Tune into BBC Radio 4 weekly from today (18 October) to listen to the third season of OU / BBC radio series, Rare Earth, with environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski.
Rare Earth digs into some of the biggest environmental issues facing our planet today, with fascinating insights from experts. Listeners can tune in live on Fridays at 12pm or listen later through BBC Sounds.
The third instalment of the series takes us on a journey from deep space to the ocean depths. As tech billionaires pursue their obsession with colonising other planets, Tom and Helen examine the impact of the space boom on the rest of us firmly connected to Earth. Elsewhere, cheaper satellites allow for better monitoring of environmental crimes, such as rainforest clearance and illegal fishing, but each launch comes with a cost to the planet.
Helen also meets the scientists trying to cut that price with the development of alternative fuels, while Tom asks if the prospect of fresh planetary homes helps encourage the trashing of Planet Earth.
This season of Rare Earth was supported with insight and expert opinion by academic consultants from the OU, Dr Martin Braun, Dr Simon Collinson, Dr Emma Dewberry and Dr Kadmiel Maseyk.
Dr Emma Dewberry, Senior Lecturer Design Ecologies, commented:
“The Rare Earth series serves as an important reminder of how interconnected the systems of our planet are. It brings together a range of perspectives to help make sense of the major changes and urgent challenges we’re seeing around the world. Led by Helen and Tom, the series covers a broad spectrum of topics, drawing on insights from experts in various fields. As an academic advisor, I’ve appreciated the chance to offer input on different episodes and consult with colleagues to contribute ideas and insights that add to these important conversations.”
Dr Martin Braun, Staff Tutor in Physical Sciences, added:
“As I have been involved in the first two series I can say that BBC Rare Earth explores important environmental issues in an accessible way focusing on ideas for solutions. Having had a sneak preview I can say that the third series is very worth listening to.”
Supporting Online content:
Visit our Broadcast and Partnerships website OU Connect where you can discover more about our environment and explore what we can do to help, as well as better understand the relationship between politics, policy, and environmental action.
This radio series was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, with particular relevance to R58 BSc Biology, Q52 BSc Environmental Science and Q61 BSc/BA Design and Innovation.
- Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast & Partnerships
- Academic Consultants – Dr Kadmiel Maseyk, Dr Emma Dewberry, Dr Simon Collinson and Dr Martin Braun
- Media Fellows – Andrew Norton
- Broadcast Project Manager – Jo Shipp
- Digital Content Producer – Xinmiao Zhang
