WeAreSTS

Science and Technology Studies (STS) combines a wide range of subjects, including: history of science, philosophy of science, sociology of science, science policy, and science communication. WeAreSTS is an official podcast of the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London (UCL).

#203 Baby-Botox: Anti-Aging Is Out Of Control | WeAreSTS 11/07/2024

#203 Baby-Botox: Anti-Aging Is Out Of Control | WeAreSTS Children as young as eight are targeted by influencers and advertisers towards anti-aging products, from skin creams and anti-wrinkle devices to “baby botox”. Maddy Ross (Human Sciences ’25) investigates how influencers and social media algorithms drive anti-aging anxiety to ever increasing levels while industry advertising markets solutions to ever younger people, especially girls. She identifies increasing concerns over risks that are physical, psychological, and social. Are young people being exploited without even knowing it? Influencers play a key role in these processes, especially impacting children’s consumption behaviours. Algorithms on social media platforms seek engagement by moving to increasingly extreme representations – anything to keep us connected and scrolling. Should we be worried about “baby botox” and its promotion? Yes, Ross argues. Its increase in popularity is only symptom of powerful industries who are constantly looking to sell you something. It seems such products have no serious resistance, regulation, or consumer protection and growing evidence suggests hidden costs and runaway risks. This is a report from the STSNewsRoom 2024. Featuring Interviewer and researcher Maddy Ross (Human Sciences BSc) https://uk.linkedin.com/in/madeline-ross-4188b2287 Interviewees Dr Caitlin Shaughnessy (Researcher at UCL Department of Information Studies) Professor Afshin Mosahebi (Professor at UCL Department of Surgical Biotechnology and Consultant Plastic Surgeon) Host Professor Joe Cain https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/33829337

#202 Outlaw Ocean – Ian Urbina’s Book is STS1Book for 2024-25 | WeAreSTS 08/08/2024

#201 Dark Matter and the Search for Elusive Evidence | WeAreSTS 08/08/2024

Trailer | Season 2 | WeAreSTS 08/06/2024

#30 Don’t Look Up! How Hollywood Imports Science Policy into Films | WeAreSTS 11/03/2023

#30 Don’t Look Up! How Hollywood Imports Science Policy into Films | WeAreSTS Hollywood chooses to portray experts in particular – sometimes peculiar – ways. Those choices have profound impacts on how audiences think about subjects as diverse as dinosaurs, robots, and climate catastrophes. But do those portrayals also change the way we think about the experts themselves and the process of expertise? Does Hollywood play some kind of under-the-table role in teaching us which experts to trust? That’s the theme for today’s podcast. Today, we listen in on a conversation between three experts here in STS who study science policy making as a process. They talk about a couple of films in which experts play starring roles. To get things going, they concentrate on two films: “Films like Don’t Look Up,” the star-studded 2021 Netflix film directed by Adam McKay. And, “2012,” the 2009 Sony Pictures apocalypse film directed by Roland Emmerich. In some ways, these films are very different. But in key ways, they’re remarkably similar. The conversation you’ll hear was organised and led by Haes Seung Chung, one of the students in this year’s STSNewsRoom. She keeps things moving, and she keeps our panellists on their toes. In fact, she’s ready to go. So, I’m just hand the microphone over to her, and I’ll see you on the other side. Featuring Interviewer and researcher Haes Seung Chung, STS 2023 student in our integrated BSc programme Interviewees Professor Jack Stilgoe, UCL Professor of Science and Technology Policy Dr Saheli Datta Burton, UCL Lecturer (Teaching) in Science Policy (Responsible Research and Innovation) Dr Stephen Hughes, UCL Lecturer in Science, Technology and Society Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Music within the episode Endless Dessert- Steven Beddall: Endless Desert by Steven Bedlam | Artlist.io Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/28495499

#29 Can Comedy Help Us Tackle Conversations About Climate Change? | WeAreSTS 08/15/2023

#29 Can Comedy Help Us Tackle Conversations About Climate Change? | WeAreSTS Ever heard of climate change comedy? Here’s the idea. The climate crisis dominates our news. But more and more, messages about action are ignored. Fatalism is growing. People seem frozen with the scale of the problem. It’s clear we need new ways to tackle these tough conversations. In this episode, STS’s very own Grace Tyrrell explores the growing niche of climate change comedy. With her guest Dr Matt Winning, an environmental researcher and comedian, Grace shows us how climate change comedy works and she explores the question of how these two ideas can fit together. Grace is finishing her master’s degree in science communication with us. After interviewing Matt Winning about the theory, Grace asks a set of fellow students about the practice. Does climate change comedy work? Do it inform the head? Does it engage the heart? Does it lead keep up momentum in climate action? Thanks to her guest, Dr Matt Winning and to fellow STS students Joe Woof, Steph Hawes, Megan Thomas, Gusti Ayu Ismayanti, Annabel Bourne for their time. Grace completed this podcast episode as part of the Podcast Sprint 2023, run by Professor Joe Cain for STS students. Further information on climate change comedy Is climate change a laughing matter? (Carroll-Monteil 2021) Climate Strange - Dr Matt Winning, TEDx Talk Featuring Interviewer and researcher Grace Tyrrell, UCL Science Communication MSc Class of 2023 @gracescicomm Interviewees Dr Matt Winning, Senior Research Fellow at UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources Science Communication MSc Class of 2023 Joe Woof, Steph Hawes, Megan Thomas, Gusti Ayu Ismayanti, Annabel Bourne Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits (show) “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 Music credits (within the episode) “Accralate,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/3336-accralate License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: Editing by Grace Tyrrell Post production by Professor Joe Cain Listen to Science Refresh Science Refresh is a bi-weekly podcast bringing you a fresh take on the latest in science and technology. Join hosts Grace, Meg and Dom as they take you through the stories that you won’t have seen in the headlines. https://open.spotify.com/show/0aS44BehxWXfFLpm5FgrcM?si=fe84b76444ce45d2&nd=1 /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/27570372

