The Conversation Weekly

The Conversation

A show for curious minds, from The Conversation. Each week, host Gemma Ware speaks to an academic expert about a topic in the news to understand how we got here.

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288 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes288

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May 26, 2022 · 43 min
India and Pakistan heatwave is a sign of worse to come
India and Pakistan have been sweltering under an unprecedented heatwave, the severity of which scientists attribute to climate change. In this episode we explore how much worse heatwaves in the region could get and how farmers can prepare for it. Featuring Alan Thomas Kennedy-Asser, a research associate in climate science at the University of Bristol in the UK, Andrew King, a senior Lecturer in climate science at the University of Melbourne in Australia and Shruti Bhogal, who's just finished working as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge in the UK. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available shortly. Further reading India heatwave: why the region should prepare for even more extreme heat in the near future How to survive a heatwave A climate scientist on India and Pakistan’s horror heatwave, and the surprising consequences of better air quality Young Indian farmers are turning to an ancient crop to fight water stress and climate change
May 18, 2022 · 30 min
Australian election: how the country’s political landscape is shifting
As Australians prepare to vote in federal elections on May 21, in this episode we explore how the country’s political landscape is shifting – and why it's not looking good for Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Featuring Michelle Grattan, a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra and political correspondent for The Conversation in Australia. Grattan, who is one of Australia's most respected political journalists, also hosts the Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast for The Conversation. We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, which should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you! This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. Further reading How does Australia’s voting system work? In a year of endless floods, why isn’t disaster governance front and centre in the election campaign? If the polls are right, he may soon be the next Australian prime minister. So who is Anthony Albanese? ‘His beating heart is a focus group’: what makes Scott Morrison tick?
May 12, 2022 · 35 min
What is adult ADHD and how to treat it
We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, which should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you! Parents and doctors have known about childhood ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – for decades, but it is only recently that the medical field has started to recognise, diagnose and seriously study ADHD in adults. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we explore what adult ADHD looks like, how it is diagnosed today and the many new treatments available to help those with the disorder live better lives. Featuring Laura E Knouse an associate professor of psychology a the University of Richmond in the US, and Tamara May, senior research fellow at Monash University in Australia. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. You can also read a full transcript of this episode too. Further reading ADHD looks different in adults. Here are 4 signs to watch for Why many women with autism and ADHD aren’t diagnosed until adulthood – and what to do if you think you’re one of them ADHD in adults: what it’s like living with the condition – and why many still struggle to get diagnosed These strategies and life hacks can help anyone with ADHD, as well as those who struggle with attention problems but don’t have a diagnosis
May 5, 2022 · 44 min
Neutrality: why countries choose not to join a war – and what responsibilities come with it
We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, which should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you! When war breaks out, what does it mean for a country to remain neutral? In this episode we explore the advantages and disadvantages of neutrality – and what responsibilities come with the choice not to take sides. We talk to an historian about how an age of neutrality emerged in the 19th century and what lessons it has for the war in Ukraine. And we dig down into the reasons why one country – India – has decided to remain neutral on the conflict. Featuring Maartje Abbenhuis, professor of history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and Swaran Singh, professor of diplomacy and disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Gemma Ware and Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. You can read a transcript on The Conversation's website. Further reading Why India chose a path of ‘proactive neutrality’ on Ukraine What does it mean to be ‘neutral’ over Ukraine – and what responsibilities come with it? As Ukraine war deepens great-power divisions, a revitalized non-aligned movement could emerge Russia’s war with Ukraine: Five reasons why many African countries choose to be ‘neutral’ History may explain South Africa’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Apr 28, 2022 · 40 min
Ukraine invasion threatens international collaboration in space – is current space law equipped to handle a new era of shifting power structures?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is challenging the structures of international collaboration in space. In this episode, we talk to two experts about how space is entering a new era of international competition – and whether the existing laws are ready for what comes next. Featuring Kuan-Wei (David) Chen, executive director of the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law at McGill University in Canada and Svetla Ben-Itzhak, assistant professor of space and international relations at Air University in the US. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. A transcript is also available to read. Further reading Space Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on Earth Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens space co-operation, business and security Ukraine war: how it could play out in space – with potentially dangerous consequences Russian invasion of Ukraine and resulting US sanctions threaten the future of the International Space Station
Apr 21, 2022 · 19 min
How your culture informs your emotional reaction to music
How much does your cultural background influence the way you react to music? Or whether you think a piece of music sounds happy or sad? That's what George Athanasopoulos and his colleagues decided to investigate. They travelled to a remote part of northwest Pakistan to spend time with the Kalash and Kho people who live there and find out how they reacted to western music. Athanasopoulos, an ethnomusicologist at Durham University in the UK, tells us what they discovered. This episode is an extended version of an interview first published on February 3. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading: How your culture informs the emotions you feel when listening to music The global music community must help Afghan musicians resist a Taliban music ban
Apr 14, 2022 · 36 min
Why Indonesia plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to a new forest city on the island of Borneo
Indonesia plans to move its capital city from Jakarta on the island of Java to a new forest city on the island of Borneo called Nusantara. We talk to three experts in urban planning and ecology to find out why, what the problems are with Jakarta – and what the environmental impacts of the project could be. Featuring Eka Permanasari, associate professor in urban design, Monash University Australia, Hendricus Andy Simarmata, lecturer in urban planning at the University of Indonesia and Alex Lechner, associate professor in landscape ecology at Monash University Indonesia. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading How not to build a capital: what Indonesia can learn from other master-planned cities’ mistakes Does Indonesia really need to move its capital? Assessing Jokowi’s $33-billion project to move Indonesia’s capital for the country’s economic development Moving Indonesia’s capital city won’t fix Jakarta’s problems and will increase fire risk in Borneo
Apr 7, 2022 · 27 min
Could lead makeup really have killed an 18th century socialite? A scientist investigated
Can makeup really kill you? That’s the myth attached to Maria Gunning, the Countess of Coventry, an 18th century socialite who reportedly died from her lead-based makeup in 1760, aged just 27. In this episode, we speak to Fiona McNeill, a professor of physics at McMaster University in Canada, who has recreated some centuries-old recipes for white lead makeup to test how dangerous these cosmetics really were. Plus, an extract from a special episode of The Conversation's Don't Call Me Resilient podcast, about Will Smith's Oscar slap. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with reporting from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra by Ellen Duffy. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading Dying for makeup: Lead cosmetics poisoned 18th-century European socialites in search of whiter skin There’s a complex history of skin lighteners in Africa and beyond
Mar 31, 2022 · 49 min
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy – 50 years of ongoing protest for Indigenous sovereignty in Australia
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy – a site of First Nations protest in Canberra, Australia – marks its 50th anniversary this year. In this episode, Carissa Lee, First Nations and public policy editor at The Conversation in Australia, explores its history and hears how the ongoing protest has influenced a new generation of Indigenous activism. Featuring Bronwyn Carlson, professor of Indigenous studies and director of the Centre for Global Indigenous Futures at Macquarie University in Australia; Lynda-June Coe, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University and her Aunty Jenny Munro, a member of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protest site in Canberra. Plus, new research into how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the lives of young people born into poverty around the world – and their job prospects. We talk to Catherine Porter, director of the Young Lives study at the University of Oxford. (Listen from 33m46s) This episode of the The Conversation Weekly is supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons Board, the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season, which centres on the theme Who Are We Now? The season's programme reflects on the two countries’ shared history, explores their current relationship, and imagines their future together. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with reporting from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra by Ellen Duffy. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading A short history of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy – an indelible reminder of unceded sovereignty Who are the ‘Original Sovereigns’ who were camped out at Old Parliament House and what are their aims? Whose sovereignty is really being fought for? What happens when First Nations People are dragged into extremist protests Hunger, lost income and increased anxiety: how coronavirus lockdowns put huge pressure on young people around the world
Mar 24, 2022 · 47 min
How has Emmanuel Macron changed France?
It's been five years since Emmanuel Macron rocked the French political establishment with his victory in the 2017 presidential elections. France is now returning to the polls for two rounds of voting and Macron is favourite to win a second five-year term on April 24. In this episode, we ask two French politics experts: how has Macron changed the French political system? Featuring, Gilles Ivaldi, a researcher in political science at Sciences Po Paris in France, and Anne-Cécile Douillet, a professor of political science at the University of Lille. And, we talk to bee expert Adrian Dyer, an associate professor at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, about humanity’s long love affair with bees – and his research showing how people expressed this appreciation through art for thousands of years. (From 33m55) And Claudia Lorenzo, culture editor for The Conversation in Madrid, Spain, talks about the Ukrainian cultural heritage at risk from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (From 44m20) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Thanks to Dale Berning Sawa for the voiceover in this episode. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading War anxiety makes French voters rally round Macron. For how long? An assessment of Emmanuel Macron: a neoliberal agenda and pragmatism in the face of crises (in French) Is Emmanuel Macron, the secret heir of Nicolas Sarkozy ? Film and war throughout time in Odessa (In Spanish) A look at the novel 'She came from Mariupol' (In Spanish)
Mar 17, 2022 · 50 min
The history and evolution of Ukrainian national identity
What does it mean to be a Ukrainian? In this episode, we talk to three experts about the origins of Ukrainian nationalism, and how Ukrainian national identity is changing. Featuring Volodomyr Kulyk, head research fellow at the Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv; Dominique Arel, professor and holder of the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa in Canada; and Olga Onuch, senior lecturer in politics, University of Manchester in the UK. And we hear about a rare archive of Ukrainian dissident literature from the Soviet era. Katja Kolcio, associate professor of dance and environmental studies at Wesleyan University in the US, whose father collected the archive, explains why it's now in danger. (From 36m) Finally, Moina Spooner, news editor for The Conversation in Nairobi, Kenya recommends some analysis marking the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. (From 48m) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading Kyiv has faced adversity before – and a stronger Ukrainian identity grew in response Why Ukrainian Americans are committed to preserving Ukrainian culture – and national sovereignty How Moscow has long used the historic Kyivan Rus state to justify expansionism Wins, missteps and lessons: African experts reflect on two years of COVID response How COVID has affected the control of neglected tropical diseases
Mar 10, 2022 · 49 min
The trauma of life in limbo for refugees and asylum seekers in immigration detention
The life of limbo for people in immigration detention is often deeply traumatic. In this episode we talk to two experts on immigration detention in Australia and the UK about why people are waiting months, sometimes years, for a decision about their future – and the impact it's having on them. Featuring Madeline Gleeson Senior Research Fellow, Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney in Australia and Blerina Kellezi, associate professor in social and trauma psychology at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. And as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushes more than two million refugees to flee the country, we speak to sociologist Irina Kuznetsova, associate professor at the University of Birmingham in the UK, about Russia’s history of using refugees from Ukraine as geopolitical tools. (From 32m55) Finally, Martine Turenne, editor in chief for The Conversation in Montreal, Canada, recommends some recent stories tied to International Women's Day. (From 46m32) This episode of the The Conversation Weekly is supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons Board, the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season, which centres on the theme Who Are We Now? The season's programme reflects on the two countries’ shared history, explores their current relationship, and imagines their future together. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Mau Loseto. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading The Conversation's Ukraine war coverage How people in immigration detention try to cope with life in limbo Australia’s asylum policy has been a disaster. It’s deeply disturbing the UK wants to adopt it Too few women reach the highest levels in their organisations – it's time to act "Stay" : how this love song conveys contempt and violence against women
Mar 3, 2022 · 50 min
Climate change: IPCC scientists on the narrowing window of opportunity to adapt
Scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just published a stark new warning about the impacts climate change is already having on our planet. Some of these impacts are already irreversible. In this episode, we talk to three of the scientists involved in the report about what the future may hold – and the narrowing window of opportunity to adapt to climate change. Featuring Mark Howden, director of the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions at Australian National University, Balsher Singh Sidhu, postdoctoral research fellow in resources, environment and sustainability at the University of British Columbia in Canada and Edward R. Carr, professor and director of international development, community, and environment, Clark University in the US. And a section of a rocket is about to crash on the Moon. Paul Hayne, assistant professor of astrophysical and planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US tells us what he’s hoping to learn from studying the collision. (Listen from 36m) And Jonathan Este, international politics editor at The Conversation in Cambridge in the UK, recommends some recent analysis on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Listen from 46m30) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading Mass starvation, extinctions, disasters: the new IPCC report’s grim predictions, and why adaptation efforts are falling behind IPCC report: Half the world is facing water scarcity, floods and dirty water — large investments are needed for effective solutions A rocket is going to crash into the Moon – the accidental experiment will shed light on the physics of impacts in space Putin’s invasion of Ukraine attacks its distinct history and reveals his imperial instincts Putin’s claim to rid Ukraine of Nazis is especially absurd given its history
Feb 24, 2022 · 40 min
Nuclear fusion record broken – what will it take to start generating electricity?
