Shows
Transforming TomorrowSustainability Inspiration, Optimism – and the Edmonton Oilers!It has been a turbulent nine months for the world of sustainability – and for Transforming Tomorrow. So, what have we learned?
Paul and Jan look back over the series and discover themes that run through our guests’ thoughts on sustainability – whether they were with us to talk about plastics or biodiversity, Morecambe Bay or Malaysia.
It’s a chance to talk about how things have already changed since we talked to some guests and pick out our favourite moments from a packed series.
We consider the recognition of the importance of long-term...2025-07-1436 minTransforming TomorrowA Return to BiodiversityYou might not see climate change on your doorstep every day, but you can see biodiversity loss.
Find out what businesses are doing to address biodiversity concerns, and how they can be helped to improve their actions.
Dr Michael Burgass is from Biodiversify, a consultancy company that uses cutting-edge science to develop biodiversity strategies for some of the world’s largest companies. He has long been interested in how people interact with their environment.
As businesses have become more interested and engaged with biodiversity, Michael is working with companies who are at the he...2025-07-0742 minTransforming TomorrowSustainability Transformation in UniversitiesDiscover how you can embed sustainability across a Higher Education organisation.
Dr Alex Ryan, Director and Founder of Learning Energy, returns to her old Lancaster University haunts to tell us about her work inside and outside universities on the ‘great big gobbling monster’ of sustainability. Alex helps people and organisations address sustainability challenges: work is not always easy.
We discuss the evolution of understanding and action in universities over the last 20 years; the importance of changes to culture and strategy; how to place the common good ahead of self-interest when making changes; and how the univ...2025-06-3042 minTransforming TomorrowAntimicrobial ResistanceAntibiotics have been around for hundreds of thousands of years – no, we didn’t know that either! They are harmful to bacteria, and without them we would have a world where life is much harder.
But in recent decades, overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This evolutionary response has been accelerated as humans have developed more and more antibiotics – leading to a biological arms race.
Dr Oskar Nyberg, from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and Dr Patrik Henriksson, from Leiden University and the Stockholm Resilience Centre, are part of a pr...2025-06-2346 minTransforming TomorrowCultural SustainabilityCulture is visibly lacking from the Sustainable Development Goals – but why? History, tourism, the arts, and even video games all have a part to play in the sustainability picture, so we need to consider the sector’s importance.
Dr Chiara Donelli, from the University of Venezia, is an expert in cultural sustainability and she is here to keep us informed. She explains why culture does not have a specific SDG assigned to it, how it fits into the big picture, and how it has been involved in sustainability activity for longer that you might think.
Taki...2025-06-1643 minTransforming TomorrowGlobal Entrepreneurship and SustainabilityIf you carry out fascinating work on entrepreneurship and sustainability, you still need for people to understand it.
Professor Sreevas Sahasranamam, from the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow, pipped Jan and Paul to the Management Publication of the Year Award – but do they hold a grudge? No, they don’t!
Sreevas is a keen proponent of communicating research and expertise in novel and accessible ways. His blogs aim to reach and engage policymakers and government, as well as the public, opening previously inaccessible doors for him, such as opening up access to t...2025-06-0940 minTransforming TomorrowDesigning Sustainability into Your BusinessWhat is the reality for a small business when it comes to adopting sustainable practices? How hard is it to turn ideals into practical applications?
In the first of our Local Heroes episodes, Steve Parkman, from Cumbrian design studio 42 Creative Thinking talks us through the changes he has made to his company’s operations to make it more sustainable.
Steve has been part of the Transforming Tomorrow journey since before it was a podcast, and he discusses his learning journey in both design and sustainability. We discuss how sustainability has changed fundamentally the rol...2025-06-0230 minTransforming TomorrowA Beginner's Guide to ServitizationWhat is servitization? Could it be the future for more businesses? How does it link to productivity and sustainability? And why is it spelt with a z? We answer at least three of these questions as we explore an area that is relevant to giant global corporations and small businesses alike.
What if, instead of a crane, you charge by the number of lifts it carries out; if instead of selling a physical tyre, you provide a certain amount of miles; if a company offers you so many air miles from an engine? These are all examples...2025-05-2647 minTransforming TomorrowThe Fall and Rise of the Sleeper TrainA location for romance, violence or murder – sleeper trains in film and fiction are always places for drama. But the reality may be somewhat different.
As a sustainable travel option that is enjoying a resurgence in Europe – and, perhaps surprisingly, in China – they link big cities and are evolving to meet modern needs.
Lancaster University Management School Marketing Lecturer Dr Nicole Bulawa may never have taken the midnight train to Georgia, but her work on sleeper trains tells her that Murder on Orient Express and From Russia With Love may not be the most accurate depict...2025-05-1934 minTransforming TomorrowPRME and Sustainability Education in MalaysiaHow can we educate university students around the world on important sustainability topics? You cannot talk to them all in the same way as those in other countries – because different countries and cultures have different attitudes and priorities.
Dr Stephen Homer has gone from being a commercial fisherman and a fishmonger to a leader on sustainability education at Sunway Business School in Malaysia, inspired by his experiences before moving into academia.
He tells us all about the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and how they help management and business schools make sense of the UN...2025-05-1230 minTransforming TomorrowInclusivity and InequalitiesEquality, Diversity and Inclusivity have become dirty words in some quarters recently. But not on Transforming Tomorrow.
We want to talk about the need for greater gender equality in business, the challenges the movement is encountering in the face of Donald Trump and other vocal critics, and how Malaysia measures up when it comes to EDI.
Sunway University’s Professor Yuka Fujimoto has spent years travelling from country to country and has built and interest and expertise on diversity and inclusion as a result.
We discuss how the political climate can change corporate be...2025-05-0534 minTransforming TomorrowSunway, ASEAN and Tackling InequalityEconomic inequality from childhood impacts on all aspects of life, affecting work prospects, educational attainment, and health outcomes. Reducing inequality, therefore, is central to building a better future for millions of people.
