Best International Livestock Research Institute Podcasts (2024)

1
Can we use mathematical modelling to investigate within-host dynamics of H5N1 influenza infection in humans? | SBIDER Presents - Episode 10 28:02

23d ago28:02

28:02

In this episode of SBIDER Presents we are joined by Daniel Higgins, Josh Looker and Robert Sunnucks. We discuss their work on introducing a framework for intra-host dynamics and mutations modelling of H5N1 influenza infection in humans. Carried out as a group project as part of the Mathematics for Real-World Systems (MathSys) Centre for Doctoral Tr…

1
Ethiopia's livestock: An interview with Namukolo Covic 38:52

6M ago38:52

38:52

At more than 50 million animals, Ethiopia's livestock population is the largest in Africa and the eighth largest in the world. But livestock productivity in Ethiopia remains low. Namukolo Covic, the ILRI Director General's representative to Ethiopia, CGIAR Ethiopia country convener and the CGIAR regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, ta…

1
How can we measure the growth of infections during an epidemic? | SBIDER Presents - Episode 9 20:04

7M ago20:04

20:04

We discuss the research article “Bayesian estimation of real-time epidemic growth rates using Gaussian processes: local dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in England” and methods to get reasonable estimates of the change in rate of infection in small, localised populations. Have feedback? Complete our Google Form: https://bit.ly/3IIgPKH!…

1
How can farmer behaviour be incorporated into models for livestock disease transmission? | SBIDER presents - Episode 8 21:35

9M ago21:35

21:35

We discuss the research article “Incorporating heterogeneity in farmer disease control behaviour into a livestock disease transmission model” and interdisciplinary approaches for collecting data on diversity in farmer livestock disease management behaviours. Have feedback? Complete our Google Form: https://bit.ly/3IIgPKH!…

1
The 'hidden meat' of the world 16:55

12M ago16:55

16:55

Across the world, millions of people eat a 'hidden meat' - bushmeat, or wild meat. But handling or eating bushmeat can pose a higher risk of transmitting zoonotic disease - diseases which affect both animals and humans. This episode looks at a pioneering study led by scientist Ekta Patel of ILRI that investigates how people understand that risk - a…

1
Antimicrobial resistance and pathogen genomic data - Xavier Didelot | SBIDER presents - Episode 7 21:24

1y ago21:24

21:24

Prof Xavier Didelot discusses the research article "Estimating the fitness cost and benefit of antimicrobial resistance from pathogen genomic data" and how modelling that uses genomic data can inform the use of antibiotics in a way that mitigates the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Have feedback? Complete our Google Form: https://bit.ly/3IIgPKH…

1
Animal welfare in lower- to middle-income countries, with Peter Singer 15:54

1y ago15:54

15:54

Is there a conflict between supporting animal welfare, and supporting the wellbeing of the world's poor? Can we talk about animal welfare in the same way in the global North and South? Or are there important moral distinctions to be made? To explore these questions we're joined by Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher and bioethicist, Rebecca Doy…

1
Roger Thurow on the global burden of malnutrition - Part 2 14:37

1+ y ago14:37

14:37

In the second of our episodes featuring writer Roger Thurow, we hear about what inspired his most recent book, 'The First 1000 Days'. What exactly is this crucial period of life - and what is its impact on the rest of a child's life? Malnutrition is a terrible burden to bear, but as Thurow warns, it ultimately affects us all. Further reading and li…

1
Avian influenza: An international perspective | SBIDER presents - Episode 6 46:13

1+ y ago46:13

46:13

There is ongoing concern at the impact on avian species of recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. Listen to an international perspective on its implications for wild bird conservation efforts and poultry owners across the Americas and Europe. Have feedback? Complete our Google Form: https://bit.ly/3IIgPKH!…

1
Roger Thurow on global poverty - Part 1 14:20

1+ y ago14:20

14:20

Roger Thurow is a senior fellow for global agriculture and food policy for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He writes about many of the same issues that animate the work at the International Livestock Research Institute - nutrition, development, hunger, and aid for subsistence farmers. As a writer, Thurow conveys what the lives of the poor ar…

1
International Women's Day 2023 - Digital apps and drones in livestock farming 22:04

1+ y ago22:04

22:04

Where does digital technology fit in with livestock farming? Can flying animal vaccines in by drone to remote regions help address gender inequality? Find out on this special episode of The Boma! In this podcast, we hear about the barriers to digital technology and farming difficulties that women face, then follow how ILRI and the CGIAR are working…

