Artificial intelligence often struggles with the ambiguity, nuance, and shifting context that defines human reasoning. Fuzzy logic offers an alternative, by modelling meaning in degrees rather than absolutes.

In this roundtable episode, ResearchPod speaks with Professors Edy Portmann, Irina Perfilieva, Vilem Novak, Cristina Puente, and José María Alonso about how fuzzy systems capture perception, language, social cues, and uncertainty. 

Their insights contribute to the upcoming FMsquare Foundation booklet on fuzzy logic, exploring the role of uncertainty-aware reasoning in the future of AI.

You can read the previous booklet from this series here: Fuzzy Design-Science Research

You can listen to previous fuzzy podcasts here: fmsquare.org

Join Professor Michelle Barbour in this captivating conversation with Professor Marc Holderied from the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences. Discover how a serendipitous encounter with a fluffy moth in Costa Rica sparked a 30-year scientific journey that led to the development of ultra-thin, nature-inspired sound-absorbing materials.  

🎙️ In this episode follow Marc’s path to Bristol and his passion for acoustics including:

• Fascinating collaborations with Bristol Zoo, including the discovery of a new frog species and a mysterious bat call  
• The groundbreaking invention of an acoustic tomograph  
• How moth wings inspired the creation of acoustic metamaterials  
• Finding real-world applications from the study of moth wings from noise-reducing wallpaper to quieter aircraft cabins  
• A dream to reduce the hidden health costs of urban noise pollution  

Read his original research article : https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2313549121

⭐Highlights 

0:00 – Introducing the Enterprise Sessions and Professor Marc Holderied 

0:34 – Marc’s journey to Bristol 

2:22 – Discovering new species of frogs and bats with Bristol Zoo 

4:41 – How shaving a moth’s wings led to an enterprise opportunity 

7:49 – How moths evolved an acoustic invisibility cloak to evade bats  

13:01 – From research to enterprise: developing acoustic wallpaper and ultra-thin sound absorbers 

16:46 – The societal impacts of noise pollution 

21:48 – The role Enterprise Fellowships and the University of Bristol’s Commercialisation team and others in going from research to enterprise 

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spin-outs and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact.

The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions

🔗 Connect with 

Marc Holderied https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-holderied/  

Michele Barbour https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-barbour-7b049566/  

This is the third in a series of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making.’

'Who is making claims over sociodigital futures' looks at which actors are making futures claims. Should we pay heed to government announcements around the capabilities of AI and how it will change our lives? Can any single actor make such sweeping generalisations when there are many possible futures in front of us?

Hear from Dale Southerton, Susan Halford and Helen Manchester in this fascinating and timely discussion.

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally.  The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

This is the first of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making.’  We are addressing the research question ‘What sociodigital futures are being claimed and made, and how, by which actors, across key areas of social life?’ Each of the three podcasts will address What, How and Who.

In this episode we hear from Debbie Watson, David Evans, Bridget Anderson and Rich Hemming as they discuss what defines futures. Futures are multiple, and we explore if they are on the way or already here. Can they be resisted or are some inevitable?'

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally.  The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

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This second of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making' is asking 'How are sociodigital futures being claimed?'

Claims about the future shape government policies, shape investments that are made by companies, and how all of us think about our lives. But how are these claims being made?

Listen to Susan Halford, Jessica Pykett, Debbie Watson, Paul Clarke and Beckie Coleman as they  explore this timely subject.

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally.  The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged. 

Littering is a global issue with serious environmental and economic impacts. But, what drives people to act responsibly?

Sonny Rosenthal from Singapore Management University and Pengya Ai, a PhD student from Nanyang Technological University are interested in how social norms shape pro-environmental behaviour. Their research reveals how descriptive norms (what people do) and injunctive norms (what people should do) interact with personal responsibility, challenging assumptions about collective action and the bystander effect. The findings offer a new framework for understanding how individuals respond to social cues, and how policy can use these vital insights.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60047-0

Green innovation is often seen as the key to sustainable growth. But, not all eco-technologies deliver the same results.

Cheng Qiang from Singapore Management University examines how pollution prevention and pollution control impact firms’ profitability and environmental performance, revealing why prevention strategies offer greater financial and environmental returns.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2024.101706

Can CRISPR help build a unified platform for biological discovery?

Dr Kaivalya Shevade from the Laboratory for Genomics Research (UCSF) is developing new CRISPR-based screening methods to map gene networks, understand drug resistance, and track neuronal activity in disease. 

The research team’s innovations, including the CAT-ATAC assay and the Plexus machine learning model, show how combining biology with computation could accelerate the search for new treatments.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.11.637716

How does financial transparency affect how CEO’s themselves are paid?

