Life Solved

In this episode we chat to Craig Jones MBE, founder of the charity Fighting with Pride, a University of Portsmouth alumnus, and a recent honorary graduate recipient.The Royal Navy veteran’s story is one of resilience, transformation and advocacy; from serving in silence under a ban on LGBTQ+ people in the armed forces, to starting a charity that’s changed lives and policy in the UK.It serves as a powerful reminder of what courage and commitment can achieve.Production team:Raechelle JacksonRobyn Austin-MontagueMusic:Calm Inspiring by trickytwoaudioInspiring Corporate by Ultra_MusicUpbeat and Inspiring Corporate by WavebeatsMusicLearn more links:Fighting With Pride | RAF Benevolent FundAlumni spotlight | University of PortsmouthCraig Jones MBE | University of PortsmouthHonorary Degree Awards Nominations | University of Portsmouth

In the first episode of Series 15 we meet Alice Hendy MBE, CEO and founder of R;pple Suicide Prevention and a recent University of Portsmouth honorary graduate.Alice set up the charity from scratch after losing her brother to suicide in November 2020. Drawing on her cybersecurity background, she created R;pple - an innovative digital tool that intercepts harmful online searches and guides individuals to free mental health support.This episode explores how personal experience can drive innovation, the power of refusing to accept that things cannot be better, and how one person's determination to prevent other families from experiencing their loss has created a global safety net for those in crisis.Content note: This episode deals with suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners. Support resources are available here: Get Support | Helplines and Resources | R;ppleProduction team:Robyn Austin-MontagueLauren HarrisonMusic:Emotional and Uplifting by bdProductionsLearn more:R;pple: Crisis Intervention | Suicide Prevention & Mental HealthAlumni spotlight | University of PortsmouthAlice Hendy MBE | University of PortsmouthHonorary Degree Awards Nominations | University of Portsmouth

This week Life Solved has a special one-off episode looking at INC-4. We unpack the fourth session of Global Plastics Treaty talks that recently took place in Canada - where global policymakers, charities, experts, and businesses sat down to work out how to end plastic pollution.In her opening address, United Nations Environment Programme Chief, Inger Andersen, said to stop plastic pollution, we need to start at the start and end at the end. Sounds simple, but many fear these meetings create more barriers than solutions.To give us a unique glimpse into what happens at these negotiations, we have three experts from the University of Portsmouth's Revolution Plastics Institute who were at INC-4 themselves.We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to lifesolved@port.ac.uk.If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how.You can also find out how to work or study with us.USEFUL LINKSProfessor Steve Fletcher: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/steve-fletcherThe world has a chance to end plastic pollution – the petrochemical giants mustn’t spoil it: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/29/world-plastic-pollution-petrochemical-giants-un-treaty-2015-paris-lobbyistsDr Cressida Bowyer: https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/cressida-bowyerDr Erika Hughes: https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/erika-hughesRevolution Plastics: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/events/the-revolution-continues

In this episode we chat to two researchers who travelled to one of the most remote inhospitable regions on the planet, in the pursuit of science.Professor Fay Couceiro and Dr Clare Boston from the University of Portsmouth travelled 7,000 nautical miles onboard a Royal Navy ship during its annual trip to the frozen continent of Antarctica. We find out why they were there, what they saw, and what life at sea is really like. We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to lifesolved@port.ac.uk.If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.Host: John WorseyProducer: Robyn Montague Sub Editors: John Worsey and Glenn HarrisUSEFUL LINKSProfessor Fay Couceiro bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/fay-couceiroDr Clare Boston bio:www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/clare-bostonAntarctica tales with Professor Fay Couceiro: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMbbN6LWR8Revolution Plastics Institute:www.port.ac.uk/research/research-groups-and-centres/revolution-plastics-instituteProtector completes Antarctic mission: www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/march/08/240308-protector-completes-antarctic-missionRoyal Navy supports science mission into human impact on Antarctica: www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/december/05/20231205-royal-navy-supports-science-mission-into-human-impact-on-antarcticaAntarctic Treaty: www.ats.aq/index_e.html

Instead of keeping nature out, architects around the world are looking at innovative ways to work with environments to help reduce the planet’s carbon footprint.To mark World Earth Day (April 22), this episode explores the transformative power of design and the impact of architecture on building a safe and sustainable future.We’re joined by Dr Phevos Kallitsis, Associate Head of the Portsmouth School of Architecture, and Dr Antonino Di Raimo is a Reader in Architecture at the University of Portsmouth.We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to lifesolved@port.ac.uk.If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how.You can also find out how to work or study with us.Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.Host: Robyn MontagueProducer: Robyn Montague Sub Editors: John Worsey and Glenn HarrisUSEFUL LINKSDr Phevos Kallitsis bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/phevos-kallitsisDr Antonino Di Raimo bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/antonino-di-raimoWorld Earth Day: www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/Portsmouth School of Architecture: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/our-academic-structure/faculty-of-creative-and-cultural-industries/school-of-architecture

To mark UN English Language Day (23 April), we consider how English became one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. And we find out how a mathematical model developed at the University of Portsmouth might predict its future. Dr Mario Saraceni, Associate Professor in English Language and Linguistics, explains how English spread and changed around the globe, and why speakers overseas influence how it’s spoken here in the UK.Dr James Burridge, Associate Professor in Probability and Statistical Physics, reveals how principles of physics and maths help him forecast how certain dialects of English will sound in the year 2066.We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to lifesolved@port.ac.uk.If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.Host: John WorseyProducer: Robyn Montague Sub Editors: Robyn Montague and Glenn HarrisUSEFUL LINKSDr Mario Saraceni bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/mario-saraceniDr James Burridge bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/james-burridgeThe problem with English: https://aeon.co/essays/how-do-you-decolonise-the-english-languageEy up northern English to become as lost as the hoddy dod:www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/ey-up-northern-english-to-become-as-lost-as-the-hoddy-dodUN English Language Day:www.un.org/en/observances/english-language-day