Best University Of Oslo Podcasts (2024)

1
Administrative Capacity and Its Impact on Development in Pakistan — Sameen A. Mohsin Ali 52:04

2d ago52:04

52:04

Effective bureaucracies are pivotal in mobilizing resources, implementing development projects, and ensuring equitable distribution of growth benefits across all societal segments. Conversely, weak administrative systems often result in inefficiency, corruption, and the derailment of vital development efforts aimed at improving health, education, a…

1
Infrastructure, Governance, and Society in Modern Africa — Karuti Kanyinga 43:48

9d ago43:48

43:48

A common concern voiced by leaders in many developing nations is the deterioration of their road systems and the apparent hesitance of the international community to fund infrastructure improvements. In response, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. This sweeping project has facilitated investments in sectors such as transport…

1
Politics of the Planet — Lan Marie Nguyen Berg 52:07

16d ago52:07

52:07

The continued reliance on a "business as usual" model is insufficient for countering the detrimental consequences of global warming. Numerous studies, including the influential reports from the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have sparked a keen interest in understanding the prerequisites for the societal transformations necess…

1
Tackling the Energy Access and Development Challenge — Jörg Ankel-Peters 45:34

24d ago45:34

45:34

Many nations around the world are grappling with the challenge of providing reliable and sustainable energy access to their populations. Half a billion people, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, still rely on biomass for their basic needs, underscoring the urgent necessity for innovative energy solutions. The quest for elec…

1
179: Discovery vs. maintenance 48:38

24d ago48:38

48:38

Dan and James discuss how scientific research often neglects the importance of maintenance and long-term access for scientific tools and resources. Other things they cover: Should there be an annual limit on publications (even if this were somehow possible)? The downsides of PhD by publication The Gates Foundation's new Open Access policy Other lin…

1
Eastern Easter 31:48

27d ago31:48

31:48

In this Easter special, doctoral research fellow Kristina Sočanski Čelik shares her insights and reminiscences of Eastern Easter - and the religious musical traditions of the Orthodox Christian church. Based on her research on how contemporary composition relates sonic experiences to the spiritual, this show takes listeners across the Greek, Ukrain…

1
The US-China Partnership That Transformed International Trade — Elizabeth Ingleson 47:55

1M ago47:55

47:55

In the fabric of today's interconnected globe, "Made in China" has emerged as a richly layered emblem, intertwined with economic, political, and cultural narratives. Every day, consumers worldwide engage with this tag, embedded in an array of products, prompting us to ponder: What deeper meanings unfold from the assertion that a product is "Made in…

1
Empowering Change: Leadership's Role in Global Development — Willem Fourie 45:53

1M ago45:53

45:53

Effective leadership is characterized by its ability to inspire collective action, foster inclusivity, and navigate the intricate dynamics of political, economic, and cultural landscapes to drive meaningful change. The challenge of leadership in the context of development is further complicated by the need for adaptability and resilience. Leaders m…

1
Cityscapes and Sanctuaries: Exploring the Socio-Spatial and Religious Dynamics of Johannesburg and Lagos — Obvious Katsaura 47:47

1M ago47:47

47:47

The African continent is projected to have the fastest urban growth rate in the world: by 2050, Africa’s cities will be home to an additional 950 million people. While this surge presents urban centers with a wealth of opportunities such as a larger workforce, increased consumer markets, and greater potential for cultural exchange, it also brings f…

1
Voices and Votes: Shaping the Democratic Landscape in Africa — Boniface Dulani 1:00:04

2M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

The landscape of democracy in Africa is characterized by a dynamic interplay between achievements and obstacles, particularly as the continent approaches a pivotal year with numerous elections scheduled in 2024. Countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, and Senegal are preparing for electoral contests, underscoring a persistent belief in…

1
What is Musical Inheritance? Part 2 28:37

2M ago28:37

28:37

In this episode of The Music Talkshow, produced by Tejaswinee Kelkar in collaboration with Oslo's Historical Museum, Tejaswinee speaks with Dr. Boro Baski about the musical heritage of the Santhal ethnic community; the instrument banam and the long process of creating, becoming, and in other ways inheriting musical heritage, such as singing folk so…

