THE Connect

The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong focuses on shaping students to be compassionate about animal welfare and nurturing their development as emerging veterinary scientists In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Vanessa Barrs, dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and student Jalal Abdullah Ali Abdulrahim about the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme at City University of Hong Kong. The episode explores the programme’s focus on practical clinical skills, research projects and real-world placements. This episode is sponsored by City University of Hong Kong.

Led by researchers at Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University, the LINKS project evaluates and strengthens evidence-based early-childhood programmes in conflict-affected countries, developing culturally grounded models that connect quality early education with long-term social cohesion and peacebuilding outcomes. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Laura Dunne, reader at the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast. They explore the global impact of the LINKS project and the next steps for research, policy and practice when integrating childhood development into peacebuilding efforts. This episode is sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast.

The Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield advances precision engineering through integrated research, doctoral training and close collaboration with industry partners. Through diverse funding streams and strategic innovation efforts, the centre delivers both fundamental research and real-world manufacturing impact while preparing for emerging technologies. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Alistair Lawrence speaks with Liam Blunt, director of the Centre for Precision Technologies, and Andrew Longstaff, research director at the Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Digital technologies give universities powerful ways to enhance how students learn, but the real challenge lies in using them effectively. Too often, new tools are introduced without input from those who will use them, leading to poor adoption. At Queen’s University Belfast, the Centre for Technological Innovation, Mental Health and Education collaborates with clinicians and educators to design immersive, practical learning experiences. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Paul Best, director of the Centre for Technological Innovation, Mental Health and Education, and Janine Stockdale, lead midwife for education at Queen’s University Belfast. This episode is sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast.

A partnership between University of Exeter and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has seen the two institutions collaborating to share resources, expertise and ideas relating to sport science. The partnership is addressing the needs of India’s rapidly growing sports sector, improving outcomes for elite athletes and increasing participation at the grassroots level. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Dominic Farris, associate professor and director of global engagement for the Department of Public Health and Sports Sciences at the University of Exeter, and Biswarup Mukherjee, associate professor in the Centre for Biomedical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. This episode is sponsored by the University of Exeter.

From the science of hearing and spatial perception to innovations in sound design, psychoacoustic research is transforming the way we listen. Audio and psychoacoustic engineering explore how humans perceive sound and how researchers use that knowledge to shape audio technology. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Hyunkook Lee, a professor of audio and psychoacoustic engineering at the University of Huddersfield. This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

The communities of microorganisms living within and around us shape the way infections begin, progress and resolve. By studying the microbiome alongside pathogens, researchers are uncovering why some individuals are more resilient than others and how this insight could transform prevention and treatment strategies. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Jo Fothergill, professor of medical microbiology in the Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, and Steve Paterson, professor of genetics in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at the University of Liverpool. This episode is sponsored by the University of Liverpool.

UK railway research is making rail transport more competitive, environmentally friendly and passenger-centric – both at home and abroad. The Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield works with academic, industry and government partners to ensure that its research has real-world impact. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Paul Allen, director of the Institute of Railway Research, and Joao Pombo, professor of railway technology at the institute. This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Rapid advances in AI are fundamentally altering how work is organised worldwide. Enterprises are rethinking how they operate, roles are being redesigned, and the skills required to succeed are evolving faster than ever. In response to these changes, Huawei has published a white paper, ICT Job Roles and Skills in the Intelligent World, offering guidance for organisations, educators and policymakers as they adapt to an AI-driven economy. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Dr. Mazen Ali, dean of the IT College at the University of Bahrain and president of the ISACA’s Bahrain Chapter, and Tamara Tavsultanova, executive manager in the ICT talent partner development department at Huawei. This episode is sponsored by Huawei.

The landscape of forensic investigation and national security is rapidly evolving, demanding a sophisticated fusion of academic rigour and operational experience. At the forefront of this movement is the University of Huddersfield, which is taking a pioneering approach to investigative psychology. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with John Synnott, who is director of the University of Huddersfield’s Professional Doctoral Academy, and Maria Ioannou, who is deputy director of the academy and director of the university's Cyberpsychology Research Network. This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

As AI transforms every facet of society, universities face the challenge of rethinking how we learn, teach and innovate. The National University of Singapore's School of Computing is rethinking its curriculum to move beyond traditional knowledge delivery and embrace AI-enabled, lifelong learning. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Tulika Mitra, dean of the School of Computing at the National University of Singapore, and Suranga Nanayakkara, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science. This episode is sponsored by the National University of Singapore.

Investigations into the Holocaust and other instances of mass violence require a compassionate approach that brings together disciplines from forensic science to poetry. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Caroline Sturdy Colls, a professor of Holocaust archaeology and genocide investigation at the University of Huddersfield. This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Faced with the urgency and severity of the climate crisis, and growing volumes of disinformation sowing doubt and confusion, universities must work together to ensure that those charged with making decisions affecting the future of our planet are provided with the robust, evidenced analysis they need. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Stuart Brocklehurst, deputy vice-chancellor for business engagement and innovation at the University of Exeter, and Amanda Ellis, senior director for global partnerships and networks at Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. This episode is sponsored by the University of Exeter.

