Wolfson College Podcasts

Wolfson College marks Black History Month 2020 with an engaging discussion with Britain's foremost experts on the history of black lives and communities in Britain. In this panel discussion we look at the deep and fascinating history of black individuals and communities in the UK, and how this history connects with and informs the concerns and goals of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Olivette Otele PhD, FRHistS is a Professor of History of Slavery and Memory of enslavement at the University of Bristol. She is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Historical Society. Hakim Adi is a Professor of the History of Africa and the African Diaspora at the University of Chichester. He was a founder member in 1991 of the Black and Asian Studies Association (BASA), which he chaired for several years.

In this year's Haldane lecture, Professor Kathy Willis examines the newly emerging 'green health' scientific evidence-base. The lecture is introduced by the College President, Sir Tim Hitchens. It has long been recognized that nature, especially in cities, is more than just street furniture. It is relatively well-known that trees, shrubs and flowers can provide shade in the summer, removal of particulate matter from polluted air, and habitats for birds, insects and other city-dwelling biodiversity. Less well-known is the fact that nature can also directly influence our health. The amount of green space, the number of healthy trees and overall color of green of a neighborhood all appear to be important for physical and mental well-being. Intriguing correlations have been emerging from a number of large studies recently to suggest that these features can be associated with reduced incidences of obesity, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and depression. But what is it about nature that leads to these improved health outcomes? Whilst many studies have demonstrated correlations between nature and health, the vast majority do not provide the underlying scientific evidence base to determine causality and this is a recognized knowledge gap. To address this, a new scientific discipline is emerging. This is one which aims to determine the physiological and psychological responses to different kinds of nature that lead to improved health outcomes. This “green health” agenda is being driven forward not by biodiversity scientists, but primarily by the medical profession and public health professionals. They recognize the huge potential of green prescriptions. This talk examines this newly emerging ‘green health’ scientific evidence-base. In particular it discusses studies that have examined physiological and psychological responses to diversity, color, shape (fractal dimension), and smells of nature. What emerges is compelling evidence for quantifiable and significant health benefits associated with certain types of biodiversity. Professor Willis, Principal at St Edmund Hall, holds a position in the departmen of Zoology as Professor of Biodiversity and Head of the Oxford Long-term Ecology group. Her research focuses on the use of fossils and modern datasets, models and innovative technologies to determine the diversity, distribution and ambudance of plants and animals across global landscapes.

This Wolfson College Lecture Series aims to explore the socio-legal dimensions of our experience in courts, and with other forms of legal proceedings. In this lecture entitled "A Tale of Two Europes", The Rt Hon Lord Reed focuses on Law and Europe.

Oscar-winning journalist, filmmaker and activist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy delivers the Sarfraz Pakistan Lecture. The lecture is introduced by Sir Tim Hitchens, College President. Pakistan, a deeply patriarchal society is rapidly changing and women are at the forefront. This lecture explores the ways in which women across the country are working on the grassroots level to create spheres of influence pushing back on archaic laws, age old practice and using the Internet to arm themselves to have a greater voice in society. This push against a power structure in a country where men make all the rules has led to a backlash against women with more voices calling for women to conform to traditional roles but this generation has dug its heels to fight back. As a filmmaker, Sharmeen, has documented this changing role over two decades. This lecture will use film and personal testimonies of the activists she has documented to demonstrate the rapidly shifting landscape.

A speech given by Sir Richard Sorabji at the launch party for the Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize Campaign.

The 2019 Ronald Syme lecture was presented by Professor Alan Bowman and introduced by Sir Tim Hitchens. Alexandria was for many centuries, the largest and most important city in the eastern Mediterranean. This lecture explores how Rome tried to ensure its political stability which was crucial for its military control and economic interests in the east. This involved direct and indirect management by the imperial house of its role as the conduit through which the wealth of Egypt and the eastern luxury goods reached the Mediterranean and Italy. At the same time, the complex social and cultural character of its population changed and developed a profile distinct from the earlier period under the Ptolemies, turning it into a 'world-capital' which attracted the presence and influence of elites from Rome and the wider empire.

Ambassador Nicholas Burns, former US Political Director and NATO Ambassador, delivered the final lecture in the Wolfson Lecture Series: Diplomacy in the 21st Century. He is introduced by Sir Tim Hitchens, College President.

Sir Peter Gluckman, Former New Zealand Chief Scientific Advisor, presented the fourth Wolfson College Lecture in this series on modern diplomacy. The lecture was introduced by Sir Tim Hitchens. Science diplomacy has become much more than international science collaboration; it is primarily the intentional application of science (both natural and social) or scientific expertise in furtherance of diplomatic objectives. Structures for effective science diplomacies are often lacking; emerging issues drive a new emphasis on the global commons and thus the need for science diplomacy. The paradox, however, is that while globalization is being impaired, the need to address issues of the global commons is rising. Science can assist with most policy challenges, and in this lecture Sir Peter Gluckman explains that this is true also for much of diplomacy.

In the third 'Diplomacy for the 21st Century' Lecture, Sir Tim Hitchens concentrates on 21st-century diplomacy, and how it differs from 20th-century diplomacy Diplomacy for the 21st Century' is a Wolfson College Lecture Series that gives insight into how diplomacy is done in a modern age and the vital work that the diplomatic service does in strengthening relationships across borders. After 35 years working in diplomacy, Sir Tim considers how 21st-century diplomacy will be different from 20th-century diplomacy. He considers the evolution of diplomatic tradecraft, and the different cultures of diplomacy around the world. Sir Tim argues that the biggest challenge this century, will be between rules-based international relations and power-based. However, he goes on to explain that for rules-based diplomacy to survive, the rules themselves need to evolve to reflect changing realities, and that arguing for the status quo is a dead end.

The second Wolfson College Lecture in Diplomacy for the 21st Century was presented by Yamina Karitanyi, the current High Commissioner for the Republic of Rwanda to the United Kingdom . The lecture was introduced by College President, Sir Tim Hitchens. In the second lecture of the Diplomacy for the 21st Century Series, Karitanyi takes the ending of Rwanda's Presidency of the African Union as the starting point for a consideration of how Africa's perspectives will change global diplomacy in the twenty-first century. She will offer thoughts on the way in which regional and continental integration across Africa may change the way in which the continent is seen globally, and the role it can play. Sir Tim commented, "in our focus on China and India, we sometimes forget that Africa is also one of this century’s emerging giants. Rwanda shows how dramatic transformation is possible - but how do you balance development and democracy? This lecture will help answer those questions.". Yamina Karitanyi is currently the High Commissioner for the Republic of Rwanda to the United Kingdom, and non-resident Ambassador to Ireland since September 2015. Having held various senior positions over ten years at GoodWorks International, a strategic consulting and advisory firm that services multinational corporations and governments, in the USA and East Africa, Karitanyi has a proven track record in international business, operations management, business negotiations, and Diplomacy.