What's the Point?

We tend to see medicine as a strictly scientific sector, but the arts and humanities are essential when it comes to educating our doctors and caring for patients and the planet. Doctor and Professor of Medical Education Ian Fussell joins me to talk about:What is medical humanitiesHow and why we can use arts and humanities in medical educationThe links between planetary health, medical health, and social justiceWhy medical and scientific researchers need artists and humanities specialistsHow the humanities helped the medical field during the Covid-19 pandemicMedicine as an enabler of the arts and humanitiesFind Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind the pod @wtppod_Find Ian at the University of Exeter Medical SchoolArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Although there has been scientific consensus on the climate crisis for decades, humans have been slow to respond to its urgency. Environmental humanities researcher Conor Brennan joins me to talk about: What is environmental humanities?How can evironmental humanities help to solve the climate crisis?The role of popular culture in communicating the climate crisisThe problems that arise when we take arts and humanities out of the equations How art convinces people to change their behaviour about the climate crisisHow has the climate crisis affected literature and aesthetic experiments?Why climate activism should include humanities teaching in schools/universitiesRead "The Humanities in the UK Today" report by the Higher Education Policy InstituteOther sources discussed:Edward Said, "Jane Austen and Empire", Culture and Imperialism (1993)Richard Powers, The Overstory (2018)Kim Stanley Robinson, The Ministry for the Future (2020)Olga Tokarczuk, Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead (2009)Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind the pod @wtppod_Find Conor Artwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

