Public lecture podcasts
396 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★ - 5 ratingsThe University of Bath podcasts are a series of public lectures available to download for free.
Enhance your understanding of subjects ranging from how babies develop to the workings of the universe. Learn from academics and business and industry experts.
The University of Bath is a leading UK insitution. We offer a distinctive blend of research-led teaching, an outstanding graduate employment record and personal development opportunties.
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Episodes
Our oceans: A deep dive on blue carbon
February 02, 2022 12:18 - 1 hour - 45 MBIn this lecture, Senior Programme Officer and Blue Carbon Lead at GRID-Arendal, Steven Lutz, joins Director of the IPR, Professor Nick Pearce, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, Professor Ian White, to discuss harnessing the value of blue carbon. This lecture took place on 27 January 2022, as part of the event series 'Our oceans: A deep dive': https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/our-oceans-a-deep-dive/.
Couples navigating work, care and Universal Credit
February 01, 2022 11:42 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBNick Pearce is joined by Rita Griffiths, Marsha Wood, Jane Millar, Fran Bennett, Ryan Shorthouse and Kate Summers to discuss our new report, 'Couples navigating work, care and Universal Credit'. This event took place on 26 January 2022. To learn more about the research, visit: https://www.bath.ac.uk/projects/couples-balancing-work-money-and-care-exploring-the-shifting-landscape-under-universal-credit/. Or read the report in full via: https://www.bath.ac.uk/publications/couples-navigating-wo...
In conversation with Sir Michael Barber
January 28, 2022 08:34 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBDirector of the IPR, Professor Nick Pearce; Professional Doctorate student and Programme Director at the Malala Fund, Javed Ahmed; and Lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Bath, Dr Arif Naveed, are joined by Sir Michael Barber to discuss public policy delivery in the UK, Pakistan and beyond. Sir Michael Barber is Founder and Chairman of Delivery Associates, an advisory firm which helps government and other organisations to deliver improved outcomes for citizens. He is...
The future of funerals
January 10, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 46.3 MBDirect cremations have been gaining popularity in the UK since their introduction in 2012, and the COVID pandemic has seen their numbers grow rapidly. Are these no-frills, cost-saving events the future for disposing of bodies, and do they free up families and communities to commemorate their dead in a more meaningful fashion?
Topics for Personal Tutors to discuss with tutees - Part 2
December 22, 2021 08:50 - 10 minutes - 9.92 MBIan Fairholm, Senior Tutor in the Department of Psychology, talks about possible topics that tutors may consider bringing up with their tutees at meetings throughout their degree. Listen to Part 1 for ideas and advice for initial tutee meetings.
Topics for Personal Tutors to discuss with tutees - Part 1
December 22, 2021 08:45 - 7 minutes - 6.49 MBIan Fairholm, Senior Tutor in the Department of Psychology, talks about possible topics that tutors may consider bringing up with their tutees at their initial meetings. Listen to Part 2 for further ideas for meetings throughout their degree.
Male Mental Health Podcast - with guest Matthew Legg
November 10, 2021 10:46 - 19 minutes - 11.3 MBIn this podcast counsellor Paul is joined by ex University of Bath student Matthew Legg. Mathew discusses his battle with depression and how he has channelled this into setting up FC Not Alone, a football based initiative to support men with their mental health.
Is basic income the right response to future needs?
October 28, 2021 11:32 - 55 minutes - 53 MBWhat is wrong with our welfare state and what can we do to fix it? Is UBI an answer, or hopelessly unrealistic? UBI vs reformed welfare states and better public services – is there a trade off? With Andrew Fisher, Clare McNeil, Paul Mason and Kate Soper. Chaired by Neal Lawson. This event took place as part of the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Bristol Ideas conference, 'Is it time for Universal Basic Income?': https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/is-it-time-for-...
What is the relationship between UBI and monetary and fiscal policy?
October 28, 2021 11:21 - 58 minutes - 55 MBThe Covid pandemic has seen governments spending big to keep households afloat and to prevent mass unemployment. Central Banks have injected trillions to prevent the global economy from sinking into depression. If we can afford to tackle the Covid crisis, why can’t we afford a UBI? Can we issue Sovereign Money, that doesn’t have to be financed by government debt? And does the era of digital Central Bank currencies mean that we can pay individuals a UBI directly, into digital wallets or accoun...