1
178: Alerting researchers about retractions 49:45

2M ago49:45

49:45

Dan and James discuss the Retractobot service, which emails authors about papers they've cited that have been retracted. What should authors do if they discover a paper they've cited has been retracted after they published their paper? Other things they chat about A listener question about including examiner's comments in thesis The different types…

1
Democracy in the Balance: Navigating Latin America's Political Landscape — Gerardo Munck 45:06

2M ago45:06

45:06

The political landscape of Latin America has undergone major transformation since the democratization wave of the 1980s and 1990s. During this time, most democracies in the region have managed to persist, albeit with a few notable exceptions. However, the quality of these democracies has often been questioned. Guillermo O’Donnell's characterization…

1
The Globalization of Finance and Its Impact on State Building — Didac Queralt 50:20

2M ago50:20

50:20

An increasing number of countries are struggling with rising debt and facing defaults. A recent World Bank report revealed that developing countries paid a record $443.5 billion in 2022 to service their public debts, a situation exacerbated by surging global interest rates and a strong U.S. dollar. This debt servicing cost represents a 5% increase …

1
The Genesis of the Human Development Report and Index — Meghnad Desai 20:49

2M ago20:49

20:49

The landscape of development theory, measurement, and policy was transformed in 1990 with the publication of the first Human Development Report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This report also introduced the Human Development Index, which is a summary measure of average achievement in 3 key dimensions of human development: life ex…

1
Global Structural Reform: Poverty, Freedom, Justice, and Innovation — Thomas Pogge 57:24

3M ago57:24

57:24

We explore the idea that the gravest deficits in freedom are intrinsically linked to poverty, impacting individuals and nations worldwide. We also examine the global innovation regime's crucial role in shaping progress and human development. International impact funds encourage and reward innovations based on their social benefits, potentially revo…

1
177: Plagiarism 42:52

3M ago42:52

42:52

We discuss two recent plagiarism cases, one you've probably heard about and another that you probably haven't heard about if you're outside Norway. We also chat about the parallels between plagiarism and sports doping—would people reconsider academic dishonesty if they were reminded that future technology may catch them out? Here are some of the ta…

1
The Future of Industrialization – Jostein Hauge 47:47

3M ago47:47

47:47

Few events have transformed society as profoundly as the Industrial Revolution. The introduction of the factory system not only revolutionized the production landscape but also reshaped the social and economic contours of nations. This transformation was marked by the birth of industries such as textiles, iron, and glass-making, which catapulted pr…

1
What is Musical Inheritance? Part 1 4:51

3M ago4:51

4:51

The Music Talkshow is back after the winter break with the first episode of a podcast series “What is musical inheritance?”, produced by Tejaswinee Kelkar in collaboration with the Oslo's Historical Museum. Here, Tejaswinee speaks about the music of the Viking ages with Einar Selvik, also known for his band Wardruna. They discuss musical - and othe…

1
Development as a Right: Unpacking Principles and Practices — Surya Deva 50:01

3M ago50:01

50:01

The right to development enables individuals and communities to actively participate in and benefit from various forms of development — economic, social, cultural, and political — while ensuring their human rights and freedoms. It involves a range of responsibilities, including the roles of states, multinational companies, NGOs, businesses, and edu…

1
Shifting Paradigms: The Global South and Feminist Political Economy Unveiled — Sara Stevano 49:29

3M ago49:29

49:29

The term "Global South" has seen an exponential rise in both academic discourse and international policy dialogues, having evolved from a mere synonym for the “Third World” to a complex geo-historical concept. In the first part of this episode, we critically analyze the utility and limitations of the term, acknowledging the diverse economic, politi…

1
Beyond Trade: China's Cultural and Political Relations in Africa – Joshua Eisenman 56:17

4M ago56:17

56:17

China's burgeoning relationship with the African continent has been characterized by significant economic investment, trade, and infrastructure development, with China emerging as Africa's largest trading partner and a major player in the continent's evolving economic landscape. In recent years, we have seen an influx of Chinese involvement in Afri…

1
176: Tracking academic workloads 36:12

4M ago36:12

36:12

We chat about a paper on the invisible workload of open science and why academics are so bad at tracking their workloads. This episode was originally recorded in May 2023 in a hotel room just before our live recording of Episode 169, which is why we refer to the paper as a 'new' paper near the start of the episode. Links The paper on the invisible …

