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Into the Headlines

Into the Headlines

Usually topical, frequently fun and almost always thought-provoking, join us as we take a conversational dive into the news stories from the University of Aberdeen and beyond that are making headlines around the world.

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of its contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

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Episode Information and Transcripts

Episode 1 - The Irish Giant

As Charles Byrne, ‘The Irish Giant’, lay dying he knew a famous surgeon wanted his remains. Stolen by body snatchers, his greatest fear came true and Charles’ skeleton has been on display to the public for the past 240 years. Until recently, thanks to the efforts of campaigners. In this episode we hear about his life and death, how the legal requirements for respecting the wishes of the dead isn’t so very different today and explore the ethics of modern day museums. 

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ Laura talks to Dr Thomas Muinzer, senior lecturer at the School of Law, and Neil Curtis, head of Museums and Special Collections about the life and death of 18th century celebrity Charles Byrne, better known as ‘The Irish Giant’. 

Born in 1761, due to a growth disorder he rose both in stature – reaching a height of 7ft 7 in - and fame. A celebrity of his time, Charles was the toast of the town, featuring in many newspapers and even inspiring a hit London stage show. 

But his health was poor and the vultures were circling. Knowing at least one eminent surgeon wanted his body for dissection, Charles went to great lengths to make sure his remains would not be put on display as a curiosity.  He died aged just 22 and his greatest fear was realised. Charles’ skeleton has been on display to the public at the Hunterian Museum in London ever since. That is until recently, when it was removed in response to the efforts of campaigners. 

Explored in this episode: 

  • Who was Charles Byrne? 
  • What happened after his death and how his remains ended up on display to the public. 
  • How the campaign, which had support from others including author Dame Hilary Mantel, came about. 
  • Where the line is between education and public interest when it comes to museum collections like this. 
  • How Charles’ bones being removed from display is only the first stage and what a proper burial for him might look like. 
  • Where the law sits in relation to property versus personal law and the rights of the dead, both historically and today. 
  • How the University’s own historic collections are being looked at. 
  • What the repatriation process for items of historic relevance looks like. 
  • Why the movement for repatriation is gaining traction. 
  • Where the legal and ethical frameworks align and diverge. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode transcript available here.

 

Episode 2 - Writing Robotics

Science fiction has planted the fear that machines will one day replace us. With OpenAI’s next generation conversational AI chatbot ChatGPT sparking debate among writers and other copy-based content generators that the end, for them at least, may be nigh, we speak to expert in machine learning Dr Georgios Leontidis and award winning writer Sheena Blackhall to get their thoughts.

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’, following the launch of OpenAI’s revolutionary conversational chatbot ChatGPT, Laura finds out if robots are going to take over the role of writers.

With insights from  Dr Georgios Leontidis, Reader in Machine Learning and Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Data and Artificial Intelligence at the University; and award-winning Scots writer, singer/songwriter, storyteller and honorary teaching fellow at the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, Sheena Blackhall.

Explored in this episode: 

  • What ChatGPT is and how it works
  • What its being used for
  • Do humans write from the heart or the head?
  • Is life experience important?
  • Tackling inaccuracy and bias
  • The risks this technology poses for Universities
  • The tell-tale signs of machine-generated copy
  • How this technology might evolve

Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode 3 - Strange Sickness

With ‘The Last of Us’ depicting a post- apocalyptic future based on a hostile fungal infection, explore whether truth is sometimes scarier than fiction with two historians who created a BAFTA-nominated computer game based on plague-ridden 16th century Aberdeen; and a medical mycologist who knows if humans really could all be wiped out by a rampaging fungus.

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ Laura talks to research fellow Dr William Hepburn and senior lecturer Dr Jackson Armstrong both of the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History about their BAFTA-nominated computer game Strange Sickness.

Set in plague-ridden 16th Century Aberdeen, it is based on events and descriptions in the city’s UNESCO-recognised Burgh Records detailing how the area dealt with the threat of plague and the fear that swept through the community.

With computer game and TV programme ‘The Last of Us’ depicting a post- apocalyptic future based on a hostile fungal infection, Laura also speaks to medical mycologist Dr Delma Childers of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition and asks, could we really all be wiped out by a rampaging fungus?

Explored in this episode: 

  • What is Strange Sickness?
  • What does the game involve?
  • What are some of the real-life measures brought in to control the spread of the plague in the Middle Ages?
  • How much of a factor was fear?
  • How bad can fungal infections really be?
  • How old are they and how do they spread?
  • Do they get the respect they are due?
  • The Salem Witch Trials and the demise of the dinosaurs
  • Could ‘The Last of Us’ ever really happen?

 Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode 4 - Discontent Warning

Content warnings on University course materials have been in the headlines a lot recently, with ‘woke’ Universities accused of helping to create “a generation of snowflakes unable to cope with the complexities of life”. Outrage makes for great clickbait, but is it justified?

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ Laura talks to Professor Chris Collins, head of the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, Professor Tim Baker, who teaches the English programme in the School and whose courses have been targeted in the press for using content warnings; and student Helen Whalley, president of Debater, the University’s debating society to find out why content warnings make the media so angry.

Explored in this episode: 

  • What content warnings are and what they are not
  • What purpose they serve
  • How students use them

Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode 5 - The Orkney Gene Variant

For some people, having their genes tested can be the very literal definition of knowledge being power. New research has found that one in 100 people with grandparents from Orkney have a gene variant that causes a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Planning is now underway for a small pilot trial in Westray.

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ we hear from Zosia Miedzybrodzka, Professor of medical genetics at the University of Aberdeen and director of the NHS North Scotland Genetic Service; Jim Wilson, Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Edinburgh; and Bethan Davies, an Orcadian who has the gene variant. 

Explored in this episode: 

  • What the research shows
  • Genetics in distinct population pools
  • What the pilot programme encompasses
  • What living with the BRCA1 variant is like

Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode 6 - Watch This Space

Almost sixty years on from both JFK and Star Trek iconically referring to it as such, space is still the final frontier. But it’s also changing. With the first orbital satellite launch from Scottish soil due later this year and Elon Musk’s Starship rocket aiming to take people to Mars in the 2030’s; space exploration is no longer the domain of governments or national and international agencies. And that just makes it even more exciting.

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ we hear from Professor Javier Martin-Torres, theoretical physicist and personal chair at the School of Geosciences; and Dr Maria Manoli, lecturer in space law at the University’s School of Law about the current international mission to Mars and how space exploration and the law surrounding it is changing as private companies take over from government agencies.

Explored in this episode: 

  • Why Scotland’s got creds in the modern space race
  • What the current Mission to Mars is all about
  • How international space law has kept pace
  • What life on Mars would be like for mankind

Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode 7 - The Price of Fashion

On 24 April 2013, the eight-story Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed. Most of those in the building were garment workers, employed by the five clothing factories it housed. 1,134 people died and more than 2,500, mostly women and children, were injured. There had been multiple warnings that the building was unsafe but employees were forced to go to work regardless. As the world marks the 10th anniversary of the disaster – we ask, what’s changed when it comes to fast fashion and the people who make it?

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ we hear from Professor Muhammad Azizul Islam chair in accountancy at the University’s Business School; Professor Pamela Abbott, chair in education and director of the Centre for Global Development; and Fiona Gooch, senior policy advisor at the trade justice charity, Transform Trade on the rise of fast fashion and how the actions of High Street brands directly impact the lives of Bangladesh workers.

 

Explored in this episode: 

  • Where the world’s clothing comes from
  • Who makes it and under what conditions
  • The role High Street retailers play
  • What consumers can do

 

Mentioned in this episode: 

 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

 

Episode 7 transcript available here

 

Episode 8 - Making a Monarchy

It’s been 70 years since a British monarch was crowned. For some, the coronation of King Charles III on May 6 is a time of celebration, for others the day will pass without much thought at all. Whatever your perspective, what can history teach us about where today’s monarchy has come from and how could what’s important to the man beneath the crown shape how it looks tomorrow?

 

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Inside the Headlines’ we look back at Royal life through the ages with historian Dr Heidi Mehrkens; hear how the current British monarchy engages with society from Lord Lieutenant for Aberdeenshire Sandy Manson; and discuss King Charles III’s affection for music with Royal composer Professor Paul Mealor.

 

Explored in this episode: 

  • Why we have a monarchy and what makes it unique
  • What lessons history can teach the current Royal family
  • The role the Royals play in local life
  • Music and the monarch

 

Mentioned in this episode: 

 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

 

Episode 8 transcript available here

Episode 9 - Energising the Future

A University of Aberdeen podcast, in this episode of ‘Into the Headlines’ Laura talks to Alex Kemp, Professor of Petroleum Economics and Director of the University’s Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance; Dr Alf Martinez-Felipe, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the School of Engineering; Dr Rachel Brackenridge, Lecturer at the School of Geosciences; and Professor John Underhill, director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Transition, to find out what impact the past 50 years of North Sea exploration have had – and what the next 50 might hold.

Explored in this episode: 

  • North Sea oil’s impact on the Aberdeen economy
  • Research into hydrogen and carbon capture
  • The workforce of the future

 Mentioned in this episode: 

This podcast reflects the views and opinions of contributors, not necessarily the institutional position of the University of Aberdeen.

Episode 9 transcript available here.