Think. Debate. Inspire. A Podcast of the Robert Bosch Academy

Robert Bosch Academy
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In our podcast "Think. Debate. Inspire.", Atje Drexler, Henry Alt-Haaker and Pradnya Bivalkar of the Robert Bosch Academy invite one Richard Weizsäcker Fellow every month to discuss some of the most pressing global challenges of our times. The conversations revolve around a wide range of issues, such as foreign policy, global governance, climate change, health, and education. The podcast presents ideas and approaches for joint global responses to international problems. Moderators: Atje Drexler, Henry Alt-Haaker, Pradnya Bivalkar Publisher: Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 12/01/2025

    Farhana Yamin talks about the COP30 in Belém

    In this episode of "Think. Debate. Inspire.", Pradnya Bivalkar talks to Farhana Yamin about her thoughts and experiences at the recently concluded COP30 in Belém in Brazil. References COP: https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/supreme-bodies/conference-of-the-parties-cop; COP30 : https://unfccc.int/cop30; Global Mutirao: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma2025_L24_adv.pdf; TFFF: https://tfff.earth/; TAFF: https://commission.europa.eu/topics/climate-action/eu-cop/eu-cop30_en; COP 15 in Copenhagen: https://unfccc.int/event/cop-15; G20 : https://www.bmz.de/de/service/lexikon/gruppe-der-20-g20-14454; Ted Countdown : https://countdown.ted.com/; G77 and China : https://www.un.org/en/desa/g77-and-china-meeting; LDCs: https://www.bmz.de/de/service/lexikon/least-developed-countries-ldc-14638; Pacific Island States : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_in_the_Pacific_Ocean; ILAC : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Alliance_of_Latin_America_and_the_Caribbean; OPEC : https://www.opec.org/; Just Transition : https://www.bmz.de/en; NDCs : https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs; CBAM: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en; IBSA : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBSA_Dialogue_Forum; Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Alliance : https://fossilfueltreaty.org/; Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  2. Cathy Mulligan on Europe’s journey of Digital Transformation

    10/31/2025

    Cathy Mulligan on Europe’s journey of Digital Transformation

    How can Europe ensure that digital transformation serves both resilience and justice? In this episode, Cathy Mulligan, Head of Cyber Resilience and Smart Automation at the RISE Research Institute of Sweden and former Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, joins the Robert Bosch Academy’s Pradnya Bivalkar to discuss the chances and challenges for Europe on its journey of digital transformation, how technology can drive resilient, fair and sustainable transitions, and why public interest needs to be at the heart of digital policymaking.X References EU AI Act: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20230601STO93804/eu-ai-act-first-regulation-on-artificial-intelligence EU Legislation on Digital, Media & Electronic Communications: https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/digital-media-electronic-communications/legislation_en Draghi report on EU competitiveness: https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/draghi-report_en Regime 28: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14674-28th-regime-a-single-harmonized-set-of-rules-for-innovative-companies-throughout-the-EU/public-consultation_en Estonia’s Digital Ecosystem: https://e-estonia.com/ Digital Sovereignty Movement: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/europe-digital-sovereignty/ Gaia-X: https://gaia-x.eu/about/ Common European Data Spaces: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/data-spaces Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM): https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Areas/Telecommunications/Technology/Standardisation/RadioApplications/GSM/GSM_node.html Google Announcement of Willow Chip Advancement: https://blog.google/technology/research/quantum-echoes-willow-verifiable-quantum-advantage/ New Nordics AI: https://www.newnordics.ai/ Artistic Intelligence: https://aiforgood.itu.int/about-us/artistic-intelligence/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  3. Matthew Rascoff talks about the challenges and chances around introducing AI in classrooms.

    07/31/2025

    Matthew Rascoff talks about the challenges and chances around introducing AI in classrooms.

