Entitled 'Bromford Dreams', the community project saw a group of young men spend a week working alongside urban spiritual artist Mohammed Ali to spray-paint their dreams for their community onto a huge cube and to demonstrate their determination to reject social exclusion and articulate what Chris terms "spirituality of resistance". With future initiatives in the pipeline and the cube due to be displayed at the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston campus in the next few weeks, the journey that these young men have embarked upon is only just beginning. Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:00:00 GMT Ahead of the forthcoming 'Children's Lives' exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Andy chats to Professor Ian Grosvenor, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Cultural Engagement and Professor of Urban Educational History at the University of Birmingham. As one of the curators of the exhibition, Ian talks about some of the fascinating exhibits that will be on display, discusses the problems of trying to curate an exhibition that comprehensively tells the story of childhood and children’s experiences from across all classes, and explains what the connections are between childhood past and present. With a section of the exhibition set aside for childhood in the 21st Century, Ian also talks about how young people from two local schools have set about documenting and recording their own childhoods today. The ‘Children’s Lives’ exhibition will run from March 24th to June 10th 2012 in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s Gas Hall and is also part of Birmingham’s contribution to the Cultural Olympiad programme in 2012. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:00:00 GMT Ahead of the second Birmingham Policy Commission debate about the future of nuclear power in the UK (held at the Institution of Civil Engineers in Westminster, London) Andy grabbed a few quick words with Professor Martin Freer, head of the Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Birmingham and Director of The Birmingham Centre for Nuclear Education and Research. Martin talks about how the nuclear debate has progressed in the six months since the commission was launched, hints at the kind of report they're looking to produce in the summer, and with the need for a greater public debate on the future of nuclear power, tackles the question of whether the current climate of austerity and high unemployment makes it more difficult to engage the public on the nuclear issue when it already has so much on its collective plate. Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:00:00 GMT If you think that the 'sound of stars' is just a bunch of Hollywood A-listers blathering on about their latest mediocre offering at the box-office, you'd be wrong. It's much more interesting than that! Andy chats to Professor Bill Chaplin, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Birmingham's School of Physics and Astronomy, about the science of asteroseismology. Bill explains that asteroseismology is a tool that he and his colleagues in the astrophysics community can use to study stars, using what he calls "the natural music of the stars". Utilising data from the NASA Kepler mission, a telescope launched in 2009 to locate exoplanets outside of our solar system, the mission has revolutionised work in the area of stellar astrophysics. And if you don't think this is relevant to your everyday life, think again! One of the many outcomes of Bill's fascinating research is a greater understanding of our own star - the Sun - which has a direct impact on us, here on earth. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy chats to Dr Stefan Bouzarovski, senior lecturer in Human Geography and co-ordinator of the Energy, Society and Place Unit at the University of Birmingham, about energy security. Stefan explains what the term 'energy security' means (it's more complex than it sounds!), talks about the "difficult decisions" we'll have to make over the next few years in terms of our energy future, and discusses whether energy-rich states can (and do) use energy as a strategic weapon by cutting off or withholding supplies to their consumers. Along with many other prominent academics and thinkers working in the area of energy, Stefan has been invited to a 'Perspectives on Energy' dinner in Westminster on May 8th, 2012, by the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, the Minister for Universities and Science. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy chats to Dr Joe Bennett, lecturer in Applied Linguistics in the Centre for English Language Studies at the University of Birmingham, about the word 'chav'. He explains where 'chav' originates from, talks about the various false etymologies behind the word, and explains how television has helped to propagate so-called 'Chav Culture' over the last ten years. Joe also dips into his current area of research, which looks at how language has developed in response to last year's England riots and the global financial crisis, and how politicians are devising new ways of talking about the social class. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:00 GMT With Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' due to be released in December 2012, Andy chats to Dr James Walters, senior lecturer in Film and Television Studies at the University of Birmingham, about the director's controversial decision to shoot the fantasy epic at 48 frames per second instead of the standard 24fps. After Warner Bros. screened 10-minutes of footage from the forthcoming movie at CinemaCon 2012 last month it got mixed reviews, with some audience members claiming that the higher frame rate made the footage look like a soap opera, which gave the experience an unpleasant, artificial feel. James gives his own fascinating take on the Hobbit debate that's currently raging and also talks about plans to establish a Centre for Film Studies at the university, which will enable academics working in the area of film to share ideas and discuss the kinds of issues that films and filmmaking often bring to the fore. As we appear to be on the cusp of a significant development in film technology, it's an exciting time to be a film lecturer! Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT If, like me, you're surgically attached to your phone and computer and largely communicate with friends and family through text messages and social media, then this podcast is for you! Andy speaks with Dr Caroline Tagg, lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the Centre for English Language Studies at the University of Birmingham, about her research into the way we use language in text messages and on social media sites, such as Facebook. If you thought text messaging was simply about conveying your point quickly with a line of baffling acronyms, you'd be wrong. To the contrary, Caroline has discovered that people can actually be quite creative with their texts, often making them longer and more elaborate rather than shortening them. Caroline also covers how we use emoticons to moderate and temper the content of our messages, answers the age-old question of whether 'text speak' is diluting the English language and is potentially damaging to children growing up in an age of mobile phones and social networks, and also explains how we use linguistic strategies to communicate with our audience of friends and acquintances on Facebook. Caroline's book - 'Discourse of Text Messaging' - will be published on May 24th (2012) by Continuum. Mon, 28 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy talks to Dr Frank Eves, Reader in Lifestyle Physical Activity at the University of Birmingham's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, about how psychology can be applied to issues of public health. With the ever increasing problem of obesity in the western world, Frank explains how current approaches to tackling the problem often come in the form 'nudges' which can help to gently push people towards healthier and more active lifestyles. Whether by redesigning public environments, such as ensuring that train passengers reach the stairs before the elevators, or something as blissfully simple as listing lower calorie options at the beginning and end of a menu (which are twice as likely to be chosen as items in the middle of the menu), these are passive environmental nudges have the potentially to greatly improve our lives. Frank also talks about active nudges that can be implemented - such as providing clear calorie information on food packaging - and discusses the constant challenges that health initiatives face. As Frank says, "[Tackling obesity and increasing physical activity] is not simply a question for health professionals, it requires everybody to be involved." Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy talks to Ian Thornhill, a doctoral researcher in the field of Urban Ecology at the University of Birmingham's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Ian talks about urban ponds and biodiversity, how the dwindling numbers of ponds in both rural and urban areas threatens the ecological communities within them, and suggests how the loss of wildlife within urban areas could even affect our own health and well-being. With over 50% of the world’s population now living in urban areas, it’s crucially important that we consider the impacts that this can have on wildlife. The good news, however, is that we can all get involved to help reverse this trend of pond loss! In fact, we can start close to home - in our very own gardens. Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy talks to Dr Jonathan Grix, Senior Lecturer in Sport Politics and Policy at the University of Birmingham, about whether the London 2012 Games will leave the Britain with a significant legacy after the Olympic Flame has been extinguished. Mon, 9 Jul 2012 11:00:00 GMT With only a few days to go before the spectacular opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics Games, Andy chats to Professor Kathleen Armour, Professor of Education and Sport and Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham, about whether the Games can deliver a youth sport participation legacy. Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy chats to Professor Rob MacKenzie, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Birmingham’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, about how ‘greening up’ our cities with plants could lead to significant reductions in air pollution. Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:00:00 GMT Ahead of a Birmingham Round Table discussion about the Crisis in Syria, hosted by the Birmingham Centre for Modern and Contemporary History, Andy speaks to chair of the discussion Dr Benjamin Thomas White about the current situation in the war torn country and what the future may ultimately hold. Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy chats to Dr Jackie Chappell, Lecturer in Animal Behaviour in the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham, about new research into New Caledonian crows, and how their wide binocular vision and straight bill are great accompaniments to their exceptional intelligence. Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:00:00 GMT Andy chats to Dr Louise Dixon, senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Birmingham and a registered Forensic Psychologist, about Intimate Partner Violence. Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:01:00 GMT Andy speaks to Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies at the University of Birmingham and the founder and editor of EA Worldview, about the recent U.S. Presidential Election 2012 and what a second term for President Barack Obama means for America and the wider world. Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:00:00 GMT Lucy speaks to Dr Clare Davies, Murphy Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham’s department of Cancer Sciences. Clare’s research focuses on understanding the role of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in breast cancer formation. Wed, 20 Nov 2012 11:00:00 GMT Lucy speaks to Professor Janesh Gupta, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology working as an Honorary Consultant at Birmingham Women's Hospital. Janesh's research is expected to change clinical practice for the tretament of heavy periods Wed, 21 Jan 2013 10:30:00 GMT Lucy speaks to Dr Jackie Blissett from the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham about her research into the early development of taste in children, discovering the many fascinating factors that influence how infants develop preference for different foods. Thu, 25 Jan 2013 10:30:00 GMT Sam talks with Birmingham Fellow Dr Zoe Schnepp from the School of Chemistry about her research in artificial photosynthesis, a process that replicates the natural process of photosynthesis, using sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT Lucy speaks with Professor Mike Robinson, Director of the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage at the University of Birmingham. Mike outlines the differences between different types of cultural heritage, distinguishing national and world heritage sites. Tues, 19 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT Lucy speaks to Dr Simon Pemberton, based in both the School of Social Policy and the School of Law at the University of Birmingham. Simon’s research in social harm addresses how harm is caused by the structure of a society as opposed to being caused intentionally. Thurs, 04 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT Sam talks to Ben Cowan, research fellow in the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham. Ben looks at Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) looks at our evolving relationship with computers. Ben explains ‘If we as humans don’t perceive machines as natural, we won’t behave naturally towards them’. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT Sam talks to Birmingham fellow Dr Sara Jones from both the Department of Political Science and International Studies and the Department of Modern Languages. Sara’s research examines the importance of eye witness testimony, specifically within East Germany and the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT Sam talks to Dr Gideon Nesbit in the department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Birmingham. Gideon’s research looks at the reception of Ancient Greece and Rome in modern culture. Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT