Shows
Smart Forests RadioFrank Vorhies: Integrating Conservation and Economic DevelopmentIn this Smart Forests Radio episode, we speak with Dr Frank Vorhies. Frank is the director of African Wildlife Economy Institute at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the founding director of Earthmind, a conversation network founded in Switzerland and now based in the UK. He explores the economic aspects of conservation initatives, focusing on how different views of conservation and biodiversity influence contributing activities and quantification methods. Advocating for conservation as sustainable use of natural resources, as opposed to strict protection, Frank discusses integrating conservation with industrial and urban development and emphasises the need to measure use-related indicators...
2024-07-3118 min
Smart Forests RadioArthur Eijs: Verified Conservation Areas and the Nature Commitment PlatformIn this Smart Forests Radio episode, we invite Arthur Eijs, a policy advisor on Natural Resources at the Ministry for Infrastructure & Water Management in the Netherlands. Formerly, he oversaw strategy, pilot projects, and economic incentives on biodiversity at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, and served as a member of the Dutch CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) delegation.
During the interview, conducted in June 2023, Arthur delves into a biodiversity project he initiated about Verified Conservation Areas, or the VCA platform. This digital infrastructure aimed to transparently verify biodiversity restoration and conservation efforts, enabling both larger companies and...
2024-07-1718 min
Smart Forests RadioMichiel van Bakel: Visual Artist in Forest LandscapesIn this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we venture into the forest on the Peelrandbreuk in Boekel, the Netherlands. Recorded during a forest walk on a warm summer day in June 2023, the episode features visual artist Michiel van Bakel and ecovillage founder Ad Vlems. The Peelrandbreuk, a geological fault line, is clearly visible in the landscape due to variations in elevation. During our walk, we had intriguing conversations around the local area and van Bakel’s interactive artworks.
Michiel van Bakel studied astronomy, photography, psychology, and visual arts. He expresses himself through video, sculptures, and installations, conveying a...
2024-06-1918 min
Smart Forests RadioRob Lewis: Tokenising Forests to Improve BiodiversityIn this episode of the Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Rob Lewis, an ecologist at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in Bergen, Norway. Our conversation focuses on Forest-Web-3.0, a collaborative project aimed at incentivising biodiversity data sharing and pro-forestation practices, thereby improving forest biodiversity. Rob discusses the potential of blockchain technologies for open and fairer data governance by ensuring transparency and control of data flows in open and decentralised networks. Moreover, through the tokenisation of biodiversity credits, this system has the potential to financially reward forest landowners for preservation efforts, helping to move them away from...
2024-05-2226 min
Smart Forests RadioFleur Bokma: Stichting Deltaplan BiodiversiteitsherstelWithin the Netherlands, there are a lot of widely contrasting ideas about biodiversity. The ‘Stichting Deltaplan Biodiversiteitsherstel’ is a foundation that connects parties, including biodiversity organisations, politics, farmers, and local initiatives, together to create plans for biodiversity restoration. Fleur Bokma worked as a biodiversity advisor for this project. In this interview, she discusses the use of indicators, the challenges of measuring and monitoring these indicators, and how to work collectively with organisations that have different interests and ambitions concerning biodiversity. She discusses how digital infrastructures potentially bring diverging perspectives on biodiversity closer together because they can help to create more...
2024-04-1718 min
The Animal HighlightS1E9: Urban AntsIn this episode, Claudia Hirtenfelder talks about ants and the numerous ways they build, urbanize, and collaborate. The Animal Highlight is a spinoff and sister podcast to the award winning show, the Animal Turn Podcast. Season 1 is focused on “Animals and The Urban.” Featured: Secret Megalopolis of Ants UncoveredMichelle Westerlaken on The Animal Turn. Credits:Claudia Hirtenfelder, producer and host Christiaan Mentz, sound editor and producer Rebecca Shen, content producer and designer (logo and episode artwork)Gordon Clarke, bed music composerLearn more about the team here. Support the podcast...
2024-03-2907 min
Smart Forests RadioSass Klaassen and Driessen: Sensing Movements of Trees and Snails
In this Smart Forests Radio episode, we are in conversation with tree-ring researcher Ute Sass Klaassen at Van Hall Larenstein and Wageningen University & Research, and multi-species geographer Clemens Driessen at Wageningen University & Research. Their research illustrates different more-than-human approaches to engaging with seemingly slower entities like trees and snails by using digital technology. Ute discusses how sensors enable the analysis of the interaction between tree vitality and climate change, such as rate of growth and water transport in stems. To obtain a fuller picture of how trees react to extreme climate events, she explores ways to combine remotely sensed...
2024-01-1727 min
Smart Forests RadioAtlas Natural Capital: Counting the Benefits of Green InfrastructuresIn this Smart Forests Radio episode, we interview Miranda Mesman and Ton de Nijs from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). RIVM develops digital platforms like Atlas Natural Capital and Atlas Living Environment to aid green urban planning by quantifying the environmental and societal benefits of greening cities. During the interview, Miranda and Ton share their journey of consolidating maps, building data models, and developing API tools to capture the interdependence of natural capital, the environment, and human health. While digital technologies and data can enable different approaches to modelling urban environments, Miranda and...
2023-11-2928 min
Smart Forests RadioBrian House: Sensing Climate Change through InfrasoundIn this episode, we speak to Brian House, a sound artist and Assistant Professor of Art at Amherst College. Brian discusses Macrophones, an ongoing project that records and processes atmospheric infrasound (sound with a frequency below the range of human hearing) to make it audible for listeners. The conversation touches on the role of art and technology in generating new environmental sensitivities, and how to make the materialities of data infrastructures visible.
Interviewers: Max Ritts and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
For more on Macrophones, check out the Smart Forests Atlas.
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2023-09-0634 min
Smart Forests RadioJoycelyn Longdon: Forest Sound, Machine Learning, and Data Justice in GhanaIn this episode, we speak to Joycelyn Longdon, a PhD researcher on the AI for the study of Environmental Risk programme at the University of Cambridge, and founder of Climate in Colour, an educational platform focused on climate science and social justice.
Joycelyn discusses her interdisciplinary work creating machine learning algorithms and data visualisations of forest sound with a community living by the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in Ghana. She reflects on the importance – and the complexities – of participatory, justice-oriented research to co-create technologies that facilitate community agency and data sovereignty in knowing and managing forests.
Th...
2023-08-0938 min
Smart Forests RadioHana Raza: Camera Traps and Persian Leopards in Iraqi KurdistanIn this radio episode, we speak to Hana Raza, a wildlife conservationist from Iraqi Kurdistan and founder of the newly-formed NGO Leopards Beyond Borders. While working with Nature Iraq, Raza and her team found evidence of the Persian leopard, which was presumed locally extinct in Iraqi Kurdistan. Leopards Beyond Borders aims to protect this important species and, more widely, to establish protected areas for wildlife in Iraqi Kurdistan. In this conversation, Hana discusses the importance of camera trap images for influencing policymakers and international conservation communities, and the risks of doing wildlife conservation work in places where war and...
2023-06-2831 min
Smart Forests RadioARISE Project: Digital Biodiversity Infrastructure in the NetherlandsIn this episode, we speak to five people who have contributed to the ARISE project, a digital infrastructure that aims to identify and monitor all species in the Netherlands. These conversations took place at the ARISE day held at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in March 2022. We hear from:
Elaine van Ommen Kloeke, ARISE's programme manager
Jacob Kamminga, a computer science researcher specialising in sensor networks and machine learning
Chantal Huijbers, senior project manager developing the underlying infrastructure of ARISE
Rosalie Kross, an interaction designer whose graduate project involved shaping the ARISE platform
Stephan Peterse, owner of Faunabit, a...
2023-05-3136 min
Smart Forests RadioPratyush Mallick: DIY Devices for Forest Monitoring in India
In this episode, we speak to Pratyush Mallick, developer of Forest Guardian, a DIY, open source device used to detect illegal logging in forest spaces. Pratyush discusses the potential of the DIY/hacking community for building technologies to address environmental change, and the politics of implementing these technologies on the ground in Indian forests.
Interviewers: Michelle Westerlaken and Trishant Simlai
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Find out more about Pratyush's work and the Forest Guardian device on the Smart Forests Atlas.
