Episodes
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SWITCH is a short story written by Kirk Grech as part of TEXT's Eternal Pyre Writing Competition. The short story was also printed in Issue 36 of THINK Magazine. Narrated by Ian Farrugia
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Notes: Episode contains mild profanity, local politics and frank opinions. For our final episode, Nika and I decided to sit back and reflect over the last season of ReTHINK. What starts off as an exercise in nostalgia quickly develops into a lively discussion about our sense of self and identity, Stoicism and Buddhism and politics.
99.9% of humans’ DNA is the same.http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/whats_a_genome/Chp4_1.shtml
Skinner’s pigeon experiment in which subjects are rewarded with food and as a result, keep getting the dopamine hit https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bf-skinner-the-man-who-taught-pigeons-to-play-ping-pong-and-rats-to-pull-levers-5363946/
Coercive Design and Social Mediahttps://www.researchgate.net/figure/Characteristics-of-Coercive-and-Enabling-Process-Design_tbl1_261457845
How much of the population is addicted to social media?https://www.statista.com/statistics/1081292/social-media-addiction-by-age-usa/
Why does being wrong feel like an attackhttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/28/why-being-wrong-really-hurts
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/28/14088992/brain-study-change-minds
Stoicism and Buddhismhttps://dailystoic.com/stoicism-buddhism/
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The internet and social media are a hallmark of modern society. A plethora of tools exists to help us consume, create, edit and curate the swathes of data available at our fingertips. But how has this renaissance of information affected younger generations? Are children more adept at navigating cyberspace? Or are we the ones who need to reTHINK cyberculture?We discuss with Dr Velislava Hillman who, throughout her research, she has reinforced the need to voice children’s and young people’s perspectives and experiences.Further ReadingJean Twenge - Generation Me and The Narcissism Epidemichttps://www.bookdepository.com/Narcissism-Epidemic-W-Keith-Campbell/9781416575993http://www.jeantwenge.com/the-narcissism-epidemic-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/Shoshana Zuboff - The Age of Surveillance Capitalismhttps://www.bookdepository.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Professor-Shoshana-Zuboff/9781781256855https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/03/harvard-professor-says-surveillance-capitalism-is-undermining-democracy/Commonsense Media -https://www.commonsensemedia.org/Facebook Likes can predict personality traitshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/235906499_Private_traits_and_attributes_are_predictable_from_digital_records_of_human_behaviorSonia Livingstone - Global Kids Onlinehttp://globalkidsonline.net/about/members/sonia-livingstone/Digital Futures Commissionhttps://digitalfuturescommission.org.uk/How China is using A.I. in the Classroomhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLsHI8aV0g
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In this episode, we meet up with Gareth Mitchell from the BBC's Digital Planet Podcast. We discuss the impact the Internet Shutdowns in Kashmir have had on democracy, what the internet actually is and who owns it, we also touch upon the Splinternet and how related it is to the global political theatre. Gareth Mitchell hosts the BBC’s Digital Planet Podcast. He lectures in broadcast and written journalism at Imperial College London. Before his interest in technology, Gareth used to participate in bellringing. He is also a pilot and is a licensed amateur radio operator.Resources;
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50819905
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51620158https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/22/what-is-the-internet-13-key-questions-answeredhttps://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introouterspacetreaty.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splinternethttps://www.economist.com/briefing/2010/09/02/a-virtual-counter-revolutionhttps://www.businessinsider.com/splinternet-us-china-internet-trump-pompeo-firewall-2020-8
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If you want to share your passion with the world, your first step should be understanding your audience. This is where human-centred design comes in - its about understanding the context of your work and figuring out people's needs. Daniela Quacinella joins us for this weeks ReTHINK podcast to tell us more!
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The humble bee is responsible for 80% of all pollination worldwide, according to Greenpeace. These industrious, little insects transfer pollen between flowering plants, helping them to grow, breed and produce food. However, the loss of habitat and food sources, exposure to pesticides and climate breakdown have begun to take their toll on bee populations across the globe.
