Public lecture podcasts

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to sign its commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 into law. Mission Zero, commissioned in September 2022 and published in November 2023, was a landmark independent report into the delivery of the UK’s net zero commitment. Chaired by Chris Skidmore, the UK’s former Energy Minister who was responsible for signing net zero into law, the review asked how the UK could better meet its net zero commitments, and how it might deliver targets in a way that works for all. Its conclusions set out a new economic narrative for climate policy, demonstrating the financial opportunity that net zero can deliver. In this IPR event, the panellists discuss the UK's transition to net zero. What challenges and opportunities will the UK face? How can we deliver net zero while also creating new jobs, industries and investment? How do we ensure that as we reduce our emissions, the transition is fair and creates a better future for everyone? With Alix Dietzel (University of Bristol), Joss Garman (European Climate Foundation) and Chris Skidmore. Chaired by Lorraine Whitmarsh (University of Bath). This panel discussion took place on 15 May 2024.

In this episode, Professor Emma Rich talks with Professor Holly Thorpe (University of Waikato, New Zealand) an award-winning sociologist of sport, physical culture and gender. We discuss her work on gender and some of the contemporary opportunities and challenges in digital, physical and sporting cultures. You can read more about Holly's work here: profiles.waikato.ac.nz/holly.thorpe The views and opinions of those taking part in this video are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Bath. bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/disclaimer

In this episode, we talk with Dr Jack Black from Sheffield Hallam University. We begin with an exploration of what Psychoanalysis might offer Sport. We then discuss Jack’s recent research on tackling online hate in football. Dr Jack Black, an Associate Professor of Culture, Media, and Sport at Sheffield Hallam University. We discuss Jack’s latest book 'The Psychosis of Race: A Lacanian Approach to Racism and Racialization' (Routledge, 2023) and explore what psychoanalysis might offer sport. We also discuss his UKRI/AHRC funded project, 'Tackling Online Hate in Football', which analyses examples of online hate across digital media platforms. You can find out more about Jack’s work here: https://www.shu.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-profiles/jack-black The views and opinions of those taking part in this video are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Bath. bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/disclaimer

In this episode Professor Emma Rich talks with SPHERE doctoral researcher Zoe Jeffery about how we make Physical Education and Sport more inclusive for girls. Just recently in the UK, the Women and Equalities Committee published a report suggesting ‘Existing programmes and interventions from the Government and other bodies, while welcome, do not yet go far enough in addressing these barriers and are yet to reverse alarming downward trends in girls’ enjoyment of PE’. In this episode, Zoe shares some of the insights from her doctoral research study which has explored the experiences of adolescent girls in PE. Adopting a novel perspective, she focuses on how the material elements of PE such as PE kit and equipment, holding the capacity to affect and shape girls bodies. Working with these girls in a series of design workshops, she provided them with virtual reality technology through which they could ‘reimagine’ and ‘redesign’ PE. In the episode, she also talks about a new app she is launching to to help make PE more engaging, ‘Vibestride’. - Find out more about Zoe's work: https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/zoe-jeffery - Connect with Zoe on LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-jeffery-962063b7/?originalSubdomain=uk The views and opinions of those taking part in this video are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Bath. bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/disclaimer

Athletes, fans, sports organisations are frequently the focus of global media for what might be described as transgressions or controversies which emerge as ‘scandals’. In this episode, we talk with Professor David Rowe about his work on media and sport scandals, exploring issues such as the amplification of issues, racism and the recent case of Sam Kerr and the challenges that confront us as we move further into AI. You can read more about Professor Rowe's work here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/ics/people/emeritus_professors/david_rowe The views and opinions of those taking part in this video are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Bath. bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/disclaimer

Economic growth in the UK has been sluggish ever since the global financial crisis. More recent large-scale disruptions caused by Brexit and Covid-19 have created additional challenges to growth and the vital public services, institutions, and fiscal measures that underpin it. Productivity and public investment remain low. Meanwhile, stalling wage growth and the cost-of-living crisis continue to eat into households’ disposable income, discouraging spending while also deepening economic inequalities. What policies might underpin a new vision for prosperity – one that focuses not purely on growth but also ensures that economic gains are widely shared and environmentally sustainable? This IPR panel discussion featured Torsten Bell, Professor Dame Diane Coyle and Dr Anna Valero. It took place on 25 April 2024. Hosted with Resolution Foundation.

This event marked the launch of the new Institute for Policy Research report: "Coping and hoping: Navigating the ups and downs of monthly assessment in universal credit". The report, written by Dr Rita Griffiths and Dr Marsha Wood, explores how the system of monthly assessment in Universal Credit – used for assessing entitlement, recovering debts and calculating payment – is affecting income security and financial well-being in working households. The research, funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, tracked changes in earnings and household income, in real time, between 2022 and 2023 tracked changes in earnings and household income, in real time, between 2022 and 2023, among 61 Universal Credit claimants in 42 working households with one or two earners in paid work or self-employment. The specific research questions the study sought to answer were: - How stable or volatile are monthly household incomes and what are the key drivers? - To what extent does Universal Credit dampen or accentuate income insecurity and help with household budgeting? - Is the adjustment to the Universal Credit payment in response to changes in earnings timely and smooth? - Is household income sufficient to generate a buffer and cover reductions in the Universal Credit payment when earnings rise? - What budgeting strategies do participants use to manage fluctuating payments and variations in household income? - To what extent does monthly assessment incentivise employment, longer working hours and higher earnings? - What conclusions and policy implications can be drawn from the findings and what policy recommendations can be made? The event included a presentation from the report authors, Dr Rita Griffiths and Dr Marsha Wood, and audience questions. It took place on 16 April 2024.

Science and politics have collaborated throughout human history, and science is repeatedly invoked today in political debates, from pandemic management to climate change. But the relationship between the two is muddled and muddied. In this IPR lecture, leading policy analyst Geoff Mulgan calls attention to the growing frictions caused by the expanding authority of science, which sometimes helps politics but often challenges it. He dissects the complex history of states’ use of science for conquest, glory and economic growth and shows the challenges of governing risk – from nuclear weapons to genetic modification, artificial intelligence to synthetic biology. He shows why the governance of science has become one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century, ever more prominent in daily politics and policy. This IPR event took place on 26 March 2024.

Devolution to nations, regions and cities has been a feature of British politics since 1997 - to the nations of the UK, Greater London and more recently to other English counties and city regions. It has led in some cases to significant change and the rise of powerful national institutions and city leaders, but it has also been a messy, incomplete process that has produced inequalities of power between different parts of the UK. Not all areas have seen substantive devolution, devolved authorities have different powers, considerable power is still hoarded in the central UK state, and the consequences of devolution for the constitution of the UK, and relations between its constituent nations, remain fraught and contested. Some argue that England should be formally recognised as a partner nation in the UK; others that devolution has gone too far. How has devolution worked in practice? What should the next government do? What can places ask for? Can we move from an overly centralised state to one where true power rests with elected representatives and local communities? Should we consider a federal future for the UK? In this IPR panel discussion, Zoë Billingham (IPPR North), joins Michael Kenny (Bennett Institute for Public Policy, Cambridge), Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, and Hannah White (Institute for Government). Hosted by Nick Pearce, Director of the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Professor of Public Policy. This discussion took place on 27 February 2024 and was hosted with Bristol Ideas.

Britain is facing a teacher retention and recruitment crisis which has the potential to severely impact schools' ability to provide quality education to all students. The latest workforce survey by the Department for Education (DfE) indicates that record numbers of teachers working in state schools – about one in ten – left the profession for reasons other than retirement in 2021-22. In a recent survey conducted as part of Education Support’s Commission on Teacher Retention, more than one in five secondary teachers expected to leave the profession within five years’ time. Meanwhile, new national data on the teacher labour market shows that across the vast majority of secondary subjects, recruitment targets are not being met, suggesting that teacher shortages are likely to intensify in the future. In this IPR event, Professor Simon Burgess, Evelyn Forde MBE and Jack Worth discuss the factors influencing teacher retention and recruitment – such as excessive workload, insufficient pay, lack of career development opportunities, and challenging working environments – as well as the policy interventions that could improve the attractiveness of teaching as a profession. Hosted by Matt Dickson. This IPR event took place on 22 February 2024.