From the site of a former mining operation just outside Kuala Lumpur, we are joined by Professor Mahendhiran Sanggaran to discuss how the location is now home to Sunway University, a leading light in Malaysian sustainability research and development for more than 50 years.
Mahendiran’s work includes the Desa Mentari project, and we discover how work among low-income communities can benefit young and ol...2025-04-2853 minTransforming TomorrowMalaysia’s Sustainability AmbitionsWe’re by the pool in the Malaysian sunshine. But we’re not here to sunbathe – we’re talking all things sustainability in a country with challenges both familiar and foreign to Western Europe.
Jan’s ‘academic granddaughter’ Dr Ann Marie Sidhu is a chartered accountant who works with business and government in Malaysia on the challenges of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
We discuss what Government and industry in Malaysia need to do to achieve the SDGs – especially energy transition in an economy where the petrochemical industry is dominant – how an emerging economy deals with regulations ar...2025-04-2141 minTransforming TomorrowIndustry 5.0 and Society 5.0It’s time to look to the future and consider what comes next for society and industry.
Dr Rebecca Liu, from Lancaster University Management School’s Department of Marketing, and Steve Kremer, from consultancy Periphas, who specialise in connecting technology innovators, join us to discuss Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0. Both concepts envision the world’s next evolution.
This means a vision of a super-smart society, where smart tech is integrated into every aspect, serving the needs of humanity, and solving major global issues as it blends the cyber and physical worlds.
In industry, it is abo...2025-04-1449 minTransforming TomorrowLearning to Sleep HungryNot everyone takes breakfast, lunch and dinner for granted. For millions, there is no guarantee of where their next meal will come from, or its quality.
Biraj Patnaik, Executive Director of the National Foundation for India, introduces us to the concepts and realties food poverty and food inequality, and how his organisation works with communities on the margins of Indian society towards enabling social justice.
We discuss how and why the right to food has been part of legislative discourse in India; how the caste system and gender discrimination influence who suffers malnutrition and starvation...2025-04-0731 minTransforming TomorrowThe Public and The PrivateAre you a public or a private person? Or maybe a bit of both? It’s not always easy to say.
The same goes for how we characterise the public and private sectors. The private sector goes beyond a simple characterisation of making a profit – and the public sector beyond providing services for people. The boundaries are blurring – where do the public and private sectors meet, and how does their symbiotic relationship work?
Dr Martin Quinn is a Reader in OWT – which in his northern brogue suggests a life of vague reading lists and relaxed afternoo...2025-03-3146 minTransforming TomorrowThe Next GenerationYoung people are bombarded with a huge number of issues – from cost-of-living to the challenge of finding employment, an ever-changing global political landscape to inclusion. Where does sustainability fit into the mix?
Darren Axe, Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS)’s International Membership and Engagement Manager, has an ironic name given he has planted many trees during his career – and surely no-one has ever mentioned it!
We discuss the work of SOS in the UK and across their international team in galvanising students and allowing them to realise how sustainability cuts across the challenges they face.
...2025-03-2435 minTransforming TomorrowHow to Teach SustainabilityHow do we educate the next generation on sustainability? How do we help them think of themselves as citizens of ‘one world’? What are their – and our – responsibilities as future responsible leaders?
Dr Jose Alcaraz-Barriga, from Lancaster University Leipzig, tell us how he teaches his students to connect business activities with the planet’s future.
Jose takes his own knowledge on planetary boundaries and the Anthropocene and applies it in his teaching to ensure young people are not overwhelmed by the situation but also understand how action at a local level can make a real impact.2025-03-1733 minTransforming TomorrowHosting Green EventsCan a big in-person event be sustainable? Or do all events need to move online? Do you spend your time at parties wondering how sustainable it is – and how it could be better?
Hilary Barraclough oversees events organisation across Lancaster University, and she and her team try to make them as sustainable as possible.
From promoting sustainable travel to and from venues, to ensuring lower levels of food waste from catering – and increasing the amount of vegan and vegetarian food being served, and cutting down on needless packaging, there are many ways to make a diff...2025-03-1028 minTransforming TomorrowWho are the Ocean 100?What do businesses get up to in the two-thirds of the world’s oceans outside national jurisdictions?
Professor John Virdin has always loved the ocean – despite growing up hundreds of miles from the sea. As Director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Programme at Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions in North Carolina, he has a job title too long for his business card, but a long-term dream of better protection and management of the way we use ocean to provide more food and jobs for people on the coast around the world.
John...2025-03-0340 minTransforming TomorrowLeading Sustainable TransformationWhat can you do to transform your business? What actions can you take to help it be more sustainable? How can your operations be part of the overall sustainability solution and shaping a better society – and how can this ensure your own success?
Professors Julia Binder and Knut Haanaes from IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, are here to discuss their new book Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation, and the many topics it addresses.
There are many positive examples of business practice across economic, social and environmental sustainability – and Knut even sees the sustainability ‘backlash’ as a pos...2025-02-2445 minTransforming TomorrowA Global Plastics TreatyThe law is back in town! How can you legislate for plastic pollution all around the world? Is it possible to get close to 200 countries to agree on the way forward? What will such a treaty include?
Dr Alexandra Harrington is an environmental law specialist in Lancaster University Law School who has been part of the negotiations for a proposed international plastics treaty as a UN-accredited observer. It has not been straightforward – hence the lack of an agreement so far.
She takes us behind the scenes on negotiations that have taken place around the world – even...2025-02-1748 minTransforming Tomorrow5,000 Giraffes of PlasticThere are around 144,000 people in the district of Lancaster – from the city itself to Morecambe, the villages and rural areas beyond. They produced 8,998 tons of household recycling in 2023.
So, why do these residents only recycle 36% of their plastics? What could you as a resident do to improve your habits? And what happens to the plastic that is recycled when the council collects it?
It’s time to bring an end to our investigation of the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project – and we bring it all back home.
Carly Sparks, Lancaster City Council’...2025-02-1039 minTransforming TomorrowUrgh! Bin Juice!Do you know what happens to your plastic recycling after your bins are emptied?
As we continue our journey through the plastics pipeline, we encounter bin juice and the Mafia.
Lancaster University’s Dr Clare Mumford and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM)’s Richard Hudson take the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project to the final stage of its process – how plastic waste is dealt with.
It turns out plastic is not very sociable – one type does not get along with another – and this just adds to the complications when it comes to...2025-02-0344 minTransforming TomorrowShopping for PlasticsListening to this episode can change your shopping habits!
Do supermarkets care about the planet? What actions are they taking to reduce waste? How are they changing their packaging to address the plastics problem?
The team hit the road to speak with Katie Gwynne and Jane Routh, from Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project partners Booths, about how the supermarket chain thinks and acts around plastic packaging, and how they are looking to change their own behaviours and those of their customers.
With an ethos of ‘being the good grocers’ discover how Booths...2025-01-2736 minTransforming TomorrowBetter Plastics BehaviourHow do you treat plastic waste in your home? Are you a good consumer? A good recycler or a wishcycler? And is recycling the first thing you see when you open the door to your house?
Professors Alex Skandalis and James Cronin bring their marketing and consumer culture expertise to the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project – and to the podcast – to analyse consumer behaviours around plastic. But are they just making up all of the language and concepts they mention?
From the Aztecs to the Dark Ages, the Victorians to the present day, we dis...2025-01-2046 minTransforming TomorrowRethinking Plastic PackagingIt’s not just consumers who need to change their attitudes and behaviours around plastics.
Packaging manufacturers and retailers need to take action too.
Professor Linda Hendry makes a return visit to the podcast, explaining how her work on supply chains unites her interests in plastics as part of the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives (PPiPL) project and on modern slavery.
We look at how food producers, packaging manufacturers and retailers decide how to package and transport food before it reaches consumers; the role of government and regulation when it comes to pack...2025-01-1337 minTransforming TomorrowIs Plastic Fantastic?“I just want to say one word to you. Just one word… plastics.”
We don’t have Dustin Hoffman, but we do have a journey into a fascinating world as we take a deep dive into the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives (PPiPL) project.
Dr Alison Stowell and Professor Maria Piacentini join us as we discover how consumers think and behave when it comes to plastic food packaging, and how PPiPL hopes to change the attitude-behaviour gap.
Discover how the project researchers have engaged with organisations from supermarkets to local government, SMEs to waste m...2025-01-0639 minTransforming TomorrowThe Bay (With Fewer Murders)Take a moment to consider what your local area. Do you feel connected to it? Does it feel like a real home?
Morecambe Bay is a natural marvel. Stretching from Fleetwood in the south to Barrow-in-Furness in the north, it encompasses Lancaster, Morecambe, and many small towns and villages along the Lancashire and Cumbria coastlines.
And Paul feels right at home as he and Jan welcome Carys Nelkon and Dr Beth Garrett to reveal the wonders of the Morecambe Bay Curriculum to them.
The curriculum involves more than 140 educators across the Bay and...2024-12-2339 minTransforming TomorrowB-School to ESG SchoolHow can business and management schools help to shape the leaders the world needs? It’s time to examine how we operate, and how we can change to better suit the businesses of the future.
Dr Marian Iszatt-White becomes our first return guest as she talks to Jan and Paul about her work on the B-School to ESG School project. Her latest work is looking at how Environmental, Social and Governance should be at the heart of a business school’s operations.
Discover how we can help to ensure our graduates go into the world and...2024-12-1626 minTransforming TomorrowTurning Ideas Into NormsWhat is normal now was not always so. People used to smoke in bars and offices; junk food used to be advertised during children’s TV programmes; drivers and passengers used to travel in cars without seatbelts – but not now, and for some people it feels it has always been this way.
Professor Carlos Larrinaga, from the University of Burgos, talks us through the process by which new ideas spread and become norms – both with and without regulation in place.
With a focus around Carlos’s expertise on sustainability reporting, we look at how voluntary actions...2024-12-0939 minTransforming TomorrowTackling Global InactivityJan is a joy rider. And that’s just great.
Not everyone is an elite athlete, but we should all be active.
The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) is doing important work with some of the biggest names in their sector to help make this a reality.
Emma Zwiebler, a World Championship and Commonwealth Games badminton player who is now CEO of the WFSGI, explains how the trade association body operates and how they have put this mission at the core of their activities.
We investigate the issue of...2024-12-0239 minTransforming TomorrowRanking Business SchoolsIt’s Paul’s worst nightmare – a whole episode about ranking and accrediting business schools!
Learn how business schools build sustainability into their operations; why accreditation bodies – whose backing schools rely on for their prestige – take the issue so seriously; and how important the topic is when it comes to rankings.
Rose White, External Accreditation Manager at Lancaster University Management School, comes ready for Paul to rant about whether rankings should be important to anyone – and she gets just what she expects!
Rose and Jan might be unable to convince Paul of the merits of ben...2024-11-2539 minTransforming TomorrowWho'd Be A Sustainability Manager?Jan’s considering a new career – should she become a sustainability officer?
Chief Sustainability Officers are among the fastest growing jobs in the UK – but who are these people, what do they do, and does anyone actually listen to them?
Dr Katherine Ellsworth-Krebs, from the University of Strathclyde, brings gifts from her allotment to the studio as well as an avid interest in all things sustainability that started in childhood in Washington state, USA – where she was surprised to learn not all other youngsters had the same obsession. She also comes with a healthy dose of cynic...2024-11-1837 minTransforming TomorrowA Taskforce for NatureBring back the accountants – and the taskforces! It’s time to look at how companies identify and report on nature-related impacts and opportunities.
We make an investigation of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and its work with the Pentland Centre’s Dr Neytullah Ciftci – Neo to his friends – who works with Jan on that very topic.
Discover how companies can change nature; how these changing ecosystems could be a risk to your business; and the importance of analysing supply chain impacts as well as your own operations.