Bees are also susceptible to the gut parasite, Nosema Ceranae, which can kill an entire bee colony in a matter of weeks. Prof David Mifsud and his team are looking to probiotics (live bacteria that can guard digestive systems) to help protect bee colonies from this swift killer. https://www.um.edu.mt/think/probiotics-to-the-rescue/
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Depression and Anxiety are the most common mental disorders in Europe. Just as exercising and eating well help our physical health, we need to find ways to help our mental wellbeing. Dr Paulann Grech will be joining us for this week's episode. We'll be discussing mental health, psychology and her recent book, "Dealing with Coronus" - as well as a variety of ways we can improve our mental wellbeing.Further ReadingYou can buy a copy of Dr Grech's book here - https://www.kitegroup.com.mt/product/dealing-with-coronus-self-help-notes-for-a-pandemic-paulann-grech/You can read THINK's article on Mental Health here - https://www.um.edu.mt/think/dare-to-think-and-other-mental-health-tips/ReferencesWorker's earn the 'right to disconnect' - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38479439
Mental Health: Fact Sheet, published by the World Health Organization - https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/404851/MNH_FactSheet_ENG.pdfSupport for Mental Health - https://www.richmond.org.mt/COVID-19 & Mental Health - A snapshot on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental wellbeing across Malta & Gozo - https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNWMzMTQwZmMtYjdiMy00ZWZkLTgzNTItNjFkOTRmNmQyZDM1IiwidCI6IjczMjdkNTExLWQ3Y2QtNDZkNy05NDEzLTdkYjkzY2FlNGYwOSIsImMiOjh9Looking after our mental health while working from home - https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-healthThe European Mental Health Action Plan 2013 - 2020 - https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/280604/WHO-Europe-Mental-Health-Acion-Plan-2013-2020.pdfA Mental Health Strategy for Malta 2020-2030 - https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/Documents/National-Health-Strategies/Mental_Health_Strategy_EN.pdf
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When speaking of jellyfishes, we usually think of painful stings. Because of this, jellyfish blooms can affect tourism, but they also have impacts in aquaculture and, in the past, even caused shutdowns of power stations. But not every jellyfish is born the same: different species require different approaches, either in the healing of a sting or the amount of caution needed when encountered. At the same time, observing seasonal trends of jellyfish spotting is a good way to access environmental problems, like climate change and water quality variation. When it comes to jellyfishes, there is more than what meets the eye. Today we welcome Professor Alan Deidun to unravel the hidden mysteries of these curious creatures and the importance of citizens’ contributions to his work.https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26181https://www.um.edu.mt/think/ten-years-of-jellyfish-spotting/
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Journalists allow for a democratic society which holds its politicians accountable. In exchange, reporters and editors must maintain a high standard of professional behaviour. But what does the future hold in store for journalism?David and Nika discuss with Prof. Mary Anne Lauri how the global pandemic, shrinking revenues, and the murder of a journalist has changed Malta's media landscape. https://www.um.edu.mt/think/for-the-price-of-a-coffee/
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Maltese drivers spend an average of 52 hours in traffic each year. Taming the traffic beast is no mean feat. We ask Dr Odette Lewis about her Master Plan for traffic management and what can be done to help address the situation.
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Public health concerns are plaguing our world’s communities. From COVID-19 to type 2 diabetes, health-related issues are becoming more prevalent in countries worldwide -- in fact, nearly 2 million people around the world have type 2 diabetes. Of those, almost 8 million individuals are not aware that they have T2D. We discuss this deadly disease with Dr Sarah Cuschieri and healthy choices we can make in our lives. Link to Dr Cuschieri's article - https://www.um.edu.mt/think/public-health-priority-type-2-diabetes-mellitus/
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Food, food, glorious food! We are what we eat and for this episode, we take a closer look at it. We get in touch with Professor Suzanne Piscopo, a nutritionist, and Associate Professor of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies to discuss plant-based diets and their rise in popularity, why some people dislike veganism, and whether organic food has any nutritional benefits. As well as some handy tips on how to adopt a healthier diet!Nika and David also find out whether honey is vegan or not.https://www.um.edu.mt/profile/suzannepiscopo
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/young-farmers-challenge-consumers-to-eat-local-food-only-for-a-month.822319
https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(19)30548-2/pdf
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-07-19/local-news/President-underlines-issues-regarding-access-to-healthy-food-food-justice-is-a-human-right-6736193656
https://www.um.edu.mt/think/i-potato/
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This is the full version of the Big Data, AI and a bag of crisps episode. It is a combination of part 1 and part 2.It is something you use in your daily life, from your mobile phone to your smart fridge, it has the potential to re-imagine the way we work and the way we play and usher in a new technological age for humanity. But are you aware of it? How does AI work?
It is the new Oil, it funds your favourite social media sites and search engines, and advertisers bid aggressively for this virtual real estate. It dictates what we’re meant to see, read and believe in. What is data and how does it tie into AI?
Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, based at the University of Malta. His latest article in THINK magazine discusses the use of AI and our awareness of it.References to articles and studies mentioned in the Podcast;What's Your Face Worth?Australia unveils plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for newsSelf-driving cars may be more likely to hit you if you have dark skinAmazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women
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This is part 2 of Big Data, AI and a bag of crisps with Prof. Alexiei Dingli
It is something you use in your daily life, from your mobile phone to your smart fridge, it has the potential to re-imagine the way we work and the way we play and usher in a new technological age for humanity. But are you aware of it? How does AI work?
It is the new Oil, it funds your favourite social media sites and search engines, and advertisers bid aggressively for this virtual real estate. It dictates what we’re meant to see, read and believe in. What is data and how does it tie into AI?
Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, based at the University of Malta. His latest article in THINK magazine discusses the use of AI and our awareness of it.References to articles and studies mentioned in the Podcast;What's Your Face Worth?Australia unveils plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for newsSelf-driving cars may be more likely to hit you if you have dark skinAmazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women
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It is something you use in your daily life, from your mobile phone to your smart fridge, it has the potential to re-imagine the way we work and the way we play and usher in a new technological age for humanity. But are you aware of it? How does AI work?
It is the new Oil, it funds your favourite social media sites and search engines, and advertisers bid aggressively for this virtual real estate. It dictates what we’re meant to see, read and believe in. What is data and how does it tie into AI?
Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, based at the University of Malta. His latest article in THINK magazine discusses the use of AI and our awareness of it.References to articles and studies mentioned in the Podcast;What's Your Face Worth?Australia unveils plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for newsSelf-driving cars may be more likely to hit you if you have dark skinAmazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women
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How can complex research reach people with short attention spans? THINK asks researchers and their friends to present their idea in three minutes, in a bar. The audience can ask questions. In October 2019, we recorded one of these events to bring the spirit of Soapbox to those who couldn't be there with us. After various restrictions on events to control the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give you a taste of what these events are like.
You can read the September issue of THINK magazine here: https://issuu.com/thinkuni/docs/think_29_issuu
You can also read articles by the event's speakers:
Dr Joseph Caruana: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/save-the-night/
Gail Sant: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/saving-the-skates/
And an article about Prof. Ing. Kenneth Camilleri's team's research: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/eyes-front/
Our theme music is by princess wonderful.
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As we close the season, we look back at the conversations we've had on the ReThink podcast. You can listen to them again here:
Environment:
Microplastic pollutionUnderwater groundwaterShipping emissionsSustainable transportCommunication:
Malta's bilingualismApp for children with communication difficultiesPhilosophy of gamesGame-based learningDesign:
Sustainable concreteGreen roofsDementia-friendly architectureManaging dietary restrictionsTechnology:
Blockchain of thingsSmart manufacturingBrain-controlled bedMalta's first satelliteReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/). ReThink's team consists of Daiva Repeckaite (producer and co-host), Chris Styles (voice artist and co-host), Shruti Sundaresan, Claude J. Bajada (co-hosts), and Carmel Grech (sound technician). Logo design is by Gabriel Izzo. Our theme music is by princess wonderful.
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Malta has two official languages - Maltese and English. They inevitably mingle, producing a unique variety of English and a one-of-a-kind Semitic language with numerous words borrowed from English and other European languages. Linguists believe that language mixes enrich communication, drawing the most appropriate resources from each language for each situation. Does this impede the development of contemporary Maltese vocabulary? Does the language mix leave anyone behind? Prof. Alexandra Vella and Dr Sarah Grech discuss code-switching with ReThink's co-hosts, Chris and Daiva.
You can read Sarah Grech's original article here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/mistakes-versus-creativity-maltas-linguistic-paradox/
ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles
Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394
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Computer Integrated Manufacturing started in the 1980s. In recent years, affordable internet of things technologies have seen the development of new business models that allow companies to sustainably implement fully automated systems. Yet there are software integration issues, political implications, and security threats that accompany them. Dr Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza speaks to Daiva and Chris about engineering the factory of the future.
You can read Emmanuel Francalanza's original article in THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/designing-the-factory-of-the-future/
ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles
Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394
Image source: Shutterstock
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Introducing digital or board games into lessons proved to have a huge impact on teachers and students, but even children continue to hold the misconception that games and education are strictly separate planets. Dr Vanessa Camilleri, an expert in game-based learning, talks to Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, discusses the opportunities even simple games like rock-paper-scissors can offer in a classroom.
You can read Vanessa Camilleri's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/level-up-upgrading-game-based-learning/
ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles.
Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394
Image source: Shutterstock
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