ResearchPod

The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time; but diverse sources of knowledge may help us navigate it better. This was the thematic focus of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change workshops recently hosted at the University of Reading. In this live Q&A, Professor Jim Skea (chair of the IPCC) was joined by Rowan Sutton (Met Office), Sarah Honour (Dept. of Energy Security and Net Zero) and Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading) to discuss the role...

ChatGPT has been a game-changer for education. Students now frequently use Generative Artificial Intelligence to complete assignments, but concern is growing about how this affects their academic integrity and critical thinking. Michelle Cheong is a Professor of Information Systems in Education at the Singapore Management University. By evaluating ChatGPT’s performance in spreadsheet modelling, her latest research provides important insights into how educators can redesign student assessments...

Obesity is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, yet public campaigns on diet and exercise have struggled to reverse rising global rates. Assistant Professor Xuan Zhang from the School of Economics at Singapore Management University explores how a simple, low-cost intervention – a series of short, personalised text messages – can help people better understand their weight classification and adopt healthier habits. Her team’s randomised controlled trial found that regular dig...

In this final episode of the series, we join a round-table discussion among experts from the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol. Join Dimitra Simeonidou, Simon Saunders, and Paul Wilson as they explore the future of telecommunications and the exciting advancements in network technology. Discover how AI and sensing capabilities are transforming networks into intelligent systems that not only communicate but also 'feel' the environment. This episode delves into the implicatio...

In this episode, we explore the revolutionary concept of a living network with Prof. Dimitra Simeonidou, Director of the Smart Internet Lab. Discover how data and AI can transform our urban environments into intelligent ecosystems that enhance our quality of life. From traffic management to public health, learn how the infrastructure we already have can become a sensor-rich network, improving our cities for both citizens and nature. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Smart Internet Lab ...

Artificial intelligence often struggles with the ambiguity, nuance, and shifting context that defines human reasoning. Fuzzy logic offers an alternative, by modelling meaning in degrees rather than absolutes. In this roundtable episode, ResearchPod speaks with Professors Edy Portmann, Irina Perfilieva, Vilem Novak, Cristina Puente, and José María Alonso about how fuzzy systems capture perception, language, social cues, and uncertainty. Their insights contribute to the upcoming FMsquare ...

This is the third in a series of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making.’ 'Who is making claims over sociodigital futures' looks at which actors are making futures claims. Should we pay heed to government announcements around the capabilities of AI and how it will change our lives? Can any single actor make such sweeping generalisations when there are many possible futures in front of us? Hear from Dale Southerton, Susan Halford and Helen Manchester i...