#28 Promising Potential for Generative AI at University: Is it a Personal Tutor for Every Pocket | WeAreSTS 08/08/2023

#27 Top Stories in Science Journalism from STS Students | WeAreSTS 08/01/2023

#27 Top Stories in Science Journalism from STS Students | WeAreSTS The assignments students do in STS modules today are nothing like what they used to be. These days, they build portfolios with all sorts of things: short writing, long writing, posters, blogs, in-class presentations. Add to these, projects like podcasts, film clips, campaign strategies, briefing papers, debates, and full-on project proposals. Research of different kinds. They all require hard work, creativity, and rising to the challenge. We diversify our curriculum because we know the future holds work as varied as we do ourselves each day. We want our students skilled up, practiced, and ready to go. Today’s episode samples from this year’s student-made podcasts. You’ll hear projects from our undergraduate science journalism module, run by Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon. The assignment is straightforward: create a three-minute news feature about a recent piece of research at UCL. The piece must be suitable for use on as a news segment for radio or podcast. Students start with a recent press release, and they go from there. The piece must include a short interview segment with a researcher. They have a tight deadline, and they have to work pretty much with the tools they have through a laptop and their phone. This is real world work and pace as a freelance journalist. For you, I’ve brought together eight of the ones I like a lot. They’re varied, and they deliver the assignment is different ways. We’ll take a quick break in the middle, but I want to leave the students to deliver their work as they presented it. Links to all the detail are in the show notes. The whole syllabus for HPSC0107 Science Journalism: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/sites/sts/files/hpsc0107-science_journalism-syllabus_2022-23.pdf Tracks TRACK 1. People Over 50 Often Sleep Better | Lydia Yallop TRACK 2. Natural Language Modelled and Printed in 3D | Daphne Sarkany TRACK 3. Link Between Daily Active Movement and Better Cognition in Mid-life | Emile Stuglyte TRACK 4. We’re Ignoring Impact of Long Covid | Mandy Huynh TRACK 5. Importance of Breastmilk Bacteria for Healthy Gut in Babies | Omar Al Hashimi TRACK 6. Time in Nature Can Improve Wellbeing | Isobel Hutt TRACK 7. Fast-lived Invasive Species Pose Greatest Challenge | Federico Citterich TRACK 8. Doctors of the Earth: Seismologists Sense the Earth’s Pulse | Andrea Lekare Details about each track are available on the episode page: https://profjoecain.net/27-top-stories-in-science-journalism-from-sts-students-wearests Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain/ Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 “Silly Intro,” by Alexander Nakarada https://filmmusic.io/song/4786-silly-intro Both are available on the website: filmmusic.IO Music in intervals is a loop created in GarageBand. Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/27559137

#26 Women in History of Science Through 53 Original Sources | WeAreSTS 07/21/2023

#26 Women in History of Science Through 53 Original Sources | WeAreSTS Women in the History of Science brings together primary sources that highlight women’s involvement in scientific knowledge production around the world. Drawing on texts, images and objects, each primary source is accompanied by an explanatory text, questions to prompt discussion, and a bibliography to aid further research. Arranged by time period, covering 1200 BCE to the twenty-first century, and across 12 inclusive and far-reaching themes, this book is an invaluable companion to students and lecturers alike in exploring women’s history in the fields of science, technology, mathematics, and medicine. While women are too often excluded from traditional narratives of the history of science, this book centres on the voices and experiences of women across a range of domains of knowledge. By questioning our understanding of what science is, where it happens, and who produces scientific knowledge, this reader is an aid to liberating the curriculum within schools and universities. In this episode, Professor Joe Cain talks with the sourcebook’s FIVE co-editors. Each recently completed a PhD in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies. We talk about the book, how readers might use it in teaching, what their favourite chapters are, and how they’re using their own skills to improve the subject of history for everyone. Book information Women in the History of Science: A sourcebook Edited by Hannah Wills, Sadie Harrison, Erika Jones, Rebecca Martin, and Farrah Lawrence-Mackey 2023 UCL Press ISBN 9781800084155 Open Access PDF Free Download; Print also available https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/211143 Featuring Interviewees Hannah Wills is R&D Producer at Royal Holloway, University of London. https://royalholloway.academia.edu/HannahWills Sadie Harrison is Honorary Research Associate at the Department of Science and Technology Studies, UCL and works in the environment sector. Erika Lynn Jones is Curator of Navigation and Oceanography at Royal Museums, Greenwich. https://erika-jones.org Farrah Lawrence-Mackey is re-training to practice law. Rebecca Martin has been Research Fellow in the Centre for History in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Caird Research Fellow at National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich. https://dr-rebecca-martin.com Each also is an Honorary Research Associate in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Music credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 “Silly Intro,” by Alexander Nakarada https://filmmusic.io/song/4786-silly-intro Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/27528306

#25 Are We Over-Hyping Mindfulness for University Students? | WeAreSTS 01/03/2023