Image source: https://www.hackster.io/phatta/forest-guardian-267cb7
2023-05-1729 min
Smart Forests RadioAndrea Leiter: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Self-Governing Nature
In this radio episode, we speak to Dr Andrea Leiter, Assistant Professor at the Amsterdam Center for International Law and Director of Research at the nonprofit Sovereign Nature Initiative. Andrea discusses how emerging cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies can offer different ways of understanding, valuing, and governing nature, along with some of the dangers of the fast-paced, growing world of green financing.
Interviewers: Michelle Westerlaken and Danilo Urzedo
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas for further discussion of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in digital forest technologies.
Image source: https://sovereignnature...
2023-05-0325 min
Smart Forests RadioAlex Rogers: Acoustic Devices for Biodiversity Monitoring
In this episode, we speak to Alex Rogers, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. We discuss how Alex's research team developed the acoustic recording device AudioMoth, how low-cost technologies can democratise biodiversity monitoring, and how sensing technologies can lead to certain species and environments being monitored more than others.
Interviewers: Max Ritts and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to find out more about AudioMoth, and check out other Smart Forests Radio episodes on acoustic monitoring.
Image source: https://www.openacousticdevices.info/
2023-03-2226 min
Smart Forests RadioLindsey Rustad: Real-Time Monitoring in the Northeastern US
In this radio episode, we speak to Dr Lindsey Rustad, Director of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Northeast Climate Hub and Team Leader for the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. Lindsey discusses setting up the USDA Smart Forests network, different types of sensors used for real-time environmental monitoring, and the role of forest ecosystems in addressing climate change.
Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to find out more about the USDA Smart Forests network.
Image source: WaterViz, https://waterviz...
2023-02-2228 min
Smart Forests RadioCarlos Souza: Remote Sensing in the Amazon
In this episode, we speak to Dr Carlos Souza, a researcher at Imazon, the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment. Carlos discusses developing remote sensing tools to map and monitor but also predict deforestation and environmental change. He also reflects on collaborating with big tech companies, and asymmetry of access to information and digital technologies in the Amazon.
Interviewers: Danilo Urzedo, Jennifer Gabrys, and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to learn more about projects Carlos is involved in: MapBiomas and PrevisIA.
Image source: PrevisIA...
2023-01-2527 min
Smart Forests RadioNadina Galle: Internet of Nature
In this episode, we talk to Dr Nadina Galle, ecological engineer and founder of the Internet of Nature concept and podcast. Nadina describes ways that technology can facilitate interactions between humans and nature in urban environments, from monitoring soil and tree health, to quantifying and incentivising public health impacts of spending time outside, to communicating about and across ecosystems.
Interviewers: Michelle Westerlaken and Jennifer Gabrys
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Find out more about the Internet of Nature on the Smart Forests Atlas, and read Nadina's post about her recent work with soil sensors and...
2023-01-1129 min
Smart Forests RadioThomas Crowther: Global Tree Restoration Potential
In this radio episode, we speak to Professor Thomas Crowther, an ecologist who leads the Crowther Lab at ETH Zürich and initiated the Restor platform. We discuss the data behind calculating and evaluating global tree cover and restoration potential, building restoration networks through online platforms, and the risks of scaling between the local and the global using AI.
Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Find out more about the Crowther Lab and Restor on the Smart Forests Atlas.
Image source: Restor, https://beta.restor.eco/map
2022-11-2316 min
Smart Forests RadioClaudia Araújo: Community Seed Networks in Brazil
In this radio episode, we speak to Claudia Araújo, a forest engineer who co-manages the Xingu Seed Network (Rede de Sementes do Xingu), a seed distribution network led primarily by women and Indigenous and traditional peoples. Claudia talks with us about community mobilisations against deforestation, muvuca direct seeding approaches and communication networks, and the political challenges of doing socio-environmental work in Brazil at this time.
Interviewers: Danilo Urzedo and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Pedro Augusto
Language note: This interview takes place in Portuguese.
Find out more about Brazil's seed networks on t...
2022-11-0933 min
Smart Forests RadioAndrea Botero: Open Forests in Hyytiälä, FinlandIn this episode, Smart Forests researchers speak to Dr Andrea Botero, Associate Professor in the Department of Design at Aalto University in Finland. The conversation touches on Andrea's research with Open Forest at Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station, interdisciplinary practice, relationships between sensor data and stories, Finnish forest management and environmental change.
