Meliora: a podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute
Welcome to the Green Gown Award winning 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: Jack Dinham, Ellie Howell, Mya Harvey, Lily Killner, Sophie Green, Libby Kale, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton
Podcast communications: Tyler Domone-Hollands, 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
Episodes
152 episodes
Luc Phillips: Claws for concern - assessing the impact of an emerging aquatic invader through a multi-method approach
Luc Phillips (BSc Environmental Science) joins us to discuss this research project on the invasive potential of the Narrow-clawed crayfish within UK rivers. More specifically, we delve into how research methods such as kick sampling, crayfish t...
Rosie Watson: What, if anything, is epistemically criticisable about rhetoric, and when might the use of rhetoric be permissible?
Rosie Watson, BA Philosophy, joins us to discuss her research project “What, if anything, is epistemically criticisable about rhetoric, and when might the use of rhetoric be permissible?” Rhetoric has frequently been treated as epis...
Mia Wake: Minke whale foraging- an analysis in Northeast Scotland
Mia Wake (BSc Environmental Science) joins us in this episode of the Meliora Student Research Symposium, to discuss her independent research project "An analysis of the fine-scale spatial ambit and habitat utilisation of foraging minke whales i...
Uncovering the environmental costs of the fast fashion industry
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we are discussing the environmental impacts of fast fashion, including the production of water waste, carbon emissions and energy usage relative to the garment industry, using Shein...
The Shrimp farming dilemma
In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast we explore the rapid growth of shrimp aquaculture in India within a globalised food system. We examine the economic opportunities the industry creates, including export growth and employme...
Sustainable Food Systems: Corporate vs Individual Responsibility
From discussions surrounding food packaging waste to food waste itself, this student takeover episode of the Meliora podcast explores the notion of “who is really responsible” for these issues in sustainable food systems. Is there a lack of act...
Sustaining our Coastlines: Pressures and Pathways for Coastal Futures
This student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast is hosted by Sandeep and colleagues David, Evelyn, and Dalma. The episode explores some of the major human pressures the coastlines face and how that impacts sustainability, along with potent...
World Cup Sustainability: Qatar 2022 vs North America 2026
In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season, we discuss sustainability in sports comparing the 2022 Qatar and 2026 United States, Canada, and Mexico FIFA World Cups. We discuss similarities and differences in consumption, inf...
The Impacts of Fishing for Sustainable Futures
In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season, we address sustainability in our oceans, specifically focusing on how the environmental, economic and social impacts of fishing shape our futures. We discuss mangrove deforestation...
“Is AI for good?: A sustainable synergy”
In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season, we ask 'Is our continued use of AI a sustainability problem solver, or is it just creating new issues'? This episode explores both sides of the debate, investigating the modern-day...
“Behind the Screen: The Sustainability of Remote Work”
In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season, we explore the sustainability of remote working and whether it is truly a long-term solution or comes with hidden costs. We discuss its social, economic, and environmental impacts,...
Do as I say, not as I do: The Sustainable Behaviour Gap
Why do people say they care about sustainability but struggle to act on it? In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast we explore the ‘sustainable behaviour gap’- the disconnect between environmental values and everyday...
Uncovering the Masked Environmental Costs of the COVID-19 Crisis
We know that the COVID-19 pandemic caused an urgent global focus on public health, however what were the costs to our planet? This episode aims to uncover the masked environmental costs of the COVID-19 pandemic, delving into the overlooked cost...
The Sustainability of Coffee
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season, we explore UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through the lens of one of the world’s most consumed commodities…coffee. With an ...
Uncovering Curitiba: The Hidden flaws of Brazil’s ‘Environmental Capital’
In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast we discuss whether Brazil’s environmental capital Curitiba is a blueprint for sustainable city design, or just too good to be true. We address the planning and development of ...
Impact Agenda - The Reality behind SDG 12
In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast we discuss the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12, which concerns responsible consumption and production. We begin with an overview of what SDG 12 is and the critic...
The Hunger Games: SDGs VS Ozempic
In this student takeover episode of the Meliora podcast, we explore the sustainability issues surrounding the rising trend in weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, to assess the extent to which they align with the United Nations Sustaina...
COP: Cop it or Drop it?
This student takeover episode of the Meliora podcast explores the effectiveness of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and attempts to answer the following question: “COP: Cop It or Drop It.” ?This is achieved through an investi...
Plant-Based Diets for a Sustainable Future
In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season, Jess and Eden discuss whether plant-based diets are the key to a sustainable future and, if so, whether this change starts with the individual. From climate change to biodiversity ...
Unearthing secrets of the global sand industry
In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute at the University of Southampton, we investigate a highly important yet easily overlooked resource - sand. What happens when something we...
How can we overcome barriers to being a vegan society?
In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (SRI) at the University of Southampton, we are discussing the sustainability impacts of veganism and the barriers that prevent individual...
Addressing Knowledge-Behaviour Gaps in Student Consumer Sustainability Awareness
In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season we address student consumer awareness gaps across the sustainability topics of food, sport, music and travel. Analysing the results sent to 34 fellow University of Southampton stude...
Not So Sweet: The Hidden Cost of Chocolate
In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we discuss the complex sustainability challenges hidden within the multi-billion dollar chocolate industry. From widespread deforestation and climate impacts to the stark pay inequa...
Jamie Agombar - the inspirational visionary leader who has transformed sustainability across the HE sector
We are absolutely thrilled to be joined by the most impactful Sustainability Leader in the Higher Education sector, the hugely inspirational Jamie Agombar, CEO of Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS) UK!Jamie chats about his care...
🧟♀️🧟♂️ The Zombie Apocalypse and the Sustainable Development Goals - part 2 🧟♂️🧟♀️
Welcome to Part 2 of our double episode asking ‘if there’s a Zombie Apocalypse, how on Earth will we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?’. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, we suggest you listen to that first. T...