We look at how companies...2024-11-1434 minTransforming TomorrowNature Restoration and BusinessHow can businesses have a positive impact on nature? We hear a lot about the negative effects organisations have on the planet, but they can also be a force for good.
By helping to restore nature, firms big or small, local or global, can help themselves and their operations – and maybe all of us. But what are they actually doing, and why can it be so hard for them to tell us?
Dr Tim Lamont, a marine biologist in Lancaster Environment Centre, explains his work on corporate reporting around nature restoration, and how the subject fi...2024-11-1131 minTransforming TomorrowB-Corps, Brands, and BusinessWhat do big companies do to positively contribute to sustainability efforts, and to wider society? What does your employer do? Is it enough, and could they do more?
Brands and brand values send messages and have their own sustainability identities, so it’s time to look at how this affects their actions.
Kaeisha Gibson, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Pentland Brands, discusses how brands including Speedo, Canterbury, Endura, Mitre, and more, approach their strategies towards sustainability.
The conversation focuses in on the Berghaus outdoor gear brand and its B-Corp certification, which demonstrates their de...2024-11-0426 minTransforming TomorrowGood or Evil in BusinessThe battle between good and evil comes to Transforming Tomorrow. What is good? What does ‘good’ mean in the context of how you do business?
We look at how companies can balance profit with doing right in the world, why it doesn’t necessarily take as long as you think to move to a new way of thinking and working, and whether the world needs to be in crisis to force corporations to act.
Professor Steve Kempster explains his work on Good Dividends, and how he has worked with businesses to see how they work and if...2024-10-2841 minTransforming TomorrowGreenpeace and BeyondPut on your activism boots and join us on a journey from the Antarctic to Sweden and the Arctic, China, Lancaster and many places in between.
We find out the differences between being an activist and an academic, how you go from being one to the other, and how experience as an activist gives you unique and invaluable insights for research.
Frida Bengtsson describes her journey from growing up in a family where Greenpeace was an important presence, to being lead of the organisation’s Global Oceans campaign, before becoming a PhD researcher at the St...2024-10-2135 minTransforming TomorrowHow to Mine an AsteroidWe’re blasting off into space! Find out all you need to know to mine an asteroid – though be warned, it’s not that simple.
Discover which laws you have to follow beyond Earth’s atmosphere, how we get to asteroids in the first place, and what this might mean for life here and millions of miles away.
Dr Craig Jones joins Jan and Paul for an astronomical start to the new series. He specialises in asteroid mining and the myriad issues that arise when it comes to considering how it could be done, and what the p...2024-10-1434 minTransforming TomorrowGrilling JanWhat are externalities? How does the EU have environmental effects beyond its borders? What is justice?
We bring Season One of Transforming Tomorrow to a close with Jan answering some of the questions that have come up during previous episodes.
Jan explains externalities, and how (not when) they can be internalised; why it is important to know about the EU’s impacts; and the many elements to justice.
Plus, a sneak peek at what is coming up in Season Two.
Find details on the Frontiers of Justice book Jan mentions here: ht...2024-08-1223 minTransforming TomorrowThe Future of NormalWhat is ‘future normal’? How will the world look years from now? How will businesses operate? How could they make your children proud? And how does sustainability fit into all this?
Professor Nick Barter, from Griffith University, takes Jan and Paul through the origins of the phrase from his time working with industry while completing his PhD with Jan at the University of St Andrews.
Covering topics from corporate direction-setting and vision to culture and language, learning from nature, and enabling others, Nick talks to us about how companies can change to be part of a wo...2024-08-0532 minTransforming TomorrowWhat Is Creative Evaluation?Like evaluations? Does anyone? It’s time to change your mind and learn about creative evaluation.
Jan and Paul welcome Dr Elisavet Christou and Violet Owen to enlighten them.
Co-authors of the Little Book of Creative Evaluation, they explain what Creative Evaluation is, and how it can be used across many disciplines.
Elisavet and Violet discuss their EViD tool, which helps people with their evaluation processes; the value of hearing from different voices; the importance of design; and why evaluation is so much more than a tick-box exercise.
Jan gets to ta...2024-07-2932 minTransforming TomorrowShaping Corporate SustainabilityHow can executives change their operations and attitudes – from nature restoration to modern slavery – to be more sustainable and responsible? How hard is it to get people to accept the difficulty of the task.
Linden Edgell – Inquisitor, Collaborator and Explorer extraordinaire – joins Jan and Paul from Perth, Australia, among her 150 mango trees to answer these and other questions.
Linden is ERM’s Global Sustainability Director and is a member of the Pentland Centre’s Advisory Board. She has worked in government and latterly in consulting, where she is seeking to bring about change in corporate behaviour.2024-07-2228 min
Transforming TomorrowAnd Now, The End Is NearAs we approach the conclusion of Series 1 of Transforming Tomorrow, find out what is still to come on the remaining episodes.2024-07-1802 minTransforming TomorrowHooked on Salmon FarmingIncrease your knowledge of salmon tenfold as we look at the environmental impacts of a major industry.
Farmed salmon is the UK’s biggest food export – and Dr Josi Fernandes is obsessed!
Josi joins Jan and Paul to talk about her work looking at salmon farming practices and sustainability in the UK and how her research in the area all started over a conversation in the pub.
We discover what Josi has learned from speaking with salmon farmers, processors and retailers – though not everyone wanted to talk.
We take in the differ...2024-07-1529 minTransforming TomorrowSustainable FinanceDo investors really care about sustainability, or is it all about the money? If they do care, what powers do they have to make companies change their ways?
Jan and Paul welcome Professor Mark Shackleton to discuss the world of finance and how it intersects with sustainability.
They discover why the King can’t enter the City of London without permission; how data can be used to influence ‘green’ investing; and how shareholders can instigate change.
Among discussions of ethics and politics, they find the time to talk about physics and Paul’s strange...2024-07-0834 minTransforming TomorrowGreen Consumer SpendingWould you spend more for green products? Really? Really really?
Even if you would, is it possible consumers can change how businesses operate through such decisions?