Interviewers: Michelle Westerlaken and Jennifer Gabrys
Producer: Harry Murdoch
You can learn more about Andrea's work with Open Forest on the Smart Forests Atlas:
Hybrid Walking and (Un)Sensing the Forest: a collaborative story about a hybrid walk hosted by An...
2022-10-0525 min
Sänt i P1Voff, vad sa du? Om djurens dolda språkDe flesta djurägare pratar med sina djur. Men vilket är bästa sättet att göra det på? Och hur mycket förstår djuren? Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Forskning har gett nya svara på frågorna om hur vi kan umgås med våra djur: Djur inte bara känner ungefär samma känslor som vi, de har också förmåga att fånga upp våra känslor och reagera på dem.Allt fler letar nu efter nya sätt att kommunicera med och umgås med sina d...
2022-04-1845 min
The Animal TurnS3E9: Re-Design with Michelle WesterlakenClaudia speaks to Michelle Westerlaken about the concept of Re-Design and how design can be used to generate multispecies worlds and opportunities. They discuss Michelle’s background in design with and for animals, how she finds theory incredibly important for design processes, and the ways in which trying to create positive urban design might generate new multispecies opportunities. Date recorded: 26 April 2021 Michelle Westerlaken is a Research Associate on the Smart Forests project in the Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge. She has a PhD in Inter...
2021-08-111h 15
Beyond SpeciesImagining Multispecies WorldsEpisode 29. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Michelle Westerlaken. Michelle explains her concept of multispecies-isms or multispecies worlding – a response to speciesism that looks for traces of how we humans interact with other species in our everyday lives, so as to imagine how relationships might take place in a non-speciesist future. Michelle’s work draws in strands from a range of disciplines, including interaction design, posthumanism and indigenous ways of knowing. Michelle finds the ethic of care a challenging but generative concept worth exploring. She also discusses the concept of the Bestiary in her thesis, which opens up spaces for...
2021-01-231h 08
Dostarczaj WartośćJak uwzględnić zwierzęta w procesie projektowania - rozmowa z Michelle Westerlaken [ENG] | Dostarczaj Wartość #15[PL] W piętnastym odcinku podcastu "DostarczajWartość" rozmawiamy z Michelle Westerlaken oraz Łukaszem Januszkiem o tym czy warto zmienić podejście do procesu projektowania uwzględniając zwierzęta i ich potrzeby? Czy i czego możemy się od nich nauczyć? Czy pomimo tego, że na co dzień nie projektujemy rozwiązań przeznaczonych dla zwierząt możemy skorzystać zmieniając sposób myślenia?[EN] In the fifteenth episode of the podcast "DostarczajWartość"("Deliver Value") we talk with Michelle Westerlaken and Łukasz Januszek about whether it is worth changing the approach to the design process taking into account animals and t...
2020-01-1029 min
Medea VoxThe Smell of Digital ZombiesScholars Simon Niedenthal and Michelle Westerlaken talk about our sense of smell. Can practicing smelling things delay dementia? Why is it so hard to use odors in video games? And what do zombies really smell like?
2019-02-1937 minMedea VoxDesigners Against Animal OppressionEating animals is outdated. In this episode, designers and PhD students Michelle Westerlaken and Erik Sandelin discuss how to move towards a society that does not treat other animals as lesser beings. Underlying the discussion is the notion of speciesism, which is the oppression or exploitation of animals on the grounds of belonging to another species – similar to racism and sexism.
2018-12-0638 min
Knowing AnimalsEpisode 93: Imagining Non-Speciesism with Michelle WesterlakenThis episode of Knowing Animals comes to you from the Rethinking Animality conference in Spain. I am joined by Michelle Westerlaken. Michelle is aPhD Candidate in Interaction/Game Design at Malmö University, Sweden. We discuss Michelle's article 'Uncivilising the Future: Imagining Non-Speciesism' which appeared in the journal Antae in 2017. This episode of Knowing Animals is brought to you by AASA. AASA is the Australasian Animal Studies Association. You can find AASA on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/AASA-Australasian-Animal-Studies-Association-480316142116752/. Join AASA today! This episode of Knowing Animals is also brought to you by MC Pony. MC...
2018-11-1224 min