So, now what?

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars to discuss the pressing issues surrounding biodiversity and conservation. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems, the challenges posed by climate change, and the innovative solutions being implemented to promote sustainability. The guests share their experiences and insights on policy-making, community engagement, and the importance of maintaining optimism in the face of overwhelming environmental challenges. They emphasize the need for evidence-based strategies and practical steps that individuals can take to contribute to conservation efforts.takeaways·         Biodiversity loss is a critical issue that affects all life on Earth.·         The 30 by 30 initiative aims to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030.·         Innovative solutions are needed to balance economic development and conservation.·         Community engagement is essential for effective conservation strategies.·         Monitoring and research are crucial for understanding biodiversity and its challenges.·         Optimism and collaboration among diverse stakeholders can drive positive change.·         Trade-offs in conservation require careful consideration of ecological and social factors.·         Conscious consumerism can significantly impact biodiversity preservation.·         Small actions, like creating space for nature in our gardens, can lead to larger ecological benefits.·         Evidence-based approaches are necessary for effective conservation policies.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation Challenges03:53 Innovative Solutions for Biodiversity10:03 The Role of Policy and Research in Conservation18:47 Maintaining Optimism in Conservation Efforts30:00 Making Trade-offs in Conservation35:27 Practical Steps for Immediate Impact

In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway talks to Gates Cambridge scholars Kevin Beckford, Emma Soneson, and Blanca Piera Pi Sunyer to discuss the pressing issues facing today's youth. The conversation explores the importance of empowering young people, the role of community and culture in their development, and the need for systemic change in education and mental health support. The scholars share their insights on how to harness the energy of young people to create a brighter future, emphasizing the significance of supportive environments and the necessity of listening to youth voices in shaping policies that affect them.TakeawaysYoung people are powerful agents of change.Community support is crucial for youth development.Mental health should be prioritized in education.Adversity can have cumulative negative effects on health.Empowering youth requires systemic change in institutions.Resilience should be reframed to focus on support, not just endurance.Education should promote exploration and self-discovery.Youth voices must be included in decision-making processes.Creating supportive environments can buffer against adversity.A visionary approach is needed to reimagine society for young people.00:00Introduction to youth empowerment and impact02:58Harnessing the energy of young people06:07The role of community and culture in youth development08:54Exploring opportunities for young people12:03The importance of mental health in education15:04Creating supportive environments for adolescents18:12Reimagining education for young people20:58The need for systemic change23:55Resilience vs. hustling: a new perspective27:01Global perspectives on youth challenges29:56Visioning a better future for young peopleKevin Beckford [2011] is the co-founder and a board member of The Hustlers Guild, a non-profit that uses hip hop to expand access and opportunity to Black and Latinx youth in the innovation space. He is also Senior Associate, Parnerships and Engagement at the Pretrial Justice Institute. From 2020 to 2022 he was an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity from 2020 to 2022 and from 2014-2016, Kevin worked in the White House Presidential Correspondence Office. He also served as a special advisor to Secretary Julian Castro at the US Department of Housing and Development. Blanca Piera Pi-Sunyer [2021] is a final year PhD student at the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge working on social inequalities and socioemotional difficulties during adolescence. Emma Soneson [2018] is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry. She maintains a broad research profile within the field of child and adolescent mental health but is especially interested in the intersections between mental health and education.

The conversation explores the role of culture in peacebuilding and the need to challenge narratives of conflict and division. The guests discuss their experiences in conflict-affected regions and the importance of empathy, healing, and resilience in creating cultures of peace. They highlight the need for education systems to promote peace and inclusion, and the importance of dismantling oppressive narratives and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. The conversation concludes with a call to action to reform education, support cultural workers, and create spaces for dialogue and understanding.TakeawaysCulture plays a crucial role in peacebuilding and can challenge narratives of conflict and division.Empathy, healing, and resilience are essential in creating cultures of peace.Education systems should promote peace, inclusion, and critical thinking to challenge oppressive narratives.It is important to amplify the voices of marginalised communities and provide spaces for dialogue and understanding.Dismantling oppressive narratives and supporting cultural workers are key steps in creating a more peaceful world.Chapters00:00 Introduction08:17 The impact of conflict on culture11:31 Witnessing violence and building peace16:39 Challenging conflict-based worldviews20:59 Weaponisation of culture and fighting back24:47 Erasure of culture and missing voices27:14 Measuring success in peacebuilding31:28 Creating cultures of empathy and Ubuntu36:39 Reforming education for peace and inclusion38:55 Dismantling oppressive narratives41:43 Amplifying marginalised voices44:32 Supporting cultural workers45:27 Conclusion

The episode explores the topic of political legitimacy in a polarized world. The guests discuss the psychological and cognitive components of political beliefs, the impact of polarization on journalism, and the importance of understanding the perspectives of people on the ground. They emphasize the need for flexible thinking, reevaluating our own dogmas, and engaging in meaningful conversations with others. Practical actions include supporting reliable news organizations, encountering different cultures through literature and media, and rethinking our own biases.TakeawaysPolitical legitimacy is not just a sociological or political issue, but also has psychological and cognitive components.Polarization poses challenges to journalism, and it is important to support news organizations that provide reliable information.Engaging with people on the ground and encountering different perspectives can lead to a better understanding of political legitimacy.Flexible thinking is crucial in navigating a polarized world and reevaluating our own dogmas.Practical actions include supporting reliable news organizations, encountering different cultures through literature and media, and rethinking our own biases.Chapters00:00Introduction: The Challenge of Political Legitimacy in a Polarized World05:04Understanding the Psychological and Cognitive Components of Political Legitimacy11:16The Impact of Polarization on Journalism and the Media Environment15:59Engaging with People on the Ground to Understand Political Legitimacy29:48Practical Actions to Strengthen Political Legitimacy