Young Jun Cho and Hojun Seo investigate how the introduction of SFAS 131, requiring companies to report performance by business segments, impacts equity-based compensation. Their research reveals that more granular disclosure reduces the need for stock-based incentives, especially in firms with weak internal oversight, but strong external scrutiny. The findings show how reporting rules can act as powerful tools of corporate governance, reshaping executive behaviour and investor influence.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12928

10 years is a long time in politics. In 2015, Javier Milei was a professor of economics making occasional appearances on Argentinian TV programmes. Today, he is more commonly seen wielding prop chainsaws as Argentina's Libertarian president.

Dr Sara Garcia Santamaria of the University of Bristol speaks with as again about masculinity, memeability, and Milei's version of and populism through the lens of Carnivale. After all, what's a strongman without a circus?

Find more of Dr Santamaria's work on ResearchGate

Listen to her previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/582022/17469780

Changing political tides across the globe are inextricably linked to the use of social media and internet based messaging. But something as simple as a photo of your lunch can't be part of the same spin... Right?

Dr Sara Garcia Santa Maria from the University of Bristol joins us to discuss her research into diet, culture and social media among populist politicians.

Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.51698/tripodos.2020.49p129-149

Posing with the People: Food Porn and the Far-Right in a Post-Truth Era. In Contois, E. and Kish, X. (Eds.). #Food Instagram: Identity, Influence, and Negotiation. https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=58mye9fd9780252044465

It is increasingly proclaimed that the world is in a polycrisis, a term and set of assumptions which have become a moniker for our times; a moment where multiple crises converge, requiring urgent attention and a future-focused solution.

For influential organisations the polycrisis concept makes problems of uncertainty accessible to foresight-informed solutions. Yet foresight frames frequently foreclose the kinds of futures knowledge delivered and sustain a consultancy-led futures industry. 

Join Sarah Pink, Laureate Professor and Director of the Emerging Technologies Lab and FUTURES Hub at Monash University and Susan Halford, Co-director of the ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures as they discuss the polycrisis, foresight and the role of futures research in addressing challenges facing society.

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally.  The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

Professor Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, has been long credited for his efforts to popularise science – particularly mathematics and related subjects.

Here, he discusses his motivation for popularising mathematics and the balance between his academic research and public engagement, and explores the challenges and goals of democratising science.

Emphasising the importance of informed decision-making on complex issues like artificial intelligence, energy, and even music, du Sautoy has a wide-ranging array of expertise which he intends to share with the public.

Read more in Research Features

In trying times, we all look for leadership. But leadership skills have to come from somewhere. Understanding how, where and why these skills develop is an important part of the continuing journey to more inclusive and collaborative leadership practice. 

Dr Nicola Patterson, Dr Amy Stabler and Professor Sharon Mavin discuss the programme they lead at Newcastle University Business School. The MSc in Strategic Leadership course seeks to engage with leadership learners in a critical way, so as to unlearn traditional ’norms’ of leadership and open new approaches to foster inclusive, sustainable and reflexive leadership practices. 

Read the original article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13505076231162717 

How do analysts respond to company forecasts during mergers?

Dr Ahmad Ismail from the American University of Beirut analyses over 2,000 U.S. takeovers to find out. His research shows that analysts are more likely to revise earnings upwards when companies forecast large cost-saving synergies, and when led by level-headed CEOs. These revisions often predict real market gains, pointing to a clear investment signal.

Read more research: researchgate/Ahmad-Ismail

What can film reviews tell us about gender bias in the movie industry?

Dr Wael Khreich from the American University of Beirut explores this question with Genderly, a custom-built AI tool that analyses the language of 17,000 professional reviews. His findings reveal that female-led films are far more likely to be judged through a biased lens—subtly and overtly reinforcing stereotypes. This research sheds light on how language shapes perception, influences careers, and contributes to broader societal inequalities.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316093

Communication shapes the mediation process, influencing trust, negotiation dynamics, and dispute resolution outcomes.

Associate Professor Dorcas Quek Anderson from Singapore Management University explores how different communication modes – face-to-face meetings, video-conferencing, audio communication, and text messaging – affect mediation effectiveness. Her research highlights the strengths and limitations of each mode, offering a framework to help mediators choose the right approach for different disputes in a post-pandemic world.

Read the original research: library.smu.edu.sg/solresearch/4489/

What makes open societies more resilient in the face of global crises like climate change and artificial intelligence?

Stefan Brunnhuber of the World Academy of Art and Science unpacks why open societies—rooted in critical thinking, civic freedom, and institutional balance—hold the key to thriving in the 21st century, while autocracies remain reliant on the very systems they oppose.

