Established in 2006, the NIHR has an annual budget of more than £1bn. It funds health and social care, and has been seen as the ‘research arm of the NHS’. However, many who do research that is relevant to the funder are deterred from applying because its structure can seem confusing, its priorities obscure, and its processes unclear. This podcast is a recording of a live event we held in March 2022, which provided a clear, straightforward overview of how the funder is structured, its 10 basic schemes, and how applications are assessed, together with insights into how you can frame your application for the best chance of success, and where you can find out more. 

Established in 2006, the NIHR has an annual budget of more than £1bn. It funds health and social care, and has been seen as the ‘research arm of the NHS’. However, many who do research that is relevant to the funder are deterred from applying because its structure can seem confusing, its priorities obscure, and its processes unclear. This podcast is a recording of a live event we held in March 2022, which provided a clear, straightforward overview of how the funder is structured, its 10 basic schemes, and how applications are assessed, together with insights into how you can frame your application for the best chance of success, and where you can find out more.

Episode 23: Demystifying the NIHR

In December 2020 we talked to four researchers about a project that looked at volunteering in the four nations of the UK during the pandemic. At the time they had just received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and were just beginning to get started on the research. In this episode our Director Phil Ward talks to them a year on to see how the project went, what they learnt and where they go from here. As well as two of the original researchers we talked to others who undertook the research within each of the four nations.

In December 2020 <a href="https://easternarc.ac.uk/podcasts/episode-13-volunteering-across-the-uk-during-the-pandemic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">we talked to four researchers</a> about a project that looked at volunteering in the four nations of the UK during the pandemic. At the time they had just received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and were just beginning to get started on the research. In this episode our Director Phil Ward talks to them a year on to see how the project went, what they learnt and where they go from here. As well as two of the original researchers we talked to others who undertook the research within each of the four nations.

Episode 22: Volunteering during the pandemic - outcome of the project

In this edition of the Eastern Arc podcast series we hear about a groundbreaking £1.5m project that seeks to better understand how we can work sustainably to manage our oceans. The project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to develop a methodology that will enable us to more robustly quantify the effect that fishing has on the marine ecosystem. 

In this edition of the Eastern Arc podcast series we hear about a groundbreaking £1.5m project that seeks to better understand how we can work sustainably to manage our oceans. The project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to develop a methodology that will enable us to more robustly quantify the effect that fishing has on the marine ecosystem.

Episode 21 - Pyramids of Life

This is the second special edition podcast that explores the ESRC-funded project, Mobilising Voluntary Action: Learning from Today, Prepared for Tomorrow,  which involved academics from across EARC. In the last episode EARC Director Phil Ward talked to people who worked for charities and explained how their organisations coped with having to ‘pause’ volunteering during the pandemic. This time he’s talking to those whose work actually increased during the pandemic to cope with an increase in demand for their services. They are ‘befriending’ charities, and they provide a lifeline for those who are isolated or lonely within society. Their services had never been more important than when the pandemic first hit. We hear about the exponential rise in the number of people seeking their help, and how they were able to deal with it.

This is the second special edition podcast that explores the ESRC-funded project, <a href="https://www.mvain4.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mobilising Voluntary Action: Learning from Today, Prepared for Tomorrow, </a> which involved academics from across EARC. In the last episode EARC Director Phil Ward talked to people who worked for charities and explained how their organisations coped with having to ‘pause’ volunteering during the pandemic. This time he’s talking to those whose work actually increased during the pandemic to cope with an increase in demand for their services. They are ‘befriending’ charities, and they provide a lifeline for those who are isolated or lonely within society. Their services had never been more important than when the pandemic first hit. We hear about the exponential rise in the number of people seeking their help, and how they were able to deal with it.

Episode 20 – Special Edition: ‘Befriending’ during the pandemic

This special edition sees us stepping beyond the EARC universities to talk to charities about how the pandemic has affected their volunteering work. 

This special edition sees us stepping beyond the EARC universities to talk to charities about how the pandemic has affected their volunteering work.

Episode 19 – Special Edition: Pausing volunteering during the pandemic

What is 'natural capital'? The term has become increasingly prevalent as we try to understand the value of the natural world around us, particularly as we grapple with the challenges of the climate crisis and try to live more sustainably.  But is it possible to quantify and fully understand natural capital? When we are dealing with such complex interrelationships, can we robustly assess the effect and value of the ecosystem of which we’re part?

What is 'natural capital'? The term has become increasingly prevalent as we try to understand the value of the natural world around us, particularly as we grapple with the challenges of the climate crisis and try to live more sustainably. But is it possible to quantify and fully understand natural capital? When we are dealing with such complex interrelationships, can we robustly assess the effect and value of the ecosystem of which we’re part?

Episode 18: How do we understand and quantify 'natural capital'?

Our 17th podcast differs from our previous editions. Rather than having a panel of experts, we hear from Prof Alan Finlayson, Professor of Political &amp; Social Theory at UEA,who spoke at our conference 2021 about online extremism and how political theorists need to go beyond the seminar room to understand new challenges to the liberal consensus. 

