Pod of the Planet

COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in many parts of the world have highlighted the urgent need for accurate spatial data, which has led governments and international development institutions to seek out reliable sources of such information to inform their COVID-19 interventions. A recent New York Times article spotlights the GRID3 program, which works with countries to generate, validate, and use geospatial data on population, settlements, infrastructure, and boundaries. Program partners include Columbia’s University’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), the United Nations Population Fund, WorldPop at the University of Southampton, and the Flowminder Foundation. Our podcast this week features a conversation between GRID3 communications officer Chisimdi Onwuteaka, and Nazir Halliru, who is now the country manager for GRID3 Nigeria. Halliru describes how GRID3 is producing and distributing paper-based maps — featuring data on vaccination sites, population, comorbidities risk, and settlement names — to support Nigeria’s COVID-19 vaccination planning and other development interventions. You can find Pod of the Planet wherever you listen to podcasts, on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio and Stitcher. For more information about this work, make sure to check out this news story and video. To explore and download GRID3 data, visit the GRID3 Data Hub.

The world oceans cover just over 70 percent of the planet. The ocean produces about half of the oxygen that sustains Earth, feeds and employees millions. It’s also pivotal to regulating the climate as it absorbs massive amounts of carbon dioxide. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 8 as World Oceans Day “to celebrate our world’s shared ocean and our personal connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it.” Concern for the vast and mighty ocean has prompted the U.N. to launch the Ocean Decade — 10 years of challenges to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources by 2030." Understanding, appreciating, and protecting this massive resource has surfaced as a major international priority. But, when it comes to knowing our oceans in-depth, humanity is still in the dark. In this episode of Pod of the Planet, entitled “Mapping the Mysterious Deep,” Marie DeNoia Aronsohn speaks to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory marine geophysicist Vicki Ferrini about a project to better understand our world oceans. The Nippon Foundation - GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has an ambitious goal: to create a comprehensive, detailed map of the entire ocean floor by 2030.

In March, Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano woke up from a 6,000-year slumber; soon it was jetting lava fountains as high as 1,200 feet, and sending fiery outflows into nearby valleys. Most people run from volcanic eruptions, but volcanologist Einat Lev decided to get on a plane and get as close as possible. Lev, who works at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Observatory, specializes in analyzing how lava bodies develop and move, and Fagradalsfjall is prime for study: It has a steady, vigorous lava supply, but is not big or explosive enough to be too dangerous. It's also accessible, a short drive from the capital city of Reykjavik. In this episode of Pod of the Planet, Earth Institute science news editor Kevin Krajick speaks with Lev about her experiences on the trip, and erupting volcanoes in general. Listeners: Check out the spectacular drone footage she took. You can also see stories and photos from two of her previous expeditions, to the Quizapu Volcano in the high Chilean Andes, and Hawaii's monstrous Kilauea. As of this recording, Fagradalsfjall was still erupting. It has not caused any serious damage so far, but if the lava continues spreading, it could cut off the Ring Road, Iceland's main highway. Stay tuned and follow State of the Planet for the latest (Icelandic authorities have a live webcam trained on the volcano). You can find Pod of the Planet wherever you listen to podcasts, on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio and Stitcher. Please send feedback or questions to [email protected].

Today we're celebrating International Women's Day with a special interview with Professor Ruth DeFries on her new book, "What Would Nature Do? A Guide for Our Uncertain Times" (14:56). She talks about how humanity can survive by adopting strategies of the nonhuman world. Also Sarah Fecht, content manager for the State of the Planet discusses a couple recent pieces from the blog including how C02 levels may have affected dinosaur migration and the science behind C02 and how it traps heat. Be sure to check the rest of the amazing content highlighting the work of women at the Earth Institute by going to blogs.ei.columbia.edu.