The global population is projected to hit nearly 10 billion by 2050, creating a significant rise in demand for food. Societies urgently need to rethink traditional sources of protein, keeping environmental, ethical and health implications at the forefront of research. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Weibiao Zhou, head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore. This episode is sponsored by the National University of Singapore.

Advances in neuroscience and AI are improving our understanding of how the brain develops, ages and becomes vulnerable to disease. As scalable technologies bring the possibility of population-level brain health monitoring closer to reality, researchers are looking to a future where neuroscience, medicine and AI converge to transform care and prevention. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks to Helen Zhou, director of the Centre for Translational Magnetic Resonance Research at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. This episode is sponsored by the National University of Singapore.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Nazarbayev University, host Phil Baty speaks with Waqar Ahmad, president of Nazarbayev University. They discuss the universities rapid rise in global university rankings, the landscape of higher education in Kazakhstan, and Ahmad's vision for the future.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong. They discuss the urgent and grave threat that climate collapse poses to communities and ecosystems. Horton explains the vital role that higher education has to play in producing graduates with a strong understanding of sustainability, who can enact change long after graduation.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan Chair in Public Health Systems and associate pro vice-chancellor for innovation, and Procheta Sen, lecturer in computer science at the University of Liverpool. They discuss the university's the AI for Life research frontier, which places human needs at its core, rather than focusing solely on technology. This approach is deeply interdisciplinary, bringing together expertise from computer science, engineering, health, social sciences and the humanities.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Christine Huang, head of communication and media at City University of Hong Kong. They discuss how rapid advances in healthcare technologies and the constant flow of information shape the public's understanding of and response to health risks. Standing at the intersection of science, policy and public understanding, the conversation explores how communication influences public perception, trust, behaviour and, ultimately, health outcomes.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Huawei, host Alistair Lawrence speaks with Justin Mendes, director of applied and technical English and cross-cultural communications at Shenyang Institute of Technology. They discuss how Shenyang Institute of Technology's partnership with Huawei is setting a new standard in industry-education integration and talent cultivation, aligning curricula with industry needs and empowering students with hands-on access to cutting-edge technologies.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Michael Yang, senior vice-president for innovation and enterprise and director of the Institute of Digital Medicine at City University of Hong Kong. They discuss how digital medicine is revolutionising the way we prevent, diagnose and manage diseases, exploring the tools – like AI, wearable devices, telemedicine and big data analytics – that are making care more personalised, efficient and accessible.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the National University of Singapore, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Bryan Low, associate vice-president for AI, and associate professor of computer science at the university. They discuss the way AI is rapidly reshaping the landscape of higher education and how NUS is shaping its future. 