#24 Who Are Museums REALLY Speaking For (And What About The Rest of Us) | WeAreSTS 01/02/2023

#24 Who Are Museums REALLY Speaking For (And What About The Rest of Us) | WeAreSTS Alex Hancock explores how research about museum collections is helping to connect British museums with more of the publics they claim to support. His emphasis is on decolonisation, engagement, and white European power. Ultimately, how do structural inequalities manifest in our museums, and how do we move to a new set of relationships? Alex undertook this project for the STSNewsRoom in summer 2021. His reporting focused on two specific events. First, Alex discusses with Tannis Davidson the “” exhibition at UCL Grant Museum of Zoology, which explores legacy of empire through objects in the museum and other natural history collections. Objects in these collections have complex histories of collection and ownership. We need to move past merely celebrating the collector and collecting, the exhibition argues, and instead highlight issues of power and control, removal and appropriation, privilege and the ability to ignore. Second, Alex discusses critiques of representation and engagement in museums with Professor Emily Dawson in light of Black Lives Matter campaigning. Professor Dawson has a long history working with groups from many communities to explore what museums mean to them and how museums serve different groups. For some people, museums just aren’t welcoming places, Professor Dawson explains. Alex asks the straightforward question: where are these movements leading the future of museums? Is change likely in the near future? Featuring Presenter and researcher , UCL Class 0f 2021 Alex also contributed to Interviewees , Curator of UCL Grant Museum of Zoology , UCL Professor of Education, Science and Society In the break, you heard Jasmine Charkravarty, also part of the STSNewsRoom2021. Additional materials Professor Dawson’s papers regarding the social exclusion of groups in museum spaces include: Dawson, E. (2014). “Not Designed for Us”: How Science Museums and Science Centers Socially Exclude Low-Income, Minority Ethnic Groups. Science Education, 98(6), 981-1008. Dawson, E. (2018). Reimagining publics and (non)participation: Exploring exclusion from science communication through the experiences of low-income, minority ethnic groups. Public Understanding of Science, 27(7), 772-786. The study mentioned by Dr. Dawson regarding Indigenous curatorial practices and how their artefacts and artwork are cared for in museums: Nagam, J., Lane, C., and Tamati-Quennell, M. (Eds.). (2020). Becoming our future: global indigenous curatorial practice (Winnipeg, Canada: ARP Books) Host: Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor in History and Philosophy of Biology Music credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod “Ecossaise in E-flat,” by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3700-ecossaise-in-e-flat-woo-86- In the episode, Alex also uses this music: Young Logos, “Papov”, YouTube Audio Library Bad Snacks, “Wallflowers”, YouTube Audio Library Podcast information “WeAreSTS” is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, and to leave feedback about the show, visit us online: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme. “WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25474371

#23 Journalism from STS Science Communication Master’s Students 2022 | WeAreSTS 01/01/2023

