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© 2025 Meliora: a podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute
Description
Welcome to the Meliora Podcast from the Sustainability and Resilience Institute at the University of Southampton!
This podcast explores the greatest and most wicked problem that is sustainability, whilst looking at how we are collectively addressing this critical global challenge.
Sustainability needs to be addressed by understanding how the economy, society, culture, politics and environment intersect, and this is the focus that informs each episode of the Meliora podcast.
In each episode, host Professor Simon Kemp and guest hosts are joined by a variety of guests, including academics, students, staff, researchers, alumni, community groups and business leaders.
The aim of the podcast is to shine a light on the vast range of topics surrounding sustainability and to allow listeners to learn about the critical challenges we face, as well as how they can be part of the solution. We also ensure our fantastic students have the opportunity to share their brilliant work with the world.
Podcast host: Professor Simon Kemp, Deputy Director of the Sustainability & Resilience Institute, University of Southampton
Podcast editors: Lily Killner, Sophie Green, Libby Kale, Jack Dinham, Ellie Howell, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton
Podcast communications: Hannah Parish, Alexander Ayerst, Maya Stevens, University of Southampton
Please do get in touch to discuss this podcast and any of the issues we raise by emailing sri@soton.ac.uk
Follow us on instagram and X: @meliorapodcast
111 Episodes
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Billy Weir MSci Environmental Science joins us again for his episode, this time on his Masters research project "Assessing the impact of Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction on fish populations in Plymouth, England". Abstract - Rewilding has become an aim for conservation across the globe, and a crucial aspect of that is species reintroductions. Ecosystem engineers such as Eurasian Beavers (Castor fiber) are an excellent example of a species that can return to nature-deprived countri...
Nurulhuda Gumay Riswandi BA Philosophy and Politics joins us to discuss their research project "How can we explore and compare health infrastructures and delivery of healthcare services of two regions affected by conflict and political instability?". This research explores and compares the health infrastructures and healthcare delivery systems of four post-conflict countries: Rwanda and Liberia in Sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq and Kuwait in the Middle East. By using a comparative case study met...
Joelle Foster BSc Psychology joins us to discuss her research project titled "An investigation into music engagement in adults in the UK and its relationship with general levels of nostalgia and mental well-being". Research on music listening is vast in showing the mental health benefits of such a practice. Nostalgia has also shown great effect in eliciting positive emotions. Emerging research looks at music-evoked nostalgia but not much research has been conducted on music composers in this ...
We’re joined by three of our students - Jack Carter and Shaska Nicholson, who are studying BSc Biology, and Montasir Ahmed, who is studying BSc Pharmacology to discuss their research project ‘The Use of GenAI in Higher Education’ Over the past 6 months, they have been working on their Capstone Research Project as part of their School of Biological Sciences ‘Science Communication’ module. They investigated how students in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton are u...
Joseph Gray, BA Geography, joins us to discuss his research project 'Exploring how international visitors perceive the sustainability of transport at Milford Sound & the role of COVID-19 in reimagining travel at the site.' Abstract: Environmental sustainability contradictions are at the heart of national park tourism. Increased transport accessibility allows tourists to experience the natural character but causes environmental degradation. COVID-19 was an unprecedented moment that catalys...
James Machay, BA Geography, joins us to discuss his research project 'The Catalyst for change - exploring sustainability and pressures in non-league football'. Abstract - Attentiveness towards sustainability has expeditiously intensified due to the evolving climate emergency. Yet non-league football remains neglected in academic and media discourse regarding its capacity to become more sustainable. With non-league clubs at the heart of communities and climate change posing an imminent threat ...
Sophie Vokes, BSc Geography joins us to discuss her research project "Does Crymlyn Bog follow the traditional theory of hydrosphere wetlands?" Abstract This study employed macrofossil analysis to investigate environmental changes in Crymlyn Bog (Swansea) and assessed the site's compliance with the conventional hydrosphere hypothesis of wetland succession. Based on distribution and abundance, macrofossil remains from the peat cores were identified and documented, with a particular emphasis on ...
Eleanor Toppin, BA Geography, joins us to discuss her research project 'A Comparative Study: Exploring Student Consumer Perspectives on the Transition from Non-Ethical to Ethical Fashion Purchases'. Despite many students having an ethical mindset, they often fail to translate their intentions and attitudes into ethical purchases. This study aims to understand whether sustainability- based education can bridge these behavioural gaps in ethical fashion consumption. It examines students’ desire ...