1
Accountability in Action: The World Bank's Inspection Panel on the Frontlines – Ramanie Kunanayagam 55:28

4M ago55:28

55:28

Established as an independent complaints mechanism in 1993, the Inspection Panel is tasked with bringing transparency and redress to those adversely affected by World Bank-funded initiatives. The Panel is widely recognized as an international pioneer in respect to holding a major multilateral organization to account on social and environmental issu…

1
From Miracle to Menace: The Fight Against Plastic Pollution — Gloria Majiga 53:56

4M ago53:56

53:56

Once heralded as a miraculous material, plastic now poses a slow and insidious threat to our waterways, landscapes, and ecosystems. Plastic pollution impacts different regions of the world to varying degrees, and Malawi stands out as a notable example. An estimated 75,000 tons of plastic are manufactured annually in the country, with a minimum of 8…

1
Decoding Development: The Crucial Role of Institutions – Shiping Tang 53:41

5M ago53:41

53:41

Development implies not just growth over a significant period of time but also progressive changes in the structure of an economy. Many influential scholars have identified the crucial role of property rights and the importance of constraining the power of the state while others highlight the importance of political settlements, development cluster…

1
175: Defending against the scientific dark arts 38:10

5M ago38:10

38:10

We chat about a recent blogpost from Dorothy Bishop, in which she proposes a Master course that will provide training in fraud detection—what should such a course specifically teach and where would these people work to apply their training? We also discuss whether open science is a cult that has trouble seeing outward. Links The blog post on the Ma…

1
Making Sense of Cancer: Why Better Therapy Leads to More Disease – Jarle Breivik 47:17

5M ago47:17

47:17

The overarching objective of cancer research, championed by organizations like the US National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, is to "end cancer as we know it". While this statement may suggest a future with less cancer, the stark reality unfolds quite differently. My guest argues that modern medicine is not in the process of endi…

1
Beyond Red Tape: Unraveling Bureaucratic Paradoxes in Public Service Delivery – Akshay Mangla 57:17

5M ago57:17

57:17

Scholars have highlighted the extent to which institutions in certain developing countries often lack the power to effectively project authority and implement policies. There may also be a substantial gap between public policy objectives and their actual execution, which in turn reduces the credibility and legitimacy of the state. Bureaucracies exh…

1
Medieval Christmas Music 50:48

5M ago50:48

50:48

In this episode, Ieva Gudaitytė talks to James Tomlinson about Christmas music in late medieval England. The conversation involves aspects of medieval book production and the transmission of polyphony within England and abroad. It introduces music written for the Christmas period and contexts in which these elusive musical survivors might have been…

1
Unpacking the Backlash Against Globalization and its Impact on Inequality – Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg 1:02:04

5M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

Globalization is a force that has transformed our world in ways both remarkable and challenging. From the historic wave of trade liberalizations in the late 20th century to the monumental rise of China, an intricate interplay of a range of forces has molded the interconnected nature of our planet. Along the way, we have witnessed the decline of man…

1
A New Horizon: Advancing Public Sector Reform in Africa – Happy Kayuni 54:27

5M ago54:27

54:27

Many African countries have undergone various phases of public sector reform aimed at enhancing efficiency and service delivery. But how effective have such reforms been? How and to what extent can some of these reforms be characterised as "institutional mimicry", where institutions adopt the language and behavior of reform without necessarily achi…

1
Political Constraints in Growth and Development: Moving beyond talking about them to actually tackling them – Peter Evans 1:00:51

6M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Although political constraints have significant negative impacts on development, mainstream approaches to addressing these issues are often primarily technical and lack a willingness to understand and address political economy factors. Despite decades of technical efforts in sectors like health, education, and climate, some critical problems persis…

1
174: Smug missionaries with test tubes 53:21

6M ago53:21

53:21

James proposes proposes a new type of consortium paper that could provide collaborative opportunities for researchers from countries that are underrepresented in published research papers. We also talk about computational reproducibility and paper publication bonuses. Links The paper from Steve Lindsay on computational reproducbility: A Plea to Psy…

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