#23 Journalism from STS Science Communication Master’s Students 2022 | WeAreSTS We sampled undergraduate projects in a previous episode. Now, it time for the Master’s students. Today’s episode offers a sampler of student-made podcasts. These were created by Master’s students in our science journalism module, run by Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon. The assignment was straightforward: imagine you’re working for a news magazine. Create a three-minute feature about a recent piece of research at UCL. The piece must include a short interview segment, and it must make sense within the context of the show. They have a tight deadline, and they have to work pretty much with the tools they have through a laptop and phone. The goal is to mimic real-world work as a freelance journalist. The assignments students do in STS modules today are nothing like what they used to be. These days, they build portfolios with all sorts of things: short writing, long writing, posters, blogs, in-class presentations. Add to these, projects like podcasts, film clips, campaign strategies, briefing papers, debates, and proposals. Research of different kinds. Creativity. And Challenge. We diversify our curriculum because we’re training for a flexible future: a world of work that is as varied as we can imagine. For today, I’ve brought together eight of the student projects that appeal to me. They’re varied, and they deliver the assignment is different ways. Think of this as a sampler. Details about each track are in the show notes. The whole syllabus for HPSC0122 Science Journalism: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/testing/postgraduate-modules-draft/science-journalism-hpsc0122 Tracks Track 1. Tackling Far-Right Extremism Online, Thorin Bristow For this newscast I interviewed CianO’Donovan on his recent research published in the Journal of Peer Production titled “Collective Capabilities For Resisting Far-Right Extremism Online And In The Real World”. We discuss the problem of far-right extremism in the digital sphere, and Cian’s associated work with the Far Right Observatory in Ireland. The intersections of digital technologies, tech firms, and society are explored, following Cian’s harms-first approach to research. Track 2. Planetary bodies observed for the first time in habitable zone of a dead star, Bharadwaj Vangipuram The podcast gives the audience a brief introduction of what white dwarf stars is and how relevant their study is to our solar system and the universe. With the stage set with what white dwarfs are and the research mentioned, the podcast dives into the procedure of the discovery which included: Identifying recurring patterns, Habitable zone, Inference from debris to planets. The podcast also gives the audience an insight into what are the difficulties faced by the team during the discovery which included constrained resources (Telescope time) and the luck involved in it. Track 3. Is it healthy for children to follow plant based diets?, Sophie Reich-Michalik This podcast is framed as a weekly occurring feature about sustainable living, targeted primarily at families. This week's episode is about the health effects of plant based diets for children. Professor Jonathan Wells is interviewed about his recent study “Growth, body composition, and cardiovascular and nutritional risk of 5- to 10-y-old children consuming vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore diets.” In the episode, he explains how his study was conducted, his findings and his suggestions for parents with children interested in following a plant based diet. Track 4. New research in UCL on sex differences reveals the urgency of mental health gendered medicine, Eve Barro The newscast highlights the implications of a new paper Freya Pentice published a few months ago about sex differences in cardiac interception, the ability to feel internal cardiac signals. We explore together what impact such research can have on personalised mental health intervention and the importance of conducting and communicating properly about gendered medicine related topics given the particularly sensitive topics sex and gender currently are in our society. Track 5. Covid-19: Misery for Care Home Residents and Staff Continued, Qitian Mao Although our communities have paid much attention to the pandemic, there is much less importance placed on those most vulnerable populations living and working in care homes. Led by UCL Professor Laura Shallcross at the Institute of Health Informatics, a national study, VIVALDI, is launched to investigate COVID-19 infections in care homes. Professor Laura Shallcross is invited and interviewed online; and she indicates a much higher Covid infection risk for people in care homes and a continued efforts to protect them. The background music used in this podcast is the Newsroom Intro. Details to come. Track 6. Impact of climate change on global food production and the role this plays in widening the inequality gap, Hania Tayara ‘The Climate Society’ podcast explores the role of climate change in exacerbating existing social inequalities. I speak to UCL’s Professor Paul Ekins about his research on the impact of climate change on global food production, and the role this plays in widening the inequality gap. We discuss how localised food shortages due to weather events have disproportionately impacted poor countries and poorer people in rich countries, and whose responsibility it is to mitigate this as the climate crisis worsens. Track 7. UCL’s COVID-19 Social Study is the largest scientific research on the psychological and social impact of the pandemic in the UK, Paula Munoz Arriaza This episode highlights the UCL COVID-19 Social Study, the largest scientific research on the psychological and social impact of the pandemic in the UK. Therefore, it analyses why mental health has become a concern for research, the most vulnerable social groups during the pandemic, how much mental health rates have changed in the UK, and what actions could address this issue. Track 8. The neurodevelopmental condition known as stammering, along with the mental health of children and young adults who have a stammer, Flo Cornish I explore the relationship between stammering and symptoms of anxiety. The positive correlation between the two may not be an inherent result of the stammering condition, but rather a result of how society perceives those who stammer. This in turn affects the lives of stammering people, both in terms of human relationships and the treatment they receive. I spoke with clinical speech therapist and UCL PhD candidate Ria Bernard to gain some valuable insights. Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 Interval music “Laconic Granny,” by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3960-laconic-granny Both are available on the website: filmmusic.IO Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25464057

#22 Thinking About Internationality: Is Science the Same Everywhere? | WeAreSTS 12/31/2022

#22 Thinking About Internationality: Is Science the Same Everywhere? | WeAreSTS It’s one of those fundamental tenets taught to every student: science is international; it’s the same everywhere, it respects no borders; the work is the same no matter where or when you are. Assessing this idea is a core task in STS. Our philosophers, historians, and sociologists work overtime on case studies to explore internationality. Our policy and communication experts grapple with variations and work to understand where there is consensus and where there’s consensus. In this episode, Beatrice Han (BSc Sociology and Politics of Science student) investigates science and internationality. As an international student, Beatrice is very familiar with borders and different systems in different places. She brings together three others in STS with similar experiences to talk about internationality and science: Dr Tiago Mata (Associate Professor in Science and Technology Studies), Isabel Lim (UCL Class of 2022), and Andrea Lekare (UCL Class of 2023, and another member of the STSNewsRoom2022). They each bring an international background when they talk about their experiences of scientific policies and knowledge in different countries. The conversation considers possible explanations for these differences. They also discuss whether its better to keep or eliminate outside factors. Is there value in preserving variety? This is another contribution from the STSNewsRoom2022. Here in STS we want to give students work experience in science communication, so each summer we set up as many paid internships as we can, and we work with students to create content for publications, like our annual magazine, STS Alchemy. We also ask them to create a podcast episode. On any subject they choose. We want about 30 minutes. We want interviews. We want something STS. But most of all, we want ideas and creativity. Featuring Reporter and original research Beatrice Han Interviewees Dr Tiago Mata, Associate Professor in Science and Technology Studies Isabel Lim, UCL Class of 2022 Andrea Lekare, UCL Class of 2023 Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 Interval music Midnite Dialog Short Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25456830

#21 Responsible Media Coverage: Hype in Our Stories About Chatbots | WeAreSTS 12/30/2022

#20 Becoming Britain’s Chief Scientific Advisor: Solly Zuckerman | WeAreSTS 12/29/2022