In this time when "fake news" and "alternative facts" have become buzzwords, arts and humanities are more important than ever. Professional fact checker Sarah Turnnidge from Full Fact joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:How her humanities background prepared her for being a professional fact checkerAcademic English as a lens to look at different topicsHumanities as a natural place for the study of misinformationThe role of AI in misinformation and how humanities can analyse thatHow humanities teaches us to use evidenceThe role of narratives in (mis)informationThe fact checking that happens within the humanitiesFind Bryony @BF_Armstrong Find Sarah @sarah_turnnidge Artwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/ Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamer This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Cybersecurity researcher Dr Andrea Zeffiro joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about:The role of humanities in addressing technological challenges in data science domainsUsing humanities to solve problems surrounding data breachesConsidering the human elements of cybersecurity Understanding cybersecurity as more than a neutral protection of networks and dataThe problems we will have with cybersecurity if the humanities continue to be devalued and underfundedThe Reconfiguring Participation in Cybersecurity project at the Oxford Internet Institute can be found here.Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind Andrea hereArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Researcher and upcoming author Madeline Potter joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about:Tackling intergenerational poverty through the arts in Roma communitiesThe importance of knowing your own historyMaddy’s upcoming book, The Roma: A Travelling History  (Bodley Head/ Harper Collins, 2025)Why writing and research skills need to be valued and fundedThe role of humanities in combatting “fake news”Getting information directly from the sourceThe need for the Roma to be represented by Romani peopleThe article announcing Maddy's book auction can be found here.The Twitter thread that explains the truth of the Jane Austen headline can be found here.Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind Maddy @madeline_cctArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Arts Emergency co-founder Neil Griffiths joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about:How studying arts and humanities  helps you to pursue work in culture, politics and activismWhy all minoritised people need the option to study arts and humanitiesThe power of seeing yourself represented in cultureBreaking down the privilege associated with pursuing arts and humanities How reading literature can spark world-changing ideasThe need for diversity in creative and cultural industries and politics Why it doesn’t make economic sense to push STEM over arts and humanitiesThe insidious nature of anti-arts and humanities government policiesDonate to Arts Emergency here. If you work in the creative and cultural sectors, love arts and humanities, and want to break down barriers to entry, check out the mentor information here. Rishi Sunak's speech announcing the intention to get children to study maths until 18 can be found here.Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind Neil @_griffArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Business researcher Dr Ladan Cockshut joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about: What the Creative, Digital and IT (CDIT) sector is and how much it’s growingThe huge array of industries that need creative skillsHow Arts and Humanities academics interact with practitioners in the CDIT sectorHow creativity can lead to incomeCreating changes and measurable economic growth with creativityWhy it’s short sighted to say that an Arts and Humanities education doesn’t support labour market needsEpisode references:The Office for Students announcement about funding cuts: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-and-events/press-and-media/ofs-confirms-funding-reforms/Kiln Cafe in Newcastle: https://www.kiln.cafe/The report on changes in the north east economy: https://dro.dur.ac.uk/30075/ Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind Ladan @LadanCockshutGet in contact with Ladan: t.l.cockshut@durham.ac.ukArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Social historian Norma Gregory joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss: Useful skills and knowledge from an arts and humanities educationMaking recorded history  representative of the pastThe importance of accessibility in historical researchImproving mental health and wellbeing through heritageBringing people together and building communities through heritage Creating jobs in heritage workWhy art, humanities and creativity are essential for lifeWhy you can’t memorise your way through an arts or humanities degreePlease sign these petitions:https://www.change.org/p/no-job-cuts-at-birkbeck-university-of-londonhttps://www.change.org/p/no-job-cuts-in-english-at-birkbeck-university-of-londonFind out more about the Black Miners Museum: https://blackcoalminers.com/ Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind Norma @normagregoryNNC Artwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Lecturer in American literature Dr Xine Yao joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:Why defunding the humanities limits who has cultural capitalFeeling or unfeeling among minoritised groupsHow researching literature from the past can teach us about the presentThe relationship between humanities and social justiceWhy we can’t turn to the humanities unproblematicallyBringing humanities research to the publicThe different types of teaching and learning that happen in STEM/A&H classrooms Why do people in pubs demand that we explain our research, and then criticise it when we do?!The need for solidarity across STEM/A&HContent note: this episode contains some discussion about racism and homophobia.Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind Xine @XineYaoPhDArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Sensory historian Dr William Tullett joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:Using smell to engage with the presentThe impact of smell research on political choices and environmental justiceUsing smell to learn about historical experienceChanging up the hierarchies of senses and historical sourcesWhy we need to tackle myths about “bad smells” Why connecting with heritage mattersThe impact of the humanities on other disciplinesWhat you can really do when you study historyThe point of humanities in Covid-19 researchContent warning: this episode contains some discussion about racism.Credit notes:Sophia Stamatopoulou-Robbins, 'Scratch-and-sniff Palestine: How olfaction shapes nonsovereign infrastructural spaces': https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02637758221118572Alex Rhys-Taylor, Food and Multiculture: A Sensory Ethnography of East London: https://www.routledge.com/Food-and-Multiculture-A-Sensory-Ethnography-of-East-London/Rhys-Taylor/p/book/9781472581150Sentimental Garbage: Costume Dramas with Dr Emma Southon: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/costume-dramas-with-dr-emma-southon/id1444729607?i=1000566596029The artist mentioned is named Michael Pinsky: https://www.capefarewell.com/pollution-pods/Find Bryony @BF_ArmstrongFind William @WillTullettArtwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamerThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. 

PhD researcher Ciara Gorman joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:Where the humanities can take youThe study of languages and how people communicateThe importance of languages in political, personal and medical settingsThe skills we learn in the humanities classroomWhy the world fears gender studiesPaying attention to contemporary cultureContent warning: this episode contains some discussion about violence against women and mental illness.Credit note: the linguist referenced is Paula Teixeira Moláns who can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/pgrs/paulateixeiramol%C3%A1ns/.  As a clarification, in her talk she was discussing Galician, and said that: 'English has a limited vocabulary and relies on a spatial metaphor such as high and low pitch whilst other languages have other strategies. For instance Galician uses son agudo and grave (as in ‘acute’ or ‘pointy’, and ‘heavy’ or ‘serious’ respectively)'.Artwork: Riduwan Molla https://www.canva.com/p/riduwanmolla/Music: Madaan Mansij https://www.pond5.com/artist/mansij_tubescreamer This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.