A close-up view of the ground breaking research and teaching at the University of Aberdeen. In each episode of Beyond Boundaries, Aberdeen students introduce you to diverse and pioneering experts from across the university. Hit 'play' to expand your horizons Beyond Boundaries.
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Beyond Boundaries Podcast Episodes
- Episode 1 - Future of food: what should you eat in an age of climate change?
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'You are what you eat', right? Swathi and Samantha unpack how food and drink choices impact climate change, and how food poverty affects communities right here in Scotland.
Our experts this time are Prof Alexandra Johnstone and Prof Jennie MacDiarmid - both from Aberdeen's prestigious Rowett Institute for food and nutrition research.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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Episode 1: 'Future of food what should you eat in an age of climate change?' transcript
- Episode 2 - Designer babies? The future and ethics of assisted reproduction
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Girl or boy? How tall? What eye colour? Advances in technology mean that it’s increasingly possible for expectant parents to make precise choices about precise characteristics of their unborn children. But what rights should parents have to do this, and what are the ethical considerations?
The University of Aberdeen has been at the forefront of guiding effective and ethical assisted reproduction in Scotland for decades. Our expert for this episode is Prof Siladitya Bhattacharya (often known as just Bhatty). He is a University Vice Principal and former head of Aberdeen's state-of-the-art School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 2: 'Designer babies? The future and ethics of assisted reproduction' transcript
- Episode 3 - How can the law keep pace with AI?
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Our next generation of lawyers face an enormous new challenge: how to keep pace with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.
For example, how can we legislate for 'deathbots', where someone’s online activity can be uploaded to an avatar to imitate their conversational style after they have died?
Understanding and staying ahead of technology is a big passion for Dr Patricia Živković. She is a senior lecturer in Aberdeen's prestigious School of Law.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 4 - Your scrolling brain: are you an internet addict?
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Ever worry that you're addicted to social media? It turns out there is a big difference between 'an addiction' and 'a habit'. Get all the answers - and top tips on cracking your social media habit - with Dr Helen Knight from the University of Aberdeen's School of Psychology.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 4: 'Your scrolling brain: are you an internet addict?' transcript
- Episode 5 - Would you donate your body to medical science? Introducing Aberdeen's anatomy department
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Medical science students at Aberdeen benefit from the chance to work with real people's bodies, that have been donated after their death.
Hundreds of people from across north Scotland have signed up to donate their bodies in future - including Beyond Boundaries host Tamsin!
In this episode, Tamsin and Swathi learn about how and when bodies are donated, with the University's Regius Chair of Anatomy Prof Simon Parson.
Aberdeen is ranked 2nd in the UK for the study of Anatomy and Physiology in the 2025 Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 6 - Can a museum be racist? Understanding decolonisation
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What does it mean to 'decolonise' a museum? And what is the difference in being 'not racist' and being 'anti-racist' in the way you showcase artefacts and exhibits?
Aberdeen, as an ancient university, has acquired museum pieces from all over the world - and sometimes needs to make very tricky ethical decisions about what should happen to them.
This introduction to decolonising is with Museum Studies lecturer Dr Rachel Smith, and the University's Head of Museums & Special Collections Neil Curtis.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 6: 'Can a museum be racist? Understanding decolonisation' transcript
- Episode 7 - Would you pass the Turing test? The past, present and future of artificial intelligence
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You might think artificial intelligence - or AI - is a relatively modern concept, but the science goes back to World War 2, and a remarkable British mathematician Alan Turing.
Who better to introduce us to the history of AI, than Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Director for Data and AI, Georgios Leontidis.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 8 - Is your protein shake worth it? The science of sport and nutrition
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Protein supplements, performance shakes, isotonic powders... there are so many expensive things you can buy to support your gym routine.
But do any of them actually do anything useful?
This episode is for regular gym-goers and high-performance athletes alike, as we go beyond boundaries of sport and nutrition with Dr Derek Ball, until recently the Head of Sports Science at the University of Aberdeen.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 8: 'Is your protein shake worth it? The science of sport and nutrition' transcript
- Episode 9 - Is hydrogen the future of energy? Climate solutions from Europe's energy capital
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Aberdeen, Europe's energy capital, is at the forefront of developing sustainable energy systems to help fight climate change.
Studying here will put you at the heart of a network of real-world projects including water electrolysis to generate hydrogen energy, using AI to make energy systems more efficient, and so much more.
Senior Lecturer in Engineering, Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe, tells Tamsin and Swathi about the opportunities presented by the push for net zero - not just for engineers, but across subjects and disciplines.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 10 - Are we spoiling our oceans for renewable energy? Marine conservation and offshore power
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There is so much we still don't understand about life under the waves - yet the race is well underway to install infrastructure and machines to harness offshore wind and tidal energy.
Professor Beth Scott has spent her entire life studying (and playing in) the sea. She tells Tamsin and Swathi about her important role advising on the ecological impact of offshore energy installations.
Where better to study marine ecology than with Beth in the world-famous port city of Aberdeen, on the North Sea's rugged and windswept coast?
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 11 - Do our fashion choices put workers at risk? Ethics in clothing supply chains
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When you shop for new clothes, do you ever think about the working conditions of people in the garment factories where they are made?
Muhammed Azizul Islam - who goes by Aziz - is a professor in Aberdeen's Business School.
He grew up around garment factories in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, and now works on finding ways to make things more equitable for workers. His specialism is in Sustainability Accounting.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 12 - How can we make healthcare eco-friendly? Moving to sustainable health systems
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The world's combined healthcare systems contribute 5% of emitted greenhouse gases. If global healthcare was a country, it would rank as the world's fifth biggest greenhouse gas emitter.
In this episode, Tamsin and Swathi hear what is being done at Aberdeen and elsewhere to improve this situation - with Dr Laura McCrimmon, a junior doctor and expert on sustainable healthcare.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 13 - Immigrants and refugees: how does the media shape our opinions?
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Have you ever wondered why immigration is such a contentious issue when it's discussed in the news or on social media?
Part of Dr Nour Halabi's work at Aberdeen is to help students understand how to think critically about what they read, hear and watch.
Nour is an interdisciplinary fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations, and the author of Radical Hospitality. She explores the role and impact of the media in our everyday lives – particularly when it comes to conversations about immigration and refugees.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 13 - Immigrants and refugees: how does the media shape our opinions? transcript