1
Antimicrobial resistance and explainable AI - Massimo Cavallaro | SBIDER presents - Episode 5 16:19

1+ y ago16:19

16:19

Dr Massimo Cavallaro discusses the research article "Informing antimicrobial stewardship with explainable AI" and whether the characteristics of clinical patients can be used to determine the chance of antimicrobial resistance. Have feedback? Complete our Google Form: https://bit.ly/3IIgPKH!By SBIDER Podcast Hub

1
ILRI says farewell to Director General Jimmy Smith 19:48

1+ y ago19:48

19:48

Every director general knows, at the time they are appointed, exactly when they're supposed to leave because their appointment letter tells them so, says Jimmy Smith, who has been the director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) for the past 11 years. But "I didn't realise how difficult it would be to say goodbye to ILR…

1
Integrating geostatistical maps and infectious disease transmission models - Simon Spencer | SBIDER presents - Episode 4 14:35

1+ y ago14:35

14:35

Dr Simon Spencer discusses the research article “Integrating geostatistical maps and infectious disease transmission models using adaptive multiple importance sampling” & fitting disease transmission models to spatial epidemiological data in work led by Dr Renata Retkute. Have feedback? Visit https://bit.ly/3IIgPKH!…

1
How to stop drought aid 'coming with the vultures' 18:49

1+ y ago18:49

18:49

"You guys are coming when we have really suffered, when we have lost half of our herd and also when the vultures are descending from the sky." So said a Kenyan pastoralist at a meeting about drought response. What is being done to anticipate drought, rather than to deal with the consequences? In this episode we look at the effects of the ongoing dr…

1
Can one chicken make a difference to a child's health? 18:52

1+ y ago18:52

18:52

In 2014 a survey found that a quarter of children under 5 in Siaya County, western Kenya, were stunted. Stunting creates lifelong, chronic health issues and worse mental development. Better nutrition can help avoid stunting, but can be a struggle for families that are already lacking money, resources and access to support. What if there was a way t…

1
How have mathematical models been used as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic? - Matt Keeling | SBIDER presents - Episode 3 21:21

1+ y ago21:21

21:21

Prof Matt Keeling discusses the research article “Comparison of the 2021 COVID-19 roadmap projections against public health data in England” and the use of mathematical models as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.By SBIDER Podcast Hub

1
How have humans adapted to combat malaria parasites? - Bridget Penman | SBIDER presents - Episode 2 22:49

2y ago22:49

22:49

Dr Bridget Penman discusses the research article “Adaptive immunity selects against malaria blocking mutations”. Applications are now open for a new postdoc position and more in our news section.By SBIDER

1
Drought insurance: Breaking the cycle of loss for millions of pastoralists 16:12

2y ago16:12

16:12

Droughts have always occurred in the Horn of Africa, but in the past few years they have begun happening much more frequently. An award-winning scheme of index-based livestock insurance could provide a lifeline for millions of pastoralists whose livelihoods are affected by drought. There is no need to wait for a drought to become severe, for animal…

1
How containing COVID-19 also hurt the world's poorest farmers 14:29

2y ago14:29

14:29

Many countries locked down in the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic, trying to protect the public from infections and illness. But a new wave of research is examining how containment measures came with costs, too. Particularly for the 1 in 12 people in the world who are also smallholder farmers, responsible for producing most of the food in low- or midd…

1
How severe would a new covid variant be? - Louise Dyson | SBIDER presents - Episode 1 21:05

2y ago21:05

21:05

Dr Louise Dyson discusses the research article “Possible future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection generated by variants of concern with a range of characteristics”. Dr Robin Thompson describes the activities of the Royal Society RAMP initiative.By SBIDER Podcast Hub

1
Sarah Nyakeri talks about vulnerability in... science? 13:46

2y ago13:46

13:46

"I’ve learned that using the simplest words doesn’t make you less of a scientist. It can actually make you a great scientist." Sarah Nyanchera Nyakeri is an MSc fellow at the International Livestock Research Institute where she is researching the development of a better vaccine for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). She is also the winner of…

1
Welcome to SBIDER presents! 1:10

2y ago1:10

1:10

Welcome to SBIDER presents! Featuring work in biological & medical sciences by researchers from SBIDER (Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick) & collaborators. @WarwickSBIDERBy SBIDER Podcast Hub

1
East Coast fever: Tackling neglected livestock diseases in Africa 16:13

2y ago16:13

16:13

In the early 1900s, cattle herds across South Africa were devastated by a new livestock disease. Today, more than 100 years later, that disease is called East Coast fever, and despite scientists' best efforts to control it, the disease continues to devastate cattle and livelihoods across the dozen African countries where it is endemic. In this epis…