Our 17th podcast differs from our previous editions. Rather than having a panel of experts, we hear from <a href="https://people.uea.ac.uk/a_finlayson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prof Alan Finlayson, Professor of Political &amp; Social Theory at UEA,</a>who spoke at our <a href="https://easternarc.ac.uk/earc2021summary/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">conference 2021</a> about online extremism and how political theorists need to go beyond the seminar room to understand new challenges to the liberal consensus.

Episode 17: 'Deplorables' and the deep web: beyond the liberal consensus

This is the third and final of a short series of three podcasts that look at the decolonising the curriculum. It looks at the future of the decolonising the curriculum movement.

This is the third and final of a short series of three podcasts that look at the decolonising the curriculum. It looks at the future of the decolonising the curriculum movement.

Episode 16: The future of the decolonising the curriculum movement

This is the second of a short series of three podcasts that look at the decolonising the curriculum. It asks how white is the curriculum, and how receptive are universities to change?

This is the second of a short series of three podcasts that look at the decolonising the curriculum. It asks how white is the curriculum, and how receptive are universities to change?

Episode 15: How white is my curriculum?

This is the first of a short series of three podcasts that look at the decolonising the curriculum. It looks at the background to the decolonising the curriculum movement, and the central role played by students.

This is the first of a short series of three podcasts that look at the decolonising the curriculum. It looks at the background to the decolonising the curriculum movement, and the central role played by students.

Episode 14: The background to the decolonising the curriculum movement

The Eastern Academic Research Consortium, or Arc, brings together three radical, interdisciplinary universities on the eastern seaboard of England: the University of East Anglia, the University of Essex, and the University of Kent. For fifty years they have been home to socially aware, radical and disruptive research and education, forged in communities built on equality, respect, and intellectual freedom.The Eastern Arc Podcast is an opportunity to listen in on experts from across the Arc discussing ideas and issues in the news today.

In this episode we hear about a project that has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) that will look at how this sector has responded to the pandemic, and the differences in the response in each of the UK’s four nations. The project developed from an Eastern Arc workshop that took place in 2019. We hear from four members of the team about the project, and the wider context of how the government works – or doesn’t work – with voluntary organisations in each jurisdiction. Taking part are:

In this episode we hear about a project that has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) that will look at how this sector has responded to the pandemic, and the differences in the response in each of the UK’s four nations. The project developed from an Eastern Arc workshop that took place in 2019. We hear from four members of the team about the project, and the wider context of how the government works – or doesn’t work – with voluntary organisations in each jurisdiction. Taking part are:

Episode 13: Volunteering across the UK during the pandemic

Resilience

Experts from Essex and UEA are joined by a colleague from the Open University of Mauritius to look at how individuals and communities develop resilience.

Experts from Essex and UEA are joined by a colleague from the Open University of Mauritius to look at how individuals and communities develop resilience.

Episode 12: Developing resilience following natural or human disasters

In the final part of our US elections mini-series, we look at the different strategies that may be used by both parties. To discuss these we have gathered three EARC experts to help us to understand the broader context: Emma Long (UEA), Royce Carroll (Essex) and Rubrick Biegon (Kent).

In the final part of our US elections mini-series, we look at the different strategies that may be used by both parties. To discuss these we have gathered three EARC experts to help us to understand the broader context: Emma Long (UEA), Royce Carroll (Essex) and Rubrick Biegon (Kent).

Episode 11: How will they play it? Party strategies in the US election

In Episode 9 we looked at the underlying issues which will inform the American presidential election, including coronavirus and civil unrest, as well as some more surprising concerns that voters have. In this episode Eastern Arc experts Emma Long (UEA), Royce Carroll (Essex) and Rubrick Biegon (Kent) take a step back and look at the history that has shaped the current system, including the electoral college and issues of faith. 

In Episode 9 we looked at the underlying issues which will inform the American presidential election, including coronavirus and civil unrest, as well as some more surprising concerns that voters have. In this episode Eastern Arc experts Emma Long (UEA), Royce Carroll (Essex) and Rubrick Biegon (Kent) take a step back and look at the history that has shaped the current system, including the electoral college and issues of faith.

Episode 10: The role of the electoral college and the rise of evanglicals in the US election

The forthcoming US presidential election, due to take place on 3 November, is shaping up to be one of the toughest, angriest, and most hard-fought of recent years.  This is the first in a series of three podcasts looking at three key areas of the campaign. Emma Long (UEA), Joyce Carroll (Essex) and Rubrick Biegon (Kent) look at the underlying issues which will inform the election, including coronavirus and civil unrest, as well as some more surprising concerns that voters have. 

The forthcoming US presidential election, due to take place on 3 November, is shaping up to be one of the toughest, angriest, and most hard-fought of recent years.  This is the first in a series of three podcasts looking at three key areas of the campaign. Emma Long (UEA), Joyce Carroll (Essex) and Rubrick Biegon (Kent) look at the underlying issues which will inform the election, including coronavirus and civil unrest, as well as some more surprising concerns that voters have.

