Looking Glass: Serious thinking about who and what we are

What will the future hold? In the series finale, IOP Deputy Chief Executive Rachel Youngman and host Gemma Milne reflect on the ideas covered in Looking Glass and look ahead to 2030 and beyond. What can scientific organisations like the IOP do to support climate solutions – and ensure those solutions benefit everyone?  

Ambient air pollution is responsible for 4.2 million deaths a year and almost all of the world’s population are exposed to dangerous levels. How can physics help us to make our air cleaner? With Dr Suzanne Bartington and Dr Mark Richards.

Every year, wildfires ravage the planet, burning homes, killing wildlife and scorching the earth. Can the physics of how fire spreads give us the answers to stop it? And can we use fire to our advantage? With Professor Martin Wooster and Tercia Strydom.

Much of our planet could become uninhabitable – so how can physics help protect our soil, enable farmers to continue farming and allow communities to survive? Featuring Professor Sacha Mooney and Dr Jacqueline Hannam.

As the earth dries up, towns and countries face their very own day zero crises – while other communities risk rising sea levels obliterating their homes. How can physics help keep water where we want it, and in a form we can access? Featuring Professor Kevin McGuigan and Dr Ana Mijic.

Series three opens by exploring the relationship between activism and climate policy. Climate scientist and outgoing IOP Chief Executive Paul Hardaker and director of Green New Deal UK Fatima Ibrahim discuss how climate activism is changing – and the role physics and organisations such as the IOP should play.

In the series so far, we’ve heard about the visions and potential pathways for a new green economy from some of the people working to make it happen. But what role do physicists have to play? Gemma talks to two physicists at very different stages in their careers to get their perspectives. Featuring Professor Martin Freer and Luke Wheeler.

We need a new, green economy – and fast. So what would it look like? And what needs to change to make it possible? In the series so far we’ve looked at the importance of greener energy and the impact of consumer choices – but what about the global structures that are going to have to change? Featuring Ann Pettifor and Farhana Yamin. 

Rapidly evolving economies need people with the right skills to propel them. We’ve heard about the work that needs to be done to deliver a green economy – but who will actually do it? Who can build and maintain the technology? How long will those people be necessary in a world of AI? And with diversity and inclusion at the heart of this conversation, how do we make sure every worker is valued? Featuring Grace Suh and Warda Heetun.

The way the world uses energy must change – and it represents a huge opportunity. In Episode 2 we talked about how we use energy as individuals, but what about the global picture? Business, travel, even political relationships are bound up in whether we produce or import energy – but all that’s about to change. So how can nations lead the way as we make the big energy transition? Featuring Dr Daniel Scholten and Dr Gbemi Oluleye.

We know we have to change the way we make energy, as we move from fossil fuels to renewables, but we also need to rethink how we use it. Without knowing what we’ll be using it for in the future, we can’t know how much we need to create. To what extent do we need to change the way we use energy as individuals? Do our consumer and travel choices actually make a difference? Featuring Dr Madeleine Morris and Professor Alice Larkin.

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing our world. It’s up to us to start solving it, so that future generations aren’t left with a burning planet. How do we become the best ancestors we can be? What role does science have to play? Featuring Sophie Howe and Dr Suchitra Sebastian.

Looking Glass is back! Listen to series two host Gemma Milne as she introduces A Green Future in our trailer.

What can we – and science – learn from listening to thinkers and practitioners from wider society? As we tackle the global challenges affecting our lives and those of future generations, how can scientific organisations adapt to ensure they remain active players within society? Featuring Dame Frances Saunders and Sophie Martin.

In an age when data and information drive many aspects of our society, we are increasingly confronted by uncomfortable questions around misinformation and privacy. What responsibilities should scientists take? And how can we ensure Big Data & AI are used for our benefit? Featuring Cansu Canca and Shiv Malik.  

How do we look beyond the traditional western scientific canon and be more reflective of other knowledge systems? As students around the world look to decolonise their curriculums and learn from indigenous knowledge, the question of who’s at the table has never been more pressing. Featuring Melz Owusu and Carolina Behe.

Serious questions are emerging about how we care for people as a society – and how existing inequalities have an impact on health outcomes. How can innovation help us to bridge those gaps? How is the physics community leading this conversation? Featuring Ivan Beckley and Professor Kevin McGuigan.

In our social media age, how can organisations listen, learn and engage with public debate on highly charged issues? As organisations step out of their comfort zones, how should they navigate this new world of communication? Featuring Sheree Atcheson and Brenda Trenowden.

How do we ensure the planet remains habitable for all of us, wherever we are in the world? Can clean energy become green energy? Can scientists offer sustainable solutions for climate change? Featuring Fatima-Zahra Ibrahim and Dr Emily Shuckburgh.

In this introductory podcast, IOP Deputy Chief Executive Rachel Youngman talks to Angela Saini, host of Looking Glass: Society, about why we've created the series. She explains what makes it so relevant now, and the important role the podcast series has to play in helping IOP to reflect on our place in our diverse society. 

IOP Deputy Chief Executive Rachel Youngman explains why we’ve created the series – and what makes it so relevant.