1
Everything is everywhere: How microbes move through a city 18:49

2+ y ago18:49

18:49

Little is known about how bacteria spread through different sections of a city. Now the most extensive study of its kind uncovers some critical answers of how bacteria move through Nairobi, lessons that could have implications for the wider world. After all, what is being seen in Nairobi today could easily be in New York or Paris by tomorrow mornin…

1
How - and why - do we talk about science? 20:41

2+ y ago20:41

20:41

If you're not a researcher, why should you care about science? Why does science communication matter to research? In the second of a two-parter featuring ILRI Emeritus Fellow Susan MacMillan, Brenda Coromina and Elliot Carleton question what the difference is between science communication, and science advocacy, finding out how the International Liv…

1
'Livestock are a vehicle for a better world' 16:46

2+ y ago16:46

16:46

Susan MacMillan knows why livestock matter. An ILRI Emeritus Fellow, she has led public awareness and advocacy communications at ILRI for nearly 33 years. In the latest episode of The Boma, Elliot Carleton and Brenda Coromina find out how Susan went from being an Ohio native who had never even glimpsed a living cow, to becoming one of the most pass…

1
International Women's Day 2022 18:27

2+ y ago18:27

18:27

Livestock provide vital nutrition and income for numerous households in developing countries. And it's often women who do the bulk of the work caring for the animals. But this doesn't mean they reap the benefits. In many communities, women are excluded from making management decisions about livestock, like when to sell them, or how to treat them. T…

1
Keeping livestock cool during a climate crisis 15:50

2+ y ago15:50

15:50

There's a growing problem across the world, one that could make keeping livestock outdoors almost impossible in just a few decades, and jeopardize the health and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. That problem is heat stress, caused by rising temperatures and global warming. It's a serious problem which is already affecting livestock he…

1
Antimicrobial resistance. A tale of two worlds, or a global threat? 17:36

2+ y ago17:36

17:36

As long as we have had ways to destroy microbes, microbes have been fighting back. Alexander Fleming, who discovered the world's first antibiotic, penicillin, warned that misusing antibiotics could lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He was right. Today AMR can be found worldwide and is a serious problem. If it is not tackled now, by 2050 one p…

1
Phages - Bad for bacteria, good for livestock farmers 18:52

2+ y ago18:52

18:52

Livestock farmers use antibiotics to treat infections in their animals, and may also use them as a preventative. But overuse of antibiotics can create 'superbugs' - antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria which threaten human lives and wellbeing, as well as those of livestock animals. Presenters Brenda Coromina and Elliot Carleton explore one approa…

1
Animal-source foods for people and the planet 18:46

2+ y ago18:46

18:46

As the pandemic pushes global malnutrition to rates not seen in more than a decade, how can livestock products like milk, meat and eggs help? And how do we weigh the nutritional benefits of livestock, particularly in the developing world, against the fact that livestock can be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions? In this episode of The…

1
Changing climate, changing cattle farming - Part 2 15:44

3y ago15:44

15:44

If sub-Saharan Africa produces just 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the livestock sector just a fraction of those, why should the governments of these countries be concerned? Because there's much more to the story. The intensity of the emissions is higher in these countries than in others, and the livestock sector is growing in size ever…

1
Changing climate, changing cattle farming - Part 1 19:20

3y ago19:20

19:20

How do we intensify livestock to feed the global south, but also mitigate climate emissions? Is it possible to increase livestock productivity while decreasing its environmental cost? Tim Offei-Addo returns to the Boma to talk to three ILRI researchers - Esther Kihoro, Todd Crane and Renee Bullock - who want the world to know that to begin to answe…

1
Why One Health matters 18:10

3y ago18:10

18:10

One Health is traditionally defined as the collaboration of several disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment -- but what exactly does this mean, and what does it look like in practice? Today’s episode of The Boma features food expert Hung Nguyen, co-leader of the Animal a…

1
Covid-19: Finding the origins of a pandemic 16:47

3+ y ago16:47

16:47

Covid-19 has had the world at a stand-still since early last year and yet we are still trying to find out how the pandemic started. Did the virus come directly from a bat, a different wild animal, was it spread by frozen food, or was it even leaked from a lab? A report published at the end of March by the World Health Organization and a joint team …

1
Trailer - What is The Boma? 2:19

3+ y ago2:19

2:19

Listen to our trailer to learn about our podcast series.By International Livestock Research Institute

1
They are what they eat - But what are we telling farmers to feed their animals? 16:15

3+ y ago16:15

16:15

There have been over 22,000 studies on the best ways for farmers to feed their livestock. But how many have looked at whether farmers actually benefited? Jeremy Cherfas interviews Isabelle Baltenweck, leader of the Policies, Institutions and Livelihoods, about the differences and distances between livestock researchers and livestock farmers.…

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International Livestock Research Institute Podcasts

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