Sam Atkinson, BSc Geography, joins us to discuss his research project "Is the Siberian Boreal Forest nearing a Tipping Point?" Abstract Increasing air temperatures, drought and wildfire is impacting the health of the Siberian Boreal Forest, with the boreal biome being predicted to be replaced by grasslands/steppe. Multiple scholars have referred to this transition as a 'tipping point' however few studies have tested whether any signals of a tipping point are present. Using remote sensing, the...
Heidi Wheatley, BSc Environmental Science, joins us to discuss her research project "Invasive non-native species impacts on invertebrate communities". Abstract Invasive non-native (INN) plants pose an increasing ecological threat worldwide, creating monocultured plant communities and causing ripple effects across various species. Invertebrates are particularly affected due to habitat and food resource alteration, leading to changes in ecosystem services and trophic cascades. However, not all ...
Darius Printer, BA Geography, joins us to discuss his research project "Left Behind Places as an Explanation for Geographies of Political Discontent - explaining right-wing populism rising trends" Abstract My Thesis is about mapping political discontent in the UK through the rise of RUK. Using ArcGIS I plotted left-behind neighbourhoods identified by the OSCII study in 2019 who were concerned with the most deprived areas in the UK in order to allocate the Stronger Towns Fund of £2 billi...
Julia Dines, BSc Environmental Science, joins us to discuss her research project "Growth vs Conservation - how can trekking tourism in Nepal adapt to a sustainable future?" Abstract The Himalayas are facing an ultimatum: limit trekking or lose the beauty of the mountains to environmental degradation, water contamination and waste accumulation. This research project aims to identify ways in which stakeholders can adapt their practices to protect the Himalayas, and their livelihoods, against cl...
Ethan Dennis, BSc Psychology joins us to discuss his research into the role of sub-clinical narcissism in the climate crisis, investigating the research on the relationship between narcissism and pro-environmental behaviour, and how this can be remedied. Three types of narcissism are examined: grandiose, vulnerable and communal. Literature suggests grandiose narcissists are detrimental to the environment, with communal narcissists claiming to be more environmental than they actually are...
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we are discussing “Food for Thought: Rethinking Meat for a Sustainable Future”. Globally, we consume around 350 million tons of meat a year. Problems concerned with the future of our planet, the welfare of animals, and our health all come to mind because of this. In 2015, the WHO categorised red meat as carcinogenic to humans (Marinova, 2019) but this is yet to act as the wake-up call it should be to encourage people to reth...
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we are discussing the impact of meat production and the potential of lab-grown meat as a sustainable alternative. We discuss the current and future projections of sustainability challenges in relation to the widespread consumption of meat-incorporated diets. We will be discussing the pros of the newly emerging product of lab-made meats and the positive impacts they could have on reducing this burden. We highlight some of the...
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we are discussing the impacts and sustainability of a meat tax on society. The three aspects we will be exploring are the social, economic and environmental impacts. Implementing a meat-tax based on the Carbon Footprint of a product can lead to reduced consumer spending and therefore decreased demand and production of these high-carbon foods. We are going to explore what this would look like in practice and whether this will have ...
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we will be discussing Feeding the Trends: who's controlling what's on your plate. We will look at ultra processed foods and government inaction, government schemes and legislation controlling what is on our plate, and why and how social media is the biggest controller of the food we consume. Host: Tejal Guests: Jessica, Mia and Megan
In this episode, we will be discussing some of the sustainability issues surrounding the food delivery industry. We may not be able to cover the topic in full but aim to highlight some key areas of concern and offer some insight into these areas. Host: Alfie Guests: Jamie, Akshyan, Jamie
Welcome to the Meliora podcast, from the Sustainability and Resilience Institute at the University of Southampton. This episode is part of the Global Sustainability Challenges module student takeover season where are discussing the sustainability impacts of university socials and nightlife. Host: Cian Guests: Lucy, Natalie and Alex
Welcome to the Meliora podcast, brought to you by the Sustainability and Resilience Institute at the University of Southampton. This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season, produced for the Global Sustainability Challenges module where we debate some critical social justice aspects of 15-minute city concept, to conclude how it might be sustainably implemented in Southampton, UK. Host: Joseph Guests: Ruby and Trinity
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