Scientists at a nuclear fusion lab in the UK just broke the world record for the amount of energy produced in a single fusion reaction. In this episode, we ask two nuclear experts what this means, and how long it’ll take before we can switch on the world’s first nuclear fusion power plant. Featuring Livia Casali, assistant professor in nuclear engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the US and Angel Ibarra Sanchez, a research professor in fusion technology at the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research in Madrid, Spain. And in our second story, we explore why living in a country that scores highly on global happiness rankings might not be all that it's cracked up to be. Brock Bastian, a professor of psychological sciences at the University of Melbourne in Australia, talks to us about his new research on the social pressure some people feel to be happy. And Eric Smalley, science and technology editor at The Conversation in Boston, recommends some recent analysis on the cybersecurity and technology dimensions of the unfolding Ukraine war. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading Nuclear fusion: how excited should we be? Nuclear fusion: building a star on Earth is hard, which is why we need better materials Research finds countries that focus the most on happiness can end up making people feel worse What are false flag attacks – and could Russia make one work in the information age? Technology is revolutionizing how intelligence is gathered and analyzed – and opening a window onto Russian military activity around Ukraine
Feb 17, 2022 · 46 min
Sahel security: what a wave of military coups means for the fight against jihadi groups in West Africa
Military juntas have seized power in a series of coups in recent months in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. We ask three experts what the coups mean for the war against jihadi insurgents in the Sahel – and for the future of French and European soldiers in the region. Featuring Folahanmi Aina, PhD candidate at King's College London in the UK, Mady Ibrahim Kanté, lecturer at the University of Legal and Political Sciences of Bamako in Mali and Thierry Vircoulon, a researcher at the University of Paris in France. And, we talk to researcher looking for ways to alleviate discrimination faced by people who speak English with a foreign accent. Shiri Lev-Ari, a lecturer in psychology at Royal Holloway University of London in the UK, explains why people might discriminate against non-native speakers even if they are not prejudiced – and what to do about it. (From 31m40s) And Jack Marley, an environment editor for The Conversation in Newcastle, England, recommends some recent articles on the ethical questions raised by eating meat. (From 43m40s) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading Mapping the contours of Jihadist groups in the Sahel In the Sahel, France is being pushed out (in French) France has started withdrawing its troops from Mali: what is it leaving behind? Here’s why people might discriminate against foreign accents – new research Cow documentary shows the need for fundamental legal rights for animals The meat paradox: how your brain wrestles with the ethics of eating animals
Feb 10, 2022 · 46 min
If Russia invades Ukraine, what could happen to natural gas supplies to Europe?
As frantic diplomatic efforts continue to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s reliance on Russian gas supplies – and what would happen to them in the case of a war – remains an ever-present threat. We speak to two experts on the geopolitics of natural gas about the history of the energy relationship between Russia and Europe, and the role gas supplies play in the current diplomatic efforts to avoid war. Featuring Michael Bradshaw, professor of global Energy at Warwick Business School at University of Warwick in the UK and Anastasiya Shapochkina politics lecturer at Sciences Po in France. And, the Beijing winter Olympics are the first games to use 100% artificial snow. We talk to a Madeleine Orr, lecturer in sport ecology at Loughborough University in the UK about what that might mean for the athletes – and for the environment around the Olympic sites. (Listen from 30m30) Plus, Haley Lewis for The Conversation in the Canadian capital Ottawa recommends some recent analysis of protests by truckers against COVID-19 restrictions that continue to block the city's streets. (Listen from 42m50) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Further reading: Can the US find enough natural gas sources to neutralize Russia’s energy leverage over Europe? Natural gas is a fossil fuel, but the EU will count it as a green investment – here’s why Beijing’s scant snow offers a glimpse at the uncertainty — and risks — of future Winter Olympics How Canada’s ‘freedom convoy’ was overtaken by a radical fringe Could Ottawa police be sued for failing to arrest ‘freedom convoy’ protesters?