How do we build a new welfare state after COVID-19?
October 28, 2021 11:11 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBThe pandemic has had a fundamental impact on lives, work and economies. Welfare states around the world have faced huge challenges. What have the lessons been in the UK and internationally? And is it time for a radical renewal with UBI? With Young Jun Choi, Sarath Davala, S Mahendra Dev and Cleo Goodman. Chaired by Jane Millar. This event took place as part of the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Bristol Ideas conference, 'Is it time for Universal Basic Income?': ht...
Will UBI help create greater wellbeing and a greener world?
October 28, 2021 11:01 - 1 hour - 59 MBAs societies get richer, we need to work less. As societies get greener, we need to consume less. Can UBI help us become happier, with more time for leisure and family life, and less time spent at work and in the shops? With Anna Coote and James Plunkett. Chaired by Andrew Kelly. This event is part of the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Bristol Ideas conference, 'Is it time for Universal Basic Income?': https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/is-it-time-for-universal...
Will technological change make UBI inevitable?
October 28, 2021 10:24 - 31 minutes - 30.4 MBMany economists argue that technology is reducing wages and income from work. Others believe that automation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution will inexorably reduce the demand for the labour. If we can’t get an adequate income from employment, do we need UBI to maintain incomes in technologically advanced societies? With Kate Bell and Anna Dent. Chaired by Gavin Kelly. Part of the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Bristol Ideas conference, 'Is it time for Univers...
Diane Coyle and Martin Ford: Will artificial intelligence transform everything?
October 28, 2021 10:14 - 26 minutes - 507 MBDiane Coyle and Martin Ford debate the impact of artificial intelligence on life, work and the economy. Part of the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Bristol Ideas conference, 'Is it time for Universal Basic Income?': https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/is-it-time-for-universal-basic-income/ This event took place on 6 October 2021.
Culture Shock
October 11, 2021 00:00 - 19 minutes - 7.72 MBCounsellor Effie is join by International Student Experience Officer Harriet and students Kaylee and Aneekha to discuss what is culture shock, how to recognise it and some tips to deal with it.
Policy Matters: The long shadow of early life health
June 09, 2021 16:29 - 52 minutes - 32.9 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha are joined by Sonia Bhalotra, Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick. Sonia has a prodigious volume of highly policy-relevant research on topics relating to the creation of human capital, early child development, gender inequality, intergenerational mobility, and the impact of early life health on later life outcomes. Franz and Matt begin by asking Sonia about her research on the impact of the advent of antib...
Policy Matters: Congestion charging, performance-related pay and MPs’ other jobs
June 09, 2021 16:25 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson are joined by Colin Green, Professor of Economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Colin’s research interests cover a range of areas in applied economics and public policy, including education, the labour market, health, personnel economics, and political science. We first hear from Colin about how the pandemic has been in Norway over the last year and how this compares to the experience in the UK and...
Policy Matters: Brexit and crime, how immigrants succeed in the labour market
June 09, 2021 16:15 - 50 minutes - 31.7 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, host Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha are joined by Sunčica Vujić, Associate Professor of Applied Econometrics at the University of Antwerp. Sunčica’s research covers a broad range of topics but a common thread is that it is always very engaged with policy, making an impact in policy areas including crime, health, education and the labour market. Franz and Matt start by asking her about her recent work on the impact of the Brexit referendum on recorded hate-cr...
Policy Matters: Live from lockdown #3 – new hope in the battle against coronavirus
June 09, 2021 16:10 - 53 minutes - 34.8 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson again find themselves at the start of a coronavirus lockdown, though this time lockdown #3 is much closer to the first lockdown, with almost everything, including schools, closed. Matt and Franz begin by discussing their personal situations in lockdown as well as the national situation, before looking to the positives not only of the vaccines but also to the availability of existing drugs that are able to treat people who ...
Policy Matters: Live from lockdown #2 – what have we learnt since April?
June 09, 2021 16:05 - 56 minutes - 37.8 MBIn the midst of the second COVID-related national lockdown for England, this episode of Policy Matters sees hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson revisit some of the questions that were being asked in the first episode recorded under lockdown restrictions back in April. The discussion starts with some personal reflections on what life has been like juggling working-from-home and home-schooling over the months since the pandemic began and thinking about the impact that the disruptions to educat...
Policy Matters: “For love or money?” – creative arts and the economy?
June 09, 2021 15:59 - 51 minutes - 32 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Martha Bloom, a researcher at the Science Policy Research Institute at the University of Sussex. Martha recently wrote a report examining the economic returns to creative arts degrees, the types of employment these graduates go on to and the motivations of those who undertake higher level creative education. Franz, Matt and Martha begin by discussing the difficulties facing the creative industries in the post-pand...
Policy Matters: What’s wrong with democracy in Britain and how can it be fixed?
June 09, 2021 15:55 - 53 minutes - 34.9 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Nadine Smith, the Director of the Centre for Public Impact. Previous to her current role, for many years Nadine was a civil servant at the Cabinet Office, working at the centre of UK government at the intersection of policy, politics and communications. Franz and Matt begin by asking Nadine about the mission of the Centre for Public Impact and how they look to influence policymakers and improve government. The con...
Policy Matters: Discrimination in the labour market and what policymakers can do about it
June 09, 2021 15:49 - 51 minutes - 33 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson discuss a non-COVID-19 policy topic that has been prominent in recent months following the recent Black Lives Matter protests: the ethnic inequalities that exist in socio-economic outcomes in the UK. Examining the issue from an academic viewpoint, Franz initially explains how labour economists define discrimination and how theoretically classical economics would expect labour market discrimination on the basis of race or ...
Policy Matters: Life as an epidemiologist during COVID-19
June 09, 2021 15:44 - 44 minutes - 27.9 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Neil Davies, Senior Research Fellow at the MRC Integrated Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol. Neil is a statistical epidemiologist so Franz and Matt begin by finding out what life has been like for an epidemiologist since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Neil then explains his recent work showing how some of the myriad statistics we’re seeing relating to coronavirus suffer from their survey design and this can g...
Policy Matters: Football tournaments, cash and Michelle Obama
June 09, 2021 15:39 - 48 minutes - 30.6 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Simon Burgess, Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol. With COVID-19 and all the policy responses to it still very much at the forefront of public policy, Franz and Matt begin by asking Simon about the likely impact of school closures on child attainment, how this may affect existing socio-economic inequalities and what policymakers could do to tackle the issue once schools settle back to ‘normal’. Th...
Policy Matters: Live from lockdown – how policymakers have responded to the COVID-19 crisis
June 09, 2021 15:34 - 49 minutes - 32.8 MBThis episode of Policy Matters was recorded by hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha from their respective homes as we all adjust to life and work during lockdown. With the global COVID-19 pandemic dominating almost all policy areas at the moment, Franz and Matt spend time discussing how different countries have tackled the outbreak and what lessons can be drawn from the more successful approaches. The discussion then moves on to the economic impacts we’ve seen already, the rationale behind t...
Policy Matters: What makes a good education? How does education affect responses to a health crisis?
June 09, 2021 15:28 - 53 minutes - 44 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Arnaud Chevalier, Professor of Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London. Franz and Matt start by asking Arnaud about several of his projects examining how parents influence their children’s educational attainment, and in particular why the fall of the Berlin wall led to a dip in school results. The discussion then moves on to higher education, Arnaud explaining how the ethnic and linguistic mix in a class...
Policy Matters: Education, intergenerational mobility and the BS factor
June 09, 2021 15:23 - 33 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to John Jerrim, Professor of Education and Social Statistics at the Institute of Education, University College London. Matt and Franz begin by asking John about his recent research into ‘overclaiming’ – otherwise known as ‘bullshitting’ (!) – amongst students, and how the findings give potential insights into some of the patterns of labour market outcomes we observe in the UK. John then discusses some of his cross-c...
Policy Matters: Franz and Matt Matter…
June 09, 2021 15:19 - 33 minutes - 26 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to… Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha! It’s been a while since we talked about the policy-relevant research that we are currently pursuing both together and individually, so in this episode we take some time to find out what is floating our research boats at the moment. Matt talks about a couple of research projects looking at the impact of education on labour market and health outcomes – using different ‘natural experim...
