Oxford doctoral researcher Hanna Nowicka explains the development of her interest in biomedical engineering and her work on brain imaging methods, and shares some of the realities of DPhil/PhD life. Hanna is a Clarendon Scholar who conducted her research at FMRIB, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging. The audio of this episode has been archived
Tag: Oxford
Identity and languages, Lily Begg
A conversation about identity and languages with Lily Begg from Pembroke College, Oxford. We met when Lily was editor-in-chief of The ISIS magazine in Oxford where she’s studying French and Italian. Lily shares personal insights from her experiences living in Belgium and England and on exchange in Italy and from her roles as a language translator, magazine editor, and theatre director.
Global and Imperial History, Olivia Durand
Olivia Durand is an Oxford scholar researching neo-Frenchness in the cities of New Orleans and Odessa. Olivia has lived in the United States as a Fulbright scholar and in the Ukraine working for the French Foreign Office. A doctoral researcher with the Department of Global and Imperial History at Oxford University, Olivia is also vice-president and treasurer of the MCR at Pembroke College.
Clinical neuroscience and migraines, Dinant Riks
Dinant Riks is a doctoral researcher of chronic migraines with the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Oxford University where he's a member of Pembroke College. Dinant is using MRI technology to explore changes in the structure and function of the brain in the treatment of chronic migraines. We also discuss issues related to pain medication and Dinant shares insights from his previous studies of pharmacology and psychology.
Theologist Timothy Farrant
As a school leaver Timothy Farrant took up a trade in amenity horticulture and worked as a greenkeeper on golf courses and as a farm labourer. It was whilst on his Morman mission that Tim was encouraged to apply to university and went on to study Medieval History. Tim is currently a Clarendon Scholar of Theology at Pembroke College, Oxford where he's researching Augustinian influences on zoology in the Middle Ages.
International Relations, Lindsey Cohick
Lindsey Cohick is a Clarendon Scholar with the Department of Politics and International Relations at Oxford University and a member of Pembroke College. Her current research focuses on pirates as non-state actors in the 'Golden Age of Piracy', around 1650-1730. We discuss her previous research of Japanese history particularly the construction of the Samurai ethos of 'death before dishonour'. Lindsey is also a creative writer and a comics enthusiast.
Sgt Pepper’s 50th anniversary
For the 50th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a companion episode to The Beatles' album with Chris Bayne from The Oxford Beatles edited from a discussion of every Beatles album in episode WOAE028.
Kira Huju, International Relations
Kira Huju is an Oxford scholar in the Department of Politics and International Relations. Her interests in feminism and decentering International Relations have informed Kira's research of Indian politics and foreign policy. Kira also shares personal insights about honing her approach to issues of social and global justice and her response to criticisms of political correctness.
Lucinda Cadzow, International Relations
Lucinda Cadzow is a Clarendon Scholar in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Oxford University. Lucinda has written about soft balancing and is currently researching the global governance of tax. Hailing from the Yarra Valley in Australia, Lucinda shares her story of exploring other vocations before discovering an interest and aptitude for political theory, political economy and international relations. We also discuss our mutual appreciation of soul and disco music.
Trump’s first 100 days, Gabriel A. Delaney
An analysis of the policy implementation of Donald Trump’s campaign promises in his first 100 days as President of the United States of America. Hailing from New York, Gabriel Delaney studies Politics at Oxford University and has experience as a presidential election field organiser in Pennsylvania for the 2012 Obama campaign. As well as critiquing Trump’s presidency, Gabriel is very good explaining some of the mechanics of the U.S. political system.
Evolutionary psychology, Professor Robin Dunbar
Robin Dunbar is a world renowned professor of evolutionary biology. He explains his famous theory of social group sizes, known as Dunbar's number, which suggests there is a limited number of relationships which humans (and other primates) can maintain. We also discuss some of his other findings related to social bonding and the release of endorphins activated by certain interactions such as touch, laughing, singing, and dancing together. Professor Dunbar is with the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and he is a Fellow of Magdalen College.
Tech public policy, Ryan James Terribilini
Ryan Terribilini comes from technology and public policy roles at Google and Ripple to study Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. We discuss some of the emerging issues related to internet privacy and surveillance in a world in which we increasingly interact online and in which global finance operates using new technologies. Ryan also explains android ecosystems, bitcoin and distributed ledger technology.
The Beatles, Chris Bayne
Geeking out over the career and music of The Beatles with Chris Bayne from the Oxford Beatles. We discuss The Beatles story from their early years and chronologically through each of their studio albums 1963-1970. Chris also shares details about a theatrical production the Oxford Beatles are developing for the 50th anniversary of the Sgt. Peppers album this year.
Epidemiology, Andrew Linden
Andrew Linden is a doctoral researcher of population health at Oxford University specialising in epidemiology. Andrew uses data from the UK and China biobanks to investigate how adult height is related to chronic diseases. A Clarendon Scholar and a member of Brasenose College, Andrew is also a Fellow of the Actuarial Society of South Africa and he was an actuarial consultant in London before moving to Oxford.
