Rapidly spreading coronavirus variants; growing vaccine nationalism; insurrection at the US Capitol followed by a peaceful transfer of power; a tense election in Uganda. Itβs been quite a start to 2021. And a reminder that reliable information is critical as we seek to make sense of what is happening in the world.
Misinformation continues to do enormous damage just as much of the worldβs population remains critically vulnerable. The stakes couldnβt be higher β for public health, for the environment, for science and for democracy and human rights.
The Conversation works with academic experts around the world to help explain whatβs going on. Now weβre launching a new weekly podcast to showcase expert analysis and cutting-edge research from across The Conversationβs global network.
Hosted by Gemma Ware in London and Dan Merino in San Francisco, every Thursday The Conversation Weekly will feature interviews with academics from universities around the world. These are people whoβve spent their lives studying everything from the smallest biological mysteries to the biggest political and ethical questions. There is no better place to turn if you want to understand our rapidly changing world and the search for solutions to the challenges ahead.
Weβll bring you analysis and explanations of widely reported, and perhaps misreported, news. But weβll also look at some of the research and development that often isnβt given prominence by other media. Consider, for example, the mysteries of life β whether that be the advantages of androgynous brains or the discovery of two giant new galaxies that blast radio waves into the cosmos.
The first episode launches on February 4. Listen on The Conversation or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware, with sound design by Eloise Stevens and music by Neeta Sarl. News clips in the trailer from Al Jazeera and CBC News.
You can also listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, our RSS feed, or find out how else to listen here.