Jan and Paul welcome back Professor Dakshina De Silva, and Drs Anita Schiller and Aurelie Slechten to discuss the factors that influence consumer spending on green goods; different cultural attitudes towards green spending; how income levels affect these attitudes; and whether the future is carrying your own ice cream spoon.
Read more about the team’s research into green consumer spending in this short article: https://doc.yo...2024-07-0414 minTransforming TomorrowThe Economics of PollutionCommunities with lower-income residents can be impacted more by pollution. But why? And can anything be done?
With pollution impacting health and employment opportunities, can regulations help these communities? Will they make industries pack up and leave? Or is that just a handy excuse?
A crash of economists invades the studio to talk to Jan and Paul about how industrial pollution ties in with economics and sustainability.
Professor Dakshina De Silva, and Drs Anita Schiller and Aurelie Slechten explain how economists view the world –and how we can measure the social costs of po...2024-07-0133 minTransforming TomorrowComing in July on Transforming TomorrowTake a sneak peek into upcoming topics on Transforming Tomorrow - from salmon farming to the economics of pollution, sustainable finance, and more.2024-06-2702 minTransforming TomorrowDown on the Farm (Part Two)Does planting new hedgerows help farmers, and how? Is having a connection with nature important to a farm’s success?
And, where’s Jan? Paul is left to fly solo after a car breakdown means Jan cannot make it to Orton, and the farm of Jim Beary.
Luckily, Lake District Farmers Head of Purpose and Sustainability Phil Scott can help out as the trio discuss life at Gaythorn Hall, a farm in the far east of Cumbria that falls within the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
From his home among the floc...2024-06-2434 minTransforming TomorrowDown on the Farm (Part One)Paul and Jan have finally made it to the farm! But where is the sustainability? Are farmers really invested in biodiversity?
We are on Cartmel Fell, in South Cumbria, to meet Fiona Daley, who along with husband Dave owns and runs Hodge Hill Farm, where a new-born calf is among the audience.
Fiona and Dave have a small herd of Belted Galloway cows and are members of the LDF network. LDF Head of Purpose and Sustainability Phil Scott joins everyone in the barn to discuss key sustainability issues.
Why did Dave and Fiona...2024-06-1731 minTransforming TomorrowIs Net Zero Meat Possible?Or is it a pipedream? The Pentland Centre are working with Lake District farmers to move towards net zero meat production.
Discover the unique challenges facing farmers in the Lake District; find out how farmers are cooperating with Lancaster research; and learn the differences between Net Zero, Carbon Neutral and Carbon Positive.
Dr Laura Giles, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate working with Lake District Farmers, joins Jan and Paul to discuss her work – and tell us what her role means and how it operates.
Laura is working with LDF to understand ho...2024-06-1027 minTransforming TomorrowFarming and SustainabilityWe’ve learned all about farming – and soil! – now we discover how farming and sustainability go together. Do farmers care and how do they show it?
Jan and Paul talk sustainability with Lake District Farmers’ Phil Scott about the organisation’s sustainability ambitions.
As seagulls and buzzards circle, they look at how LDF think about sustainability in their own operations and those of the farmers in their networks, and the overall impact of their work. Phil explains the efforts reflect engagement with communities, proper discussions with farmers around their practices, and a real understanding of the natural...2024-06-0323 minTransforming TomorrowSoil – It’s Alive!There is more carbon in soil than in the Earth’s atmosphere! But how has human activity has changed soils over the centuries?
Professors Jess Davies and John Quinton, from Lancaster Environment Centre, bring their expertise to focus on the work being done with the Lake District Farmers. They tell Jan and Paul about the effects farmers have on their land – and how they have affected it over the past centuries – and what might happen in the future. Using science, they can advise on the best path forward.
Plus, a bonus mention of Pliny the Elder!2024-05-2721 minTransforming TomorrowLake District FarmersJoin us as we start our journey looking at meat farming in the UK’s Lake District. As we explore how sustainable farming can be, we meet the Lake District Farmers (LDF).
Jan and Paul travel to Ulverston – or Oolverston as Jan would have it – to meet LDF’s Phil Scott and find all about the organisation and its work with farmers across Cumbria.
LDF work with a network of around 50 farmers to process and sell high-quality meat. But how does this network benefit the farmers? Why do top chefs want their products? Why are they wor...2024-05-2022 minTransforming TomorrowLake District Farming: A PreviewOver the next six weeks on Transforming Tomorrow, we will be taking a deep dive into the Towards Net Zero Meat Production project.
This is a collaboration between Lancaster University - including the Pentland Centre - and the Lake District Farmers organisation.
Jan and Paul will be speaking to experts in Lancaster, the Lake District Farmers, and farmers in Cumbria (on their farms) to find our more.
Take a sneak peek here.2024-05-1703 min
De thread podcastPentland BrandsPentland Brands is a standout brand in the world of sports and lifestyle apparel. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, quality, and inclusivity, Pentland Brands has solidified its position as a leader in the industry. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, or fashion-forward individual, Pentland Brands has something to offer for everyone. So next time you are looking to upgrade your wardrobe, be sure to check out Pentland Brands for stylish and sustainable options that will stand the test of time.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-05-1503 minTransforming TomorrowExplaining the AnthropoceneProfessor Henrik Österblom, Director of the Anthropocene Laboratory at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, comes to the podcast with possibly the best job title so far.
Henrik is one of Jan’s favourite super-scientists, and he joins Jan and Paul from Stockholm. But just what does Anthropocene mean, and how does it tie in with sustainability?
How is the world changing due to human activity? How have we affected the behaviour of animals – do frogs really eat lightbulbs? What are the empirics of hope? Are there positive signs that we can tackle the challenges we fa...2024-05-1330 minTransforming TomorrowModern Slavery in the UKWe’ve discussed modern slavery on a global scale before, but now Dr Divya Jyoti joins Jan and Paul to bring the issue closer to home.
Divya’s research has taken her to the factory floor, and to the city of Leicester – where there were once claims of 10,000 people living in modern slavery – and has led her to shine a light on left-behind people, those often-forgotten people in our societies.