The episode explores the topic of extreme weather and its impact on communities and asks: What does extreme weather mean for us?The speakers highlight the importance of connecting research to real-world impacts and the need for collective action. They discuss the devastating losses of climate disasters, the challenges of adaptation and the power of nature. They also emphasise the importance of empowering marginalised communities and amplifying their voices in climate action. In addition, the episode explores innovations in policy, including capacity building, local action and storytelling - getting local communities affected by climate change to tell their stories. We conclude by encouraging listeners to ask questions, take climate action, and connect to local initiatives.TakeawaysExtreme weather events have devastating consequences, including the loss of traditions, cultures, and intangible heritage.Collective action and collective intelligence are crucial in addressing climate change and its impacts.Youth empowerment and inner well-being are essential for building resilience and creating a sustainable future.Data, responsible AI, and storytelling play a significant role in tackling misinformation and driving climate action.Innovations in climate policy include capacity building, community empowerment, and inclusive decision-making.Chapters00:00Introduction and Climate Reality01:19Experiences in Extreme Environments04:01Impact of Extreme Weather Events05:56Bringing People and Voices into Climate Action06:26Unseen Consequences of Extreme Weather09:49Loss of Traditions and Indigenous Knowledge10:12Finding Balance and Adapting to Extreme Weather12:36Challenges in Super Tanker Countries13:31Proving the Urgency of Collective Action14:59Leveraging Data and Responsible AI16:27Innovation in Climate Policy20:33Recognizing the Importance of Nature22:46Inner Development Goals and Wisdom25:11Tackling Misinformation and Polarization27:31Innovation in Policy and Climate Action32:46Taking Action and Asking QuestionsBios:Dr Ramit Debnath @RamitDebnath is a university assistant professor and an academic director at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of Churchill College and Cambridge Zero and has visiting role at Caltech. Ramit sits on the steering committee of Cambridge's new Centre for Human-Inspired AI (CHIA). With a background in electrical engineering and computational social sciences, Ramit designs collective intelligence approaches to provide a data-driven, complex system-level understanding of barriers to climate action in the Anthropocene, their interactions, and how these translate to leverage points for policy and behavioural interventions at scale.Songqiao Yao @songqiaoyao is the founder of WildBound, an innovative sustainability and education venture that empowers sustainability leadership through expeditions, advocacy and creative expressions. Prior to founding WildBound, Songqiao gained her interdisciplinary and cross-cultural experience as a researcher, activist and entrepreneur working on global issues such as food, water and climate change. She has worked on China-EU, China-US projects on climate change and has consulted for agriculture and private sector development in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.Victoria Herrmann @VSHerrmann is the managing director of The Arctic Institute, a National Geographic Explorer and Assistant Research Professor at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service where her research focuses on Arctic cooperation and politics and climate change adaptation in the US and US Territories. Herrmann is also an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) IF/THEN Ambassador and works to empower girls and women in STEM. She has been named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 40 under 40 list, a North American Young Leader by Friends of Europe and one of 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy worldwide by Apolitical.

In this episode, we explore how we can build back better after a crisis. What are the challenges and opportunities of addressing the climate crisis, including the need for climate justice, the costs of inaction, and the importance of green innovation. We consider the roles of governments, multilateral institutions, and grassroots movements play in driving change. And we conclude with a call to action, So, now what? Where we emphasise the need for coordinated international efforts and a just and equitable transition to a sustainable future.TakeawaysBuilding back better after a crisis requires addressing climate justice and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.The costs of climate change, both economic and social, are substantial and require urgent action.Investment in clean energy and good jobs can drive economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.Leveraging people power and social media can help raise awareness and drive change.Green innovation and regulation are key to building a sustainable and equitable society.Chapters00:00 Introduction04:21 Expertise and perspectives06:50 The challenge of building back better10:10 Understanding the costs and risks of climate change14:25 Building back better in the United States17:15 Building back better in Africa19:25 The Need for collaboration and connectivity. Who needs to be in the same room?25:45 Leveraging people power and innovation. How can we talk about green innovation and change the narrative? What does a better society look like?31:00. So, now what? Moving Forward: Political will and financing.BiosKamiar Mohaddes @KamiarMohaddes is an Associate Professor in Economics & Policy at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge. His main areas of research include climate change, economics of the Middle East, energy economics and applied macroeconomics. Todd N. Tucker @toddntucker is a political scientist and director of Industrial Policy and Trade at the Roosevelt Institute, where he helps lead research on global governance, democracy, and the administrative state. A recognised expert on trade and political economy, Dr Tucker has testified before legislatures and expert committees around the world. Queen Chinyere Quinn is a Co-Founder and Partner at Kupanda Capital, an investment platform established to create, capitalise and scale pan-African companies. In this capacity, Queen has worked to provide tailored advice and support to entrepreneurs, project developers, fund managers and corporations operating in Africa.