Visit the World Academy of Art and Science website: worldacademy.org

Read more: amazon.co.uk/Stefan-Brunnhuber

Heating and cooling our homes, workplaces and public spaces is a source of constant effort, and expense. What can new technologies offer to help hold warmth, or aid air circulation? What if one solution could do both?

Dr Miren Juaristi Gutierrez from Eurac Research in Bolzano, Italy, joins us to discuss innovative architectural features that could save energy, money, and carbon in future designs.

Find more at : https://zeraf-technology.eu/ 

What impact does artificial intelligence have on the evolution of consciousness, and could it mark the beginning of a new form of awareness beyond the human?

Stefan Brunnhuber of the World Academy of Art and Science explores how AI, as a transformative technology, reshapes not only society but the filters through which we perceive modern life — bridging biology, cognition, and cosmic consciousness.

Visit the World Academy of Art and Science website: worldacademy.org

Read more: amazon.co.uk/Stefan-Brunnhuber

Space is a key feature of social life. But does the digitalisation of society affect its spatial dimensions, and if so, how? 

In this podcast, Leverhulme Visiting Professor Theodore Schatzki discusses his work exploring digitality, different types of space and notions of virtual realities, such as cyber space.

With Dale Southerton and Leverhulme Visiting Professor Theordore Schatzki.

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally.  The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

Economic forecasting is particularly challenging during global crises, with predictions often hampered by uncertainty and external factors.

Hwee Kwan Chow and Keen Meng Choy from Singapore Management University examine Singapore’s GDP and inflation forecasts during the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, uncovering the influence of government projections and herding behaviour that affect prediction accuracy.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1007/s00181-022-02311-8

The fifth and final TRUUD podcast explores the future of urban development and the necessary investments for creating healthier places. Host Andrew Kelly with experts Daniel Black, TRUUD Research Co-Director and Thomas Aubrey, Credit Capital Advisory, discuss the issue of short-termism in planning and the importance of long-term vision, drawing parallels with historical and European examples. 

They highlight the need for integrated planning that includes transport, green spaces, and social infrastructure alongside housing. The conversation examines methods for measuring the impact of urban development on health and the economy, introducing the HAUS model from TRUUD. Financing models, including land value capture, are considered crucial for delivering sustainable and high-quality urban environments. 

The podcast also touches on the significance of leadership, devolution, and community involvement in achieving these goals.

Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry.

Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/ 

Books recommended in the episode

Daniel Black:

The Death of Rural England by Alan Hawkins 

Small Is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher 

How Institutions Think by Mary Douglas 

Thomas Aubrey:

Good Cities, Better Lives: How Europe Discovered the Lost Art of Urbanism by Peter Hall, with contributions from Nicholas Falk.

Andrew Kelly:

The film They Came to a City (1944) directed by Basil Dearden and adapted from a play by J.B. Priestley. Available on BFI Player.

Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music

Produced by Beeston Media.

The fourth podcast episode from the TRUUD programme explores public engagement in shaping healthier urban environments. Hosted by Andrew Kelly in conversation with Dr Andy Gibson, University of the West of England and Dr Miriam Khan, GP and member of the TRUUD Public Advisory Board, they explore the importance of involving communities and listening to their lived experiences in policy creation. 

They examine methods for effective engagement, such as deliberative approaches and the use of visual aids, highlighting challenges and successes in projects like low traffic neighbourhoods. The guests also recommend books that underscore the principles of people-centred urban development and the accessibility of scientific information.

Funded by the  UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry.

Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/

Books recommended in the episode

Dr Miriam Khan

Happy Cities by Charles Montgomery

Dr Andy Gibson

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Andrew Kelly

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music

Produced by Beeston Media.

The third podcast episode from TRUUD explores the complexity of achieving long-term, lasting change within urban development to foster healthier lives. Host Andres Kelly discusses with Dr Krista Bondy, University of Stirling, and Dr Neil Carhart, University of Bristol, how current systems struggle to address interconnected challenges, often leaving practitioners feeling powerless. 

The conversation emphasises the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach and systems thinking to understand the various influencing factors and overcome short-term perspectives. 

This episode investigates how to create interventions that are sustainable and prioritise health and equity for current and future generations, suggesting a need to reconsider societal values and decision-making processes.

Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry.

Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/

Recommended reading from episode

Krista Bondy:

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal

Justice and the Politics of Indifference by Iris Marion Young

Neil Carhart:

Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows

Andrew Kelly:

The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short Term World by Roman Krznaric

Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music

Produced by Beeston Media.