Policy Matters: Economics, the media and policymakers
June 09, 2021 15:15 - 30 minutes - 69.8 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. Gemma was previously the economics correspondent at the Financial Times and also worked for many years as an academic economist and so has broad experience of economists’ work from a variety of angles. Firstly, Gemma discusses the work of the Institute, and how the demands that Brexit has placed on the government has hindered domestic policymaking. G...
Policy Matters: Going beyond the numbers on social mobility
June 09, 2021 15:09 - 38 minutes - 87.6 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Sam Friedman, Associate Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and a member of the Social Mobility Commission. Sam explains his recent research highlighting how those from working class backgrounds find themselves earning less than colleagues from more privileged families even when they have the same qualifications and work in the same elite professions. Going beyond the numbers to understand thi...
Policy Matters: How science is funded and evaluated
June 09, 2021 15:04 - 33 minutes - 77.5 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson discuss how science funding in the UK is disbursed to Universities. They examine what the Research Excellence Framework (REF) is and how it affects the work behaviours and career prospects of modern academics. Franz and Matt discuss the impact of metrics for evaluation purposes and consider how they are personally affected by the various University evaluation schemes such as REF, TEF and KEF. They also discuss the concep...
Policy Matters: The future of social mobility
June 09, 2021 14:58 - 32 minutes - 74.4 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson discuss the recently published ‘Augar Review’ of Post-18 education and funding, explaining what it is, how it came about and what the main recommendations are. Franz and Matt consider the impact changes to the HE funding system might have on students, in particular whether this would be a good or bad thing for social mobility, and whether or not politics may intervene to prevent these recommendations being implemented in ...
Policy Matters: 20 years of the national minimum wage and how economists help shape pay policy
June 09, 2021 14:53 - 33 minutes - 77.1 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Sarah Brown, Professor of Economics at the University of Sheffield and an independent commissioner for the Low Pay Commission. Franz and Matt highlight the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the national minimum wage and discuss with Sarah how the policy has worked out for the UK. The role and importance of the Low Pay Commission in informing minimum wage policy is explored and questions are asked as to what ...
Policy Matters: How can academic research help improve transport policy in the UK?
June 09, 2021 14:41 - 31 minutes - 72.5 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Rachel Aldred, Reader in Transport at the University of Westminster. Franz and Matt discuss with Rachel the benefits and risks of cycling in the UK and touch on subjects such as cultural differences in cycling behaviour across countries, what we might learn from such comparisons and how risky walking and cycling are in the UK. Rachel outlines early results from an evaluation of the ‘Mini-Hollands’ scheme that seek...
Policy Matters: How can economists help the Department of Health and Social Care?
June 09, 2021 14:36 - 34 minutes - 78.4 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Carol Propper, Professor of Economics at Imperial College London and a former Senior Economic Advisor to the NHS Executive on Regulation of the NHS Internal Market. We might not immediately think of economists when we think about healthcare, but Carol explains how economists can help with the design of a healthcare system that will produce the health outcomes that we would all want, taking into account the incenti...
Policy Matters: Why are there so few women in economics and what can be done about it?
June 09, 2021 14:30 - 34 minutes - 80 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Sarah Smith, Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol and head of the Royal Economics Society’s Women’s Committee. Sarah explains what this committee is and how they are tackling the issue of the lack of women in the economics profession. Historically economics as a discipline has been dominated by men and despite increases in the proportion of female lecturers and professors in recent years, women rema...
Policy Matters: Sports economics: what is it and what can we learn from it?
June 09, 2021 14:24 - 31 minutes - 71 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Alex Bryson, Professor of Quantitative Social Science at University College London. Alex is one of the UK’s leading figures in sports economics and he firstly explains what sports economics is and how it can be used to draw policy inferences in other more familiar areas of economics. Franz, Matt and Alex then discuss the findings of Alex’s paper looking at whether people discriminate against black players when pic...
Policy Matters: What can economists can tell policymakers about happiness?
June 09, 2021 14:19 - 27 minutes - 62.3 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson are joined by Dr George MacKerron, senior lecturer in economics at the University of Sussex. George is an expert in the economics of happiness and wellbeing and the man behind the ‘mappiness’ project. George explains the importance of looking beyond financial measures of individual and national wellbeing and discusses the extent to which the cliché that ‘money can’t buy happiness’ holds true. Franz, Matt and George then ...