What has Divya learned from her work in Leicester? What have been the effects on the city of the allegations and investigations? Have people paid enough a...2024-05-0635 minTransforming TomorrowThe Problem of Insecure WorkIn 2023, around 6.8 million people in the UK were in severely insecure work – little over a firth of the working population. Work Foundation Director Ben Harrison dials in from London to discuss the issue.
Ben tells Jan and Paul about how the Work Foundation works as it tries to influence policy across the UK. He covers issues of flexible working, how economic changes in recent years have affected working patterns, and the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic.
What are decent and insecure work? How does the Work Foundation’s Insecure Work Index function, and what does it t...2024-04-2932 minTransforming TomorrowInspiring Business SustainabilityDr Joanne Larty joins Jan and Paul to enlighten them on her work with businesses in Cumbria on sharing best sustainability practice.
Through Project INSPIRE, Joanne and her team are speaking to pioneering companies across Cumbria to discover how they are tackling sustainability challenges, how it ties into the history and landscape of the county, and how their practices can be spread.
What issues do business face? How can they move to a new way of operating? And, most importantly to Paul, how do you really pronounce Furness, and why does everyone get it wrong?
...2024-04-2227 minTransforming TomorrowComing Soon on Transforming Tomorrow (2)Find out what we have for you on upcoming episodes.2024-04-1801 minTransforming TomorrowConnecting with NatureMatt Healey talks Jan and Paul through his journey from an outdoor education professional to becoming a PhD researcher looking at our connections with nature.
The UK has the lowest connection with nature in Europe, and Matt’s work encompasses how we each appreciate nature in our everyday lives, the importance of considering nature from a non-human-centric perspective, the value of nature, and the importance of connecting with nature from a young age.
Plus, find out how connected to nature are Jan and Paul?
Read more of Matt’s work on ‘Taming the Green...2024-04-1432 minTransforming TomorrowLancaster Environment CentreProfessor Alona Armstrong returns to give Jan and Paul a whirlwind tour of the work that takes place across the Lancaster Environment Centre and the Energy Lancaster research centre.
Discover the work of Energy Lancaster here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/energy-lancaster/
And find out about the research taking place in Lancaster Environment Centre here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/research/2024-04-1008 minTransforming TomorrowThe Power of SolarEnergy Lancaster Director Professor Alona Armstrong takes Jan and Paul on a wonderful journey into the world of solar power, which continues to outperform predictions for its output and effectiveness.
How many solar parks are there in the UK (clue, it’s not seven or 300)? How can solar parks affect biodiversity? How long do solar plants last? How do floating solar farms work? How many homes can a solar plant power? And did Paul really do the maths to answer that question so quickly in his head?
All these questions and more will be answered – and...2024-04-0831 minTransforming TomorrowData and TrustPentland Centre Research Associate Lauren Thornton wants to talk to us about trust.
Specifically trust frameworks and trust affordances – explaining how and where people can trust data, and to what extent; why different people will trust different things – and the challenges of building trust with the right audience.
How does this all fit with sustainability data – especially given the uncertainty over how sustainability can be achieved, and that some people will try to twist data for their own means; and what is translucent reporting, and why might it be better than transparency?
Plus, Jan us...2024-04-0124 minTransforming TomorrowDon't Be A GreenwasherDr Di Wang dials in from Sydney, Australia, to talk to Jan and Paul about his work on sustainability reporting and materiality.
Di talks about his experience of interviewing more than 200 businesses on their understanding of materiality – a concept that underpins reporting and which will be explained in the podcast. He explains why companies take part in greenhushing – and explains why he thinks the practice is only likely to increase. He also introduces us to the concept of brownwashing.
And Paul's brainwashing is complete, as the word ‘benchmarking’ comes into his head unprompted.
Find out...2024-03-2532 minTransforming TomorrowComing Soon on Transforming TomorrowFind out what we have coming up on the next few weeks of Transforming Tomorrow,2024-03-2101 minTransforming TomorrowStewardship and Responsible LeadershipWhat is leadership? And what makes a good leader?
Dr Marian Iszatt-White heads to the studio to talk with Jan and Paul about her perspective on leadership and management – as well as her time working in the oil industry.
Marian discusses what authentic leadership is – and why we should or should not be authentic; how leaders address sustainability issues; where stewardship and accountability fit in; and the importance of teaching on how future leaders can be shaped by programmes such as Lancaster’s MBA.
Find out more about Marian’s work here: https://www.lanc...2024-03-1826 minTransforming TomorrowWicked, Clumsy and Post-NormalWhat are wicked problems? How about clumsy solutions? And where does post-normal science fit in?
In tackling issues such as climate change, scientists and researchers face complicated scenarios that are not easily explicable, with problems that are not always solvable in a clean fashion. Jan explains the development of post-normal science as a way of addressing huge modern (wicked) problems such as climate change, how there is not always a definitive answer to every question, and why uncertain (clumsy) solutions are better than none at all.
Why is being uncertain a good sign? Why do...2024-03-1130 minTransforming TomorrowGoing GlocalPaul’s head is going to explode as another new word to the English language is introduced to the podcast.
Law PhD researcher Camilo Cornejo Martinez returns to talk to Jan and Paul about the importance of both local and global attitudes, actions and policies towards climate change.
Discover more about Camilo’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/law/people/camilo-cornejo-martinez2024-03-0710 minTransforming TomorrowEnvironmental LawThe law won’t let Jan and Paul get away that easily!
Another member of Lancaster University Law School, PhD researcher Camilo Cornejo Martinez, comes into the studio with the unprompted assurance that he is not an accountant.
Camilo talks about his background as a practising lawyer in his home country of Chile; the different attitudes and approaches – legal and otherwise – to the environment and sustainability between Chile, the UK, and other countries; environmental courts; just transitions; and the rights of nature, and giving nature a voice.
Discover more about Camilo’s work here: ht...2024-03-0433 minTransforming TomorrowCorporate ResponsibilityThe law has caught up with Jan and Paul!