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Anderson Shum, vice-president of research at the university. They discuss why interdisciplinary science research is important, the practical challenges inherent in interdisciplinary science, and the areas of interdisciplinary science research that CityUHK excels in.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Laura Lundy, professor of children’s rights and co-director of the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast, and Deirdre Reidy, assistant principal officer of the Participation, Play and Recreation Unit in the Irish government’s Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. They discuss why it's critical to listen to children's and young people's voices when making decisions that affect them, and how policymakers can better engage with children.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Katie Atkinson, associate pro vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool and director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research. They discuss the centre's ambitious mission to tackle the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, exploring how it will foster collaboration among experts from diverse disciplines.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Sheffield, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Mohamed Pourkashanian, director of the Energy Innovation Centre at the University of Sheffield, Luke Ervine, head of sustainability at Virgin Atlantic, and Steve Gillard, regional sustainability director at Boeing. They discuss the far-reaching benefits of sustainable aviation fuel, the impact of Flight 100 on the field, and the radical collaboration required to make sustainable aviation fuel a global success.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Iain Styles, a professor in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast. Iain is also the director of the Centre of Intelligent Sustainable Computing. They discuss the challenges of integrating AI into healthcare settings, ongoing debates about the ethics of AI in healthcare and engagement with local communities.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the National University of Singapore, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Koh Lian Pin, associate vice-president and chief sustainability scientist at the National University of Singapore. They discuss how sustainability education can be used to foster innovative solutions to pressing environmental and social challenges – upskilling learners in the process.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Sheffield, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Tim Chico, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Sheffield. They discuss the South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub, exploring the ways the hub uses cutting-edge research to develop digital technologies for disease diagnosis and treatment.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Tara Shears, a professor of physics and frontier lead for particle physics, Monica D’Onofrio, professor of physics and head of research, and Christos Touramanis, a professor of experimental particle physics at the University of Liverpool. They discuss the university's involvement in cutting-edge research and innovation at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Richard English, a professor of politics and director of the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. They discuss how universities can contribute to analytical discussions on terrorism, replacing fear-driven narratives with research-backed solutions and perspectives.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Sheffield, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Dan Blackburn, a senior lecturer in neuroscience, Heidi Christensen, professor in computer science, and Caitlin Illingworth, a neuroscience PhD student at the University of Sheffield. They discuss their work on CognoSpeak, an online tool harnessing AI to analyse speech patterns and cognitive cues. CognoSpeak can identify subtle markers of cognitive decline that might be missed during routine evaluations, improving the dementia diagnosis experience for patients from all backgrounds.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with John Barry, a professor of green political economy and director of the Queen’s Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action. They discuss the ideologies that underpin green politics, the way it challenges capitalist growth models and the importance of radically rethinking widely accepted economic paradigms.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Karl Coleman, dean of physical sciences, Gabriella Pizzuto, a Royal Academy of Engineering research fellow and lecturer in robotics and chemistry automation, and Alessandro Troisi, a professor of chemistry at the University of Liverpool. They discuss the university's Materials Discovery Frontier, which brings together diverse disciplines and stakeholders to tackle global challenges and problems.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Alistair Lawrence speaks with Shampa Das, professor of antimicrobial therapeutics, Reecha Sofat, Breckenridge chair of clinical pharmacology, and Paul O’Neill, professor of chemistry at the University of Liverpool. They discuss the university's Therapeutics Innovation Frontier, a platform designed to deliver new therapies and improve existing ones for the benefit of patients locally, nationally and globally.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Aedín Cassidy, chair in nutrition and preventive medicine and director of interdisciplinary research at the Institute for Global Food Security, and Mark Emmerson, professor of biodiversity. Queen’s University Belfast has been awarded £60 million of joint funding to establish two collaborative, cross-institutional co-centres: the Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and the Climate+ Co-Centre. Cassidy and Emmerson discuss how the co-centres will tackle the grand challenges of food sustainability and climate change, looking at why an interdisciplinary approach is so valuable.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Mark Lawler, associate pro vice-chancellor and professor of digital health, and Philip Dunne, reader in molecular pathology at the Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. They discuss the growing availability of data in the healthcare sector and explore how this proliferation of information can empower clinicians to make data-driven decisions, elevating the patient experience and improving health outcomes. This data can also be used to spur policy change, acting as a force for positive transformation that’s backed by fact.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas, host Gitanjali Goswami speaks with Moises Norman Garcia and Maria Rosario Virginia Cobar, who are both professors and researchers in the university’s Department of Biological Sciences and the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education. Elfritzon Peralta, programme coordinator at the Organismic and Environmental Biology Cluster, also joins the conversation. They discuss the University of Santo Tomas’ efforts to integrate environmental awareness into its academic programmes, institutional policies and initiatives, exploring the challenges and successes brought by taking an interdisciplinary approach to addressing the climate crisis

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Joost Vossebeld, head of particle physics, Eva Vilella Figueras, UKRI Future Leader Fellow in the Department of Physics, and Graziano Venanzoni, Leverhulme International Professor of Physics. They discuss the unique expertise and infrastructure that the University of Liverpool offers its researchers, allowing them to push the frontiers of particle physics to understand the deepest secrets of the universe.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Larry Barham, professor in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, Nicola George, research technical professional at the University of Liverpool's Professor Elizabeth Slater Archaeological Research Laboratories, and Perrice Nkombwe, director of the Moto Moto Museum in Zambia. They discuss the Deep Roots of Humanity, a collaborative project investigating early technological change in south-central Africa. The project brings together researchers from different disciplines, institutions and academic backgrounds to expand our understanding of the way early humans planned and made tools.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Alison Holmes, David Price Evans chair in global health and infectious diseases, William Hope, Dame Sally Davies chair of antimicrobial resistance research, and Ishwar Singh, reader in pharmacology and therapeutics. They discuss the global challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance and the approaches they are taking to mitigate this threat, from developing new antibiotics to changing the behaviours that lead to their misuse. 

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Megha Nataraj, PhD Scholar in the Department of Physiotherapy, Smita Nayak, additional professor in the Department of Humanities and Management, and Dr B. Unnikrishnan, dean and professor of Community Medicine at Kasturba Medical College. They discuss the proactive approach MAHE has taken to promoting collaboration across diverse fields of study and encouraging researchers to work together on complex societal challenges.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Amanda Cahill-Ripley and Azadeh Chalabi, both senior lecturers at the university's School of Law and Social Justice. They discuss how the the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals provide a blueprint for a sustainable future for humanity, and why a healthy critique of existing policies is essential to the development of international human rights law.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Lincoln, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Kate Strudwick, dean of teaching and learning, Dave Pritchard, assistant director of the Lincoln Academy of Learning and Teaching, Tracey Laing, head of organisational development, and Rosie Damarell, people engagement and wellbeing manager at the university. They discuss how institutions can support faculty’s personal and professional development, as well as the importance of offering well-being policies that cater to the needs of a diverse body of staff.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Andy Cooper, a materials chemist and director of the Materials Innovation Factory, and Anna Slater, university research fellow and senior lecturer, about how close collaboration with industry can help universities solve the world’s most pressing problems.