1823 Podcast

As the Metropolitan Police starts using live facial recognition software on the streets of London, we discuss whether we should fear the creep of surveillance or welcome it as a tool to keep us safe. Our first guest is Karen Cummings from the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing.

We then ask whether humans are as effective as machines when it comes to recognising faces. Dr Sarah Shrimpton and Dr Jessica Liu from LJMU’s Face Lab talk us through the fascinating world of facial identification, recognition and age progression software.

Links

Case study: Aric Austin age progression images

Case study: Jaycee Dugard age progression images

As the Senate trial gets under way, we discuss the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Dr Matthew Hill, Programme Leader of International Relations and Politics at LJMU, talks us through the impeachment process and what impact it may have on the 2020 presidential election.

We ask if impeachment is shaping Trump’s decision-making and take a look at his approach to the current tensions with Iran.

We also reflect on previous impeachments and the White House controversies of Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon.

LJMU was proud to host the Liverpool City Region’s first ever Environmental Summit.

As part of the Year of the Environment 2019, ‘Towards a Green Future’ brought together 300 representatives from organisations across the city region.

The 1823 Podcast team went along and chatted to:

• Dr Avril Rowley, from LJMU’s School of Education
• Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor (and LJMU alumnus)
• Clare Olver from the Mersey Forest
• Steven Connolly, Estate Director at Liverpool One

Links

Liverpool City Region Year of the Environment 2019

In this episode, we’re celebrating Black History Month.

Our guests are:

• Cllr Anna Rothery talking about becoming the first black Lord Mayor of Liverpool
• Phyll Opoku-Gyimah discussing how she co-founded UK Black Pride
• Dr Andre Keil telling the story of black Germany
• Plus, we revisit a previous conversation with Dr Andrea Livesey about Liverpool’s role in the slave trade

In this opening episode of our second season, we discuss the rise of deep fake videos, the history of fake news and the impact of propaganda on world events.

Our guests on this episode are:

• Dr Dave Ellis, Senior Lecturer at LJMU’s Media Technology Group
• Dr James Crossland, a reader in International History at LJMU
• Paul French, PhD researcher at LJMU

Links

Deep fake video – Bill Hader channels Tom Cruise
‘The quickness of the hand?’ by Dr Dave Ellis
‘Trump's Britain First retweets challenge us to fight his fake news habit’ by Paul French

With just a few tense weeks remaining in the Premier League title race, in this episode we’re talking mind games and the importance of psychology in sport.

Our guests in this episode are:

• Dr Rob Morris, Senior Lecturer in Sport Social Science at LJMU
• Alice Stratford, PhD researcher at LJMU
• Jansen Moreno, Senior Analyst at Huddersfield Town Football Club and LJMU alumnus

As it’s Wellbeing Week at LJMU, we’re talking about striving for positive mental and physical health wherever we live, work or study.

In this episode, we'll hear about different approaches to staying healthy and happy.

Our guests in this episode are:

• Angela Samata, LJMU Honorary Fellow
• Rosie Steele, President of LJMU Student Minds
• Andy Keegan LJMU Rewards, Recognition and Engagement Manager

Useful links:

• Zero Suicide Alliance
• Hub of Hope mental health support

“If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.” Sir David Attenborough.

In this episode, we discuss the need for a new deal for nature. We explore how we are tackling environmental challenges at global, regional and local levels.

Our guests on this episode are:

• Dr Celine Germond-Duret, senior lecturer in Human Geography at LJMU (@CGermondDuret)
• Zia Chaudhry, director of the Foundation for Citizenship at LJMU (@JustYAMuslim)
• Rachael Harrison, LJMU student and volunteer at LJMU’s Forest School (@ljmu_FSRangers)
• Pupils from Liverpool College

The photograph of ‘Earthrise’, taken from Apollo 8, is one of the most iconic images of the last century. It has been credited with changing our perception of our own planet and our attitude towards the environment. Exactly 50 years since it was taken, we explore the significance of the photograph, its impact on the environmental movement and discuss other influential photographs.

As The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ turns 50 years old, we discuss its musical and cultural significance, explore the origins and Liverpool links of one its most enduring songs and find out more about The Beatles’ interest in meditation.

Do we do enough as a nation to remember everybody affected by the First World War? We commemorated the fallen on Armistice Day, exactly 100 years since the end of WW1. Our guests on this episode argue that more should be done to remember others, such as war widows and conscientious objectors.

A number of recent studies show that loneliness is increasingly felt most strongly by young people, particularly 16-24 year olds. In this episode, we talk about the feelings associated with loneliness and how we can overcome them. We ask how young people can feel lonely in the social media age and explore some of the life events that can trigger loneliness.