UCL Minds

UCL
UCL Minds

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2021). Our excellence extends across all academic disciplines, from one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences to world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett), education (UCL IOE) and fine art (UCL Slade School). UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 13,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. UCL Minds brings together UCL’s knowledge, insights, and ideas through events, activities, and digital content open to everyone. Find out what’s on UCL Minds: www.ucl.ac.uk/minds

  1. Are There Limits On Autocratic Power?

    1 DAY AGO

    Are There Limits On Autocratic Power?

    In today’s episode, we delve into the complex and often misunderstood world of autocratic leadership. At first glance, it might seem like authoritarian rulers wield unchallenged power, free to govern without opposition. After all, the term "autocrat" stems from the Greek for "self-rule." But is that really how it works in practice? A fantastic new book, 'Autocrats Can't Always Get What They Want', challenges this simplistic view. It reveals how modern autocratic leaders operate within a web of constraints that can shape, and sometimes even limit, their power. Intriguingly, these constraints aren’t always by design. Instead, they often emerge from circumstances that are outside the ruler's control—yet they still influence the way states function under authoritarian rule. To unpack these fascinating insights, I’m joined by two of the book’s authors: - Dr Samer Anabtawi, Lecturer in Comparative Politics at UCL’s Department of Political Science, brings his expertise in comparative governance to the discussion. - Professor Nathan Brown, a leading scholar of political science and international affairs from George Washington University, offers a global perspective on the nuanced realities of authoritarian regimes. Together, we explore a thought-provoking conversation that examines the mechanisms of modern authoritarianism and its implications for politics worldwide. Transcript: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/are-there-limits-on-autocratic-power/transcript

    39 min
  2. Franken-meat: The future of lab-grown meat

    3 DAYS AGO

    Franken-meat: The future of lab-grown meat

    We all know that meat production emits a substantial amount of greenhouse gases, nearly 60% by some estimates, and so we need to do something about it. Darren Player, Associate Professor in Musculoskeletal Bioengineering, discusses the development of lab-grown meat, why he's working on engineering new, sustainable sources of meat and how he's doing it. We're also joined by Beren Fidan, a Colotaruna Soprano, who is vegan and shares her thoughts on the ethics of lab-grown meat and whether it's a viable option for her. Date of episode recording: 2024-04-22T00:00:00Z Duration: 35:08 Language of episode: English Presenter:Ferdouse Akhter Guests: Darren Player; Beren Fidan Producer: Ferdouse Akhter; Shakira Crawford

    35 min
  3. Growing Pains: Mastering Sustainable Growth in Social Enterprises

    13 DEC

    Growing Pains: Mastering Sustainable Growth in Social Enterprises

    In the final episode of series 2 of The Life of PIE, we explore the unique challenges social enterprises face as they balance growth with their mission. How can social enterprises expand while staying true to their core purpose? Onya and Jacob McMahon, a Life of PIE alum from the 22-23 cohort, discuss external pressures, such as securing funding and managing customer expectations, alongside internal struggles like aligning diverse activities and maintaining focus. Jacob shares strategies organisations use to manage these tensions, including creating flexible structures, monitoring staff and stakeholder engagement, and fostering collaboration within networks. How can growth both ease and create challenges for social enterprises? Why is it important to share knowledge instead of trying to own everything? We invite you to join us as we explore valuable lessons for leaders in social enterprises on how to grow sustainably and impactfully, while offering thought-provoking insights for anyone interested in the balance between ambition and purpose in any organisation. Since graduating from the PIE programme, Jacob has gone on to work as a Program Manager at Impact Hub London, Impact & Operations Manager at Cambio Consultancy, and Strategic Partnerships Lead at ZNotes, applying his expertise in strategy, innovation, and organisational design to drive sustainable growth and social impact. Date of episode recording: 2024-12-05T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:34:53 Language of episode: English Presenter:Onya Idoko Guests: Jacob McMahon Producer: Juan Manuel Castillo

    35 min
  4. The Bartlett Review: The housing threat posed by permitted development

    13 DEC

    The Bartlett Review: The housing threat posed by permitted development

    Existing commercial buildings in the UK are being converted to create new housing, circumventing the planning system through permitted development. But what could be the impact of those conversions, especially from a health perspective? Julia Thrift, Director, Healthier Place-making at the Town and Country Planning Association, joins expert researchers Professor Lauren Andres and Professor Ben Clifford from The Bartlett School of Planning to discuss how there is a wider cost to society that we can’t ignore in this pursuit of solving the housing situation in the UK. Date of episode recording: 2024-11-25T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:31:44 Language of episode: English Presenter:Professor Lauren Andres Guests: Professor Ben Clifford; Julia Thrift Producer: Adam Batstone & Chizoba Onyiuke

    32 min
  5. Lunch Hour Lecture | From gene deserts to druggable pathways in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    9 DEC

    Lunch Hour Lecture | From gene deserts to druggable pathways in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    Genetic discovery in inflammatory bowel disease has been incredibly successful. This provides a unique opportunity to understand what goes wrong when people develop disease, which in turn could identify better treatment targets. Yet most of this potential remains unrealised, as moving from where genetic associations lie to an understanding of how they drive disease is a formidable challenge. James Lee will discuss recent efforts to address this challenge and how his research has revealed a central orchestrator of inflammation, which could be targeted therapeutically.