Dr Rafael Savva, from Lancaster University’s Law School, promises he won’t sue us, but will recording the podcast turn him into a supervillain?
Rafael talks to us about corporate governance legislation; the differences between hard and soft law – and how they apply to corporate responsibility; the potential conflicts between environmental regulation and seeking profit; the power of shareholders; socially responsible investing; and the importance of defining sustainable development in order to shape future legislation.
Discover if Paul and Jan would make good Law st...2024-02-2634 minTransforming TomorrowThe Blue EconomyIt’s time to talk politics! And discover the Blue Economy – and how it varies around the world.
Dr Celine Germond-Duret steps into the studio to speak with Jan and Paul to discuss how people and business connect to the coast and the sea (including fish and chip shops); why an exact definition of the blue economy is hard to find; the politics and resources of the oceans in different countries; and the balance between economics and the environment in sustainable development.
Find out more about Celine’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/ppr/pe...2024-02-1936 minTransforming TomorrowTransforming Tomorrow: Trailer 5Find out what's coming up in new episodes of Transforming Tomorrow over the coming weeks.2024-02-1701 minTransforming TomorrowSustainability in ScotlandDr Lucy Wishart returns to tell Jan and Paul about the varied governance and structures within Scottish policy-making bodies when it comes to waste.
She reveals the changes she has seen over recent years, how policy debate has evolved and moved away from Westminister, Scotland-specific patterns and approaches – and (almost) answers the perennial question of whether you can recycle a paper envelope with a clear plastic window, or if you have to take the window out first.
Discover more about Lucy’s work here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/management/people/la242024-02-1514 minTransforming TomorrowWaste and the Circular EconomyWhat is waste? It goes far beyond what we all might think.
Dr Lucy Wishart joins Jan and Paul from the University of St Andrews Business School to discuss something that is there in every action we make, but which we rarely think about.
We cover everything from discard studies to the circular economy and the difficulties in making it a reality, how we might extend the life of objects and encourage people to reuse, and the hidden labour and (physical and mental) effort needed in reusing and recycling. Plus, can there be sustainable waste?2024-02-1226 minTransforming TomorrowSustainability Fairy TalesHow can fairy tales be used help people more easily understand sustainability challenges and pitfalls? Where do mermaids, vampires and witches fit in?
Dr Carolynne Lord talks to Jan and Paul about her work in making research more accessible to broader audiences; how green energy generation is like a mermaid luring businesses onto the rocks and distracting from other important issues; and why policymakers are waving garlic at vampire cars rather than brandishing stakes.
They also discuss urban sustainability transitions, and how experts need to cross boundaries to share ideas and expertise with other people...2024-02-0526 minTransforming TomorrowEntrepreneurs and SustainabilityHow do entrepreneurs approach sustainability?
Brian Gregory and Salma Atcha, from the Lancaster University Entrepreneurs in Residence network, join Paul and Jan in the studio to share their experiences.
They discuss differing attitudes towards sustainability; how the Sustainable Development Goals help shape business behaviours; when entrepreneurs are no longer entrepreneurs;
Find out more about the Entrepreneurs in Residence network here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/business/entrepreneurs-in-residence/
Read the article about degrowth and B-Corps by Entrepreneur in Residence Victor Giannandrea, the Pentland Centre’s Duncan Pollard, and B-Corp owner Celia Ga...2024-01-2932 minTransforming TomorrowUniversities and SustainabilityWhat are universities doing to address sustainability challenges?
Dr Georgiana Allison, Head of Sustainability at Lancaster University, joins Jan and Paul to discuss what the home of the Pentland Centre is doing to become more sustainable. They cover everything from Lancaster’s wind and solar farms, carbon impacts, changing attitudes and behaviours, how to make an impact in the classroom and where there is hope for the future.
Plus, why are sustainability strategies like icing and cake? And has Paul found an ally against rankings and benchmarking?
Find out more about sustainability at La...2024-01-2231 minTransforming TomorrowTransforming Tomorrow: Trailer 4Find out what is coming up on the next episodes of Transforming Tomorrow.2024-01-1901 minTransforming TomorrowThe Wonders of Sand!Jan and Paul are joined once more by Dr Jean-Baptiste Jouffray to discuss the fascinating world of sand. Without it, there would be no windows, no buildings, no electronics, no Transforming Tomorrow podcast! But what are the social and ecological impacts of sand extraction? And is our use of it sustainable?2024-01-1713 minTransforming TomorrowAn Ocean of IssuesYou may have been taught the names of the world’s oceans as a child, but is there really only one?
Dr Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, speaks to Jan and Paul from his home in Northern California. As well as busting myths on how many oceans we have on Earth, he discusses the many challenges it faces; his work across science, academia and business; the concepts of keystone actors and leverage points as a means to instigate change; and what it is really like working with Jan.
See the One oc...2024-01-1531 minTransforming TomorrowModern Slavery Reporting and RegulationIt has been too long since we had an accountant on the show, so it’s time to rectify that! Jan and Paul welcome Dr Mahmoud Gad to talk with them about his important work with the Financial Reporting Council and the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on companies’ modern slavery reporting.
What effects do regulations have? How can we encourage companies to treat modern slavery reporting as more than a tick-box exercise? How can AI be used to help tackle the larger problem? How can it be that only 15%of companies work with their suppliers to improv...2024-01-0834 minTransforming TomorrowCOP28 and BusinessIn the aftermath of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, Jan drags Paul back from his Christmas break for a special episode. They discuss the agreements made between nations, and the implications for business.2023-12-2034 minTransforming TomorrowSustainable Family BusinessesThere are almost five million family businesses in the UK alone. They are all around us, and have been for thousands of years. But what do we mean when we talk about family businesses?
Dr Allan Discua Cruz, Director of the Centre for Family Business at Lancaster University Management School, speaks to Jan and Paul about his personal experiences growing up in a family business, the issue of succession and longevity, how family firms address sustainability and consider the Sustainable Development Goals, and how faith and religion can impact their environmental behaviours.
