War Studies

Following acceptance of his King's Alumni Award, Hermione Dadone, Communications Manager for the School of Security Studies talks to BBC News Presenter Rich Preston about his career in international journalism, his experience of studying at King’s, and the importance of telling complex global stories clearly and accurately. For more information about our work visit our website at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/security-studies Want to hear about future episodes? Sign up to our mailing list at: https://bit.ly/4iqzHAs

In the seventh edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), we take to the seas with Andrew Young (BA War Studies 2004-2007, current War Studies PhD candidate). Andrew was a young naval officer, deployed as a specialist educator, whose ships were re-routed to deal with humanitarian crises in Libya in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, HMS Enterprise, a survey vessel, was on patrol in the Mediterranean when it was sent to evacuate over 100 personnel from Tripoli, and again Andrew found himself as the resident 'expert' when HMS Bulwark was sent to rescue over 4,000 migrants from the sea off Libya, in 2015. The ships and their crews had to rapidly adapt to situations that they were not set-up to do - a superb example of military ‘adapt and overcome’. Expect to learn: - What it means to live aboard ship, in cramped conditions - How to adapt in rapid time to a new mission - How leadership, training and individual initiative drive success or failure under pressure.

What happens when public health, biology and conflict meet? In this episode of the War Studies Podcast, Dr Julia Pearce is joined by Dr Filippa Lentzos and Dr Gemma Bowsher from King’s College London to explore the changing landscape of biosecurity, CBRN threats and health security in conflict. The conversation examines how chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disinformation is being used as a weapon of war, with a particular focus on Russia’s narratives around biological laboratories in Ukraine. The episode also discusses the CBRN Disinformation Tracker, the challenge of maintaining trust in public health during conflict, and how Ukraine has become a critical case study for understanding health security under pressure. They also look beyond Ukraine to the Arctic and other regions, introducing the Matryoshka model: a way of understanding how a core disinformation claim is adapted to different local contexts, like Russian nesting dolls, by examining local histories, mistrust and geopolitical narratives. The discussion then turns to AI, dual-use science, biological weapons governance, and whether existing arms control regimes — including the Biological Weapons Convention — are fit for a rapidly changing world. Featuring: Dr Julia Pearce, Reader in Social Psychology and Security Studies Dr Filippa Lentzos, Reader in Science and International Security Dr Gemma Bowsher, physician social scientist affiliated with the King’s Centre for Conflict and Health Security

In this episode of the War Studies Podcast, PhD student Charlotte Bascaule speaks with Admiral Carlos Chagas Viana Braga, Commandant of the Brazilian Marine Corps. They discuss changes to the Brazilian Marine Corps, new technologies, maritime operations, peacekeeping and the challenges facing Brazil’s armed forces today.

In the sixth edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), Nick hosts and Rupert takes to the guest seat to speak about his own experience of war. As a young officer with 4th Battalion The Rifles, Rupert deployed to Basra, Iraq, in 2007, where he commanded a platoon given the task of defending the Provincial Joint Coordination Centre (PJCC), an isolated position in the centre of the city. One night in April, Rupert and 24 soldiers found themselves defending the PJCC against an attack by around 200 militia fighters. Over four hours, the defenders fought to prevent the position being overrun, for which the platoon was recognised with three gallantry awards, including two Military Crosses. Expect to learn: - What it means to command a mechanised rifle platoon in an urban counter-insurgency. - How 24 soldiers defended an isolated position against a much larger force during four hours of intense urban combat. - How leadership, training and individual initiative manifest in the pressure cooker of a defensive battle.