    In this episode of "Think. Debate. Inspire.", Pradnya Bivalkar talks to Matthew Rascoff about the challenges and chances around introducing AI in classrooms. Stanford Digital Education's work with low income high schools across the USA: https://digitaleducation.stanford.edu/projects/stanford-courses-title-i-high-school-students, Open AI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenAI, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation, Natalia Gavrilița: https://www.robertboschacademy.de/en/fellow/natalia-gavrilita, Bert Koenders: https://www.robertboschacademy.de/en/fellow/bert-koenders, The Child Is the Teacher – A Life of Maria Montessori by Cristina Da Stefano: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692497/the-child-is-the-teacher-by-cristina-de-stefano/A Life of Maria Montessori, Maria Montessori: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Montessori, Gymnasium is a secondary school in the German school system that prepares students for higher education at a university. OKO Labs: https://www.okolabs.ai/, Terence Tao: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_Tao, Course Wharton and Open AI: https://www.coursera.org/learn/wharton-ai-in-education-leveraging-chatgpt-for-teaching, Anthropic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic, Playlab: https://www.playlab.ai/, MIT Study on Critical Thinking Skills: https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/, Large language model (LLM technology): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_language_model, Cosmos Institute at Oxford: https://cosmos-institute.org/, Cosmos Institute funded Workshop Labs: https://workshoplabs.ai/, Mike Taubman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaubman/, Mike Taubman’s newsletter AI Waypoints: https://substack.com/home/post/p-164391537, Abitur: German high school diploma that qualifies students for university Seahorse: Swimming Badge for Beginner Swimmers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  4. David Donoghue talks about the interplay of climate and mobility and SDGs

    06/30/2025

    David Donoghue talks about the interplay of climate and mobility and SDGs

    In this episode of "Think. Debate. Inspire.", Pradnya Bivalkar talks to David Donoghue about the interplay of climate and mobility, the journey of the global community from MDGs to SDGs and the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum. References: • Berlin Climate Mobility Forum https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/en/events/berlin-climate-mobility-forum-2025-0 • Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Development_Goals • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/page/sustainable-development-goals • 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda • Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_But_Differentiated_Responsibilities • IFIs – International Financial Institutions • IMF – International Monetary Fund https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund • New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants https://www.unhcr.org/what-we-do/protect-human-rights/asylum-and-migration/new-york-declaration-refugees-and-migrants • Global Compact for Migration https://www.un.org/en/migration2022/global-compact-for-migration • Global Compact on Refugees https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/overview/global-compact-refugees • UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for_Refugees • IDPs – Internally displaced people https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-protect/internally-displaced-people • ODA - Official development assistance https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/official-development-assistance-oda.html • Mary Robinson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Robinson • Kim Stanley Robinson: The Ministry for the Future https://www.amazon.de/Ministry-Future-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/dp/0316300136 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  5. Bert Koenders talks about Germany’s Recent Political Developments and Their Impact on Domestic, European, and International Affairs

    06/02/2025

    Bert Koenders talks about Germany’s Recent Political Developments and Their Impact on Domestic, European, and International Affairs

    In this episode of "Think. Debate. Inspire." Pradnya Bivalkar talks to Bert Koenders about the political developments in Germany over the past few months, its implications for domestic, European politics and international relations. *NOTE: This episode was recorded before the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly criticized Israel for its actions in Gaza.* References:  Politikverdrossenheit: disenchantment with political class and established political parties Snap elections called in Germany: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-scholz-paves-the-way-for-snap-elections/a-71018939;   JD Vance at Munich Security Conference: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/18/vance-speech-munich-full-text-read-transcript-europe/;  Zeitenwende : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitenwende_speech;  SPD: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany;  CDU : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany;  AfD : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_for_Germany;  Friedrich Merz's speech about his foreign policy aspirations (in German) : https://koerber-stiftung.de/mediathek/friedrich-merz-zu-aussen-und-europapolitischen-prioritaeten-fuer-deutschland/;  Debt brake revision : https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-bundestag-votes-in-favor-of-reforming-debt-brake/live-71956815;  Brandmauer : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_against_the_far-right_in_Germany;  Highest election turnout in the 2025 federal elections : https://www.statista.com/statistics/753732/german-elections-voter-turnout/; https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-results-explained-in-graphics/a-71724186;  Friedrich Merz criticizes Israel : https://www.dw.com/en/how-has-israel-reacted-to-criticism-from-chancellor-merz/a-72706010;   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  6. Bert Koenders, Mark Lowcock and Dapo Oyewole talk about the current state of the international order and the challenges and chances for Europe-Africa relations

    03/31/2025

    Bert Koenders, Mark Lowcock and Dapo Oyewole talk about the current state of the international order and the challenges and chances for Europe-Africa relations

    In this episode of "Think. Debate. Inspire." Pradnya Bivalkar talks to Bert Koenders, Mark Lowcock and Dapo Oyewole about the current state of the international order since President Trump took office. They also talk about the opportunities for the future of Europe-Africa relations in the light of these shifts in the international order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  7. Natalia Gavrilița talks about Disinformation, Russian Interference in Elections, and Defending Democracy

    02/28/2025

    Natalia Gavrilița talks about Disinformation, Russian Interference in Elections, and Defending Democracy

    In this episode of Think. Debate. Inspire., Atje Drexler and Pradnya Bivalkar talk to Natalia Gavrilita about disinformation and Russian manipulation during elections, and how democracy is a constant work in progress that must be fought for. *PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED BEFORE THE GERMAN FEDERAL ELECTIONS." References:  Moldova's accession to the EU: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accession_of_Moldova_to_the_European_Union#:~:text=The%20accession%20of%20Moldova%20to,future%20enlargement%20of%20the%20EU.&text=Following%20an%20application%20by%20Moldova,EU%20on%2022%20June%202022.  Moldova Support Platform: https://gov.md/en/moldova-support-platform  Russian intereference in Moldovan elections (Zeit Artikel): https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2024-10/natalia-gavrilita-moldau-praesidentschaftswahl-eu-referendum-russland  Storm 1516, Doppelgänger, Matryoshka: https://www.dw.com/en/russian-disinformation-aims-to-manipulate-german-2025-election/a-71664788  Support to Moldovan wine industry by the USAID: https://md.usembassy.gov/usaid-launches-a-new-50-million-rural-competitiveness-and-resilience-activity-rcra/  Stolpersteine: https://www.stolpersteine.eu/en/  Berliner Dom Choir: https://www.berlinerdom.de/en/music/our-musicians/berlin-state-and-cathedral-choir/  Marianna Mazzucato: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Mazzucato  Dani Rodrik: https://drodrik.scholar.harvard.edu/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  8. Naila Kabeer talks about how Gender Inequality, Climate Change, and Democracy Intersect

    01/31/2025

    Naila Kabeer talks about how Gender Inequality, Climate Change, and Democracy Intersect

    In this episode of "Think. Debate. Inspire." Atje Drexler and Pradnya Bivalkar talk to Naila Kabeer about different forms of inequalities, how gender driven inequalities make themselves visible at the intersection of climate change and how all of this contributes to conversations on democracy. References:  Beijing conference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Conference_on_Women,_1995  Cairo Conference: https://www.unfpa.org/icpd  The social summit: https://www.un.org/en/conferences/social-development/copenhagen1995  Wealth distribution statistics: https://wir2022.wid.world/executive-summary/  United States 4 out of 10 can't afford a 400$ emergency expense: https://fortune.com/2023/05/23/inflation-economy-consumer-finances-americans-cant-cover-emergency-expense-federal-reserve/  Podcast with Kwasi: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/kwasi-prempeh-on-the-state-of-democracy/id1667573696?i=1000678614767  10 richest men: https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/#4ea402f63d78  10 richest women: https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/#4ea402f63d78  Naila's piece in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/women-are-seen-as-saviours-or-victims-in-climate-change-debates-why-this-is-a-problem-244529  IG Metall: https://www.igmetall.de/ueber-uns/ig-metall--a-strong-community  Ulrike Hermann: https://www.amazon.de/End-Capitalism-Climate-Protection-Incompatible/dp/1915590930  Trump's first day in office: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/28/nx-s1-5276293/trump-executive-orders  Triggerpunkte by Steffen Mau: https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/triggerpunkte-t-9783518029848  Negotiating with the Devil by Pierre Hazan: https://www.amazon.de/Negotiating-Devil-Inside-Conflict-Mediation/dp/1911723111 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
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In our podcast "Think. Debate. Inspire.", Atje Drexler, Henry Alt-Haaker and Pradnya Bivalkar of the Robert Bosch Academy invite one Richard Weizsäcker Fellow every month to discuss some of the most pressing global challenges of our times. The conversations revolve around a wide range of issues, such as foreign policy, global governance, climate change, health, and education. The podcast presents ideas and approaches for joint global responses to international problems. Moderators: Atje Drexler, Henry Alt-Haaker, Pradnya Bivalkar Publisher: Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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