Reproductive genetics, Nada Kubikova
Nada Kubikova is a reproductive geneticist doing clinical work and doctoral research in a leading Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) lab in Oxford. PGD can be used during IVF to identify embryos affected by genetic disorders or abnormalities. Nada discusses innovations and ethical issues in her field. She also explains why infertility occurs in women. Nada is a Clarendon Scholar at Oxford University and a member of Brasenose College.
Shangshu Chinese texts, Corina Smith
Corina Smith is a doctoral researcher studying the ancient Chinese texts, the Shangshu. She shares stories of learning Mandarin and living in Beijing and the benefits of these new and difficult experiences. We also touch on music as Corina grew up listening to prog rock and appreciates the history of its emergence in Britain in the 1970s. Corina is a Clarendon Scholar with the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University and a member of Pembroke College.
Physicist Alice Schwarze
Alice Schwarze is a physicist with the Mathematical Institute at Oxford University and a member of Pembroke College. Alice is a Clarendon Scholar specialising in systems approaches to biomedical science. She currently works on modelling protein-interaction networks for pharmaceutical applications. Alice got interested in physics as a young teen attending Mensa summer camps. We discuss her career development including what it's like working in a male-dominated field. Alice shares advice for young women thinking of becoming scientists.
Physicist Jojo Rahamim
Jojo Rahamim is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Physics at Oxford University where he is working on building a quantum computer. Jojo also has experience with particle physics and rocket science and you'll hear about how nanofibers are made and how rocket thrusters work. We discuss nuclear power, ethics in science, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and even time travel. Jojo shares stories of travelling across India in a rickshaw rally, attending the Burning Man festival, and performing in a children's entertainment troupe. He also explains the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.
Water security Kenya, Johanna Koehler
Johanna Koehler is a doctoral researcher at Oxford University specialising in decentralisation and water security in Kenya. Johanna recently returned from Kenya and she shares what it's like on the ground in local communities as well as her interactions at the governance and policy levels. We also discuss Johanna's earlier field work on the border of South and North Korea which was inspired by her family's experience being separated between East and West Germany. Johanna is a Clarendon Scholar with the School of Geography and the Environment and she works on the Water Programme at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford.
Classicist Dylan James
Dylan James is a Clarendon Scholar of Ancient History in the Classics Faculty at Oxford University who specialises in Greek and Roman historiography. We discuss his intellectual development from being fascinated in ancient history and classics as a child to learning Latin and Greek languages as a young man so he could study classical texts for his honours, masters, and now doctoral research. Dylan is somewhat of an all-rounder and we also chat about his other pursuits in music, sport, comedy, and politics.
Trump’s win, Mitchell Robertson
Post-election analysis including a breakdown of voter demographics with Mitchell Robertson from Oxford University. Mitchell explains who voted for Donald Trump in terms of sex, age, race, education, and geography and where Hillary Clinton fell short. We also discuss the House and Senate results and the prospects for Trump pursuing his policies. Mitchell is a doctoral candidate associated with the Rothermere American Institute and he has a Master of Studies in United States History from Oxford University.
A Republican perspective, Ben Daus-Haberle
Ben Daus-Haberle is co-president of the Oxford chapter of Republicans Overseas UK. Ben hails from Massachusetts where he was raised as a Democrat. He worked for John Kerry after high school and campaigned for Obama in 2008 before having an intellectual and ideological conversion to Republicanism whilst studying at Yale University. On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, Ben shares what being Republican means to him as well as his thoughts on Donald Trump and the future of the Republican Party.
Paris climate agreement, Professor Myles Allen
Oxford climate scientist Professor Myles Allen explains the Paris agreement on the day it comes into force. Professor Allen leads the Climate Research Programme at the Environmental Change Institute in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford where he also heads the Climate Dynamics Group in the Department of Physics.
Medical overdiagnosis, Dr Jack O’Sullivan
Jack O'Sullivan is a medical doctor who researches overdiagnosis. He explains concerns about unnecessary tests detecting cancers which might never develop into serious health problems for individuals in their lifetimes. We also discuss the invention of medical conditions for commercial pharmaceutical purposes, among other topics. Jack is a Clarendon Scholar with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford University.
Archaeological science, Jaime Swift
Jaime Swift is a biological and forensic anthropologist and archaeologist. She is a Clarendon Scholar at Oxford University and a doctoral candidate in Archaeological Science. Jaime studied criminology and was a federal agent with the Australian Federal Police. She also previously spent a year on the professional tennis circuit. We discuss Jaime's career as well as her impressive archaeological research findings.
Film aesthetics, Davis Rivera
Davis Rivera is an Oxford scholar specialising in Film Aesthetics. He wrote his dissertation about the Hungarian director Béla Tarr. Davis is originally from Port Arthur, Texas. He fields my questions about film makers and actors, the state of Texas and Southern rap. Among it we discuss two of Davis' favourite artists Warren Beatty and Kanye West.
Social Policy (child welfare), Mike King
Mike King is founder of Smile Kids Japan, a non-profit organisation which connects volunteers with child welfare institutions. He's also in the final stages of a DPhil in Social Policy at Oxford University.