Heriot-Watt scientists contribute to climate dialogue in new SAGES Climate Science Podcast
Scientists from Heriot-Watt University are featured guests in an innovative new podcast series from the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES).
Launching today (22 Jan 2025), the podcast features 11 episodes tackling a wide range of topics, from blue carbon and peatlands to flooding, technology and environmental justice. The series, supported by the Scottish Government's Climate Engagement Fund 2024/2025, aims to provide accurate scientific information, celebrate Scotland's contributions to global climate science, and inspire action towards a more sustainable future.
Scotland is home to world-leading research and incredible scientists working on solutions to the climate crisis. Our goal with the SAGES Climate Science Podcast is to cut through the noise of misinformation and bring science to the forefront.
As leaders in globally-significant research in Earth and Marine Sciences, Heriot-Watt is represented in two episodes in the series:
- In Episode 4: Flooding, Andrew Tabas, a PhD student and Hydro Nation Scholar, delves into Scotland's changing waterscape, addressing natural flood management, the human dimensions of environmental risks, and the public health impacts of flooding.
- In Episode 11: Oceans, Dr Phillipa Rickard, an environmental scientist at The Lyell Centre, one of Heriot-Watt's flagship Global Research Institutes, explores the ocean's role in regulating the Earth's climate and Scotland's leadership in blue carbon research.
Prior to the series launch, on 21 January, contributors, scientists and policymakers joined Professor Matteo Spagnolo, Director of SAGES, and SAGES podcast host, award-winning climate activist and environmental scientist Laura Young and Acting Minister for for Climate Action, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP at a special reception at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) to celebrate the launch.
Dr Allan MSP said: “Public support for climate action is crucial if Scotland is to achieve net zero by 2045 and become more climate resilient.
“That’s why we have delivered over £800k in funding for community-based climate engagement projects since 2023 – including support for this new podcast series from the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society.
“The series will help listeners build a better understanding of some of the complex issues around climate change and provide insight into what action people can take to help cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
All episodes of the SAGES podcast are available to download at: https://sages.ac.uk/podcast/.