Life Solved

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

What does sport, science, the sea, and space all have in common? While this sounds like the start of a bad joke, the answer is actually the GB Row challenge. Using state-of-the-art equipment, rowers were able to gather incredible insights into the state of our ocean on their 2,000 mile journey.We've caught up with Maggie Hodge, one of the rowers from GB Row's all-women ⁠Team Ithaca⁠, and ⁠Laura Fantuzzi⁠, a data analyst from the University of Portsmouth and 2024 competitor. In the episode, find out what it’s like circumnavigating Great Britain’s coastline, what they’ve learnt about the state of our seas, and how sport can be a driving force for change.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 LINKSAssessing Pollution With GB Row: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-projects/gb-rowGB ROW 2022 IMPACT REPORT: www.port.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/gb_row_2022_impact_report.pdfGB Row Challenge website: www.gbrowchallenge.com/Ocean rowers set new world record for fastest female team around Great Britain: www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/ocean-rowers-set-new-world-record-for-fastest-female-team-around-great-britainRS Aqua: www.rsaqua.co.uk/OrcaPod (RS Aqua podcast): www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orcapod/id1599056224

In this episode, we peer inside a place that most people want to be kept out of, but one University of Portsmouth researcher has worked hard to get into - prisons.Professor Francis Pakes from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice purposefully incarcerated himself in an Icelandic prison for two weeks to find out what life on the inside is really like. For Life Solved, he looks at how incarceration has evolved over time, what current systems are in place around the world, and what could be done to improve them. 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 Francis Pakes bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/francis-pakesFrancis Pakes piece for The Conversation, ‘I deliberately sent myself to prison in Iceland – they didn’t even lock the cell doors there’: https://theconversation.com/i-deliberately-sent-myself-to-prison-in-iceland-they-didnt-even-lock-the-cell-doors-there-105257Out in the cold? The experiences of foreign national prisoners in Iceland's open prisons: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756061623000526?via%3DihubCell Block Studios: https://www.port.ac.uk/collaborate/coworking-and-office-space/cell-block-studios

This is the time of year when the Christmas bills start arriving through the letterbox and with national economies continuing to struggle in many places of the world, January might be feeling something of a challenge for you.Dr Robert Gausden is a senior lecturer in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance and Dr Joe Cox is Associate Professor of Digital Economy at the University of Portsmouth.In this episode they explain the key economic terms that we need to understand. What the challenges that our financial systems currently face, And when we can expect things to feel just a little bit easier as we wait for our January pay packets to arrive.We’d love you to be part of the discussion. 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.This is the last episode of series 13 of Life Solved. We’ll be back in the Spring with more.Host: John WorseyProducers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers USEFUL LINKSDr Robert Gausden: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/robert-gausdenDr Joe Cox:www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/joe-coxUniversity of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Business and Law:www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/faculty-of-business-and-lawBank of England:https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/The productivity puzzle - Office for Budget Responsibility:https://obr.uk/box/the-productivity-puzzle/

For many of us, January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, whether that be cutting out chocolate, carbs or coffee. But to what extent do our cravings come down to smell? In this episode, we explore the science of smells, and how our noses tell us more about the world than we often give them credit for.Dr Lorenzo Stafford is Associate Professor in Psychobiological Psychology at the University of Portsmouth. He will be helping us explore how understanding aromas can be a key part in treating addictions, understanding how our taste buds work alongside our olfactory senses, and why Covid-19 taught us to appreciate our sense of smell more.We’d love you to be part of the discussion. 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.This is the 7th episode of series 13 of Life Solved. The final episode of the series will be released on Thursday 25th January.Host: John WorseyProducers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers Production Assistant: Vilma OlofssonUSEFUL LINKSDr Lorenzo Stafford: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/lorenzo-staffordHow do cravings affects senses: https://www.labmate-online.com/news/laboratory-products/3/breaking-news/how-do-cravings-affect-senses/49335What the nose knows: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/University of Portsmouth Faculty of Science and Health: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/faculty-of-science-and-health