5. The Aesthetic Self: James Lewis

AI’s influence on planning and cities is no longer theoretical—it is already transforming how urban environments are designed, managed, and experienced. While it holds great promise, can the sector address political, ethical, and practical challenges to ensure these technologies deliver on their potential for better, fairer cities? Prof. Mike Raco and Nissa Shahid join Prof. Lauren Andres to discuss the synergy between cutting-edge AI technologies and the evolving field of urban planning in the second instalment of our Bartlett Review AI series. Transcription link: https://bartlett-review.ucl.ac.uk/podcast-tomorrows-cities-ai-in-urban-planning/index.html Date of episode recording: 2025-05-29T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:36:44 Language of episode: English Presenter: Prof. Lauren Andres Guests: Prof. Mike Raco; Nissa Shahid Producer: Adam Batstone; Chizoba Onyiuke

How can the history of enslavement be recognised in the way we shape and regenerate cities today? In this special episode marking 20 years of the Bartlett’s Sustainable Heritage MSc, we explore how cities can confront the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, the role of community-led projects, and how heritage can drive more inclusive and meaningful urban change. MSc, Professor Kalliopi Fouseki is joined by Helen Paul, director of the Memorial of Enslavement and Freedom in Deptford and an economic historian at the University of Southampton, and Marie Xypaki, Head of Learning and Teaching Enhancement at SOAS. Date of episode recording: 2025-06-23T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:34:52 Language of episode: English Presenter:Kalliopi Fouseki Guests: Helen Paul, Lecturer in Economics and Economic History at University of Southampton Marie Xypaki, Educationist, SOAS University London. Also a research student at UCL currently supervised by Prof Alice Bradbury, Dr Juliana Martins and Dr Julia Jeanes. Producer: Adam Batstone

Dr. Bzhar Othman Ahmed, history lecturer at the University of Soran, Kurdistan, Iraq, discusses his research on the Jewish community in Koya, Iraq from 1918 to 1951. Transcription link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/media/podcasts/transcript-conversation-bzhar-othman-ahmed Date of episode recording: 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z Duration: 38:13 Language of episode: English Presenter:Mehiyar Kathem Guests: Bzhar Othman Ahmed Producer: Mehiyar Kathem

This week we ask: could the University be a wild place? A resilient ecosystem of biodiversity, interdependent relationships, entanglements and emergence? What would it look like if we let go of command, control and management, and allowed the University to grow and thrive in ways that can't be predicted in advance but might exceed our wildest dreams? Join us to celebrate the achievements of Prof. Cathy Elliott. Recorded one day after her inaugural lecture, marking a significant milestone in her distinguished career, Cathy talks about her wild approach to education. Cathy is one of those rare educators who always strives to focus less on grades and more on inspiring her pupils. She has spearheaded un-grading campaigns at UCL, as well as inclusive curriculums and student-led projects on inclusivity, belonging, political philosophy and international relations. She is a co-director of UCL Centre for the Pedagogy of Politics, a co-convenor of the Political Studies Association Teaching and Learning Network, and Vice-Dean Education for UCL Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences. Cathy has made history as our department's first academic on the teaching track to be promoted to Professor. This in itself reflects Cathy's thoughts on education - if we remove some of the boundaries and change some of the criteria , wonderful things might happen (inc. it might be easier for teaching track academics to progress to prof)! Mentioned in this episode: Cathy Elliott. Against anonymity: relational marking and awarding gaps. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. Special Edition of Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education: Liberating Learning Inclusive Curriculum Project Transcription link: https://uncoveringpolitics.com/episodes/rewilding-the-university-prof-cathy-elliots-inaugural-lecture/transcript Date of episode recording: 2025-04-10T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:37:34 Language of episode: English (uk) TAGS: teaching, universities, pedagogy Presenter:Emily McTernan Guests: Cathy Elliott Producer: E Kingwell-Banham

What are the prospects for constitutional reform in the UK? What options are on the government’s agenda? What might actually happen? And will any such changes be adequate for resolving underlying problems? Politics in the UK has been in turmoil in recent years—Brexit, Covid, movements for independence in Scotland and Northern Ireland, rule-breaking Prime Ministers, and now the shockwaves from Donald Trump’s return to the White House. These pressures have tested the UK’s political system, raising serious questions about whether constitutional reforms are needed. In this episode, we dive into a new report from the UCL Constitution Unit, which examines possible constitutional changes, their likelihood of passing, and whether they could truly address the challenges the UK faces. Our guests are two of the report’s authors: Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit and Professor of British and Comparative Politics at UCL Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit Our host, Alan Renwick, also a co-author of the report, leads the discussion on possible constitutional reforms, their feasibility, and what reforms could be on the horizon. Mentioned in this episode: The Constitutional Landscape: Options for Reform, by Lisa James, Patrick Thomas, Alan Renwick and Meg Russell. S7:E10 A Primer on House of Lords Reform, with Meg Russell. Transcription link: https://uncoveringpolitics.com/episodes/constitutional-reform-in-the-uk/transcript Date of episode recording: 2025-03-20T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:42:13 Language of episode: English (uk) Presenter:Alan Renwick Guests: Meg Russell, Lisa James Producer: E Kingwell-Banham

This week we ask what drives ideological disagreement in politics? How far do people on left and right disagree with each other because they have fundamentally different moral intuitions or for other reasons? Polarisation is a defining feature of contemporary politics, raising concerns among many observers. People on the left and right—liberals and conservatives—often seem to inhabit entirely different worlds, holding fundamentally distinct perspectives on reality and morality. But what underpins these divisions? Are they rooted in deep-seated moral intuitions that we are born with or develop in childhood? Or do they stem from our present circumstances and the media landscape that shapes our understanding of the world? In this episode, we explore ground-breaking research by two scholars from the UCL Department of Political Science—Dr Jack Blumenau and Prof Ben Lauderdale. Their work offers fresh insights into the nature of political disagreement, challenging conventional wisdom about its origins. Jack join us to discuss these findings. (Jack Blumenau, Associate Professor of Political Science and Quantitative Research Methods.) Mentioned in this episode: Jack Blumenau and Ben Lauderdale. (2024) ‘Liberals and Conservatives Rely on Very Similar Sets of Foundations When Comparing Moral Violations’, American Political Science Review Benjamin Lauderdale and Jack Blumenau. 2025. “ Polarization over the priority of political problems.” American Journal of Political Science Transcription link: https://uncoveringpolitics.com/episodes/is-morality-the-cause-of-ideological-disagreement/transcript Date of episode recording: 2025-03-06T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:38:10 Language of episode: English Presenter:Alan Renwick Guests: Jack Blumenau Producer: E Kingwell-Banham

This week we’re looking at the representation of disabled people in politics. Why are there so few disabled politicians? What impact does that have? And what can be done to level the playing field? While one in five people in the UK is disabled, the proportion of disabled individuals among elected representatives is significantly lower. Despite broader discussions on inclusive politics, disability remains an often-overlooked aspect of the conversation. For many people working in this area, addressing such challenges isn’t just about fairness; it’s also about ensuring that disabled citizens have their voices heard in political decision-making. A new book addressing these challenges was published last year, and a recent article in The Political Quarterly highlights its key themes. The book and article explore the structural barriers that disabled candidates and politicians face and provide actionable recommendations for change. In this episode, we speak with the co-authors of both the book and the article: Prof Elizabeth Evans – Professor of Politics at the University of Southampton. Dr Stefanie Reher – Reader in Political Science at the University of Strathclyde. Join us as we discuss the systemic obstacles, potential solutions, and the importance of disability-inclusive politics. Mentioned in this episode: Stefanie Reher and Elizabeth Evans. "No Level Playing Field: Barriers to Disability Representation in Politics" The Political Quarterly Elizabeth Evans and Stefanie Reher. "Disability and Political Representation" Oxford University Press. Transcription link: https://uncoveringpolitics.com/episodes/disability-representation-in-politics/transcript Date of episode recording: 2025-02-27T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:39:28 Language of episode: English TAGS: disabiliy, discrimination, representation, politics, uk government, democracy, MP, political quarterly Presenter:Alan Renwick Guests: Elizabeth Evans, Stephanie Reher Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham

This week we’re looking at AI and public services. How far could AI tools help to tackle stagnant public sector productivity? What dangers are associated with AI adoption? And how can these dangers be addressed? Artificial intelligence is increasingly being touted as a game-changer across various sectors, including public services. But while AI presents significant opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness, concerns about fairness, equity, and past failures in public sector IT transformations loom large. And, of course, the idea of tech moguls like Elon Musk wielding immense influence over our daily lives is unsettling for many. So, what are the real opportunities AI offers for public services? What risks need to be managed? And how well are governments—particularly in the UK—rising to the challenge? In this episode, we dive into these questions with three expert guests who have recently published an article in The Political Quarterly on the subject: Helen Margetts – Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, and Director of the Public Policy Programme at The Alan Turing Institute. Previously, she was Director of the School of Public Policy at UCL. Cosmina Dorobantu – Co-director of the Public Policy Programme at The Alan Turing Institute. Jonathan Bright – Head of Public Services and AI Safety at The Alan Turing Institute. Mentioned in this episode: Margetts, H., Dorobantu, C. and Bright, J. (2024), How to Build Progressive Public Services with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The Political Quarterly. Transcription link: https://uncoveringpolitics.com/episodes/ai-and-public-services/transcript Date of episode recording: 2025-02-13T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:42:48 Language of episode: English (UK) TAGS: AI, government, politics, bureaucracy, political quarterly, efficiency Presenter:Alan Renwick Guests: Helen Margettes, Cosmina Dorobantu, Jonathan Bright Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham

In this episode, we welcome acclaimed writer, psychologist, and intellectual Gündüz Vassaf, whose work spans 17 published books blending literature, philosophy, and psychology. Author of the bestselling "Prisoners of Ourselves: Totalitarianism in Everyday Life" and his more recent novel "The Painter's Rebellion," Vassaf explores with us what it means to imagine Turkey, to be ‘Turkish’ and to be part of a community in the context of some of the world’s greatest challenges, such as global warming, Artificial Intelligence and an increasingly polarised political landscape. Date of episode recording: 2025-05-19T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:35:58 Language of episode: English Presenter:Dr. Sertaç Sehlikoglu; Meryem Zișan Köker; Hazal Aydın Guests: Gündüz Vassaf Producer: Dr. Sertaç Sehlikoglu; Meryem Zișan Köker; Hazal Aydın. Edited by Alexander Pymm Transcription link: https://www.takhayyulproject.com/takhayyul-podcast-youtube

In this episode, we discuss the fifth and final section of Cusk’s Outline alongside a draft book chapter by James Lewis entitled The Peculiar Allure of Another’s Aesthetic Worldview. Lewis argues that appreciating someone’s aesthetic tastes is a central part of achieving intimacy with them. We discuss Cusk’s narrator’s prose style as a reflection of her aesthetic taste and ponder what it allows us to infer about her sense of self. Speaker names: • Dr. Scarlett Baron, Associate Professor in the English Department at UCL. • Alice Harberd, PhD Student in the Philosophy Department at UCL. • Dr James Lewis, Lecturer in Philosophy at Cardiff University.