Feb 3, 2022 · 50 min
The inside story of discovering omicron: South African scientists on the lessons their experience offers the rest of the world
What is it like to discover a new COVID-19 variant? We hear the inside story from Jinal Bhiman at South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases, one of the scientists who first alerted the world to the omicron variant. And Shabir A Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of Witwatersrand, explains what lessons South Africa's experience can offer the rest of the world about future coronavirus variants. We’re joined by Ozayr Patel, digital editor for The Conversation based in Johannesburg for this story. And new research finds a person’s emotional reaction to music has a lot to do with their cultural background – we speak to George Athanasopoulos, a musicologist at Durham University in the UK. (From 34m15s) Plus, Laura Hood, politics editor for The Conversation based in London, recommends some recent analysis on the political pressures facing the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, over parties held during coronavirus lockdowns. (From 47m10s) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. A transcript of this episode is available here. Further reading: The hunt for coronavirus variants: how the new one was found and what we know so far South Africa has changed tack on tackling COVID: why it makes sense How your culture informs the emotions you feel when listening to music Four key takeaways from the ‘partygate’ investigation into Boris Johnson’s Downing Street Boris Johnson pledges to ‘fix’ Downing Street after partygate – but this is a failure of his leadership
Jan 27, 2022 · 50 min
China's plans for Xinjiang, and what it means for the region's persecuted Uyghurs
When the Beijing Winter Olympics open on February 4, diplomats from a number of countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, will not be there to watch. Their diplomatic boycott hinges on concerns about human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. We talk to three experts about China’s long-term vision for Xinjiang, and what its strategy there means for the region’s persecuted Uyghurs. Featuring Darren Byler, assistant professor of international studies at Simon Fraser University in Canada; David Tobin, lecturer in east Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield in the UK; and Anna Hayes, senior lecturer in politics and international relations at James Cook University in Australia. And what toxic heavy metals are lingering in houses around the world? Cynthia Faye Isley, postdoctoral research fellow in environmental science at Macquarie University in Australia, explains what she's found analysing vacuum cleaner dust from around the world. Plus, Matt Williams, breaking news editor at The Conversation in New York, recommends his picks of recent analysis on the build-up of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. A transcript is available here. Further reading: How an independent tribunal came to rule that China is guilty of genocide against the Uyghurs Can China win back global opinion before the Winter Olympics? Does it even want to? House dust from 35 countries reveals our global toxic contaminant exposure and health risk It’s just a ‘panic attack’ – Russian media blames US for escalating Ukraine crisis The US military presence in Europe has been declining for 30 years – the current crisis in Ukraine may reverse that trend
Jan 20, 2022 · 49 min
The science of sugar – why we're hardwired to love it and what eating too much does to your brain
What are the evolutionary origins of sugar cravings? What makes something taste sweet? And what does too much sugar do to the brain? This week we talk to three experts and go on a deep dive into the science of sugar. Featuring Stephen Wooding, assistant professor of anthropology and heritage studies at the University of California, Merced; Lina Begdache, assistant professor of nutrition at the Binghamton University, State University of New York and Kristine Nolin, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Richmond. And after the Canadian government agreed in principle to pay CAN$40bn (US$32bn) over discrimination against First Nations children by the country’s child welfare system, we talk to Anne Levesque, assistant professor at the faculty of law at the University of Ottawa in Canada, about the long fight for justice. (From 29m20) Plus, Veronika Meduna, science and health editor at The Conversation in New Zealand, recommends analysis of the recent Tonga volcano eruption. (From 45m45) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. A transcript is available here. Further reading: Read more from The Conversation's series on sugar's effects on human health and culture Making sugar, making ‘coolies’: Chinese laborers toiled alongside Black workers on 19th-century Louisiana plantations, by Moon-Ho Jung, University of Washington As a lawyer who’s helped fight for the rights of First Nations children, here’s what you need to know about the $40B child welfare agreements, by Anne Levesque, University of Ottawa Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next, by Shane Cronin, University of Auckland The Tonga volcanic eruption has revealed the vulnerabilities in our global telecommunication system, by Dale Dominey-Howes, University of Sydney
Jan 13, 2022 · 44 min
Crypto countries: Nigeria and El Salvador's opposing journeys into digital currencies
We dive into the world of crypto and digital currencies in this episode to take a close look at two countries approaching them in very different ways. In 2021, El Salvador made the cryptocurrency bitcoin legal tender, while Nigeria launched its own central bank digital currency. Experts talk us through why they've taken such radically different paths. Featuring Iwa Salami, Reader (Associate Professor) in Law at the University of East London in the UK and Erica Pimentel, Assistant Professor at the Smith School of Business at Queen's University, Ontario in Canada. And if the latest Matrix film has left you wondering whether we are really living in a simulation, we talk to Benjamin Curtis, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Ethics at the Nottingham Trent University in the UK, on the long history of that idea. (At 30m20) Plus, Rob Reddick, COVID-19 editor at The Conversation in the UK, picks out some recent coverage of the wave of omicron cases sweeping the world. (At 42m10) The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. You can sign up to The Conversation’s free daily email here. Full credits for this episode available here. And a transcript is available here. Further reading: Nigeria’s digital currency: what the eNaira is for and why it’s not perfect, by Iwa Salami, University of East London After a big year for cryptocurrencies, what’s on the horizon in 2022?, by Erica Pimentel, Bertrand Malsch, and Nathaniel Loh, Queen's University, Ontario Free Guy’s philosophy: could we just be lines of code in a grand simulation, by Benjamin Curtis, Nottingham Trent University What are the symptoms of omicron?, by Tim Spector, King's College London Why does omicron appear to cause less severe disease than previous variants?, by Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia