216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson

Winter landscape showing a snow-covered alpine valley with traditional wooden chalets scattered across rolling hills. Dramatic snow-capped mountain peaks rise in the background beneath a cloudy sky with soft golden light. Bare trees dot the foreground of the pristine white valley.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oeCe6ki4rstiNJjSAveCH?si=6ZBMYXCvQByzGbOMvo-oNg Can we find a middle ground between those who see the EU's wolf downlisting as a catastrophe and those who celebrate it as good news? The debate around wolf conservation in the EU has become frustratingly polarised, with both sides 'crying wolf' about the consequences of changing protection status. It's time to step back … Continue reading 216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson →

213: Ferret Eradication from Rathlin Island with David Tosh

Dramatic coastal cliffs with columnar basalt formations stretching along a rugged Irish coastline, where steep grass-covered slopes meet dark volcanic rock faces plunging into turquoise Atlantic waters with white wave breaks, under partly cloudy skies with rolling moorland plateaus in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7M4KsOTy6OZpPfYYVqbL0z?si=5cb93c306a9f4ae0 What are the ethical considerations when eradicating invasive species from an island? How do you develop wireless technology to monitor hundreds of traps across difficult terrain? Why do conservation projects like this cost so much more than people expect? These are some of the questions we explore in our conversation about the LIFE Raft … Continue reading 213: Ferret Eradication from Rathlin Island with David Tosh →

209: Beavers vs Salmon – Balance the Scales with Rob Needham

This image shows a beaver dam in a natural woodland setting. The dam is constructed from intricately woven branches, twigs, and logs that the beavers have gathered and arranged to block the flow of a small stream or creek. You can see how the structure has created a pond on one side, with calm, reflective water, whilst on the other side there's still flowing water continuing downstream.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2K6kymjt1W2diGncubxAil Can beavers save Britain's dying rivers? Are these ecosystem engineers the key to reversing the catastrophic decline of Atlantic salmon, or do their dams create impassable barriers for struggling fish populations? With salmon numbers plummeting by 70% in just 20 years and predictions they could vanish entirely within two decades, the stakes couldn't be … Continue reading 209: Beavers vs Salmon – Balance the Scales with Rob Needham →

199: Circumnavigating the Globe for Science with Bert terHart

The image shows a person standing on a sailing yacht with their arms raised upwards in what appears to be a joyful or celebratory gesture. They're wearing a light-coloured cap, a grey t-shirt and patterned shorts. The yacht has a dark blue sail cover folded on the boom above. The vessel has a white hull with porthole windows and various sailing equipment visible, including winches and rigging. There appears to be another person partially visible inside the cabin area. The scene takes place on a sunny day with a shoreline and buildings visible in the background, suggesting this is at a marina or coastal area.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/34Id2NXZLteAoxFJ0iYNxd Can one person sailing solo around the world contribute to scientific knowledge? What happens when you encounter illegal fishing vessels in the middle of the ocean? How can we address the growing crisis of plastic pollution in our seas? In this episode, we dive into these questions with Bert terHart, a scientist, explorer and … Continue reading 199: Circumnavigating the Globe for Science with Bert terHart →

195: Can Hunting Foster Environmental Stewardship? Conversation with Thorsten Gieser

A group of hunters standing in a line wearing yellow hunting jackets and dark trousers, with some wearing hunting hats. Behind them hangs a row of harvested rabbits or similar game animals on a wooden frame. The scene is set in a misty or foggy wooded area, creating a moody atmosphere. The hunters appear to be gathered for what might be an end-of-hunt gathering or inspection of their quarry.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ppiuvpQiPlitGsQdn1QZI What makes someone kill an animal and still claim to care deeply about nature? Can the act of hunting foster environmental stewardship? These somewhat provocative questions lie at the heart of my conversation with Thorsten Gieser, an anthropologist studying hunting practices and their deeper meaning in modern society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZEUi8k_GDk Our discussion explores the complex … Continue reading 195: Can Hunting Foster Environmental Stewardship? Conversation with Thorsten Gieser →

188: Peer Review Reimagined – How Stacks Journal is Transforming Scientific Publishing

A dimly lit office or archive room with towering stacks of papers and documents scattered across a desk. The centrepiece is a precariously tall pile of white papers, illuminated by soft, diffused light streaming through unseen windows. The background shows blurred outlines of bookshelves and filing cabinets, suggesting a vast repository of information. The image evokes themes of bureaucracy, information overload, or investigative work.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4EpYoUA7VQxkIBZM2g3Hrn?si=9107bdefa8dc4510 Is scientific publishing broken? How can we make it more accessible and inclusive? And what if peer review could be collaborative and efficient instead of opaque and burdensome? In this episode, we dive into the world of academic publishing with Dr David Green, founder of Stacks Journal. We talk about how the current system … Continue reading 188: Peer Review Reimagined – How Stacks Journal is Transforming Scientific Publishing →

185: Farmers’ Perspective on Carnivore Reintroductions with Jonny Hanson

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zglYTuVc3e21c943KDYu0 Can large carnivore conservation coexist with livestock farming? In this episode, environmental social scientist Jonny Hanson and I discuss the complex issue of large carnivore reintroductions in Britain and Ireland. What are farmers' perspectives on sharing landscapes with predators like wolves and lynx? How can we balance conservation goals with the realities of modern … Continue reading 185: Farmers’ Perspective on Carnivore Reintroductions with Jonny Hanson →

184: Novel Ecosystems and Nature-Based Solutions with Marcus Collier

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pIE8ImVDkkEbfMUJSNeqX Are humans part of nature or separate from it? How do we define native species, and should we always strive to eradicate invasive ones? Can urban green spaces play a role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss? And what is the Anthropocene anyway? These are only some of the questions I discussed with … Continue reading 184: Novel Ecosystems and Nature-Based Solutions with Marcus Collier →

179: Sika Deer: Pest or Precious?

A young male Sika deer with antlers stands in a field of tall, brown and green grasses. The deer is looking to the left of the frame. The background is a blurry green field.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cWzbBrUaEnbe6yNFv2crZ Sika (cervus nippon) is a mid-sized deer that was introduced to Ireland in the 1860s to the Powerscourt Estate. Soon after that, it started spreading across Ireland. Today, the main concentrations of sika are in Kerry, Wicklow, Tyrone and Fermanagh. More recently, it has also been found in Waterford, Galway, Limerick, and Wexford. The … Continue reading 179: Sika Deer: Pest or Precious? →

176: Invasive Ants Impact Lion Predation on Zebras, with Adam T. Ford

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mbU23q3H125O4N6d8i51b?si=308ecea0530f4d16 If you are a regular listener to the podcast or you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I read a fair number of scientific papers on subjects of conservation and ecology. Some of them are related to topics I’m investigating for the podcast and some others are just interesting for me. … Continue reading 176: Invasive Ants Impact Lion Predation on Zebras, with Adam T. Ford →