Find out more...2023-12-1827 minTransforming TomorrowLocal Sustainability PolicyGlobal climate change has local impacts. So, how important is it that local government and the general public have an input into sustainability policies and actions?
Dr Jekaterina Rindt joins Jan and Paul to discuss the I-Connect project, which is looking at the future of Lancaster and Morecambe when the Eden Project arrives. How can the journey to Eden be made Eden-like? With a focus on the Net-Zero agenda; sustainable, accessible and inclusive transport; and the need to consider communities, health and sustainability across all areas of policy, its design and impact, there is much for everyone...2023-12-1130 minTransforming TomorrowTransforming Tomorrow: Trailer 3Jan and Paul are back with more sustainability insights. New episodes will be with you from Monday.
They will be talking with Pentland Centre members and guests about family businesses, sustainable transport in Lancaster and Morecambe - and what it shows about the importance of regional sustainability policies - modern slavery reporting, the world's ocean - and why it's not the world's oceans - and sand. Paul will become very excited about sand!
Get a taste of what's to come here.2023-12-0801 minTransforming TomorrowHow do Sustainability and Accounting go together?Jan and Paul welcome Richard Spencer, Director of Sustainability at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), to discuss how sustainability and accounting are interlinked, and why it is important for all accountants to embrace the connections.
Discover more about Jan’s work with the ICAEW on educating the next generation of accountants on sustainability here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_18/14/
Episode Transcript2023-11-2020 minTransforming TomorrowSustainability BenchmarkingJan and guest Dr Dasha Smirnow try to convince a sceptical Paul that sustainability benchmarks – rankings based on companies’ performances relating to certain criteria – are actually worthwhile.
Find out whether benchmarks have any effect on companies’ actions, if poor performers care that they are not doing well, and whether the World Benchmarking Alliance really is an organisation set up just to benchmark benchmarks (hint: it’s not). Can Paul’s natural cynicism be overcome?
Episode Transcript2023-11-1329 minTransforming TomorrowICT and SustainabilityProfessor Adrian Friday joins Jan and Paul to talk about the many ways technology can influence sustainability efforts – both good and bad.
We discover how he came to be a Professor of Computing and Sustainability – and just what that means – why having fewer people in offices does not always result in less energy being used, and why Adrian – to Jan’s shock – is not a big fan of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Plus – is beer sustainable? The answer to this question will delight the drinkers of North West England.
You can find out more about Adr...2023-11-0628 minTransforming TomorrowDigital InequalitiesJan and Paul are joined in the studio by Professor Katy Mason to discuss digital infrastructure and inequalities – and why naughty trees and inconsiderate weather affect planning large-scale projects in more isolated areas.
Katy discusses two projects – Mobile Access North Yorkshire (MANY) and 5G Rural Integrated Testbed (5GRIT) – that brought digital technologies to rural areas in the North of England. She explains why isolated areas can miss out when new tech is rolled out, how these technologies can help in unexpected ways – from assisting mountain rescue teams to tracking sheep on the fells in heavy snow – and the import...2023-10-3028 minTransforming TomorrowTransforming Tomorrow: Trailer 2We'll be back with new episodes of Transforming Tomorrow weekly, starting on Monday. Here is a preview of some of the topics we will be discussing over the next month.2023-10-2601 minTransforming TomorrowModern Slavery and SustainabilityJan and Paul welcome Distinguished Professor Linda Hendry to talk about an area that affects tens of millions of people worldwide - modern slavery.
Linda's work looks at modern slavery in company supply chains. It takes in the impacts - good and bad - of legislation, how companies are responding to issues, and how businesses work together to improve practice and modern slavery detection. There is also accounting, to Jan's delight.
Read more about Linda's work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/linda-hendry
Episode Transcript2023-10-0923 minTransforming TomorrowBusiness and BiodiversityJan and Paul are joined in the studio by Duncan Pollard, whose career has taken him from Nestle to the WWF - not the wrestling version, to Paul's disappointment - forestry to Shell, and now to the Pentland Centre.
Duncan has worked across NGOs and corporate sector on issues regarding biodiversity and sustainability, and explains the importance of companies understanding their impact on the climate and the biosphere, and how work at the Pentland Centre is looking at what good reporting on that impact would look like, and whether companies understand that.
You can read...2023-10-0226 minTransforming TomorrowThe Sustainable Development GoalsYou will be hearing the term SDGs a lot in this podcast, but just what are the Sustainable Development Goals?
Professor Jan Bebbington and Paul Turner examine what these 17 goals mean and how they tie into the research and activity that takes place across the Pentland Centre.
Find out more about the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) project Jan is involved with here: https://seabos.org/
Episode Transcript2023-09-2825 minTransforming TomorrowIntroducing the Pentland CentreWhat is the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business? What do we mean when we say sustainability?
Professor Jan Bebbington and Paul Turner explain all.
Episode Transcript2023-09-2423 min
The Radical AI PodcastMeasurementality #2: Children's Data and SustainabilityWelcome to the second episode of our Measurementality series in partnership with IEEESA!
Our topics today are children and sustainability.
We interview Sandy Pentland of MIT and Baroness Beeban Kidron of the 5Rights Foundation.
Focusing on the key goal of our series, "defining what counts in the algorithmic age," guests will discuss issues like data privacy for children, data agency for all, and how metrics like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and other human rights oriented metrics are being utilized in the design of Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS).
2021-03-2152 min
Sustainable NationMatt Lynch - System Sustainability Coordinator at University of HawaiiMatt Lynch joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: Sustainability programs and initiatives at the University of Hawaii Hawaii's ambitious renewable energy future and UH's contributions Reimagining organizational design for sustainability The Hawaii Sustainability in Higher Education Summit Recommendations and advice for sustainability leaders Matt's Final Five responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I'll give the same advice that my grandma gave me: you have two ears and one mouth for a reason. I would say cultivate and practice the skill-set of active listening, and then related to tha...2018-03-2837 min