    52 min
  6. French Social Democracy In Turmoil

    5 DEC

    French Social Democracy In Turmoil

    In a turbulent political summer, few surprises were greater than that caused by French president Emmanuel Macron’s decision in June to call early parliamentary elections. Macron’s party had just been trounced in the European Parliament elections; and victory for the far right seemed likely. In the end, thanks to some last minute deals, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally did not win. Rather, it was an alliance of the left that secured most seats in the National Assembly. France’s Socialist Party was regularly in power from the early 1980s till the mid 2010s. But it collapsed spectacularly in the elections of 2017, and its very survival today seems in doubt. So what has been going on? And have the recent elections brought any signs of revival? Joining us to explore these questions is Philippe Marlière, Professor of French and European Politics in the UCL European and International Social and Political Studies department. This episode of UCL Uncovering Politics is the first in an occasional series of episodes based on pieces in Political Quarterly. Mentioned in this episode: Marlière, P. (2024), French Social Democracy in Turmoil. The Political Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13442 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/french-social-democracy-in-turmoil/transcript

    36 min
  7. Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?

    5 DEC

    Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?

    Social media plays a significant role in shaping political debates and, some argue, even influencing election outcomes. Politicians increasingly use platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to communicate directly with the public and run their campaigns. However, this unfiltered communication can sometimes spread misinformation or undermine democratic values. A prime example is incoming US President Donald Trump, who was famously banned from Twitter for glorifying violence but has since returned to X with Elon Musk at the helm. This raises critical questions: How should social media companies handle inflammatory or false claims from politicians? Can they continue to claim they are mere platforms, not publishers, despite the profound impact they have? And, if they challenge politicians' statements, do they risk overstepping their role in a democratic society? To explore these issues, we’re joined by Jeff Howard, a professor in this department and the Director of the Digital Speech Lab. Jeff co-authored a recent paper that dives deep into the responsibilities of social media companies when it comes to regulating political speech. Mentioned in this episode: Fisher, S., Kira, B., Arabaghatta Basavaraj, K., & Howard, J. (2024). Should Politicians Be Exempt from Fact-Checking?Journal of Online Trust and Safety. https://tsjournal.org/index.php/jots/article/view/170/71 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Jeffrey Howard Emily McTernan https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/lies-politicians-and-social-media-should-we-fact-check-politicians/transcript

    30 min
  8. Policing The Permacrisis

    5 DEC

    Policing The Permacrisis

    In recent years, policing in England and Wales has appeared to be trapped in a cycle of crisis. From high-profile scandals to criticisms of operational standards, concerns about the police’s role and conduct have intensified. Perhaps most shockingly, a serving police officer was convicted of the murder of Sarah Everard, a tragedy that underscored the urgent need for accountability within the force. A subsequent review by Baroness Louise Casey highlighted deep-seated issues within the Metropolitan Police Service, pointing to "institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia" within the organization. Meanwhile, there’s a growing perception that the police have deprioritized certain types of crime, like shoplifting. Political figures, too, have weighed in, accusing the police of double standards in their approach to protests and civil unrest. All of this has contributed to a significant decline in public trust. So, what exactly are the root issues? What realistic solutions could address these complex problems? And how might the current political climate impact the feasibility of any reforms? To explore these pressing questions, we are joined by three experts in crime and policing: Ben Bradford – Professor of Global City Policing in the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London Jonathan Jackson – Professor of Research Methodology in the Department of Methodology at the London School of Economics Emmeline Taylor – Professor of Criminology in the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City, University of London Together, Ben, Jon, and Emmeline have edited a new special issue of The Political Quarterly titled Policing the Permacrisis, which dives into these challenges and potential solutions. Regular listeners might recall that The Political Quarterly shares our goal of making cutting-edge political and policy research accessible to a broad audience beyond academia. This episode marks the second installment in our occasional series where we discuss insightful work published in the journal. Mentioned in this episode: Policing the Permacrisis, in The Political Quarterly https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/collections/reforming-the-police/ UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Ben Bradford Jon Jackson Emmeline Taylor Alan Renwick https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/policing-the-permacrisis/transcript

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2021). Our excellence extends across all academic disciplines, from one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences to world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett), education (UCL IOE) and fine art (UCL Slade School). UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 13,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. UCL Minds brings together UCL’s knowledge, insights, and ideas through events, activities, and digital content open to everyone. Find out what’s on UCL Minds: www.ucl.ac.uk/minds

Information

  • Creator
    UCL
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    500
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    UCL Minds

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