Episode 9: Covid, BLM, the Supreme Court and other key issues in the US election

In this episode we look at one of the projects we funded last year. Dr Danielle Tucker (Essex) and Dr Alison Dean (Kent) are joined by their former colleague Dr Pamela Yeow, and two research assistants, Dr Zara Babakordi and Dr Aleksandra Besevic, to look at how households manage single use plastic. Consumers are increasingly aware of the ethical implications of the decisions they make. However, there has been relatively little research on how decisions around ethical consumer spending are made within a household, and the part that each member of the household plays in the push to reduce our environmental impact. 

In this episode we look at one of the projects we funded last year. <a href="https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/tucke64400/danielle-tucker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr Danielle Tucker</a> (Essex) and <a href="https://www.kent.ac.uk/kent-business-school/people/2404/www.kent.ac.uk/kent-business-school/people/2404/dean-alison" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr Alison Dean</a> (Kent) are joined by their former colleague <a href="http://www.bbk.ac.uk/management/staff/academic/pamela-yeow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr Pamela Yeow</a>, and two research assistants, Dr Zara Babakordi and Dr Aleksandra Besevic, to look at how households manage single use plastic. Consumers are increasingly aware of the ethical implications of the decisions they make. However, there has been relatively little research on how decisions around ethical consumer spending are made within a household, and the part that each member of the household plays in the push to reduce our environmental impact.

Episode 8: Single use plastics and household decision-making

In Episode 6 we looked at the history of human engagement with the environment in the Americas. In this episode we follow this up by looking at the artistic and creative response to the environment. Dr Hazel Marsh (UEA), Prof Susan Oliver (Essex) and Prof Karen Jones (Kent) look at several examples of artists and projects that help us to understand our relationship with the environment.

In Episode 6 we looked at the history of human engagement with the environment in the Americas. In this episode we follow this up by looking at the artistic and creative response to the environment. Dr Hazel Marsh (UEA), Prof Susan Oliver (Essex) and Prof Karen Jones (Kent) look at several examples of artists and projects that help us to understand our relationship with the environment.

Episode 7: ‘There is no revolution without songs’: environment & art in the Americas

In this podcast Dr Hazel Marsh (UEA), Prof Susan Oliver (Essex) and Prof Karen Jones (Kent) look at the relationship between humans and their environment in the Americas. They examine the exploratory voyages of the nineteenth century, the myth of ‘hyperabundance’, and how the climate crisis has focused minds and developed a new understanding and respect for the environment.

In this podcast Dr Hazel Marsh (UEA), Prof Susan Oliver (Essex) and Prof Karen Jones (Kent) look at the relationship between humans and their environment in the Americas. They examine the exploratory voyages of the nineteenth century, the myth of ‘hyperabundance’, and how the climate crisis has focused minds and developed a new understanding and respect for the environment.

Episode 6: ‘The myth of hyperabundance’: the environmental history of the Americas

Isolation, inactivity, boredom, uncertainty and powerlessness, as well as anxiety and exhaustion from balancing work and additional pressures at home, are having an impact on our mental and physical health during lockdown. Professor Anne Marie Minihane (UEA), Dr Valerie Gladwell (Essex) and Dr Glen Davison (Kent) discuss what we mean by wellbeing, how lockdown has impacted on it, and what we can do to keep healthy and well in the current situation.

Isolation, inactivity, boredom, uncertainty and powerlessness, as well as anxiety and exhaustion from balancing work and additional pressures at home, are having an impact on our mental and physical health during lockdown. Professor Anne Marie Minihane (UEA), Dr Valerie Gladwell (Essex) and Dr Glen Davison (Kent) discuss what we mean by wellbeing, how lockdown has impacted on it, and what we can do to keep healthy and well in the current situation.

Episode 5: Health and wellbeing in lockdown

In this episode, Prof Mark Smales (Kent) explains how scientists currently test for Covid, and looks at two alternative forms of testing that are in the pipeline. He is joined by Dr Javier Andreu Perez (Essex) and Prof Carl Philpott (UEA). Javier is developing an app that analyses a patient’s cough, and Carl looks at smell loss, and explains why it has now been formally included in the WHO’s list of official symptoms for Covid-19.

In this episode, Prof Mark Smales (Kent) explains how scientists currently test for Covid, and looks at two alternative forms of testing that are in the pipeline. He is joined by Dr Javier Andreu Perez (Essex) and Prof Carl Philpott (UEA). Javier is developing an app that analyses a patient’s cough, and Carl looks at smell loss, and explains why it has now been formally included in the WHO’s list of official symptoms for Covid-19.

Episode 4: Testing for Coronavirus

The Eastern Academic Research Consortium, or Arc, brings together three radical, interdisciplinary universities on the eastern seaboard of England: the University of East Anglia, the University of Essex, and the University of Kent. For fifty years they have been home to socially aware, radical and disruptive research and education, forged in communities built on equality, respect, and intellectual freedom. The Eastern Arc Podcast is an opportunity to listen in on experts from across the Arc discussing ideas and issues in the news today.

The Eastern Arc Podcast

The best philosophy podcast episodes. Asking questions about how to live a better life, what it means to be and do good, to the idea of God. This topic includes episodes that bring about important questions that everyone should be asking themselves. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Practical Philosophy & How To Live

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!