COVID-19 has completely upended our way of life. It has infiltrated all parts of society affecting many overlooked places. That's why in this episode we explore the toll it has taken on migration both across borders and within countries. More specifically we look at how corruption, failed policies and a lack of understanding are all making things worse for vulnerable groups in India and Kenya. We get a first-hand account from small-scale women traders in Kenya on what they're having to deal with. We also speak with Amrita Dhillon, a professor of political economy at King’s College London and Jackie Klopp, a research scholar at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Both are researchers with the Global Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence program. You can find more at ace.globalintegrity.org

In our final episode of the year, Kyu Lee speaks with three of his colleagues: Phebe Pierson, Sarah Fecht and Charlotte Munson. They talk about Phebe's interview with Barnard professor Sandra Goldmark and her new book, "Fixation: How to Have Stuff without Breaking the Planet" (24:27). Sarah talks about some of the top stories coming out of the State of the Planet blog (13:10). And Charlotte, an undergraduate student at Columbia, gives us her all around perspective on what campus life has been like during the pandemic. Thanks again to all our supporters, we appreciate all the wonderful feedback we've gotten. Have a happy, healthy holiday and see you in the new year!

Our biggest, best event of the year is going virtual! Join us October 19-22 for Lamont Open House at Home. This year, we’ll be bringing all the science fun and discovery of this iconic hands-on event right to you. Lamont Open House at Home is four days filled with exciting and informative virtual earth science activities for children, families, educators, and science enthusiasts of all ages. openhouse.ldeo.columbia.edu

Marco Tedesco loves ice, so much so his body is covered with it. That is, with tattoos of snowflakes running up his arms. In this episode of Pod of the Planet, Kevin Krajick explores Tedesco's obsession with the cryosphere—the part of Earth that consists of frozen water (08:47). Krajick who is the Earth Institute's senior editor for science news, knows Tedesco well. He traveled with him to Greenland a few years back to see up close meltwater rushing into deep crevasses. He also recently talked to him about his new book, "The Hidden Life of Ice: Dispatches From a Disappearing World." The takeaway: Greenland is melting at a rate greater than ever before and if the entire ice sheet melts, that would mean a catastrophic rise in sea level of 24 ft. Check out this episode, listen to Tedesco talk about why he's devoted his life to this cold, dangerous and disappearing land. This year, Climate Week NYC takes place from September 21 to 27. Hundreds of digital events from all around the world will be covering the climate crisis and pressing for a future that does not depend on fossil fuels. Check out what’s going on at the Earth Institute. You can find Pod of the Planet wherever you listen to podcasts, on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. Please send feedback or questions to [email protected].

George Bernard Shaw who once quipped that "youth is wasted on the young," couldn't be more wrong when it comes to climate activism. The world they build today is the world they will inherit tomorrow.  In this episode we talk about climate and sustainability education for young activists and educators. Cassie Xu, the director of outreach and education at the Earth Institute, speaks with high school students Lily from Brooklyn (15:34) and Sophia from McLean, Virgina (28:00). They talk about their passion for climate change activism in their communities and their hopes for the future. We also hear from Cassie about the K-12 education program and the upcoming non-degree programs designed for high school students and educators who want to bring climate science into their classrooms. One of the instructors, Joan Lopez, a researcher at AC4 talks about the class he'll be teaching and his own experiences working with youth leaders all over the world (2:30). The one common thread he says? Young people are not too happy with the older folks. You can find Pod of the Planet wherever you listen to podcasts, on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. Please send feedback or questions to [email protected].

Marie Tharp's "aha" moment came in 1952. When arranging profiles she created of the North Atlantic ocean floor, she noticed a V-shaped indentation that ran along the center and matched those of other profiles she laid out. She thought it resembled some sort of rift valley, similar to the geological formation in East Africa, but this one deep on the seabed. Her findings which appeared to support the notion of continental drift were dismissed by her closest colleagues as scientific heresy and labeled as "girl talk". Making it her mission to find the truth, Tharp continued to collect more and more data from different sources and eventually was proved right. Her discoveries led to the acceptance of plate tectonics, a geological pillar of understanding Earth's systems. In this episode of Pod of the Planet, we celebrate the life of Marie Tharp and the inspiration she's been and continues to be to many scientists today. Vicky Ferrini, a marine geologist at Lamont, is one of those scientists and she speaks about her work in carrying on Tharp's legacy and her current project to map out the entire seafloor by 2030 (14:20). In the first part of this episode Kyu talks with Marie DeNoia Aronsohn, Lamont's director of communications, welcoming her to the Pod of the Planet family (2:20). This past week we’ve been celebrating Tharp's achievements with blog posts, webinars, giveaways, and more. Follow along here: marietharp.ldeo.columbia.edu