Policy Matters: How economists can inform policymakers in the Home Office
June 09, 2021 14:14 - 28 minutes - 64.7 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson are joined by Steve Machin, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, and a leading expert in the economics of crime. We might not initially think that economists have much to say on crime and policing, but Steve explains how the choice to commit crime can be thought of like any other choice that involves weighing up the costs and benefits. As such, when the prices of goods on the black market change or t...
Policy Matters: What did we learn about social mobility?
June 09, 2021 14:09 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha spend some time reflecting back on their previous guests and discuss some of the key messages that each episode brought up. Why is social mobility important? Are grammar schools good for social mobility? Are there upsides to vocational education and why should HE students take care when selecting degrees? Both Matt and Franz highlight particular lessons learned and how they relate to current policy. Franz and Matt then lo...
Policy Matters: The role of vocational education in modern Britain
June 09, 2021 14:03 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Sandra McNally, Professor of Economics at the University of Surrey and Director of the Centre for Vocational Education Research. When it comes to education, much of the public debate and media attention focuses on the traditional academic route of A-levels and University. But what about the 50% of young people who don’t ever go to University – what are the options for them and are they as consistently neglected by...
Policy Matters: The economics of Higher Education
June 09, 2021 13:58 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, host Matt Dickson talks to Laura van der Erve from the Institute for Fiscal Studies about the merits of doing a university degree and what recent evidence suggests are the relative labour market returns to degrees in different subjects at different institutions. With almost 50% of young people in England going on to Higher Education, and with tuition fees of £9,250 for most courses, it has never been more important to understand the impact on earnings of st...
Policy Matters: The UK labour market for young workers
June 09, 2021 13:52 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson are joined by Professor Paul Gregg from the University of Bath to consider the prospects for today’s young people leaving education and entering the labour market. We hear a lot in the news about the job market challenges facing young people and yet employment rates are at record levels, recent generations are the most educated ever with more and more people going to University and then enjoying a graduate wage premium – ...
Policy Matters: The role of education in social mobility
June 09, 2021 13:44 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBIn this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson are joined by Dr Lindsey Macmillan from University College London to discuss the role that education plays in social mobility. Issues relating to education are never far from the policy agenda or the headlines – whether it is early years education, university tuition fees or the possible return of grammar schools. But what does academic research tell us about the role of education at each age and stage in improving life-c...
Policy Matters: What is social mobility and why should we care?
June 09, 2021 13:35 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBIn the first of this new series, ‘Policy Matters’, Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson discuss social mobility – what does it mean, how do we measure it, what is it like in the UK and why is it an important issue? From Tony Blair to Theresa May, incoming prime ministers have talked boldly about the socially mobile Britain that their government will create, and social mobility has become a much-discussed topic in academia and public policy debates. But what would it mean to have a more socially mob...
Leen Jabban discusses her PhD research on making amputees 'feel' again
May 17, 2021 00:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MBElectronic and Electrical Engineering PhD student, Leen Jabban, is researching sensory feedback for hand and arm prosthetics using non-invasive techniques.
What are our MSc graduates doing now? Alumni Panel discussion
April 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 77.8 MBListen to the full discussion from 24 Feb 2021 between our six graduates from our MSc Engineering Business Management and MSc Innovation & Technology Management courses. They talk about their current jobs, the interview process, visas implications and their impact on employability.
Jonathon Porritt: Decarbonisation and recarbonisation: Understanding the net zero challenge
February 26, 2021 17:06 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBIn this online lecture, author, broadcaster and Founder Director of Forum for the Future, Jonathon Porritt, discusses decarbonisation and recarbonisation, and how securing a stable climate for the future of humankind depends as much on recarbonising natural systems, as it does on decarbonising our industrial economy. This lecture took place on 24 February 2021.
PhD student James Male discusses his research on collaborative robots
January 28, 2021 00:00 - 2 minutes - 2.21 MB“Human-robot collaboration is one of the key technologies being developed in pursuit of industry 4.0, the 4th industrial revolution.” James Male, a PhD student in our Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, discusses his research which looks at developing methods for humans and robots to work together in an industrial manufacturing setting.
Professor Peter Mott talk: Covid-19 and its impact on industry
January 19, 2021 00:00 - 3 minutes - 1.74 MBIn this talk, Professor Mott from the Faculty of Engineering and Design, debates the impact that COVID is having on engineering and technology businesses and how they need to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.