#20 Becoming Britain’s Chief Scientific Advisor: Solly Zuckerman | WeAreSTS Did you know that in March 1967, the British government bombed an oil tanker stranded on rocks off Cornwall? Dan Sharpe certainly didn’t when he began to dig into the life and career of the Britain’s first Chief Scientific Adviser, Lord Solly Zuckerman. He advised prime minister Harold Wilson during this environmental catastrophe and recommended the bombing. Join Dan as he traces the life and career of one of the most influential British science advisers of the 20th century from arriving in the United Kingdom as a young adult, to observing primates at ZSL London Zoo, to pioneering a novel approach to science policy advice in government via the second world war and much more. Along the way he hopes to answer the question of how science came into the heart of government and what STS scholars can learn by looking back at the history of science about its use in policy decisions. Dan thanks Jonathan Burt, Professor Jon Agar and Dr Elliot Honeybun-Arnolda who generously provided their time. This episode was a project in the STSNewsRoom2022. Want to learn more? These articles provide more depth: News report about SS Torrey Canyon disaster: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/seven-stones-oil-tanker-disaster-aka-torrey-canyon Journal article by Jonathan Burt about Solly Zuckerman’s primatology career: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369848606000203 Book by Professor Jon Agar including Solly Zuckerman as Government Chief Scientific Adviser: https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/109467 Featuring Reporter and researcher Dan Sharpe, UCL Class of 2022 Interviewees Professor Jon Agar, UCL Professor of Science and Technology Studies Elliot Honeybun-Arnolda, University of East Anglia Jonathan Burt, author and historian Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology Additional voices Andrea Lekare, UCL Class of 2023 Music credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 “Ecossaise in E flat 86,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/3700-ecossaise-in-e-flat-woo-86- Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25446870

#19 Decolonise and Decenter STS: Reflections and Expectations | WeAreSTS 12/28/2022

#19 Decolonise and Decenter STS: Reflections and Expectations | WeAreSTS Scientific knowledge has evolved over the past few centuries in various political and socio-cultural contexts. There is seen to be a substantially disproportionate legacy of European thought in scientific education. How the fingerprints of colonialism continue to shape the way academic institutions function and teach science is a question of utmost value in the process of ensuring diversified knowledge sharing. While the subject of decolonising raises several questions on institutional privilege and power, it is worth noting that this is also a subject deeply personal and resonant amongst the respective members of a community. Here we explore the meaning it holds for different members of the STS family at UCL. We speak to an undergraduate student, a PhD candidate, an early career lecturer, and one of the co-heads of department for STSUCL. This episode of WeAreSTS was created by Roha Ali Khan, a Master’s student, as part of the STSNewsRoom2022. Featuring Reporter and researcher Roha Ali Khan Interviewees Stephanie, Undergraduate Student, UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies Dr Michel Wahome, Lecturer in Science, Technology and Society, UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies Dr Benjamin Weil, formerly a PhD Candidate now complete, UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies Prof Emma Tobin, Professor of Philosophy of Science and co-Head of Department (with Professor Jon Agar), UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Music within the episode “Serious Documentary” by AShamaleuvMusic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x9xVwpWo7k&t=66s Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain, unless otherwise noted. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25441722

#18 Peer Review, Reviewed: A Closer Look at Scientific Publishing | WeAreSTS 12/27/2022

#18 Peer Review, Reviewed: A Closer Look at Scientific Publishing | WeAreSTS Most of us have heard of peer review, but how does it actually work? After more than a century, is it still fit for purpose? This episode explores the state of peer review in academic publishing. With guests from within the field, we hear what it means for researchers, publishers, and institutions like UCL. As the tide of open access publishing gains momentum and more research is made freely accessible, what will peer review look like in the future? How will academic publishing evolve more widely? In the future, can we still value anonymity over acknowledgement of reviewers? In this episode, Olivia Kehoe explores the peer review process with a critical eye, discussing how other trends in publishing, such as open access and data publishing, soon might re-shape activities such as peer review. She highlights two alternatives to the current system: UCL Press’s open peer review system and a user-organised initiative called “Peer Community In” <https://peercommunityin.org> founded by scientists, for scientists. Understanding what’s inside the “black box” of peer review is of huge value to STS. Can we trust the process? How could we improve it? Thanks to her guests, Sunbul Akhtar, Denis Bourguet, and Catherine Sharp for their time, patience and expertise in helping Olivia tackle some of these questions. Olivia completed this podcast episode as part of a summer studentship project with Professor Joe Cain. This project was funded by UCL Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MAPS) as a careers-building initiative. Thanks Olivia! Great work. Featuring Reporter and researcher Olivia Kehoe, 4th Year UCL Natural Sciences and summer intern for ‘Science and the Publishing Industry’ project in STS Interviewees Sunbul Akhtar, UCL Press Journals Coordinator Denis Bourguet, Director of Research at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment in France (INRAE) Catherine Sharp, Head of UCL Open Access Services WeAreSTS Host Professor Joe Cain, Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Music within the episode “Accralate,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/3336-accralate License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. Editing by Olivia Kehoe Post-production by Professor Joe Cain. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25432296

#17 Journalism from STS Science Communication Students 2022 | WeAreSTS 12/26/2022

#17 Journalism from STS Science Communication Students 2022 | WeAreSTS The assignments students do in STS modules today are nothing like what they used to be. These days, they build portfolios with all sorts of things: short writing, long writing, posters, blogs, in-class presentations. Add to these, projects like podcasts, film clips, campaign strategies, briefing papers, debates, and proposals. Research of different kinds. Creativity. And Challenge. We diversify our curriculum because we know the future for our students holds work as varied as we can imagine. Today’s episode offers a sampler of student-made podcasts. These were created by year 3 undergraduates in our science journalism module, run by Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon. The assignment is straightforward: create a three-minute news feature about a recent piece of research at UCL. The piece must be suitable for use on as a news segment for radio or podcast. Students start with a recent press release from the UCL Press Office, and they go from there. The piece must include a short interview segment with a researcher. They have a tight deadline, and they have to work pretty much with the tools they have through a laptop and phone. This is real world work as a freelance journalist. For today, I’ve brought together eight of the ones I like a lot. They’re varied, and they deliver the assignment is different ways. Think of it as a sampler. The whole syllabus for HPSC0107 Science Journalism: Tracks TRACK 1. New X-ray Tech Promises Better Diagnostics for Heart Disease, Gracie Enticknap This newscast introduces a new-to-research x-ray technology called HiP-CT which images organs at multiple scales with better clarity than previously achievable. I discuss HiP-CT with a researcher who is using it to study the evolution of congenital heart disease in blue baby syndrome and children with one heart ventricle. We discuss the aims of his research, and eventual clinical application and hospital usage of this technology, which could have revolutionary benefit to the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. Interviewee: Professor Andrew Cook, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Zayed Centre for Research Credits: Stock Media provided by baldwinphilly / Pond5 TRACK 2. Covid-19 Impact on Gut Microbiome, Marcus Chow It is well established that the digestive system, its microbiota, and the immune system are linked and influence each other. With COVID-19 coming to an endemic, much of the research interest now lies in how it can shape the microbiota and how the microbiota can influence the patients’ symptoms and long term effects. Wong et has investigated how COVID-19 interact with and in the gastrointestinal tract to better understand the implications of disease management, transmission, and infection control. In this article, we review the important gastrointestinal aspects of the disease. Interviewee: Sunny H Wong, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Credits: None TRACK 3. Marketing Infant Formula against Breast Feeding, Nadya Rauch Let’s take a critical look at infant formula marketing, which the WHO recently condemned for misleading parents and undermining breastfeeding. Breastmilk has key benefits for infants that can’t be replicated in formula milk, such as stems cells and antibodies that help protect infants from infection. We talk to infant formula expert Dr. Fewtrell from UCL’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health to debunk some myths on whether infant formula can improve cognitive outcomes for children. Interviewee: Dr. Mary Fewtrell, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Credits: Intro/outro music produced by Leo Daiji Waltmann “The Wonder of Baby SMA PRO Follow on Milk," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RDGFnermSc&ab_channel=LacaraChildModelandTalentAgency TRACK 4. New guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, Sofia Sancho The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology have recently released 200 pages of new, comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis of endometriosis. A major change in the new version is that laparoscopy is no longer deemed the gold standard for diagnosis, which will lead to more patients being accommodated for, and hopefully the long wait for diagnosis being decreased. I speak to Dr Ertan Saridogan, who co-authored the new guidelines, about their significance and how they can lead to improvements in endometriosis research. Interviewee: Dr Ertan Saridogan, UCL Hospital and UCL Institute for Women’s Health Credits: Cool Jazzy Brass & Vibraphone by M33 Project, licensed under CC BY 4.0 TRACK 5. Minimally invasive image-guided ablation (MINIMA), Yingnan Chen Proof-of-concept for MINIMA is recently published. Compare to traditional ways of removing tumours, MINIMA is not as invasive and has fewer side effects, hence, the patients can recover quicker. Moreover, MINIMA can preserve the function of infected organ as much as possible. I have invited the lead author, Rebecca Baker, to talk about how MINIMA works and its potential as a cancer treatment. She also discussed the limitations and what needs to be done before moving on to clinical trials. Interviewee: Rebecca Baker (PhD Student at UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging) Credits: Inspiring Electronic . License Code: 9WXPUERVK7 TRACK 6. Covid’s impact on student experience at UCL, Juwairiyah Aftab The podcast explores a research study conducted by Dr Waugh, alongside other individuals, titled ‘Impacts of the Covid‐19 pandemic on the health of university students’. The study, based at University College London (UCL), explores the physical and mental health consequences of the pandemic on students, with mention of the importance of this study and its relevance. Furthermore, the study mentions cases of racism and discrimination, followed by an evaluation of how trustworthy the research is and brief future recommendations. Interviewee: Dr Mark Waugh, UCL Department of Education, Division of Medicine, UCL Faculty of Medical Sciences Credits: Statistics from the National Student Survey (NSS) https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/1480/insight-brief-10-nss-finalforweb.pdf Background music (no copyright) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ6gUSJARIA TRACK 7. How Do We Slow Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Eloise Jarvis Dr Toryn Poolman talks about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), leading cause of liver transplants that effecting up to one-third of the British population. It’s a medical condition that’s on the rise owing to changes in diet: more sugar, more alcohol, and more processed foods. He explains what NAFLD is, what it can progress to, what the causes are, and how it can be avoided or reversed. Interviewee: Dr Toryn Poolman, Department: Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL Division of Biosciences Credits: Bensound.com TRACK 8. Applied Linguistics studying pain descriptions associated with endometriosis, Dan Sharpe Listening more carefully to the words patients choose to describe their symptoms can help doctors identify more complex medical conditions, says Zsófia Demjén. She reports on new research into specific patterns of words patients use to describe their symptoms. This might lead to earlier diagnosis of endometriosis and other serious chronic conditions. Just listening more carefully can make all the difference. Interviewee: Zsófia Demjén, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, UCL Centre for Applied Linguistics Credits: Details to come Host Professor Joe Cain Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 “Silly Intro,” by Alexander Nakarada License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Both are available on the website: filmmusic.IO Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain, unless otherwise noted. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25430886

#16 Gorgias: Plato Asks ‘Is It Better To Be Honest or Persuasive?’ | WeAreSTS 12/23/2022

#16 Gorgias: Plato Asks ‘Is It Better To Be Honest or Persuasive?’ | WeAreSTS You’ve heard of Plato. He’s one of those philosophers from Ancient Greece. Think in the time range 400-350 BCE and you’re in the right range. Plato wrote core works in the Western canon: The Republic, The Timaeus, and so much more. One of his lesser known texts is The Gorgias. That’s this year’s . It’s a work massively relevant today. At its heart is a key question for communication: should we prefer people who are truth tellers in society, or should we prefer sweet-talking rhetoricians? This is a question that cuts right to the heart of so much in politics, society, and the way we talk with each other. If you’re a regular listener to the podcast, you’ll know about the STS1Book programme. Each year, we chose one book for all students and staff to read and talk about. It’s something that helps glue us together as a community. Last year, we had Gemma Milne’s book, Smoke and Mirrors, about hype in the the tech and innovation industries. This year, it’s Plato’s Gorgias. Here in STS we have an expert on Plato and his philosophy, . I put in a call to Andy to ask him about this book. I wanted to know what I should be looking out for, and what he thought was important. Who are the main characters? What are the main themes? For me, Gorgias reads like a play about some of the political characters we all know and watch today. The words in this book sound as though they’re coming from today’s headlines. Amazing and eye-opening. Featuring Interviewees Professor Andrew Gregory Professor of History of Science Professor Gregory also is the organiser of the long-running London Ancient Science Conference: Host Professor Joe Cain Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Interval music “Busted Flat Blues,” by anonymous GarageBand public domain Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain, unless otherwise noted. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/25417155

#15 Gemma Milne on SMOKE AND MIRRORS in conversation with Jack Stilgoe | WeAreSTS 08/02/2022

#15 Gemma Milne on SMOKE AND MIRRORS in conversation with Jack Stilgoe | WeAreSTS Will robots steal my job? Will gene editing cure my cancer? HYPE is a fundamental part of science communication, the development of new technologies, and the crucially important interface between business, investment, and new technology. How does HYPE work? Can it be used for good? In this conversation at the 2022 STS1Book celebration at University College London, Gemma Milne discusses her book, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, with Jack Stilgoe. They discuss her interest in HYPE as an ever-present phenomenon in our society, and how it affects thinking about technology today. Gemma and Jack reflect on the importance of hype-awareness in society. It’s not always a bad thing, Gemma says, but we need to be alert to how hype skews the conversation. Gemma Milne. 2020. Smoke and Mirrors. How Hype Obscures the Future and How to See Past It (London: Robinson). ISBN: 9781472143662. SMOKE AND MIRRORS was the STS1Book for 2021-22. Each year, the Department asks all staff and students to read one book in common during the summer, then arrive for the new session ready to discuss both its substance and its broader value. Incoming students should read this prescribed book. It will be the subject of activities during induction week and will be used in Year 1 courses. Titles are selected for inclusion by the STS Undergraduate Programme Tutor from suggested offered by students and staff. For more information: Want more? Gemma talks about SMOKE AND MIRRORS in WeAreSTS episode #8. Also Gemma Milne also is co-host of the fabulous “Radical Science” podcast. https://radicalsciencepodcast.com She creates a newsletter, “Brain Reel”: https://brainreel.substack.com Website: https://gemmamilne.co.uk Twitter: @gemmamilne Professor Jack Stilgoe is co-host of the podcast, “The Received Wisdom,” with Shobita Parthasarathy https://shobitap.org/the-received-wisdom Featuring Interviewee: Gemma Milne, Science and Technology Writer https://gemmamilne.co.uk Interviewer: Professor Jack Stilgoe, UCL Professor of Science and Technology Studies https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/stilgoe Music credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Production information Yue Zhu recorded this episode live at the STS1Book celebration in May 2022. Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain. Podcast information “WeAreSTS” is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, and to leave feedback about the show, visit us online: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme. “WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/23846984

#14 Period policies: Exploring the debate on menstrual leave | WeAreSTS 07/25/2022

#14 Period policies: Exploring the debate on menstrual leave | WeAreSTS As someone who prides herself on being interested in women’s health and progress related to it, Sofia Sancho still had no idea what “menstrual leave” was when it suddenly was all over the news earlier this spring. Menstruation is a regular physiological phenomenon, happening to the vast majority of people with uteruses. Many people manage their periods just fine, but for some they can be extremely debilitating. For them, being able to take some extra days off work every month to manage symptoms can be a big relief. However, the policies have received a lot of critique. They can be difficult for companies to adopt in a viable way, and researchers worry that the sociocultural norms and stigmas that exist surrounding menstruation will lead to the policies doing more harm than good. In the episode, Sofia invites you to join her on a deep dive into the world of menstrual health policies, as she explores the debate surrounding them. Why are they important? Why are they so controversial and debated? And how is any of this related to STS? Sofia dearly thanks her guests Ms Lorren Rea and Dr Shema Tariq for helping her on this quest. This episode is created as part of the STSNewsRoom 2022. Want to learn more? Literature cited in the episode: https://profjoecain.net/14-period-policies-exploring-the-debate-on-menstrual-leave-wearests/ Featuring Reporter and original research Sofia Sancho Interviewees Ms Lorren Rea Head of Employment Policy at UCL Dr Shema Tariq Clinical Research Fellow/ Honorary Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV Host Professor Joe Cain Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Music within the episode “Cool Jazzy Brass & Vibraphone” by M33 Project License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain, unless otherwise noted. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/23845874

#13 BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough | WeAreSTS 07/07/2022

#13 BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough | WeAreSTS Natural history documentaries are hugely popular on British television. They offer great examples of science communication, and they have a long history, stretching back to the early days of broadcasting by the BBC, and more. As luck would have it, here in STS, we have an expert in these programmes and the people who create them. Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon is Associate Professor of Science Communication in the department. He teaches science journalism, sociology of science, and lots more. He also is co-director of our new MSc in Science Communication. A few years ago, Jean-Baptiste published a book on the history of British natural history documentaries, BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough (Palgrave). And yes, while research it he met and interviewed the one and only, David Attenborough. In this episode, Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon discusses his recent book, BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough. This is a history of British natural history filmmaking across the twentieth century. It also is an analysis of how filmmakers establish their identity and authority, such as through “making-of” segments added to their films. Crucial to Jean-Baptiste’s analysis is the work of Sir David Attenborough, whose career as a broadcaster and natural history filmmaker has profoundly influenced British wildlife television. In researching his book, Jean-Baptiste interviewed Sir David. We talk about his experiences meeting the master of natural history of television. The book we discussed was: Gouyon, Jean-Baptiste. 2019. BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough (Palgrave). ISBN 9783030199814. Featuring Interviewees Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon Associate Professor of Science Communication Host Professor Joe Cain, Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology Additional voices Jasmine Chakravary, UCL Class of 2021, spoke about our STS master’s degrees Pierre-Elie Balsan, UCL Class of 2023, spoke about STS Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Interval music “Silly Intro,” by Alexander Nakarada License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: This site also includes information for how STS students and staff can get involved with our programme. Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain, unless otherwise noted. WeAreSTS producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/23540633

#12 Top Marks for Philosophy of Science and Medicine in REF Impact | WeAreSTS 06/23/2022

#12 Top Marks for Philosophy of Science and Medicine in REF Impact | WeAreSTS Professor Sarah Edwards and Professor Phyllis Illari discuss their contributions the STS’s impact in philosophy of science and medicine. They were lead contributors to two top-rated “impact cases” in UCL’s 2021 entry to the REF assessment, the UK’s research excellence framework. That’s a national review of university research productivity. Sarah’s project involves policy-making about emerging diseases. Phyllis’s project involves policy-making when evidence in conflicting and incomplete. Simply put, “impact” is a measure of how much a influence an academic university research project has had on non-academic communities, such as business, media, schools, and medicine. Summary of Professor Edwards’s project Edwards’ research informed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Ethics Guidance and a Training Manual for clinical research during epidemics of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, for which no effective treatments or vaccines are known. The ethics guidance applied to 4955 studies undertaken into WHO’s priority infectious diseases and pathogens with over 88 million participants globally. Edwards' research has benefited individuals participating in clinical research by promoting wider access to new and repurposed medicines and by protecting the rights and interests of current patients. Edwards initiated the development of an Afrocentric ethics framework for clinical research during epidemics across Africa and supervised a project for the African Union Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC), involving wide consultation, engagement, and training. Her expertise has been consulted over clinical research for COVID-19 by organisations such as WHO, Africa CDC, and the US FDA which issued new guidelines leading to >370 early approvals of medicines and medical products with surveillance for research. Full impact case study Summary of Professor Illari’s project Public bodies, such as health boards or government departments, must reliably interpret evidence to properly inform their decision-making. Illari and Clarke’s work explores the diverse types of evidence obtained from biological and social mechanisms and systems, and how these are used for multiple purposes. This has impacted on 1) international methodologies for evidence assessment in health by increasing the plurality of evidence they use, particularly evidence of mechanisms (NICE, IARC), and on 2) UK ethical frameworks for AI and data science by improving their evidence use, particularly their attention to anticipating and monitoring how systems including populations react to new ethics frameworks (Cabinet Office, DCMS, West Midlands Police, the NHS). The beneficiaries are patients who need high quality medical advice both in England and Wales and internationally, and all people in the UK affected by government and NHS data projects such as the UK Cabinet Office Framework for Data Ethics and the NHS Code of conduct for data-driven health and care technology. Full impact case study More about REF REF is a complex administrative process. For more about UCL’s work across all REF categories: For more about REF from its organisers: Featuring Interviewees Professor Sarah Edwards UCL Professor of Bioethics Professor Phyllis Illari UCL Professor of Philosophy of Science Interviewer Professor Joe Cain UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology Music credits Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Interval music “Silly intro,” by Alexander Nakarada https://filmmusic.io/song/4786-silly-intro License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Podcast information “WeAreSTS” is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, and to leave feedback about the show, visit us online: STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme. “WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain. Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain. /episode/index/show/we-are-sts/id/23516297

BONUS Scientific Research for Development, a seminar from Dr Michel Wahome | WeAreSTS 01/08/2022

BONUS Pale, Male and Stale? Scientists on Netflix and Disney+ | WeAreSTS 12/25/2021

BONUS “What is STS”? Three Ordinary Examples | WeAreSTS 12/21/2021

#11 UCL’s Warning Research Centre and Disaster Preparedness with Dr Carina Fearnley | WeAreSTS 12/16/2021

#10 Help From UCL Careers Service | WeAreSTS 12/07/2021

#9 Introducing UCL’s new Master’s in Science Communication (MSc) | WeAreSTS 12/05/2021

BONUS STSNewsRoom 1 Jasmine Chakravarty investigates vaccine hesitancy | WeAreSTS 12/04/2021

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